Starting with the creation of the Immortal Clan through the compilation of the family genealogy.

Chapter 17 Immortal Bone Nurtures Spirit, Undercurrents Rage

However, Meng Xihong's sense of relief did not last long.

In the afternoon, he had just finished processing a few official documents in the duty room and was trying to continue to comprehend and improve the "hidden spirit seed" when he heard Ji Beichuan's deliberately light but still slightly hurried footsteps outside the door.

"Boss!" Ji Beichuan pushed the door open and closed it behind him, his face grave. "That old bastard Zhou Maocai has made a move!"

"Speak!" Meng Xihong's eyes sharpened instantly.

"He took leave this morning and wasn't in the yamen!" Ji Beichuan spoke quickly. "I had the most clever 'skinny monkey' follow him from a distance, and we found out he went to 'Huichuntang' in the west of the city!"

Huichuntang? So that's really how it is? Meng Xihong frowned slightly.

Huichuntang was the pharmacy that Bai went to after she was depleted of qi and blood following the birth of Ming'er and Yuan'er, recommended by Zhou Maocai.

"He stayed inside for almost half an hour! When he came out, he had a small package wrapped in oil paper in his hand, and judging from its shape... it looked like several books," Ji Beichuan recalled.

"What's even stranger is that after he came out, he didn't go home or back to the yamen. Instead, he wandered around and went to the abandoned residential area behind the City God Temple! He stayed there for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before coming out! When he came out, the package in his hand... was gone!"

An abandoned house? The handover site!
Meng Xihong's heart sank.

So we were being watched after all! And the action was faster than expected!

Zhou Maocai went to the pharmacy not to get medicine for himself! He was gathering intelligence! Intelligence about... Bai's postpartum "weakness"?

The Lin family wanted to indirectly confirm Yan Ning's special status by observing Bai Shi's unusual behavior.

That package likely contains medical records about Bai's health condition!

"Have you investigated that abandoned house?" Meng Xihong asked coldly.

“Skinny Monkey doesn’t dare go in, afraid of alerting the enemy,” Ji Beichuan shook his head. “But he’s memorized the location! Boss, should I take some men to scout ahead first?”

"No!" Meng Xihong categorically rejected the idea. "Going to that place now would only alert the enemy, and we wouldn't find anything! Since the other party chose that place for the handover, they must have a backup plan, and there might even be surveillance."

"Keep a close eye on Zhou Maocai! Also, find out everything about 'Huichuntang'! Especially in the last few days, has anyone inquired about the health of the women in the family, particularly... postpartum care!"

"Understood!" Ji Beichuan nodded emphatically, then turned and strode away.

The duty room fell silent again.

Meng Xihong walked to the window, his gaze cold as he looked at the people coming and going in the government office.

The shadow cast by the behemoth that is the Lin family is silently descending upon Zhou Maocai, who is just a small fulcrum.

The Bai family had just escaped danger, but a new crisis was looming!
His fingers tapped unconsciously on the window frame, making a dull thumping sound.

However, Bai's transformation, like a withered tree blossoming in spring, could not be concealed.

The next morning, when the servant brought the cooked millet porridge into the east wing, it felt as if his mistress had become a different person.

Her cheeks were rosy and full, her eyes were clear and bright, and the heavy, lingering weariness that had been hanging over her for months was completely gone! Her whole being exuded a fresh and vibrant energy, as if she had been cleansed by a mountain spring.

"Hong'er, put the porridge there, I'll drink it later." Madam Bai looked up, her smile bright, and her voice clearer. "While I'm in good spirits, I'll buy these children a few more clothes."

Hong'er handed over the bowl of porridge in a daze, full of surprise and confusion: "Madam, you seem very different today. You seem to have been reborn."

"Perhaps it's because Xihong has been taking good care of himself these past few days that he's finally recovered." Madam Bai smiled, her lips pursed, with the shyness of a new bride and the relief of someone recovering from a serious illness. "When I woke up this morning, I felt full of energy."

"That's wonderful! I must tell Master this good news!" Cuihong was overjoyed and quickly withdrew. Little did she know that this transformative change stemmed from the creation element called "Immortal Bone" that had merged into Bai's body.

Just then, Meng Xihong entered the room. Looking at his wife's radiant profile and Cuihong's excited expression, he felt both gratified and solemn.

He was relieved that his wife's health was temporarily restored, and that the servants he had hired were not spies; his excitement was genuine. What was alarming, however, was that this change was far too obvious! Especially now, with the Lin family's spies lurking like venomous snakes!
"Master, you've come back just in time. Look at Madam, she..." "Yes, I see her. You may leave now. You've worked hard these past few days. Remember to go to the accounting office and collect your ten taels of silver."

"Thank you, sir."

Then Meng Xihong walked calmly to Bai's side and said gently, "My lady is feeling better now, don't trouble yourself. We're rich now, so leave these mendings to the seamstress."

As they spoke, a wisp of extremely pure green wood spiritual energy, carrying a sense of soothing and guidance, quietly entered Bai's body.

Bai felt a gentle warmth instantly flow through his limbs and bones, dispelling the slight soreness in his fingertips and invigorating him.

She obediently put down her needlework: "What nouveau riche? This was earned by my husband through his own hard work."

Meng Xihong's actions were both an expression of concern and a test, as well as a form of guidance.

He wanted to see just how far Bai Shi, who had integrated the [Immortal Bone] entry and whose own weak spiritual root had been fully activated, had come to perceive and absorb spiritual energy.

The result left him feeling slightly uneasy.

Bai Shi accepted this pure wood spiritual energy with exceptional ease and naturalness, as if breathing, and even unconsciously guided a trace of it into himself, nourishing the newly sprouted spiritual root.

This means that she is no longer a mere mortal!
To ordinary people, this change is simply "recovery from illness and improved complexion," but to those who are observant, especially to a family of cultivators like the Lin family, the speed and extent of this "recovery" are themselves extremely suspicious!
Sure enough, the calm lasted only until the afternoon.

Meng Xihong was dealing with a trivial matter of villagers arguing over water in the front office when Wang Hai hurriedly entered, his face showing barely concealed tension, and leaned close to his ear.

His voice was kept extremely low: "Boss! There's been some movement at Huichuntang! Doctor Li, who's on duty there, just sneaked into Zhou Maocai's office! He stayed for less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea before slipping out, acting all furtive!"

Meng Xihong's eyes suddenly turned cold, but his face remained calm as he waved for the villagers fighting over the water to step back and wait.

"say clearly!"

“Skinny Monkey has been keeping an eye on Huichuntang!” Wang Hai said quickly.

"Just a quarter of an hour ago, Zhou Maocai's attendant, 'Bao Datou,' ran to Huichuntang and said that County Magistrate Zhou had caught a cold last night and asked Doctor Li to prescribe some medicine."

Old Li went inside to get the medicine, and lingered for quite a while before coming out and handing the medicine packet to Bao Datou. Skinny Monkey, with his sharp eyes, noticed that as Old Li handed over the medicine packet, he also tucked a tiny folded piece of paper under his fingers and gave it to Laizitou!

Intelligence! Intelligence regarding Mr. Bai's physical condition!

Meng Xihong knew perfectly well what was going on.

That old dog Zhou Maocai is quick on his feet! The Lin family is also cautious enough, using a doctor at a pharmacy to relay information, thus avoiding direct contact!
"Where is Old Man Li?" Meng Xihong's voice was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger.

"He's still seeing patients at Huichuntang, acting like nothing's wrong."

"Hmm." Meng Xihong nodded, his fingers unconsciously tapping twice on the table, making a dull thud.

“Well done. Keep a close eye on Huichuntang and that Doctor Li, and see who he contacts next. As for Zhou Maocai… don’t make any moves for now.”

"Understood!" Wang Hai accepted the order and left.

Meng Xihong's gaze turned towards the county magistrate's office outside the window, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

The Lin family line is now crystal clear.

The other party's target is almost certainly Yan Ning! Bai's "sudden recovery" probably did not dispel the other party's doubts, but instead aroused their vigilance.

A mother who can give birth to a girl with celestial bones may also be hiding a secret.

We can no longer wait passively!

(End of this chapter)