**Chapter 76: An Ambush **  

Could it be... 

He Song forcibly suppressed the urge to ask for details. 

Instead, he kept his eyes fixed on Zhao Lin, waiting to hear what he would say next. 

In front of him, Zhao Lin clasped his hands and bowed, his expression filled with sorrow. 

"I have failed to keep my promise. The person I entrusted with the task died a few days ago, and your spirit fields have been left unattended for several days." 

During the half month since leaving the Immortal Market, everything had been fine at first. 

The person Zhao Lin had found, motivated by the reward of thirty spirit stones, had diligently tended to He Song's spirit fields. 

However, a few days ago, something unexpected happened. 

That person was suddenly killed. 

When Zhao Lin returned today, he learned of the incident and discovered that He Song's spirit fields had been neglected for several days. 

Upon hearing this unfortunate news, Zhao Lin felt deeply ashamed for betraying He Song's trust. He had come to make amends. 

But as he hesitated outside He Song's door, he was spotted by He Song, who had just returned home. 

Thus, the current scene unfolded. 

However, as Zhao Lin bowed and apologized, He Song breathed a sigh of relief after hearing his explanation. 

If the spirit fields were left unattended, the spiritual energy supply would be insufficient, and the yield would naturally decrease. 

If this continued for ten days to half a month, the reduced yield would be irreparable. 

Fortunately, only a few days had passed. If the spiritual energy supply was restored in time, there would be no significant loss. 

He had thought something serious had happened. 

Was this all? 

"It's not a big deal. It's only been a few days. I'll spend an extra hour casting the Rain Summoning Technique later, and the spiritual energy will be replenished. There won't be any loss. You're overthinking this." 

He Song waved his hand, indicating that he wasn't concerned. 

Since no loss had been incurred, and the death of the person Zhao Lin had entrusted had nothing to do with He Song, he naturally didn't care much about it. 

Zhao Lin's reaction, in his opinion, was somewhat excessive. 

"Alas, it was my mistake to entrust the wrong person. If any loss had occurred, you could have come to me, and I would have compensated for it." 

While He Song didn't mind, Zhao Lin couldn't be so casual. He quickly assured He Song that he would take full responsibility. 

The incident had arisen because of him, and any resulting losses would naturally fall on his shoulders. 

Although Zhao Lin was usually cautious, he understood the gravity of the situation and wouldn't let He Song bear the consequences. 

After all, He Song had paid for the service. 

Even though the person was now dead, and the agreed-upon thirty spirit stones didn't need to be paid, the responsibility still lay with Zhao Lin. 

Seeing this, He Song could only wave his hand helplessly. 

However, he soon remembered what Wei Fan had told him. 

"If you really feel bad about this, my friend is helping me apply for the herb garden manager position. If possible, could you put in a good word for me? Let's consider this matter settled." 

When He Song had been with Wei Fan, Wei Fan had mentioned this. 

Although Wei Fan was a supervisor and a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, he belonged to the Spirit Construction Pavilion. 

Helping He Song apply for a Medicinal Hall manager position wasn't impossible, but if Zhao Lin, a current Medicinal Hall manager, also supported the application, He Song's chances would increase significantly. 

Now, taking advantage of the situation to settle this matter seemed like a good idea. 

"Alright, I'll take care of it." 

Hearing He Song's words, Zhao Lin immediately agreed. 

He Song had clearly stated that his friend was helping him apply for the herb garden manager position. 

It didn't matter who the friend was. What mattered was that someone had already taken the lead, and Zhao Lin only needed to submit his support. 

Whether He Song became the herb garden manager or not, he would owe Zhao Lin a favor. 

The matter would be settled either way. 

With this in mind, Zhao Lin had no reason to refuse. 

With the matter resolved, the atmosphere between the two naturally became more relaxed. 

Inside He Song's home, the two exchanged cups of tea, enjoying the pleasant aroma. 

Time flew by. 

After the law enforcement team from the Immortal City arrived and left, He Song returned to his peaceful life. 

At the same time, he soon learned from others in the market what the law enforcement team had done during those two weeks. 

Initially, when the law enforcement team arrived at the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market, most cultivators had no idea what was about to happen. 

Like Zhao Lin, who hadn't initially realized the need to flee, they even believed that the arrival of the law enforcement team would improve the market's atmosphere. 

However, when the law enforcement team took control of the market's own enforcement team and began an internal investigation, uncovering several evil cultivators within the market's enforcement team, things took an unexpected turn. 

After the law enforcement team completely took over the market's enforcement team and eradicated its corrupt elements, they turned their attention to the rest of the market. 

Under the leadership of the law enforcement team, the market's enforcement team spread out to arrest people. One by one, individuals with notorious reputations were taken away. 

Those who resisted were killed on the spot. 

In addition, some market cultivators and even rogue cultivators mysteriously disappeared. 

Among them were wealthy market cultivators and rogue cultivators who had enriched themselves through various cultivation arts. 

Some of their residences were reduced to ruins, while others remained untouched. 

But they all had one thing in common: the law enforcement team had visited their homes. 

Originally, all of this had been carried out quietly. 

But on that day, the law enforcement team and the market's enforcement team mobilized in full force, killing a supervisor and two managers in the Medicinal Hall on the spot. 

Everyone in the Medicinal Hall was interrogated. 

Those found guilty were executed immediately, while the innocent were released. 

The individuals who had previously disappeared were brought out one by one and executed. 

That day, outside the Medicinal Hall, heads rolled, and blood flowed like a river. 

At the same time, a message spread: 

A supervisor and two managers in the Medicinal Hall had colluded with evil cultivators, deliberately allowing them to join the market. The law enforcement team had been sent to eradicate this group of evil cultivators. 

The law enforcement team was about to leave. 

They wanted to use this as a warning. 

The spread of this message, along with the massacre at the Medicinal Hall, made the market's inhabitants remember that day vividly. 

However, just as He Song learned of these events, another explosive piece of news shook the entire Verdant Wall Immortal City. 

The law enforcement team, which had just left the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market, was ambushed on its way back to the Verdant Wall Immortal City. 

Two mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators were killed on the spot, and a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator was surrounded and killed. The remaining two late-stage Qi Refining cultivators barely escaped with their lives by using their life-saving treasures. 

(End of Chapter)