The moonlight shone with a cold, ruthless glow. 

Thorny vines twisted and crawled sinisterly through the darkness.

"What madness is this? Damn you all!" 

The bodyguard cursed foully as he clutched his wounded arm, having just kicked away the gang leader before fleeing into the dense forest. Today's events were utterly bizarre - the Black Snake Gang had suddenly turned on each other like rabid beasts, attacking indiscriminately. 

With Li Yuan dead by blade, his father Li Wang would never let this go. The only option now was to flee for his life!

No sooner had he entered the dark woods than a heavy cleaver came slashing down from above. The blinding glint gave no time to dodge, and the blade bit deep into his shoulder. 

Damn it, where did this ambusher come from?!

Instinct made him change direction, only for another black-masked assailant to emerge from the bushes, stabbing straight into his abdomen. Blood gushed forth like a spring. 

There was actually a second ambusher?!

The bodyguard's eyes widened as his body became like a torn sack unable to contain its contents. Collapsing in agony, his last sight was the flashing blade descending to end his life.

............

The chaotic battle involving dozens reached its conclusion. 

Hidden in the mountain forests, Li Pingcan watched as the writhing thorns returned to their normal vine-like state. By using the thorns to create chaos, they'd manipulated others into killing Li Yuan, while his father and elder brother dealt with the fleeing bodyguards and gang members. No loose ends could remain.

"Pingfu, did you leave any traces?"

"Don't worry, father. We only used Black Snake Gang weapons and didn't touch a single coin of silver."

"Good." Li Rongzhou nodded.

Under cover of dark clouds, the three stealthily returned to Peach Blossom Village, burning their bloodstained black garments to eliminate evidence.

"Father, do you think Li Dahu will suspect us in Li Yuan's death?" Li Pingfu pressed a hand to his pounding chest, his palm still remembering the sensation of piercing flesh.

"He shouldn't be able to connect it to us."

Li Rongzhou pondered. With the bodyguard dead, the gang leader dead, and Li Yuan dead - no witnesses remained. This could easily be blamed on internal gang conflicts, having nothing to do with the Li family. Unless... Li Wang employed immortal methods.

"For now, have Little Black keep watch. If anything unfavorable arises, we can prepare accordingly."

"Understood." Li Pingcan nodded solemnly. Killing Li Yuan had been easy - the true challenge lay in the immortal official backing him.

"Everyone should rest well and maintain composure," Li Rongzhou advised.

The family quietly washed up and retired, though Li Ping'an lay awake all night, his candle burning till dawn, torn between gratitude and guilt.

If not for Li Wang's powerful connections, they wouldn't need such caution in eliminating Li Yuan, nor bear these unnecessary risks. If only he too could become an immortal official - a mere glance would make Li Yuan tremble and grovel. 

Suddenly, a savage hunger for power took root in his heart.

............

At the Black Snake Gang's former base, corpses lay scattered amidst bloodstains.

"My son! How could you die like this?!" 

Li Wang wept bitterly over Li Yuan's blood-soaked body, his eyes turning crimson.

With over a dozen gang members dead, even for a criminal organization this constituted a major case. The constable investigating in Peach Leaf Village brought his team to examine the scene and concluded: "Clearly gang infighting."

The coroner pointed at blade wounds: "These match perfectly with Black Snake Gang weapons. No signs of poisoning - this was sudden internal conflict."

"But my son was always well-behaved! How could he get involved?" Li Wang refused to believe such coincidence - his son visiting the gang precisely when they turned on each other.

"Then you should ask your son. Perhaps he was the spark that ignited their conflict?" 

The constable casually closed the case, ordering cleanup while pocketing the gang's ill-gotten wealth as "service fees."

'Fools! Parasites!' 

Li Wang inwardly cursed. No infighting - the constables just wanted easy money. His son was clearly murdered! Yet he couldn't argue with them. Even corrupt officials were still the immortals' hounds - challenging them risked being jailed as a "suspect" with no recourse.

But having his chosen heir killed so senselessly - this grievance couldn't be swallowed.

Yunshui County.

"Uncle, you must avenge me!" 

Li Wang wailed, his obese body rolling on the floor like a distraught three-hundred-pound child.

A gray-robed elder leaned against bamboo, eyes closed, his bony fingers lightly tapping a teacup as three wisps of smoke curled elegantly upward.

"What would you have me do?" the elder asked slowly.

Li Wang said coldly, "I want the truth about who killed my son!" The whole affair reeked of conspiracy.

The elder sighed. "As he was my grandnephew, I'll give you a 'Soul Summoning' talisman to uncover the truth."

Overjoyed, Li Wang kowtowed repeatedly before hurrying home to conduct the ritual. This immortal-crafted talisman could briefly recall a deceased soul for questioning.

Placing the talisman on his son's forehead, Li Wang watched as - to the servants' horror - the corpse stiffly sat up and opened lifeless eyes.

"Son! Who killed you?" Li Wang demanded urgently.

The corpse's blue lips parted: "Black Snake... Black Snake..."

"Who took you there? Why?"

"Bodyguard Shen... silver..."

No matter how Li Wang rephrased questions, the corpse only repeated fragmented phrases. When the incense burned out, the body collapsed with a thud under Li Wang's impotent rage.

............

"No more worries for now." 

Having witnessed everything, Li Pingcan stretched contentedly. 

Immortals truly possessed miraculous powers - a single talisman could summon the dead, which had startled him. Fortunately, the Li family's meticulous planning left no traces or exposed identities.

"Seems I'll need some exorcism talismans in future to destroy souls after killing - let's see them summon that!"

He also realized that as a Druid, he might counter even an immortal's basic methods. With Li Yuan dealt with and only refugees remaining as concerns, his mood improved - even skill training became more vigorous.

Lately he frequented streams, hoping to comprehend water-related skills in preparation for gathering water spirits. His elder brother had collected many legends about Dragon Spring Lake - sightings of coiling water dragons and glowing treasures beneath the waves gave it mystical allure.

"Once the authorities handle the refugees, I'll investigate Dragon Spring Lake. Perfect timing as big brother challenges other martial schools to build reputation."

Since setting the "open a martial school" goal, Li Pingfu trained relentlessly, making rapid progress.

"Tsk tsk."

Suddenly feeling an itch, Li Pingcan rolled up his sleeve to reveal Hundred Legs coiled around his forearm like some alien red-black bracer. The centipede's sturdy shell could block a blade or two if needed.

Hundred Legs raised its head to excrete a drop of purple-gold venom before growing listless. Li Pingcan stroked it lovingly. Over three years, its venom had been crucial for making Purple Centipede Paste, yet the creature weakened visibly. Even without venom extraction, its aging trajectory seemed inevitable.

Birth, aging, sickness, death - the fate of all living things, inescapable.

Suddenly Hundred Legs waved its antennae, crawling toward Li Pingcan's chest.

"Hundred Legs, that tickles!" 

Li Pingcan giggled as the centipede's pincers presented a purple-brown seed.

Words appeared in his mind:

[You have acquired new skill [Natural Symbiosis]. By binding with compatible lifeforms, you may share talents and induce mutations.]