"But that person is innocent and shouldn’t die."

When Su Zhining said this, her eyes were bright and serious.

At this moment, Chen Ming only felt that she seemed to be glowing, shining with the brilliance of humanity. For a moment, he even felt a bit ashamed.

In this world where martial arts are revered and hierarchy is strict, encountering such a naturally compassionate person was indeed rare.

He became more interested in the Celestial Dao Alliance, an organization claiming to act on behalf of the heavens but managing to surpass the other eight sects to become the largest sect in the world. What kind of organization could it be?

Chen Ming said, "Actually, there are ways to achieve a perfect outcome. If your cultivation is high enough, you don’t need the antidote to help those villagers detoxify. Or, you could retrieve the antidote without harming that innocent villager. So, if you don’t want to face such dilemmas in the future, you need to practice diligently and strive to break through to the First Grade... or even above the First Grade. As long as your cultivation is high enough, there’s no problem in the world you can’t solve."

Su Zhining’s eyes gradually brightened, and her clothes started moving without wind, emitting an astonishing aura.

What was happening?

Chen Ming was stunned. He was just making some remarks, there was no need to get so excited, right?

He only felt a wall of energy pushing against him, and he retreated back to the window before it stopped.

At this point, he could see that something peculiar was happening with Su Zhining.

"Could it be that she’s about to break through?"

Chen Ming swallowed, remembering that she was at the Fourth Grade; breaking through would make her a Third Grade!

Although Su Zhining always wore a veil, just by looking at her eyes and some details, it was clear she was very young, at most in her twenties.

A Third Grade in her twenties...

That was truly terrifying!

While Chen Ming was thinking, the invisible wall of energy around Su Zhining disappeared, her clothes settled down. Her clear eyes seemed to have gained something.

He asked, "Did you break through?"

Su Zhining suddenly solemnly bowed to him and said, "Thank you, Brother Chen, for your guidance."

Chen Ming numbly returned the bow, "Miss Su, you’re too kind."

I didn’t say much, though...

However, it was clear that her entire demeanor had undergone some kind of change, becoming more "ethereal."

By the way, did you break through or not?

Unfortunately, Su Zhining did not give him a chance to ask further, turning around and leaving directly.

"Probably not."

Chen Ming thought to himself, typically, breaking through from the Fourth Grade to the Third Grade is a significant evolution, it shouldn’t be so simple.

This was still not as dramatic as when he broke through to the Sixth Grade.

...

The next day, Chen Ming did not go out but stayed at home, studying a book called "Divine Form Illusion."

What he lacked right now was a lightweight body technique.

A month ago, if he had learned a lightweight skill, he wouldn’t have been chased by Xiao Qianhao to the point of having to jump into the river to escape.

He sat in the courtyard, basking in the warm spring sunlight, drinking Black Bone Spirit Tea, eating various exquisite snacks, holding a book, and enjoying this rare leisurely time.

The only thing missing was someone to accompany him.

If only Su Zhining could sit beside him and make tea for him.

Chen Ming felt slightly regretful.

Actually, Zhao Xiyan could also do it, but she definitely wouldn’t be willing.

Zhao Xiyan is the type to become a family matriarch. Despite being kind and willing to lower herself in front of him, she has a stable internal framework.

For tasks like serving tea and water, if he let her do them, she would only feel that Chen Ming was humiliating her since this is something typically done by a concubine.

She’s suited to be the official wife, a virtuous helper, and he believed she would manage the household well...

Chen Ming’s thoughts drifted uncontrollably.

Until he heard urgent footsteps outside.

He recognized them as Chunxiang’s footsteps; she was always calm, so running so fast surely meant something happened.

So he casually asked, "What’s the matter?"

Chunxiang came in, hesitating somewhat.

Seeing her like this, Chen Ming became even more curious, closed his "Divine Form Illusion," and smiled, "What’s the matter, is there something you can’t tell me?"

Chunxiang, hearing him say this, got anxious and quickly explained, "Of course not, it’s... Elder Shopkeeper Zheng is here. The master doesn’t want us to tell you..."

Elder Shopkeeper Zheng?

Who is that?

Chen Ming found the name unfamiliar, taking two seconds to retrieve the memory of this person from the corner of his mind.

It’s that old shopkeeper from Jin Yuansheng.

The original owner’s grievances with Jin Yuansheng, he’s almost forgotten about, having spent these years focused solely on gaining experience points and enhancing his strength. He hasn’t gone to seek revenge on Jin Yuansheng.

In the blink of an eye, four years have passed.

Chen Ming stroked his chin and asked, "Is he here to plead on behalf of the Qi Family?"

Chunxiang had been watching his expression, worried he might get angry, but seeing that he didn’t seem to care, she finally felt relieved and said, "Yes, but as soon as he mentioned the Qi Family, the master served tea and sent him off."

Chen Ming understood this.

After all, the Qi Family almost destroyed the original owner, and indeed, the original owner died in prison. Then he came through...

So, no matter how much his elder brother Chen Rui holds a grudge, it’s justified.

Although Elder Shopkeeper Zheng has old ties with his family, that’s a different matter.

Elder Shopkeeper Zheng and his grandfather grew up in the same village. Just different fates. One remained a farmer in the village, the other went to the city to work as a clerk for a trading company.

Back then, his father was able to come to Qingfeng City thanks to Elder Shopkeeper Zheng’s help, a favor indeed to the Chen Family.

Over the years, the two families have always maintained contact.

Later, the original owner couldn’t succeed in his training, and possibly out of risk diversification considerations, his father, through Elder Shopkeeper Zheng’s connections, arranged for him to work as a clerk at Jin Yuansheng.

Admittedly, Elder Shopkeeper Zheng took quite good care of the original owner, and after a few years, the original owner was able to become a small manager, definitely with Elder Shopkeeper Zheng’s help behind the scenes.

However, a favor is a favor. If Elder Shopkeeper Zheng wants to plead for the Qi Family, he can’t blame Chen Rui for not giving him face.

Chen Ming knew his elder brother Chen Rui always harbored resentment because, after all, the original owner hadn’t done anything wrong, served Jin Yuansheng diligently, yet ended up like this.

The Qi Family knew the original owner was wronged, but threw him into prison anyway. If it weren’t for his elder brother spending all his savings and pulling strings, he might have been tortured to death in prison.

Such a grudge, how can one just forget it?

At this moment, Xiaxiang said, "Young master, I heard that Elder Shopkeeper Zheng visited once before."

Chen Ming nodded, realizing that his rapid cultivation progress made the Qi Family at Jin Yuansheng wary, hence they sent Elder Shopkeeper Zheng to try to mend relations.

He asked, "Where is Elder Zheng now?"

Chunxiang said, "He’s already left."

Chen Ming, moved internally, said, "Let’s go, have someone prepare the carriage."

Chunxiang, puzzled, asked, "It’s almost lunchtime, where is young master going?"

"Don’t worry about it."

...

The carriage hadn’t gone far from the Chen Mansion’s gate when it suddenly stopped.

"Second master, someone is blocking the carriage," the driver said, "it’s quite an old man."

At that moment, an elderly voice said, "Is it Erlang in the carriage? I’m Zheng Shi."

Chen Ming opened the carriage door and "surprisedly" said, "So, it’s Elder Zheng, please come up and talk."

Recognizing him, the driver jumped down and helped the old man onto the carriage.

Zheng Shi, sixty-something years old, looked quite aged with fully white hair and was somewhat unsteady on his feet.

It’s often said that living to seventy is rare in life, and Zheng Shi, having never practiced martial arts, couldn’t possibly compare to a martial artist.

Chen Ming said, "Elder Zheng, it has been a long time, I haven’t visited over the years, that’s my negligence."

Zheng Shi hastily said, "Erlang, you’re too polite, you’ve been diligent in your training these years, your cultivation has progressed rapidly. If your father knew, he’d surely be gratified." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Chen Ming asked, "Has Elder Zheng come specifically to my home?"

Zheng Shi sighed, a hint of bitterness appearing on his wrinkled face, "Truth be told, I’m ashamed. Four years ago, I couldn’t help at all and let you land in prison, disgracing your grandfather and father..."

Toward the end, he choked up, tears flowing from his cloudy old eyes.

Chen Ming consoled, "Elder Zheng, you’re being too harsh. This is the Qi Family’s wrongdoing, what does it have to do with you? If you hadn’t pleaded afterwards, how could I have come out so soon? I’ve always remembered this favor."

"Erlang, heed my advice. They say enemies, when possible, should reconcile rather than fight. The Qi Family is rich and powerful with other powerful allies; they aren’t easy to provoke. If now the Qi Family is willing to..."

"Elder Zheng!"

Chen Ming interrupted him, saying, "You know me, I’ve always been clear about my grudges. If the Qi Family really wants to reconcile, then bring me the heads of Lu Zhihao, Qi Xingdong, that maid who framed me, and his concubine. Only then will this be settled."

"This..."

Hearing such harsh conditions, Elder Zheng didn’t know what to say for a moment.

Qi Xingdong is the legitimate son of the Qi Family, no matter how wary they might be of Chen Ming, it’s impossible for them to kill their own legitimate son.

He realized that this Chen Erlang actually had no intention of reconciling with the Qi Family.

In the end, he said nothing, only sighed, "Sigh—"

PS: First update requests monthly tickets.