Promise!

Chapter 173, Slaughter
Zhuang Jin invited Fu Shousong and Qiu Yizhi to come.

"The animal tendon ointment that Venerable Zhuang asked me to buy with money has just arrived. Since Venerable Zhuang is going to the county town below, I can take it with him... By the way, Venerable Zhuang invited the two of us here, I suppose he wants to repay a favor?"

"If there's anything you need, Master Zhuang, please speak frankly."

The two men were quite respectful, not pretending to be confused or denying anything. At their level, it was impossible for them to do something so shameless. Besides, the favor they owed Zhuang Jin wasn't much, and things shouldn't be difficult. It would be better to repay it sooner rather than later and save themselves from worrying about it.

"Indeed, I need your help with something."

Zhuang Jin's words were tactful, but in reality, he wanted to fulfill his debt of gratitude: "I will be going to the county seat as a garrison commander, and who knows when I'll return or what level I'll be at? Naturally, I should use the favors these two have done for me as soon as possible."

"Firstly, I would like to obtain a prescription that can replace the Beast Tendon Ointment and accelerate the accumulation of each meridian in the Meridian Opening Realm."

On their way to the next county town, Shen Xianhong said he would increase the supply of Qingyuan Liquid to the wealthy households in the county. Basic cultivation resources such as high-grade Heiyuan Powder would not be a problem, but resources like Beast Tendon Paste that accelerate cultivation were rare, so they would have to find a substitute.

"can."

Fu Shousong nodded slightly in agreement, secretly admiring Zhuang Jin's perfect judgment.

The favor he owed Zhuang Jin before wasn't a huge amount, but it wasn't insignificant either. A prescription to accelerate the accumulation of Qi in the Meridian Opening Realm was just right... If it were some kind of secret technique or special prescription to help break through the bottleneck of the Meridian Opening Realm, even if the effect was poor, the favor wouldn't be enough. In that case, even if Zhuang Jin asked, he wouldn't agree.

"Secondly, I will be going to the county below and would like to ask... such and such..." Zhuang Jin looked at Qiu Yizhi.

Upon hearing this, Qiu Yizhi ordered his attendant to investigate. He returned a moment later and looked at Zhuang Jin, saying, "Why go to such lengths for Zhuang Jin? I have better channels to accomplish this myself..."

……

After listening to Qiu Yizhi's words, Zhuang Jin went out to make some preparations. When he returned, his attendant Yue Song told him that the head of the family had invited him.

Zhuang Jin went past.

"Master Zhuang is about to go down to the county town below, and I have prepared two things for him."

Shen Xianhong pointed to an item on the table: "First, a piece of high-grade earth-level beast hide armor."

The high-grade earth-level beast hide armor can effectively block the force of martial artists at the sixth level of the Meridian Opening Realm. It can be said that martial artists at the Meridian Opening Realm are much safer with this armor on their bodies.

This item is extremely precious; even a high-ranking official in the Shen family might not possess it!
"The second thing is a Meridian Opening Pill... It's best to break through in martial arts on your own. If you can avoid taking this, try not to... Of course, if you face a crisis and urgently need strength, then that's another story."

This item is equally impressive, with a simple and direct effect. It can help break through the bottlenecks of the first to sixth meridians of the Meridian Opening Realm, making it an extremely precious item for Meridian Opening martial artists, and arguably the most valuable resource among high-end resources.

—The secret methods and special prescriptions that Fu Shousong and Qiu Yizhi mentioned as effective for breaking through the bottleneck of the Meridian Opening Realm are much less effective. The Meridian Opening Pill is recognized as the best product for breaking through the bottleneck of the Meridian Opening Realm.

Zhuang Jin has no bottlenecks, so he doesn't need to use it. He can also be used as a bargaining chip, and at crucial moments, he might play an unexpected role.

"But these are far too precious! So precious that I almost dare not accept them! Back then, Sun Mingbi schemed against Fu Honggang and made a great contribution, obtaining a Meridian Opening Pill only through his background and connections… What merit have I accumulated to receive two such items at once?"

Zhuang Jin hesitated slightly after thinking about all this: "This..."

"Back then, Master Zhuang didn't hold back when he gave me those Yunyin tea leaves... Consider it an investment in Master Zhuang... You might need them when you go down to the county town, so please accept them!"

"Thank you, Patriarch." Seeing Shen Xianhong say this, Zhuang Jin thought for a moment and then accepted the gift with a deep bow.

At this moment, he felt quite emotional: it was only half an hour before the high-level meeting, and Shen Xianhong had already prepared two items, which meant that he would start taking action as soon as the meeting ended.

'Although all of this is largely due to my own value, judging by actions rather than intentions, and only by what the other party has done for me, they have indeed been quite good to me... I must acknowledge this favor,' Zhuang Jin thought to himself.

"It doesn't have to be this way."

Shen Xianhong raised his hand to stop Zhuang Jin's grand gesture, and looked at him with a complicated expression, saying, "Zhuang Gongfeng, you only need to remember: if you do not betray the Shen family, the Shen family will not betray you."

He truly admired Zhuang Jin greatly: even after reaching the Meridian Opening Realm, he remained as diligent as ever, without becoming arrogant or complacent; at the end of January, when he stood up for Shen Xuchen, Fu Shousong and Qiu Yizhi went over without prior notice, explained the situation, and immediately understood and cooperated seamlessly, demonstrating his quick wit; during the previous vote, when he was sent to the county town to investigate a case and piloted as a town magistrate, he bravely took on the task given the choice…

Yes, Zhuang Jin's breakthrough to the second meridian realm did not escape Shen Xianhong's notice—the Turtle Breathing Technique was indeed remarkable, concealing the fluctuations of qi and blood and internal energy. Ordinary people who had broken through to the third, fourth, fifth, or sixth meridian realm, or even the fetal breathing realm, might not be able to detect it without careful attention. However, the innate realm had already entered another level, and its mysteries were beyond the imagination of those below the innate realm.

"Jin will keep these words in mind."

Zhuang Jin thought for a moment, then asked, "Patriarch, what can I do to investigate the case in the county town this time?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Xianhong pondered for a moment and said, "The bottom line is: the supply of medicinal herbs cannot be affected."

"I understand, thank you for your kindness, Patriarch!" Upon hearing this, Zhuang Jin felt a sense of relief, knowing that she no longer needed to worry about being bound by rules and regulations.

What does it mean to not affect the supply of medicinal materials? As long as the basic structure of the Fei and Yao families is maintained, the collection and tribute of medicinal materials will not be affected.

In other words, he can act with complete freedom, and if necessary, he can even purge the upper echelons of the two powerful families... This is tantamount to giving him a royal sword!
In other words, Zhuang Jin was recruited from outside the family as a martial arts student, and his influence within the Shen family was limited. He continued to cultivate the Black Fiend Technique, and it was difficult for him to have children, unlike other retainers who had large families and a large number of followers. That's why Shen Xianhong was so tolerant of him and didn't worry that Zhuang Jin would act recklessly for personal gain and take over the family.

“You may do whatever you want, Zhuang Gongfeng. You have me behind you, and the entire Shen family behind you... The Shen family is mine, and you will eventually have a share in it too.”

……

Zhuang Jin returned from the family head Shen Xianhong's place, and after getting ready, she spent a few more moments with Chen Yun. It was almost time to set off.

……

On the very night Zhuang Jin set off—

Linji County, Fei family.

The night was dark and windy, the bright moon appeared and disappeared among the clouds, and a flock of bats fluttered by.

"Cough cough!"

The old master of the Fei family, Fei Yuanlong, had gray hair and a withered appearance. He coughed and suddenly waved his hand: "Manager Chen, take the servants and leave the courtyard."

"Yes!" After all the servants and maids withdrew from the courtyard and kept their distance.

Fei Yuanlong frowned and looked in one direction, then turned his head slightly to look in another direction, but felt that neither was right. He tapped the ground with his dragon-headed cane: "This old man is old and lacks energy, and I also have old ailments. If Hall Master Sikong wants to play some kind of hide-and-seek game, then I'm afraid I won't play along."

"I disagree with that. In Linji County, who doesn't know that Old Master Fei is still vigorous despite his advanced age? Now that he's over sixty, he can still sleep with several women every night!"

Amidst these sounds, the uninvited guest finally appeared, leaving behind several spiraling afterimages in the dim light, which then merged into a slender figure. This was none other than Sikong Rui, the deputy head of the Punishment Hall of the Medicine King Gang, a martial artist of the Tongmai lineage, and the mastermind behind the robbery of the Yao family's medicinal herbs in Linji County!
"What a handsome Qinggong!"

Fei Yuanlong seemed not to hear Sikong Rui's words, which were half praise and half sarcasm. He only saw the other's skills, tightened his grip on the dragon-headed cane, and narrowed his eyes.

The opponent is indeed formidable, but this old man is no pushover either. If it comes to a bloody battle, even if he dies, he can still inflict heavy damage on the opponent.

"Old Master Fei, please don't be so hostile. I'm here to thank the Fei family for their help and for providing intelligence, which made our operation so successful... Thanks to the Fei family, the Yao family is in big trouble this time... This has truly been a pleasant collaboration!"

“I don’t understand what Hall Master Sikong is saying. If Hall Master Sikong has come here just to say these divisive things, then he has come to the wrong place.”

Fei Yuanlong snorted coldly, tapped his dragon-headed cane, and his aura burst forth, like an old lion awakening. Cracks appeared on the bluestone slabs about ten feet in length around him.

This attitude clearly indicates that they do not acknowledge any connection with the Medicine King Gang. It also implies that the Shen family and the Medicine King Gang are sworn enemies. How could the people from the Shen family who came to investigate possibly listen to the one-sided story and provocative words of this Medicine King Gang thief?

"I've heard that when Master Fei was young, he had a fiery temper. I didn't expect him to still have such a temper even in his old age! Master Fei, you shouldn't be so absolute. Everyone in the world is after 'profit.' As long as there is enough benefit, friends can become enemies, and enemies can become friends. For example, Master Fei, look at what I have in my hand."

Sikong Rui took out a box, opened it, and revealed its contents.

"What?! This is..." Fei Yuanlong sensed this aura, and for the first time tonight, his expression, which had remained calm throughout, changed.

"Old Master Fei, don't try to take it by force. I'm confident in my lightness skill. Besides, this is just a sample; it can only suppress some injuries and pain... If Old Master Fei wants the rest, why not cooperate with me again..."

Sikong Rui explained his purpose: "The retainer sent by the Shen family to investigate this time... drugged... captured... no need to worry about the aftermath, just frame the Yao family... I heard that Old Master Fei has been eyeing that Yao family genius for a long time, but the other party is like a coward, and has never succeeded... This is a good opportunity to openly and fairly eliminate the entire Yao family in one fell swoop!"

"Master Sikong seems to know about the feud between the Fei and Yao families, and he speaks very kindly. However, I can't trust the reputation of the Medicine King Gang. How can I be sure that after the deed is done, Master Sikong won't turn around and sell out my Fei family?" Fei Yuanlong took a deep breath and sneered.

"What good would it do me to do this? It's always good to leave room for maneuver; we might be able to cooperate again in the future! In that case, I might as well provide you with some free information: Yao Shaoli, the genius of the Yao family, is not only at the eleventh meridian realm on the surface, but he has actually reached the twelfth meridian realm. Who knows, he might break through to the meridian-opening realm one day... In Linji County, the Fei and Yao families are both powerful. The younger generation of your Fei family is not as good as the Yao family. If you don't do something, you are destined to decline!"

Sikong Rui spoke seductively, like a devil's temptation: "Old Master Fei agreed to cooperate, not for himself, but for the entire Fei family... Old Master Fei, you can also think about it: if the cooperation succeeds, your injuries will heal, and your lifespan will be extended... At the same time, the blame will be shifted onto the Yao family, eliminating a major threat..."

"After this is done, I will return home with a great reputation, and the Fei family will still be the largest family in Linji County, no, it should be said that they are the only large family in Linji County..."

……

That same evening, a little later, another prominent family in Linji County, the Yao family...

"Congratulations on your breakthrough to the Meridian Opening Realm, son," Sikong Rui said.

Although the other party did not come out, he could feel the faint, unstable, and intense presence deep within the Yao family, a presence that was incomparable to the Qi Condensation Realm.

Yao Gongyan, the patriarch of the Yao family and a martial artist of the Twelve Meridians, looked wary upon hearing this: "If I remember correctly, Hall Master Sikong, our transaction is already complete. What are you doing here?"

"It's truly disheartening to see Patriarch Yao's attitude like this. In our previous cooperation, my Medicine King Gang paid the price of a Meridian Opening Pill, and the Yao family cooperated in looting the medicinal herbs. Wasn't the cooperation quite pleasant? How come Patriarch Yao is turning his back on us like this?"

Seeing that the other party remained unmoved, Sikong Rui stopped beating around the bush and went straight to the point: "I came here this time because I want to cooperate with the Yao family again... The Shen family sent an investigator... If he comes to the Yao family... drug him... and capture him..."

Upon hearing this, Yao Gongyan sneered, "Does Hall Master Sikong think I'm a fool? Cooperation is about mutual benefit, but this time I only see Vice Hall Master Sikong taking the credit, while my Yao family bears all the risks. Is this Hall Master Sikong's sincerity? If the Shen family's investigator dies in my Yao family, how can my Yao family bear the responsibility? Wouldn't we be doomed?"

"Does the Yao family want my sincerity? When you take the Meridian Opening Pill to break through, the impact of the medicine will inevitably damage your meridians to some extent, which is slightly different from breaking through on your own. This can be detected by taking your pulse... Doesn't my decision not to expose our previous deal count as sincerity? After handling the aftermath of the cooperation and killing that Shen family elder, we will cooperate to shift the blame onto the Fei family, thus eliminating a major threat to the Yao family. Doesn't that count as sincerity?"

"Sect Master Sikong, is this... a threat against me?!"

"It's not a threat, it's for the good of the Yao family... The old master of the Fei family is keeping an eye on your son, forcing Young Master Yao to hide his cultivation level even though he has already broken through the Twelve Meridians. He has to stay in the secret chamber of his house all day, afraid to go out, and can only be guarded by hundreds of crossbowmen and armored soldiers... With such hatred, doesn't the Yao family head want to take revenge?"

Sikong Rui coaxed, "Don't worry, our Medicine King Gang will handle all the aftermath. Your Yao family is just a victim in this case of looting medicinal herbs. Who would have thought that it was you who were behind it?"

"I've also made thorough preparations... to shift the blame onto the Fei family... After this cooperation, your Yao family will be the largest and only large family in Linji County, while I will return to the prefectural city having rendered a great service. From now on, we'll have nothing to do with each other. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

……

In the heart of Linji County, in the most bustling commercial district in the north, lies a small courtyard, a hidden gem in the city, which is the core hideout of the Medicine King Gang in Linji County.

"Hehehehe...coococoococoococoo!"

Sikong Rui returned from the Yao family. The small boy darted around the courtyard, jumping and leaping about. His ugly face was full of twisted smiles, clearly pleased with his previous scheming and manipulation.

Just then, a martial artist's voice rang out from outside: "My lord, there is news from the prefectural city!"

Sikong Rui stopped what she was doing, regained her composure in front of outsiders, and went out to take the intelligence: "Oh, just as I expected, the investigators sent by the Shen family are from the same lineage? And the one who came to Linji County is... Zhuang Jin? That genius who has made my Medicine King Gang suffer several times?!"

He glanced at Zhuang Jin's profile in the appendix: exceptional talent, smooth sailing all the way... his portrait showed him to be extremely handsome. Seeing all this, a ferocious, twisted hatred appeared on his face: "Hehehehehe, what genius? This time, I'm going to turn you into a dead genius! I've made arrangements with the Fei family and the Yao family, laying a net wide open, waiting for you to jump in... all those past glories are nothing but paving the way for my greater achievements!"

"Once this annoying Zhuang Jin is dead, the Fei family and the Yao family, two powerful families, can also be brought under the control of my Medicine King Gang... Ha, how naive! They've boarded my ship and think they can get away?"

Sikong Rui raised both hands high, then suddenly pulled them back and clenched them tightly, as if he were holding everything in his palm: "Zhuang Jin, the Fei family, the Yao family, they are all in my pocket!"

In this round, he's going to sweep them all!

……

On May 29th, the third day after Zhuang Jin set off, a man dressed as a scholar in a blue robe arrived at the entrance of the Linji County government office that afternoon.

……

(End of this chapter)