From slave trader to the Immortal Lord of Ten Thousand Laws

The capital city, the Xu family.

Xu Qingyue returned to the mansion and went straight to the study. Her beautiful face was covered with a light frost, and she looked somewhat worried.

Qiao'er followed behind, and said irritably:

"Miss, that Zhao Jiaren is extremely rude. He is not some kind of messenger of the mountain god, yet he makes such demands of you."

"well....."

Xu Qingyue sighed deeply and said, "My family needs someone's help, how can we bypass Zhao Jiaren, this gatekeeper?"

As she spoke, she gracefully walked to the desk, sat down lightly, raised her hand to rub her temples, and her face showed undisguised weariness.

Upon hearing this, Qiao'er pouted even more, and said indignantly, "Miss, I just can't stand it!"

"My family is seeking help from the messenger, what does it have to do with Zhao Jiaren? We are offering him such a great fortune as the 'Longevity Ointment' with both hands, but he refuses it and insists on having you do this martial arts contest to find a husband. It's really unreasonable."

She grew angrier as she spoke, her chest heaving slightly, and continued, "In my opinion, he's just trying to take advantage of your distress, to bully you because you're so eager to save your father! Everyone in the capital knows that young master Zhao is in love with you..."

Listening to Qiao'er's rapid-fire complaints, Xu Qingyue smiled bitterly and pondered:

"His statement suggests that the Zhao family has a strong person they can rely on, and they are not afraid to compete in the arena."

"My family should also make preparations early."

Upon hearing this, Qiao'er's eyes widened: "Miss, are you really going to agree to his martial arts contest to find a husband?"

"This servant feels that something is very strange about this!"

Xu Qingyue pursed her lips and remained silent, only leaning her body deeper into the back of the chair, as if seeking a safe shoulder to lean on. How could she not know that something was amiss?

However... there was simply no other way.

Just as I was worrying, I heard a report coming from the doorway:

"Miss, Young Master Zhao has arrived."

Upon hearing this, Xu Qingyue tidied her hair and clothes slightly, and said to the servant outside the door:

"Quickly, go and invite him into the house."

"Yes."

The servant agreed and hurriedly left the study.

Before long, footsteps could be heard in the distance.

Zhao Jiaren entered through the main gate, dressed in a sky-blue silk robe with a jade belt around his waist. He walked with ease, his face bearing his usual faint smile, which was three parts shrewdness and seven parts arrogance. As he walked, his eyes shone brightly as he surveyed the familiar Xu family residence.

How many years have passed?

Five years... or ten years?

Zhao Jiaren couldn't remember.

He only remembered that the last time he visited, his father brought him to apologize. Now, the Xu family was asking him for a favor.

Zhao Jiaren smiled, feeling exceptionally pleased with himself.

As Zhao Jiaren approached the hanging flower gate, his gaze suddenly sharpened. He saw a burly figure, as imposing as an iron tower, walking towards him from the corner of the corridor. The man had broad shoulders and a thick back, fierce eyes like a bear, and skin as bronze as cast iron. He was carefully holding a wooden box in his hands, which felt heavy in his hands.

"That's... Chen Kun?"

"What is he doing here?!"

Zhao Jiaren was stunned.

Dong Yunqi glanced at him and saw that the man was walking hurriedly, with an barely suppressed excitement in his expression. He stared at the wooden box for a while longer and then said:

"That box contains ginseng and longevity paste."

"Ointment?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Jiaren turned his head and smiled slyly, saying with schadenfreude, "This is going to be quite a show..."

Before he could finish speaking, the servant leading the way saw the two stop and quickly bowed to remind them:

"This way, gentlemen."

"Um."

Zhao Jiaren grunted in acknowledgment, his expression composed, and followed the servant through the corridors and courtyards.

Before long, Xu Qingyue stood gracefully under the study corridor. The morning light cast a pale golden halo around her, and her beautiful almond-shaped eyes seemed to be smiling through tears. She looked so pitiful that it was impossible to look away.

But Zhao Jiaren still shifted his gaze to her bulging chest and gave her a fierce look.

"Miss Xu."

He raised his hand in a gesture of respect from afar, his voice clear and resonant, carrying a hint of deliberate familiarity.

"I, Zhao, have taken the liberty of visiting you; I hope you will forgive my intrusion, Miss."

Xu Qingyue gave a slight bow, and when she looked up again, her face was adorned with a polite smile:

"Young Master Zhao, you are too kind. Your presence is an honor to my humble abode. Please come in and have some tea."

As she spoke, she gestured with her delicate hand.

Zhao Jiaren shook his head and smiled:

"There's no need for tea; let's get down to business first." After saying that, he glanced at Dong Yunqi beside him.

With a smile playing on his lips, he said to Xu Qingyue:

"Since you've come regarding your father's matter, why don't you, sir, go and see how Master Xu is doing?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Qingyue's heart skipped a beat. Her face showed both anticipation and trepidation, and she quickly curtsied, saying:

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Immortal Master."

"Please follow Qingyue."

She led the way, with Qiao'er following closely behind.

Zhao Jiaren and Dong Yunqi walked side by side.

The group walked along the covered walkway to a quiet courtyard. Before even entering, they could smell a strong medicinal aroma.

"Squeak!"

The sandalwood door opened slightly, and the light inside the room became dim.

Several maids waited by, the embers of the medicine stove beside them still warm.

Xu Qingyue moved gracefully to the bedside, waved away the maids, and said in a slightly trembling voice:

"My lord messenger, this... is my father."

Dong Yunqi nodded.

He walked calmly to the bedside, but instead of taking the pulse like a typical doctor, he stood there quietly, his gaze clear and serene, sweeping over Master Xu's dark forehead, sunken eyes, and lips that occasionally murmured in his sleep, and in a moment, he understood the illness.

Zhao Jiaren, who had been watching closely, noticed that Dong Yunqi had remained silent for a long time, so he coughed lightly and tentatively asked:

"Sir... what do you think of Mr. Xu's illness...?"

Dong Yunqi remained silent, his face showing neither sorrow nor joy.

This was a pre-arranged code between the two of them: if they could save him, they would remain silent; if they could not, Dong Yunqi would personally decline the offer.

Silence is the best cure for this illness.

Having received this tacit approval, Zhao Jiaren's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and his confidence surged.

He abruptly turned to face Xu Qingyue, who was nervously wringing her handkerchief beside him, and with a smirk, said smugly:

"Miss Xu, this illness... in the messenger's opinion, seems not difficult to treat."

"Then... what does the Immortal Master mean...?"

Xu Qingyue pressed for an answer.

Instead of answering directly, Zhao Jiaren changed the subject and said with a smile:

"Save him? Of course he can be saved. Your Excellency is all-powerful and has already discerned the crux of the matter. You have the means to exorcise evil, restore righteousness, and bring the dead back to life. However..."

He deliberately dragged out his words, his gaze lingering on Xu Qingyue's flawless face before he pinched her buttocks hard, and said with a forced smile:

"However, when it comes to saving lives... it depends on the occasion and the wording."

"Your father's illness is chronic and difficult to cure. If you, sir, were to cure him quietly, others would only say that the Xu family is exceptionally lucky, or that your father was already on the verge of recovery. How would that demonstrate your 'meritorious deeds of saving lives and helping the world'?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Qingyue felt somewhat puzzled.

Why should helping people and saving lives be something that everyone knows about?

How come this is quite different from the mountain god messenger who saved me from the old Taoist priest?

That person was completely unknown.

This person... however, wants to show off in front of others.

Xu Qingyue frowned slightly, and a hint of suspicion appeared in her eyes as she looked at Dong Yunqi.

Zhao Jiaren smiled.

Seeing Xu Qingyue frown and Qiao'er's face contort with resentment, he felt even more smug and said, word by word:

"In my opinion, it would be better to choose an auspicious day, set up a high platform in the most prosperous part of the capital, and ask the messenger to perform a ritual in public to exorcise evil spirits and cure your father's illness."

"At that time, we will invite all the gentry and common people of the capital to witness the ceremony, so that everyone can see the divine power firsthand. In this way, we can not only save your father's life, but also proclaim the mountain god's grace, so that all the people of our Great Qian Dynasty will know that if they sincerely believe in him from now on, they will surely receive divine protection!"

"Miss Xu, what do you think of this matter?"

Upon hearing this, the air in the room seemed to freeze instantly.

Xu Qingyue's delicate body trembled slightly.

How could she not know what Zhao Jiaren was planning?

This was intended to turn her father's life and death into a public ritual, completely exposing the Xu family's pleas and embarrassment to the public eye, and further elevating the reputation of the mountain god's messenger and the Zhao family to their peak!

And she herself...

Even the entire Xu family.

In this ritual, they were merely a backdrop and accompaniment to highlight the power of the Zhao family and the immortal master!

Xu Qingyue was unwilling, but felt resentful and powerless.

She looked up at Dong Yunqi.

But the white-robed Taoist remained calm, as if what Zhao Jiaren said had nothing to do with him.

He simply stood there quietly, enveloped in a faint, ethereal aura, which made him appear even more distant and cold in the bedroom filled with the smell of medicine and scheming.

Zhao Jiaren maintained his fake smile and questioned:

"Miss Xu, what do you think about this matter? Whether or not your father is saved is now entirely up to you."

His words were cold and threatening.

Xu Qingyue was in a state of turmoil, torn between her desperate desire to save her father and the reputation of her family, and even her personal dignity.

Looking at her father, who lay on the bed, emaciated and muttering incessantly, she recalled his past kindness.

She thought of... her mother...

She still remembers what her mother said before she died:

"Your father has worked hard to support the family, so please don't embarrass him in front of outsiders. If you were to manage the household in the future, you would know how difficult this path is... If I could, I truly wouldn't want... You are the daughter of the Xu family..."

Whew~~

Is this what you mean by the hardships of managing a household?

Mother...

Xu Qingyue took a deep breath, met Zhao Jiaren's determined gaze, and said firmly:

"Everything... is entirely up to the Immortal Master's arrangement."

...

...

"Tap tap tap—"

Holding the vermilion-lacquered and gold-painted wooden box, Chen Kun's face lit up as if he had found a treasure. He walked briskly through several covered corridors and arrived at the martial arts field on the east side of the front yard.

The terrain here is open, paved with soft sand and bluestone slabs, flat and solid. Several rows of weapon racks stand on the side of the field, with all kinds of weapons, including knives, spears, swords, halberds, axes, hooks and forks. Dozens of wooden dummy stakes are scattered in the field, and the stakes are all marked with the marks of punches and kicks. In the southwest corner, there are also several stone locks of different sizes, the heaviest of which is probably more than two hundred pounds.

At this moment, about a dozen guards, all dressed in black short jackets, stood in the field training.

But no one was wielding swords; they were all practicing boxing.

Practice the Xu Family Fist.

Chen Kun strode into the arena, his nose catching the salty, fishy smell of sweat, but he didn't care. His gaze swept across the faces, some young and some experienced, before finally settling heavily on the three men.

"Li Nian! Qin Lie! Wang Wu! You three, come forward!"

Li Nian, who was sparring with a guard, stopped his fist upon hearing the sound. He raised an eyebrow, exchanged a glance with Qin Lie and Wang Wu, who had also stopped, and the three of them stepped forward together, clasped their hands in a salute, and said:

"Instructor Chen!"

"Um."

Chen Kun nodded slightly, saying nothing more. He simply tucked the wooden box tightly under his arm and scrutinized the three faces one by one. He noticed that Li Nian had sharp eyes and a steady demeanor, while Wang Wu, though looking tired, was still agile.

Qin Lie, on the other hand, has the most solid foundation. Over the past few months, he has been the one who has practiced this boxing manual the most outstandingly.

Chen Kun's eyes held a complex expression.

In the past, if he had obtained a treasure like the longevity ointment, he would never have shared it with anyone else, even if it meant death.

But times have changed.

He had boasted to Xu Qingyue that if he failed to properly train the guards, he would be held responsible.

Right now, after carefully examining the wooden box, I have no choice but to reluctantly part with it.

"Several months have passed since I passed on the boxing manual to you, and only the three of you have mastered it to a certain degree."

Ok?

Is this meant to be a compliment?

Li Nian felt a chill run down his spine.

He knew Chen Kun was arrogant and rarely praised him to his face like this; his behavior today must have something to do with it.

really!

Chen Kun abruptly changed the subject, solemnly placing the wooden box under his arm in his palm, looking intently at the three of them, and said in a deep voice:

"There is something inside this wooden box; consuming it will greatly benefit your martial arts progress!"

"Today, I will bestow it upon the three of you!"

hiss....

Upon hearing this, the other guards in the room all turned their heads, some gasping in surprise, others looking at the three with envy.

Chen Kun opened the wooden box.

The contents of the wooden box had already been divided into three parts.

He took out a copy and handed it to Li Nian, his eyes filled with expectation: "You three are the most promising talents I value most. Do not waste this treasure. After taking it, carefully comprehend its meaning and practice diligently. You must make a name for yourselves by mastering this boxing manual!"

"At that time, I will choose one of you three and impart all my knowledge to him, making him my last disciple!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it still made Li Nian's eardrums ache.

A closed-door disciple? A disciple who imparts all his knowledge?!

This...this...this is the perfect opportunity for him to finally stand tall and rise from humble beginnings!

"Thank you so much, Coach!"

Li Nian bowed deeply in excitement: "I... will certainly live up to your expectations, Instructor, and will do my utmost to master that style of boxing!"

"Good! Good! Good!"

Seeing their respectful demeanor, Chen Kun couldn't stop smiling. He waved his hand and said, "Go, make good use of them, and don't let my good intentions go to waste."

"yes!"

The three nodded in unison, and only retreated after Instructor Chen left.

But a sinister feeling arose in Li Nian's heart.

When he received the reward, he saw Chen Kun's expression clearly. When the reward was given to Wang Wu, Chen Kun's face was quite indifferent, as if he was afraid of ruining some valuable item. But when Qin Lie received the reward, Chen Kun's expression became quite enthusiastic.

It was as if he were looking at... his chosen disciple.

"I can't let him steal my disciple position."

Li Nian's face was gloomy. He glanced at Qin Lie sideways, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

Qin Lie walked ahead and felt a chill on his back, as if a coldness was creeping up his spine to his toes.

He paused for a moment, then continued striding forward.

Wang Wu, however, saw things clearly.

He witnessed the entire scene, his lips trembled for a moment, then he calmed down, caught up with Li Nian, and said anxiously:

"Brother Li, wait a moment!"

"Oh? What is it?"

Li Nian stopped and looked back at Wang Wu.

To be honest, he didn't take Wang Wu seriously.

Even though the other person also received a reward from Instructor Chen, he didn't feel that this person posed a threat to him.

But then Wang Wu raised both hands and presented a wooden box high, bowing his head respectfully as he said:

"I am truly incompetent, and I fear that whether I take this precious medicine or not will be of little use, and I fear I will disappoint Instructor Chen. Brother Li, you are exceptionally talented, so why not... give you this precious medicine? It would increase your chances of mastering the boxing manual, wouldn't it?"

"Huh? For me?"

Li Nian was stunned, truly not expecting this fellow to utter such astonishing words.

He paused, glanced at the wooden box in Wang Wu's hand, his eyes burning with fervor, and laughed:

"What do you want to exchange with me, you scoundrel?"

Wang Wu smiled and shook his head: "I only admire Brother Li, but I don't want anything from him."

Upon hearing this, Qin Lie, who was walking in front, suddenly turned around and asked with a puzzled look:

"Wang Wu, that's a treasure bestowed upon you by Instructor Chen. Are you really going to give it to him?"

As he spoke, he picked up the wooden box again, tucked it under his arm, and gave the two men a sharp look, saying, "This is what I deserve. I won't give it to him. Once I become Master Chen's disciple, I'll make sure others look up to me!"

Upon hearing this, Li Nian's eyes burned with even greater murderous intent.

...

...

"Tap tap tap—"

Jiang She strolled back to the Xu residence from the market. After seeing the ginseng ointment, he searched for it in the market and asked several shops. It was indeed the ginseng ointment on the counter, which had long been in short supply and sold out.

From high-ranking officials and nobles to wealthy families, everyone in the capital was hoping for a new period of prosperity and good fortune.

However, the Xu family did not rush to increase production.

Instead, they deliberately lowered the quantity of goods to create a situation where supply couldn't meet demand, thus creating the illusion that there were too many wolves and not enough meat.

This means that once the ointment is on the shelves, customers who have been eagerly waiting will rush to buy it, fearing that someone else will snatch their share.

"I must say, Xu Qingyue is indeed quite skilled in business."

Jiang She smiled and was about to enter the house when he heard the rumbling sound of a horse-drawn carriage wheel rolling over a bluestone slab behind him.

A pleasant female voice came from the car:

"Miss, we've arrived at the Xu family's residence."

"Yes, come inside with me quickly and buy Jiang She back!"

Ok?

Jiang She raised an eyebrow.

Here comes another lesbian...

However, he did not dislike Zhao Qiaoling.

He dislikes gay people.

after all....

There is a difference between border friction and territorial aggression.