Repayment

Just past the intersection, Wang Chen saw two little girls sitting in front of his home.

One little girl on the left, another little girl on the right.

A basket of green peaches sat between them.

Wang Chen found one of them somewhat familiar and walked over to ask, "Little Ya?"

The two girls had already stood up. The one on the left timidly nodded. "Brother Wang Chen."

The one on the right was a little afraid of strangers and tried to hide behind her companion.

But she failed.

Wang Chen asked curiously, "Little Ya, did you come to see me?"

Little Ya was Madam Chen's daughter, only nine years old this year.

Though her skin was a little dark.

Her features took after her mother's. One could already tell she would grow into a beauty.

Little Ya pursed her lips and picked up the basket beside her. "Brother Wang Chen, my mother asked me to bring you peaches, to thank you for getting rid of the pests in our home."

She added, "They're from our own tree, and they're really sweet."

As she spoke, she unconsciously swallowed.

Wang Chen smiled. "Thank you."

A faint warmth stirred in his heart.

After witnessing the sect's cruelty and the heartlessness of those in power, this dark, skinny little girl gave Wang Chen a warmth he had not felt in a long time.

As for that matter, Wang Chen himself had long since put it behind him.

He rarely considered recompense when helping others.

But it was undoubtedly a pleasant thing when those he helped knew gratitude and repaid kindness.

Wang Chen accepted the heavy basket of peaches.

"You're welcome."

That exchange had clearly exhausted all of Little Ya's courage.

She replied softly, took her companion's hand, and prepared to flee. "Brother Wang Chen, we're leaving."

"Wait."

Wang Chen stopped her.

He put the green peaches into his Storage Bag, then rummaged out a strip of Demonic Beast Marrow Meat and placed it in the basket.

Then he handed it back to Little Ya.

Little Ya froze at once, flustered and at a loss for what to do.

Wang Chen could not help reaching out to rub her head. "Go on."

This little girl reminded Wang Chen of his younger sister in his previous life. She had been just as shy and timid when she was little.

Then she grew up into a Female Demon!

"Thank you, Brother."

Little Ya came back to herself, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks.

With the basket in her left hand and her female companion's hand in her right, she bowed to Wang Chen.

Then she ran off like a startled little rabbit.

Wang Chen laughed silently as he watched the two girls disappear from sight.

He took out a green peach and bit into it.

The fist-sized peach had already been washed, fresh and glistening with moisture. Its pale flesh was sweet and crisp, carrying a hint of tartness; each bite made his mouth water and left fragrance lingering on his lips and teeth.

Though it could not compare with a true Spirit Peach, its sweet, crisp flesh contained a trace of spiritual energy.

It was clearly a fine peach, carefully chosen.

Madam Chen had been thoughtful.

And this pretty widow was very mindful of propriety. She had likely feared that Under the Melon Field and Plum Tree would invite gossip, so she had sent her daughter over with a little companion to deliver the peaches.

Wang Chen ate the large peach clean to the pit.

He wiped his hands and was just about to open the door.

Suddenly, a carriage came galloping over and stopped steadily in front of him.

The Driver leapt down from the carriage seat. It was none other than the bearded man from yesterday!

He cupped his fists to Wang Chen in greeting. "Greetings, Immortal Master!"

Wang Chen asked in puzzlement, "What is it?"

The bearded man said somewhat awkwardly, "Yesterday, Immortal Master gave Wei more than seventy pounds of Spirit Grain. Only today did I learn that grain prices in the city have surged. You gave far too much!"

"What did I think it was."

Wang Chen smiled. "You helped me harvest the rice. You've earned this little bit of Spirit Grain, so don't take it to heart."

This Innate Martial Artist was quite particular about such things.

Honestly, first Madam Chen had brought peaches to repay him, and now the Valley Guest had come to express his thanks.

Wang Chen truly felt much better!

"Immortal Master, you are benevolent and righteous."

The bearded man said in a deep voice, "Wei cannot be anything less than righteous."

"Today, I'll help you plow all ten mu of your Spirit Fields!"

After the Summer Harvest, Spirit Fields had to be plowed immediately and sown with new rice seeds.

Otherwise, once the proper season was missed, there would be no second crop of spirit rice to harvest by winter.

Since every field needed to be deeply turned over, it was quite a grueling job.

Wang Chen had originally planned to start tomorrow.

He had not expected the other man to come to his door and offer to help.

Seeing how resolute the bearded man was, Wang Chen did not bother with empty refusals. "Then I'll trouble you, Brother Wei."

"Leave it to me."

The bearded man was instead delighted.

Patting his chest, he said, "Immortal Master, rest assured. I, Old Wei, am an old hand at farm work!"

Wang Chen believed that.

The bearded man fetched the farming tools from the cart and eagerly ran into the Spirit Fields to start working.

What did it look like when an Innate expert plowed the land?

His efficiency was no worse than that of a small farming machine!

Even Wang Chen watched in amazement.

After giving it some thought, he returned home and entered the kitchen, taking out two strips of Demonic Beast Marrow Meat and placing them on the chopping board.

After repeatedly pounding the Demonic Beast Meat with a mallet, he cut it into small pieces and marinated them with soy sauce and spices.

He lit the stove, and Wang Chen began steaming rice.

Nor did he sit idly before the stove. He kneaded earth in his hands to grind Skill proficiency.

Wang Chen planned to first raise his Earth Stone Technique to the Great Accomplishment level, then dig a huge, sturdy, durable bunker beneath his house.

When the fragrance of rice began drifting through the kitchen, he lifted the pot lid, used the Object Manipulation Technique to bring over the marinated meat chunks, and mixed them into the half-cooked Spirit Rice.

Then he continued to let it steam.

Before long, the fragrance of meat melded with the aroma of rice, enough to make one drool three feet!

By the time the pot of beast meat rice was thoroughly cooked, it was just mealtime.

Wang Chen carried the entire large iron pot out into the courtyard and set it on a small table.

He also brought out bowls, chopsticks, and a rice ladle.

Then he ran outside and called to the bearded man working in the fields, "Brother Wei, come eat!"

The man was helping him plow the fields, doing truly backbreaking work.

It was only right for Wang Chen to treat him to lunch.

Hearing him, the bearded man stopped what he was doing and stroked his bristly beard.

After wiping away his sweat, he came over.

Wang Chen invited the Innate Martial Artist to sit in the courtyard and served him a heaping large bowl of beast meat rice.

The rich fragrance of the meat rice made the bearded man's Adam's apple bob.

His eyes went wide.

"Th-this is far too generous!"

The life of a Rogue Cultivator was difficult. Even a single jin of Spirit Grain had to be split across three meals.

The bowl of rice before him was far too extravagant!

Wang Chen smiled. "It's only a bowl of rice. What's there to be embarrassed about?"

"Eat!"

He served himself a bowl as well, picked up his chopsticks, and wolfed it down.

Seeing Wang Chen act so freely, the somewhat restrained bearded man could not help but relax.

He followed suit and dug in with gusto.

One was an Innate expert, the other had achieved Body Refining Accomplishment; neither had a small appetite.

When they ate, it truly looked like a whirlwind sweeping away clouds!

A huge pot of more than ten jin of beast-meat rice was wiped out completely.

Wang Chen even scraped off a thick layer of scorched rice from the bottom of the pot, giving half of it to the bearded brute as a snack.

Crunch, crunch—it was crisp and fragrant beyond words!

First update delivered.

PS: Readers responded poorly to some of the content in Chapter 46, so it has been revised. It does not affect the plot.