Before I Have Grown Strong, I Shall Turn Heaven and Earth Upside Down!

Zhennan Marquis Estate, in a secluded corner of the southwest.

The night was deep, and the mist hung heavy.

Zhao Ping'an could not stay in the Small Wooden Cabin at all. He stood outside it, gazing into the distance toward Jiang Manor.

Suddenly, an old black dog emerged from the night.

Zhao Ping'an immediately hurried forward and asked impatiently, "Senior Old Black, did you deliver the Greater Revitalizing Pill to Jiang Manor? How is my Mother?"

"Why don't you see who was sent?" Old Black leisurely rolled his eyes at Zhao Ping'an.

Zhao Ping'an continued asking, "Then how is my Mother?"

As Old Black entered the Small Wooden Cabin, he said, "Naturally, the medicine cured her the moment it was taken."

Hearing that his Mother was all right, Zhao Ping'an let out a long breath of relief.

He did not enter the Small Wooden Cabin immediately. Instead, lingering fear in his heart, he swept his gaze over the surrounding buildings, houses, and high walls. Everywhere his eyes reached was within the Zhennan Marquis Estate, deep and unfathomable as the sea.

He clenched his fists, hatred appearing on his face.

Before I have grown strong, I endure. Once I am strong, I shall turn heaven and earth upside down!

The next morning, after Chen Donglai prepared breakfast for Zhao Ping'an, he hurried away and returned to Jiang Manor.

That afternoon, Chen Donglai returned. Besides carrying many things on his back, he also brought a handwritten letter from Jiang Shuyue.

After reading his Mother's handwritten letter, Zhao Ping'an finally felt truly at ease.

Once he had calmed down, Zhao Ping'an began considering how he should live in the days ahead.

"Uncle Chen, just reinforce this Small Wooden Cabin," he told Chen Donglai. "Build two rooms to the left of it—one for you and one for Old Black. Then build another room to the right to serve as an Alchemy Room."

"Sorry to make you carry all the building materials in."

Chen Donglai could not help asking, "Cousin Young Master, where will you live?"

Zhao Ping'an said, "I'll live in the Small Wooden Cabin."

"But..." Chen Donglai grew somewhat anxious.

No matter how much the Small Wooden Cabin was repaired, it was still too small and too dilapidated.

Zhao Ping'an waved his hand, brooking no objection as he interrupted Chen Donglai. "No buts."

With that, he took out a one-hundred-tael Silver Note and handed it to Chen Donglai.

Over the next few days, Chen Donglai continually carried building materials inside. However, when he had transported roughly one-third of them, the Zhennan Marquis Estate guards suddenly refused to let him bring any more building materials into the estate.

The materials were probably only enough to build one room.

"Cousin Young Master, I actually do not wish to live inside the Zhennan Marquis Estate. I can come in during the day to serve you, then stay outside at night," Chen Donglai offered.

After a brief moment of thought, Zhao Ping'an said, "Then I can only trouble you to travel back and forth every day. Rent a courtyard somewhere nearby outside. I'll pay the rent and everything else."

"Thank you, Cousin Young Master."

A few more days passed, and the construction was completed.

The tottering Small Wooden Cabin had been reinforced. To its right stood an Alchemy Room not much larger than the cabin, while the remaining materials had been used to build a doghouse.

Old Black moved into the doghouse cursing, "Zhao Ping'an, you heartless brat! You really are treating me like a dog!"

"Senior Old Black, please forgive me. I have no choice; the conditions are limited," Zhao Ping'an explained helplessly, spreading his hands. "When I get out in the future, I'll build you a house of pure gold."

"Remember that. You owe me a house of pure gold now!" Only then did Old Black settle down. He would take any benefit offered.

Once the Alchemy Room had been built, the Alchemy Furnace moved in, and the medicinal ingredients were purchased, Zhao Ping'an began his daily alchemy routine.

He still refined Hundred Herbs Pills.

Half a year ago, he had obtained a low-grade Pill Recipe—the "Minor Essence Pill." With the blessing of a hundredfold Proficiency Points, he had comprehended a mid-grade Pill Recipe—the "Essence Pill."

However, refining mid-grade Spirit Pills required True Essence.

In order not to expose the fact that he had already begun cultivating, he had only secretly refined a few batches of Essence Pills.

Now that he was under house arrest within the Zhennan Marquis Estate, Zhao Ping'an dared not openly refine Essence Pills all the more.

Still, he had to refine Essence Pills. The essence contained within an Essence Pill was more than ten times that of a Hundred Herbs Pill, and it was purer as well.

By relying solely on Hundred Herbs Pills, his nearly boundless Essence Sea would never be filled.

As for the Ten Thousand Year Ginseng Pill, although it contained an enormous amount of essence, its quantity was limited after all. It was still far from enough to fill his Essence Sea.

He planned to sneak the ingredients needed for Essence Pills into his purchases of Hundred Herbs Pill ingredients. Once he had gathered enough, he would quietly refine a batch.

More than a month passed. At noon one day, Chen Donglai entered the Zhennan Marquis Estate as usual, carrying alchemy ingredients.

After entering the Zhennan Marquis Estate through the back gate, he was walking down a seldom-used alley leading toward the southwest corner when a sturdy young man in gray suddenly stepped out from around a wall and blocked his path.

Seeing the young man's clothes, Chen Donglai knew he was merely an Eighth-Rank Servant of the Zhennan Marquis Estate. Without giving it much thought, he intended to walk around him.

He thought to himself, An Eighth-Rank Servant surely wouldn't dare bully the Cousin Young Master, would he?

However, at that moment, the young man in gray thrust out an arm and continued blocking Chen Donglai's way.

"What is in your bundle? Let me inspect it!" the young man in gray barked. "The Zhennan Marquis Estate is an important place. Bringing prohibited items inside is strictly forbidden."

Chen Donglai vigilantly took two steps back, opening the distance as he declared his identity. "I serve the Young Lord's young son!"

His bundle was filled with valuable medicinal ingredients. Naturally, he could not allow someone to inspect it casually.

"Heh. If I say I'm inspecting it, then I must inspect it!" the young man in gray sneered.

His name was Wang Shiyong. He had watched and investigated Chen Donglai for a long time, so he naturally knew that Zhao Ping'an stood behind Chen Donglai, as well as Zhao Ping'an's identity and circumstances.

He had reached the peak of the Channel Opening Realm three years ago, but he had never been able to afford the expensive Primordial Sea Pill needed to advance into the Primordial Sea Realm.

Once he advanced to the Primordial Sea Realm, not only would his strength increase severalfold, but he could also skip ranks and become a Sixth-Rank Servant of the Zhennan Marquis Estate. His treatment and status would be worlds apart.

Therefore, he had risked everything and set his sights on Zhao Ping'an.

He believed that if he robbed Zhao Ping'an, not only would no one intervene, but perhaps the Young Lord's Wife would even be pleased.

However, he did not yet dare rob Zhao Ping'an directly.

After sneering those words, Wang Shiyong lunged fiercely at Chen Donglai.

Chen Donglai hurriedly struck back, but Wang Shiyong's cultivation was higher, and the martial arts of the Zhennan Marquis Estate that he used were superior. Chen Donglai was no match for him.

After fighting fiercely for the time it took to burn half an incense stick, Chen Donglai was knocked to the ground, and his bundle was snatched away.

Wang Shiyong quickly opened the bundle. Seeing that it was indeed filled with precious medicinal ingredients, he burst into excited laughter.

However, he did not take everything. He carelessly grabbed about half.

Only a trickling stream could flow forever. If he took it all, Zhao Ping'an would be unable to continue refining pills, and there would be nothing left for him to rob.

Moreover, by leaving half behind rather than taking it all, he believed Zhao Ping'an would not react too violently.

"Your bundle indeed contains prohibited items. They must be confiscated!" Wang Shiyong shouted sternly in a pretentious manner before swaggering away with the stolen alchemy ingredients.

More than half an incense stick later, Chen Donglai arrived before Zhao Ping'an's Small Wooden Cabin.

Seeing the obvious injuries on Chen Donglai's body and face, Zhao Ping'an immediately asked with concern, "Uncle Chen, what happened? Who injured you?"

"An Eighth-Rank Servant from the Zhennan Marquis Estate. He stole half the alchemy ingredients." Chen Donglai said shamefully to Zhao Ping'an, "I'm sorry, Cousin Young Master. I failed to protect your alchemy ingredients."

Zhao Ping'an waved his hand and asked with concern, "How are your injuries?"

"I'm fine. They're only superficial wounds," Chen Donglai said, shaking his head.

Zhao Ping'an took out a large Silver Ingot and stuffed it into Chen Donglai's hand. "Uncle Chen, after you leave, find a medical clinic and get properly treated."

Chen Donglai hurriedly pushed the silver ingot back and shook his head. "They're only superficial injuries. They'll heal on their own in a few days. Besides, even if I went to a medical clinic, I wouldn't need this much silver."

"Uncle Chen, you were injured because of me. How can I let you suffer this grievance for nothing?" Zhao Ping'an said earnestly. "Please don't refuse, or I'll feel terrible."

As he spoke, he stuffed the silver ingot back into Chen Donglai's hand.

Then he took the bundle and opened it to assess the losses.

Not only had about half been stolen, but one of the main ingredients for refining Essence Pills had been taken as well.

That main ingredient for Essence Pills was worth Five Hundred Taels.

The total loss exceeded eight hundred taels of silver.

"Cousin Young Master, I'm sorry. I failed to protect your medicinal ingredients," Chen Donglai said again, deeply ashamed.

Zhao Ping'an straightened up and shook his head. "It isn't your fault. Don't blame yourself. By the way, do you know the name of the person who stole the ingredients?"

"I don't." Chen Donglai shook his head even more shamefully. "I could only infer from his clothes that he was an Eighth-Rank Servant of the Zhennan Marquis Estate."

After thinking for a moment, Zhao Ping'an took out a one-hundred-tael Silver Note and gave it to Chen Donglai. "Make some connections with the people of the Zhennan Marquis Estate. Find out that person's name and background."

"Yes, Cousin Young Master." Chen Donglai accepted the Silver Note.

Zhao Ping'an took out two Spirit Talismans and handed them to Chen Donglai. "These are Golden Bell Shield Talismans. If anyone from the Zhennan Marquis Estate bullies you, use them to protect yourself."

He possessed offensive Spirit Talismans, but he feared that if Chen Donglai retaliated and injured a servant of the Zhennan Marquis Estate, the estate would use it as an excuse to harm Chen Donglai.

At present, he could not determine whether the servant who had stolen his alchemy ingredients had acted recklessly on his own or had been secretly instructed by Great Peng Courtyard. Thus, he could only defend passively.

"Thank you, Cousin Young Master." Chen Donglai accepted the two Golden Bell Shield Talismans with gratitude.

Golden Bell Shield Talismans were extremely expensive. They could withstand the full-force strike of an early Primordial Sea Realm expert, and each talisman was worth more than Five Hundred Taels of silver.

Zhao Ping'an added, "There's no need to purchase alchemy ingredients for the next few days."

"Yes, Cousin Young Master," Chen Donglai replied.

That evening, after Chen Donglai left the Zhennan Marquis Estate, he did not return to the courtyard he had rented. Instead, he directly took a carriage back to Jiang Manor.

He felt that the robbery of the alchemy ingredients had to be reported to the master and young lady immediately.

After returning to Jiang Manor, Chen Donglai reported the matter to Jiang Wen and Jiang Shuyue.

Jiang Shuyue's willow brows shot upward. She gritted her teeth in fury, her aura surging unceasingly. Like an enraged mother beast seeing her cub harmed, her powerful presence pressed down on Chen Donglai until he could barely breathe.

"Yue'er, calm down," Jiang Wen hurriedly soothed Jiang Shuyue. "The situation isn't that bad."

Jiang Shuyue barely suppressed her rage.

Jiang Wen asked Chen Donglai, "Do you know that servant from the Zhennan Marquis Estate?"

"I don't." Chen Donglai shook his head. "Since entering the Zhennan Marquis Estate to serve the Cousin Young Master, I have not dared make contact with its people without authorization. However, the Cousin Young Master has already told me to actively make connections and investigate. He even gave me a one-hundred-tael Silver Note."

"Ping'an is still very clever." Jiang Wen turned to Jiang Shuyue.

Yet Jiang Shuyue could not stop tears from falling.

Jiang Wen turned back and continued questioning Chen Donglai. "Describe that servant's appearance, height, and age in detail."

Chen Donglai truthfully described him.

Afterward, Jiang Wen asked Jiang Shuyue, "Do you know him?"

Jiang Shuyue shook her head.

Jiang Wen comforted her, "It's all right. We can spend money to investigate and dig up that servant's name and background."

At noon the next day, Jiang Wen spared no silver or connections and learned Wang Shiyong's name and background.

As it happened, Wang Shiyong's home was not within the Zhennan Marquis Estate.

"Dad, I'm going to warn that Zhennan Marquis Estate servant's family!" Jiang Shuyue said murderously.

Jiang Wen nodded. "It is indeed more appropriate for you to go."

After all, Jiang Shuyue was still one of Zhao Yingpeng's wives or concubines. No matter what, the Zhennan Marquis Estate would not go after Jiang Shuyue over an Eighth-Rank Servant, would it?

Jiang Shuyue immediately strode out. Jiang Wen hurriedly called, "Wait."

Jiang Shuyue stopped and turned to look at her father, waiting for him to speak.

"Be measured in your actions. Do not take lives," Jiang Wen reminded her. "That servant of the Zhennan Marquis Estate merely stole some alchemy ingredients."

Jiang Shuyue said nothing. She turned back around and swiftly headed toward the stables.

Soon, she rode out of Jiang Manor, galloping toward Wang Shiyong's home with murder written across her face.

Upon arriving at Wang Shiyong's home, Jiang Shuyue wasted no words. She directly attacked and brutally beat the entire Wang family, breaking one arm of every adult.

Only then did she warn them coldly, "Tell Wang Shiyong that this only counts as a minor punishment! Make him immediately return my son's things and apologize, or I will kill your entire family, including Wang Shiyong himself."

The entire Wang family lay on the ground, trembling in terror.

They could sense that Jiang Shuyue truly wanted to kill them. There was a reckless, crazed ferocity in her eyes.