Watching Bai Hao's departing back, County Lieutenant Li's eyes grew gloomy as well.
"Bai Family's reach is truly long. Once I have my hands free, this official will make these Lineages understand who the true master of Luoshan County is."
With the Sky Shaker Bandits' army watching like a tiger ready to pounce, now was not the time to purge the territory.
Hero's Tower, Ren Family.
"Father, your daughter nearly didn't make it back." Ren Xue sobbed aggrievedly.
After hearing what had happened, Ren Pingsheng was still shaken. He held his daughter and comforted her.
"I never thought Bai Hao was that kind of person. Your father was blind and misjudged him. Even among those on the Human Ranking, there are no shortage of people with vile hearts."
The father and daughter ground their teeth in fury, as if they had been bitten by a venomous snake. At the same time, they were deeply grateful to the Young Hero in the Dragon Face Mask.
If Zhou Qiming had not appeared in time, Tian Liang would likely have succeeded. For Hero's Tower, that would have been a devastating blow and a tremendous humiliation.
"He did a good deed without leaving his name behind—that is what a true hero does. Xue'er, quickly fetch fifteen pounds of top-grade Silver Kiss King Snake Meat and send it over to thank our benefactor."
Ren Pingsheng was a businessman who understood repaying kindness. On top of the ten pounds, he had added some more.
His daughter's chastity and life were worth far more than a thousand taels of silver and ten pounds of Exotic Meat. The other party had not greedily demanded more, but the Ren Family could not fail to read the situation and take the initiative.
What surprised Ren Pingsheng most was that, according to Ren Xue's description, that hero was young but possessed extraordinary methods and strength. He had been able to raise a hand and suppress the Jade Thief Hand, proving that he, like Bai Hao, could make it onto the Human Ranking.
His Hero's Tower had a vast enterprise and needed to win over Human Ranking Heavenly Prodigies as its foundation. That was why he had wanted to marry Bai Hao into the family earlier.
Now, the mysterious Young Hero's strength was unfathomable. He would sooner or later become known on the Human Ranking. If Hero's Tower won him over and invested in him, it too would rise with the tide. Perhaps it could even expand its business into Tianhe Prefecture.
"Xue'er, bathe and change into something more attractive. Remember to be sincere in your attitude. Hero's Tower can offer him the position of Attendant. Even if you have to sacrifice your beauty, you must do everything you can to win him over."
Ren Pingsheng had made his decision and reminded her again. The potential and future of a Human Ranking Heavenly Prodigy were astonishing. Once he matured, there was a high probability he would become a grandmaster magnate, making him worth investing in at any cost.
"Yes, I will do my best..." Ren Xue's face flushed with embarrassment, and her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
She had not expected her father to change his attitude so drastically. He had kicked Bai Hao aside and switched his allegiance to another promising seed.
Ren Xue did not resist her father's arrangements too much, either. This was the cruelty of the world. Without strength or the backing of a Noble Family, one could not control one's own fate.
Even though her father was the master of Hero's Tower, he still had to weigh interests with a businessman's eye. Even his own daughter could be used as a bargaining chip for investment. Only by climbing onto the lofty branch of a grandmaster or Noble Family could one stand firm in these troubled times.
Ren Pingsheng and his daughter had taken a fancy to Zhou Qiming's future potential. Neither wanted to miss the chance to win him over.
The moment Ren Xue left, Overlord Saber Liu Wuming, the Old Servant, walked over.
"Lord Ren, why didn't you keep that youth who came to seek refuge last time?"
All through the night and day, Liu Wuming still felt somewhat regretful. He kept thinking about that youth from Jinshui Town.
He had originally thought that Zhou Qiming possessed martial talent at the Hua Jin level, and would certainly be retained and highly valued by Ren Pingsheng, who would cultivate him with all his might.
But the final result had left Liu Wuming utterly dumbfounded. Zhou Qiming had actually been treated as a poor relative trying to demand repayment for a favor, and Lord Ren had humiliated him and driven him away with a hundred taels of silver.
Liu Wuming trusted the keen perception of a Tendon Transformation Martial Artist. He could sense the danger of death coming from the youth, and the other party was definitely not as simple as he appeared. Ren Pingsheng and his daughter had probably made a mistake this time!
"Oh? Brother Liu is talking about that fellow whose name was Zhou something-Ming? Hmph, don't mention him again. Xu Hailai hasn't had any contact with me for so many years, and then suddenly sent that junior of his over. Wasn't he trying to marry into my family and swallow up my Hero's Tower?"
Ren Pingsheng sneered and shook his head, his face filled with disdain.
At the time, his daughter and Bai Hao had been passionately involved, and she had nearly latched onto a handsome Human Ranking prodigy. How could he possibly allow Xu Hailai's junior to interfere?
Shallow waters could not raise a flood dragon. What kind of person could emerge from a tiny Jinshui Town? Xu Hailai was old, and had spent his whole life huddled in the mud running a restaurant. How could he know how vast the world outside was?
As for Liu Wuming's reaction, Ren Pingsheng merely took it as the old fellow becoming muddle-headed and beginning to suffer hallucinations.
How could the young chef from Haolai Restaurant possibly be a Tendon Transformation-level Martial Artist? Even if Zhou Qiming had begun cultivating from the womb, it would still have been absolutely impossible.
"The poor study literature while the rich practice martial arts." To break through the fourth major Body Tempering hurdle, Tendon Transformation, required a sea of resources and time. Jinshui Town and Xu Hailai clearly did not possess such conditions—unless Zhou Qiming was from a Noble Family.
For now, the plan was to do everything possible to win over that expert in the Dragon Face Mask and bind him to Hero's Tower's great ship. Zhou Qiming and Bai Hao were merely minor branches by comparison.
Liu Wuming withdrew helplessly and shook his head, no longer offering advice. He already knew that Ren Pingsheng was deeply displeased with him. If he continued arguing, Hero's Tower might have to consider replacing its gatekeeping Old Servant.
The affairs of the world were like a chess game. Reality was often more fantastical than fiction. How could Zhou Qiming have known that the Ren Family would pull such a ridiculous stunt?
Back then, he had sincerely gone to seek refuge without asking for anything. He had merely wanted a place to settle down and use it as a springboard into the County Town, but things had gone against his wishes, and he had been refused entry.
Yet in the blink of an eye, Ren Pingsheng was racking his brains to win him over, even preparing to offer him the position of Attendant.
Every family in the County Town had an Attendant. They were treated purely like grandfathers, with status even higher than the family head. Only when faced with a crisis of annihilation would these Attendants step in to resolve it.
Zhou Qiming stopped cultivating the Evergreen Skill and walked out of the courtyard. The moon rabbit was sinking in the west, while the rumbling snores of deep sleepers came from the neighboring residences on either side.
After breaking the limit of his Earth Fiend Legs twice, his movement technique had reached a truly supernatural level. The night watchmen and constables patrolling the streets could not detect his trace at all.
When he reached a secluded alley in the southern district, Zhou Qiming saw Ren Xue, as promised.
She had changed out of her constable's uniform from the day. Now she wore a carefully chosen silk dress that glittered beneath the moonlight, with straight, long legs in black boots. She approached with light, lotus-like steps.
But Zhou Qiming's heart remained unmoved. He simply shoved away Ren Xue when she tried to draw near.
"Did you bring everything?"
"Reporting to my benefactor, it is all here."
Ren Xue gritted her teeth. She had not expected him to be made of iron, completely failing to treat her like a woman.
She immediately took a burlap sack down from the carriage frame and handed it to Zhou Qiming.
"Hmm, not bad. Take care of yourself." Zhou Qiming nodded and was about to leave.
He casually counted the contents and glanced inside. He had not expected there to be extra Exotic Meat—the amount was quite a bit more than the requested ten pounds.
Silver Kiss King Snake Meat was a resource controlled by the Ren Family. Exotic creatures carried a trace of a demonic remnant bloodline, which could be repeatedly implanted into wounds on livestock. By managing such Meat Fields, one could continuously produce the Blood Food nutrients Martial Artists needed.
In his early years, Ren Pingsheng had obtained this Meat Field resource. Only then had he been able to rapidly cultivate various high-level Body Tempering Martial Artists as trusted subordinates and establish a considerable foundation in Luoshan County.
With these fifteen pounds of Exotic Meat, Zhou Qiming's depleted Root Bone Value could quickly be replenished.
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