The Lei Family Was No More

"Master, Lei Peng is here to see you again." Qiulan hurried in to deliver the message.

A godsend.

Chen Mo was delighted. "Quick, invite Master Lei Peng in."

When he saw Lei Peng again, he found that the man looked much better. Most of the weariness and dejection had faded from his face. And after their two previous deals, they were no longer so formal with each other.

After exchanging pleasantries, Chen Mo asked, "Has your son's condition improved greatly?"

A smile tugged at Lei Peng's lips. He even brought out a food box and handed it to Chen Mo. "Thanks to Young Master Mo's Detox Pills, my son's condition has improved greatly. My wife, Liu Cui, specially made some pastries. They're nothing rare, but they carry our heartfelt gratitude. Please don't take offense, Young Master Mo."

Chen Mo thanked him and accepted the gift. "You're very thoughtful, Master Lei. I'm relieved to hear your son is doing better."

Lei Peng looked a little embarrassed. "It's just... there's one more thing I need to trouble Young Master Mo with."

Chen Mo already had a guess, but pretended not to know. "Please, Master Lei. Say what's on your mind."

Lei Peng suddenly stood and bowed deeply to Chen Mo. "Although my son's condition improved greatly, it worsened again after he stopped taking the medicine. I would like to ask Young Master Mo to take pity on us and grant us more of that precious medicine."

Just as I thought...

I knew it...

Wei Qi Skin Paste worked well, but its effects didn't last long. It had to be taken continuously to work. Once the medicine ran out, the condition would rebound.

It was time for another good deal.

Chen Mo put on a troubled expression. "Master Lei, this will be difficult."

Lei Peng hurriedly took out a thick stack of banknotes and placed them on the table beside Chen Mo. "I know this medicine is precious. These are the last fifteen hundred taels I have. I only ask to buy two Detox Pills. Please grant my request, Young Master Mo."

Chen Mo looked at the thick stack of banknotes on the table. Each one was worth a hundred taels, and there were fifteen altogether.

This was probably everything Lei Peng owned.

All just to buy two Detox Pills...

Chen Mo was somewhat moved by the sight, so he told him the truth. "Master Lei, I know how deeply you care for your son. But I must make something clear first. The precious medicine I gave you can cure a hundred poisons. If his condition worsens again after he stops taking it, I'm afraid... these Detox Pills can only prolong his life. They won't cure him."

He said this not only because he was moved, but also because he had considered the worst-case scenario. He didn't want Lei Peng to spend a fortune on the medicine, only for his son to die anyway. If Lei Peng came after him over it, that would be troublesome.

After all, Lei Peng was no ordinary man. He was a powerful martial artist.

If a conflict broke out, it could end badly.

Chen Mo had thought Lei Peng might hesitate after hearing this.

But Lei Peng said, "Thank you for telling me, Young Master Mo. I understand. But my wife and I have only one son. We discussed it, and even if the medicine can't cure him, being able to spend a little more time with him would be worth it."

Chen Mo studied Lei Peng and saw the love in his eyes. His heart grew heavy.

When I fell ill back then, my parents in this life must have felt the same way.

Parents would rather suffer through every hardship themselves than see their son suffer.

Seeing that Chen Mo had not answered, Lei Peng said, "As a father, I can't bear to watch my son suffer an attack and die before my eyes. I can't bear it, and neither can my wife, Liu Cui. If there's anything I can do to help, then I have to do it. Please grant my request, Young Master Mo."

Sigh.

Chen Mo let out a breath. "May I ask, Master Lei, has your son practiced martial arts since childhood?"

Tears glimmered at the corners of Lei Peng's eyes. "My son began learning martial arts from me when he was little. He's obedient and well-behaved. He's never caused his mother or me any worry. He even said he'd grow into a martial artist like me one day."

Chen Mo asked, "Before his illness struck, how many gates had he reached?"

"My son's talent is ordinary, but through his own hard work, he reached the Three Gates Iron Bone Realm."

Chen Mo made up his mind and returned the banknotes to Lei Peng. "I'm not short of money. Take this silver back and use it for your household expenses. I can give you two Detox Pills, but I have one condition."

Lei Peng immediately agreed. "Please, Young Master Mo. If it's something Lei can do, I won't hesitate."

Chen Mo said, "I need you to secretly capture a wicked man at the Three Gates Iron Bone Realm and bring him to me."

Lei Peng couldn't believe his ears.

That was far too simple.

"Does Young Master Mo have no other conditions?"

"None. Bring me a criminal, and I'll give you the medicine. Make sure he's a lone criminal. I don't want to invite unnecessary trouble. That's better for both of us." Chen Mo made sure to add a warning.

These days, criminals traveled in packs and operated in gangs. If he captured a small fry, some big shot might come after him. There was no need for that.

He had considered sending Zhou Liang and the others to do it, but Uncle Zhou would inevitably ask what the captive was for, which would only complicate matters.

"I understand. Please wait while I capture one." Lei Peng took the banknotes and hurried away.

He left in such a rush, as if afraid Chen Mo would suddenly change his mind.

Chen Mo breathed a sigh of relief. "Qiulan, take these pastries and share them with Ma Tie."

Qiulan was stunned. "Ah?" She opened the food box and found it full of expensive pastries, exquisitely made and delicious. Ordinarily, the maids at Chen Mansion only got to taste such treats during festivals.

Chen Mo smiled. "They're a reward for you. You've worked hard lately."

It was rare for Chen Mo to praise her, and Qiulan's cheeks turned bright red. She quickly curtsied. "Thank you, Second Young Master."

Chen Mo dismissed Qiulan and continued practicing the Blazing Palm.

Late that night, at the hour of the Pig, Lei Peng carried a ferocious bandit, bound hand and foot, into the East Courtyard. He tossed the man at Chen Mo's feet. "This man is Lu Wei. He's been robbing villagers and is on the authorities' wanted list. I caught him."

Chen Mo crouched down and felt Lu Wei's arm bones. His bones were sturdy and strong; he was indeed an expert at the Three Gates Iron Bone Realm. Lei Peng had beaten him until his face was swollen and bruised. Though he looked furious, he couldn't fight back.

"Thank you for your trouble, Master Lei."

Chen Mo thanked him, then went to his room and brought out two kneaded pellets of Wei Qi Skin Paste. He handed them to Lei Peng. "The medicine in these Detox Pills is much stronger than before. Be cautious when giving one to your son."

Lei Peng was too eager to save his son to worry about that. He accepted the pills, thanked Chen Mo, and hurried away.

The bandit glared viciously. "I'm a horse bandit from outside the city. My big brother, Liu Mazi, is an expert at the Blood Rush Realm. If you dare treat me like this, my big brother won't let you get away with it... Aah!"

Before he could finish, Chen Mo kicked him hard twice. He couldn't help wondering, Lu Wei isn't alone. He has a Blood Rush Realm big brother backing him?

Lei Peng seemed so steady. How could he be so careless?

From now on, when doing business with him, Chen Mo should focus on squeezing out more benefits and avoid other dealings as much as possible. He definitely couldn't entrust him with secret matters.

Now that Lu Wei had already been captured, there was no way to send him back. After beating him up, Chen Mo called Ma Tie to lock Lu Wei in the room beside The Woman's in the rear courtyard. Then he gave him a pellet of Wei Qi Skin Paste.

Lu Wei rolled around on the ground, shouting that he was burning up and cursing Chen Mo for making him swallow something.

Chen Mo ignored him and watched quietly for a long while. Once the heat had subsided, he saw that Lu Wei had pulled through.

Chen Mo told Ma Tie to keep watch, then returned to the main room to practice.

Another day passed. Lu Wei's condition kept improving, with not the slightest sign of anything amiss.

Only after confirming that Lu Wei's condition hadn't worsened did Chen Mo return to his room and take out the Wei Qi Skin Paste. He kneaded it into a small pellet.

"We're both at the Three Gates Iron Bone Realm, but my blood and qi are clearly stronger than Lu Wei's. It should be fine."

Chen Mo swallowed the pellet. In an instant, a scalding current surged through his body. It took a full quarter of an hour for the heat to dissipate.

"It's good to have a test subject blaze the trail, but it's too slow and troublesome. When all's said and done, my blood and qi are just too weak."

Chen Mo grew even more determined to train harder. The stronger his blood and qi became, the greater his chances of completely curing Mad Demon Disease.

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

November arrived. The weather turned bitterly cold, and heavy snow drifted down from the sky. It blanketed the entire county town of Honghe in silver-white, and the snow on the ground was several inches deep.

One morning, just as the sky began to lighten, Chen Mo practiced the Fuyang Saber Technique in the courtyard, wearing only a thin inner robe.

Snowflakes settled on him, but he didn't feel cold. Instead, he sweated profusely, his face flushed red.

Perhaps it was the result of practicing martial arts for so long. Chen Mo was noticeably taller now, and his body had developed knotted muscles. Strength surged through every swing of his arm, and the wind howled around his blade.

Suddenly, Chen Mo stepped forward and brought his great saber down on the snow. Snow exploded into the air, more than a dozen paving stones shattered, and a long, deep fissure split the ground.

Spring Breaker!

He had mastered all four stances of the Fuyang Saber Technique.

He pressed his palm against a bluestone tile. In an instant, it cracked with a sharp snap, caving in and bearing a scorching black palm print. As he continued to apply force, the blackened mark shattered along with the tile and vanished without a trace.

Palm Heart Fire—complete.

"I entered the Four Gates Five Viscera Realm a few days ago. It was only natural for Palm Heart Fire and Spring Breaker to fall into place."

All his efforts had finally transformed into progress on the martial path.

He had not failed himself.

With formidable strength in hand, his courage had grown, and the gloom in Chen Mo's heart had finally lifted somewhat.

Chen Mo calculated the time.

Lei Peng's son, Lei Ming, was also at the Three Gates Iron Bone Realm. He should be able to handle a third batch of Wei Qi Skin Paste.

One pellet's effects lasted about half a month.

By that reckoning, Lei Peng should have come asking for more medicine a few days ago.

Why hadn't he come?

Chen Mo felt that Lei Peng was not careful enough, but there was no harm in squeezing some benefits, like secret manuals, out of him. He had gone to the trouble of establishing a good trade channel; he couldn't just let it dry up.

"Qiulan, have you seen Master Lei lately?"

Qiulan shook her head. "No."

Considering how eager Lei Peng had been to capture someone before, Chen Mo felt uneasy. "Take a reliable retainer with you and quietly check on the Lei Family Martial Arts School. Come back and tell me what's going on."

"Yes, Young Master." Qiulan hurried away.

Chen Mo stayed home and used the time he saved to practice.

At noon, Qiulan rushed in, her face pale with alarm. "Young Master, something terrible has happened. The Lei Family Martial Arts School has been struck by disaster. Both Lei Ming and Lei Peng are dead. The yamen has already arrived."

Just as I thought...

Chen Mo was shocked. After a moment's thought, he grabbed his saber and headed out. "Is Uncle Zhou at the residence?"

Qiulan said, "No."

Chen Mo said, "Call two retainers at the Five Viscera Realm. They're coming with me."