Appeasing

The silver light flashed.

Two rows of ingots were neatly arranged, causing the servant holding the tray to tremble slightly under their weight.

Fang Yuan didn't even look at them. Compared to these worldly riches, he was more interested in another box of realgar powder.

"Zhang Han? Are you from the Zhang Family?"

He looked at the leader from the beginning, his eyes filled with amusement. "Do you know me?"

He knew in his heart that it was highly likely the boss of the grocery store had tipped them off, and the Zhang Family's network was indeed vast enough to arrange everything in such a short time and find him.

The rising prominent family in Qingye City truly lived up to its reputation.

"Indeed... Young Master Fang's miraculous healing brought Old Master Zhou back from the brink of death, he is truly a divine doctor of this era!"

Zhang Han said with a smile.

Of course, what made them vaguely fearful was the rumor of the other party killing Song Zhong in the commandery city.

To the people of Qingye City, that Great Elder Song was like a god of war!

So what if the Zhou Family was a local power broker and a Gui Ling Sect steward? They were destroyed just like that!

But even the arrogant and overbearing Song Zhong died at this lord's hands, so who would dare offend him? To establish oneself in Qingye City, currying favor was inevitable.

According to the family head's deduction, this person is very likely an expert in the Inner Force Realm, and he's so young...

Zhang Han looked at Fang Yuan's youthful face, feeling an indescribable envy.

"No merit, no reward!"

Fang Yuan waved his hand. "I cannot accept these things from you!"

"Is Young Master not satisfied? Please, just give your instructions, and I will surely fulfill them!"

Seeing Fang Yuan refuse, Zhang Han became anxious. After all, his family's mission was to do his best to win over this Divine Doctor Fang.

"I am serious!"

Fang Yuan said with extreme seriousness.

Since his master, the Heart-Questioning Hermit, the two in the Secluded Valley had this kind of temperament.

What they wanted, they would strive to obtain or exchange for, and would not easily accept favors.

In the words of the Heart-Questioning Hermit, it would create too many ties, making it difficult to repay.

If one were to be precise, only a few lucky individuals like Old Man Tian and Steward Lin, through chance encounters, had forged a connection with the Secluded Valley and could conduct transactions due to their relationship.

"You may leave!"

Fang Yuan waved his hand.

"Lord..."

Zhang Han's lips moved. In front of this young man, he suddenly felt immense pressure and authority, rendering him unable to utter a word of refutation. He retreated dejectedly with his servants.

"Unsolicited kindness is either deceit or theft!"

Fang Yuan watched their retreating backs and shook his head.

Suddenly, he chuckled, realizing that he had unknowingly become a powerful force influencing Qingye City's various powers.

After all, even the pillar of the Zhou Family before, Zhou Tong, only had the cultivation of the fifth level of Martial Dao, in addition to his identity as an Outer Sect Steward of the Gui Ling Sect.

"The Zhang Family and Guo Family have recently risen. Even with their foundations, they probably only have a few experts at the fourth or fifth level... The Lin Family is even worse. If not for borrowing the tiger skin of the Gui Ling Sect and Lin Leyue, they wouldn't have achieved the position of the foremost family..."

Fang Yuan found this thought quite speechless.

Qingye City, a mere small place, was like this. It truly gave him the feeling of "when the cat's away, the mice will play" in a rural setting. Even the entire Qinghe Commandery was just a remote corner...

"This world is vast, and Qingye City is ultimately too small, it's like the countryside within the countryside... Even the entire Qinghe Commandery is just a remote corner..."

Fang Yuan shook his head, further solidifying a certain thought in his heart.

When my cultivation is successful in the future, I must travel the world and witness this rich and colorful world!

Of course, one must take things one step at a time. What I need to do now is to break through the Jingmen, one of the Three Perilous Gates!

The seventh level of Martial Dao is the Jingmen. After breaking through it, one would reach Song Zhong's peak level.

And Fang Yuan had immense confidence in himself.

"Jingmen, Jingmen, it harms the essence and moves the spirit... It should be testing the Martial Artist's Spirit Yuan! With the aid of Heart-Questioning Tea and the Sitting-Forgetting Tea Ceremony, I fear this type of perilous gate the least..."

"And the eighth level, the Simen, where one either succeeds or dies. It is closely related to the Martial Artist's Essence, Qi, and Spirit. Based on my guess, the higher the basic attributes, the greater the possibility of passing!"

At this moment, the first eight levels of Martial Dao held no doubt in Fang Yuan's eyes.

"If I break through the Simen and enter the realm of the Four Heavenly Gates, I can truly roam freely within Qinghe Commandery. Even within the Gui Ling Sect, there are only about two elders with such strength!"

The Twelve Gates of Golden Lock and Heavy Tower. After passing these first eight gates, one reaches the Four Heavenly Gates!

Martial artists at this level are at the peak of a commandery, capable of establishing their own sects in small places, or even forming factions within a sect like the Gui Ling Sect and causing trouble.

"The Flower Fox Ferret, after my continuous cultivation, should be comparable to experts at the seventh or eighth level. The Spiritual Beasts among the Red-eyed White Bird flock are also at a similar level. Only that Bird King is at least at the realm of the Four Heavenly Gates..."

Thinking of that flock of Spiritual Beasts, Fang Yuan's good mood instantly vanished.

Without expelling or eliminating the Red-eyed White Bird flock, how can we talk about ruling the Qingfeng Spiritual Land?

As for the Spiritual Fertilizer, that kind of miraculous effect requires a long period of accumulation; newly produced ones are not very useful. After obtaining the Spiritual Land, it naturally has the effect of accelerating the growth of Spiritual Plants.

However, he still doesn't know if there will be dangers more terrifying than the Red-eyed White Birds within that Spiritual Land.

'But the more it's like this, the more interesting it is... isn't it?'

Fang Yuan stroked his chin and realized that since practicing Martial Arts, his personality had also undergone subtle changes.

It seemed like a kind of hot-bloodedness, and a desire for constant climbing?

'It seems that Martial Arts shaping personality isn't just a baseless saying. Coupled with the fact that I recently killed Song Zhong and my thoughts are clear, my very nature has become more lively?'

While Fang Yuan pondered, he browsed through several other shops, gathered all the Realgar Powder, and purchased a batch of daily necessities. He loaded them into a large backpack and then arrived at the city gate.

"Ah! Spare my life! Spare my life!"

A large crowd had gathered at the entrance, and screams kept coming from within, piquing Fang Yuan's curiosity.

When he walked closer, he was even more surprised.

"Isn't that the Grocery Store shopkeeper? Why is he here? And the person next to him..."

Fang Yuan's eyes flashed with a sharp glint as he looked at the scene.

In the middle of the crowd, the previously plump Grocery Store shopkeeper lay on the ground, his cheeks swollen from being slapped, countless teeth knocked out. His leg was even broken, making him look utterly pathetic.

Beside him stood two Rich Servants, holding whips and glaring menacingly, occasionally lashing out, causing the shopkeeper to let out pig-like screams.

These two Servants were dressed exactly like Zhang Han from before.

"Truly... pathetic..."

Fang Yuan watched the scene, but felt no joy or satisfaction. Instead, he shook his head and turned to leave.

He knew that his slight display of displeasure must have been noticed by Zhang Han, who then retaliated by capturing the shopkeeper who had sold him out and beating him severely, all in front of so many people, just to vent his anger and curry favor.

This was the tragedy of being a servant. Their masters could beat them whenever they pleased, and even drag them out to be killed at any moment for some inexplicable reason!

"Divine Doctor Fang!"

As expected, outside the city gate, Zhang Han was already waiting with a smile. "Do you find it satisfactory?"

"That shopkeeper, is he one of yours?"

Fang Yuan asked with a blank expression, suddenly inquiring.

"No, he used to lean towards the Zhou Family, but now he wants to switch to ours. He's just a fence-sitter!"

Zhang Han shook his head, a look of disdain on his face. "But since this person offended the Divine Doctor, he can only blame himself..."

"Never mind, it's just a small matter!"

Fang Yuan had no doubt that if he had shown even the slightest hint of displeasure, Zhang Han might have made the fat shopkeeper 'disappear' without a trace.

However, what benefit would that bring him?

At the same time, he looked at Zhang Han with a hint of pity.

This man was acting smug, but he didn't realize that the shopkeeper's fate today would be his own tomorrow!

Why else would the Zhang Family patriarch not come out himself, but send him instead? The intention was obvious! It was to have a backup plan!

If it succeeded, everyone would be happy.

If he angered Fang Yuan, they would immediately cut their losses and throw him out as a scapegoat for damage control. At that time, it would likely be Zhang Han who would be beaten half to death.

"I have received the Zhang Family's goodwill!"

Fang Yuan waved his hand, his figure growing farther away. "I am just a rustic from the mountains and do not wish to be involved in the affairs of the county town. You and your family can rest assured!"

Zhang Han bowed respectfully, watching Fang Yuan's retreating figure. Suddenly, his eyes widened.

When Fang Yuan spoke his first sentence, he was still nearby, but by the time the last word left his mouth, Fang Yuan's figure had already disappeared around the corner. Such Qinggong and movement technique were on a completely different level from the Inner Breath realm.

"Could it be... truly... Inner Force!?"

He was startled, and almost every pore on his body trembled. He finally understood why the family patriarch was so eager to win him over, regardless of the cost.

Just one Song Zhong before could silence Qingye City. What if it were this gentleman?

Unlike Song Zhong, given his age, he could continue to advance in Martial Dao in the future, perhaps even reaching realms he couldn't imagine.

At this thought, even though he knew he shouldn't, a sliver of jealousy coiled in Zhang Han's heart like a venomous snake, refusing to leave.

"Alright, everyone disperse!"

Zhang Han walked into the crowd, dispersing the onlookers. He then ordered the two Rich Servants to stop their assault and helped the seemingly dying fat shopkeeper to his feet.

"Master Han... spare... spare my life, I'll never dare again..."

The shopkeeper immediately let out broken cries, truly heartbreaking to hear.

"Hmm... your intention to align with my family was not wrong. The mistake was offending that Lord..."

Zhang Han stepped forward and affectionately patted the shopkeeper's fat face.

"Of course, my Zhang Family punishes and rewards clearly. That beating you received earlier was the punishment! This is a reward!"

He pulled out a banknote and waved it in front of the shopkeeper.

"Take this. Do whatever you want afterward. Even if you want to seek revenge on me, Master Han, I will accept it. Do you understand?"

"I dare not! I dare not!"

The shopkeeper repeatedly kowtowed. Looking at the banknote on the ground, his throat bobbed, and the light in his eyes was complex and indescribable.