Time Flows By

Fan Yuan brought only one piece of good news.

The group that killed Qin Rang has been found.

"Eight in total." His brows furrowed with barely concealed excitement. "Although we don't yet know who the mastermind is, the person must be one of these eight."

The tone shifted abruptly, the initial joy faded, and his voice became hesitant.

"But..."

"It's also my fault for not giving my subordinates proper instructions."

"The person in charge of the reconnaissance was too eager for quick results and alerted the enemy, causing Broken Tiger Stronghold. The eight people have already been moved and hidden, and their whereabouts are currently unknown."

Having said that, Fan Yuan lowered his head and remained silent, awaiting his fate.

Qin Wangchuan put down his pen and looked up.

"You call this good news?"

A sentence that was neither too harsh nor too mild.

A layer of cold sweat suddenly broke out on Fan Yuan's back.

He bowed almost immediately, his tone resolute.

"Don't worry, sir!"

"Although Broken Tiger Stronghold has some foundation, it is still no match for Soaring Tower. As long as we launch a full-scale attack, it will be easy to get them to hand over those eight people!"

This statement was made with absolute certainty, leaving no room for negotiation.

Qin Wangchuan believed he could do it.

With the victory at Soaring Tower and morale at its peak, crushing a Broken Tiger Stronghold Village would indeed be a piece of cake.

But that's not what he wanted.

"The Soaring Tower just finished a major battle, and now you're starting another one."

Have you thought about the consequences?

Fan Yuan was taken aback, about to say something more.

Qin Wangchuan raised his hand, stopping him from saying those words.

"Alright."

"Soaring Tower has won, but it's not invincible now."

"A great victory failed to solidify its foundation; instead, it emptied its resources further. At this critical juncture, another conflict is brewing. Mountain-Quelling Palace has been watching closely for so long, waiting for just such an opportunity."

He paused.

"Besides--"

"If the goal was simply to kill a few more people, why bother using the Soaring Tower?"

"I can go by myself."

Upon hearing Qin Wangchuan's words, Fan Yuan stood frozen in place.

The principle is actually quite simple.

A man like you, with both power and connections, was likely just lucky to have chosen me.

It was precisely because this stroke of luck came so suddenly that Fan Yuan was especially afraid it would dissipate one day.

So these days, he always takes the lead, hoping to solidify this high regard with his achievements.

The same reason I wanted to use the money from Soaring Tower to buy a house for you earlier, and the same reason I'm so eager to volunteer for battle today to Broken Tiger Stronghold for you.

The more and faster he did it, the more at ease he felt.

I'm afraid that one day I'll become useless and be casually discarded.

But after Qin Wangchuan said those words, Fan Yuan realized with a start that he had misunderstood from the beginning.

Turn out to be.

The gentleman never treated him as a pawn to be used at will, nor did he regard Soaring Tower as a tool to be summoned at will. Instead, he genuinely protected this family business for him.

This single thought brought a lump to Fan Yuan's throat.

The heat rushed straight to my chest, and my eyes welled up with tears.

His Adam's apple bobbed a few times; he almost knelt down on the spot, but he managed to suppress it and only managed a deep bow.

When he spoke again, his voice was somewhat hoarse.

"... Sir, you are right."

Qin Wangchuan waved his hand, gesturing for him to sit down.

"Look at you, so pathetic."

"Sit down and talk."

Fan Yuan awkwardly sat down on one side.

"You used to be a Rogue Cultivator, used to being alone."

Qin Wangchuan said slowly, "But things are different now."

"Behind you lies the entire Soaring Tower, where countless people, their lives and fortunes, rest entirely on your decision."

"Now that we have this foundation, we must cherish it and protect it well."

"When it's time to act, there's no room for hesitation. But it can't be the other way around, where people sacrifice their lives for everything."

These words were half a joke and half a lecture.

Fan Yuan nodded repeatedly, his expression becoming increasingly solemn.

As for those eight people...

Finally, Qin Wangchuan paused, "If they've hidden them, go find them."

There's no rush.

Fan Yuan solemnly agreed, and kept those words and the little bit of teaching in his heart.

Having said all that needed to be said, he didn't want to bother him any longer and got up to take his leave.

Qin Wangchuan escorted him to the courtyard gate, and only after watching the figure leave the alley did he turn around and go back into the house.

The matter of seeking revenge was thus put on hold.

No matter how well those eight people hide, they will eventually be found out one by one; it's only a matter of time.

And in the blink of an eye, much time had quietly slipped by.

The days just flowed by.

One year.

Two years.

Three years.

Willow Creek Town remains an ordinary, unremarkable town.

The rooster crows, smoke rises from chimneys, travelers return home late at night—everything remains the same.

But the people in the town have quietly changed over these three years.

The one who became most captivating was Qin Zhaoer.

The little girl who used to hold a bowl of noodles, hands on her hips, and make everyone crave her cooking every day, has grown up like a flower in full bloom.

Her eyebrows and eyes became more relaxed day by day, and her figure became more slender day by day. When she stood at the gate of the courtyard, the eyes of half a street would turn towards her.

If she happens to be wearing a pretty dress, that's even more amazing.

The skirt clung to her waist, outlining a slender and soft curve that flowed gently downwards, swaying softly with each step, creating an indescribably alluring look.

Her face was dazzlingly beautiful; anyone who happened to bump into her turning around and smiling would be stunned and unable to look away for a long time.

There were pretty girls in the town, but compared to her, they all paled in comparison.

The young men in and around town often lost their appetites because of her.

It's strange, really.

Everyone in town knows Qin Zhaoer's willful and unruly nature.

She can turn on you in an instant, and when she gets angry, she'll curse and overturn things without holding back at all—she's a real firecracker you can't mess with.

Logically, such a temper should scare people away.

But that's not the case.

That face, that figure, that capricious and lively energy—it only made people more and more captivated.

Even knowing she was not someone to be trifled with, waves of people still desperately wanted to marry her.

The matchmaker's feet nearly flattened the threshold of the Wen Household's house.

People from the east and west of the town, and even those from neighboring towns, all went through various channels to ask for help.

Each family they spoke of was more prestigious than the last, and the betrothal gifts they offered were increasingly generous.

No matter how eloquently the matchmakers spoke, Mother Wen rejected them all, not agreeing to a single one.

When asked why, she simply smiled and didn't answer.

Those who came were completely baffled and left disappointed.

This practice, as it was passed down, actually gained some recognition.

A wealthy Young Master from a neighboring town, upon hearing this, refused to believe it.

Is the Wen Household perhaps waiting for a higher bidder?

He prepared ample carriages and betrothal gifts, and arrived at her door in a grand procession. Ostensibly, he was proposing marriage, but his determined demeanor clearly indicated that he had no choice but to give her the dowry.

The townspeople watched from afar, all feeling worried for the Wen Household.

But that very night...

The rich young man and his car vanished without a trace.

It was as if they had never been here.

When someone dies, their family should logically come knocking on the door and causing trouble.

Strangely enough, from beginning to end, not a single person asked a single question.

Only faint rumors circulated, suggesting that it was inextricably linked to the Soaring Tower.

The Soaring Tower.

Three years ago, hardly anyone in the town had ever heard of this name.

But in just three short years, the situation has changed dramatically.

During these three years, Soaring Tower annexed Mystic Capital Prefecture and formed an alliance with the Mountain-Quelling Palace, growing in power and influence.

It is now the largest Cultivator force in Qing Prefecture.

Although ordinary people may not understand the intricacies of spiritual cultivation, they can still distinguish between these advantages and disadvantages.

If you offend Martial Practitioner, you can still find a Cultivator to protect you.

But once you offend Cultivator, there will be very few people in this world who will dare to stand up for you.

No one knows for sure who is behind the missing rich young man, and no one dares to investigate further.

After that, no one dared to propose marriage again.

The threshold of the Wen Household finally became quiet.

And in these three years, Qin Zhaoer was not the only one who quietly changed.

The slender boy in plain clothes who used to stand guard in front of the workbench has grown up.

His shoulders and back had broadened, and his eyebrows and eyes had lost some of their childishness. When he stood in the courtyard forging iron, the firelight reflected off him, giving him a unique and indescribable air.

Qin Wangchuan was completely unaware of this.

Others, however, saw it all.

Often, acquaintances from the past would pass by the alleyway, catch a glimpse of the figure in the courtyard, be startled at first, and then gasp in astonishment upon closer inspection.

When did that young master of the Qin Clan grow up to look like this?

Some of the girls in town had heard from somewhere that the young master of the Qin Clan family was skilled in blacksmithing.

They then gathered in twos and threes, finding various excuses to "watch the blacksmithing."

I spent most of the day looking at it.

They probably couldn't tell how well the ironwork was made.

But that scrutinizing gaze, wherever it falls, is clearly visible to anyone with discerning eyes.

Qin Wangchuan would initially offer some words of advice.

Nobody listened.

Over time, he stopped saying much and just kept his head down, busy with his work.

Qin Zhaoer will take action on her own.

That was also the year.

The mourning period is over.