Successfully Collecting Debt

While the Tong Family was indeed powerful in Cold Mountain City, within the entire territory of Zifu County, they weren't even considered a third-rate family. In the face of true magnates and influential powers, they were like ants. Not to mention, County King Mu Yunbo was the current emperor of the Sky Net Empire's own brother, the true ruler of Zifu County.

And here, now.

Mu Xiaochen, with a face full of cold smiles, was the top genius of Zifu County and the sole heir to the future County King.

Tong Kaishan knelt on both knees, his body trembling. Although he was a dissolute young master in Cold Mountain City, arrogant, overbearing, insidious, and shameless every day, he had grown up in the family environment and was influenced by it. He understood many things clearly. His ability to act like a king was entirely because there were no tigers in the mountains.

Now, the tiger had arrived.

He showed weakness and begged.

His backbone was gone, but as long as he could live, he would do it without hesitation.

The more than a dozen adventurers Tong Kaishan had recently gathered under his command never dreamed they would encounter such incredibly bad luck. They were usually ruthless killers and robbers, but facing Mu Xiaochen, the County King's son, they harbored no illusions of escape. They all followed suit and knelt on the ground.

They weren't afraid of the County King, nor of the County King's son's status.

Although Cold Mountain City was officially controlled, it remained chaotic. Even if they were apprehended by the authorities after killing and robbing, they could still calmly escape into the Golden Phoenix Mountain Range or enter the southern wilderness. In this world that revered martial strength, they feared Mu Xiaochen's own terrifying power. As a renowned cultivation genius and a powerhouse in the Innate Realm, they didn't even have the courage to turn and flee.

Mu Xiaochen showed a look of disappointment. He had initially thought Ye Tong was in big trouble, and that these guys were tough nuts to crack. That way, he could step in to help Ye Tong and repay his life-saving favor. But these spineless cowards kneeling on the ground, even without his appearance, couldn't have done anything to Ye Tong, right?

Ye Tong found it amusing. Looking at the trembling Tong Kaishan, he chuckled, "Mu Xiaochen, do you know what I feel like right now?"

"What do you feel like?"

Mu Xiaochen inquired.

Ye Tong laughed, "Like a fox borrowing the tiger's might."

Mu Xiaochen was taken aback. He savored the idiom carefully and then chuckled, "Brother Ye, you are truly learned and talented. I am impressed. But how should these spineless wretches be dealt with?"

Ye Tong waved his hand and said, "These fools will only bring disaster to their family. Even if we spare their lives today, it's likely they'll stumble upon a harder obstacle and provoke even more ruthless experts before long. Then, they'll still face death. So, let them all scram! Killing them here would dirty my place."

"Makes sense."

Mu Xiaochen heartily agreed and nodded, shouting, "What are you still waiting for here? Get lost!"

Tong Kaishan's heart was filled with mixed emotions, a jumble of sourness, sweetness, bitterness, and saltiness. He had a bit of cunning and could understand the conversation between Ye Tong and Mu Xiaochen. Thinking about his past actions, he suddenly felt fortunate. If, as Ye Tong said, he had provoked more ruthless experts, even with the Tong Family's protection, he would have died without a burial place.

A realization.

A sense of dread.

Tong Kaishan didn't flee in a panicked mess like the others upon hearing Mu Xiaochen's words. He slowly got up, looked at Ye Tong with complex eyes, then cupped his fists, bowed deeply, and paid his respects.

Then, he turned and left.

Mu Xiaochen watched Tong Kaishan's retreating back with some surprise, a thoughtful look in his eyes. He raised his hand and rubbed his chin, saying, "This kid with the severed arm is quite interesting."

Ye Tong said, "Only after experiencing life and death can one achieve great enlightenment. Just like this moment, for him, it was like walking through the gates of hell. I hope he can awaken, abandon his arrogant and wicked habits, be kind to others in the future, and live out his natural lifespan."

Mu Xiaochen's body trembled. Ye Tong's words were like a booming bell, echoing in his heart:

Great enlightenment!

Be kind to others!

Live out your natural lifespan!

As the son of the County King, Mu Xiaochen's status and vision were far superior to ordinary people. Ye Tong's words benefited him greatly. Even though he was older than Ye Tong and stronger than Ye Tong, he still, like Tong Kaishan just now, cupped his fists, bowed, and paid his deep respects: "I have learned."

Ye Tong deliberately put on a profound demeanor and nodded with satisfaction, "A teachable youth. Enough, then I shall offer you another piece of good advice today: walk upright, sit squarely, and face the world with a clear conscience. This is the great Dao. As the saying goes, the Heavenly Dao cycles, and karma is repaid. The cause planted today will yield the fruit of tomorrow. Please remember this."

Mu Xiaochen's body began to tremble. If Ye Tong's previous words were like a booming bell that benefited him greatly, then this one sentence was like a thunderclap that made his mind roar, as if he had received a divine revelation.

The Heavenly Dao cycles, and karma is repaid.

The cause planted today will yield the fruit of tomorrow.

This is…

Good is rewarded with good, and evil is rewarded with evil.

Behind Mu Xiaochen, his two confidantes looked at Ye Tong with sparkling eyes. They knew Ye Tong was slightly different from ordinary youths, but only now did they suddenly realize that the young man before them was not only learned and talented but also possessed great wisdom. Such a prodigious talent, once grown, would absolutely be a monstrous existence.

What a pity!

The two women sighed in their hearts. If this young man were a few years older, perhaps their admired Mu Xiaochen would have paled in comparison to him.

That's not right!

With such wisdom, why is his cultivation so low?

Yu Wanmei glanced at Mu Xiaochen, who was lost in thought, and softly asked, "Little Brother Ye Tong, I see your cultivation is only at Qi Refining Third Level. Is it due to your cultivation technique? If that's the case, I have a few good cultivation techniques here that I can gift to you."

"My Young Master broke through to Qi Refining Fourth Level several days ago," the Medicine Slave said, hobbling forward with the Dragon Head Cane, and speaking gently. "Young Master, the medicinal meal is ready. Do you need tableware?"

"Just prepare two sets for now," Ye Tong said casually, then smiled at Yu Wanmei. "Thank you for your kindness, Sister. My cultivation is low because my body has had some issues, and I'm also poor, unable to afford resources that increase cultivation. It will get better later. No matter how difficult the conditions, there will always be a day they can be improved."

"I have money!"

Yu Wanmei blurted out, but the next moment she suddenly realized Ye Tong's personality, and that he seemed unwilling to accept favors for nothing.

As expected.

Ye Tong smiled, "Sister Yu, a gentleman does not eat food given out of charity. I appreciate your kindness, but forget the money! My old servant has already prepared the medicinal meal. Please accompany him to taste it, and if the taste isn't good, I hope you two sisters won't mind."

After he finished speaking, he didn't give Yu Wanmei another chance to talk. Instead, he looked at Mu Xiaochen, raised his hand, rubbed his fingers together, and said with a smile, "As the saying goes, people don't visit without a reason. You're a busy man, so why have you decided to visit my humble abode today? Is there something important?"

"Money grubber!"

Mu Xiaochen snapped back to attention. Seeing Ye Tong rubbing his fingers, he couldn't help but roll his eyes. He truly didn't understand how this kid, who seemed wise beyond his years, could be so greedy.

"Here!"

Mu Xiaochen took out a brocade pouch and casually tossed it to Ye Tong. Then, as if remembering something, he asked curiously, "If I heard correctly, you just said your body had some issues. What kind of issues?"

Ye Tong replied, "You misheard."

Mu Xiaochen pouted and then walked inside, calling out loudly as he went, "Old Medicine Slave, help us set out more bowls and chopsticks. Wow... it smells so good!"

Ye Tong weighed the brocade pouch in his hand, not bothering to open it to check the contents. He wasn't worried about Mu Xiaochen shortchanging him, not when the latter grew up in such a wealthy family.

Around the makeshift stove, two spliced wooden boards served as a dining table. The steaming medicinal cuisine filled the air with a rich aroma, complemented by two exquisitely prepared stir-fries that made one's mouth water. The Medicine Slave, wearing a warm smile, exclaimed, "It makes this old servant happy to have you visit us. My Young Master is rather reclusive and hardly has any friends. Besides Ninth Girl who often comes over for free meals, no other guests ever visit. Eat more, and if it's not enough, I'll make more medicinal dishes."

Reclusive?

He's just mature for his age and looks down on others his age, isn't he?

Mu Xiaochen picked up the steaming meat porridge, glanced at Ye Tong, and took a gentle sip. A moment later, his expression turned to surprise. "Blood Elk, the meat is delicious and rich in essence, at least comparable to a Level Two Fierce Beast. Purple Vine Leaf, a precious medicinal ingredient, an ounce costs hundreds of taels of Blue Silver. Black Date Fruit, which has beautifying and qi-nourishing effects, costs two hundred taels of Blue Silver per jin. Snow Blue Paste, to clear heat and moisten the lungs. Dodder Worm, to nourish yin and strengthen yang. Elm Flower..."

Mu Xiaochen couldn't go on. He looked at Ye Tong, who was walking over, and asked, "With such an extravagant Nine Treasure Medicinal Cuisine, how could you have the nerve to claim poverty in front of us just now? This bowl alone couldn't possibly be bought for less than fifty taels of Blue Silver."

The Medicine Slave chuckled and said, "Young Master Mu, you're mistaken. This isn't Nine Treasure Medicinal Cuisine, it's Ten Treasure Medicinal Cuisine. That bowl of yours absolutely cannot be bought for less than two hundred taels of Blue Silver."

Ten Treasure Medicinal Cuisine?

Mu Xiaochen stirred the hot porridge with his chopsticks and then picked out a centipede-like strange insect. His wrist trembled, and he exclaimed in horror, "Blood Centipede? Heavens! That's a highly poisonous insect. Just one drop of its venom could kill a Level One Sabertooth Wolf. You, you, you... are you treating us to medicinal cuisine or trying to kill us?"

Yu Wanmei and the other woman, who had already eaten more than half a bowl, were also startled and looked at the Medicine Slave with fear in their eyes.

The Medicine Slave smiled and said, "A Level Three Poisonous Beast, the Blood Centipede. One costs eight hundred taels of Blue Silver. This old servant wouldn't dare to put all six of them into the medicinal cuisine. Eat with confidence, this old servant has already extracted all the venom from them. That stuff can save my Young Master's life."

"Medicine Slave, enough talk!"

Ye Tong took a bite of the medicinal cuisine, his brow furrowed.

The Medicine Slave chuckled and fell silent.

Mu Xiaochen and the other two exchanged glances, barely able to believe what they were hearing. The potent venom from the Blood Centipede could save Ye Tong's life? What did that mean?