The Tong Family was certainly powerful in Cold Mountain City, but across the entire territory of Zifu County, it did not even count as a third-rate lineage. Before truly wealthy and influential giants, it existed like an ant. Not to mention that County Prince Mu Yunbo was the younger brother of the current emperor of the Sky Net Empire, the true ruler of all Zifu County.
And before them—
This coldly sneering Mu Xiaochen was Zifu County's foremost genius and the sole heir to the future County Prince.
Tong Kaishan fell to his knees, his body trembling. Though he was one of Cold Mountain City's wastrel young masters, arrogant and domineering all day long, sinister and shameless, he had grown up within the lineage and been influenced by what he saw and heard. He understood many things clearly. The only reason a monkey like him could reign supreme was because there was no tiger in the mountain.
Now, the tiger had come.
Show weakness, beg for mercy.
His backbone was gone, but so long as he could live, he would do it without the slightest hesitation.
The dozen or so adventurers Tong Kaishan had recently recruited under him had never dreamed they would encounter such abysmally bad luck. They usually murdered and plundered, ruthless and vicious, but before Mu Xiaochen, the County Prince's son, they did not harbor the slightest hope of luck. One after another, they knelt to the ground.
They did not fear the County Prince, nor did they fear the County Prince's son's status.
Though Cold Mountain City was controlled by the authorities, it remained chaotic beyond measure. Even after murdering and plundering, if they were pursued by the authorities, they could still calmly flee into the Golden Phoenix Mountain Range or enter the southern barbaric wilderness. In this world where strength was worshipped, what they feared was Mu Xiaochen's terrifying power. A grand cultivation genius, an expert of the Innate Realm—they did not even have the courage to turn and flee for their lives.
Mu Xiaochen revealed a disappointed expression. He had thought Ye Tong was in serious trouble, thought these people were all hard bones. That way, he could have helped Ye Tong and repaid the debt of saving his life. But these spineless wretches kneeling all over the ground—even without his appearance, they probably could not have done Ye Tong any harm, right?
Ye Tong found it amusing. Looking at the trembling Tong Kaishan, he smiled and said, "Mu Xiaochen, do you know what I feel like right now?"
"What feeling?"
Mu Xiaochen asked.
Ye Tong smiled. "A fox borrowing a tiger's might."
Mu Xiaochen froze. After savoring the idiom carefully, he laughed in surprise. "Brother Ye is learned and talented. I admire you. But how should these spineless wretches be dealt with?"
Ye Tong waved a hand. "Fools who only bring disaster upon their lineage—even if their lives are spared today, it will not be long before they kick an iron plate and provoke an even more ruthless expert. Then they will still be unable to escape death. So let them all get lost. Killing them here would dirty my place."
"That makes sense."
Mu Xiaochen deeply agreed. He nodded and shouted, "What are you still doing here? Get lost!"
Tong Kaishan's heart was a tangled mix of emotions, bitter, sweet, sour, spicy, and salty all surging through him at once. He had some small cleverness, and he could understand the exchange between Ye Tong and Mu Xiaochen. Thinking of all his past deeds, he suddenly felt fortunate. If, as Ye Tong had said, he provoked an even more ruthless expert, then even with the Tong Family's protection, he would die without a burial place.
A moment of enlightenment.
A wave of lingering fear.
Unlike the others, who fled in a miserable, scrambling rush upon hearing Mu Xiaochen's words, Tong Kaishan slowly climbed to his feet. He looked at Ye Tong with complicated eyes, then clasped his hands and bowed deeply.
Then he turned and left.
Mu Xiaochen watched Tong Kaishan's departing back with some surprise, a thoughtful look appearing in his eyes. Rubbing his chin, he said, "That one-armed brat is somewhat interesting."
Ye Tong said, "Only after passing through life and death can one gain great enlightenment. What just happened was like walking through the gates of hell for him. I hope he can wake up, cast aside his vile habits of arrogance, tyranny, and evil deeds, and treat others kindly in the future. Only then can he live out his natural lifespan."
Mu Xiaochen's body shook. Ye Tong's words were like the hum of a great bell, echoing through his heart:
Great enlightenment!
Treat others kindly!
Only then can one live out one's natural lifespan!
As the County Prince's son, Mu Xiaochen stood far above ordinary people in both status and perspective. Ye Tong's words benefited him greatly. Though he was older than Ye Tong, though he was stronger than Ye Tong, he still clasped his hands, bent at the waist, and gave a deep salute, just as Tong Kaishan had done. "I have been taught."
Ye Tong deliberately put on an unfathomable air. Nodding in satisfaction, he praised, "You can be taught. Very well, then I shall give you another good saying today: Walk upright and sit straight, venture through the world with a clear conscience—this is the great path. As the saying goes, the Heavenly Dao cycles, and karma brings retribution. The causes planted today will yield the fruits of tomorrow. Please remember it well."
Mu Xiaochen's body began to tremble. If Ye Tong's earlier words had benefited him greatly like a great bell, then this sentence was like an exploding thunderclap that made his mind roar, as though enlightenment had been poured directly into his head.
The Heavenly Dao cycles, and karma brings retribution.
The causes planted today will yield the fruits of tomorrow.
This was...
Good begets good reward, evil begets evil retribution.
Behind Mu Xiaochen, the light in the eyes of his two confidantes shimmered as they looked at Ye Tong. They knew Ye Tong was somewhat different from ordinary youths, but only now did they suddenly realize that this youth was not only learned and talented, but also possessed great wisdom and insight. Once such a gifted child of the qilin grew up, he would absolutely become a monstrous existence.
What a pity!
The two women sighed inwardly. If this youth were a few years older, perhaps even their beloved Mu Xiaochen would pale beside him.
Wait, that was not right!
With such wisdom, why was his cultivation so low?
Yu Wanmei glanced at Mu Xiaochen, who had sunk into thought, and softly asked, "Little Brother Ye Tong, I see that your cultivation is only at the Qi Refining Third Level. Is it because of your cultivation method? If that is the reason, this sister has several decent cultivation methods that I can give you."
"My young master broke through to the Qi Refining Fourth Level several days ago." The Medicine Slave limped over to the group, leaning on a Dragon Head Cane. He said gently, "Young Master, the medicinal meal is ready. Shall I add more tableware?"
"Prepare two sets for now."
Ye Tong replied casually, then smiled at Yu Wanmei. "Thank you for your kindness, Sister Yu. My cultivation is low because something is wrong with my body. Also, I am rather poor and cannot afford resources that increase cultivation. It will get better in the future. No matter how difficult the circumstances, there will eventually come a day when they improve."
"I have money!"
Yu Wanmei blurted out, but the next moment, she suddenly realized that Ye Tong's temperament seemed unwilling to accept favors for nothing.
Sure enough.
Ye Tong smiled. "Sister Yu, a gentleman does not eat food handed out with contempt. I appreciate your kindness, but forget about the money. My old servant has already prepared the medicinal meal. Please follow him and taste it, both of you. If the flavor is not good, I hope you will not dislike it."
Having said that.
He gave Yu Wanmei no further chance to speak. Instead, he looked at Mu Xiaochen, raised a hand, rubbed his fingers together, and smiled. "As the saying goes, one does not visit the Hall of Three Treasures without cause. You are a busy and important man. Why did you think to visit my humble home today? Is there something important?"
"Money grubber!"
Mu Xiaochen came back to his senses. Seeing Ye Tong rubbing his fingers together, he could not help rolling his eyes. He truly did not understand it. This boy was wise enough to seem foolish—how could he be so fond of money?
"Here you go!"
Mu Xiaochen took out an embroidered pouch and casually tossed it to Ye Tong. Then, as if recalling something, he asked curiously, "If I heard correctly, you just said there was something wrong with your body. What is it?"
"You heard wrong."
Mu Xiaochen curled his lips, then headed inside. As he walked, he called loudly, "Old Medicine Slave, add another bowl and pair of chopsticks. Oh... it smells so good!"
Ye Tong weighed the embroidered pouch in his hand without opening it to check the amount. As for Mu Xiaochen, a little tycoon raised in a nest of gold, he was not worried the other man would shortchange him.
Around the temporarily built stove, two joined wooden boards served as a dining table. The steaming medicinal meal gave off a rich fragrance, accompanied by two small stir-fried dishes that were excellent in color, aroma, and taste, making one's index finger twitch. The Medicine Slave wore a warm smile as he sighed. "This old servant is happy that you can come here as guests. My young master is withdrawn and basically has no friends. Other than Ninth Girl, who often comes over to mooch food and drink, no guests have ever come to visit. Eat more. If there is not enough, I will make more medicinal meal."
Withdrawn?
He was simply mature beyond his years and looked down on those his own age, wasn't he?
Mu Xiaochen picked up a bowl of steaming meat porridge. After glancing at Ye Tong, he gently took a sip. A moment later, surprise appeared on his face. "Blood Elk—its meat is delicious and contains abundant essence. It is at least the meat of a Level Two Fierce Beast; Purple Vine Leaf—a precious medicinal herb, with even one tael costing over a hundred taels of blue silver; Black Date Fruit—nourishes the complexion and replenishes qi, with one jin costing two hundred taels of blue silver; Snow Blue Paste—clears internal heat and moistens the lungs; Dodder Worm—nourishes yin and strengthens yang; Elm Flower..."
Mu Xiaochen could not continue. Looking at Ye Tong as he approached, he asked, "Such an extravagant Eight-Treasure Medicinal Meal, and you still had the nerve to cry poverty before us? My bowl alone could not possibly be bought for less than fifty taels of blue silver."
The Medicine Slave smiled. "Brother Mu, you are mistaken. This is not an Eight-Treasure Medicinal Meal, but a Nine-Treasure Medicinal Meal. Your bowl could absolutely not be bought for less than two hundred taels of blue silver."
Nine-Treasure Medicinal Meal?
Mu Xiaochen stirred the hot porridge with his chopsticks, then picked up a centipede-like strange insect. His wrist trembled, and he cried out in horror, "Blood Centipede! Heavens! This is a highly venomous poisonous insect. Even one drop of the venom in its body can poison a Level One Sabertooth Wolf to death. You, you, you... are you treating us to medicinal food, or trying to kill us?"
Yu Wanmei and the other woman, who had already eaten more than half a bowl, were also startled. They looked at the Medicine Slave with faces full of fear.
The Medicine Slave smiled. "A Level Three Poisonous Beast Blood Centipede costs eight hundred taels of blue silver each. This old servant could not bear to put all six into the medicinal meal. Eat without worry. I have extracted all the venom from their bodies. That stuff can preserve my young master's life."
"Medicine Slave, too much talk!"
Ye Tong took a mouthful of the medicinal meal and frowned slightly.
The Medicine Slave chuckled and said nothing more.
Mu Xiaochen and the other two looked at one another. They could hardly believe their ears. The violently poisonous venom inside Blood Centipedes could preserve Ye Tong's life? What was the meaning?
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