Envoy from Blackstone City

The next day.

Zhou Qi put away the cultivation technique he practiced daily and glanced at the system's proficiency. His balance had already accumulated to over thirty thousand.

Zhou Qi nodded in satisfaction. All that remained was the antidote and a Foundation Establishment cultivation technique.

Once he obtained a Foundation Establishment cultivation technique, he would grind it straight to max level.

He pushed open the door and stepped outside. The sunlight fell upon him, pleasantly warm.

Yang Jinshan was already waiting by the courtyard gate. Most of the bandages on his body had been removed, and he seemed even more spirited than yesterday.

The injury left by Wang Tong's palm strike had yet to fully heal, but the old fellow could not sit still. At dawn, he had already pounded on Zhou Qi's door and shouted, "Are we going to the Wang Family today?"

"Today, we'll keep beating up that brat Wang Tianfu!" He rubbed his fists together. "Yesterday, we let him call in reinforcements. Let's see what tricks he has left today!"

Zhou Qi gave him a speechless glance.

This reckless brute was bursting with energy every day. Maybe it was because he never had to use his brain, leaving all that energy well-nourished.

The two crossed the ridge and headed toward the Wang Family mine.

There were even fewer guards at the cave entrance than yesterday—only five or six scattered about, listlessly basking in the sun.

At a glance, Zhou Qi thought he had arrived at the Zhao Clan Mine.

Yang Jinshan frowned. "What's going on? Isn't that old bastard Wang Tianfu the one who cares most about putting on a show?"

Zhou Qi was equally puzzled, but he said nothing. After pausing briefly, he continued forward.

When they reached the mine entrance, the guards did not grow tense upon seeing them. Instead, they took the initiative to greet them.

The lead guard wore a broad smile and clasped his fists in salute. "Elder Zhou, Fifth Elder, you've come?"

Yang Jinshan froze, instinctively turning to look at Zhou Qi.

Zhou Qi raised an eyebrow slightly and waited for him to continue.

The guard went on, "Steward Wang is waiting inside. He said that once you two arrived, we were to invite you straight in."

Yang Jinshan was even more bewildered. He lowered his voice and said to Zhou Qi, "What the hell is that bastard up to?"

Zhou Qi fell silent for a moment, then stepped inside.

When they reached the crude meeting room, Wang Tianfu had already come out to receive them.

His face was piled high with smiles, so sincere they seemed unbelievable. His posture as he clasped his fists in greeting was low enough to sink into the dust.

"Elder Zhou! Fifth Elder! You've come! Please, sit, please sit!"

Yang Jinshan stood rooted to the spot, his mouth hanging open for a long while before he could close it.

Zhou Qi glanced at Wang Tianfu and sat down opposite him.

Wang Tianfu personally poured the tea and offered it with both hands, showering him with praise without pause. "Elder Zhou is young and accomplished. Yesterday's battle truly opened my eyes! Qi Refining, Seventh Layer! There isn't another expert so young in all of Lin'an City!"

Zhou Qi lifted the teacup, took a slow sip, and did not respond.

Wang Tianfu did not mind. He continued flattering him. "Fifth Elder is also remarkably valiant. Yesterday, you alone fought more than twenty of my guards—it was a magnificent sight! I, Wang, am impressed. Truly impressed!"

One did not strike a smiling face.

Yang Jinshan was simple-minded, and the praise made him somewhat embarrassed. He scratched his head.

Zhou Qi set down his teacup, looked at Wang Tianfu, and interrupted his flattery.

"Steward Wang, we came today for the matter of those two-tenths of the mine pits."

Wang Tianfu's smile did not change as he nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, of course. As it should be."

But then he sighed, revealing a troubled expression.

"Elder Zhou, to be honest with you, after you left yesterday, I wrote to the family head overnight and reported your demands exactly as they were. The family head replied this morning and said..."

He paused and glanced at Zhou Qi.

Zhou Qi said nothing, waiting for what came next.

Wang Tianfu continued, "The family head gave me a severe scolding. He said that since we lost the competition, rules were rules. Whatever we should hand over, the Wang Family would acknowledge it!"

Yang Jinshan's eyes lit up, and he sprang to his feet. "Really?"

Wang Tianfu hurriedly nodded. "Really, really. Fifth Elder, don't get excited. I, Wang Tianfu, keep my word. Since the family head has spoken, I will certainly comply."

Suspicion appeared on Zhou Qi's face, but he merely watched Wang Tianfu.

Wang Tianfu grew somewhat uncomfortable under his gaze, though the smile on his face remained unchanged. He continued, "However, Elder Zhou, regarding the accounts... you know how it is. The mine has operated for so many years, and the records are complicated. The miners' roster, the tool inventory, the production records—everything needs time to be counted."

He held up three fingers. "Three days. Give me three days, and I will definitely sort out the accounts and personally deliver them into your hands!"

Zhou Qi could not tell whether the Wang Family had been cowed by Yang Zhenshan or whether they were playing some sort of trick.

But Wang Tianfu looked utterly sincere at the moment, his gaze open and candid, without a single visible flaw.

Yang Jinshan could not help saying from the side, "Three days? You're not trying to stall again, are you?"

Wang Tianfu hurriedly waved his hands. "Fifth Elder, you jest. No matter how bold I, Wang Tianfu, may be, I would never dare play tricks before you two."

"The accounts are truly complicated and need time. If I cannot hand them over after three days, you can twist off my head and kick it around like a ball!"

Yang Jinshan looked toward Zhou Qi.

After several seconds of silence, Zhou Qi rose to his feet.

"Fine. I'll come again in three days."

Wang Tianfu hurriedly stood to see them off, escorting them all the way to the mine entrance. With clasped fists and repeated bows, he said, "Take care, Elder Zhou. Take care, Fifth Elder."

After they had walked far away, Yang Jinshan finally could not hold it in any longer.

"What the hell is Wang Tianfu up to? Yesterday, he was still fighting us to the death. How did he become this cowardly today?"

Zhou Qi did not slow his steps, but his brow furrowed faintly as he pondered a question.

"Yang Zhenshan... is he really that strong?"

Still, Wang Tianfu's change in attitude had come far too quickly.

It was like someone who had held a knife yesterday, ready to fight you to the death, then knelt before you today, kowtowing to admit his mistakes and promising to serve you like an ox or horse from now on.

Zhou Qi could not figure out where the problem lay.

But if Wang Tiannan had been directly suppressed by Yang Zhenshan's strength, then yielding was only natural.

Zhou Qi stopped walking and looked back toward the Wang Family mine.

The guards at the entrance were still lazily basking in the sun. Everything seemed normal.

"Let's go." Zhou Qi withdrew his gaze and continued forward.

In three days, the truth would reveal itself.

Nothing happened over the next three days.

The mine continued producing ore as usual. Everything was no different from before.

Yang Jinshan practiced his fists in the courtyard every day. Zhou Qi demonstrated the Army-Breaking Fist at Great Perfection several times for him. The old fellow claimed he had attained enlightenment, but after three days, his punches still looked like the same old crap.

Zhou Qi cultivated as usual, accumulating proficiency. His expression remained calm, but his mind kept turning over the suspicious third day ahead.

Early on the third day, Zhou Qi pushed open his door and stepped outside.

Just as he was about to loosen up, hurried footsteps sounded behind him.

Yang Hong was pale-faced and drenched in sweat. The moment he saw Zhou Qi, he shouted, "Elder Zhou! This is bad! Something huge has happened!"

Zhou Qi's heart sank.

"What is it?"

Yang Hong panted heavily and pointed toward the mine entrance. "S-someone came! People from Blackstone City! A lot of them! They went straight to the Wang Family mine!"

Zhou Qi's pupils shrank.

Blackstone City!

Without another word, he strode outside.

Yang Jinshan's voice came from behind him. "Wait for me. I'm going too."