Did You Kill Them?

"Do you realize you nearly destroyed our Chunhe Pharmacy? That was my parents' life's work."

Chen Rui's face darkened, and he sneered, "Compensation? What are you going to pay with?"

Chen Ming was quite relieved to see him slip into the role so quickly.

To be honest, he'd been worried that this eldest brother of his was too soft-hearted to run a shop well. It seemed he'd underestimated him.

Zhou Quan grimaced and said, "Shopkeeper Chen, I was forced into this. The Golden Source Commerce has so much power—I really couldn't afford to offend them..."

Chen Rui slammed the table. "You can't afford to offend Golden Source Commerce, but you think you can afford to offend the Chen Family?"

Zhou Quan glanced at Chen Ming, shuddered, and gritted his teeth. "Golden Source Commerce gave me five hundred taels to frame you. I'll take all my savings—another five hundred taels—and give it to you as compensation..."

That made a total of one thousand taels.

Chen Rui was unmoved. "You think that's enough to send a beggar packing?"

Zhou Quan was on the verge of tears. "Then I'll sell my house too. It should be worth three or four hundred taels. That makes fifteen hundred."

Chen Rui just sneered.

Zhou Quan hesitated, then sighed. "Fine, I'll sell the farmland I bought back in my hometown. Two thousand taels. That's my entire fortune—I can't scrape together any more."

Chen Rui held up three fingers. "Three thousand taels. If you can make that number, this matter is settled."

Zhou Quan's face changed, and he cried out, "Three thousand taels... I really can't come up with that!"

Chen Rui didn't waste words. He lifted his teacup and said, "Show him out."

Two sturdy maids stepped forward and dragged him away.

Just as he was about to be hauled out of the hall, Zhou Quan let out a scream like a pig being slaughtered. "I'll pay... I'll pay... three thousand taels..."

Chen Rui raised his hand, signaling the maids to let go, and said to him, "Shopkeeper Zhou, those are your words. Three thousand taels."

"My words!"

As he spoke, Zhou Quan's tears streamed down from the pain in his heart.

Three thousand taels—all the money he'd earned over the years, gone in one go.

Chen Rui pressed, "When will you hand over the money?"

"Give me some time..."

"Five days."

"Five days is too little."

"Then seven days."

Chen Rui said in a tone that brooked no argument, "If I don't see the money after seven days, I can't say what my brother might do."

Zhou Quan's expression froze. "I will... I will."

The reason he'd chosen to come and confess was because of a rumor he'd heard.

Just over a month ago, Old Ghost Xiao from the Wanli Gambling House had schemed to swindle Chen Rui's money and came to collect the debt, only to be thrown out by Chen Rui's brother.

That very night, Old Ghost Xiao's men came to apologize and even paid compensation.

Then, a few days later, Old Ghost Xiao died under mysterious circumstances.

They called it suicide—who would believe that?

Who had done the deed went without saying.

After hearing that rumor, Zhou Quan was so terrified he felt like he'd fallen into an ice pit. What he'd done—how was it any different from Old Ghost Xiao?

With Chen Rui's brother's temperament, he might just creep to his doorstep one night and butcher him. Killing his whole family wasn't out of the question.

Those three thousand taels were blood money.

He'd already made up his mind: after paying the compensation, he'd never do business in Qingfeng City again.

After Zhou Quan left.

Chen Ming said, "That man knows when to yield."

Chen Rui thought to himself, That's all because of your reputation, Erlang.

Ever since Old Ghost Xiao died, everyone in the streets knew that the Chen Family's Erlang was ruthless and wouldn't hesitate to take a life.

It was precisely because of that fearsome name that his business dealings had become much smoother.

He looked at his brother with a shameful expression. "Erlang, you entrusted the money to me, but I let your expectations down. On this deal alone, I lost five hundred taels."

Chen Ming smiled. "Didn't we earn it back? A full three thousand taels—six times the profit."

Chen Rui gave a bitter laugh. "It's because he's afraid of your retaliation."

"What's yours or mine? We brothers are one. I walk the martial path to protect this family. You run the business to earn money and provide me with the resources for my cultivation."

Chen Rui's heart trembled, and he lowered his head in shame. "I was thinking wrong. Don't blame me, Erlang. Truth is, I was afraid of holding you back."

Chen Ming smiled faintly. "When I was thrown into prison and you spent all the family's savings to bail me out, did you ever think I was a burden to you?"

"I..."

Chen Rui's chest swelled, his nose stung, and something seemed to lodge in his throat.

Chen Ming encouraged him, "When I learned martial arts, I had a teacher. Eldest Brother, you have to figure out business on your own. Taking a few small losses is just paying tuition. I believe that before long, you'll be the head of the biggest trading firm in all of Qingfeng County."

He meant every word.

From today's performance, Eldest Brother Chen Rui was definitely a qualified merchant.

As long as he himself became the strongest martial artist in Qingfeng County, then his eldest brother would naturally become the biggest trading firm's manager.

Chen Rui said, his voice thick with emotion, "Good. Eldest Brother won't let Erlang down."

The two brothers clasped hands tightly.

Seven days later, Zhou Quan delivered the three thousand taels as promised—banknotes redeemable at the Four Seas Bank.

After receiving Chen Ming's assurance that the old grudges were settled, he left the Chen Family with a relieved heart, vowing never to set foot in Qingfeng City again.

Those three thousand taels were enough to cripple him, to take half his life.

Chen Rui split the money, giving one thousand to Chen Ming and putting the remaining two thousand into the pharmacy's public accounts.

This time, his pharmacy had kept its reputation thanks to a benefactor's help.

Afterward, he had visited with gifts, managing to build that connection. Now with capital, and borrowing Chen Ming's name, he could also forge ties with many who had once trained at Huo Manor.

The pharmacy's business finally began to run smoothly.

Though Golden Source Commerce was vast, it couldn't dominate Qingfeng City with an iron fist.

As for Chen Ming, through Hong Mingquan's wife's introduction, he got to know several of Huo Chengkun's Disciples-in-Name—all at the Ninth Rank, who had once been on good terms with Hong Mingquan.

After some inquiries, he learned that the Huo family's funeral procession had indeed run into trouble. Near Xiao River, they encountered a band of Horse Bandits and suffered heavy casualties.

The few who survived were recuperating at the Xiao River Sect.

Hong Mingquan was not among them.

When Li Shi heard the news, she fainted on the spot.

Chen Ming felt a chill run through him.

The matter was highly suspicious. Hong Mingquan must have known something, which was why he made arrangements in advance, entrusting his wife and child to him.

He suddenly thought of the "Sword Canon" the Old Woman had mentioned.

Could it be because of that?

Chen Ming didn't know, and he didn't want to know. Better to avoid inviting trouble.

Half a month later, Hong Mingquan's remains were brought back.

Li Shi and Hong Zilin moved out of the Chen Family home. Hong Mingquan had his own property in the city, and mother and son took the coffin there to hold the funeral.

Chen Ming sighed deeply over Hong Mingquan's death.

Two days after the funeral.

That night, a pebble pierced the window paper and landed on the table, wrapped in a strip of paper.

He picked it up and saw it was from the Blue-Robed Girl again.

Chen Ming grabbed his blade and went out to the Back Alley, where he saw the girl in a night suit, her figure graceful. He said coldly, "I thought you wouldn't come again."

Zhong Shuyu snorted, "I won't rest until I defeat you with my sword. Watch your blade."

With that, she attacked.

Well met!

Chen Ming had a fire burning in his chest anyway. Facing her sword, he stepped forward instead of back.

Clang, clang—two strikes.

He had already seized the initiative.

It was clear that Zhong Shuyu had improved since a month ago.

But Chen Ming had improved even more.

He held nothing back, his long blade whipping like the wind, his attacks a storm of fury.

Soon, Zhong Shuyu couldn't hold out.

After thirty-some exchanges, a sharp clang rang out.

Zhong Shuyu yelped as her long sword flew from her hand.

Chen Ming's blade rested at her throat. She met the icy chill in his eyes, her body stiffening as she dared not move.

"Was it your people who ambushed the Huo family's funeral procession?"

"So what if I am?"

Zhong Shuyu wanted to say that, but in the end, she didn't dare voice it. She had a premonition that if she admitted it, he might actually kill her.

Her lips trembled as she said, "No."

Only then did Chen Ming withdraw his long blade.

Zhong Shuyu shot him a hateful glare, didn't even bother picking up her sword from the ground, leaped to the rooftop, and quickly vanished from sight.

Chen Ming watched her retreating figure and let out a sigh.