Was It You Who Killed Them?

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

Chen Rui's face darkened as he sneered. "Compensation? What are you going to use to compensate us?"

Seeing him slip into the role so quickly, Chen Ming felt quite gratified.

To be honest, he had been worried that his elder brother was too soft-hearted to be suited for running a shop. Now, it seemed he had underestimated him.

Zhou Quan said bitterly, "Shopkeeper Chen, I had no choice either. Golden Source Commerce is such a powerful force—I truly couldn't afford to offend them..."

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

Zhou Quan glanced at Chen Ming and could not help shuddering. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Golden Source Commerce gave me five hundred taels to frame you. I'll also take out all my savings—another five hundred taels—as compensation..."

That made a total of one thousand taels.

Chen Rui was utterly unmoved. "Are you trying to fob off beggars?"

Zhou Quan was nearly in tears. "Then... I'll sell the house at home too. It should fetch three or four hundred taels. Fifteen hundred."

Chen Rui merely sneered.

Zhou Quan hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "Fine. I'll sell the farmland I bought back in my hometown too. Two thousand taels. That's everything I own. I truly can't scrape together any more."

Chen Rui held up three fingers. "Three thousand taels. As long as you produce that amount, this matter will be dropped."

Zhou Quan's expression changed drastically. He cried out, "Three thousand taels... I really can't afford it!"

Chen Rui did not waste words with him. Raising his teacup, he said, "See the guest out."

Two sturdy servant women stepped forward and dragged him away.

Just as he was about to be hauled out of the hall, Zhou Quan let out a pig-slaughtering shriek. "I'll pay... I'll pay... three thousand taels..."

Chen Rui raised a hand, signaling the two servant women to let go. He said to him, "Shopkeeper Zhou, those were your words. Three thousand taels."

"My words!"

As Zhou Quan spoke, tears of anguish streamed down his face.

Three thousand taels. Everything he had earned over the years was being thrown into this pit.

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

"Grant me some time..."

"Five days."

"Five days is too little."

"Then seven days."

Chen Rui said in an irrefutable tone, "After seven days, if we have not seen the money, I cannot say what my younger brother might do."

The expression on Zhou Quan's face froze. "Certainly... certainly."

The reason he had chosen to come and beg forgiveness in person was because he had heard a rumor.

Just over a month ago, Old Ghost Xiao of Wanli Gambling House had schemed to swindle Chen Rui out of his money. When he came to collect the debt, Chen Rui's younger brother had beaten him out the door.

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

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

They said it was suicide, but who would believe that?

Who had made the move was naturally self-evident.

After hearing that rumor, Zhou Quan had been so frightened that he felt as though he had fallen into an ice cellar. How was what he had done any different from Old Ghost Xiao's?

Given Chen Rui's younger brother's temperament, perhaps one night he would creep to Zhou Quan's doorstep and butcher him. Slaughtering his entire family was not out of the question either.

These three thousand taels were the price of his life.

He had already made up his mind. After paying the compensation, he would never again come to Qingfeng City to do business.

After Zhou Quan left.

Chen Ming said, "That man was fairly sensible."

Chen Rui thought, Isn't it because your reputation precedes you, Erlang?

After Old Ghost Xiao's death, everyone in the streets now knew that the Chen Family's Erlang was ruthless and vicious, taking lives at the slightest provocation.

It was precisely because of that fierce reputation that doing business had become much easier for him.

Looking at his younger brother, shame colored his face. "Erlang, you handed the money to me, yet I failed your expectations. We lost five hundred taels on this deal."

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

Chen Rui gave a bitter smile. "He only paid because he feared your revenge."

"What do you mean, yours or mine? We brothers are one whole. I pursue martial arts to shield this family from wind and rain. You do business and earn money to provide resources for my martial path."

Chen Rui's heart jolted. He lowered his head in shame. "I was narrow-minded. Do not blame me, Erlang. In truth, I was afraid of holding you back."

Chen Ming smiled faintly. "When I was thrown into prison and you spent every last saving in the household to bail me out, did you ever think I was a burden on you?"

"I..."

Chen Rui's chest churned, and his nose stung as though something had lodged in his throat.

Chen Ming encouraged him, "I have people to teach me martial arts. But you, Elder Brother, can only feel your way through business on your own. Take a few small losses as tuition fees. I believe that before long, you will become the head shopkeeper of the largest Merchant Guild in all Qingfeng County."

He truly meant it.

Judging by his performance today, his elder brother Chen Rui was absolutely a qualified merchant.

As long as Chen Ming became the strongest martial artist in Qingfeng County, then his elder brother would naturally become the head shopkeeper of its largest Merchant Guild.

Chen Rui said excitedly, "Good. Your elder brother will never disappoint Erlang's expectations."

The two brothers clasped hands tightly.

Seven days later, Zhou Quan indeed delivered the three thousand taels as promised, in silver notes redeemable at all branches of Four Seas Bank.

After receiving Chen Ming's promise that all grudges would be wiped clean with a single stroke, he left the Chen Family as though a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He also resolved never to set foot in Qingfeng City again.

Those three thousand taels were enough to tear his sinews and break his bones, costing him half his life.

Chen Rui gave one thousand taels of the money to Chen Ming, while the remaining two thousand taels all went into the pharmacy's public accounts.

This time, the family pharmacy had managed to preserve its reputation thanks to the help of a benefactor.

Afterward, Chen Rui brought gifts to pay the person a visit, thereby establishing this connection. Now that he had capital, and with Chen Ming's reputation to lean on, he could also build ties with many people who had once studied martial arts at Huo Manor.

The pharmacy's business finally began to run smoothly.

Golden Source Commerce's business might have been enormous, but it could not possibly cover the sky with one hand in Qingfeng City.

On Chen Ming's side, through the introduction of Hong Mingquan's wife, he also got to know quite a few of Huo Chengkun's Disciples-in-Name. All of them possessed Ninth Rank cultivation and had been on good terms with Hong Mingquan in the past.

After making inquiries from several directions, he learned that something truly had happened to the Huo Family's funeral procession. When they were nearing Xiaoshui, they encountered a band of Horse Bandits and suffered grievous casualties.

The few who had survived by sheer luck were now recovering at the Xiao River Sect.

Hong Mingquan was not among the survivors.

Upon hearing this news, Li Shi fainted on the spot.

Chen Ming felt a chill run through his entire body as well.

There was something deeply suspicious about this. Hong Mingquan must have known something, which was why he had made arrangements beforehand and entrusted his wife and son to Chen Ming.

He suddenly thought of the "Sword Canon" mentioned by that old woman.

Could it have been because of this?

Chen Ming did not know, nor did he wish to know. He did not want trouble seeking him out.

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

Li Shi and Hong Zilin also moved out of the Chen Family home. Hong Mingquan had property of his own in the city, so mother and son transported the coffin back home and held the funeral there.

Chen Ming could not help sighing over Hong Mingquan's death.

Two days after the funeral.

At night, a pebble tore through the window paper and struck the tabletop. Wrapped around it was a slip of paper.

He took it out and saw that it was from that blue-clad girl again.

Chen Ming took up his saber and went out. Arriving at the Back Alley, he saw the girl in night clothes, her figure graceful and alluring. He said coldly, "I thought you would not come again."

Zhong Shuyu snorted. "Until I defeat you beneath my sword, I will never be willing to accept it. Take my sword."

With that, she charged at him.

Good!

Chen Ming already had a ball of pent-up fury in his heart. Facing that sword strike, he advanced instead of retreating.

Clang! Clang! Two saber blows.

He had already seized back the initiative.

It was clear that Zhong Shuyu had improved considerably compared to a month ago.

But Chen Ming's progress had been even greater.

He no longer held back. The long saber in his hand whirled like a gale, his assault crashing down like a raging storm.

Before long, Zhong Shuyu could no longer hold out.

After more than thirty exchanges, there came another clang.

Zhong Shuyu cried out as the long sword flew from her hand.

Chen Ming's long saber lay across her throat. Meeting the icy, piercing chill in his eyes, her body stiffened, and she did not dare make the slightest rash move.

"Was it your people who ambushed and killed the Huo Family's funeral procession?"

So what if it was?

Zhong Shuyu had wanted to say that, but in the end she did not dare voice it. She had a premonition that if she admitted it, he truly might kill her.

Her lips trembled once before she said, "No."

Only then did Chen Ming withdraw his long saber.

Zhong Shuyu glared at him resentfully. She did not even bother picking up the sword on the ground before leaping onto the rooftop and vanishing from sight in an instant.

Chen Ming watched her departing back and sighed.