A Deadly Threat

With that, she marched out on her stiletto heels.

"Fuck, Liu Yue! Say one more bad word about my buddy, I dare you!"

Zhang Miao was furious. He sprang to his feet, ready to chase after her.

Jiang Tian's expression darkened too, but he still stopped Zhang Miao.

"Let it go, Sanshui. A few insults won't hurt me, right?"

Jiang Tian shook his head slightly. He was only letting this slide for Zhang Miao's sake. If she had been a stranger, he would have taught her a lesson long ago.

"Fuck, that bitch. How did I not realize she was such a snob?"

Zhang Miao kept cursing.

"Forget it. Sit down and eat."

Jiang Tian shook his head and pulled him back.

But Zhang Miao seemed unable to swallow his anger. He opened a bottle of beer and began chugging it.

Only after downing more than half the bottle in one go did he let out a long breath.

"Tian, I really picked the wrong person. How did I not see she was such a status-obsessed woman?"

Zhang Miao looked at Jiang Tian with a self-mocking expression.

Jiang Tian smiled helplessly. "You can know someone's face without knowing their heart."

That was true enough. Liu Yue had seemed like such a sweet, well-behaved girl. Who could have imagined she was a snob?

"Tian, why is my life such a mess? I'm about to lose my job, my girlfriend just dumped me, and my mom is sick. Why am I so..."

As he spoke, he couldn't help choking up.

Seeing his old friend so heartbroken, Jiang Tian didn't know what to say. All he could do was silently pat his shoulder.

Sometimes, men didn't need to say much to each other. Quietly staying by a friend's side was enough.

Sure enough, a few minutes later, Zhang Miao pulled himself out of his sorrow. He raised his bottle toward Jiang Tian. "Come on, Tian. Let's drink."

Jiang Tian nodded, picked up his beer, and took a sip.

Then, as though asking casually, Jiang Tian said, "By the way, you mentioned your mom was sick. What's wrong?"

"My mom has esophageal cancer. The doctor said she needs surgery and chemotherapy, or she might not make it through next year. But the operation costs a terrifying amount-over two hundred thousand yuan in total. I've borrowed from every relative and friend I can, and I've only scraped together a hundred and twenty thousand."

Zhang Miao spoke bitterly.

"Esophageal cancer? Is it late-stage?"

Jiang Tian paused in surprise and asked.

"Yeah, it's already late-stage."

Zhang Miao nodded.

Jiang Tian considered it. Although esophageal cancer was a difficult illness to treat, it wasn't much of a problem for him. He had a medicinal prescription that could cure it.

With that thought, Jiang Tian made an excuse to step outside, went to the front desk, and asked for a pen and paper. Then he wrote down the prescription.

When he returned to the private room, Zhang Miao was still drinking alone, drowning his sorrows.

Jiang Tian placed the prescription in front of him.

"Tian, what's this?"

Zhang Miao asked curiously.

"I happened to come across a prescription a while back. It's specifically for esophageal cancer, and it's very effective. You could try giving it to your mom."

Jiang Tian said.

"A prescription that can treat esophageal cancer? How is that possible? I took my mom to a major hospital, and the doctors there said surgery and chemotherapy were the only options. Can this really work?"

Zhang Miao asked doubtfully.

Jiang Tian smiled faintly. "You can try it. I wouldn't hurt you, after all. I got this prescription from an expert, and I've tested it myself. It's safe!"

"Really?"

Zhang Miao brightened, but worry soon crept back in. "But, Tian, my mom's condition is complicated right now. I'm afraid she can't take any more strain..."

Jiang Tian shook his head. "Don't worry. All the ingredients in this prescription are mild. Give it to your mom for a few days, and if it doesn't help, you can stop then. Of course, I'm only trying to help. Whether you try it is up to you."

With that, Jiang Tian said no more.

After hearing this, Zhang Miao was deeply torn.

He thought it over for a long time.

Finally, he gritted his teeth. "Things have already come to this. I might as well give it a try!"

Jiang Tian smiled slightly at his words. After another moment's thought, he took out his phone and transferred two hundred thousand yuan to him.

Seeing the money on his phone, Zhang Miao exclaimed, "Tian, what are you..."

"Didn't you just say you were still short on money? The prescription should definitely work, but if it doesn't, she'll still need chemotherapy. It's best to have a backup plan."

Jiang Tian said with a smile.

In truth, he was confident the prescription could cure Zhang Miao's mother. After all, it could even heal a cultivator's internal injuries, let alone an ordinary person's illness.

He had given him the money partly because of their years of friendship, and partly so Zhang Miao would feel confident enough to try his prescription. With a backup plan in place, he would no longer be paralyzed by fear.

"Tian, I can't accept this. You don't even have a job yourself. How could I take your money?"

Zhang Miao immediately moved to transfer the money back.

Jiang Tian was probably no better off than he was, yet he had handed over two hundred thousand yuan without hesitation. It might well be all the money he had. How could Zhang Miao accept it?

Just as he picked up his phone, Jiang Tian pressed his hand down and said solemnly, "Sanshui, are we still brothers? If we are, stop talking like that and drink!"

Looking into Jiang Tian's eyes, Zhang Miao was so touched that tears welled up despite himself.

"Tian, I... I'll never forget what you've done for me. I'll definitely pay you back. I won't say anything more-this drink says it all!"

With that, he tipped his head back and drained the rest of his beer.

Jiang Tian smiled slightly and handed him another bottle.

The two drank and reminisced, and before they knew it, it was past ten that night.

"Tian, hic... you're my best brother. I, Zhang Miao, have never amounted to anything, but if you ever need me, I'll climb a mountain of blades or walk through a sea of fire for you!"

Unsurprisingly, Zhang Miao had drunk too much.

Looking at his bleary eyes, Jiang Tian couldn't help smiling. He helped him up and said, "What are you talking about, mountains of blades and seas of fire? Are you planning to go to war? All right, you've had too much. Let me send you home."

After paying the bill, Jiang Tian flagged down a taxi. He gave the driver a few instructions, then sent Zhang Miao on his way.

Watching the taillights recede into the distance, Jiang Tian stood there and sank into thought.

If he hadn't gone up the mountain ten years ago, would his life have turned out like Zhang Miao's?

Jiang Tian suddenly realized how ridiculous his earlier thinking had been.

An ordinary life was certainly good, but only if you had money.

Without money, forget controlling your fate-you couldn't even control whether you lived or died...

Thinking of his parents, he became even more convinced that he needed to teach them to cultivate as well. Only then could they truly escape an ordinary existence.

With a tangle of emotions in his heart, Jiang Tian slowly headed home.

Night spread overhead, and the moon shone bright.

It was another ordinary, beautiful night.

Just as Jiang Tian found a secluded corner and prepared to soar into the sky, a faint trace of killing intent suddenly seeped out of the deep, dark alley...