Chapter 123: Seeking Reconciliation

"But that person is innocent too. He shouldn’t die."

When Su Zhi Ning said this, her gaze was clear and sincere.

At that moment, Chen Ming felt as if she was glowing, radiating the brilliance of human kindness.

For a brief instant, he even felt ashamed of himself.

In a world where martial strength reigned supreme and the hierarchy was rigid, for such a naturally-born saintly woman to exist—how rare that was.

He grew more interested in the Heaven's Path Alliance, this sect that bore the slogan of carrying out heaven’s will and yet was able to surpass eight other sects to become the number one sect in the world—just what kind of organization was it?

Chen Ming said, "Actually, it’s not like there’s no perfect solution. If your cultivation were high enough, you wouldn’t need the antidote and could still detoxify those villagers. Or perhaps, you could extract the antidote without harming that innocent villager. So, if you want to avoid falling into such dilemmas in the future, you must train hard and strive to break through to First Grade as soon as possible… or even beyond First Grade. As long as your cultivation is high enough, there’s no problem in this world that can’t be solved."

Su Zhi Ning’s eyes gradually lit up. Her clothes fluttered without wind, and a powerful aura radiated from her.

What’s going on?

Chen Ming was stunned. He was merely running his mouth—wasn’t this reaction too exaggerated?

He felt a wall of Qi pressing toward him.

He kept retreating until he reached the window, where the Qi wall finally halted.

Only then did he realize something unusual was happening to Su Zhi Ning.

"Could it be that she’s about to break through?"

Chen Ming gulped. If he remembered correctly, she was Fourth Grade. If she advanced, that would make her Third Grade!

Though Su Zhi Ning always wore a veil, her eyes and certain details revealed her youth—she couldn’t be more than in her twenties.

A Third Grade at twenty-something...

That was utterly terrifying!

While Chen Ming was deep in thought, the invisible Qi wall around Su Zhi Ning dissipated, her fluttering clothes settled, and something seemed to have changed in her clear eyes.

He asked, "Did you break through?"

Su Zhi Ning suddenly bowed deeply to him and said, "Many thanks for your guidance, Brother Chen."

Chen Ming returned the bow woodenly. "Miss Su, you’re too polite."

I didn’t even say much…

Still, he could tell her overall demeanor had changed in some way. How to describe it? She seemed more like an immortal.

Speaking of which, did she actually break through?

Unfortunately, Su Zhi Ning didn’t give him a chance to ask further and turned to leave directly.

"Probably not,"Chen Ming thought.

Normally, breaking from Fourth to Third Grade was a complete metamorphosis—it couldn’t happen so easily.

Even his own breakthrough to Sixth Grade had made more noise than this.

…

The next day, Chen Ming stayed home, holding a copy of the 《Phantom Step》 to study.

What he lacked now was a movement technique.

If he had learned one a month ago, he wouldn’t have been chased by Xiao Qianhao to the point of jumping into the river to escape.

He sat in the courtyard, basking in the gentle spring sunshine, sipping Blackbone Spirit Tea, eating an assortment of delicate pastries, with a book in hand, enjoying this rare leisure time.

The only thing missing was a beauty by his side.

If only Su Zhi Ning were sitting beside him, brewing tea for him, that would be perfect.

Chen Ming felt a tinge of regret in his heart.

Actually, Zhao Xiyan would do too—except she surely wouldn’t be willing.

Zhao Xiyan was the type suited to be the matron of a household. Though she treated him well and was willing to lower her stance in front of him, her internal principles were firm.

Tasks like serving tea and pouring water—if he asked her to do that, she would probably feel he was humiliating her.

After all, those were duties of a concubine.

She was fit to be a proper wife, a virtuous helper in managing the household. He believed she would handle the inner chambers very well…

Chen Ming’s thoughts spiraled out of control.

Until hurried footsteps came from outside.

He recognized them as Chunxiang’s.

She was usually steady, but now she was running fast—something must have happened.

So, he casually asked, "What is it?"

Chunxiang entered, her expression hesitant.

Seeing her like that, Chen Ming grew more curious. He closed 《Phantom Step》 and smiled. "What, is there something you can’t tell me?"

Chunxiang grew anxious at his words and quickly explained, "Of course not. It’s… it’s Shopkeeper Zheng. The Master told us not to tell you…"

Shopkeeper Zheng?

Who’s that?

The name felt unfamiliar.

It took him two seconds to dig out the memory from the back of his mind.

Ah, the old shopkeeper from Jinyuan Prosperity Trading.

He had almost forgotten the grudge the original host had with Jinyuan Prosperity.

In the past years, he had only focused on gaining experience points and improving strength, never going to settle the score with Jinyuan Prosperity.

Time flew—four years had passed.

Chen Ming stroked his chin and asked, "Is he here to plead on behalf of the Qi Family?"

Chunxiang kept watching his expression, worried he might get angry.

Seeing that he didn’t mind at all, she finally relaxed and said, "Yes, but the Master served tea and sent him away the moment he mentioned the Qi Family."

Chen Ming understood.

Back then, the Qi Family nearly destroyed the original host.

In fact, he did die in prison. Then, he had transmigrated over…

So, no matter how vengeful Chen Rui was, it was understandable.

Although Shopkeeper Zheng had an old relationship with his family, that was another matter.

Shopkeeper Zheng was from the same village as his grandfather—they grew up together. But fate took different paths.

One stayed to farm, the other went to the city to work in a trading house.

It was thanks to Shopkeeper Zheng’s help that his father could come to Qingfeng City. He owed the Chen Family a favor.

For many years, the two families had remained in contact.

Later, the original host failed in his cultivation. Perhaps to spread the risk, his father used Shopkeeper Zheng’s connection to place him in Jinyuan Prosperity Trading as a staff member.

That said, Shopkeeper Zheng truly did treat the original host quite well.

After working for a few years, the original host had already been promoted to a minor steward—Shopkeeper Zheng definitely lent him a hand behind the scenes.

However, gratitude was one thing. If Shopkeeper Zheng came to plead on behalf of the Qi Family, then Chen Rui couldn’t be blamed for not showing him any courtesy.

Chen Ming understood that his eldest brother Chen Rui had always been holding in a breath of resentment.

After all, the original host had done nothing wrong back then. He was diligent and loyal while working at Jinyuan Prosperity Trading, yet still ended up in that miserable state.

The Qi Family clearly knew he was wrongfully accused, yet still threw him into the Six Doors Authority Prison.

Had it not been for his eldest brother spending all his savings to pull strings, he might have been tortured to death in that prison.

Such a grudge—how could it be easily forgotten?

At that moment, Xiaxiang said, "Young Master, I heard that Shopkeeper Zheng already came once before."

Chen Ming nodded. He understood that it was due to his rapid advancement in cultivation that made the Qi Family at Jinyuan Prosperity Trading uneasy.

That was why they sent Shopkeeper Zheng to try and mend the relationship.

He asked, "Where is Elder Zheng now?"

Chunxiang replied, "He has already left."

Chen Ming’s heart stirred. He said, "Let someone prepare the carriage."

Chunxiang asked in surprise, "But it’s almost time for lunch. Where is Young Master going?"

"That’s none of your concern."

…

The carriage had just left the Chen Residence when it suddenly came to a stop.

"Second Master, someone has blocked the road,"the coachman said. "It’s an elderly man."

Just then, an aged voice was heard, "Is that Erlang in the carriage? This old man is Zheng Shi."

Chen Ming pushed open the carriage door and said with "surprise", "Ah, it’s Elder Zheng. Quick, come inside and speak."

Seeing it was an acquaintance, the coachman jumped down and helped the old man into the carriage.

Zheng Shi was over sixty now. He already looked quite aged—his hair had turned completely white, and his steps were unsteady.

As the saying went, to live past seventy was a rarity.

Zheng Shi had never trained in martial arts and naturally couldn’t compare to martial artists.

Chen Ming said, "It’s been so long, Elder Zheng. I haven’t paid a visit these past years—that’s my fault."

Zheng Shi hurriedly said, "Erlang, you’re too polite. These past years you’ve trained without slacking and your cultivation has progressed rapidly. If your father’s spirit is watching from above, he must be very comforted."

Chen Ming asked, "So Elder Zheng came specifically to visit our home?"

Zheng Shi sighed, his wrinkled face showing a trace of bitterness. "To tell the truth, I feel ashamed. Four years ago, I couldn’t be of any help and let you land in prison. I’ve let your grandfather and father down…"

As he spoke, he choked up, and tears flowed from his clouded old eyes.

Chen Ming consoled, "Elder Zheng, you’re being too harsh on yourself. This was the evil done by the Qi Family—what does it have to do with you? If you hadn’t spoken up afterward, how could I have been released so quickly? I’ve always remembered this favor."

"Erlang, listen to my advice. They say it’s better to resolve enmity than to keep it. The Qi Family is wealthy and powerful, with other backers—they're not easy to provoke. Now that the Qi Family is willing to…"

"Elder Zheng!"

Chen Ming cut him off, saying, "You know me—I’ve always been clear about gratitude and grudges. If the Qi Family truly wants to reconcile, then they should deliver the heads of Lu Zhihao, Qi Xingdong, and that maid who framed me back then—his concubine—right to me. Only then will I consider this matter settled."

"This…"

When Elder Zheng heard such harsh terms, he didn’t know what to say.

Qi Xingdong was the direct son of the Qi Family.

No matter how wary they were of Chen Ming, there was no way they would kill their own legitimate heir.

He realized then that this Chen Erlang had no intention of reconciling with the Qi Family at all.

In the end, he said nothing and only let out a long sigh. "Sigh——"

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