Tianchi Ridge.
As dawn began to break, two figures descended into a secluded villa within a mountain. This villa belonged to Zhao Yan, the "outstanding" Sixth Realm spirit cultivator of the Zhao family. After being forced back to the lower realms by Qin Suihan last time, Zhao Yan had exhausted all means within the sect to finally return to the Sixth Realm. Upon her return this time, she didn't even go home, heading straight for the villa.
Inside the villa's gauzy curtains, Zhao Yan appeared shy and bashful.
Qin Ruo, on the other hand, wore a lecherous smile utterly at odds with his appearance.
The two embraced.
"Junior Sister, was there such a hurry?" Qin Ruo chuckled.
"Hmph, it's not that Senior Brother wants..."
Zhao Yan blushed and said, "But Senior Brother, Junior Sister has something she wishes to ask of you."
Qin Ruo nodded, "Since Junior Sister is so obedient, is there anything Senior Brother wouldn't agree to?"
"Mm."
Zhao Yan said, "Last time, I suffered a great fall in Tianchi Town. That little beast Lin Zhao is truly detestable. Not only did he ruin my brother Zhao Jin's martial path, but his words were also venomous. This time, Senior Brother must avenge me."
"Tell me, what do you want me to do?"
"Simply buying that red fruit holds no interest. It even benefited that brat by a hundred Jin Zizhi coins. So... I hope Senior Brother can secretly use your Star River Realm abilities to destroy that little beast's Tian Yuan spiritual脉, so he can have the money but not the life to enjoy it, and never be able to step into the martial path for the rest of his life."
"Consider it done, a trivial matter."
Qin Ruo laughed heartily, "I'll do as you wish."
"Senior Brother is so kind!"
"Junior Sister is even kinder!"
...
The small town, early morning.
Lin Zhao woke up early, as usual. He prepared lunch for Xiao Jiu'er to take with her, then sent her to the study. He himself went with Xiao Shitouto the river to fish and practice boxing. It wasn't until noon that he returned to the ancestral home with Xiao Shitouto make and eat lunch.
At noon, two outsiders arrived in town. One, adorned in a tall hat and flowing robes, possessed a distinguished demeanor. The other was delicate and beautiful, dressed in green. They were Qin Ruo and Zhao Yan, who headed straight for Lin Zhao's ancestral home.
"Lin Zhao."
Zhao Yan entered first, holding a bag of fruits. She smiled, "Sister Zhao Yan is here to see you again!"
Lin Zhao naturally knew this woman was difficult to deal with, but it was too late to close the door. Moreover, a handsome man had followed her in.
"Who are you?" Xiao Shitout looked wary.
"Little one, don't be afraid,"
Zhao Yan chuckled, "We mean no harm."
"Indeed!"
Qin Ruo stepped forward, cupped his fists, and smiled, "Qinglan Sect's chief disciple, Qin Ruo, greets young friend Lin Zhao!"
Lin Zhao frowned, "I don't think I know you. Are you looking for me... for something?"
"Yes."
Qin Ruo's eyes scanned Lin Zhao, finally confirming that the fiery red white tree fruit was in Lin Zhao's possession. He then smiled, "I heard that you prayed beneath the white tree and obtained a red fruit. So, I rushed here overnight from Qinglan Sect just to make a deal with young friend Lin Zhao. I, Qin Ruo, wish to buy this fruit, and I will certainly offer you a fair price."
Lin Zhao shook his head, "I'm sorry, this fruit is not for sale."
"Don't rush now!"
Qin Ruo smiled slightly and took out a copper coin from his embrace. "This is a copper plate issued by the Ministry of Revenue of the Great Shang Dynasty. This type of copper plate is used throughout the secular world of the entire human race. And this one..."
He took out another green copper plate and said with a smile, "This is called a Qing Fu coin. Qing Fu is an insect, and since ancient times, there has been the saying 'Qing Fu returns money.' One Qing Fu coin can be exchanged for a thousand secular copper plates."
Then, he took out another silver copper coin. "And this one is called a Fei Yu coin. It is cast from the scales of a flying fish and spiritual iron, containing immense spiritual energy and being even more precious. One Fei Yu coin is worth one hundred Qing Fu coins. Finally..."
He smiled and took out a golden copper coin. "This one is called a Jin Zizhi coin. It is cast from glazed fragments left behind by the fallen ancient sages. It is even more precious. One Jin Zizhi coin can be exchanged for a hundred Fei Yu coins."
Lin Zhao's eyes were almost blinded. That Jin Zizhi coin looked so beautiful!
"Don't rush yet."
Qin Ruo's smile grew more intense. He took out a money bag and shook it. Instantly, Jin Zizhi coins rolled onto the table. He said with a smile, "There are a total of one hundred Jin Zizhi coins here, enough to make you rich. Shall I use this money to buy your fruit?"
Lin Zhao frowned. He desperately wanted to sell, but remembering Chu Huaixi and Qin Suihan's hopeful gazes, he felt he absolutely could not sell, nor could he let down this fruit that belonged to him. After a moment of struggle, he said, "No... I don't want to sell. I want to use this fruit myself. I'm sorry..."
"Oh? It's alright."
Qin Ruo smiled slightly. "I also feel a little sorry."
As he spoke, Qin Ruo gently patted the young man's shoulder. Instantly, a barely visible strand of sword energy entered his Qi Sea acupoint, and without any trace, it severed the nascent golden脉络 in the center of Lin Zhao's body. Lin Zhao, a Fourth Realm martial artist, had no inkling of this. With his Tian Yuan spiritual脉 broken, his path of cultivation was doomed.
...
"Lin Zhao!"
Outside, the door was pushed open. It was Zhang Liucheng.
The bear child waved a wooden sword and said with a laugh, "I've recently comprehended a sword technique. When I wield it, the heavens and earth change color, and the sun and moon lose their light. Come, I'll let you feast your eyes."
"Is this your friend?"
Qin Ruo smiled.
"Mm."
Lin Zhao nodded.
"Very good."
Qin Ruo casually removed a jade token from his waist and crushed it. Instantly, the jade token turned into a ripple that spread in all directions, forming a small world within Lin Zhao's courtyard. Qin Ruo then flicked his finger, unleashing a sword qi. Zhang Liucheng immediately spat blood and flew backward, his wooden sword falling to the ground.
"Zhang Liucheng!"
Lin Zhao felt a chill in his heart.
"It's just a transaction," Qin Ruo narrowed his eyes, his smile extremely elegant. "You wouldn't want this transaction to harm too many innocent people, would you? Moreover, you don't need to try to get anyone's help. This place has been completely sealed off by me. Even an Upper Five Realm immortal wouldn't be able to detect what's happening here. Let me ask again, are you willing to trade?"
"You..."
Lin Zhao looked at the man in the tall hat and flowing robes before him, his eyes feeling as terrifying as an abyss.
"This little one,"
Qin Ruo glanced at Xiao Shitout, whom Lin Zhao was shielding behind him, and said with a smile, "And that little girl named Su Qingjiu in the study. I imagine they are both people you care about deeply. You wouldn't want them to lose their lives over a fruit, would you?"
"I understand."
Lin Zhao's heart ached with hatred. "You're called Qin Ruo, right?"
"Oh? Do you want to get revenge on me later?"
Qin Ruo sneered, "Do you have the ability to do so?"
"Who knows."
Lin Zhao slowly took out the fruit and handed it to him. "Take these Jin Zizhi coins with you. I find them dirty!"
"Even better."
Qin Ruo flicked his sleeve and took the Jin Zizhi coins. With a clap of his hands, he dispelled the small world. He chuckled, "Junior Sister Zhao, I haven't paid a visit to your elders at the Zhao family ancestral home yet. Shall we go now?"
"Okay, let's go."
Zhao Yan affectionately linked her arm with his and said, "Senior Brother, why don't you stay as a guest at our Zhao family tonight?"
"That can be arranged."
...
After the two left, Lin Zhao helped Zhang Liucheng up and rushed him to the clinic to see Doctor Zhang. Fortunately, Zhang Liucheng had woken up and was not seriously injured. He even praised Doctor Zhang's superb medical skills, saying he felt he had met a kindred spirit and wanted to become sworn brothers, which made the old doctor roll his eyes in annoyance.
The small town, on the stone bridge.
Light rain fell incessantly. The bookstore owner, dressed in a grey and white scholar's robe, stood on the stone bridge, his eyes fixed on the Zhao family in the distance. Unnamed anger surged within him. Beside him, Doctor Zhang, with a wine gourd hanging from his waist, smiled slightly. "Even you are angered? Haha, a man's wealth brings about his ruin. Lin Zhao's fate is as thin as paper. How can he have the fortune to bear such a supreme fruit?"
Qin Suihan said faintly, "Both the Zhao family and the Qinglan Sect should pay the price for this."
"What, are you going to make a move?"
Doctor Zhang chuckled, "Take it easy..."
Just then, at the end of the muddy road in the back street of the town, a figure appeared in the rain. It was a young man in a green robe, with a white and gold sword scabbard on his back, but no sword within it. The green-robed man wore a bamboo hat to shield himself from the rain and strode into the town. Just as Qin Suihan was about to act, the green-robed man slowly raised his right hand from afar and pressed it down.
The meaning was clear: this matter, you Qin Suihan need not concern yourself with.
Qin Suihan smiled faintly and bowed to him.
The green-robed man cupped his fists in return.
...
In the evening, winter rain continued.
Lin Zhao brewed a pot of old duck soup, roasted a large carp, and made a pot of flatbread, preparing a sumptuous meal for Xiao Shitout and Xiao Jiu'er. He wanted to find something to do to calm his mind and also to comfort the frightened Xiao Shitout. However, before he could lift the pot lid, someone knocked on the door.
Lin Zhao took his umbrella and went to the door. He saw a green-robed swordsman with an empty sword scabbard on his back.
"Little brother."
The other party smiled slightly and said, "I am a traveler passing through Tianchi Ridge. It's getting dark, and I don't have the money to lodge at an inn, so could I impose on you for a night, perhaps get a little bit of food, and a place to sleep? I'll pay... I'll pay you three-tenths of the inn's price in copper coins?"
Lin Zhao looked at him. This young man was so refined, his eyes clear and flawless, not like a bad person.
"It's alright, come in."
Lin Zhao let him in. Lu Xun's room was empty anyway, and the bed was still there. "No need to pay. If it's just for one night, it's no problem."
Entering the living room, Lin Zhao said, "We're about to eat. Would you like to join us?"
The green-robed man showed a hint of embarrassment. "Is that alright? I've been traveling for a long time and I'm really a bit hungry..."
"Yes, please join us!"
"Thank you!"
The green-robed man ate with considerable elegance, taking small bites and only reaching for dishes in front of him. He was much more refined than Lu Xun, who would grab food from everywhere, or compete with Xiao Shitout for who could eat more meat.
After dinner, the green-robed man went to sleep in Lu Xun's former room. Lin Zhao and Xiao Shitout practiced stances in the house and soon fell asleep. When Lin Zhao, Xiao Shitout, and Xiao Jiu'er were all asleep, the green-robed man got up and stepped out. A breath later, he reappeared within the Zhao family's ancestral home. Before him were a group of Zhao family members, including Zhao Yan, Zhao Tai, Zhao Jin, and their esteemed guest Qin Ruo, enjoying a lavish banquet.
...
"Who goes there?" A servant outside the door called out sternly.
The green-robed man smiled slightly and slowly cupped his fists towards the entrance. "I've come to retrieve a treasure for my junior brother."