Chapter 50: Chen Chuyang, Who Only Takes In and Never Lets Out

Three days later.

Chen Clan.

Chen's mother Long Ming could not wait for her husband to return, and turned her head to ask, "Sheng'er, where has your father gone? I haven't seen him for so many days."

Chen Chusheng was stunned for a moment. He had thought his mother would know his father's whereabouts, but unexpectedly she did not. Only now did she think to ask about his father's movements—truly a good mother, a good wife.

"Mother, you don't know?"

Long Ming kicked her son, not using too much force.

"Stop your nonsense and talk quickly. I have no patience for your nonsense."

"Huh?"

Having been kicked, Chen Chusheng learned his lesson and hurriedly said, "Father went to Longshe Shan to find Second Brother."

"Find Chuyang? What is he looking for Chuyang for? And gone for so many days? Could there be danger?"

Long Ming could not help frowning, associating this with her husband's strange behavior. Not seeing him for so many days left her heart feeling empty.

Looking again at her son Chen Chusheng, perfectly fine, she could not help but feel a flare of anger.

"When he rescued you, did your father get injured?"

Chen Chusheng shrank his head back and said weakly, "Mother, your child isn't very clear on the details, but based on your child's observation, Father very likely was afflicted by ghost Qi and went to find Second Brother to remove the ghost Qi."

"Ghost Qi entering the body? Can Chuyang remove it?"

Chen Chusheng shook his head, "I don't know, but with Second Brother's knowledge of pills, it should be possible."

He was worried too. So many days had passed with not the slightest news from Father. If something had truly befallen him, wouldn't that mean…?

"Go to Longshe Shan and take a look."

"Mother, your child still has many things to…"

"Bang."

A direct kick. Long Ming's eyes narrowed, killing intent condensing.

"Your child is going right now."

Chen Chusheng did not dare delay and immediately left the Chen Clan.

Long Ming's expression turned serious.

"Husband, nothing will happen to you, right?"

Half a day later.

At the foot of Longshe Shan.

Chen Chusheng took a deep breath and entered the territory of Longshe Shan.

The formation token flickered, and he entered inside the Formation.

Following the path from memory, he headed up the mountain. Mist enveloped his surroundings, making it impossible to see the road clearly. Fortunately, the formation token guided the way.

Arriving at the edge of Yu Tang, he saw Second Brother.

"Little brother, you… what are you doing?"

A pot, and inside the pot, being suppressed… was Father.

Father lay inside, pressed down inside.

This scene was somewhat… peculiar.

"Fa… Father?"

Chen Yuan heard his eldest son's voice and hurriedly called out, "Is it Sheng'er who's come?"

"It is your child, Father."

Chen Chusheng leaned closer and asked, "Father, why are you like this?"

So wretched, so obedient?

Chen Yuan saw Chen Chusheng and wanted to cry. He hurriedly said, "Sheng'er, quickly move the stones away and let your father out."

"Alright, your child will right…"

He prepared to act, but met Chen Chuyang's smiling eyes.

Chen Chusheng felt a surge of after-fear, his eyes asking a question.

Chen Chuyang did not refuse, nor did he object, but quietly watched him.

Chen Chusheng gritted his teeth, moved the stones, and opened the lid.

In that very instant, he found himself flying.

Then, with a plop, he entered the pot.

This pot was very large, enough to hold both father and son.

The lid went back on, the stones suppressing once more.

Chen Yuan: "???"

Chen Chusheng: "???"

Father and son stared at each other wide-eyed, neither… speaking.

Silence is the best language.

The two found their positions and lay there, unable to resist.

Chen Chuyang dropped in spirit medicines while simultaneously reminding them, "Father, Eldest Brother, don't move around recklessly, okay? If any accident happens later, it has nothing to do with me."

Hearing this, father and son stopped their movements and lay obediently inside.

Chen Chusheng looked resentfully at his father Chen Yuan and curled his lip, "Father, you've gotten your child killed."

"Sheng'er, your father didn't want this. Who knew your Second Brother would be so ruthless as to throw you in too."

This was something they had never expected. Before Chen Yuan even had time to act, he was already pressed down.

The pot meant for one person now serves two.

It became a bit narrower.

The two could only sigh, unable to do anything else.

This lasted two days.

Two days later.

Chen Chuyang let them out, watching the two anxious father and older brother rush to the fish pond.

Half an hour later, they finished cleaning, and what greeted them was not smiles but two bills.

Chen Chuyang produced the itemized list and handed it to them.

"Father, older brother, take a good look, remember to sign after confirming, then pay."

Chen Yuan stared wide-eyed at the list in his hand, filled with various medicinal herbs each with a specific price; these prices were more than double the outside rates, and besides the herb costs there were also treatment fees, all written there.

All the expenses incurred these days are listed here.

Exactly five hundred spirit stones.

Neither more nor less, five hundred spirit stones.

"That much?"

"Not much, Father, look—my price is quite fair; I will definitely not cheat you."

Chen Chuyang patiently explained: "Five hundred spirit stones will cure your ghostly Qi, heal your injury, and advance your cultivation; from any angle, you profit."

Father's cultivation broke through, reaching the Ninefold True Gang Heaven.

This is also thanks to the Item.

"Father, please pay."

Chen Yuan sighed, knowing this bill couldn't be dodged; this son wouldn't let him off.

"Can it be cheaper?"

"No, Father, my price is fair to all; it's already the lowest."

Chen Chuyang fixed the price, allowing no haggling.

He refused to haggle.

"Alright, I'll pay." Chen Yuan reluctantly handed over five hundred spirit stones; he now just wants to leave this place, leave this money-sinking den.

Having received the spirit stones, Chen Chuyang smiled and said: "Father, be generous."

How could he not be generous? You've set the price; if he doesn't pay, he might be tortured terribly. Moreover, the son's words make sense: he broke through—just this point—this money must be given; it's definitely a big profit.

It was older brother Chen Chusheng's turn; his bill was slightly less.

Two hundred thirty-seven spirit stones; seeing this number, Chen Chusheng's pupils contracted several times; he wanted to toss the bill and leave.

In the end, reason prevailed over impulse.

"Younger brother, I only have two hundred spirit stones, see?"

Gritting his teeth, he produced his last two hundred spirit stones, his last savings.

Any more, and he'd have none left.

He's very poor, nothing like his wealthy father.

"Two hundred is also required."

He took away the two hundred spirit stones with one hand; Chen Chuyang was very satisfied.

"Alright, our accounts are settled; if there's nothing else, please go down the mountain."

This money has been obtained.

Next time, we'll swindle another sum.

The spirit stones on their father and them are not endless; wait until they earn a sum, then we'll swindle another.

Thus repeatedly, endlessly.

Chen Yuan and Chen Chusheng looked at this unrighteous person, whose eyes held only money, no familial affection.

"Chuyang, aren't you being too cold? No matter what, I am still your father."

Chen Chuyang rubbed his hands: "Father, do you still want to soak in the medicinal bath?"

"No, no, I'm leaving, I'm leaving right away." Chen Yuan, thinking of the Item, felt his scalp tingle, his mouth full of that taste, impossible to wash off.

Continuing to soak would be deadly.

He left.

"Older brother, how about you…?"

The older brother swooshed away.

Slower, but he'd be left behind.

"Going up against me, you're still immature."

Chen Chuyang cheerfully saw them off down the mountain; father and older brother wanted to pry something from his hand, impossible.

He, Chen Chuyang, always only takes in, never gives out.