[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-don-t-mock-the-poor-old-man-gains-a-year-of-cult":3,"chapter-don-t-mock-the-poor-old-man-gains-a-year-of-cult-don-t-mock-the-poor-old-man-gains-a-year-of-cult-chapter-52":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Don't Mock the Poor Old Man: Gains a Year of Cultivation Every Day!",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2312544,4520,"Chapter 52: Jiang Ye","don-t-mock-the-poor-old-man-gains-a-year-of-cult-chapter-52",52,"\u003Cp>“What a coincidence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ye stood on the steps, gazing down at the two familiar figures below, his aged eyes flickering with an extremely complex emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was relief, there was lament, and also a hint of indescribable... guilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingshi seemed to sense something, looking upward, then his body subtly trembled, a faint, hidden change flashing in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the steps above stood an elderly man, clad in the robes of the Tianqing Sect, his hair streaked white, tall and slender.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was an inexplicable sense of familiarity about him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Jiang... no...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unconsciously, he flashed the image of a hunched figure always sitting by the door, then shook his head slightly, dismissing the unrealistic thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man before him was a steward of the Tianqing Sect, his aura steady and dignified, utterly unlike the frail, ancient Jiang Ye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In appearance, physique, or bearing, there was not the slightest resemblance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could it be that I miss Old Jiang so much I’m hallucinating...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He chuckled faintly, shook his head, and continued climbing upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, Liu Yiyi followed her father’s gaze and, upon seeing the elder on the steps, her slender frame also trembled slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t think of Jiang Ye, but recalled the elder who had “fought” her and Su Yan that night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because this elder’s tall, slender build was indeed similar to that one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But their faces were quite different—this elder’s expression was calmer, unlike the other, whose face bore a menacing look, clearly dangerous, radiating power and aggression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What am I thinking...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint sheen of moisture flickered in the girl’s cold eyes, a light blush spreading across her fair face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just thinking of that elder brought flooding memories of those disgraceful scenes, quickening her heartbeat, making her body burn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Father and daughter, each lost in their own thoughts, passed Jiang Ye without notice and continued climbing the mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ye descended a few steps, then halted, turned, and activated the true essence of “Startled Deer Without Trace,” his entire form becoming a shadow merging with the mountain breeze, following them slowly and steadily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He watched Liu Qingshi lead Liu Yiyi to the mountain gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingshi spoke to the gatekeeper disciple, who immediately grew solemn and hurried inside the gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, he returned with a middle-aged man clad in Elder’s robes, his demeanor refined and scholarly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged man radiated a faint, watery aura, gentle and enduring—clearly a Bao Dan cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the man, Liu Qingshi’s face lit up with a warm smile as he hurried forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They clearly knew each other for years; upon meeting, they eagerly chatted, occasionally clapping each other’s shoulders, the ease of old friends reunited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the Elder welcomed Liu Qingshi and Liu Yiyi inside the gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their figures gradually vanished behind the grand gatehouse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far away, Jiang Ye stood silently beneath the shadow of an ancient pine, watching the disappearing backs, his aged eyes flickering with a strange light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I never expected the Sect Master’s old friend was actually a Bao Dan Elder.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ye nodded slightly, a hint of relief appearing in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this connection, Liu Yiyi’s admission into the Tianqing Sect was all but certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not follow them in, but found an inconspicuous corner near the gate and waited quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About an hour later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingshi’s figure finally appeared at the gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked out alone, his usually composed face now glowing with an unrestrained smile, his steps noticeably lighter than when he arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ye watched from afar and understood at once—Liu Yiyi had surely succeeded in joining the Tianqing Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingshi, in high spirits, descended the steps briskly, clearly eager to return home and share the good news with his wife, Huang Xiyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He noticed nothing as a shadow-like figure followed him slowly, ten zhang behind, accompanying him all the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ye trailed behind, watching the upright, joyfully light back, a faint smile appearing on his aged face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingshi turned into an alley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ye watched from afar, pausing in surprise—it wasn’t the direction of the Su family residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He remembered Liu Qingshi’s family had been staying at the Su Mansion, yet now Liu Qingshi entered a slightly smaller house nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gate was plain but clean and orderly, the lintel still without a plaque.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? Moved houses?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ye’s eyes flickered with surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed Liu Qingshi had bought the house himself and moved out of the Su household.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given his nature, he’d never wish to remain a long-term guest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked slowly near the courtyard, listened for a moment, confirmed Liu Qingshi’s aura had entered the inner chamber, then lightly stepped—his body like a nimble swallow, silently leaping over the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment his feet touched ground, not a speck of dust stirred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The true essence of “Startled Deer Without Trace” had long become his instinct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You said that Xie Tang was your old friend from youth—why did you give him fifty thousand taels in silver notes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, Huang Xiyu’s voice carried both concern and confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiyu, you don’t understand,” Liu Qingshi’s voice was steady but weary: “My relationship with Xie Tang is good, but some money must be given.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s now an Elder of the Tianqing Sect. At his status, fifty thousand taels is nothing. Him accepting it is giving me face.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sigh...” Huang Xiyu sighed softly, her voice thick with complex emotion: “We do have some savings, but this house cost a lot, and you bought so many elixirs for Yiyi... Qingshi, can we even afford this...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yiyi’s in the Tianqing Sect now—it’s nothing like the Wu Academy! The competition will be far fiercer!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingshi’s voice carried resolve and the weight of fatherhood:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We can’t hold her back. Whatever we can lift, we lift.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know that’s true...” Huang Xiyu’s voice lowered, tinged with sorrow and helplessness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wife, don’t worry,” Liu Qingshi’s tone softened, soothing: “I’ve already arranged it with Su Chen. He’s opened a new trade route and needs someone to guard it along the way—he’s offered it to me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guard a trade route?!” Huang Xiyu’s voice instantly grew anxious: “Qingshi, won’t that be dangerous? This Fucheng isn’t Anxi County—Hua Jing experts are everywhere, and there are even Bao Dan cultivators...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiyu, don’t rush,” Liu Qingshi cut in calmly: “I received a letter from Zhao Gang yesterday. He finally broke through to Hua Jing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhao Gang?!” Huang Xiyu’s voice brightened with delight: “That big oaf finally broke through? That’s really...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not just him,” Liu Qingshi’s voice carried a hint of amusement: “He wrote that he’s bringing Shi Lei with him to Fucheng to join me. With both of them, I’ll have help.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I trust Zhao Gang—he’s dependable, hardworking, strong as an ox,” Huang Xiyu’s voice grew noticeably lighter: “I’ve seen Shi Lei a few times too—he’s honest, his eyes are clear, he’s reliable. With them helping you, things will be much easier.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, Liu Qingshi’s steady laugh echoed, filled with relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the window, Jiang Ye stood silently in the shadows, absorbing every word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhao Gang broke through to Hua Jing...” His aged eyes flickered with surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That senior brother from the Wu Academy, honest and steady, had finally taken this step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Shi Lei as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy he once enlightened with “Flowing water doesn’t compete for precedence” was coming to Fucheng too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He nodded slightly, a hint of relief appearing in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With these two helping him, Liu Qingshi’s burden would indeed lighten considerably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the room, the voices faded into silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingshi stepped out, his steps steady as he crossed the small courtyard and opened another door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ye followed soundlessly, a shadow merging with the night, standing just outside the half-open window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced casually inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, his pupils contracted sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room was small, sparsely furnished, yet spotlessly clean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the wall directly opposite the door stood a spirit tablet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Made of black wood, on a plain white base, with a simple incense burner and offerings before it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smoke curled gently from the burner—clearly, someone paid tribute often.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what stunned him most was the inscription on the tablet—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Spirit Tablet of the Benevolent Lord Jiang Ye.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The characters were upright and forceful, each stroke deeply carved—clearly hand-carved, with utmost devotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ye stood frozen outside the window, like a stone statue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His own spirit tablet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingshi had... erected a spirit tablet for him.\u003C\u002Fp>",1408,"2026-06-20T12:57:27.461Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c2f89e253f6e07d66c45f28ab340afab294fa53a395b9c79f9e571103eb27d71","don-t-mock-the-poor-old-man-gains-a-year-of-cult-chapter-53","don-t-mock-the-poor-old-man-gains-a-year-of-cult-chapter-51",268,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdon-t-mock-the-poor-old-man-gains-a-year-of-cult-cover.jpg"]