Chapter 56

Prefecture city long street, the sun slanting west.

A figure walked out of the Benevolent Pharmacy at the corner of the street unhurriedly.

This person was wearing plain gray clothes, his hair was gray, his figure was tall and thin, and his face was ordinary, making him inconspicuous in the crowd.

It was Jiang Ye.

This time he went down the mountain, in order to avoid eyes and ears, he deliberately changed out of the Profound Heaven Sect deacon robes.

He lowered his eyes to look at the square jade box in his hand, in which dozens of dark red herbs were neatly arranged; it was exactly the Mind-Confusing Grass.

This herb is not rare and is sold in ordinary pharmacies, costing only one hundred taels of silver.

In the public perception, Mind-Confusing Grass is just an ordinary medicine for clearing heat and relieving depression; very few people know that it is also the magic grass recorded in the "Poison Taming Scripture" that can make poisonous insects recognize their masters.

"Quite cheap."

He muttered to himself softly, tucked the jade box into his bosom, and stepped toward the direction of Liu Qingshi's house.

Bang! Bang! Bang......

Just as he approached the gate of Liu Qingshi's mansion, Jiang Ye heard a burst of muffled fist-practicing sounds coming from inside.

"Oh?!"

A flash of strangeness flashed in Jiang Ye's eyes.

This fist-practicing sound was muffled but not thick enough; it was clearly not Liu Qingshi practicing.

Jiang Ye tapped his feet lightly, and his whole body jumped several feet high, landing on the eaves of the house silently.

He looked down, and a relieved smile appeared on his aged face.

The figure practicing fist techniques in the courtyard, sweating like rain, was none other than Shi Lei, whom he hadn't seen for a while.

This kid's punches had sound and carried force, clearly having successfully knocked on the door of Ming Force.

Moreover, his aura was refined, and his foundation was even more solid than that of Hu Tian, who had superior bone structure back then.

"Not bad."

Jiang Ye nodded secretly.

Although this Shi kid didn't have good bone structure, he had a tough personality and superior perseverance; given time, he might really be able to achieve something in the martial path.

However, as Jiang Ye watched, he discovered something wrong.

Because, when this Shi kid was practicing, his teeth were clenched, his eyes were red, and he seemed to be suppressing a burst of anger.

"What's the situation."

Jiang Ye's nose twitched, smelling a trace of unusual aura.

A rich medicinal smell drifted faintly in the air, along with a trace of extremely faint... blood smell.

Someone was injured?!

He frowned, his figure flickered, and he landed in the courtyard lightly.

Shi Lei, who was practicing fist techniques frantically in the courtyard, didn't notice this at all.

Jiang Ye walked in the direction where the medicinal smell and blood smell were drifting, and finally stopped in front of the study.

He looked up, his expression changing suddenly.

He saw that inside the room, that senior brother of the martial arts academy, Zhao Gang, was sitting on a chair with a pale face, drinking medicinal soup, clearly having suffered a not-so-light injury.

And Liu Qingshi, who was sitting next to him, was actually injured even more heavily than him, with no blood on his face, his aura chaotic, and a trace of faint bloodstains hanging from the corner of his mouth.

His wife, Huang Xiyu, was crying incessantly, looking at Liu Qingshi with a face full of heartache, wanting to say something but unable to speak, and could only sob softly.

That suppressed crying echoed in the study, making people's hearts feel sour.

"Wife, it's okay, just a minor injury."

Liu Qingshi raised his hand to pat his wife's hand back gently, his voice low and gentle, wanting to soothe her.

But as soon as his words fell, his brows furrowed slightly, clearly having affected his injury, but he endured it without making a sound.

"Liu Shi, I'm sorry, it's all my fault."

Zhao Gang's voice was hoarse and low, carrying thick guilt.

He clenched his fist, which was as big as a sandbag, his knuckles turning white, and his face was full of irrepressible anger and self-reproach:

"It's all my fault for being too impulsive......"

"They actually dared to insult the mistress......"

"I really... really couldn't swallow that breath..."

"It's not your fault." Liu Qingshi shook his head slightly and said in a deep voice:

"In this prefecture city, competition is inherently fierce."

"This business line newly opened by the Su family is equivalent to snatching food from the Ding family's mouth!"

"The Ding family definitely won't watch the Su family grow big; their retainers, the 'Three Wolves of Kanglin', will have a battle with us sooner or later."

"Today's friction just ignited this powder keg ahead of time."

"What's more, they dared to insult Xiyu; even if you didn't make a move, I would have!"

As he spoke, a rare trace of cold anger appeared on Liu Qingshi's steady face.

As soon as the words fell, hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard.

"Brother Liu, how is your injury!"

Su Chen rushed into the study with a face full of anxiety, followed by Su Yan, who also looked hurried.

Both of them saw the scene in the study, and their expressions changed.

Su Yan hurried forward, placed the several jade boxes in her hand on the table, her voice carrying a bit of urgency:

"Liu Shi, these are top-quality healing herbs; please have someone decoct them for you to take quickly!"

Before Liu Qingshi could speak, Huang Xiyu raised her head abruptly, and on that face full of tear stains, there was only a piece of cold anger left: "Master Su!"

Her voice was sharp and trembling, carrying long-suppressed anger:

"Qingshi has been an old acquaintance of yours for many years; today, for your business, he almost lost his life!"

"Those retainers of the Ding family, the 'Three Wolves of Kanglin', are three Transformation of Force experts!"

"Zhao Gang didn't break through to Transformation of Force long ago, and his foundation hasn't been stabilized; with Qingshi leading him, how can they fight those three Transformation of Force experts!"

"If you can't recruit other Transformation of Force experts, then we can only withdraw!"

"We can't just go to our deaths for the sake of a little friendship!"

Hearing this, Su Chen also showed a bitter expression.

The Su family's retainer of many years, Guo Wei, had his arm broken not long ago and was still recovering; even if the injury healed, his strength would probably drop significantly.

How could he not want to recruit new Transformation of Force retainers?

However, this matter was really not that simple; recruiting retainers not only depends on strength but also on character; otherwise, it might be inviting a wolf into the house.

He had also recently thrown out heavy money to investigate several Transformation of Force experts.

However, these Transformation of Force experts were either not strong enough or had questionable character.

Those who had both were also refusing one after another after hearing about the recent friction between the Su family and the Ding family because they were wary of the fierce reputation of the "Three Wolves of Kanglin".

He opened his mouth but didn't know how to defend himself, and could only sigh deeply, bowing to Huang Xiyu, his voice full of apology:

"Madam Huang, please calm down... It was indeed me who implicated Brother Liu."

"I will recruit new Transformation of Force experts as soon as possible..."

"Brother Liu is not lightly injured, so please rest at home for now."

Hearing this, Liu Qingshi frowned and said: "If I rest, what about that business line?"

Su Chen and Su Yan looked at each other, and both father and daughter showed helplessness and fatigue on their faces.

Su Chen opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but it finally turned into a long sigh.

"The business line... can only be put aside for now."

Everyone knew what it meant to stop the business line at this time.

The silver invested in the early stage and the relationships opened up would all be wasted.

But what could be done?

"Brother Liu, forget it."

Su Chen's voice was low and tired, carrying a bit of resignation:

"I have already inquired about the background of the 'Three Wolves of Kanglin'."

"When the three brothers were in Kanglin County, they were local bullies with considerable strength."

"After they arrived in the prefecture city and were recruited by the Ding family, their strength went a step further; when the three brothers join forces, even martial artists at the peak of Transformation of Force have to avoid their edge."

"I already feel very lucky that you and Zhao Gang were able to retreat unscathed today."

"I estimate that unless an expert at the Embracing the Pill Realm makes a move, no one can suppress them."

"No wonder this Ding family's business line can be as stable as Mount Tai; it was me who thought of things too simply before."

Liu Qingshi was silent for a long time without speaking.

In a one-on-one fight, he wouldn't fear any of the "Three Wolves of Kanglin".

However, if the three joined forces, he would indeed be powerless.

The atmosphere in the room became even more solemn.

Su Chen and Su Yan didn't want to disturb Liu Qingshi and Zhao Gang's recovery, said a few more apologetic words of comfort, and then got up to say goodbye.

Their backs disappeared outside the courtyard gate, their steps heavy, as if carrying a thousand-jin burden.

"Ding family... 'Three Wolves of Kanglin'..."

Jiang Ye, who was outside the room, listened to the suppressed voices of the crowd, and the coldness in his aged eyes was almost impossible to melt.

At this time, Huang Xiyu's heart-aching voice came from inside the room again:

"Qingshi, you are injured, so don't walk around; it doesn't matter if you miss a day of incense."

"It's okay, I'll go rest immediately."

Liu Qingshi's voice was still steady, but it carried an unquestionable stubbornness.

He supported his injured body, step by step, walking toward another room with a slightly staggering gait.

That was the room housing the memorial tablet.

Liu Qingshi walked to the ebony memorial tablet, lit three sticks of incense steadily, and inserted them into the incense burner.

Wisps of blue smoke rose, blurring his pale face.

He just stood there quietly, as if wanting to turn all his fatigue, all his pain, and all his suppression into this silent gaze.

After a long time, he bowed deeply to the memorial tablet, then turned around and retreated from the room with trembling steps.

Jiang Ye, who witnessed this scene from beginning to end, also remained silent for a long, long time.

Crack.

This was the sound of Jiang Ye's finger bones moving.