[{"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-56":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},2312548,4520,"Chapter 56: Dispute! Shi Lei","don-t-mock-the-poor-old-man-gains-a-year-of-cult-chapter-56",56,"\u003Cp>In the long street of Fucheng, the sun slanted westward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A figure walked slowly out from the corner pharmacy, Jiren Tang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wore plain gray robes, his hair streaked white, tall and slender, his face ordinary—unremarkable amid the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Jiang Ye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To avoid attention, he had deliberately changed out of his Tianqing Sect steward’s robe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced down at the square jade box in his hand, inside which dozens of dark red herbs were neatly arranged—Hu Xin Cao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The herb was not rare; ordinary pharmacies sold it, and he had paid only a hundred taels of silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the public, Hu Xin Cao was merely an ordinary herb for clearing heat and relieving depression; few knew it was the demonic herb recorded in the Yu Du Jing, capable of making poisonous insects recognize a master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Quite a bargain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He murmured softly, tucked the jade box into his robe, and stepped toward Liu Qingshi’s residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud! Thud! Thud...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he neared the gate of Liu Qingshi’s home, Jiang Ye heard a muffled sound of fist training inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flicker of surprise crossed Jiang Ye’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fist strikes were muffled but lacked depth—clearly not Liu Qingshi training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ye lightly tapped his foot, leaping several feet into the air, landing silently atop the roof.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked down, an expression of quiet satisfaction softening his aged face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the courtyard, the figure sweating profusely as he trained was none other than Shi Lei, whom he hadn’t seen in some time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy’s punches rang out with power—he had clearly broken through to Ming Jing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, his qi was refined, his foundation even more solid than that of Hu Tian, once considered an upper-grade root.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ye nodded inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Shi Lei’s root was poor, his will was unyielding, his perseverance exceptional—given time, he might truly achieve something in the martial path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet as Jiang Ye watched, he noticed something amiss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Lei clenched his jaw tightly, his eyes red—as if suppressing a surge of rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s going on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ye’s nostrils twitched; he caught a faint, unusual scent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strong medicinal odor drifted through the air, mingled with a trace of... blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone was injured?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He frowned, his form shifting, and landed silently in the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Lei, training furiously, remained unaware.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ye followed the scent of medicine and blood until he stopped before the study.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked up—and his expression changed instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the room, Zhao Gang, the senior disciple of the martial academy, sat pale-faced on a chair, drinking medicinal broth—clearly badly wounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, Liu Qingshi was even worse: his face deathly pale, his breath erratic, a faint trail of blood at the corner of his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His wife, Huang Xiyu, wept uncontrollably, her face filled with anguish as she stared at Liu Qingshi, wanting to speak but unable to, only whispering sobs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stifled crying echoed through the study, tugging at the heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wife, it’s nothing—just minor injuries.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingshi gently patted his wife’s hand, his voice low and gentle, trying to soothe her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no sooner had he spoken than his brows twitched slightly—he had aggravated his wound, yet he bit back any cry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Liu, I’m sorry—it’s all my fault.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Gang’s voice was hoarse and heavy with guilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He clenched his fist, as large as a sandbag, knuckles white, his face filled with suppressed fury and self-reproach:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s my fault for being too impulsive...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They dared insult Lady Huang...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just... I just couldn’t bear it...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not your fault,” Liu Qingshi said, shaking his head slightly, his voice steady:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Competition in Fucheng is always fierce.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The new trade route the Su family opened is essentially snatching food from Ding’s mouth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Ding family won’t let the Su family grow—they’ll inevitably clash with us over their patrons, the Kanglin Three Wolves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Today’s skirmish merely lit the fuse ahead of schedule.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides, if they dared insult Xiyu, even if you hadn’t acted, I would have.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Liu Qingshi’s usually calm face revealed a rare flash of cold fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had he finished than hurried footsteps sounded outside the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Liu, how is your injury?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Chen rushed into the study, face anxious, followed closely by Su Yan, equally distressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both froze upon seeing the scene inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Yan hurried forward, placing several jade boxes on the table, her voice urgent:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Liu, these are high-quality healing herbs—have them decocted and taken at once!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Liu Qingshi could speak, Huang Xiyu suddenly lifted her head, her tear-streaked face now cold with fury: “Master Su!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice trembled, sharp with long-suppressed rage:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Liu and you have been old acquaintances for years—today, for your trade venture, he nearly lost his life!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Ding family’s patrons, the Kanglin Three Wolves, are three Hua Jing experts!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhao Gang only just broke through to Hua Jing—his foundation is unstable. How could Master Liu, with him, possibly fight three Hua Jing experts?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you can’t recruit another Hua Jing patron, we’ll have no choice but to withdraw!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We can’t risk our lives just for old ties!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Su Chen’s face twisted in bitterness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Su family’s longtime patron, Guo Wei, had lost an arm not long ago and was still recovering—even if healed, his strength would be greatly diminished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could he not wish to recruit a new Hua Jing patron?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it wasn’t simple. Recruiting a patron required not just strength, but character—otherwise, you invited a wolf into your home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had recently offered large sums, vetting several Hua Jing experts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But each one either lacked sufficient power or had questionable morals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those with both qualities, upon learning of the recent friction between the Su and Ding families, all declined out of fear of the Kanglin Three Wolves’ notorious reputation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He opened his mouth but found no words to defend himself, only sighed deeply, bowing to Huang Xiyu with sincere regret:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lady Huang, please calm yourself... this is truly my fault for dragging Master Liu into this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will recruit a new Hua Jing patron as soon as possible...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Liu is badly injured—he should rest at home for now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Liu Qingshi frowned tightly: “If I rest, what happens to the trade route?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Chen and Su Yan exchanged a glance—both faces etched with helplessness and exhaustion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Chen opened his mouth to speak, but only let out a long sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The trade route... must be put on hold for now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone knew what this meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the silver invested, all the connections forged—gone to waste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what could be done?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Liu, let it go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Chen’s voice was low and weary, tinged with resignation:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve already inquired into the Kanglin Three Wolves’ background.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In Kanglin County, they were local tyrants—powerful enough already.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since joining the Ding family in Fucheng, their strength has grown further; together, even Hua Jing peak warriors avoid them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That you and Zhao Gang escaped unharmed today, I already count as fortune.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I suspect only a Bao Dan expert could suppress them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No wonder the Ding family’s trade route remains unshaken—I was naive to think this would be easy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingshi fell silent, saying nothing for a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In single combat, he feared none of the Kanglin Three Wolves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But together, they were beyond his capacity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere in the room grew heavier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Chen and Su Yan, unwilling to disturb Liu Qingshi and Zhao Gang’s recovery, offered a few more words of comfort, then rose to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their figures vanished beyond the courtyard gate, footsteps heavy as if bearing a thousand jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ding family... Kanglin Three Wolves...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the room, Jiang Ye listened to the muffled voices, his aged eyes filled with ice that refused to thaw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Huang Xiyu’s pained voice came again from inside the room:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Qingshi, you’re injured—don’t wander around. Missing one day of incense won’t matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m fine. I’ll rest soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingshi’s voice remained steady, yet carried an unyielding stubbornness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Supporting his wounded body, he took slow, unsteady steps toward another room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the room where the ancestral tablets were enshrined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingshi walked to the blackwood tablet, calmly lit three incense sticks, and inserted them into the censer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thin plumes of blue smoke rose, blurring his pale face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood there silently, as if turning all his fatigue, all his pain, all his repression into this silent gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long moments passed before he bowed slightly, offering a deep reverence to the tablet, then turned and exited the room, his steps trembling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ye, who had witnessed it all, fell silent for a long, long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the sound of Jiang Ye’s finger bones shifting.\u003C\u002Fp>",1453,"2026-06-20T12:57:27.461Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","9ead19aafa124c60e470a43cd96f823a0f03a254891a94a7b0a7f40f7ed33317","don-t-mock-the-poor-old-man-gains-a-year-of-cult-chapter-57","don-t-mock-the-poor-old-man-gains-a-year-of-cult-chapter-55",268,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdon-t-mock-the-poor-old-man-gains-a-year-of-cult-cover.jpg"]