[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign":3,"chapter-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-146":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Eternal Green Immortal Sovereign",{"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},2270154,4432,"Chapter 146: Human Feelings Are the Hardest to Repay","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-146",146,"\u003Cp>County Ya .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhuang Renhe sat alone in his room, silent, only the bulging veins on his forehead betraying that he was far from calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Worthless!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Worthless!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cursed inwardly again and again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This morning, he received word from the Anning Guard: Qi Cheng had been beheaded by Ning Zhongtian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good news: he had not been exposed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bad news: Qi Cheng was of the Qi imperial clan—this matter would not end so simply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I must eliminate all traces as quickly as possible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhuang Renhe no longer cared what the Ghost Ming  Sect might do; his sole focus now was to sever all ties to this affair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, he and the Zhuang family would be exterminated—not just nine clans, but ten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhuang Renhe felt utterly agitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A look of grim resolve flashed in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Li, did you hear? A house in Xincheng caught fire last night, burned to ashes—thankfully it was empty, no one inside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yong mentioned this news over breakfast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“An empty house?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui paused mid-bite with his chopsticks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked for details.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was precisely the place where the Ghost Ming  Sect demon had previously hidden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This isn’t simple—someone’s afraid of exposure and moved early to destroy evidence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui thought to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he had no intention of getting ahead of the game to uncover the mastermind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ghost Ming  Sect demon was dead; the mist had returned to nearly pure white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant the mastermind’s target wasn’t him—he didn’t even know Li Rui existed—so there was no need to reveal himself prematurely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Achieving merit is good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But you must live to enjoy it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ghost Ming  Sect isn’t stupid; do too much, and their eyes will eventually turn to you—then you won’t be able to stay low-profile again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing when to stop is an art.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After eating,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui didn’t rush back to his room to cultivate; instead, he chatted a while longer with Yang Yong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since arriving at the Anning Guard post,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yong had grown fond of wandering out, chatting with old acquaintances at tea stalls and porridge shops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s how people get as they age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once they sneered at gossip about illicit affairs, now they dissect every word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of it was trivial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Rui still picked up useful tidbits from it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yong’s sources were lowly, but not useless; conversely, though Li Rui’s status had risen and his information channels had multiplied, he could no longer access street-level gossip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Idle chatter filled this gap perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Remember Cuihua? The woman who used to sell tofu pudding in Chengnan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yong’s reminder jolted Li Rui awake:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yong: “Heard she caught the eye of some wealthy old master—got taken as a concubine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hss~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui did the math carefully—didn’t realize until he counted: “Cuihua’s already forty-five? Still got taken?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yong looked equally stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t just about being past her prime—rich folks’ tastes were truly different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Must be good in bed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, possible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two old men chatted on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zhao felt a single young man shouldn’t linger, so he prepared to slip into the kitchen to wash dishes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Rui called him back: “Little Zhao, you’re twenty now, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, I’ll be twenty next year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui nodded: “Hmm, you’re not getting any younger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Wang Zhao’s heart tightened:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is Master tired of my age? Planning to kick me out?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Living in Li’s household was the most comfortable time of his life—he didn’t want to leave, not for anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui said: “You’re old enough now—you should find a wife. If you like any girl, tell me. You sold yourself into servitude; your ties to your parents are cut. Since I’m your master, I’ll handle this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get married?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zhao leapt to his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui laughed and scolded: “Of course you—there’s only one young man in this yard. Who else? Me? Or Old Yang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zhao’s face flushed red: “Master, I—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his heart warmed—his master had even thought of his marriage, something he’d never dared dream of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His wish was simple: survive, have enough to eat, never go hungry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since following Li Rui, all these had come true—he only wanted to serve his master well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew he wasn’t cut out for martial cultivation; he’d tried, realized it wasn’t his fate, and settled for humble labor within his means.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui waved his hand: “Enough. But remember—young men must restrain themselves. Don’t go too far—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t finish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zhao would understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After their chat, night had fully fallen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui returned to his room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again, he practiced qi circulation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he could now complete seventy-two major cycles in one breath, his qi cultivation speed had more than doubled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Efficiency had increased dramatically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After cultivation, Li Rui finally slept soundly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui ate breakfast, then strolled with his hands behind his back to Benhu Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Brother Li!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu spotted Li Rui and sprinted over, his tower-like frame pounding the ground with each step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In storybooks, a tiger general looked just like Tan Hu. “Little Brother Tan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After spending time together, he’d realized Tan Hu wasn’t as reckless as he seemed—he was bold yet meticulous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, he’d have been beaten to death long ago for provoking so many sects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu rubbed his hands excitedly: “Old Brother Li, when can you show us the Thirty-Six Stratagems again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui laughed in exasperation:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Peace is fortune. The waters of Qinghe are getting deeper—watch out you don’t drown.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since he’d once mentioned “Ambush from an Unseen Path,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu had been certain Li Rui understood military strategy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Understand strategy? Pfft.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his past life, Li Rui had only encountered a few terms from novels—he couldn’t even name all thirty-six stratagems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>=9+book_bar\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d just made up a few stories, and Tan Hu had been fired up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like Xiang Yu smashing his cauldrons and sinking his boats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the Military Immortal gathering troops—more the better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the Confucian scholar sitting empty in a city, playing music to scare off a hundred thousand soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu, a coarse soldier with no education, had never heard such tales—he now dragged Li Rui daily to hear more about military strategy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did he want to learn strategy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He just wanted to hear stories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for applying those tales to real action—Li Rui would have to crush that dangerous idea in Tan Hu’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These schemes sound astonishing, but they are all last resorts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The skilled warrior achieves no famed victories; the skilled physician gains no brilliant reputation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To fight before the battle is even joined—that is the highest realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Do you truly believe everyone is surnamed Han, and can always escape certain death?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You may win many times, but lose once, and you are doomed beyond redemption.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Tan, focus on training your troops—there will be plenty of opportunities later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu grunted in response; if he remembered correctly, this was Li Rui’s forty-fifth promise to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Li won’t lie to me, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu’s distractions came quickly and vanished just as fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned away and forgot the matter entirely, roaring at Lianghe: “You brats! Since you’re all here, train until you drop!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Tan Hu’s vigorous energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several men trembled in their legs—they truly could not hold out any longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui watched Tan Hu immersed in training and nodded silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder Ning Zhongtian valued Tan Hu so highly, protecting him despite so many mistakes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu possessed a pure heart, perfectly suited to his innate Vajra physique; he never hesitated or prevaricated, his thoughts clear and direct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Precisely because of this, his advancement came so swiftly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Rui observed the men forming their formation—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A figure appeared on the Tiger Charge cavalry training ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Jiang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui turned his head and saw Jiang Yan alone on the field. He said: “Miss Jiang, since you didn’t come yesterday, I didn’t tell you—there’s a ten-day leave; you don’t need to come again after this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, getting close to Jiang Yan was to eliminate danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that the danger is gone, there’s no need to deliberately draw near.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yan shook her head:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior, I didn’t come today for that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui was surprised: “Miss Jiang has another matter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My father has ordered the Tiger Charge to patrol Qingfeng Manor; he wants us to accompany them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yan spoke with pursed lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a unit of the Night Scout roster, the Tiger Charge patrolling outside was perfectly normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Anning Guard must monitor not only the forces within Qinghe City, but the entire Anning Prefecture and surrounding hundreds of li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are many sects in that area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Tan Hu hadn’t messed up so badly and Li Rui hadn’t been busy cleaning up after him, they’d have been out on patrol long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Jiang Yan was puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not by the mission itself, but by why her father bypassed Ning Zhongtian and sent her directly to inform Li Rui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That made no sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew her father’s ways well—though he acted unconventionally, he strictly adhered to rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui slightly narrowed his eyes:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it’s Commander Jiang’s order, the Tiger Charge will give it our all. I’ll consult with Captain Tan, then depart. What do you think, Miss Jiang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yan nodded: “We are here to learn. We’ll follow Senior’s arrangements.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Jiang Yan’s retreating figure,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui sighed softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Debts of favor are hardest to repay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whose favor did he owe?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Jiang Lin’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He used a knife to kill—he borrowed Jiang Yan’s hand, and Jiang Lin would never think his daughter was wrong, but Li Rui, the true one who wielded the knife, was surely marked by Jiang Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Lin didn’t resent Li Rui using his power to kill the Ghost Ming  Cult’s demon, because Jiang Lin intended to kill him anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But one thing is one thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killing is killing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui used Jiang Yan again, and in Jiang Lin’s eyes, that was a debt of favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How would he repay it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By properly handling Anning Guard affairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Jiang Lin specifically sent Jiang Yan to tell Li Rui himself—to make Li Rui further hone Jiang Yan, until she realized she’d been sold out and was still counting the money for the seller.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes, two people need no words—only understanding the rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yan probably still had no idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui tilted his head, gazing at the brilliant sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This old man’s just a hard-luck soul. Fine, I’ll go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he reaped the benefits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some people, even without lifting a finger, standing there alone are an invisible shield—you could clearly feel it from the Wisdom Smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention this time he actually acted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui had lived many years, and one principle had always held true for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you owe a favor, you must repay it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let me briefly summarize: first, thank you all for your support—our average subscription has now reached 4,000, a very good result; we’ll definitely keep pushing out more chapters. It’s hard, but if other readers get it, we must too, or they’ll think we look down on them. Stories with strong character setups are truly Bugansuibianshejijuqing , so I write cautiously, doing my best to ensure everyone enjoys reading. Finally, I beg for monthly votes~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(PS: Also recommend a friend’s book.)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1907,"2026-06-19T22:01:09.077Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","245a160dce8a463436faae6769cfc0e32c3d7859ecd797d13b0e60e135b61df4","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-147","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-145",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternal-green-immortal-sovereign-cover.jpg"]