Chapter 169: A New Identity (Final Chapter)

Chen Xue stood in the space, letting out a breath of relief. After entering, she quickly exchanged an antidote and neutralized the drug in her system.

"Are you all right?" Madam Chen anxiously looked at Chen Xue.

"I'm fine."

"So when are we leaving?" Madam Chen asked. "Others have likely noticed what’s happened to us. If we don’t time it properly, our sudden reappearance might..." She trailed off, worried that their secret space might be exposed.

"And what about them?" Madam Chen gestured towards the two guards in the small dark room. 

This brought a frown to Chen Xue and her father, as these were two big issues to resolve. 

"Father, perhaps this is our chance!" Chen Xue's eyes brightened as she spoke, excitement gleaming in her gaze.

"You mean..." Her father, understanding her well, quickly caught on to her idea but hesitated.

"What are you two talking about?" her mother asked, puzzled.

"Xiaoxue means we could use this to fake our deaths," her father explained. "Everyone saw our boat catch fire and sink. They’ll assume we were swept away, which means that in their eyes, we’re already ‘dead’."

The river was vast, hundreds of meters wide, with a strong current in the middle. Anyone who fell in would be swept away instantly, their bodies lost. If they stayed hidden, the entire empire, including the court, would assume they had perished.

They could wait until things calmed down, then reappear under new identities. It would be a fresh start, free from exile to the southern lands. Officially, they would be "dead"—not fugitives.

Upon hearing this, Madam Chen grew excited. "In that case, what are we waiting for!"

Indeed, compared to exile in the southern wilderness, a life lived under a new identity sounded far more appealing. 

Chen Yuan sighed in agreement. Exile was perilous, and now fate had given them a chance to start anew.

"Then we’ll hide in the space for a while," Madam Chen decided.

"But what about them?" Chen Xue glanced at the two guards. The easiest solution would be to eliminate them, but they weren’t villains who could betray loyal servants. These guards had faithfully protected them, and it would be heartless to repay loyalty with death.

Yet if they did nothing, the guards would discover the space and their plan to live under new identities. There was no guarantee they would stay and protect them, or that they wouldn’t leave.

The family was torn until Chen Yuan had a sudden idea. "Xiaoxue, remember the technique you used on Zhao Guang?"

"Father, you mean hypnosis?" Chen Xue's eyes brightened. This could be the solution—no need for murder, yet their secret would be safe.

In the days that followed, Chen Xue hypnotized the two guards daily, allowing them to move about the space without realizing where they were.

For over a month, the family remained hidden. Fortunately, the space provided ample food, and with the help of the two hypnotized guards, they had extra hands for farming and tending to livestock.

Several times, Chen Xue sneaked out at night to see if the search had ended, only to find that some still scoured the riverbanks.

After more than ten days, they realized that some of the searchers were under Magistrate Tan’s orders. As this was his jurisdiction, Magistrate Tan refused to return to the capital until he had found his former mentor. Others were sent by Xie Yunshang, who upon hearing the news of Chen’s supposed death, immediately dispatched a search party to retrieve the bodies.

Though Chen Xue’s family was touched by their loyalty, they knew the fewer who knew their secret, the better. So they waited.

Two months passed before an opportunity finally arose. Late one night, the river was unusually calm, with no signs of any searchers. 

Chen Xue and her family quietly emerged onto a bamboo raft, which Shen Dan expertly steered downstream. Chen Yuan and the others remained hidden in the space until they reached a safe distance.

Drifting swiftly with the current, they soon traveled several dozen miles before coming ashore. There, they hired a cart and continued southward.

Eventually, they settled in a modest southern town. It wasn’t large, but it bustled with merchants, allowing them to blend in without attracting attention.

Before their exile, Chen Xue had emptied the family coffers, so they had no financial worries. They soon made a home in the town, living quietly for years.

During that time, Chen Yuan reconnected with Xie Yunshang. They learned that Chen Xiaohua’s family was doing well in the southern lands, thanks to Xu Tian’s care and Xiaohua’s medical skills. With the Chen family's loyal guards also providing protection, they had established a stable life.

Xie Yunshang, overjoyed that the family had survived, kept their secret even from his father. He also ensured the safety of the guards' families back home, relieving the two guards of any concerns so they could stay and protect Chen’s family.

And so, the Chen family lived peacefully in the small town. With the resources provided by the space, they had no need to run a business and kept a low profile.

Years passed. Occasionally, they heard news from the outside world. Magistrate Tan, upon returning to the capital, was eventually promoted to Assistant Minister of Revenue.

The emperor tragically drowned, and the second prince attempted a hasty coup, which ultimately failed. The crown prince ascended the throne and declared a general amnesty. Xie Yunshang and Magistrate Tan submitted petitions to clear Chen Yuan’s name, and an investigation revealed that the chancellor and the second prince had been behind the conspiracy all along.

The crown prince, eager to punish his fallen enemies, issued a decree that restored the Chen family's honor.

Though they no longer needed to live under false identities, the Chen family didn’t care. Their quiet, comfortable life suited them just fine.

The End.

................

This is a super short novel but it took me months to finished it

I have been translating novels for 1 year and 6 months already as this novel ends I wanted to express my endless gratitude to all the supports that I had receive throughout this 18 months journey, I am forever grateful and thankful to all readers, supporters and Patreon members, you are all the reason why this page and patreon still exists, you might found this appreciation letter annoying but trust me in every novel that I completed you will always read something similar to this. God knows how much mockery I received when I started this journey and no one I personally knew ever believe in me, this is my hobby and I wanted to do this forever thats why I will always grateful to the readers and most importantly  to my patreon members you are not only giving me money but you all encourages me to continue doing this you made this page still exist throughout this 1 year and 6 months

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Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 168: Counterattack

"Something's wrong! Something's happened!"

On the shore, people saw Chen Xue’s boat catch fire and begin to sink. The guards and other servants immediately panicked. Those who could swim jumped into the river to reach Chen Xue and the others, while those who couldn’t swim shouted to guide others in rescuing them. Some guards ran to other boats on the shore to get them to row over and help.

"Ha ha, retribution!" Zhang Yiquan on the shore couldn’t help but gloat at the sight.

On the small boat, Shen Dan tried to stand with his knife braced against the boat, but he couldn’t muster the strength. 

"Master Chen, I'm sorry. It's our fault!" Shen Dan said with a face full of regret. They had been too careless and fell into the enemy’s trap. Now not only could they not save their own lives, but they had also failed the general’s trust by not protecting Master Chen properly.

"I'll get into the water to support them. Shen Qing, you protect Master Chen and the others," Shen Dan decided. Even if he couldn’t save everyone, he would do his best to protect Master Chen as long as he had breath left.

Just as he was about to stand up, he collapsed with a thud.

Desperate, he took his knife and cut his own flesh, instantly feeling a sharp pain that gave him a bit more strength, though only a little.

"Master Chen!" Shen Qing saw this and wanted to help but stopped himself. Instead, he began tearing apart the wooden planks in the boat’s cabin and instructed Chen Xue and the others, "Master Chen, we need to lie on the planks and avoid making sudden movements."

Though Shen Qing had also inhaled the sleeping powder, he managed to stay awake by biting his tongue and using sheer willpower to resist the drug’s effects.

"What do we do?" Madam Chen looked at her husband and daughter, shocked by the situation. Neither Chen Xue nor her father could swim, and with the distance to the shore being at least twenty to thirty meters, combined with the effects of the sleeping powder, swimming to safety was impossible.

The only way to survive was a drastic measure. But there were other people here as well.

However, with Shen Dan and his brother still trying to help them, how could they bear to be so heartless?

"Master Chen, I will say 'jump' later…"

Before Shen Qing could finish, he was interrupted by Chen Xue. 

"No need!" 

"What?!" Shen Qing was confused. 

"Before we leave, we need to get revenge!" Chen Xue said coldly, looking at the boatman hiding in the water. She retrieved several crossbows from her spatial storage and handed them to her parents and Xiao Die, then gave one to each of the Shen brothers.

The Shen brothers were stunned by the sudden appearance of crossbows but said nothing. They were already familiar with Chen Xue’s extraordinary abilities.

Each of the six chose a position and began attacking.

"Whoosh!"

The boatman hiding underwater was startled when crossbow bolts suddenly appeared around him. Where did these come from? 

Panicked, he dived deeper into the water, but still got hit by a bolt, bleeding from his arm. 

Despite the pain, he pushed deeper into the river, relieved that someone had lessened the attack’s force.

Seeing the blood in the water, Chen Xue and the others felt a significant reduction in their anger. 

The boat was now half-submerged. Though they had extinguished the fire, there was no longer any place to stand.

Chen Xue told the Shen brothers, "Close your eyes."

Chen Yuan added, "No one is to open their eyes until I give the command, understood?"

Even without his official position, his authority still held weight. 

Though puzzled, the Shen brothers complied and closed their eyes. Once they did, Chen Xue used her spatial ability to transport everyone to safety.

The boatman saw the boat sinking further and surfaced, sneering to himself that the Chen family was doomed. 

But before he could finish his thought, he stared in disbelief at the now empty boat.

"Where are they?"

The boat’s bow was empty; the Chen family had vanished. 

"This is impossible!"

He couldn’t believe the Chen family had perished in the fire. With six or seven people on board, even if the boat caught fire, it was unlikely they would all have died. Besides, if the boat caught fire, they would have jumped into the water.

Moreover, he had not seen anyone leave the boat.

What was going on? 

Could it be they had somehow escaped? 

But he hadn't seen any other boats nearby.

"There! Over there!" 

The Chen family’s other guards had arrived in boats. 

The boatman’s heart sank. He wanted to swim away but was almost pulled under by the pain in his arm. 

Seeing no escape, he decided to plead for help. 

When the Chen family’s guards arrived and saw him, they immediately rescued him.

The boatman felt a surge of hope, thinking he could escape once on shore. 

But just as he had this thought, he felt a sharp pain in his arm.

Looking up, he saw the guards binding his arm behind him.

"What are you doing?" the boatman asked, wincing in pain.

"Where is Master Chen and the others?" one of the guards demanded sternly. The small boat made it easy to see that the Chen family was missing.

"I don’t know, I don’t know anything!" the boatman feigned ignorance.

"You’re lying. The crossbow bolts in your arm were fired by Master Chen’s people. You are clearly an enemy." 

Even though the boatman had broken some of the crossbow bolts, a part of them remained in his arm. The guards recognized these as Chen family’s crossbows. 

Realizing he had been exposed, the boatman despaired. It seemed fate was not on his side.

With a cold smile, he bit down on a hidden poison capsule, preparing for the end.

Seeing the boatman spew black blood, the Chen family’s guards understood he was a die-hard assassin.

"Damn it!"

"Those who can swim, search the river for Chen Daren and the others!"

---

On the other side.

The Shen brothers felt their surroundings shift, but they didn’t think much of it due to the boat’s instability and the effects of the sleeping powder.

Yet, they sensed that the environment felt different—less damp and eerily quiet, except for some animal noises.

Without Chen Daren’s command, they couldn’t open their eyes.

Eventually, the effects of the sleeping powder took their toll, and they fell into unconsciousness.

Before passing out, Shen Dan caught a glimpse of his surroundings.

It was pitch dark, and he couldn’t see anything.

This only deepened his confusion about where they were and how they ended up here.

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 167: The River Crossing Crisis

The exiled group quickly arrived at the ferry crossing over the Changhe River. Once they crossed this major river, they would reach the southern region. Everyone was looking forward to it, as the conditions in the south were expected to be less harsh, and there would be more food available in the wild.

Crossing the river required boats, but there were not enough large boats to accommodate everyone at once. Therefore, they had to cross in batches, starting with a group of people and then returning to pick up the rest.

Choosing who would go first was crucial to prevent any potential escape attempts by prisoners. Xu Tian planned to have Chen Xue's family go first, but as soon as this was announced, Zhang Yiquan immediately objected.

"Why should they go first?" he demanded.

"Everyone, let's be fair. Why does the Chen family get to go first? We have elderly and children among us. They are neither old nor young—why should they go first?" 

After experiencing various situations, the crowd had ceased to envy the Chen family, knowing that they had a divine disciple and preferred not to offend them. However, Zhang Yiquan's objections were ignored by everyone, leading to his embarrassment.

In reality, while the crowd didn’t voice their concerns, many were somewhat unhappy about Chen's family being prioritized. Chen Yuan thus decided to let the others go first since it didn’t matter whether they left early or late. Additionally, delaying their departure would make it easier to manage the cargo on their carriage, most of which was actually stored in the spatial compartment.

It was morning, the busiest time for travelers, and almost all boats were already full, leaving few available. Some refused to take passengers, as transporting prisoners was considered inauspicious. Xu Tian and the others spent a lot of money to find a few boats and began transporting people gradually.

However, there was one boat on the shore that neither accepted passengers nor prisoners and remained stationary. When the boatman with a bamboo hat saw Chen Xue’s family, he quickly approached.

"Master Chen, this way!" 

"I’m sent by Magistrate Tan to take you across the river," the boatman added.

Chen Xue frowned, sensing something was off but couldn't pinpoint it. 

Following the boatman to the small boat, they noticed that it was about the same size as other boats. Was this really the boat sent by Magistrate Tan?

Chen Xue and the others exchanged glances, unsure of what to think. Despite Magistrate Tan's seemingly high position, he might not afford a larger boat.

"The boat is small, so we can only take a few people at a time," the boatman explained. 

Chen Yuan estimated that the boat could hold six or seven people, and with his family plus Xiao Die, they already made up four. That left room for only two more.

"Let us two brothers come along!" one of the guards said. They were sent by Xie Yunshang to protect Chen Yuan’s family and would not leave their side.

"Fine," Chen Yuan agreed. With two guards accompanying them, their safety was more assured. 

The guards checked the boat thoroughly before boarding, while the boatman insisted there was no need for further inspection. Chen Yuan, convinced by the boatman's insistence and the fact that the boatman himself would be at risk if anything went wrong, gave up on additional checks.

The boat departed, heading toward the river’s center. Chen Xue and the others sat in the cramped boat cabin, observing their surroundings. The boat looked better from the outside but was in poor condition inside, with wooden patches and visible water leaks.

Fortunately, the cabin was lined with dry grass, keeping their clothes and shoes dry. Still, the creaking noises made Chen Xue anxious about the boat’s stability.

Shen Dan held his knife tightly, fixating on the boatman. His battlefield instincts told him something was wrong with the boatman, but lacking evidence, he merely kept a close watch.

Soon, the boat reached the river’s center. Shen Dan instinctively placed his hand on the knife handle, ready for any trouble. The boatman, under his hat, continued to row leisurely.

Suddenly, the boat jolted, possibly hitting an object or encountering a current. Shen Dan nearly lost his balance, and then a shout came from inside the cabin, causing him to panic.

"Master Chen, are you alright?"

The boatman hurried into the cabin, appearing concerned about Chen Yuan. Shen Dan steadied himself and followed. Upon entering the cabin, Shen Dan found water flooding the floor.

"Not good!" Shen Dan thought, rushing forward.

Inside the cabin, Shen Dan saw his brother Shen Qing protecting Chen Yuan’s family and confronting the boatman, who clearly had malicious intent.

The boatman sneered and without further ado, tossed a firestarter onto the dry grass in the cabin, then jumped into the river from the stern. Flames immediately erupted in the cabin.

"Damn it!" Shen Dan cursed, shouting to his brother, "Shen Qing, protect master Chen and get out of here."

He removed his clothes, soaked them in the water, and tried to extinguish the fire.

Shen Qing moved Chen Xue and others to the bow of the boat, but the vast river made it impossible for him to swim all of them to safety.

"This is not working; the fire can’t be put out!" Shen Dan emerged from the cabin, grim-faced. "The bastard is also sabotaging the boat’s bottom—it’s sinking."

With a burning cabin behind them and the endless river ahead, their situation was dire.

Suddenly, another object was thrown onto the boat.

"Not good, it’s a sleeping powder—hold your breath!" Shen Dan warned.

Though they tried to hold their breath, they still inhaled some of the powder, quickly feeling their limbs weaken. On a burning boat, losing strength meant either burning alive or drowning.

"You’re all doomed!" the boatman’s cold voice came from beneath the water.

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 166: Opening a New World

"Take that one on the ground too!" Magistrate Tan pointed at the unconscious servant. "Drag him out and give him twenty strokes."

Though the servant had fainted, he couldn't escape the punishment awaiting him.

The main culprit was dealt with, and only...

Thud!  

Boss Wang, noticing Magistrate Tan looking his way, quickly knelt down.

Although he could act arrogantly in front of someone like Li Yuanwai, in the end, he was still just a commoner. Facing an official as high-ranking as Magistrate Tan, he couldn’t maintain his composure.

"Magistrate Tan, I..."

He wanted to explain, but Magistrate Tan waved his hand, cutting him off.

It seemed that Magistrate Tan only trusted the teacher’s word. In reality, he had already inquired about the incident on the way here.

If he hadn't arrived in time, Boss Wang might have already made a move against his teacher.

However, since Boss Wang hadn’t actually harmed anyone yet, they couldn’t convict him without cause.

"Magistrate Tan, if you and the esteemed gentleman don't mind, I would be honored to host a banquet as an apology," Boss Wang quickly offered, sensing Magistrate Tan’s dilemma.

"No need!" Magistrate Tan waved it off and turned to Magistrate Chen. "I’ve already prepared a feast at my home. If the teacher and his wife don't mind, please join me there."

"How could we refuse?" Chen Yuan waved his hand.

"By the way, how do you plan to deal with this man?" Magistrate Tan, unable to think of a suitable punishment, asked for Chen Yuan’s advice.

After a moment of hesitation, Chen Yuan suggested, "How about making him serve porridge in the city so that the beggars can at least have something to eat?"

Magistrate Tan nodded. He had already addressed the beggar issue when he became the county magistrate, ensuring the locals had food. But there were still many out-of-town beggars arriving.

He could prevent his own people from becoming destitute, but there was no way to feed people from other regions.

All in all, Chen Yuan’s punishment not only settled the matter but also benefited the public—a win-win situation.

Impressed, Magistrate Tan couldn’t help but admire Chen Yuan.

Boss Wang, relieved after hearing Chen Yuan’s words, quickly agreed, fearing they might change their minds.

In his mind, however, he cursed them. What madness!  

If they had such high status, why did they deliberately wear such plain clothes to test him?  

Wasn’t this intentional?

What Boss Wang didn’t know was that Chen Yuan had already been stripped of his official title, leaving him no choice but to wear such simple clothes.

With the matter settled, Magistrate Tan escorted Chen Yuan and his family back to his residence.

Once they left, the crowd that had gathered breathed a sigh of relief, and discussions began to erupt.

"That man is the teacher of the county magistrate?"

"Yes, but dressed like that, you’d never know."

"I wonder what position the county magistrate’s teacher holds?"

"He must be a high-ranking official in the capital!"

In the crowd, one person wore a peculiar expression, itching to tell everyone that the county magistrate's teacher was no grand official but an exiled prisoner.

But, remembering his mission, he stayed silent.

In truth, if speaking up could solve the Chen family's problems, he wouldn’t hesitate to do so.

After all, though trained to be a death warrior, when the moment came, he still hesitated.

However, he quickly reaffirmed his resolve, blending back into the crowd and waiting for his opportunity.

Chen Yuan and his family arrived at Magistrate Tan's home, where the servants had already prepared bathwater and fresh clothes.

After they bathed and changed, they finally sat down to enjoy the banquet.

Magistrate Tan chatted with Chen Yuan, while Chen Xue and her mother focused on the delicious food.  

…

"Despicable!"

Outside the city, in the exile convoy, Zhang Yiquan stared bitterly at the bowl of congee in front of him, his heart full of resentment and jealousy.

Why? Why, when they were all exiles, could the Chen family enter the city, eat and drink well, and stroll around freely, while he and his family were stuck with steamed buns and congee?

If he could, he would’ve already reported the Chen family to the authorities in the capital.

This was no exile; it didn’t even look like exile!

Too jealous to eat, Zhang Yiquan handed the congee to his son.

But come midnight, Zhang Yiquan woke up, starving, and couldn’t find any food.

He regretted giving the porridge to his son, but where could he find something to eat in the middle of the night?

Helpless, he tried to fool himself into feeling full, like the ancient trick of painting cakes. But the more he thought about it, the hungrier he became.

In the end, his mother, awakened by his grumbling stomach, dug up some tree roots for him to eat.

Though he was reluctant, he eventually gave in and took a bite. To his surprise, it tasted good, as if a new world had opened up for him.  

…

The next morning, Chen Xue and her family woke up early and enjoyed a hearty breakfast.

After a good night’s sleep and a hot bath, the exhaustion from their journey was completely gone.

Though they could take a hot bath every night, the nights in the space always came with a small worry—that their secret might be discovered.

But now, in the county magistrate's home, those worries disappeared.

Magistrate Tan wanted the Chen family to rest another day, but Chen Yuan refused. The exile convoy had already been delayed, and any further delay would mean punishment for everyone.

If word reached the capital, his rivals would certainly make a fuss over it.

Understanding this, Magistrate Tan didn’t press the issue and instead loaded a cart full of supplies.

"Teacher, the journey to the southern barbarians is long. These supplies should be of some help."

Chen Yuan glanced over the cart. It wasn’t filled with silver, but food, medicine, and clothing.

Before they left, Magistrate Tan handed Chen Xue a small bag of silver. Though not much, it contained a few dozen taels—a considerable amount for someone like Magistrate Tan, who had only recently taken office and wasn’t corrupt.

"Most of my money is sent home, so..." Magistrate Tan explained, feeling a bit embarrassed. Chen Yuan shook his head and signaled Chen Xue to return the silver.

Though people called him "penniless," in truth, he wasn’t poor—his daughter had already brought all their savings.

Compared to them, Magistrate Tan still had his elderly mother, was young and unmarried, and with a modest salary, was the one who truly needed the money.

"We have enough supplies," Chen Yuan said, pointing to the cart. "Besides, we're not on a vacation; we won’t need the silver."

"But you’ll still need to grease palms along the way," Magistrate Tan insisted. While not corrupt, he knew that things didn’t get done without money, especially on an exile journey where bribes might be essential.

Chen Yuan had to mention Xie Yunshang’s name and reveal that some of his men were secretly protecting them.

With the name of General Pingwei, who in the land wouldn’t know?

Only then did Magistrate Tan relax.

When the Chen family rejoined the exile convoy, Xu Tian had already prepared the group for departure.

Magistrate Tan had hosted Xu Tian for dinner the previous evening, but Xu Tian, concerned about the convoy, had returned early. Magistrate Tan also sent bailiffs to help watch over the group.

Seeing that the Chen family seemed to come back with a cart after every outing, the others couldn’t help but feel envious.

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 165: Shock and Awe

"Teacher?"

Seeing the county magistrate bowing to what they thought was a beggar and calling him "teacher," everyone was stunned.

Master Li, now pale as a corpse, collapsed to the ground, unable to believe his eyes. "How is this possible? How could a beggar be the teacher of the county magistrate?"

The waiter fainted, thinking the same thing as Master Li: How could this be?

The restaurant owner trembled, sweating profusely, utterly shocked. He had backed the wrong horse! Magistrate Tan's appearance wasn't because of Master Li at all.

"This…"

The onlookers and bailiffs were equally stunned. Even Chen Xue was surprised. Her father had a student who became a county magistrate? Thinking back to her father's previous position as an Assistant Minister of Revenue, it started to make sense.

"Zhengming!" Tan Shuxian, styled Zhengming, was filled with emotion. Tan Shuxian was not strictly Chen Yuan's student. Years ago, Tan Shuxian had excelled in the imperial examinations and was assigned to the Ministry of Revenue, where Chen Yuan had taken him under his wing, sharing his insights and guiding him. Magistrate Tan had treated Master Chen as a mentor, and Master Chen had advised him that to advance in the Ministry, he needed grassroots experience.

However, lacking connections and patronage, Magistrate Tan had no way to secure a local post. Chen Yuan recommended him during a court meeting, leading to Magistrate Tan's appointment as a county magistrate, a position he had held for three years. Recently, he had been summoned back to the capital but delayed his departure, waiting to repay his debt to Chen Yuan.

"Teacher!" Tan Shuxian, tears in his eyes, lamented, "I failed to clear your name…"

"Zhengming, there's no need for that," Chen consoled him. "Blessings can come from misfortunes, and vice versa. Keeping my life is already a great fortune. This might even be a blessing in disguise."

Magistrate Tan was momentarily taken aback by Chen Yuan's enlightened outlook but was relieved to see that his teacher hadn't lost hope. Unknown to Magistrate Tan, Chen Yuan saw their exile as an opportunity. Away from the capital, in the southern regions, they could live without the constant political peril.

Returning to the matter at hand, Chen Yuan wasn't interested in clearing his name, focusing instead on survival and advising against stirring trouble that could provoke the emperor further.

"Why, Teacher?" Magistrate Tan asked, puzzled.

"You should focus on serving the people well, not on vindicating me," Chen instructed.

Magistrate Tan, though reluctant, accepted this, vowing to remember it.

"Teacher, what happened? Are you all unharmed?" Magistrate Tan turned to Chen Yuan's wife, "Greetings, Madam. Greetings, Sister."

Madam Chen, familiar with Magistrate Tan, smiled at him. Chen Xue, however, was astonished at her father's connections, which might have been why their lives were spared despite the corruption charges.

Chen Yuan explained the incident briefly and truthfully.

"Leave this to me, Teacher!" Tan, turning to Master Li and the others, was furious that his teacher had been endangered on his turf.

"Spare me, sir!" Master Li, terrified, knelt and begged for mercy, denying his actions.

"Insulting and attacking an imperial official is a capital offense," Tan declared, causing Master Li to soil himself in fear.

"Death is avoidable, but punishment is not!" Tan sentenced, "Take him away and give him twenty strokes."

Magistrate Tan had no intention of killing Master Li, not wanting to become corrupt himself. Twenty strokes would serve as a harsh lesson.

"Thank you, Master Tan!" Master Li, relieved, thanked him profusely.

"Thank my teacher," Magistrate Tan corrected, "without him, it wouldn't be just twenty strokes."

Master Li quickly thanked Chen, his demeanor drastically different from his earlier arrogance.

Seeing this transformation, the onlookers sighed, understanding the allure of power.

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 164: Stepping In

"Get lost, you beggars! Changing your clothes doesn't make you worthy of coming in."

"You…" Chen Xue and her family were livid. If it weren't for madam Chen holding her back, Chen Xue would have rushed out to slap the waiter.

"Wait a moment!" The elegantly dressed man who had just passed by suddenly returned and called out to them. The waiter's heart skipped a beat, fearing that the wealthy man might stand up for these beggars. But that didn't seem like his character!

The man scrutinized Chen Xue's family and said, "How about this? If you two ladies serve me, I'll take you into the restaurant and show you around."

The waiter sighed in relief at these words.

Onlookers started jeering, "Ha, Master Li, you already have eighteen concubines, can you handle two more?"

"Whether I can handle it or not is none of your business!" Master Li retorted, looking down at Master Chen. "I'll give you ten taels of silver to sell these two women to me."

"Sell your sister!" Master Chen exploded with uncharacteristic rage and kicked Master Li to the ground. Insulting him was one thing, but insulting his wife and daughter was unacceptable.

"Stop it, don't fight anymore!" Chen Xue rushed to help her father, ostensibly pulling him back, but in reality, she was helping him.

Seeing Master Li trying to get up, Chen Xue kicked him back down.

"Help, I'm being attacked!" Master Li, not expecting to be assaulted on his own turf, had come out without any servants, thinking he was invincible.

The waiter rushed over to help, scolding them, "Stop it! Have you lost your minds? How dare you attack Master Li…"

Chen Xue stepped back, "Fine, go ahead and help him."

The waiter glared at her before going to help Master Li, only to be kicked down himself.

"You're no better, you snob!" Chen Xue had planned this, attacking when the waiter knelt.

She glanced at Master Chen, who also looked at her. They nodded in unison and kicked the waiter together.

"Ouch, stop, it hurts!" The waiter's pleas were ignored as Chen Xue and Master Chen continued.

"Enough, stop before it gets worse," Madam Chen finally intervened, truly trying to pull them back. However, even she "accidentally" kicked Master Li and the waiter in the process.

"Miss, watch out!" Xiao Die, ever loyal, stepped on the waiter's hand as he tried to grab Chen Xue's ankle.

"Ah!" The waiter's scream startled Chen Xue and Master Chen, making them stop.

"Let's go!" Master Chen, satisfied, lifted his foot off the waiter and urged them to leave. While it felt good to beat them, the consequences could be serious.

"Think you can just leave after hitting us?" The restaurant owner approached with a dark expression, guards surrounding them with clubs.

"One person did it, and one person will answer for it!" Master Chen stood protectively in front of his wife and daughters, facing the owner.

"Hmph!" The owner sneered, "Break the man's..."

Before he could finish, a group of bailiffs arrived, alerted by someone.

The guards hesitated, looking at their boss. "Ignore them, continue. I'll handle the rest!"

"Stop!" An angry voice interrupted.

Everyone saw an official, escorted by bailiff, hurrying over.

The owner, alarmed, signaled his men to stop. He hadn't expected the county magistrate to get involved in such a minor matter, especially since he had no connection to Master Li.

"Magistrate Tan, what an honor…" the owner began, but was cut off.

"What's going on here?" Magistrate Tan demanded.

"Uh…" The owner was momentarily speechless.

"Magistrate Tan, help me!" Master Li, with a bruised face, ran over, crying and pointing at Chen Xue's family. "These ruffians attacked me…"

He twisted the story, claiming he invited Chen Xue's family into the restaurant out of kindness, but they repaid him with violence.

Magistrate Tan wasn't convinced, yet the waiter also chimed in, claiming his arm was broken by them.

"That's nonsense…" Chen Xue began, but Master Chen signaled her to remain calm. "Don't worry, this official won't believe their lies," he reassured her.

"Where's the owner?" Magistrate Tan asked, looking at the restaurant owner.

The owner, unable to read the magistrate's expression, decided to side with Master Li, thinking it was safer. "They're telling the truth," he said, pointing to the surrounding crowd. "Everyone saw it!"

The onlookers, fearing involvement, looked down.

"Hmph!" Magistrate Tan snorted and walked towards Chen Xue's family.

The owner and others were puzzled, but then their eyes widened in shock.

Magistrate Tan bowed respectfully to Master Chen. "Student Tan Shuxian greets Teacher!"

"Teacher?" The owner's group was stunned, and Master Li collapsed in shock, realizing the severity of his mistake.

"It's over…"

**PS: Is anyone still reading? If there are readers, I'll continue updating.**

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 163: Trouble at the Restaurant

No matter how much Zhang Yiquan protested, no one responded. After Chen Xue spoke, she left. The Chen family ignored him completely, and the others, judging by their expressions, did not believe him either. Zhang Yiquan's face turned extremely ugly, and he felt deep regret.

Unwilling to give up, he turned to Xu Tian, knowing Xu Tian's upright and kind nature wouldn't let him die in the group. He rushed to Xu Tian, pleading, "Captain Xu, save me, or I'm dead."

"What do you mean?" Xu Tian was puzzled.

Zhang Yiquan hurriedly explained, "Captain Xu, you saw it. The Chen family never gave me those two elixirs. If you help clarify this, I won't die!"

"You want me to lie and say your son wasn't saved by Lord Chen?" Xu Tian asked sternly. "Miss Chen saved your son, and you didn't even thank her. Instead, you distort the facts. Do you have any conscience?"

"I…" Zhang Yiquan was stunned. He expected Xu Tian to clarify without hesitation, but Xu Tian diverted the topic.

"If you help clarify, I will apologize," Zhang Yiquan offered.

"You've got the wrong person!" Xu Tian turned and left. Zhang Yiquan didn't expect Xu Tian to refuse so decisively, and his heart sank.

Xu Tian's refusal was unexpected and might lead others to believe even more firmly that the elixir was with Zhang Yiquan. Given Xu Tian's character, he wouldn't lie, so his refusal likely meant he didn't want to lie.

"Damn it!" Zhang Yiquan cursed under his breath and left with his family.

"He won't have the time or energy to cause more trouble now," Chen Xue said, lowering the curtain of the carriage and turning to her parents. Zhang Yiquan had almost killed them with an avalanche, and they had long wanted revenge. Using the public's sympathy against him, they spread the rumors, ensuring Zhang Yiquan's misery.

"How about the snow?" Master Chen asked, looking at a thick patch of snow in the space. After the avalanche, Chen Xue had stored the snow to escape.

"There's no snow in the southern barbarians' land, right?" Chen Xue said, approaching. "The snow in this space will never melt, so we can always enjoy it, even if it doesn't snow in the south."

Lady Chen laughed, "This way, no one will laugh at us if we stumble while skiing."

Master Chen "..."

...

More than a month later, Chen Xue and her group finally reached the border between the north and south, just as winter ended. The past winter had been long, especially for Zhang Yiquan, who had not had a moment's peace since the rumor about the elixir. Though Xu Tian occasionally protected him, Xu Tian couldn't be there 24/7. Each day, people tormented Zhang Yiquan, forcing him to hand over the supposed elixir.

Though they didn't kill him, the torture made him wish for death. Each time he felt on the brink of death, Xu Tian or other bailiffs saved him, leaving him resentful of Xu Tian, whom he once felt grateful towards.

...

Finally reaching the county, they needed to replenish supplies. As they approached the south, many northern goods would be hard to find, so they needed to stock up. The Chen family, not wanting to reveal their hidden space, entered the town without their guards.

First, Chen Xue explored the town, collecting useful items for the future. After half an hour, they arrived at the county's most luxurious restaurant, a three-story building lavishly decorated. Initially, Chen Xue wanted to find a simple place to eat, but Lord Chen insisted on enjoying themselves, especially after the avalanche made him appreciate life's uncertainties.

Entering the fancy restaurant was a first for Chen Xue, who noticed the few patrons were all elegantly dressed, indicating their high status.

"The dishes here must be expensive," Chen Xue worried about her silver. Although not poor, her hoarding nature made her cautious with spending. She recalled a past experience where a simple cucumber dish in a fancy restaurant cost an exorbitant amount. However, the aroma from the restaurant enticed her, reminding her that ancient dishes, unlike her past life, were worth their high price.

As they approached the entrance, a waiter blocked their way. "Do you know where this is?" The waiter disdainfully sized them up, clearly looking down on their plain attire.

"Isn't this a place to eat?" Chen Xue, displeased with the waiter's attitude, retorted.

"Hmph!" The waiter snorted dismissively. "This isn't a place for people like you."

As he spoke, a well-dressed middle-aged man walked past Chen Xue's family, receiving a warm welcome from the waiter. "Please come in, sir," the waiter groveled, bending low and smiling obsequiously while introducing the restaurant's specialties.

Seeing the stark contrast in treatment, Chen Xue and her family felt deeply insulted.

"Let's leave. No need to stay in a place where dogs look down on people," Master Chen, once a high-ranking official, was understandably upset at being disdained.

As they turned to leave, the waiter, noticing their lingering, angrily snapped, "Why haven't you left yet? Shoo, you're affecting our business."

Passersby also jeered, "Another group not knowing their place."

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 162: Hoist with His Own Petard

"We've been exiled and live in misery, and now you want to finish us off? Do you have any humanity left?"

Zhang Yiquan rolled up his sleeves, revealing bruises on his arms. His mother, looking weak and breathless, sat on the ground. Zhang’s wife, holding their son, mumbled incoherently, appearing deranged. Seeing this, the crowd fell silent. 

Zhang Yiquan's family indeed seemed pitiful, stirring sympathy among the onlookers. Many knew about the Zhang and Chen family feud and leaned towards the Zhang family, seeing them as fellow ordinary people, unlike the Chen family's exalted status as immortals.

While they admired the Chen family, the Zhang family's shared plight as commoners garnered their empathy. They couldn't openly criticize the Chen family but began to view them differently.

"Nonsense!" A Chen family servant stepped forward. "You claim your wife is our doing? Everyone saw that bandits injured her!"

Zhang Yiquan retorted, "I clearly saw you knock my wife unconscious, and my son lay bleeding at your feet."

"That was to save your son!" Xu Tian approached, explaining, "You were unconscious, and your wife was injured by bandits. When she woke, she wasn't right, and your son was severely injured."

"Others witnessed this," Xu Tian continued, "If you don't believe me, ask them!"

Some onlookers who were present stepped forward. "That's right, we saw it. The bandits stabbed the child with a dagger!"

The crowd gasped in shock and looked at Zhang Yiquan's son, who appeared perfectly healthy, which seemed miraculous. Remembering rumors, they soon heard Xu Tian's confirmation.

"If it weren't for Miss Chen's life-saving elixir, your son wouldn't have survived."

The crowd buzzed with astonishment, now believing in the existence of such a miraculous elixir. 

"Impossible!" Zhang Yiquan's face changed. Though he had heard the Chen family saved his son, he hadn't believed it. Now, he couldn't ignore the reality, even if grudgingly.

"These are just your words. Show me proof!"

Xu Tian was at a loss, not knowing how to provide evidence. 

"Want proof?" Chen Xue emerged from her carriage, her expression cold.

The crowd instinctively stepped back, wary of her wrath. Zhang Yiquan felt a bad premonition but didn't believe Chen Xue could produce evidence after so long.

"No proof means you're lying!" Zhang Yiquan said defiantly.

"Oh, really?" Chen Xue sneered, producing an object and stepping two meters from the carriage.

With a flick, a light appeared, projecting an image from the side of the carriage. The crowd watched in disbelief as the image moved, showing scenes of the Chen and Zhang families.

"This is..." The onlookers were astonished to see moving images of the past, depicting the aftermath of the bandit attack.

"That's the scene after the bandit attack!" someone exclaimed.

As others explained, the crowd grew even more shocked, realizing they were witnessing past events. They saw Chen Xue administering the elixir to Zhang Wei, witnessing his miraculous recovery.

"This is immortal magic!" Zhang Yiquan was stunned, seeing the scenes of his son's miraculous recovery.

"If there was any doubt before, it's gone now," the crowd thought, now fully believing in the miracle.

"Our young lady had only two elixirs, and she used them both on your family. Now you accuse her, ungrateful and shameless!" Xiao Die angrily scolded.

"Two elixirs?" The crowd recalled hearing that Chen Xue gave Zhang Yiquan two elixirs, one of which saved his son. The other was meant for his wife but remained unused.

This rumor now seemed true, sparking greed in the crowd. If the elixir was no longer with Chen Xue, anyone could claim it.

"Oh no!" Zhang Yiquan realized the danger. If everyone believed he still had an elixir, they might turn on him, leading to his demise.

"That's nonsense! There's only one elixir," Zhang Yiquan quickly rebutted.

"Is that so?" Chen Xue retorted, "You say it's one; it's your choice. I gave it to you; what you do with it is your business."

She turned and re-entered the carriage, leaving Zhang Yiquan looking defeated. Though she admitted there was only one elixir, the crowd likely wouldn't believe it.

Zhang Yiquan felt like he had shot himself in the foot. If he hadn't tried to smear the Chen family, none of this would have happened.

No, he thought, the Chen family had already spread these rumors. His actions only made them more credible. Now, everyone believed he still had an elixir.

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 161: Twisting the Truth

Seeing his mother and son clutching their stomachs in pain, Zhang Yiquan was filled with rage, wanting to confront Kuang Wei and his men. However, he knew the most important thing now was to find a solution. Before he could think of a plan, he smelled a foul odor emanating from his mother and son.

"It's over!" His mother sighed with relief, having nearly been at death's door. But as she regained her senses, she realized the terrible smell was coming from her, and her expression changed.

"Mom, how are you?" Zhang Yiquan forced himself to resist vomiting, looking worried. He didn't believe that Kuang Wei and his men would stop at merely humiliating them; it had to be more serious than that. 

He turned to his son, who was also emitting a foul smell, clearly suffering from diarrhea. Just as he was about to attend to his son, his mother cried out again. She was clutching her stomach, evidently in pain once more.

"Damn it!" Zhang Yiquan looked from his mother to his son, unsure who to help first. In the end, he rushed to his son and tried to communicate with his wife.

"Cui Ling, Mom needs your help..." But Zhang Yiquan's wife ignored him, clutching Zhang Wei tightly despite the smell. When Zhang Yiquan approached, she glared at him angrily. He raised his hands to show he meant no harm and backed away.

Realizing his wife couldn't help his mother in her current state, he decided to confront Kuang Wei and his men. 

"Hand over the antidote!" Zhang Yiquan demanded. 

Kuang Wei rolled his eyes. "What antidote?"

"Don't play dumb!" Furious, Zhang Yiquan lunged at Kuang Wei, only to be stopped by other bailiffs. 

"Bang!" A bailiff blocked his punch and kicked him to the ground. The bailiff then shouted, "Everyone saw it! He attacked us first!"

Seeing this, the surrounding prisoners quickly distanced themselves. Kuang Wei and his men then beat Zhang Yiquan, carefully aiming for areas covered by clothing to avoid visible injuries. 

"It's not over yet!" Kuang Wei sneered, leaving with his men.

Struggling to his feet, Zhang Yiquan glared at their retreating backs with hatred. He stumbled back to his wife and saw that his mother was no longer in pain but looked weakened.

Seeing his condition, his mother burst into tears. "What did they do to you? Why are they treating us this way?"

"If it comes to it, we can beg the Chen family for help..." 

"No!" Zhang Yiquan immediately rejected the idea. He couldn't bring himself to seek help from his enemies. But seeing his mother's expression, he suppressed his anger and said through gritted teeth, "This is definitely the Chen family's doing!"

He still didn't know what those people wanted or why they targeted him, but he believed the Chen family was behind it, seeking revenge for almost killing them.

"This..." Zhang's mother was at a loss.

"We'll get back at them," Zhang Yiquan said determinedly. "Are you insane?" his mother exclaimed. "Do you know who the Chen family is? We can't even touch a hair on their heads..."

"I know!" Zhang Yiquan's eyes burned with hatred. "But I'm not giving up!"

Both exiled, the Chen family had risen, even becoming immortals, while he was still struggling. Now, they were driving him to the edge, and he couldn't stand it.

"Don't worry, Mom. As long as the Chen family cares about their reputation, they won't dare do anything to me."

Zhang Yiquan laughed coldly. "We're in a weak position. If we play the victim, others will sympathize with us. Even if we can't hurt the Chen family, we can tarnish their reputation."

Not long after, Zhang Yiquan approached the Chen family's area and collapsed to the ground, wailing. "Is there no justice? First, you ruined my wife, and now you poison my mother and son..."

"Look at this! These so-called immortals are worse than demons, harming even women and children!"

A crowd gathered, curious about the commotion.

"You're lying!" someone defended the Chen family.

"Lying?" Zhang Yiquan sneered, pointing to his wife, who was holding their son and smiling blankly. "My wife ended up like this! How can you say I'm lying?"

The crowd fell silent, but some argued back. "Your wife was harmed by bandits. What's it got to do with the Chen family?"

"Exactly!"

Zhang Yiquan hadn't expected the crowd to side with the Chen family, and his face darkened.

Turning to the Chen family's direction, he shouted, "Chen Yuan, come out if you dare! You spread lies about us, causing everyone to attack us. My elderly mother has to endure such suffering!"

Before he could finish, his mother approached. "I never expected to live long, but I hoped to enjoy my remaining years. Who knew the Chen family would poison our porridge and almost kill me..."

She wept, evoking sympathy from the onlookers. 

"Rubbish!" A servant of the Chen family stepped forward. "You brought this on yourselves and now blame our master. How shameless!"

"Exactly!"

"Do you know who our master is? If he wanted to deal with you, a snap of his fingers would suffice."

Chen Xue, inside a carriage, almost choked on her spit at the exaggeration. "Explain why you're spreading rumors about us and inciting the officers to retaliate?" Zhang Yiquan sneered. "I know the Chen family resents their exile and blames me, seeking revenge."

"Revenge on me is one thing, but harming innocent children and elders is inhumane." 

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 160: Means

When Zhang Yiquan returned to his wife's side, he saw his mother-in-law taking care of her, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Mom, are you alright?"

"I'm fine. How is Wei'er?"

Zhang Yiquan's mother was lucky; she just fainted during the bandit attack and wasn't injured. When those people tried to take her grandson away, she happened to be fetching food, narrowly missing them. Otherwise, at her age, any knock or bump could have been fatal.

"What exactly happened? Why did they..."

Before his mother could finish, Zhang Yiquan interrupted, "Mom, it's fine now. It's over."

His mother opened her mouth but didn't ask more, turning her attention to her grandson instead. 

Although Zhang Yiquan said it was over, he was still worried deep down. He knew those people wouldn't give up easily after not getting what they wanted. However, thanks to the Chen family and Xu Tian, they didn't dare to act openly. As long as he remained cautious...

---

"Stop staring! Don't hold up the line!" an impatient bailiff glared at Zhang Yiquan. The prisoners behind him also urged him to hurry.

"Move on after you get your food."

Zhang Yiquan looked extremely upset as he glanced at his bowl, which contained less than half a bowl of thin porridge with only a few visible grains of rice. He turned to look at the prisoner who had urged him earlier and saw that when he handed his bowl over, the bailiff scooped a full ladle of porridge into it. Although it was still mostly water, the bottom was covered with grains, a full bowl.

Seeing his own half-bowl of water, Zhang Yiquan felt a surge of anger. He didn't argue with the bailiffs because it was useless; they were clearly threatening him. Having done similar things himself before, he knew their tactics well. It wasn't just about shortchanging his food; there would be other means too.

Worried about his wife, he turned and left with the porridge. Just as he turned, a figure appeared, causing Zhang Yiquan to quickly step back. However, something tripped him, and he fell backward, losing his grip on the bowl, which flew out and shattered on the ground. The porridge spilled and vanished in an instant.

He silently stood up, clenching his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh, blood dripping to the ground unnoticed. Seeing this, others instinctively distanced themselves from him, sensing something dangerous in his demeanor.

The saying "a barking dog seldom bites" held true. If Zhang Yiquan had cursed loudly, people would have laughed it off. But his unusual silence made even the bailiffs uneasy.

"What's there to be afraid of? He's just a stray dog that can't cause any trouble!" Kuang Wei reprimanded his men. They relaxed, realizing he was right.

When Zhang Yiquan returned to his wife's side empty-handed, his mother was surprised.

"Where's the food for today?"

Each family was allotted one bowl of porridge per person, meaning Zhang Yiquan could get four bowls. However, with only one bowl, he had to make multiple trips. He would let his wife and mother eat first before getting more for himself. Seeing him return empty-handed, his mother sensed something was wrong.

Faced with her questioning, Zhang Yiquan explained simply but truthfully. His mother was angry, "I'll go get the food. They won't dare spill mine. I'll make a scene if they do!"

Zhang Yiquan wanted to stop her but knew it was a good idea. Xu Tian wouldn't allow anyone to die in their group, and Kuang Wei's men wouldn't dare harm an elderly woman. However, he still worried about her getting hurt.

As he pondered, his mother had already taken something to fetch the food. He quickly followed, bringing his son along to ensure he at least got to eat.

When they arrived, they heard a commotion. His mother was sitting on the ground, crying hysterically, causing quite a scene. 

"Someone's going to die!"

"There's no justice!"

At fifty or sixty years old, her behavior drew sympathy from onlookers, who felt she was being mistreated. Even Kuang Wei's men were affected, with some reporting the incident to him. Kuang Wei's face darkened upon hearing the news.

"To think a former Minister of Revenue's mother would act so shamelessly. Impressive!"

He remarked grudgingly, recognizing their tactic.

"What now?"

"Give them the porridge!"

Kuang Wei sneered, "Let's calm things down first. He won't be smug for long."

Soon, Zhang Yiquan's mother returned with the food, praising the Chen family for managing the group better than before. Under the previous leader, she wouldn't have dared cause trouble, fearing for her life. Now, things had changed.

Hearing his mother praise the Chen family made Zhang Yiquan uncomfortable, but he didn't argue. He handed the porridge to his mother, who refused, saying she wasn't hungry and offering him a hard bun instead. Zhang Yiquan insisted she drink the porridge, taking the bun for himself. He softened it with water and broke off a large piece for his wife.

Holding their son, Zhang Yiquan's wife became wary when Zhang Yiquan approached, but she eagerly took the bun and started eating. 

"Cuire, eat slowly!"

Zhang Yiquan gently urged, offering the rest of his bun. Suddenly, their son cried out, clutching his stomach. Panicked, Zhang Yiquan realized the porridge must have been tampered with. He saw his mother also in pain, clutching her stomach on the ground.

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 159: Helping in the Wrong Way

Zhang Yiquan insisted that he didn't have the item they were looking for, but Kuang Wei and his men refused to believe him.

They were convinced that the so-called elixir was still in his possession, especially since his wife remained insane and untreated.

Here's how things unfolded.

A rumor had spread that Zhang Yiquan possessed an elixir given by Chen Xianzi.

It was a divine elixir!

Given the miracles of Chen Xianzi calling forth snow and melting valleys, her abilities were considered divine.

So, the elixir she gave couldn't be an ordinary one.

Initially, many people doubted the rumor, but after much investigation, it was confirmed.

The incident occurred after a bandit attack when Zhang Yiquan's son was critically injured and on the brink of death.

Many people nearby heard Doctor Yang's words and knew that Xu Tian wanted to rush Zhang Yiquan's son to the county town, but it was too late.

In short, even the nearby prisoners saw the boy's injuries, noting he was barely breathing—just as the doctor had said, there was no hope.

But later, they saw Chen Xue take out an elixir, and Zhang Yiquan's son miraculously recovered, shocking many witnesses.

Later, it seemed that Xie Yunshang had some matters to discuss with Master Chen, so they cordoned off the area, and people dared not stay close.

However, they saw Zhang Yiquan rush over, leading to a confrontation that was too far to see clearly.

Perhaps during that time, Chen Xue gave another elixir to Zhang Yiquan to treat his wife.

But since his wife remained insane, it was obvious Zhang Yiquan didn't give her the elixir and kept it for himself.

If he had given it to her, she wouldn't still be insane. The idea that Chen Xue's elixir was ineffective was inconceivable.

This led everyone to believe that Zhang Yiquan, knowing the elixir could save lives, secretly kept it for himself.

That's why people were giving Zhang Yiquan odd looks.

However, the Chen family's servants and Xu Tian insisted this was just a rumor and urged people not to believe it.

Yet, this made the rumor seem even more true to everyone.

Because if the Chen family hadn't spoken up, the rumor might have died on its own, but their denial seemed like a cover-up.

And besides, people would rather believe it was true than risk it being false.

If it was true, and they obtained it, it would be like having an extra life!

So, everyone was a bit crazed.

However, since Xu Tian had the bailiffs watching and warning everyone, only those few criminals managed to find an opportunity to act.

As a result, they were caught by Kuang Wei and his men, who also wanted the elixir.

In reality, Kuang Wei and his men had been nearby for a while, waiting for those criminals to get the elixir from Zhang Yiquan so they could take it themselves.

But Zhang Yiquan was tougher than expected, and the criminals couldn't get anything out of him.

Seeing Zhang Yiquan almost beaten to death, Kuang Wei and his men had to step in.

Knowing that mere beatings wouldn't make Zhang Yiquan yield—since they themselves wouldn't give up such a life-saving elixir—Kuang Wei realized the need for a different approach.

Kuang Wei suddenly laughed heartily, patting Zhang Yiquan on the shoulder. "Just kidding, we're not bandits. We wouldn't rob you. We just wanted to cheer you up since you seemed down."

Zhang Yiquan, in great pain, nearly collapsed from the shoulder pats but forced a smile, "I understand, I understand!"

While saying he understood, he knew it was just an excuse because they couldn't do anything to him at the moment.

"What's going on?"

"What are you doing!"

In the distance, several figures hurried over—it was Xu Tian with his men.

Apparently, those who fled earlier didn't want Kuang Wei and his men to get the elixir, so they reported them to Xu Tian.

"Damn those bastards!"

Kuang Wei cursed, relieved he had stopped in time, otherwise, Xu Tian would have caught them.

He wasn't afraid of Xu Tian but didn't want his intentions exposed, which would have Xu Tian watching him closely, making it impossible to get the elixir from Zhang Yiquan.

"He was being beaten. We heard the commotion, rushed over, and saved him."

Kuang Wei quickly explained, putting his arm around Zhang Yiquan's shoulder and looking at him, "Isn't that right!"

Zhang Yiquan, enduring his pain, dared not say otherwise and nodded quickly, "Yes, yes, fortunately, these bailiffs arrived in time, or I might have been beaten to death."

As he spoke, Zhang Yiquan gritted his teeth in anger, thinking of how those criminals almost killed his son. Although he knew Kuang Wei and his men also had bad intentions, they had saved his son, so he didn't expose them.

Xu Tian looked at them suspiciously. Although he sensed there was more to the story, it was clear Zhang Yiquan wasn't attacked by Kuang Wei, and since he himself didn't speak up, there was nothing Xu Tian could do.

"It's good that you're okay," Xu Tian consoled, glancing at Kuang Wei, then advising Zhang Yiquan, "Be careful in the coming days."

Actually, Xu Tian didn't want to warn him. Given Zhang Yiquan's enmity with the Chen family, he was also somewhat against Xu Tian, who was half a disciple of Master Chen.

But Xu Tian was kind-hearted and still offered a warning.

However, this well-intentioned advice only fueled the suspicions of others.

Kuang Wei thought that Xu Tian's warning confirmed the Chen family indeed gave Zhang Yiquan an elixir; otherwise, why would he need to be careful?

Since the elixir was likely in Zhang Yiquan's possession, they had more reason to believe it was true.

Thus, Kuang Wei and his men were even more determined not to let Zhang Yiquan go. They looked at him like he was a treasure trove.

Zhang Yiquan shivered involuntarily, feeling like he was falling into an icy pit.

Seizing the chance with Xu Tian nearby, he hurriedly left, stumbling away with his son.

Watching him leave, Xu Tian turned to Kuang Wei and his men, "Those are just rumors, don't believe them."

But Kuang Wei wasn't listening. He smirked, "Tell me, is miss Chen a fairy?"

Xu Tian was puzzled but nodded, "Yes!"

"Did she use an elixir to bring Zhang Yiquan's son back to life?" Kuang Wei asked again.

Xu Tian, even more confused, still answered truthfully, "Yes!"

"Then that's it!"

Kuang Wei said something seemingly nonsensical and walked away. He didn't ask Xu Tian if Chen Xianzi gave Zhang Yiquan a second elixir because he knew Xu Tian wouldn't tell them.

But knowing that Chen Xianzi revived Zhang Yiquan's son with an elixir was enough.

Those two facts were true, so the rumor must be true as well—that Zhang Yiquan had another elixir.

PS: Feeling unmotivated (﹏)

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 158: No Mercy

"Let him go!"

Zhang Yiquan roared like an enraged lion, glaring fiercely at his captors. His son was his bottom line.

"We don't have that much patience!"

The man holding Zhang Yiquan's son's head sneered, his face full of murderous intent. "I'll count to ten... no, he probably can't last ten seconds."

"I'll tell you everything! Just let Wei'er go first!"

Zhang Yiquan's eyes were bloodshot. Even though he had no idea what they were looking for, he was forced to comply for his son's sake.

"Where is it?"

"Let go of Wei'er first!"

"Or I'll bite my tongue and kill myself!"

"Is that so? Then try it!"

But the men didn't care about Zhang Yiquan's threats. Instead, they grabbed his son's hair more tightly and lifted him up.

Seeing his son's face covered in snow, Zhang Yiquan felt a pang in his heart. He bit his lip hard, wishing he could rush over and die with them.

Blood trickled from his mouth as he squeezed out from between his teeth, "The item is buried in the snow, several miles from here."

"How do we know you're telling the truth?"

"Believe it or not, I'm telling the truth!"

Zhang Yiquan had a defiant look, as if daring them to believe him.

The men looked troubled. If it was that far away, they couldn't leave their group to verify it.

Zhang Yiquan knew this well, which was why he said it.

"I've got an idea," one man suddenly said, his eyes brightening as he looked at Zhang Yiquan. "You go get the item and trade it for your son's life!"

"You..."

Zhang Yiquan hadn't expected them to come up with such a plan. His heart sank. How could he find something he didn't even know about?

He cursed the absent officers in his heart. Where were they? Why hadn't they shown up yet?

"Yes."

"Good idea."

The others agreed happily. They couldn't leave, but Zhang Yiquan could. And if he got caught, it wouldn't be their problem.

"If you want your son to live, do as we say!" they threatened fiercely.

"Fine!"

Zhang Yiquan hesitated for a few seconds, then nodded. "Now let go of me!"

The men exchanged glances and released him.

As soon as they let go, Zhang Yiquan grabbed a handful of snow and threw it in their faces.

They instinctively raised their hands to block the snow, giving Zhang Yiquan a chance to rush at the man holding his son.

But injured as he was, he was no match even for one of them.

Bang!

As soon as he got close, the man kicked him to the ground.

"If you want to die, we'll help you!"

They started beating Zhang Yiquan again, this time without holding back, clearly angered.

"Stop! Stop!"

Zhang Yiquan curled up on the ground, covering his head and begging for mercy, but they had lost all patience.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Before long, Zhang Yiquan was beaten so badly he couldn't even beg for mercy.

"It seems we need to be tougher to make him cooperate." One man, tired of beating him, turned angrily towards the boy.

If they had only been scaring Zhang Yiquan before, now they were genuinely furious and ready to hurt his son to make him comply.

"No..."

Lying on the ground, Zhang Yiquan saw their movements and panicked. But in pain and unable to move, he could only cry out in despair.

"What are you doing!"

At that moment, Zhang Yiquan heard what sounded like an angelic voice. Hope lit up his eyes.

He looked up and saw Kuang Wei approaching with a group of men. They scolded the attackers upon seeing them.

Zhang Yiquan was overjoyed. They were saved, Wei'er was saved.

The attackers cursed and fled into the night, quickly disappearing.

"Help my son, please!"

As the attackers vanished, Zhang Yiquan breathed a sigh of relief, then looked up at Kuang Wei and his men, pleading, "Please, help us!"

Kuang Wei spotted the boy on the ground and quickly checked him over, then sighed in relief.

"Don't worry, he's just unconscious."

Hearing this, Zhang Yiquan relaxed even more and promptly fainted.

"He's fainted?" One officer frowned. "Is he faking it?"

"It seems real," Kuang Wei said, looking at Zhang Yiquan's injuries. He seemed genuinely unconscious.

"What now?" another officer asked, concerned. They needed Zhang Yiquan for something.

"Wake him up with snow!"

Kuang Wei glanced around and instructed his men.

They grabbed snow and covered Zhang Yiquan's face with it. The cold shock soon woke him up.

"You..."

He opened his eyes, saw Kuang Wei, and was about to speak when he remembered something and quickly changed his tone.

"Wei'er, where is my Wei'er?"

Zhang Yiquan looked around frantically for his son, worried about his safety.

"Don't worry, he's fine."

Kuang Wei clapped, and his men brought the boy over.

Zhang Yiquan, ignoring his own pain, rushed to hug his son. The boy's weight and his own injuries nearly overwhelmed him, but he held on, not wanting his son to fall.

"Thank you, officers!"

Relieved, Zhang Yiquan thanked Kuang Wei and his men.

"If you want to thank us, hand over the item!" One of Kuang Wei's men interrupted impatiently.

"Item? What item?"

Zhang Yiquan instinctively asked, then froze, realizing what they meant.

It seemed this group was after the same thing as the earlier attackers. This made him even more curious. What was this item that everyone was after?

He was utterly confused. Why did everyone think he had something he knew nothing about?

"Think carefully!" The officer threatened. "We have ways to deal with you."

"That's right," another officer added. "How many days can you go without food?"

They were clearly threatening to withhold food from Zhang Yiquan.

His heart sank. He had no money left; the attackers had taken everything. If the officers denied him food, he couldn't buy any.

More importantly, he could endure hunger, but his wife and son couldn't.

"Damn it!"

Zhang Yiquan clenched his fists in frustration, feeling helpless.

---

*PS: During the day, Xiaoyu works and only has time to write at night. After work, she spends most of her time writing, with no other leisure activities. While others go shopping or eat out, Xiaoyu is stuck writing with few readers and little income. (-----___-----)*

(End of Chapter)

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