Chapter 180 - 131: Deep Affection and Righteousness, Xiaoniu’s Determination

Chapter 180: Chapter 131: Deep Affection and Righteousness, Xiaoniu’s Determination

"Is Daniu here this early?"

Hearing the rattle of the door knocker, Chen Jianghe instinctively assumed it was Yu Daniu. However, after calculating the date, it seemed a bit too early. Today was only the fifth of the lunar month, still ten days away from the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Stepping out of his room, he stored Little Black and Fur Ball into the Spirit Beast Space, then opened the courtyard door.

"Brother Ruan?"

"Brother Chen, let’s head to the Qingpin Tea House. I have something to discuss with you," Ruan Tieniu said. His expression was tense, displaying a mix of confusion and worry.

"Uh, alright!" Chen Jianghe nodded.

He closed the courtyard door tightly, hung an "Out" sign, and then went to the Qingpin Tea House with Ruan Tieniu.

Seeing Ruan Tieniu’s solemn face, Chen Jianghe sensed something was wrong, and it was likely something detrimental to himself. Since Ruan Tieniu still hoped he would mediate and refine the Foundation Establishment Pill, he naturally wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to him.

"Brother Ruan, what’s going on?" Chen Jianghe asked after ordering a pot of Spirit Tea for fifty Spiritual Sand. They walked into a private tea room and sat down.

"Do you know Duan Ming?" Ruan Tieniu asked in a deep voice.

"Duan Ming?"

Chen Jianghe pondered for a moment, recalling all the people he had met since his time at Jingyue Lake, but none of them were named Duan Ming.

He shook his head and said, "I don’t know him. You also mentioned this Duan Ming in your message, Brother Ruan, saying he was a Tribulation Cultivator. Is he looking for me?"

Hearing Chen Jianghe’s words, Ruan Tieniu nodded. "This Duan Ming is a leader from Qingfong Village. He has a Ninth-Layer Qi Refining Cultivation and has achieved Body Refining Perfection. A few months ago, he sought me out to inquire about my relationship with you."

"What did you say, Brother Ruan?"

"I didn’t explicitly state our relationship, but rather asked about his connection with you. Duan Ming claimed that you were originally his subordinate, Brother Chen, and that you fled because you were dissatisfied with the distribution of loot, even stealing some Spirit Talismans and Magical Artifacts from Qingfong Village."

"What? Me, a Tribulation Cultivator from Qingfong Village?" Chen Jianghe was stunned.

He had some understanding of Qingfong Village. It was a large Tribulation Cultivation Gang within the Eastern Domain of Celestial South. Entrenched on Black Wind Mountain, the village boasted several Foundation Establishment Cultivators, making its forces even more formidable than many Foundation Establishment Immortal Races. They had repeatedly plundered the properties of various Foundation Establishment Immortal Races.

Rumor had it that eighty years ago, the Puppet Immortal Race Lu Family had launched a crusade to wipe out Black Wind Mountain. However, for unknown reasons, the campaign was ultimately left unresolved.

Today, Qingfong Village remained active in the Eastern Territory, though they no longer targeted the assets of Foundation Establishment Immortal Races. Instead, they strictly preyed on Loose Cultivators. Naturally, they also occasionally assassinated isolated clan descendants.

"Brother Chen, think about it—have you somehow offended these Tribulation Cultivators?" Ruan Tieniu asked.

Chen Jianghe pondered deeply for a moment.

Soon, a possibility came to mind. When he first arrived at Qinghe Marketplace, he had encountered a group of Tribulation Cultivators, and their leader closely matched Ruan Tieniu’s description.

Ninth-Layer Qi Refining.

Body Refining Perfection.

Wasn’t that exactly the leader of those Tribulation Cultivators?

He had been hunted by a Tribulation Cultivator known as "Sixth Brother." Relying on Spirit Talismans and Qi Recovery Pills, he had managed to exhaust and counter-kill the man. If he had indeed forged a grudge with Tribulation Cultivators, that was the only time.

"When I first came to Qinghe Marketplace, the large ship I was on was targeted by a Tribulation Cultivation Gang. The leader of that gang was a Ninth-Layer Qi Refining Cultivator at Body Refining Perfection," Chen Jianghe revealed.

"Then did you happen to injure any of Duan Ming’s subordinates, Brother Chen?" Ruan Tieniu asked.

Since Chen Jianghe was sitting in front of him alive and kicking, he obviously hadn’t suffered any losses, which meant the Tribulation Cultivation Gang was the one that got the short end of the stick.

"I killed one of their Tribulation Cultivators, a guy called ’Sixth Brother’."

"Sixth Brother? Was it a middle-aged Cultivator who liked to wear white clothes and sported an Eight-Character Moustache?"

"Uh... yes."

"Then that explains it. Qingfong Village is notorious for holding grudges. By killing Duan Ming’s subordinate, you’ve definitely drawn his hatred."

Ruan Tieniu took a deep breath, looking at Chen Jianghe with an expression of surprise.

If his memory served him right, when he first met Chen Jianghe, the young man was merely a Seventh-Layer Qi Refining Cultivator. He knew Duan Ming’s subordinate, Sixth Brother, who was already at Eighth-Layer Qi Refining at the time. This meant that while Chen Jianghe was only at Seventh-Layer Qi Refining, he had managed to counter-kill a ruthless Eighth-Layer Qi Refining Tribulation Cultivator.

Seeing how gentle and frail Chen Jianghe looked, he never expected him to be so ruthless.

Moreover, Ruan Tieniu was very perplexed as to how Chen Jianghe had managed to escape from Duan Ming. He had dealt with Duan Ming before and had even collaborated with him a few times, earning quite a few Spirit Stones. He knew a thing or two about Duan Ming’s methods; before attempting his own Foundation Establishment, even he would have struggled to gain the upper hand against Duan Ming.

"Are you saying that this Duan Ming wants to make a move against me, Brother Ruan?"

A fierce glint flashed through Chen Jianghe’s eyes.

With Little Black and Fur Ball at his disposal, he wasn’t the least bit afraid, even if he had to face Duan Ming at Body Refining Perfection. As long as he equipped Fur Ball with a Magical Artifact, he could absolutely counter-kill the bastard.

However, remembering that Qingfong Village stood behind Duan Ming, his gaze instantly cleared up as he realized he was being too impulsive. He was letting his emotions get the better of him and losing his cool.

Even if he were to strike, he should wait until after he reached Foundation Establishment. By then, if his opponent hadn’t achieved Foundation Establishment, Duan Ming’s vitality would decline. Coupled with old age, his combat strength would be compromised, making it effortless to slay him.

Wait, that still didn’t feel right.

There were Foundation Establishment Cultivators in Qingfong Village. He couldn’t strike recklessly; if he ended up besieged by Foundation Establishment Cultivators, he would still be in danger.

Therefore, the best method was simply to outlive him!

"He probably harbors that intention. But you don’t need to worry, Brother Chen. As long as you don’t leave Qinghe Marketplace, Duan Ming wouldn’t dare lay a hand on you."