16: Chapter 16 Unexpected Disaster

The next day, Jiang Hanwen arrived at the Council Hall on time, carrying seven bloodline grasses.

The main gate of the Central Courtyard's Council Hall opened, and Du Qingfu sat emotionlessly in the center, with Su Xin, dressed in a white skirt, standing behind him.

Su Xin's cheeks were slightly flushed and rosy, looking very cute, as if she had some good news to share.

When Jiang Hanwen arrived, Gong Qing was already there; only Zhuang Bai had not yet come.

Gong Qing's face was full of smugness, and he kept stealing glances at Su Xin, but Su Xin didn't look at him once, making the atmosphere a bit strange.

After a quarter of an hour, Zhuang Bai also entered the room with his cloth bag.

"Take them all out," Elder Du said indifferently.

The three took out their cloth bags, with Gong Qing being the most pleased, proudly raising his head and glancing at everyone.

Elder Du was the first to open Jiang Hanwen's bag and took out half of the bloodline grass inside.

"Jiang Hanwen, seven plants, unqualified. You've received one demerit. Two more times, and you'll be expelled from the Medicine Field."

Gong Qing's eyes widened, looking incredulously at Jiang Hanwen's seven plants, then rubbed his eyes as if saying, 'How is that possible!'

Su Xin looked over, her slender fingers clutching the corner of her clothes.

Jiang Hanwen nodded like a pecking chick:

"Junior understands. I will definitely work harder in the future and not let down Elder's expectations."

With a cold huff, Elder Du opened Gong Qing's second bag, untied the string, and pulled open the cloth bag.

"Gong Qing, ten plants, qualified."

"Hehe, it's all thanks to Miss Su's excellent teaching," Gong Qing said, blushing, glancing at Su Xin, his eyes flashing with admiration. Miss Su is truly beautiful today.

Finally, Gong Qing gave Zhuang Bai a disdainful look. These past three months, he had meticulously cared for the bloodline grass every day, unlike Zhuang Bai, who only spent half a day in the field.

His efforts were far greater than Zhuang Bai's; he was sure to win!

The last cloth bag was opened, and Elder Du's lips curved into a satisfied smile.

Hehe, any moment now—

"Zhuang Bai, thirteen plants, not bad," Elder Du finished saying.

As if struck by lightning, Gong Qing's face instantly turned pale.

His eyes, wide as pearls, stared fixedly at the vibrant bloodline grass taken from the cloth bag. Ho... how could this be!

Elder Du took out another cloth bag and threw it in front of Jiang Hanwen.

"There are thirty plants in here, and you still have three months. If you're unqualified this time, you'll receive thirty lashes. Remember that!"

"Junior understands." After receiving the seedlings, Jiang Hanwen respectfully stepped back. Before leaving, he glanced at Gong Qing.

He saw Gong Qing sitting dejectedly on a chair, his eyes vacant, staring blankly at the table.

Alas, what a mistake.

Jiang Hanwen turned around; this matter no longer concerned him... In the afternoon, he was developing fertilizer behind his house.

"Jiang Hanwen, you unrighteous bastard, come out!" Gong Qing's furious voice suddenly rang out.

Immediately after, there was a clang, a bang, and a splash!

The sounds of shattering wine jars rose and fell, and the strong aroma of wine wafted everywhere.

Jiang Hanwen, smelling of foul odors, emerged from behind the house, calmly looking at Gong Qing, whose eyes were bloodshot and muscles tensed.

Compared to the morning, Gong Qing now looked disheveled, his face ashen, veins throbbing on his forehead, like a demon god.

"I considered you a friend, yet you gave the bloodline grass you cultivated to Zhuang Bai!

Miss Su has now been betrothed to Zhuang Bai by Elder Du, and they will marry in two months.

He personally told me this. You're happy, aren't you!"

His hysterical roar could only express a fraction of this kind Young Master's emotions.

The anger of failure, the despondency of betrayal, and the hatred of having his beloved taken away now twisted on Gong Qing's face like knotted centipedes.

Anger surged in his heart, and a cold killing intent flashed in Jiang Hanwen's eyes.

He had kept silent, even accepting punishment from Elder Du.

Yet, Zhuang Bai had revealed the truth just to mock Gong Qing.

Very good, this grudge is settled. Zhuang Bai, you wait, I'll remember this!

Jiang Hanwen looked helplessly at this friend he had met late:

"Gong Qing, he came to me for bloodline grass. Do you think I, a mere servant, have the right to refuse Zhuang Bai?"

Gong Qing froze for a moment, then roared like a madman:

"I don't care!"

"Bang! Slash!"

Gong Qing smashed all the wine jars he had given Jiang Hanwen, and he also threw the dried beef to the ground, stomping it into the dirt.

These items, which had symbolized their friendship, now seemed utterly disgusting.

"Jiang Hanwen, they all said I was stupid to give things to a servant.

I treated you as a friend, but you stabbed me in the back, you sold me out!

…"

Alas, what more could be said?

You two Young Masters are like immortals fighting; I'm just a small character, barely able to hide, let alone jump back and forth between you, right?

Gong Qing was like a child, unable to see the true implications, but he had no background, every step was like treading on thin ice. Not understanding the consequences would mean becoming fertilizer in the soil!

Sorry, Jiang Hanwen was an adult; he had to be responsible for his own life.

In a dog-eat-dog world, only the weak get angry.

Besides, even if we take a step back.

When my relationship with you was good, Zhuang Bai had probably already slept in the same room as Su Xin.

If I had pointed out the truth, with your mind, you certainly wouldn't have withstood the deception and would have exposed me.

Su Xin's reputation, Zhuang Bai's rage—who would bear that?

The honest meeting the cunning is naturally at a disadvantage.

Jiang Hanwen could only keep these thoughts to himself, quietly watching the other vent.

Gong Qing's voice was very loud, and it was daytime.

From over a hundred meters away, several curious colleagues gathered, standing in a semicircle at a distance, watching this new dignitary in the Medicine Field make a fool of himself with amusement.

Smashing the gifts wasn't enough; Gong Qing then used a hoe to dig up all the soil Jiang Hanwen had prepared, dumped the fertilizer into a nearby ditch, and made everything around messy.

Finally, Gong Qing eyed Jiang Hanwen's house, gripping the hoe tightly, his eyes full of complexity.

"If kicking down my house makes you feel better, then dig away.

Gong Qing, I am just a small person. I dare not participate in your important affairs, nor am I qualified to."

Some things, only Gong Qing understood.

The immense expectations he carried when he came to the Medicine Field this time, the favors he had expended—now all were gone, everything was empty.

He had no face to return to his father, nor could he meet his mocking Elder brothers and sisters!

The sorrow and indignation in his heart climbed to an extreme, and the fence of reason completely collapsed.

"Ah!"

A mist appeared in Gong Qing's eyes, and he gripped the hoe with both hands, furiously digging at Jiang Hanwen's house.

"Thud ~ Thud ~"

The hoe, like a stick hitting tofu, smashed into the mud wall, kicking up a cloud of yellow dust.

The other 'farmers' watching the spectacle called out to each other, and soon, they formed a circle outside Jiang Hanwen's house.

"Isn't this the sole seedling of our Medicine Field?"

"Tsk ~ Now he's in for it. Daring to provoke Young Master Gong, I bet he'll be packing his bags and rolling out by this afternoon."

"Hmph, Elder Du still protects him. If you ask me, this kind of trash, while he's still here, we should 'take care' of him.

Let's see how much silver this young man still has."

"That's a good idea. If he doesn't give us money, we'll call Big Old Hei over. He loves this kind of tender-skinned, delicate one; they're easy to play with."

"Hahahaha!"

... "Boom!"

In less than a quarter of an hour, rolling dust mixed with cold wind swirled as Jiang Hanwen's house was utterly dug down by Gong Qing.

The roar of the collapsing house was like a bucket of cold water, drenching Gong Qing completely.

"Hoo ~ Hoo ~"

Gong Qing stood aside, gasping for breath.

After the impulse, an unprecedented feeling of discomfort filled his heart: emptiness, loneliness, desolation, and more.

He looked at Jiang Hanwen, who sat on a bench, his face showing no emotion.

The words Jiang Hanwen had just spoken resurfaced in his mind: if he were in Jiang Hanwen's position, would he have the courage to refuse Zhuang Bai's request?

"Thud!"

The hoe fell to the ground, lying on its side.

He, he didn't want to dig down the house, but he truly didn't know what else to do.

In such cold weather, without a house, and with Jiang Hanwen's weak Realm, where would he live?

Guilt, like a venomous snake, gnawed at Gong Qing's remaining conscience.

An unspeakable torment enveloped him; the world was vast, yet there was no place for him to stand.

"I—"

His mouth opened and closed, unable to speak.

Something was caught in his throat—it was guilt, it was anger, it was too chaotic, he couldn't distinguish.

Only one thought remained in his mind—escape from here!

The next second, he turned around.

Gong Qing stumbled, running away with large strides, his tall figure swallowed by the swirling wind and snow.