81: How dare you not give me what I want?

The Yang Family of the Fortified Manor was annihilated.

Except for a few servants who survived, not a single main member of the Yang Family in the entire Fortified Manor escaped.

The remaining Wubao Lords' faces turned extremely grim upon learning of the situation.

They quickly gathered to discuss countermeasures:

"What should we do?"

"It's still nine murderers!"

"Are the murderers Chu Qing and his group, or not?"

"Regardless of whether it is or not, for now, we can only assume it's them; then, we must resolve this matter."

"Otherwise... the prestige of the Fortified Manor..."

The Crowd discussed and argued.

A Wubao Lord sneered, saying, "The thirty-six Fortified Manors in Shiji County have existed for over five hundred years."

"They... came and destroyed two families."

"They disregard the rules, disregard our authority; this is rebellion."

"Everyone... we should immediately unite and crush them."

A Wubao Lord sneered, saying, "How do we crush them?"

"Draw out the masters from our families and gather them outside the Martial Academy."

"When they come out, immediately kill them!"

Some people nodded in agreement.

Some people shook their heads in refusal.

"Everyone... Jianghu isn't just about fighting and killing; it's about human relationships and social conventions!"

"We must understand why they want to destroy our Fortified Manors?"

"As long as we know their reasons, we can respond."

"We can even take the opportunity to counter them."

Many Wubao Lords' eyes lit up, and they all nodded.

Investigate!

Investigate immediately!

The Fortified Manor's influence within Shiji County was not very large.

However, with more than thirty families working together, they quickly received news:

["He Family's Quarry has been occupied by a group of people flying Chu Qing's banner."]

["The Yang Family's Quarry has also been taken over!"]

["A group of people, flying Chu Qing's banner, are recruiting workers from among the refugees to mine stone!"]

["They turn no one away; as long as they are adults, they are accepted!"]

["In one morning, at least ten thousand people were recruited to the Quarry."]

["All the quarrying tools in the county have been plundered by them."]

["Even the grain has been completely plundered."]

As the messages were compiled, the Wubao Lords instantly understood:

"shizhu pearl!"

"They want shizhu pearl!"

shizhu pearl is very precious.

Ingesting it can cultivate two Bronze Tendons, and if one's Aptitude is good enough and luck is good enough, it's even possible to cultivate Silver Tendons.

However:

Although shizhu pearl is good, it shouldn't be better than the Martial Academy's golden incense or nourishing ointments!

A Wubao Lord whispered,

"Perhaps... shizhu pearl has other secrets!"

The Crowd fell silent.

"Threaten them with shizhu pearl?"

"How to threaten them?"

A Wubao Lord gritted his teeth and said,

"Negotiate with them!"

"How to negotiate?"

"We'll give them all our shizhu pearl; but, they must exchange it for golden incense; or other Martial Dao Secret medicine."

"But, will they agree?"

"Chu Qing and his group's swords can kill, and our swords can also kill!"

"Good!"

"Write them an invitation; we'll negotiate tonight at the Xian Yuan Restaurant."

"If we can't reach an agreement... then we'll take the opportunity to eliminate them."

...At dusk:

Chu Qing left the Martial Academy alone; he went to find Madam Jin.

Madam Jin had been in a very good mood these past two days.

Because:

Chu Qing was no longer in danger, and the people from the Fortified Manor dared not trouble her.

The vast Blood River Gang was also obedient to her.

And all of this was given by Chu Qing.

Although she had only not seen Chu Qing for a little over a day, she still missed him quite a bit.

"I wonder how Qing'er is doing!"

Madam Jin stared blankly at two violets.

Jin Pangzi carefully waited on her nearby.

A few days ago, because the Fortified Manor's servants were arrogant and overbearing, he dared not provoke them and was despised by Madam Jin.

These days, he tried every possible way to please Madam Jin.

Result:

Madam Jin couldn't be bothered with him.

She even forbade him from any intimate gestures.

When it was late at night, he thought of some rumors, and sorrow welled up in his heart, his tears soaking his pillow.

"Master, Madam, Qing Ge has arrived."

Madam Jin's eyes lit up.

Jin Pangzi's mouth twitched.

Before long, they saw a young man, dressed in black and white brocade, with a ponytail, a tall and straight figure, striding in with the powerful steps of a Dragon and a tiger.

Seeing this spirited young man in brocade, Jin Pangzi felt as if a lifetime had passed.

He could not connect this young man with the barefoot, linen-clad youth from a month ago.

Chu Qing cupped his fists and said, "Hall Master!"

Jin Pangzi blushed and said with shame, "Master Qing, just call me Little Pang!"

Chu Qing... Madam Jin looked disdainful, sighing to herself.

"Qing'er... come to the study with me; I'll teach you how to write!"

Chu Qing nodded, then nodded to Jin Pangzi, and got up to enter the study.

Jin Pangzi secretly breathed a sigh of relief; only when the study door closed did he realize he was drenched in sweat.

"Life is unpredictable... A month ago, if I hadn't lent him money... would he have achieved what he has today?"

At this moment:

Inside the study, Madam Jin's joyful laughter could be heard.

He secretly breathed a sigh of relief: "Thankfully... they are only in the study."

"Xiao Tao Hong..."

"Master!"

"Go to the study and serve tea and water to... Master Qing!"

Xiao Tao Hong, with complex thoughts, nodded.

When she entered the study, she saw Chu Qing writing, with Madam Jin's small hand holding his large hand, constantly adjusting it, and softly explaining various precautions.

Xiao Tao Hong silently ground the ink, silently brewed and poured tea, and silently stood by the door, with her back to the two, staring intently at the door crack, guarding against Jin Pangzi outside.

If Jin Pangzi approached, she would immediately cough to warn the two.

Inside the study:

Chu Qing once again picked up the task of reading and literacy.

He decided to visit Madam Jin every few days from now on.

On one hand, it was for reading and literacy.

On the other hand, it was for the Secret medicine shizhu pearl.

Writing and drawing.

Before long, Madam Jin held a book and read softly.

And Chu Qing massaged her shoulders.

Ten minutes... half an hour... an hour... Madam Jin read until her throat was dry, occasionally drinking tea.

And Chu Qing, seeing her dedicate so much, felt quite distressed.

So he massaged Acupoints like Yingchuang and Tianchi for her, to relieve fatigue and chest tightness.

After finishing a book, Madam Jin gently pressed her silk robes and said,

"Qing'er, Madam Shi sent three shizhu pearl this morning!"

"You... take them!"

Chu Qing's eyes lit up:

Three top-grade shizhu pearl; one can cultivate three Golden Tendons.

Three would be nine.

"Indeed, shizhu pearl is the true Dao!"

Chu Qing was happy, and took some more shizhu pearl, saying, "Next time she comes, give her all of these to be specially prepared."

Madam Jin looked at the table full of shizhu pearl and asked in surprise, "Where did you get these?"

Chu Qing smiled and said, "I earned them by working."

Madam Jin rolled her eyes; she didn't believe him.

If working could earn so much shizhu pearl, everyone in Shiji County would have shizhu pearl.

Seeing this, Chu Qing smiled and said,

"The He Family and the Yang Family are both gone."

"These shizhu pearl are spoils of war plundered from their homes."

Clatter!

The book in Madam Jin's hand fell.

She turned around blankly, looked at Chu Qing, and said, "You... annihilated the Yang Family and the He Family of the Fortified Manor?"

Chu Qing nodded.

Madam Jin's expression was strange, and she asked in surprise, "Why?"

Chu Qing's fingers continued to press Acupoints like Tianchi and said, "I wanted shizhu pearl."

"They wouldn't give them to me."

"So... I annihilated them!"

Madam Jin laughed.

As she laughed, she covered her face and cried.

Chu Qing was bewildered and kept comforting her.

However, the more he comforted her, the more Madam Jin cried.

After a long while, Madam Jin finally stopped crying and said, "Qing'er, I'm crying tears of joy."

Chu Qing... "My Qing'er is promising."

"That's right, if they don't give you what you want, then annihilate them."

"Back then... if we had had this mindset and strength, why would we have fallen to such a state?"

At this very moment: Madam Jin only regretted not having met this young man sooner.