62: Giethoorn hides deep sorrows and joys; heartbroken souls wander in the cold lamplight.

Yangjiao Alley, Madam Sun's Teahouse.

It was already dark, and there were few pedestrians on the street.

Madam Sun was busy tidying up the tables and chairs, scrubbing the teacups.

Zhou Qingfeng visited alone, standing at the door with a slight smile: "Are you closing up?"

Seeing Zhou Qingfeng's visit, Madam Sun's face immediately lit up with joy. She dropped her rag and stepped forward to greet him: "Banner Lieutenant Zhou, why are you here? Do you have news about my brother, Sun Haoyu?"

Zhou Qingfeng nodded slightly: "Yes."

Seeing this, Madam Sun hurriedly tried to pull Zhou Qingfeng into the teahouse to sit down.

Zhou Qingfeng shook his head slightly, pushed Madam Sun's hand away, and politely declined: "I won't go in. I just came to tell you a few words. Your brother, Sun Haoyu, was sent to the One-Eyed Buddha of the Renxin Sect as Materials for Human Pills."

This matter was recorded in detail in the diaries of Feng and Yun.

Zhou Qingfeng naturally knew where the Human Pill Materials were shipped and whose hands they had fallen into.

"To be blunt, he is already dead. I hope you can let go and start a new life."

Upon hearing this, Madam Sun stood rooted to the spot, her expression flickering with sorrow and pain. However, what followed was mostly a sense of relief; knowing the news of her brother's death was better than waiting indefinitely.

"Thank you, thank you for coming all this way to tell me." Madam Sun wiped her tears and bowed strongly in thanks.

"My condolences." Zhou Qingfeng bowed slightly with cupped fists, then turned and left.

Now that the matter was settled, there was no need to stay out.

He would return to the City Lord's Mansion tonight and begin a new round of Cultivation tomorrow, making sure to Master the Thunder-Fire Hall Refinement as soon as possible.

Madam Sun stood there silently wiping her tears for a long time.

Suddenly, she burst into loud, heart-wrenching sobs.

Her brother was her only relative. Three years ago, due to a momentary lapse in attention, she lost her beloved brother, and her life had effectively stopped at eighteen.

For many years, she had been preparing, always preparing.

Now that she knew of her brother's death and who the enemy was...

She closed the teahouse, tied up her hair, wiped away her tears, and pulled out the weapons and equipment she had prepared long ago, her face showing a resolute determination and hatred.

"Ghost-Eyed Buddha, you killed my brother. No matter what, I will make you die."

Living in the Five Turbidities Evil World, the longer one lives, the more ugly sides they see.

The despair and pain accumulated in one's heart are beyond a normal person's imagination.

And blood relatives are their only bond and emotional anchor to the world.

When this sole bond is broken, people often quickly become frenzied and lose control.

So no matter what dangers lay ahead, even if she was crushed to pieces or fell into becoming a demon, she would kill her enemy with her own hands.

This year, she was twenty-one. She set out alone, carrying a blade and hatred, plunging headlong into the evil world... The next day, City Lord's Mansion, Reward and Virtue Hall.

Zhou Qingfeng came to receive his rewards under the guidance of Steward Qiu.

Steward Qiu also specially introduced Zhou Qingfeng to the Hall Master of the Reward and Virtue Hall.

"Qingfeng, this is Hall Master Jiang of the Reward and Virtue Hall. He is a close friend of mine. In private, you can just call him Uncle Jiang."

"Old Jiang, this is the new Disciple the Madam designated for me, Zhou Qingfeng." At this point, Steward Qiu added another sentence: "Although he is just a newly accepted Disciple, I treat him like my own nephew."

Hearing this, Hall Master Jiang was immediately surprised, looking at Zhou Qingfeng and seriously doubting his ears.

A Disciple the Madam designated Qiu Chengde to teach.

And for Qiu Chengde to publicly say he treats him like a nephew—the weight of those words was not light.

Who was Qiu Chengde? He was the number one lackey under the Madam, the steward of The First Family, and the general manager of all affairs in the outer courtyard.

To put it bluntly, the entire Sword Tower belonged to The First Family.

He, Qiu Chengde, could intervene in any matter he wished; his power and status were unusually great.

This boy had both the Madam's appreciation and Qiu Chengde's protection.

Such favor, even if one searched the entire Sword Tower, a second person could not be found.

It could be said that, barring any accidents, one day in the future, a fourth Young Lord would appear in The First Family.

Aside from Eldest Young Lord Ma and Second Young Lord Mao, the two adopted sons...

The Madam had a biological daughter, the third among her children, named First Red Leaf. Unfortunately, in her early years, she became entangled with a Mortal and dared to disobey the Madam, resulting in her being imprisoned—best not to mention it.

Thinking of this, Hall Master Jiang enthusiastically went up to hug Zhou Qingfeng, squeezed the muscles on Zhou Qingfeng's arms, and was full of praise: "Not bad, not bad. A fine young man, truly a Dragon or Phoenix among men!"

Zhou Qingfeng cupped his fists and bowed: "Qingfeng greets Uncle Jiang."

Hall Master Jiang grinned, flipped his hand to produce a black jade, and handed it over: "For our first meeting, your uncle will give you a little trinket. Take it."

Zhou Qingfeng looked at Steward Qiu, and upon receiving Steward Qiu's nod of approval, he steadily took the jade pendant and thanked him.

Steward Qiu smiled and said: "This is Evil Corpse Jade, a turbid grade item. This object can help you Cultivate faster and recover Qi very quickly. In the long run, this is more practical than a Medicinal Pill. Your Uncle Jiang has been very thoughtful."

Hearing this, Zhou Qingfeng hurriedly thanked him again.

Hall Master Jiang smiled slightly. It wasn't that he was stingy, but rather that one could only use things appropriate for their Realm. Giving something for the Disaster-Eating Realm or Shisha Realm would be useless; it was better to give a turbid grade Magical Artifact that aided Cultivation.

Gift-giving isn't about the more expensive the better, but about giving the right thing for the situation.

For example, now, since Zhou Qingfeng's Realm was low, giving a little trinket to help with Cultivation was just right.

Steward Qiu chatted with Hall Master Jiang for a while longer while Zhou Qingfeng waited quietly. After their pleasantries, Hall Master Jiang took out a title deed for a residence in Sword Tower City and a 100,000-money note, handing them both to Zhou Qingfeng.

The things the Madam had rewarded him with were stored in the new residence beforehand, just waiting for Zhou Qingfeng to go and inspect them.

After leaving the Reward and Virtue Hall, Zhou Qingfeng offered up the money note and title deed: "Uncle De, without your care, I wouldn't be where I am today. Please accept these rewards as a token of my filial respect."

Steward Qiu looked at Zhou Qingfeng and patted his shoulder with a chuckle: "Take them back. What the Madam gave you is yours. Your Uncle De isn't lacking this bit of respect from you. Having this thought is enough to make me happy."

Hearing this, Zhou Qingfeng silently took back the gift, but he still decided to find a time to hold a formal apprenticeship banquet.

The apprenticeship gift that should be given could not be lacking in the slightest; it had to be a generous one.

Because he originally came from the Zhou Family, and the Family also taught the Zhou Family Fist externally, he had seen many who came to learn the fist pay heavy sums to formally apprentice under a Master.

Being arranged as Steward Qiu's Disciple indeed made their relationship closer, but the closer the relationship, the more one needed to show filial piety. One could not come empty-handed and accept things as a matter of course.

Because a Master taken halfway through life is ultimately just a Master. He wasn't a Disciple raised by Steward Qiu himself, so it wasn't a case of being like father and son with selfless devotion. Therefore, the relationship still required effort to maintain.

"Uncle De, I would like to hold a small apprenticeship banquet. What do you think?"

Steward Qiu smiled and nodded: "That works. Since you've apprenticed, you should change how you address me. You make the arrangements."

"Yes, Uncle De."