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墨書 Inktalez
Three Evil Practitioners approached and discovered that Xunuo had reached the peak of the tenth layer of the Foundation Stage. It seemed he was subtly suppressing the three of them.
However, the trio, confident in their numbers, did not retreat. A slightly older Bald Cultivator sneered, "We are here to settle family matters. Fellow cultivator, do not meddle and bring trouble upon yourself."
An Elderly Female Cultivator, seeing someone speak out against them, quickly cried out, "Fellow cultivator, help! A weak woman like me is being coerced by these three; this is not a family matter!"
One of the Evil Cultivators heard her words and slapped the Female Cultivator to the ground. He angrily said, "You wretched woman, repaying debts is a matter of principle. Today, my brother has taken you two as concubines; it is your blessing. If you defy us again, exterminating your entire family will not violate Gaoyi City's regulations."
Upon hearing this, Xunuo realized it was a case of debt collection that had escalated to the point of attempting to abduct the Female Cultivator. However, he was puzzled by the claim that exterminating her family would not violate Gaoyi City's regulations because he had heard that fighting was prohibited within Gaoyi City.
After thinking for a moment, Xunuo stepped forward and said, "Three fellow cultivators, if this is merely a debt dispute, why escalate it to life and death? Why not give them some time to gather the money and repay you?"
The Bald Cultivator scoffed, "If they could easily repay it, why would it have come to this?"
He then glared at Xunuo with resentment and said, "Very well, on account of this fellow cultivator, I will let you two go today. After the auction ends, I will come to collect; be prepared so that your entire family does not suffer." With that, the three turned and left.
Xunuo knew that these three still held some fear of his cultivation level.
Once they were gone, the two Female Cultivators bowed gratefully to Xunuo. He hurriedly helped them up and inquired about what had happened. The young girl lowered her head with a frown, still trembling in fear as she softly sobbed. The Elderly Female Cultivator then recounted their story.
It turned out that they were a mother and daughter duo; the Elderly Female Cultivator was named Zhang Xiue and was a local resident. She had a husband and a young son at home. The pure and beautiful girl was named Qi Zilan. Both parents had low cultivation levels, but their children were exceptionally gifted. Especially their young son, who at just fourteen years old had already reached the ninth layer of the Basic Skill Method.
Not long ago, they had unexpectedly learned about the Crimson Flower Sect opening its doors to recruit disciples. They borrowed money to purchase a Unity Pill, hoping their young son could break through to the tenth layer of the Basic Skill Method and have a chance to enter the Crimson Flower Sect.
However, things did not go as planned; after taking the Unity Pill, their son did not manage to break through. This shattered their family's hopes and led to relentless demands from creditors for repayment. If their son had advanced in rank, given his potential to enter the Crimson Flower Sect, those creditors would not have dared to trouble them. But now they had come with unreasonable demands and were eyeing both mother and daughter with ill intentions.
Xunuo felt a surge of anger upon hearing this, thinking that the Evil Cultivator had a particularly twisted taste. The young girl, upon hearing his words, began to cry softly, her delicate body trembling. Xunuo looked at her and immediately felt a wave of compassion.
Zhang Xiue wiped her tears and comforted Qi Zilan for a moment. Turning to Xunuo, she said, "Friend, your kindness is beyond words. I still do not know how to address you. I live nearby; please come to my home for a visit. My husband would like to express his gratitude to you."
Xunuo thought for a moment, also worried that the Evil Cultivators might ambush them again on the way. He replied, "I am Xunuo. There is no need for further thanks; it is my duty to escort you both back."
With that, he followed the two Female Cultivators through a narrow alley and arrived at a courtyard. The courtyard was not very spacious but was quiet and elegant. Green grass covered the ground, with several willow trees scattered by the water's edge, and at the end of the yard stood a few houses. A Middle-aged Cultivator approached from afar, and upon seeing his wife and daughter with tear-streaked faces, he hurriedly asked what had happened.
Zhang Xiue recounted the situation they had just faced. The Middle-aged Cultivator quickly bowed deeply to Xunuo, choking back tears as he said, "Xue Daoyou's great kindness will never be forgotten by Qi Jiazheng; please allow me to pay my respects."
Xunuo hurriedly helped Qi Jiazheng up and was about to take his leave. However, Qi Jiazheng urgently stopped him, insisting on expressing his gratitude. With no other choice, Xunuo followed him into the house.
Once seated, the woman busied herself in the kitchen and soon set up a table filled with food and drinks. Qi Jiazheng poured several cups of wine for Xunuo, and they began to chat while the two women poured more wine on the side. Xunuo hadn’t felt so relaxed in a long time and casually shared some past experiences but refrained from mentioning his intention to sell Unity Pills, only stating that he had come seeking medicinal herbs.
Upon learning that Xunuo had been sleeping outside the city, Qi Jiazheng urged him to stay at their home for a while. Xunuo understood that he was worried about creditors coming to their door and wanted to keep him around as support. Looking at Qi Zilan before him, who appeared pitifully vulnerable, he sighed inwardly but chose not to confront the issue directly. After pondering for a moment, he agreed.
However, Xunuo soon asked, "Was that Evil Cultivator really allowed to threaten lives? Is there no one in the city who can manage such matters?"
Qi Jiazheng frowned and hesitated for a moment before replying, "Because he holds debt documents in hand, if we truly cannot repay them, he has every right to take further action."
His expression darkened as he spoke those last words. Suddenly, Qi Jiazheng's lips moved slightly as he whispered something to Zhang Xiue. After a moment of silence, Qi Jiazheng turned serious and said, "I have a request of you, Xue Daoyou; please do not refuse."
Xunuo felt a chill run down his spine at those words. He thought: You’re not asking me to deal with those three Evil Cultivators, are you?
Before Xunuo could respond, Qi Jiazheng continued: "My family fears we may not escape this calamity. I only ask that you take my daughter away so she does not fall into the hands of those wicked men. I see that you are of good character; I would feel much more at ease entrusting her to you."
The result was far beyond Xunuo's expectations. Qi Zilan, on the other hand, had a flushed face, her delicate brows furrowed, revealing a complex expression of shyness mixed with confusion. It seemed she was both secretly pleased with her parents' arrangements and worried about the safety of her family. The complexity of her youthful demeanor made Xunuo look at her with compassion, not wanting to see her mistreated.
Xunuo sighed and said, "Perhaps this matter is not yet at an end; there may still be a chance."
Qi Jiazheng shook his head and replied, "Now that the Unity Pill is in demand but has no price, even if I were to sell off my possessions, I wouldn't be able to acquire one at the auction. It's difficult..."
After pondering for a moment, Xunuo began to formulate a plan in his mind.
He found it hard to bear the burden of Qi Jiazheng's request regarding his daughter. Setting aside whether he was willing or not, given his own precarious situation, he couldn't afford to take on the responsibility of a family. Moreover, many of his secrets were too sensitive to share with others.
However, Qi Zilan had taken her parents' words to heart and treated Xunuo as if he were already her husband. She diligently poured tea and served wine, her cheeks flushed as she dared not meet his gaze. After they finished their drinks, Qi Jiazheng insisted that Qi Zilan escort Xunuo back to his room.
Seeing Qi Jiazheng go to such lengths to save his beloved daughter filled Xunuo with a sense of melancholy. He couldn't help but think of how his own parents had resolutely given up their last shred of vitality for his survival. A warm feeling surged within him—this was in stark contrast to cultivators who defied fate in pursuit of longevity without any regard for familial bonds.
Once inside the room, Qi Zilan hurriedly spread out the bedding for Xunuo and attended to him as he prepared for bed. Xunuo sighed softly and said to Qi Zilan, "Please return, Miss Qi; I can manage these matters myself."
Qi Zilan's expression stiffened slightly as the silk blanket slipped from her hands onto the couch. She said softly, "Does Young Master Xu find me too coarse and unworthy of your attention?"
Xunuo sighed gently, took Qi Zilan's hands, and sat down at the table. He spoke softly, "Miss Qi, please do not misunderstand. I am just a loose cultivator who is used to being idle. I am not accustomed to being served by others. Besides, you are so graceful; it would be beneath you to do such menial tasks."
Zilan chuckled lightly and said playfully, "Young Master Xu calling me 'Miss' feels so unfamiliar. My family and friends call me Zilan; if you don't mind, you can call me that too. As for serving you, it is my heartfelt wish. Even if I were just a maidservant, I would have no complaints."
Xunuo smiled and replied, "That won't do; Sister Zilan is exceptional and should not demean herself like that. Since I have encountered this situation, I will not stand by idly while evildoers act recklessly. Although these debts are heavy, I believe I still have the power to resolve them. When the creditors come again seeking repayment, I will have my methods to deal with them. You need not worry."
Upon hearing this, Qi Zilan jumped up in delight and clapped her hands exclaiming, "Then my parents need not sell off their possessions anymore! My brother can come back!" She fluttered around Xunuo like a butterfly in joy.
Xunuo allowed himself a moment of joy before asking, "I haven't seen my younger brother; has he gone into hiding?"
Qi Zilan pouted, her voice filled with indignation. "To prevent the creditors from causing trouble, Father sent my brother to a friend's house for safety. Since I am a daughter, it was inconvenient to entrust him to others, so I've stayed by his side. Who would have thought these villains would come up with such despicable ideas?"
As she spoke, Qi Zilan's face flushed crimson, and she shyly glanced at Xunuo.
Xunuo understood that she was recalling the vile actions of the three Evil Cultivators who had attempted to abduct the mother and daughter. He quickly changed the subject and began chatting about other matters.
Ever since Qi Zilan received Xunuo's promise to help resolve their debts, her mood lightened considerably. She became more talkative, her youthful energy radiating. With only a small age difference between them, they quickly found common ground. Zilan was pure and demure, perfectly complementing Xunuo, who found himself quite taken with her.
The two chatted late into the night until Qi Zilan reluctantly bid farewell and returned home. Xunuo felt satisfied and relaxed as he drifted off to sleep.
The next day, Xunuo was awakened by a commotion outside. He opened the door to find that the three Evil Practitioners had come to collect their debts again.
The three Cultivators clearly hadn't expected Xunuo to be staying there. They brazenly attempted to forcibly take Zhang Xiue and her daughter away. Qi Jiazheng was held in place by one of the Evil Cultivators using a spell, unable to move.
Seeing this scene ignited a surge of bloodlust in Xunuo. He shouted angrily, "In broad daylight, you dare to act so lawlessly! You villains are truly beyond reason!"
The three Evil Cultivators were startled by Xunuo's sudden appearance and took a step back. They temporarily released Qi Jiazheng's family and turned their attention toward him. The leader of the Evil Cultivators glared at Xunuo, furious that he was interrupting their plans. He growled, "Kid, we are here to collect a debt; don't provoke me or I might just kill you along with them."
Thank you, Readers, for your support! I will continue writing to make this story even more exciting.
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