Qiu Zu: From an apprentice in a medicine shop to an immortal ancestor.

Chapter 116: The Hong Brothers, Another Abnormal Movement of the Mountain God Seal

Three fine steeds halted at the Guangling Hall compound. The three individuals nimbly dismounted, and immediately, an alert apprentice came forward to take the reins, leading the horses to the stable to feed them water and fodder.

“Hahahaha~”

Following a hearty burst of laughter, two burly, robust middle-aged men emerged from the crowd.

Their bronze skin gleamed under the sunlight, their thick eyebrows resembled swords, their eyes were bright and piercing, and they wore close-fitting attire, revealing some bulging, sturdy muscles. They stood like two steadfast iron towers, exuding an air of boldness.

Not only were their attire and appearance identical, but their features were also very similar.

The biggest difference was that the leading man was more robust and taller. When he spoke, his voice boomed, full of momentum.

“Junior Brother Tong, Junior Sister Yu, Junior Brother Qiu, you’ve finally arrived.”

“Greetings, Senior Brother Tianxiao, Senior Brother Tianbao.”

Tong Yuncong, Yu Lanyin, and Qiu Zhen clasped their fists in return.

On the way, Tong Yuncong, who was more familiar with the Medicine King Valley, introduced the two men before them to Qiu Zhen.

The two were surnamed Hong, brothers. The elder brother was named Hong Tianxiao, and the younger brother was called Hong Tianbao. Both were in their early forties, considered to be in their prime.

The elder brother, Hong Tianxiao, was at the Innate True罡 realm, serving as the Deputy Hall Master of Guangling Medicine Hall, and was Second Senior Brother Tong Yuncong’s assistant.

The younger brother, Hong Tianbao, had entered the Innate realm for many years, reaching the Great Perfection of the True Qi realm, possessing extremely strong martial prowess. This time, he was in charge of external affairs for the main branch’s “Guangling Medicine Hall,” leading a group of enshrined martial masters.

With brothers of one mind, their strength can break gold.

According to Third Senior Sister Yu Lanyin, the Hong brothers were very famous in the Medicine King Valley, known for their courage and ferocity, as well as their volatile and reckless nature.

Hong Tianxiao patted Tong Yuncong’s shoulder, quite familiarly:

“Junior Brother Tong, upon hearing that you were coming to Guangling, this senior brother was quite delighted. It’s been a long time since we sparred with each other.”

“Alright, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future.”

Tong Yuncong smiled, then formally introduced Qiu Zhen to the two.

“This is my Junior Brother Qiu Zhen.”

“Pleased to meet you, pleased to meet you.”

Hong Tianxiao and Hong Tianbao sized Qiu Zhen up and down, their faces filled with envy:

“Junior Brother Qiu is truly young, blessed with destiny, truly extraordinary.”

“Senior Brother Hong, you flatter me.”

Guangling Hall had prepared an extremely lavish welcome banquet for the three.

The banquet only ended after several rounds of wine and courses.

On the surface, the scene was very lively, with everyone chatting happily.

However, during the banquet, Third Senior Sister Yu Lanyin secretly transmitted a message to Qiu Zhen, and he learned that Second Senior Brother Tong Yuncong had once fought with Hong Tianxiao, the head of the Hong family, and had some minor grudges. The two often sparred.

Clearly, the Medicine King Valley was not afraid that they would take over this place by arranging for all three of them to be in the “Guangling Medicine Hall,” because the Hong brothers were here.

To some extent, it was also the Medicine King Valley’s superiors and Master An Jishi testing and tempering Second Senior Brother Tong Yuncong.

Qiu Zhen was not worried about his Senior Brother Tong Yuncong.

Fellow disciples, no matter how much they fight, without major conflicts of interest, it’s all just petty squabbles.

After the banquet.

Qiu Zhen took office and went to the backyard of Guangling Medicine Hall. In a remote courtyard, he met two old acquaintances.

In fact, he had greeted them at the banquet.

“Old Shopkeeper, Old Steward, I didn’t expect that we would work together in Guangling Hall.”

Liu Anqing was fine, accepting Qiu Zhen’s address of “Old Shopkeeper” with peace of mind, and even felt a little touched that Qiu Zhen remembered the past.

However, Kang Zhuangyuan appeared somewhat fearful, with a flattering expression, and quickly said:

“Hall Master Qiu, I dare not, I dare not!”

After Qiu Zhen rose to prominence, he had thought that such a day might come, but he never expected it to come so quickly.

In just a year, the status of the two sides had completely reversed.

At this moment, Kang Zhuangyuan’s heart was full of regret, his intestines turning green with remorse. He used to treat Qiu Zhen quite well, but who would have thought that venting his emotions after losing money one day would not only ruin their past friendship but also offend Qiu Zhen.

Although he made amends in time afterward, it was too late.

The circumstances of life are unpredictable.

Now that he had become his superior, he would suffer greatly if he had even the slightest thought of revenge.

“Steward Kang, there is no need to worry. I will not do anything to you, you just need to do your job well.”

Qiu Zhen’s mind was quick and perceptive. Seeing Kang Zhuangyuan’s pale face, he immediately understood his thoughts.

He was not so petty.

In all honesty, Kang Zhuangyuan, as the steward of the medicine shop’s backyard, had control over the apprentices, arbitrarily scolding and mistreating them, and acting recklessly, but he was still good to him, rarely deducting his wages.

Of course, Qiu Zhen did not intend to retaliate, but that did not mean that he condoned Kang Zhuangyuan’s behavior.

Immediately, he said with a stern face:

“However, if you still act like you did in the past, engaging in eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling, arbitrarily scolding apprentices, and disrupting my Guangling Medicine Hall’s backyard, I will definitely use you as a warning to others, report to the sect, dismiss you from your job, and let you return to Kang Family Village to retire early!”

As he spoke, Qiu Zhen changed his usual gentle demeanor, and a strong aura emanated from his body, causing Kang Zhuangyuan’s slightly hunched body to droop even lower.

“Yes, yes, yes!”

Seeing Qiu Zhen’s so strong and domineering side, Kang Zhuangyuan broke out in a cold sweat, nodding repeatedly in agreement, and looking at Qiu Zhen with both respect and fear.

Originally, he thought that Qiu Zhen was young, and that if he softened his words and said nice things, he could muddle through this matter, and maybe even become closer to the other party.

He never expected that the other party would suddenly become so terribly strong.

What made Kang Zhuangyuan even more speechless was that Qiu Zhen, who had just been strong, turned to Liu Anqing on the side with a gentle breeze:

“Old Shopkeeper, I am new here and don’t understand the affairs of Guangling Hall’s backyard. I still need your help.”

“Hall Master Qiu, rest assured, I will do my best to assist you and manage the backyard in an orderly manner.”

Not long after, Liu Anqing and Kang Zhuangyuan came out of the study, their expressions completely different.

One was gratified and excited, and the other was as if mourning his parents.

Kang Zhuangyuan was worried: “Brother Liu, what do you think I should do?”

“You should still do your job well.”

Liu Anqing shook his head and said leisurely:

“The potential dragon has emerged from the abyss, and the momentum of the flying dragon in the sky has been formed. You are already in his palm, you should have been aware of this long ago.”

“This”

Unknowingly, three days passed.

Qiu Zhen, Tong Yuncong, and Yu Lanyin settled down in Guangling Medicine Hall.

Compared to Tong Yuncong and Yu Lanyin, Qiu Zhen had Liu Anqing and Kang Zhuangyuan to command. In addition, he had been in the grassroots of the medicine shop’s backyard for many years, and he was familiar with various affairs, so his takeover of Guangling Medicine Hall’s backyard went very smoothly.

In just two or three days, he managed it in an orderly manner, and he was very skilled.

Compared to the backyard of Qingmu Medicine Shop, Guangling Medicine Hall’s backyard had an additional “Treasure Hunting and Herb Collecting Team,” composed of more than twenty Houtian martial masters.

This “Treasure Hunting and Herb Collecting Team” listened to Qiu Zhen’s dispatch and was considered to be directly under his command.

Guangling Medicine Hall Backyard, Qiu Zhen Hall.

Qiu Zhen was meditating and practicing inner cultivation in the training room. After relaxing slightly and stretching his body, it seemed that he heard the movement outside, and immediately, a divine sense transmission came.

“Young Master, you are finally awake. I heard that the medicine hall’s treasure hunting and herb collecting team has entered the mountain. Xiao Zaozi and I also want to enter the mountain to hunt for treasure!”

As he spoke, Baizhu entered the room with Xiao Zaozi, rubbing his hands expectantly and begging:

“You see…”

The Guangling Medicine Hall’s treasure hunting and herb collecting team said they were entering the mountains, but in fact, they were just wandering around the periphery of the mountains and would not go deep, so there was generally no great danger.

Baizhu was obviously different.

His entry into the mountains would obviously not be satisfied with wandering around the periphery.

Qiu Zhen pondered slightly, then shook his head and said:

“Forget it, if you want to go, then go. You and Xiao Zaozi are originally mountain spirits, it is indeed difficult for you to stay by my side every day. It is also good to occasionally go into the mountains to stroll around, just remember one thing, do not be greedy, and be cautious above all else!”

“Understood, Young Master!”

Baizhu and Xiao Zaozi were overjoyed. After arriving in Guangling City, they had long been unable to sit still.

As soon as they got Qiu Zhen’s permission, the two little guys ran away, extremely excited.

“Two fools!”

Qiu Zhen shook his head, but he was not worried about the two little guys.

They were both Innate Demon Generals, with remarkable martial strength and supernatural powers. Baizhu was even a Wind and Thunder Spirit Fox, with amazing speed. If they encountered a strong enemy, even if they couldn’t beat them, they could still run away, so there was no need to worry too much.

After the two little guys left, Qiu Zhen continued to cultivate.

About an hour later, Qiu Zhen withdrew from his state of meditation and concentration, and a strange expression appeared on his face.

Soon, he remembered something, got up, and took out a simple and unadorned bronze seal from a brocade box in the room.

It was the [Mountain God Seal] that his Shiniang Nan Zhiyi had given him.

This seemingly unremarkable ancient bronze seal.

At this moment, it was actually emitting a faint golden light again.

“It’s actually moving again.”

Qiu Zhen was slightly surprised. Unlike the brilliant golden light that the [Mountain God Seal] had erupted with when it encountered Mei Qingshan that day, the golden light in front of him was much calmer.

Speaking of which, ever since he followed his senior brothers and sisters to Guangling City, near the mountains, to take office at the medicine hall, the “Mountain God Seal” that he carried with him would move from time to time.

The previous two days, the movement flashed by.

However, today it was stronger than ever before.

Qiu Zhen held the [Mountain God Seal] in his hand and vaguely felt a “call,” and could not help but fall into deep thought.

“Could it be that the Mountain God Seal is related to a certain mountain in the mountains?”

The scene before him was exactly like the situation described in the books.

The Mountain God Seal would have a “resonance” when it was near its exclusive “Divine Mountain,” producing a strange phenomenon, summoning the person holding the [Mountain God Seal].

While Qiu Zhen was pondering, his ears and eyes were sharp, and he quickly noticed that someone had come outside the courtyard. Immediately, he stuffed the simple and unadorned bronze seal into his arms.

“Who is it?”

“Hall Master Qiu, it’s me!”

Liu Anqing came in a hurry, holding a white pigeon in his hand, with a few traces of anxiety on his face.

“Hall Master Qiu, something bad has happened. The treasure hunting and herb collecting team sent a homing pigeon asking for help. They encountered trouble in the mountains, and Hall Master Hong is fighting with the Heavenly Wolf Gate for the medicine mountain, and he can’t spare any time right now.”

“Encountered danger?”

Qiu Zhen frowned slightly. The treasure hunting and herb collecting team was directly under his jurisdiction, so he couldn’t ignore it. Immediately, he didn’t have the mood to consider the matter of the Mountain God Seal’s movement and said:

“Steward Liu, I will handle this matter.”

As he spoke, Qiu Zhen took the “white pigeon” from Liu Anqing’s hand and left Guangling Hall.

After leaving Guangling City and arriving in the wilderness, Qiu Zhen released it.

Immediately afterward, Qiu Zhen used the body technique [Riding the Wind and Treading the Mist], stepping on the tip of the wind, and actually followed the white pigeon, flying like it, and disappeared into the mountain stream.