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

"Little brother, which rich young lady in the city has taken a fancy to you?"

Qiu Qing stared blankly at his younger brother, shocked to the core.

Two months ago, he had gone to the city to see his brother, who was not doing well at all. Back then, he was even bullied by the steward of the Qingmu Pharmacy, and his situation was not good.

At that time, he felt very sorry for him.

But now... what happened? This elegant young man before his eyes...

Qiu Qing's horizons were not high. The only thing he could think of was that his younger brother was good-looking and had been favored by a rich young lady in the city...

Or perhaps a son-in-law was being sought?

Qiu Qing believed that the latter was more likely, but for the sake of his younger brother's "face," he had to create momentum in advance and take the initiative to avoid his younger brother losing face.

"Hahaha~"

With the blessing of the Primordial Spirit, Qiu Zhen possessed extraordinary wisdom and was observant. Seeing his elder brother winking at him, he quickly understood his meaning and secretly found it amusing. He said:

"Big brother, in the future, I, your younger brother, will help you marry a rich young lady!"

Zhao Dou was slow-witted and not very bright, so he didn't understand the situation. However, the skinny monkey beside him was clever and immediately chimed in to play along:

"Brother Qing, you're in luck now. Brother Zhen became a Martial Master two months ago. A fifteen-year-old Martial Master has a bright future and may become an Innate Martial Master in the future!"

Many villagers who had heard the commotion and came over were immediately interested when they heard "Martial Master."

The country folks had no concrete concept of martial arts experts, but they knew what a "Martial Master" was.

The several Martial Master experts in Haitang Township were all awe-inspiring and infinitely glorious.

"What, a young Martial Master..."

Seeing more and more villagers gathering around, the skinny monkey became even more smug and said:

"It's Brother Zhen! He became a Martial Master and was even accepted as a disciple by a big shot from the Medicine King Valley!"

"You may not know who Apothecary An is, but he is a noble in the prefecture city, with a mansion, hundreds of servants, and thousands of acres of fertile land!"

Shen Liang and Zhao Dou were natives of Haitang Township and were familiar with many people in Qiu Family Village. The two of them seemed to be Qiu Zhen's mouthpieces, narrating in detail and with great legendary color, vividly portraying Qiu Zhen as a young hero.

To some extent, for the people of Qiu Family Village, Qiu Zhen, who had become a Martial Master, was a true young hero.

As the news of the "young Martial Master" spread, the once peaceful Qiu Family Village completely boiled over.

The villagers of Qiu Family Village heard the news and rushed over, surrounding Qiu Qing and Qiu Zhen's house.

The former "unfilial and rebellious son," the negative example used by the villagers of Qiu Family Village to educate their children, had suddenly become successful. This made the villagers extremely错愕 and incredulous.

"Really? Little Zhen has really become a Martial Master and been favored by a big shot in the city?"

"Don't know? Listening to the skinny monkey and big head kids from the neighboring village say that, it probably isn't fake."

"Who knows? Maybe Little Zhen asked them to put on an act to fool Tianbao and Yingzi, thinking of getting money from home."

"I think so. A few days ago, I heard the clan leader say that Qiu Zhen was not doing well in the city. How could he become successful so quickly?"

"I heard that Little Zhen has become a Martial Master. If he has become a Martial Master, he must be really successful."

"Who knows..."

While the villagers were discussing, Zhao Dou and Shen Liang, not wanting to waste words with them, immediately jumped onto the carriage and pulled out half a side of ferocious beast deer meat and four sides of pork from the carriage.

"Brother Zhen has advanced to Martial Master. To thank all the elders and folks, Brother Zhen has specially brought half a side of ferocious beast meat and four sides of pork as gifts, one for each family."

"Boom!"

Hearing this, the entire Qiu Family Village was in an uproar.

They had no feeling for what "young Martial Master" or "Innate Martial Master" meant, after all, it wasn't their own child. But now, upon hearing that there was meat to share, they immediately beamed with joy.

Just now, there were still voices questioning "Qiu Zhen becoming a Martial Master," but now they suddenly disappeared.

Four sides of pork were two pigs, which would cost at least a dozen taels of silver, exceeding the income of most villagers for a year of hard work.

Not to mention, there was also half a side of ferocious beast meat, which was even more precious.

Generous!

The villagers clicked their tongues in amazement, their faces full of smiles.

The negative example used by the villagers to educate their children in the past, in a short period of time, the villagers of Qiu Family Village called him a "young hero" and said that "Little Zhen has been extraordinary since he was a child."

A child from Qiu Family Village looked at the line of people distributing meat, tugged at his mother's sleeve, and asked with a confused look:

"Mother, didn't you used to say that Brother Zhen was disobedient and unfilial, and that he would definitely have a miserable life in the future? Why is it different from what you said now? Brother Zhen is so majestic."

The young woman: "I this..."

Qiu Zhen did not stay in the village for long.

He sent the meat, and the villagers were very grateful to him.

However, with his keen mind, he still found that the villagers were vaguely resisting and alienating him.

After careful consideration, he quickly understood.

Perhaps the villagers of Qiu Family Village were afraid that he would "spoil" their children and that they would be difficult to discipline in the future.

After all, very few people can become Martial Masters.

If their children got carried away and imitated Qiu Zhen, it would be over.

The children they had worked so hard to raise and bring up would become "independent" one by one and seek their own development, then the clan society would be cut off at the root and would no longer be as united as before.

After discerning the villagers' thoughts, Qiu Zhen had no intention of "preaching" to the villagers.

The next day, he took his father, mother, and elder brother away from Qiu Family Village and headed to Qingmu Town.

The horses galloped on the official road, kicking up dust.

"Zhen'er, did you really buy thirty acres of fertile land and a two-courtyard residence in Qingmu Town?"

Qiu's mother, Zhao Ying, sat in the carriage, opened the curtains, and looked around, her face full of nervousness.

Many rural women have never left their villages in their entire lives. Upon hearing that their son was going to take them to settle down in a city dozens of miles away, the confusion and nervousness in her heart could not be concealed, and she felt uneasy.

The only reason she agreed to move was because of these thirty acres of fertile land.

Qiu's father, Qiu Tianbao, was thin and dark-skinned, but his arms and legs had bulging muscles. It was clear that he had been working hard for many years. Although he looked thin, he was actually very strong and was a good hand at work.

On weekdays, Qiu Tianbao, as the head of the family, always "made the decisions" and had the final say.

But this time, he was a little silent and restrained, not saying a word.

Clearly, he had no confidence in his heart either.

The fields and property of the Qiu family village were rented to brothers of the same clan. If the youngest son lied to them and coaxed them to the city, things would not be good.

“Mother, how could I deceive you? After becoming a martial master, I earn ten taels of silver a month at the pharmacy, and there's also a year-end bonus. I understand medical books and can patrol the forests and hunt beasts with martial masters, so there are many ways to make money.”

Qiu Zhen didn't mention his hunting and treasure-seeking expeditions, but after explaining, he said:

“I borrowed silver from the teacher to buy land and a house. I've already registered the contracts with the government, and the land deeds are all in my hands. It can't be fake.”

Zhao Dou, who was driving the carriage, also chimed in:

“Aunt Ying, you watched me grow up. I've been honest since I was a child, and I wouldn't lie to you. Brother Zhen is a martial master and has also received help from a benefactor. What's a few dozen acres of fertile land and a two-courtyard house? Just wait for the good fortune, you and Uncle Tianbao.”

Qiu Zhen's mother, Zhao Ying, his father, Qiu Tianbao, and his elder brother, Qiu Qing, all nodded upon hearing this.

However, the expressions of the three were still somewhat nervous and uneasy.

Seeing this, Qiu Zhen simply didn't say much. In any case, Xiangyang Village was not far ahead.

Before long, the carriage passed through the Xiangyang Village archway and entered the village, soon driving into a spacious courtyard.

As soon as they entered the courtyard, a tall house gate appeared before Qiu Zhen's father, mother, and elder brother, Qiu Qing.

The house had towering walls, and it was clear at a glance that it was a wealthy residence that ordinary villagers could not afford.

“Is this our house?”

Qiu Zhen's mother, Zhao Ying, pointed at the house gate, a little unable to move her legs.

“Yes, parents, elder brother, let's go in.”

The work of feeding the horses and unloading the luggage was left to the two brothers, Datou and Shouhou, so Qiu Zhen led his family inside.

This two-courtyard house was quite elaborate, over twenty meters wide and thirty meters deep.

Upon entering the house gate, there was a first courtyard with an exquisitely carved screen wall, verandas, and opposite rooms.

Entering the inner gate, there was a large courtyard with a firewood room, kitchen, latrine, east wing, west wing, main room, and study, all complete and very impressive.

Qiu Zhen's father, mother, and elder brother, Qiu Qing, entered the two-courtyard house, looking left and right, their faces full of novelty.

“Brother Qiu, you've finally arrived.”

While the Qiu family was talking, a group of men and women came out of the courtyard.

It was Uncle Li, Aunt Li, and several Xiangyang villagers who had come to help clean.

“Uncle Li, this is my father, my mother, and this is my elder brother!”

Uncle Li smiled, revealing his teeth:

“Old Brother Qiu, congratulations, congratulations~ Your family has produced a prodigy! It's truly enviable!”

“Where, where…”

Qiu Zhen's father and mother looked around, listening to the surrounding villagers' compliments. Knowing that their youngest son had not exaggerated, the worry in their hearts finally subsided.

For a moment, the two elders couldn't help but feel a little dazed.

Qiu Zhen's mother and elder brother, Qiu Qing, were fine. After the weight was lifted, the mother and son were very happy.

Only Qiu Zhen's father, Qiu Tianbao, had a somewhat complicated mood.

He was both proud of his youngest son's achievements and felt a sense of loss.

From now on, the pillar of the family would be replaced.

After some commotion, the Qiu family finally settled into their new home, and everything was refreshed.

After Qiu Zhen handed the land deeds to the two elders, completely reassuring them, he sought out Uncle Li.

“Uncle Li, I still want to rent your house in the future. Although this two-courtyard house is spacious, I still can't practice martial arts freely. Your courtyard is better. I've developed feelings for it.”

“That's good!”

Uncle Li smiled, looking a little absent-minded.

Seeing this, Qiu Zhen frowned slightly. In fact, he had noticed that Uncle Li's expression was not right from the beginning. Although he had warmly welcomed his parents, he could see the worry between his brows at a glance.

“Uncle Li, has something happened again?”

“Yes~”

Uncle Li nodded, still feeling afraid:

“Last night, I had a dream for two days in a row. I always dreamed of a ghost chasing me, constantly asking me if I had caught a strange fish with something in its belly. I asked around, and other people had similar dreams of being chased by ghosts. Do you think that evil cultivator who controls ghosts is back?”

Hearing his neighbor Uncle Li's words, Qiu Zhen's heart was immediately filled with turmoil.

The speaker may not have meant much, but the listener took it to heart.

He had been a little strange before, wondering why the Dharma Master of Soldiers and Horses was suddenly looking for fishermen around Qingmu Town.

A strange fish with something in its belly…

Could it be the fish that Uncle Li gave him!

From that big, fat fish, he obtained the mysterious golden silk, learned the Dan Dao technique, and established his foundation in a hundred days, reversing his fate in one fell swoop.

“Could it be that this Dharma Master who controls soldiers and horses has a connection with the previous owner of the golden silk? I wonder from where he learned some clues or secrets and came looking?”

Qiu Zhen was slightly startled, vaguely understanding the situation.

Even the Demon Suppression Division had taken action, yet the Dharma Master of Soldiers and Horses dared to come back to harass the people. His intentions must be significant.

Of course, it was possible that things were purely coincidental, and the "object" that the Dharma Master of Soldiers and Horses was looking for was not the immortal skill golden silk he had obtained.

However, he dared not gamble.

If the Dharma Master of Soldiers and Horses really had a connection with the "previous owner of the golden silk" and was coming for him, letting the government and the Demon Suppression Division take action to capture the Dharma Master and interrogate him…

At that time, he would be at risk of exposure.

After all, he had recently "reversed his fate."

In this small place, it was a close-knit community, which was very eye-catching.

He hadn't even mentioned or boasted about it, but his neighbor Uncle Li knew that he had become a martial master in just a few days, which showed how noticeable it was.

The Demon Suppression Division specialized in capturing "immortal cultivators" and must be extremely sensitive in this regard.

The mysterious golden silk was the highest-level Dan Dao immortal skill. Once the Demon Suppression Division suspected him, things would become extremely troublesome.

The only foolproof plan was to kill him before the Demon Suppression Division captured the Dharma Master of Soldiers and Horses.

In this way, it would be an ordinary "ghost and god case" that would not alarm the upper echelons of the Demon Suppression Division, eliminating hidden dangers.

“It seems that I have to kill this Dharma Master of Soldiers and Horses as soon as possible.”

Qiu Zhen muttered to himself, feeling a sense of urgency.

Previously, he had accepted the 【Miro Palace】 jade talisman token from the monk Kong Yin, forming this karma, and he had already planned to find an opportunity to kill this Dharma Master of Soldiers and Horses.

Originally, things were not urgent, and he planned to improve his strength before making plans.

But now, the fire was burning his eyebrows.

Even if it was a risk, he had to take action, strike with thunderous force, and take him down in one fell swoop before the Demon Suppression Division took action.

PS: Book of Changes · Ge Hexagram: Great men change like tigers, small men change their faces, and gentlemen change like leopards.

End of this volume.

Next volume, 【Unparalleled Spells】