Chapter 127: Return

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Departing from the Ping Shuibo workshop quarters.

“Shu Jie, what about Commander Liu at the town...?”

“They’re strangers to us, no blood relation. As I always say: helping is kindness; not helping is duty,” Chen Yun replied, glancing back. She then respectfully bowed to Xue Yandao and Duan Tao, “We humbly ask both of you to protect us on the way back to headquarters.”

“Sister-in-law, you flatter us. It’s our obligation,” Xue Yandao and Duan Tao said in unison, clasping their fists.

Their relationship with Zhuang Jin was somewhat friendly but not intimate. They stayed mainly because Zhuang Jin traded beast-hide armor at market prices. Had Chen Yun been arrogant or condescending, they would have left immediately.

In contrast, Chen Yun’s respectful attitude earned their genuine respect and made them more willing to exert effort.

...

Behind Chen Yun’s group marched a team of government officials, led by the same Song officer who had once captured Zhuang Yutang.

Their orders were to arrest Chen Yun and bring her to the government office. Earlier, when Chen Yun’s group attempted to leave, they were blocked by martial artists from Dongqiaowu. Some officials went back to report, others remained outside to watch. This team had been trailing behind since then.

“What are you standing there for? Move! Follow them!” Officer Song shouted.

“Yes, sir!” an official drew his waist knife.

Smack!

Song immediately slapped the young official's head. “I said follow, not draw your knife. What if you hurt someone? What, you really want to fight? That’s not how you seek death! See those two in black robes? They’re sixth-level martial artists. You? You’re not even worth a slap.”

“Uncle... I mean, Officer, didn’t you say to follow? Following doesn’t mean standing by and doing nothing, escorting them?” the young official protested.

“You’re right. Escorting,” Song nodded seriously. Looking at the boy’s confused face, he said earnestly, “When big players clash, getting involved carelessly means death and disaster, even for your family. At times like this, you use your brain—learn to turn a blind eye. Remember: until the higher-ups have decided the outcome, never act rashly. Otherwise, if the tables turn, the consequences will be unbearable.”

He recalled how Zhuang Jin forced an entire family, including the weak and elderly, to commit suicide. For such a ruthless adversary, no matter the pressure from above, or even if it meant losing one’s own skin, they would never act until absolutely sure of his death.

...

At the Shen family headquarters.

Chen Yun sought out Ni Ying, hoping to enlist the help of Ninth Young Master Shen Xuqing, but Ni Ying hesitated.

“Yun Jie, it’s not that I don’t want to help, it’s just...” she explained.

It turned out that recently Shen Xuqing had married a legitimate wife. Because his martial skills were lacking, the Shen family head arranged a good match for him—daughter of a chief prison warden in the government office.

In this large prefectural city, not all cases were decided by the magistrate. Routine cases were handled by ninth-rank prison wardens; more serious cases by eighth-rank wardens; and the highest, seventh-rank chief wardens, oversaw cases involving the elite.

Because these roles involved martial duties, they had to be martial artists—prison wardens required at least fourth-rank, wardens seventh-rank, and chief wardens tenth-rank or above.

Shen Xuqing’s wife, as the chief warden’s only daughter, was pampered and jealous by nature. Recently, Ni Ying had become pregnant, and the wife was openly and covertly setting rules to target her.

“If I ask the young master for help, that lady might retaliate and make things worse...” Ni Ying said.

“That makes sense,” Chen Yun nodded slightly, realizing the truth. She dismissed the thought, chatted a while longer, reminded Ni Ying to take care of herself, and left.

Watching Chen Yun’s retreating figure, Ni Ying felt no satisfaction at seeing her downfall. Instead, she was filled with worry.

After months of interaction, she truly understood Shen Xuqing’s character: born into a powerful family, raised as an elite, he was selfish and self-serving. He could not be swayed by affection or beauty; his measure of a person was their worth. If you had value, he treated you kindly; if not, you were discarded like trash.

Ni Ying had become a concubine through Zhuang Jin’s influence. Now, with Zhuang Jin’s fate uncertain, she might lose her family’s backing and face even harder times.

‘If that happens, who knows what will become of my child...’ She gently touched her belly. Her once-clear eyes now clouded with worldly shadows.

...

Leaving Ni Ying’s place and stepping out of the inner courtyard.

“Shu Jie, what’s our plan now?”

“For the time being, we’ll stay at the Shen family headquarters. No matter who’s behind it, they won’t dare cause trouble here, and neither will the authorities dare come after us.”

Chen Yun had already made arrangements. “I have some close sisters here where we can temporarily stay. You can stay with your husband’s teacher.”

She knew they were likely being watched. Coming to the Shen family headquarters was both to seek help and to cut off the enemy’s schemes, waiting for an opportunity to change the tides.

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This time, things went smoothly.

Yesterday at Ping Yongfeng, upon hearing that Zhuang Jin’s life was uncertain, he resolved to break through the fourth level to provide some aid. Just as he emerged today, Chen Yun and her brother arrived. Upon hearing their request, he readily agreed, letting Chen Hong stay with him.

Xue Yandao and Duan Tao also returned with news. They reported that among the severed heads of seventh-level martial artists from the Medicine King Gang’s northern city attack last night, Zhuang Jin’s was not included. This was good news under the circumstances.

Chen Yun expressed her thanks again and said she would stay at headquarters, so there was no need to worry. The two men would return for now but promised to visit at least once daily.

...

In another small courtyard within the Shen family headquarters.

Bang!

Xing Yan slammed the table, “Zhao Bin and Miao Shao have gone too far! Our Shen family is in dire straits—Zhuang Jin is away on duty, his life unknown—yet these two schemers are targeting the families of loyal men. If all Shen were like them, what hope would we have?”

He summoned his eldest son Xing Jian and second son Xing Li, sending one to notify the government office, the other to warn Zhao Bin and Miao Shao in the southern city.

“Alright!” Eldest son Xing Jian readily agreed, knowing Zhuang Jin was their father’s close friend.

But second son Xing Li was reluctant. “Father, when you became personal guard, at the celebration, Zhuang Jin didn’t even show up and made you wait outside for a long time. Do we really need to go out of our way to curry favor with someone like him?”

“This matter is...,” Xing Yan glanced at his sons and revealed the backstory of how he became personal guard.

“I see,” Xing Li didn’t think their father was wrong. Self-interest was natural.

“This...” Eldest son Xing Jian hesitated, unwilling to criticize his father openly but inwardly disagreed.

Xing Yan admitted, “I’m at fault regarding Zhuang Jin, but I had no choice. This personal guard position might be my only chance to break through the tenth level, then the twelfth and beyond. I couldn’t let it slip away. For that...” He shook his head. “No need to dwell on the past. You two go now.”

“Father!”

Hearing this, Xing Li’s reluctance deepened.

He thought: Their father had a grudge against Zhuang Jin; if they had the chance, they should seize it, not let the opportunity pass. Why risk provoking two seventh-level martial artists for a dead man?

Xing Yan saw through his son’s thoughts. “Zhuang Jin was attacked and presumed dead, but that’s premature. At least until we see his body, it’s too soon to say.”

Based on current intelligence, Zhuang Jin likely won’t survive, but Xing Yan had a strong intuition that he wouldn’t be gone so easily. “When Zhuang Jin was under me, he was remarkably lucky—whether by fate or skill, this man is no ordinary figure. I don’t believe he’d fall so easily here!”

“Father, I heard the Medicine King Gang’s strike teams each had eighth-level martial artists present, supported by multiple seventh-level. How could Zhuang Jin survive?” Xing Li argued.

“This isn’t about Zhuang Jin’s life or death!” Xing Yan shook his head at his second son. The eldest was honest and discerning, so he wasn’t worried. But the second son was too focused on short-term gains and acted rashly. If he didn’t change, he’d suffer great losses in the future.

He dismissed his eldest son first, then turned to Xing Li and lectured, “From a cost-benefit perspective, this is mostly beneficial. Now that I am the eighth young master’s personal guard and have secured the Dan Pill, I’ve broken through the eighth level. Why fear offending two seventh-level martial artists who’ve exhausted their potential? Instead, Zhuang Jin is the one with extraordinary potential.”

“If I act now and Zhuang Jin truly returns, all past grievances will be wiped clean. He might even owe me a favor. Even if Zhuang Jin doesn’t come back, I gain credit for taking action. Others will see me as reasonable and considerate, and the young master will remember me.”

Xing Li listened, enlightened, and admired, “Father, you really are brilliant!”

“Li’er, remember this,” Xing Yan waved his hand, speaking seriously, “Unless it’s a matter of life and death, never burn bridges. Always leave yourself an escape.”

“I understand, Father. I’ll go now.” Xing Li nodded and left.

...

In the southern city.

After Xing Li’s warning, Zhao Bin and Miao Shao both looked grim.

Smack!

Zhao Bin swept a teacup off the table, “What nonsense! A second-level martial artist dares to bluff me?”

‘Why didn’t you say that earlier?’

Miao Shao glanced at Zhao Bin, inwardly sneering. He said, “Who told you his father is an eighth-level martial artist and the eighth young master’s personal guard? With Xing Yan watching, our plan has to be shelved. As it was, it wasn’t going to work.”

Their original plan: bribe Min Shang’s parents, use Min Shang’s case as a pretext to have the government detain Chen Yun. Once in jail, they could fabricate evidence. But the martial artists of Dongqiaowu blocked them. Later, when many left, Chen Yun and her brother had two sixth-level protectors. Unless they acted personally...

Hearing this, Zhao Bin’s expression darkened further, “Don’t want to admit it, but even though Zhuang Jin’s dead, he still has many loyal followers!”

To be honest, Zhao Bin envied that deeply. He could never have such loyalty.

“Yeah, and I didn’t expect Chen Yun and her brother to go to headquarters and just stay there.”

Chen Yun, Xue Yandao, and Duan Tao went to Shen family headquarters. Zhao Bin and Miao Shao watched but dared not act due to the sixth-level protectors. They planned to test how much attention the eighth and ninth young masters still paid after Zhuang Jin’s ‘death’. But unexpectedly, Chen Yun’s siblings hid inside and never came out.

This thwarted their plans completely. They could not cause trouble in such a place.

“Isn’t it true Chen Yun triggered the blood disease? After all that, at least there was some gain.”

“True.”

Zhao Bin gritted his teeth, “I still don’t believe Chen Yun and her brother can hide in headquarters forever. When they come out...”

Miao Shao shook his head, standing, “Zhao Commander, with Xing Yan watching, it’s too risky. If you want to act, go ahead. I won’t join.”

Clang!

Zhao Bin’s face turned dark as he overturned the table.

...

As one act ended, another began.

Though Zhuang Jin was absent from the prefectural city, the turmoil his presence sparked never ceased—enemies, friends, and bystanders circled around him in a relentless struggle.

Eventually, this struggle paused with Chen Yun and her brother hiding in Shen family headquarters and Xing Yan’s warning—until the day Zhuang Jin returned.

...

January 22nd, Zhuang Jin and Fei Zecai arrived by water route at Linji County.

The wealthy Fei family’s elder patriarch, upon hearing the situation, was both relieved and grateful. He warmly entertained them and invited them to stay—but Zhuang Jin politely declined, taking the receipt for the Qingyuan Elixir and rushing back overnight.

January 27th.

Zhuang Jin secretly returned to the prefectural city, heading straight to Shen family headquarters and then to the General Affairs Department. Amidst many shocked stares and questions, he opened the box to reveal three severed heads of seventh-level martial artists from the Medicine King Gang.

The resulting sensation was immense.

After the chaos and multiple reports, Mu Mingxi, the chief of General Affairs, personally received Zhuang Jin. Listening to the account, the handwritten letters from Fei Zecai and the Fei family elder, Zhuang Jin’s secret report from before departure, and the three severed heads, everything was clear and indisputable.

The prior secret report had been processed internally with multiple copies and archived; concealment was impossible.

Mu Mingxi admired Zhuang Jin’s calm intelligence and talent—having broken through the seventh level and within two months, surpassing the eighth.

“Currently, the Shen family gets double battle merit points. I can authorize it: three heads equal 23,000 merit points doubled... Take good care of yourself; further rewards will follow.”

He told Zhuang Jin to rest and turned to prepare a public announcement.

Ideally, this news should have been released days earlier, when the Medicine King Gang’s attack stirred unrest—this could have turned the tide. Though late, it still boosted morale.

To be frank, if Zhuang Jin had sent the news earlier, Mu Mingxi would have risked Zhuang Jin’s safety for the greater good, publicizing the victory boldly. Now that Zhuang Jin had returned, the announcement came later, benefiting him personally, as the Medicine King Gang could no longer send high-level martial artists to suppress him in the city.

With matters settled, Mu Mingxi would not blame him—it was human nature.

Exiting General Affairs, Zhuang Jin saw Lin Hong, Bi Kai, and Qian Wende. Lin Hong and Bi Kai looked fine, but Qian Wende’s face was bruised and swollen like a panda.

“Brother Zhuang, you’re finally back.”

Qian Wende was so emotional he nearly broke down, tears streaming, sniffling, “Brother Zhuang, you don’t know what happened while you were gone. We were badly bullied; even sister-in-law vomited blood...”

“What did you say?!” Zhuang Jin’s expression darkened. Though his presence already projected a ‘stranger keep out’ aura, hearing this, his eyes sharpened viciously, as if a deadly aura rose from him.

...

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