While walking back to the Qiao estate, Zhu Dingxiang was thinking about those kids in the slum.
In the Great Sun Continent, rarely would any child awaken their martial spirit before twelve years old. Many children in the slum strive to awaken and become a cultivator when they grow older.
However, to take this leap of faith, they have to survive in the harsh poverty-environment of the slum. Due to this, brutal competition of resources, beating up someone, or killing had become the norm and ingrained deeply in most of them.
Stealing has become a job for kids while those who grow up would have and managed to awaken their martial spirit usually either joined a gang or be recruited by some distinguished family.
'Sighs...I'm overthinking about trivial things.'
(｡╯︵╰｡)
For Zhu Dingxiang, he is not a bodhisattva who exists to save the world. However, with the existence of the Karma System, he felt that it would do him more good than bad when he helps more people.
...
Traversing through the extensive and beautiful garden filled with all kinds of flowers, Zhu Dingxiang arrived before his courtyard.
Suddenly a calm and collected voice disrupting his thoughts.
"Good evenings, Doctor Zhu."
There stood a polite young man with two servants in front of the entrance to the courtyard. Zhu Dingxiang didn't say anything as he was instead checking the uninvited guess's status.
[Name: Wei Chao.]
...
Due to the lack of response, the atmosphere was getting awkward.
"You are Wei Chao?" After a moment of silence, Zhu Dingxiang finally spoke; his tone was calm.
Wei Chao appeared to be a courteous young man with long black hair, dressed in a purple robe. His face was sharp and well defined; looking from afar, he gives people the impression of a well-educated scholar.
"I didn't expect Doctor Zhu has heard of me before our meeting. It's honestly my honor. I'm Wei Chao, the heir of the Wei family." Although Wei Chao appears courteous on the surface, there was still a hint of arrogance in his tone at the mention of his family.
"Please accept my..."
"Get to the point. I don't know you, and what are you doing here?" Before Wei Chao could finish, Zhu Dingxiang interrupted him and said plainly. While touring around the town, he has occasionally heard of Wei Chao and many of his atrocities.
In Blue Lake Town, Wei Chao's name is taboo for everyone, but a few drunkards would still be fearless and talk about his misdeeds.
Zhu Dingxiang thinks that there is no need to be polite with this kind of person; after all, there is nothing that could threaten him in this small town with his current strength.
Hearing Zhu Dingxiang's direct response, Wei Chao's face darkened. He has come to the Qiao family early today because he heard that the newly arrived beauty resides here.
However, upon entering the Qiao family and asking around, Wei Chao discovered that she was a he instead. Although feeling disappointed, he thought that it would be a good idea if he could befriend this mysterious Doctor Zhu, who is rumored to be a Qi Condensation Realm cultivator.
Therefore he decides to stay and wait until Doctor Zhu came back and gives his regards, hoping to build a connection.
But it never crossed his mind that this Doctor Zhu wouldn't give him any face at all!
"This... I'm here to pay my respect to you, Doctor Zhu." Wei Chao said with an uncomfortable mood.
"Is that so? Then you can leave now. I won't be seeing you off." Zhu Dingxiang said as he walked past Wei Chao and closed the door. He was pretty disgusted remembering the rumors that surrounded Wei Chao. A playboy who has killed and ruined many families, but that was not the end of it...
Looking at the back of Zhu Dingxiang, Wei Chao's handsome face turns unsightly. Even though he felt extremely embarrassed and angry inside, he didn't dare to retort back. After all, the other side was even stronger than his father, his biggest support.
When this thought sprouted in his mind, Wei Chao couldn't help but feel extreme hatred and envy toward Zhu Dingxiang's looks and talent.
'HOW DARE YOU LOOK DOWN ON ME?'
'YOU BASTARD! DAMN IT! DAMN IT! DAMN IT!' Feeling greatly humiliated, Wei Chao gritted his teeth, veins popping out on his temples as his nails dig into the skin of his palm.
"What are you dogs looking at? Let's go!" After shouting at the two servants behind him, Wei Chao stomped away with heavy steps.
...
Inside the courtyard, Zhu Dingxiang was lying on his comfortable bed and murmured. "The Rainbow Auction House will open tomorrow, and I don't have much money left..."
"What should I do...?" Zhu Dingxiang was currently in a dilemma. While he wanted to go to the auction, it wouldn't be good if he doesn't have the money to buy what he wants.
Thinking back to the arrogant face from before, he was suddenly enlightened.
"Heh heh heh." Giggling mysteriously, he rolled around on the bed before proceeding to practice with jade carving.
____________
Meanwhile, at the Wei's residence.
Knock* Knock* Knock*
"Come in." A toneless voice sounded from the study room.
"This subordinate greets the family head." A servant dressed in grey walk into the room and got on one knee.
In the spacious study room, a plump middle-aged man was sitting on an oversized armed chair. He has long black hair and a short beard. His deep black eyes give him a severe look.
He was Wei Li, the patriarch of the Wei clan, also known as the town mayor of Blue Lake-town.
Seeing the kneeling servant, Wei Li questions, his tone was indifferent.
"What is it?"
"Patriarch, as per your order, this servant came to report that the young lord's back." The servant replied respectfully.
"Didn't he visit the Qiao Clan today? Go and tell him to come here."
After a few minutes, Wei Chao entered the room.
"Good evening, father." Wang Chao said, behaving casually.
"Chao'er, come! Sit with me. Father has something to talk to you."
As Wang Chao sits down on the chair, a maid then bought tea and cake into the room.
...
"What is it, father?"
Wei Li doesn't waste any time and gets straight to the point. Taking his eyes off from the stack of paper on the table, He looked at Wei Chao and said seriously.
"Chao'er, you should forget about Qiao Qiuyue!"
"W-what? Father! But why? you know that I have always wanted her!" Hearing what his father said, Wei Chao immediately stood up and questioned in an agitated voice.
"You don't have to know the reason and listen to me! There are people in this world that shouldn't be offended no matter what." Seeing the way his son acted, Wei Li was getting irritated with this son of his.
'Perhaps I have been too lenient with him.'
"Is it because of that bastard surname Zhu?" Wei Chao exclaimed in hostility and hatred. When he rememberers the encounter with Zhu Dingxiang not long ago, he was furious again.
Looking at his son seriously, Wei Li frowned. In the last few days, he sent a few personally trained subordinates to closely observe Zhu Dingxiang's actions ever since he stepped into the town.
Although a Qi Condensation Realm expert is much more powerful than a (peak) Stage 9 Body Refining, but they aren't invincible. With scheme and underhanded trick, he could still kill them easily.
However, it was different this time. With the spies, he had in the Qiao family. Wei Lei learned that Zhu Dingxiang was very powerful. He was able to contend with the Rank 2 Berserk Demonic Bear barehanded, while the tame-looking white tiger that following him around was able to easily wiped out hundreds of Killer Ravens in one breath.
Wei Li was incredibly alarmed inside; with such a powerful cultivator is in his town, he feels uneasy. Even though he doubted the report, he would rather choose to believe it than not; after all, even the Third Elder of the Qiao Family died on the trip.
"You impudence child!"
"An expert cannot be insulted! If I hear you being disrespectful again, then even if you are my son, don't blame me for being heartless. You are to be grounded for three months, reflects on yourself." Wei Li stood up from his chair and scolded his son harshly. If this were someone else, he would have killed them long ago.
There is a saying, "even the wall have ears," and Wei Li wouldn't take any chances.
Knowing how hot-blooded his son is, Wei Li was deeply afraid. If they somehow provoked the lion, then their family would be as good as destroyed.