Chapter 22 - Choice

"Ming, what do you think we should do? Uncle Ba will definitely send people to watch over him, so he can't escape even if he wants to." Elder Li looked at Jiang Ming with hope as if he was the only one who could save them now.

Li Qingqing also wiped her tears and looked at Jiang Ming.

Jiang Ming sighed. To be honest, he had a good impression of this family and did not want to see anything happen to them.

However, Jiang Ming was not a saint. If Li Zhuang really did something to offend people in the city, he could not blame anyone for the mess.

"Elder Li, if you need money, I can lend you some." Jiang Ming was silent for a moment and slowly continued, "But I can't decide for you how to deal with this matter. You have to think about it. Can you really solve this problem by giving the money to Uncle Ba?"

Elder Li looked hesitant as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he just sighed heavily.

"It seems that this Elder Li really knows the truth," Jiang Ming thought to himself. But that was all he could say. He did not say anything more and returned to his home.

In the cold room, the tea on the stove was emitting wisps of smoke.

Jiang Ming looked at the bubbling water and whispered to himself, "After the new year, I'll go to the prefecture to learn martial arts. It's not wise for me to take the initiative to cause unnecessary trouble. There's a high probability that the person beside Uncle Ba is an expert from the Old Snake Gang. Looks like Li Zhuang's crime isn't ordinary. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been traced all the way from the prefecture to Peace Town. Moreover, I don't know what Li Zhuang did. I will encounter more and more troubles in the future. If I take care of all of them, how will I have the time to cultivate?"

Provoking the Old Snake Gang would not be beneficial to him. 

If he did not do anything about it, he would not lose anything, but if he did, it might cause a lot of trouble.

Jiang Ming drank his tea and closed his eyes to calm his mood. It was already very good that he agreed to lend some silver. Who else could take out so much silver to solve Elder Li's problem?

However, the tea on the stove was boiling, and the gurgling noise was annoying.

Jiang Ming simply lay on the bed, covered himself with the quilt, and prepared to sleep. However, after tossing and turning for a long time, he almost kicked a hole in the bed frame.

"F*ck!"

Jiang Ming threw off the quilt and went out directly with his messy hair.

As evening approached, the weather was cold, and the ground was freezing. Snow was falling heavily, and almost no one was on the streets.

Jiang Ming walked on in frustration, leaving a string of crooked footprints on the snow.

At the bar, Old Jiang looked at the unkempt Jiang Ming and was a little stunned. "What happened?"

It was the first time he had seen Jiang Ming like this.

"Master Jiang, what do you know about Elder Li's son?" Jiang Ming asked directly.

"Li Zhuang?" Old Jiang was shocked. He looked around and said in a low voice, "What do you want to do? The people Uncle Ba invited today are experts from the Old Snake Gang in the city."

Jiang Ming drank his wine and did not speak.

Old Jiang shook his head helplessly and said slowly, "I didn't hear much. I only know that Li Zhuang is a servant of the Shi family's young master. He doesn't usually cause trouble, but he has complained to his father that he doesn't want to work in the Shi family anymore. The Shi family's young master is not a good person. I guess this matter has something to do with the Shi family."

Jiang Ming stuffed a mouthful of smoked tofu into his mouth. 'No wonder the Old Snake Gang would come forward to criticize them. The current Old Snake Gang was almost equivalent to a dog of the Shi family, doing all the dirty work.'

"Don't be rash. No one will be able to save you if you offend the Shi family." Old Jiang looked at Jiang Ming's expression and knew what he was thinking, so he quickly advised him.

"How can that be? "Jiang Ming forced an ugly smile and took a big gulp of wine. "But I just don't feel good."

Old Jiang sighed. "Nothing is more important than living. Everyone has their own fate. No matter what happens to Elder Li's family, you don't have to feel guilty as long as you didn't cause the disaster."

Jiang Ming did not say a word and drank his wine. The sky turned dark.

Late at night, even with Jiang Ming's martial artist physique, he was a little drunk, but his heart was more and more restless.

"Mr. Jiang, I'll be leaving first!" Jiang Ming did not drink to his heart's content. He took a bottle of wine and turned to leave.

The town was silent. Jiang Ming walked alone, looking at the stars above his head, but suddenly remembered the expectations he made for the future when he first obtained the "immortal" cheat.

One day, he would sit at the highest point and watch the endless scenery!

"If there is such a day, I will be invincible in the world, looking down on everything. Then, will I remember what happened today? Will I remember what happened to Elder Li and Li Qingqing?"

As he walked, Jiang Ming was already close to his small courtyard.

At this moment, Jiang Ming suddenly saw a light in front of him. It seemed that the corner was Elder Li's house.

"Not good!" Jiang Ming was shocked. He quickly sped up and rushed to Elder Li's house.

From afar, he could already hear some voices.

"Hahaha! Uncle Ba's calculation is really accurate. I knew that this guy would come back to look for us once I found trouble with Elder Li. We haven't been guarding for long, and we've already caught him red-handed."

"Hey, I think we should just tie up his sister as well. Let the guys enjoy her first and then send her to Qinghe Tower. Isn't that the best of both worlds?"

"Eh? You're smart!"

When Jiang Ming rushed into the courtyard, he saw Li Zhuang, who he had seen during the day, tied up with a thick hemp rope. Blood was flowing from his face, and he was in a miserable state. He had already passed out.

Elder Li and Li Qingqing were kneeling on the ground, begging for mercy.

The people they were begging for mercy from were the three punks who had appeared during the day. At this time, they were holding torches and looking down at the Li family with smug expressions.

Jiang Ming shook his head secretly. Uncle Ba's so-called gambling and rental were all to force Li Zhuang out. He did not expect to catch him so quickly.

He told Elder Li not to look for Li Zhuang, but he could not stop Li Zhuang from walking into the trap.

When the crowd saw Jiang Ming rushing in, they all turned their heads and looked at him. Elder Li and Li Qingqing's faces showed a hint of unbelievable joy.

As for the three punks, their faces were gloomy. One of their leaders immediately shouted, "Jiang Ming, I advise you not to meddle in other people's business. Otherwise, I will capture you as well."

Jiang Ming smiled and waved his hand, "How would I dare meddle in other people's business? I'm just curious about what kind of evil thing Li Zhuang has done to make all of you gather so many people."

"Hmph, he can only blame himself for seeing and hearing things he shouldn't have!"

"A little b*stard wants to escape from the Shi family and the Old Snake Gang? He doesn't know what's good for them!"

"Alright, say less about things you shouldn't say." the leader turned his head and shouted. Then he looked at Jiang Ming coldly and said disdainfully, "Don't think that you're hot shit just because you beat up a few minions in Peace Town. You can't get involved in this matter. Hurry up and get lost."

Jiang Ming nodded slightly. It turned out that it was not because he had done something wrong but because he knew something that he should not have known.

"Shi family… Shi family…"

Jiang Ming murmured and thought of the herb gatherers who disappeared a few months ago.

They tried their best to survive in this world. They were the same as Li Zhuang; they just wanted to live. What was wrong with that?

"I'm talking to you. Did you hear me!" the leader of the gangsters walked up to Jiang Ming and pushed his shoulder.

A soft sound was heard, and the leader's voice stopped.

He slowly looked down and saw a fist had pierced through his chest.