Chapter 10: Saving the Nation by Indirect Means

If this bottle proved ineffective, Yun Ketian was confident enough to reclaim the jade sword and make Lu Ming pay a hefty price. Yet, judging by how things stood, if he continued to insist, there would be no good outcome—he had to come up with another plan.

“I’m sorry, Mom, Dad. I’ll head to Xishan Residence and reflect on my actions now.”

Yun Ketian admitted his fault to his parents and bowed to Ye Fengchun before turning to leave.

Watching their son depart, Mu Weizhen seemed a little less angry and said to Ye Fengchun, “I’m sorry you had to witness this, Mr. Ye.”

Ye Fengchun smiled. “Don’t worry about it. The boy is just concerned about the elder’s illness and was deceived, that’s all. His filial piety is commendable.”

In truth, when Ye Fengchun heard Yun Ketian’s explanation, he found it rather laughable—there was no such miraculous thing in this world. Yun Shengguo’s son was truly ridiculous, hopelessly foolish, and not worth molding.

Yet, with his seasoned restraint, he didn’t betray his thoughts. He merely offered a few words of comfort before taking his leave.

After Ye Fengchun left, Yun Shengguo and his wife exchanged glances and both sighed in disappointment. Their son’s performance had been rather dismal, especially in front of someone like Ye Fengchun. They knew Ye Fengchun had a vast network, always moving among the power elite of the capital. Even a casual word from him could cast a shadow over their son’s future career and might even impact both the Yun and Mu families. This was the true root of Yun Shengguo and Mu Weizhen’s anger.

With a sigh, Yun Shengguo retreated to his room to rest. Mu Weizhen set aside her anger, hurriedly took the prescription, called the driver, and went out to fetch the medicine.

Yun Ketian, burdened with worry, drove out to the western outskirts of Xijing City. In this remote area stood a dilapidated family compound, small and desolate with only a few rooms.

After parking, he approached the gate, where a white-haired old man was sweeping leaves from the threshold.

“Uncle, Mother has sent me here to reflect on my mistakes,” Yun Ketian said respectfully to the old man.

The old man finally looked up at Yun Ketian, his face full of affection. “Ketian, is it? Your mother, honestly... Well, go on in.”

Yun Ketian nodded and stepped into the ramshackle courtyard. This had once been the ancestral home of the Yun family. After their rise to prominence, they had moved into the city, but Yun Shengguo’s elder brother—the old man sweeping, Yun Jianye—refused to leave, insisting on staying with his wife. After his wife’s passing a few years earlier, Yun Jianye had been left alone, the sole guardian of the ancestral house. Now, it had become the place where younger family members were exiled for reflection after making mistakes.

Yun Ketian’s upbringing was strict, especially under his mother’s stern yet loving hand. Whenever he erred, he would be sent here to reflect until he truly understood his wrongdoing.

Entering a small room, Yun Ketian sat by the window, turning the bottle of “Spring Water of Origin” over in his hand, troubled and at a loss.

Before long, Yun Jianye came in with two bowls of plain porridge, handing one to Yun Ketian. “You haven’t eaten dinner, have you? Have some porridge.”

Though Yun Ketian had no appetite, he could not refuse porridge cooked by his uncle himself.

As they ate, Yun Jianye asked, “So what happened this time, that you’ve been sent here?”

Yun Ketian thought for a moment and then laid everything out, telling his uncle the whole story.

Yun Jianye was momentarily surprised, but soon regained his composure and said calmly, “It’s not such a big deal. Go back and apologize to your parents tomorrow. Cook a bowl of porridge for your father, and perhaps all will be resolved.”

Yun Ketian was taken aback, staring at the porridge in his bowl. After a long moment, he smiled, “Uncle, you always know what to do.”

He had expected a scolding, but his uncle, upon hearing such a fantastical tale, remained unruffled and even offered a way forward, leaving Yun Ketian feeling enlightened and much lighter at heart.

“Uncle, why don’t you move into the city with my brother and sister? Why stay here alone with this dilapidated ancestral house?”

With his spirits lifted, Yun Ketian began to chat with his uncle. He was puzzled—his uncle had two sons and a daughter, all of whom had prospered under the family’s influence and were now wealthy in their own right. Surely, living with any of them would be better than being here alone?

Yet, no matter how his uncle’s children pleaded, Yun Jianye refused to leave, leaving everyone helpless.

Yun Jianye laughed and said, “No matter where you go, it’s still three meals a day. I’m old now and have lived in this ancestral home for so many years, I’ve grown attached to it and don’t want to move. This place suits me just fine.”

Yun Ketian shrugged, knowing his words would be in vain, and dropped the topic, turning to other matters.

...

Forget-Worries General Store.

Lu Ming, preparing for bed, lay on his mattress and opened the Martial Artists’ Forum to check the thread he had posted.

To his surprise, he found his post had been bumped to the front page, pinned at the top.

“What’s going on? Did someone already recognize it as a treasure?” Lu Ming clicked in excitedly, only to find a torrent of insults.

“Which idiot cooked up this nonsense?”

“Damn, as if something like this could exist. What a moron.”

“Best fantasy blockbuster of the year! Everyone, come take a look, hahaha.”

The thread was flooded with mockery, with thousands of replies all berating the original poster. Because it was so popular and included pictures—which made it look somewhat convincing—the moderator had even highlighted and pinned it.

“Idiots, none of you recognize real value! I won’t sell to you anymore!” Lu Ming cursed, turned off the light, and went to sleep.

The next morning, Yun Ketian rose early and, after bidding his uncle goodbye, drove back home. The sky was just lightening as Mu Weizhen was already in the kitchen, brewing medicine for her husband. Normally, this would be the maid’s task, but Mu Weizhen didn’t trust anyone else, so she did it herself.

Yun Ketian entered the kitchen and saw his mother tending the medicine.

“Back so soon?” Mu Weizhen asked, her anger undiminished.

Yun Ketian lowered his head. “I talked with Uncle all night. He set me straight, and I realize now how wrong I was. I promise never to associate with those people again.”

Seeing her son’s sincere apology, Mu Weizhen relented. He was her beloved child, after all. Seeing him so pitiful, she couldn’t bear to scold him further.

“For your uncle’s sake, I’ll let you off this time. But if you ever mix with those people again, you’ll be staying at Xishan Residence permanently.”

“I wouldn’t dare, Mom. Has Dad eaten yet?”

“Not yet,” Mu Weizhen replied as she continued to brew the medicine.

“Then I’ll make him a bowl of porridge.”

With that, Yun Ketian set to work.

Seeing her son personally preparing porridge for his father, Mu Weizhen finally smiled, pleased to see that his time at Xishan Residence had had some effect.

Before long, the porridge was ready. Yun Ketian smiled at his mother, picked up the bowl, and headed to his father’s room.

At the door, he quietly opened the bottle containing the “Spring Water of Origin” and poured the milky liquid into the porridge.

...

When Lu Ming woke up, it was already past ten in the morning. Without even brushing his teeth, he lit a cigarette, took a couple of drags, and opened the Martial Artists’ Forum.

His post was still featured at the top; the ridicule in the comments was unabated. Yet now, some people had left messages wanting to buy, and had even sent him private messages.

However, these two buyers were immediately mocked in the replies:

“Idiots.”

“Morons.”

“You two have lost your minds!”

Ignoring the taunts, Lu Ming opened his private messages. One user, “Heavenly Gang Fire,” wanted to buy the rune construct, full of excitement. Another, “Old Steed at the Gait,” wanted to buy the Elixir of Immortality.

Lu Ming chuckled to himself.

“At least you two have good taste. I’ll give you a deal.”

He left an overseas account for each of them and waited for the payments to arrive.

Before long, his phone notified him of two separate payments of two hundred thousand each. Lu Ming then called the courier.

After freshening up and eating a late breakfast, he returned to the shop just as the courier arrived. He handed over the two carefully wrapped items, signed for them, and had them sent off.

“Breaking into the market depends on you two now,” Lu Ming thought. He believed that once these two tried the items, their effects would cause a sensation. By then, anything produced under his “Chosen of the Gods” brand would fetch sky-high prices.

Thinking of this, Lu Ming lay down contentedly, ready for a nap.

Just then, a delicate voice called out from outside:

“Lu! Get out here right now!”