Zhang Lin Yuan's gaze lingered on them, mostly Qingshan now, sharp and measuring.
"And while you're there… stop looking so harmless all the time."
Qingshan gave an awkward look.
"You are Zhang family disciples," Lin Yuan said, his voice firm but not overly harsh. "If you don't show some edge, people will take you for pushovers. They'll try their luck and treat you like someone they can step on. Out in the districts, your name and the way you carry yourself protect you as much as your cultivation."
He narrowed his eyes slightly, the severity in them tempered by patience.
"A cultivator who's afraid to take risks will only stagnate. Know when to hold back — and when to step forward without hesitation."
Qingshan lowered his head, somewhat embarrassed.
Tianwen, as always, stood quietly at the side. But he is also thinking deeply about his slow cultivation.
Lin Yuan's gaze shifted to him for a brief moment. Unlike Qingshan, Tianwen was quiet as well, yet there was a steadiness to him that made Lin Yuan feel he would respond exactly as he should when the moment truly demanded it.
The atmosphere softened.
"If you encounter any trouble in the future, you can come to me," Lin Yuan said, his tone returning to its usual steady warmth.
He took a few steps toward the door, then suddenly paused as if remembering something.
"Tianwen."
Tianwen asked. "Senior Lin?"
"The Second Elder has asked you to report to him before you depart. Go visit him."
With that, Lin Yuan waved his sleeve lightly, signaling them to leave.
....
By the time Tianwen returned, the sky had already dimmed into a dim grey.
After his conversation with Zhang Lin Yuan ended, he went to meet the Second Elder. The discussion itself was short, but the words spoken there clung to his mind like a thorn that refused to be pulled out.
To put it simply, Zhang Wei had forced the responsibility of maintaining and expanding his personal shops in the Seventh District onto him. He even wrapped it in a righteous reason, saying he wanted to "observe the business methods of Tianwen's past life and benefiting the family." He even said he will send somone to discuss and reaserch about weapons from Earth.
Tianwen could accept doing the work, as in his situation, he can't reject the elder because of the death sprout in him.
What he could not accept was that from beginning to end, not a single word about payment or benefits was mentioned.
And on top of that… the Seventh District.
Initially, he had assumed that with the support of an elder, he would remain near the main district. Now this transfer irked him even more.
It meant that everything he had planned here would slip out of his direct control.
When he was about to push open the door to his room, low voices drifted out from inside.
Zhang Yan was seated at the table.
Opposite him stood Chen Tao.
The man's back was facing the entrance, his thin figure slightly hunched.
"…if the next batch moves at the same speed," Chen Tao was saying something in a low voice, "the profit this month will—"
Tianwen stopped at the doorway.
His gaze fell on that unguarded back of Chen Tao.
Then, for some reason, he glanced down at the knife he carried for protection.
His gaze returned to Chen Tao. To be precise to the exposed neck.
And suddenly a thought took root in his mind--Kill him.
It came so naturally that even Tianwen himself was momentarily startled.
The reason he wanted to kill Chen Tao was simple. He no longer wanted to continue this fake wine business.
He was about to leave this district, leaving everything in Zhang Yan's hands while Chen Tao remained here — that was no longer acceptable.
And he also heard that Chen Tao was about to break through to rank 2; a rank 2 cultivator was not someone he could control easily from a long distance.
More importantly, if he can kill him now, he can get two rank 1 Kas after killing him. Selling them would give him a few hundred spirit stones directly, instead of waiting for this damn wine thing, he can directly buy a good rank 1 ka with all the money he had.
He can also check if he has any savings, because Chen Tao wants to break through soon; he will definitely have some herbs or savings with him.
Those money should be enough to push his strength forward before entering the Seventh District.
The thought spread through his mind like ink in the water.
Suddenly, he hesitated again, thinking that there might be some risks. Chen Tao had dealings with the tavern owner; his disappearance would be noticed.
At that moment, a nameless anger surged up from deep within him.
'Not taking risks… is the greatest risk.' Tianwen thought.
He had carried Earth's thinking for too long, scheming, calculating, avoiding direct action.
But what had that brought him?
Although he earned some spirit stones, they are not even enough for him to buy a good ka.
In this world, killing and seizing are the fastest paths.
And he is not a lone rogue cultivator.
He is a Zhang family disciple.
If he killed an outsider, He had a thousand ways to bury the truth.
By the time Zhang Yan noticed him, Tianwen had already stepped into the room.
"Brother—" Zhang Yan began.
Tianwen moved first.
The dagger thrust forward without warning, driving deep into Chen Tao's back.
At the exact same instant, his voice exploded through the room, sharp and furious.
"Chen Tao — you dare cheat us?!"
The shout rang out like thunder.
Chen Tao jolted in shock, instinctively trying to turn around, confusion flashing across his face. The accusation made no sense. His mind stalled for a split second, trying to grasp the words—
—and in that split second, the blade finished its work.
By the time he twisted halfway, the dagger had already sunk to the hilt.
Just now tianwen shouted a lie, one is to distract Chen Tao, and another to hide his thoughts from Zhang Yan.
Chen Tao jerked in shock, confusion flashing across his face.
"What— Young Master, I—"
He never finished.
The dagger slid out soundlessly.
The stab came from below, vicious and direct, burying itself deep into Chen Tao's abdomen ruthlessly.
Chen Tao's eyes widened in disbelief. He never expected that Tianwen who spoke so amicably to him yesterday, would try to kill him today.
"Y–You—"
Tianwen did not speak; he is in a frenzied anger and also afraid that something wrong might happen, so he did not explain anything and went for another strike.
The second strike pierced his chest.
Then third, fourth, fifth....
There is no technique at all.
Only speed and brutality.
The knife rose and fell again and again, each strike faster than the last.
By the time Tianwen stopped, Chen Tao's body had already collapsed to the floor, twitching weakly, the light in his eyes fading into emptiness.
Silence filled the room.
Zhang Yan stood frozen, his face pale.
Tianwen remained standing over the corpse, breathing slowly.
He turned to Zhang Yan, his voice steady.
"Close the doors."