Turbid World: Martial Arts Master of the Republic of China Era, I Cultivate Immortality!

East Street & Fugui Road

The Zhao family mansion.

It was called a mansion, but it was more like a village than a mansion, at least that's what Zhao Zheng thought when he got off the carriage and saw that the walls of the mansion were 29 feet high.

"Um?"

With a soft "hmm," Zhao Zheng turned around with a smile, speechless, and reached out to help his mother down from the carriage.

"Greetings, Madam! Greetings, Young Master!"

As Zhao Zheng and his mother approached, the guards at the vermilion main gate stood at attention and bowed respectfully.

"Um."

Zhao's mother nodded slightly, then turned to Zhao Zheng, who was standing beside her, and said, "Hurry up and change out of those tattered clothes you're wearing. People who don't know better might think our Zhao family has fallen on hard times."

"Okay, Mother."

Zhao Zheng wanted to say that his Su family martial arts school uniform wasn't worn out, although it wasn't made of any good material, it wasn't cheap either. But after thinking about it, he decided it was better not to get beaten up. It wouldn't be good to get beaten up in front of the servants.

After crossing the high threshold, Zhao Zheng parted ways with his mother, accompanied and led by eight maids carrying lanterns.

Head towards his yard!

After walking for a while, there were fewer servants and maids on the road, and the maids around Zhao Zheng started chattering.

"Master, you're finally back. Second Master has been going too far lately; he actually went to your study to read books while you were away..."

"Yes, sir, you shouldn't stay outside anymore. If you don't come back, Second Master will cause a huge uproar. Just a few days ago, he even asked Master for the courtyard you used to raise fish..."

"It's not just the Second Master who's going too far, but also the servants and maids around him. You haven't seen it, Master, they're so arrogant now..."

The maids started chattering, all of them complaining. After listening for a while, Zhao Zheng asked the eldest maid, Dong Ning, who was facing him.

"Has anything else happened at home lately?"

"No, it's mainly because Second Master has been deliberately letting Xiao Wu and the others cause trouble..." Dong Ning said softly, her head lowered.

"Um……"

Zhao Zheng hummed in response but didn't say anything. He simply continued walking towards his courtyard, and it took him more than ten minutes to reach it.

There's not much to say about what follows; it's nothing more than the pleasures of a wealthy family. The girl begins washing up, being served by her maids.

After washing up, Zhao Zheng changed into a navy blue suit that his mother probably thought looked good, and then went to the kitchen. As a wealthy family, they naturally had a special place to eat.

After a while,

The main entrance to the kitchen.

"Oh, I'm late, child."

Zhao Zheng smiled as he looked at his father and mother, who were already seated, along with his four concubines and Zhao Cheng, whose face was still a little swollen.

Then, he started to obediently greet people, completely ignoring Zhao Cheng. Zhao Zheng ignored Zhao Cheng, but Zhao Cheng did not ignore Zhao Zheng. Instead, he enthusiastically called out "Big Brother."

Zhao Zhengli's attitude of ignoring Zhao Cheng left Zhao's mother feeling helpless, and Zhao Cheng's mother's face darkened slightly.

Zhao Zheng's four concubines kept their eyes downcast, while Zhao's father, watching his two sons arguing, was clearly not in a good mood and simply said, "Let's eat."

Zhao Zheng obediently took his seat. Because his father had a stern face and was clearly in a bad mood, the meal was eaten quietly.

Apart from the concubines asking Zhao Zheng about his well-being as usual, they didn't say anything else.

After they had almost finished eating, Zhao's father put down his chopsticks and said to Zhao Zheng, "It's been two months. You should have had enough fun by now, right? Starting tomorrow, you'll be in charge of that money exchange in the north of the city."

Regardless of Zhao Cheng and the others' expressions, Zhao Zheng put down his chopsticks, shook his head at his father, and said, "I wasn't playing around!"

As he spoke, he pointed lightly at the plate of pastries in front of him, which was mostly empty and he no longer liked them.

click-

The plate split in two with a snap, revealing a perfectly smooth cross-section. Zhao Zheng smiled slightly as he looked at the various expressions on everyone's faces.

"I forgot to mention earlier, I learned some martial arts this afternoon, and before I knew it, I became a ninth-rank martial artist!"

"It's fake, I don't believe it!"

Zhao Cheng was the first to stand up and speak out in rebuttal. He didn't mean anything by it; it was just that Zhao Zheng becoming a martial artist was worse than killing him.

"That's enough!"

Seeing the two brothers arguing again, Zhao's father angrily slammed his hand on the table, startling Zhao Cheng so much that he sat back down.

"Don't be angry, sir. Ah Cheng is just worried that Ah Zheng will be cheated by someone. After all, just a few days ago, the eldest young master of the Zhou family was cheated out of several hundred silver dollars by someone using some kind of pill to become a martial artist..." Zhao Cheng's mother said with a smile.

"Old Li!"

Zhao's father ignored Zhao Cheng's mother and instead called out, and a man walked in from outside the door. It was Li Qi, who had destroyed Changning Temple the night before.

Because Li Qi had been waiting outside the kitchen, he could hear what was happening inside. He looked at the plate that had been split in two on the table and looked at Zhao Zhengdao with surprise in his eyes.

"Congratulations, young master, on becoming a martial artist!"

"Uncle Li, take another look, don't be mistaken!" It was Zhao Cheng who spoke again, and Zhao's father also said to take a closer look.

Li Qi obeyed orders and carefully examined the smooth cross-section of the plate that had been split in two. To ensure there were no mistakes, he smiled and said to Zhao Zheng, "Please, young master, take another step..."

Zhao Zheng nodded and, using the same method, once again cracked a plate with his finger using the power he gained from his martial arts realm.

"Congratulations, young master, on becoming a martial artist!"

Seeing the strength representing the martial artist, Li Qi clasped his hands in a respectful gesture and said, "What follows is a heartwarming family scene that Zhao Zheng finds too intense."

After the family drama ended, Zhao Zheng and the others left the kitchen. Zhao's father, with a slight frown, remained seated and addressed Li Qi.

"This brat really became a ninth-rank martial artist?"

"Genuine, guaranteed!"

"Is he really not joking?"

Father Zhao frowned slightly, and Li Qi hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Master, the eldest young master is not actually just a martial artist..."

"Um?"

"Master, you've forgotten, I said the eldest young master has already entered the Dao!" Li Qi looked at Zhao's father strangely, whose memory seemed to have deteriorated.

"Are you telling the truth? Or are you being threatened by this kid?"

Zhao's father looked surprised and saw Li Qi's mouth twitching and he didn't speak. He coughed twice and stood up.

"Ahem, since that's the case, let this kid have a go. After all... in this world, it's always better to have more ways to protect yourself..." As he finished speaking, Zhao's father frowned, thinking of some strange things that had recently happened in the west of the city.

"Um."

"By the way, he really became a ninth-grade martial artist in just one afternoon? I remember you said that becoming a ninth-grade martial artist is quite difficult, right? Could it be that his martial uncle used some life-shortening method to become a martial artist?"

Zhao's father asked with puzzlement and worry. Although he had never practiced martial arts, his wealth had given him some understanding of the martial arts world.

Li Qi shook his head and then nodded, saying, "I don't know if the young master reached the ninth-grade martial artist realm in just one afternoon..."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Becoming a ninth-rank martial artist is indeed difficult, but... that difficulty shouldn't be too difficult for the young master now!"

"Um?"

"Young Master's Zuowang Temple has already been included among the seventy-two temples of Maoshan. With the Maoshan Sect's foundation, it will be very easy for Young Master to become a martial artist. The situation that Master is worried about will not happen!"

Thinking about the news he had learned this morning, Li Qi answered, his expression starting to look a little strange.

To be honest, he felt that Zhao Zheng was really lucky. Not long after becoming an apprentice, his master died, and Zhao Zheng directly became the abbot.

Then, not long after Zhao Zheng became the abbot, the temple became part of Maoshan, and Zhao Zheng became a Maoshan disciple as well. Li Qi really envied this kind of luck.

After all, that's the Maoshan Sect.

Maoshan, the Alliance of Three Mountains!

"The seventy-two temples of Maoshan... Why are you only bringing this up now?" Upon hearing the words "Maoshan," Zhao's father frowned.

Li Qi was silent for a moment before saying, "I told you this morning, but you said you didn't want to hear anything about the eldest young master, and that he would only cause you trouble!"

"Oh, really? I don't remember."

"...No, I remembered wrong!"

Li Qi, who was used to taking the blame, nodded expressionlessly, denying his previous statement. Zhao's father raised an eyebrow and said...

"Remember to tell me next time anything happens to Ah-Zheng!"

"……yes!"

Hearing Zhao's father change his address for Zhao Zheng from "brat" to "Zheng," Li Qi nodded with a twitching at the corner of his mouth.

"Oh, right, didn't you just say that Ah Zheng had entered the Dao? Did he really succeed? Did he become a cultivator?"

Zhao's father asked curiously. Li Qi really wanted to say that last night you said you didn't want to hear anything about Zhao Zheng anymore, but after thinking about it, he decided not to embarrass his father and said...

"Yes, according to Brother Zhang, the young master's Dao cultivation should be at the Refining Essence into Qi stage... but we don't know the exact level, since Brother Zhang and I practice martial arts!"

"Oh, so according to Old Zhang, my son Zhao Zheng's talent is quite good?" Zhao's father raised an eyebrow and said, and Li Qi nodded.

"It's really good!"

"Good, good, good, as expected of my son!"

"..."

This is my son.

Let's not even talk about that brat!

Looking at Zhao's father, who was initially obsequious but later became arrogant, Li Qi was speechless, but he could understand it. After all, who wouldn't want their son to succeed?

"By the way, how's the investigation into his drowning two months ago going? Don't tell me it's still unsolved?" Zhao's father asked Li Qi with a frown.

"I found some information, but..."