Starting with warding off evil and disaster, one can ascend to immortality after countless tribulati

Bitter!

Jiang Ming's heart suddenly clenched, and his handsome face was filled with bitterness. He never expected that even a slight counterattack would bring him disaster.

No! The calamity was not brought about by Madam Zhou; it has nothing to do with this matter.

Madam Zhou called me over for a talk. Because I was wary of Steward Zhou, I was extremely reserved throughout the conversation and didn't even dare to look up at her face.

She thought that by being so cautious, no problems would arise, but unexpectedly, this action chilled Madam Zhou's heart.

At first, she felt that I was somewhat like her younger brother, and she intentionally revealed some of Zhou Yi's taboos to me in order to help me gain a foothold in the blacksmith's workshop.

My painstaking efforts to avoid suspicion and distance myself ultimately came at a price. Half a month later, I was killed with a single finger after unintentionally going against Zhou Yi's wishes.

If I had been willing to have a sincere conversation with Mrs. Zhou back then, the outcome might have been different.

After taking a closer look, Jiang Ming's lips curled up slightly, and his eyes gradually brightened.

So this trip wasn't a bad thing. Madam Zhou's cold face wasn't for her own benefit, but simply to avoid suspicion.

Upon first stepping into Steward Zhou's attic, Jiang Ming glanced around and was instantly struck by the luxurious decorations.

It's said that those in the late stage of the Qi Refining Realm receive high treatment in the outer sect, and now it seems that this is indeed true.

The difference between this spacious and bright house and his cramped and damp stone chamber is like that between a hair salon and a paradise on earth.

"Were you the one who made the move in the courtyard just now?"

As she slowly approached, her slender waist curving gracefully, Madam Zhou's beautiful eyes, like rippling waves, fixed on Jiang Ming, momentarily captivated.

"Disciple Jiang Ming apologizes for disturbing Madam's rest." Kneeling on the ground and bowing, Jiang Ming looked at Madam Zhou with sincerity, trying his best to appear innocent.

Seeing the subtle expression on Madam Zhou's face, he instantly felt relieved.

It seems that the seemingly useless charm stat has finally come into play!

"Zhou Yi dislikes his disciples fighting. It will be good for you to behave well in daily life. How old are you...?"

"Replying to Madam Zhou, I have just turned eighteen."

Normally, when the blacksmiths saw her, they would mostly lower their heads and behave with restraint. But when she felt Jiang Ming's intense gaze, Madam Zhou's heart was stirred.

Her face flushed slightly, and she feigned anger as she lightly scolded, "You've got some nerve, staring at me like that. Don't you know any manners?"

"Madam, I am truly sorry. My parents went out to do business when I was young, and we have not heard from them since."

My older sister raised me with great difficulty since I was a child. In order to help me embark on the path to immortality, she married early.

Seeing your face, Madam, I couldn't help but think of my elder sister, and that's why I forgot my proper etiquette. Please forgive me.

Jiang Ming pretended to be well-behaved and spoke in a childlike voice, which made him feel disgusted.

But then she saw tears in Madam Zhou's eyes, clearly pleased with what she had just heard. "So that's how it is. It seems we are destined to meet."

I have a younger brother who is two years younger than you. You look very much like him, handsome yet with a touch of naivety. Unfortunately, I have now devoted myself to Zhou Yi, and from now on we are separated by the mortal and immortal realms, and it will be difficult for us to meet again.

From now on, in private, I'll allow you to call me "sister," so that we can both make up for our regrets...

"Sister." Madam Zhou called out tentatively, and immediately smiled. She quickly helped Jiang Ming up, sighed softly, and began to complain with a heavy heart.

"Those who rely on their beauty to please others will eventually grow old and lose their looks. Although I am well-fed and clothed here, I am ultimately a rootless duckweed with no stable support."

Zhou Yi is now nearly seventy years old. If he stops cultivating, he will only have thirty years left to live.

If he dies of old age or something happens to him, even if I inherit part of his estate, I, a weak woman, simply cannot survive in this cannibalistic outer sect.

That's why I thought of adopting you as my younger brother, which would also give me an extra helper.

"Sister has really had a tough time. If you ever need me in the future, I'll do whatever you ask!" Sensing the attempt to win him over, Jiang Ming immediately agreed, his expression earnest.

This attentiveness warmed Mrs. Zhou's heart.

For a moment, her smile vanished, and she spoke earnestly, explaining the pros and cons: "It's good that you understand your sister's heart. If you're willing to help me, I'll naturally be willing to take care of you in return."

Zhou Yi is out reporting for duty today and won't be back until the afternoon at the earliest, so I'll just be frank with some things.

He came from a poor family and hated people gossiping behind his back. He had a strong desire to control everything, and his expression would change drastically if anything went against his wishes.

If you are diligent, clever, obedient, and honest, you will most likely be liked. There is one more thing that is very important, and you must remember it.

Zhou Yi lost his son in his old age. The son was very rebellious and disobedient, and he did not leave any offspring. He complained to me many times that he only regretted that his body was too old and he was too weak to have another child. Otherwise, he would definitely have had another child.

His son loved to eat fish. Try your best to please him and find opportunities to express this preference. Perhaps this will remind him of his fondness for fish and make him take better care of you.

After listening to Madam Zhou's words, Jiang Ming couldn't help but feel more respect for her. She had only been taken as a concubine for a short time, yet she was able to know Zhou Yi's preferences so clearly.

Such a clever mind is truly astonishing. "Thank you, sister. I understand now. With your help in mediating and spreading the word, I will surely rise to prominence on Furnace Peak sooner or later."

Jiang Ming swore to God that he would be his sister's strongest support from now on!

"Alas, my brother's intentions are good, but he lacks understanding."

I absolutely cannot speak well of you; in fact, I should say some harmless but hurtful things. In private, we are like siblings, so it's fine for us to be close.

The situation is different in front of Zhou Yi. Our relationship can't be too good; we even need to have some conflicts so that he can feel at ease.

Shaking her head, Madam Zhou smiled and patiently offered her guidance.

After a moment's thought, Jiang Ming gradually realized that this was similar to the relationship between Lü Bu, Diao Chan, and Dong Zhuo.

Jiang Ming is now like Lü Bu, but of course, he cannot betray his master, much less ride Diao Chan; instead, he must do his best to gain more favor from Dong Zhuo.

This also serves to remind Dong Zhuo of past events.

She poured the same love she had for her son into him.

Manager Zhou, you've really figured out how to play this woman.

After a moment of reflection, Jiang Ming looked at Madam Zhou's slender figure, his face slightly flushed.

Upon seeing this, Madam Zhou frowned and asked with a surprised expression, "What's wrong, little brother? There's no one else here. Please speak frankly."

"Sister, slap me..."

Upon hearing Jiang Ming's request, Madam Zhou was taken aback at first, but after a moment's thought, she understood the reason. "Alright, to avoid gossip."

Having obtained a bright red palm print as he wished, Jiang Ming bowed respectfully and left the pavilion.

After he left, Madam Zhou smiled and muttered to herself, "He's quite similar to Zhou Yi, though slightly different. Zhou Yi really liked me beating him, that old pervert..."

Blacksmith's workshop.

When the disciples saw the palm print on Jiang Ming's face, they felt a bit of schadenfreude, but more than that, they were worried.

It wasn't that she was worried about Jiang Ming's safety; she was simply afraid that Madam Zhou would be displeased and that Steward Zhou would be punished as a result.

"Madam Zhou has calmed down, so everyone need not worry. Please go about your business." After exchanging ideas with the master of manipulating people's hearts, Jiang Ming had been enlightened.

He had an uncanny ability to see through the thoughts of these disciples.

Lacking strength, yet unable to bear seeing others above them, they secretly rejoice at the misfortunes of others, believing they have a chance to take their place.

Small in capacity but lofty in ambition, willing but unable to act, merely an insect.

He had no interest in forming cliques or plotting to replace Chen Meng as the inspector.

Jiang Ming knew that some things were not given to him by others, and no matter how much he coveted them, it was useless. Before he got the benefits, being happy was futile.

Calmly returning to the anvil, he carefully hammered the iron in his hands, relying on the forging techniques he remembered, focusing on completing his task.

The only thing that surprised him was that after being beaten, Wang Yousheng not only didn't harbor resentment or distance himself from him, but instead became even closer to him.

Taking advantage of the fact that there were fewer people during mealtime, he sincerely admitted his inferiority to Jiang Ming, adopting a very humble posture. If Jiang Ming's tone had been more serious, Wang Yousheng would have definitely knelt down before him immediately.

With one palm strike, I shattered your dream of cultivating immortality; Brother Jiang, I'm just an honest man.

Although he's a bit slow-witted, he's also quite pragmatic.

With a smirk in his heart, Jiang Ming worked tirelessly until evening, keeping everyone entertained until they left. He put his tools back in their place and was about to return to his cave.

Behind them, a sharp gaze swept over them. The man had an old face, a hooked nose, and arched eyebrows.

His exposed arms were muscular and covered with scars of varying depths, like the gnarled roots of an old tree.

With a large bald patch on his head and a grumpy, demanding expression, he sized up Xu Yang and said indifferently, "I've been observing you for a long time. Not bad, quite diligent..."