Chapter Twenty-One: The Fiery Blood Ginger Fruit

Ten fiery red ginger roots stretched out like independent rhizomes, their branches intertwining until they merged into a stout root, breaking through the spiritual energy of Kunlun and blossoming and bearing fruit in Kunlun Marsh.

Chen Zhian gazed at the flowers and fruits wrapped in crimson leaves, a flicker of anticipation shining in his eyes.

He plucked one of the fruits, and immediately, the spiritual energy of Kunlun Marsh wafted around, conveying a stream of information.

“Flaming Blood Ginger Fruit.”

Holding this strange fruit in his hand, Chen Zhian was filled with surprise.

“Consuming this fruit temporarily amplifies blood vitality and true essence, which then ignites and surges through the limbs and bones.”

“However, ingesting this fruit damages the foundation. Moreover, after one consumption, resistance develops, greatly diminishing its effects on subsequent uses, while significantly increasing harm to the body.”

Chen Zhian felt somewhat pleased. “This Flaming Blood Ginger Fruit is indeed useful. In critical moments, taking it should greatly boost my blood vitality and strength, though unfortunately it cannot be taken consecutively.”

“But I wonder, if I could cultivate ten of these fruits, would they connect with each other, giving rise to an even more potent elixir?”

He pondered this silently but dared not plant another Flaming Blood Ginger Fruit. The medicinal herb’s fiery orange aura imposed a great burden on him.

Especially when the fruit was about to bloom and bear fruit, Chen Zhian felt a dull haze in his head and a deep fatigue in his body, making him long for a deep sleep.

“Better to keep just one Flaming Blood Ginger Fruit as a reserve. When my body is stronger and my cultivation more profound, then I’ll plant ten.”

With these thoughts, Chen Zhian continued forward, soon arriving at another place where spiritual energy was abundant.

Under a fairyland-like spiritual energy veil, three types of medicinal seeds lay deeply buried, quietly absorbing the energy.

“Fo Jia, Qi Nan Leaf, and Lantern Golden Threads.”

Chen Zhian inspected the three seeds closely; they had changed noticeably since being planted in Kunlun Marsh. Originally black or brown, the seeds now showed hints of fiery orange.

Taking a careful sniff, he was met with an exquisite fragrance.

“Can these seeds survive if taken out of Kunlun Marsh?”

Curious to try, the Kunlun Marsh incarnation of Nan Liu Jing dissipated into thin air. In the small courtyard on Qihuang Street, Chen Zhian opened his eyes and spread out his palm.

When the celestial map of Jade Capital in his mind closed, three seeds appeared in his hand.

Exposed to the air, the seeds still emitted a strong fragrance, showing no sign of withering.

A smile appeared on Chen Zhian’s face.

“Indeed, they can…”

“I’ll cultivate more seeds, then exchange them for the materials needed for Cicada Molt Pills.”

He muttered, eyes fixed on the seeds in his palm.

—

Several days later.

A young man arrived at the gate of the Xu residence on Xiqing Street.

“That young man only gave his name as Chen Zhian and requested to see the young lady.”

The gatekeeper reported to the main hall, “He’s dressed plainly, but carries a certain bearing. Perhaps he is an old acquaintance of Miss Xu.”

A young man in his twenties, head bowed over an account ledger, looked up upon hearing this.

“The young lady is at the government office today and not in the courtyard. Just send him away politely.”

He said this and lowered his head again.

But as the gatekeeper was about to leave, the young man suddenly looked up and asked, “What’s his name again?”

“Chen Zhian,” the gatekeeper replied.

“Chen Zhian? Isn’t he the lad who accepted the bridal token mentioned by Steward Zhao?”

The young man put down his ledger, furrowing his brows as he asked the brown-clad steward standing beside him.

The steward bowed respectfully and said seriously, “Indeed, the person who accepted the bridal token on Xiqing Street is named Chen Zhian. But… according to Steward Zhao, when they went to invite him, the youth seemed unwilling to join our Xu household.”

“Ridiculous,” the young man stood up.

He was neither tall nor thin but somewhat portly. “Steward Zhao went to invite him, but the boy refused outright, and now he comes to our door again?”

The brown-clad steward chuckled, “He’s just a commoner from the marketplace. Perhaps he hadn’t heard of the Xu family’s reputation before, so he refused. Coming again today, maybe he’s learned of our wealth and opulence and shamelessly seeks an audience.

“As for Young Master Xu Yuanshou here, I came up from such humble origins myself. I know exactly what these common folk think.”

This youth was Xu Yuanshou, the eldest son of Xu family’s second uncle and one of the only two males in the family.

The Xu family patriarch had six brothers; three died young, leaving three residing in this mansion.

For some reason, only the second brother had two sons; the patriarch had only one daughter, Xu Xiyue.

The third uncle had twelve children, all daughters.

He often envied the second uncle but was powerless to change his fate and could have no sons.

Thus, the second uncle’s branch, led by young master Xu Yuanshou, naturally controlled the family business.

Xu Yuanshou stood, “I heard Zhou Xiujing of the Zhou family gave Chen Zhian two hundred taels of gold to stay away from Xiyue.

“And yet, after accepting the money, Chen Zhian dares to come to our Xu residence?”

The steward lowered his head to listen.

Rubbing his brow, Xu Yuanshou said, “Let him in. After staring at ledgers for so long, some entertainment might be nice.”

The gatekeeper hurried off and soon returned with a young man.

The Xu family’s fortune was vast, the mansion grand and imposing, filled with artificial hills and flowing water, green tiles and blue bricks—both ancient and magnificent.

Chen Zhian, having seen many grand Suzhou gardens in his past life, was still captivated by the Xu residence.

“Those in the medicinal herb trade do have deep pockets,” he thought, until he entered the west hall and saw the young man seated in the main seat.

Without lifting his head, the young man said, “You must be Chen Zhian?”

Surprised, Chen Zhian did not recognize him but replied earnestly.

Xu Yuanshou finally looked up, seeing Chen Zhian’s simple coarse cloth and his sharply defined black-and-white eyes, a look of disdain crossed his face.

“Since you took Zhou Xiujing’s silver, stay far from our Xu family.

“Neither the Zhou family nor the Xu family are kind gentlemen who hand out silver freely.”

Chen Zhian, standing below the dais, looked at this young man with some bafflement.

Do all sons of wealthy families speak like this? he wondered.

Seeing Chen Zhian’s gaze, Xu Yuanshou frowned tighter and snorted coldly, setting down his ledger.

“You came to the Xu residence for one of two reasons.

“Either you regret rejecting this marriage after learning our family’s name, or you want to swindle some silver here.”

His voice grew louder and harsher as he stood before the main seat in the west hall, coldly staring at Chen Zhian.

“Since you accepted the bridal token, I won’t make things difficult to avoid gossip inside and outside the mansion.

“Chen Zi’an, go to the gatekeeper and collect a sum of money. Do not loiter around the Xu residence again, or I will have your legs broken.”

“I am not called Chen Zi’an,” Chen Zhian finally spoke after remaining silent since entering the Xu mansion, turning his head to ask, “May I ask your name?”

The steward beside Xu Yuanshou glared and growled, “I told you to get money from the gatekeeper and leave. Why say more? Our young master’s name is not for you to know.”

Chen Zhian glanced at the steward, then back at Xu Yuanshou.

There was little fear on his face. “All of Su’nan Prefecture knows the Xu family’s main branch has no male heirs. Now you sit in the west hall, holding a ledger—your identity is clear.”

“You must be the son of the Xu family’s second uncle.”

Xu Yuanshou waved dismissively as if shooing a fly, and several black-clad guards immediately approached the hall.

Yet Chen Zhian still spoke, “It’s natural for the second branch’s young master to dislike me.

“The Xu patriarch has no male heirs, so you harbor unrealistic hopes.

“But the Xu family’s young lady has returned to manage the business and even went so far as to cast a bridal token to find a husband.

“If she truly finds a match and bears children, young master, you will have no chance at all.”

“Perhaps it is this unattainable desire that led a noble family’s young master to invite me in, only to humiliate me without grace.

“This is to keep me away from Miss Xu, cutting off my chance to marry into the Xu family,

“And to vent your own spite through me…”

Chen Zhian smiled, his tone not overly sharp.

Yet his words were like a sharp thorn, piercing straight into Xu Yuanshou’s heart.

His thin lips trembled slightly, likely because the pampered young master never expected a commoner of humble origins to speak to him so boldly.

The black-clad guards had reached the west hall’s door.

Suddenly, Xu Yuanshou said, “I think you should be called Chen Zi’an.”

“From now on, if anyone asks, say your name is Chen Zi’an, because I, Xu Yuanshou, have given you this name. If you refuse…”

“I will break your legs.”

Xu Yuanshou poured all his malice onto the boy in the hall.

“Getting some power and wealth makes you arrogant.”

Chen Zhian’s expression remained calm, but he cursed inwardly, “Just like the second-generation rich kids from my previous life.”

Taking a deep breath, he clenched his fist as the Snow Mountain Ginseng Qi method quietly activated, waiting for the guards to step forward.

At that moment, a voice suddenly shouted from the entrance.

“Young master, the young lady has submitted Fo Jia seeds to General Xuan Zi’s military supply account at the government office… The herb inspector has assigned them a grade…”

Even Xu Yuanshou, intent on breaking Chen Zhian’s legs, could not suppress his anger and called out loudly from afar, “What grade are the Fo Jia seeds?”

“Grade B-, sir.”

Xu Yuanshou immediately sank into a precious red sandalwood chair.

“Yesterday, the Zhou family submitted Fo Jia seeds graded at lower Grade A!”

The difference was two entire grades.

This crucial Fo Jia medicinal contract was slipping from the Xu family’s grasp.

Though only one herb, the competition between the Zhou and Xu families had reached a climax.

Losing these three vital herbs meant the final contracts would belong to the Zhou family—complete defeat.

At that moment, Xu Yuanshou looked toward the east hall, silent, likely the family head had already learned of the situation.

The other elders were probably sighing in despair.

Though Xu Yuanshou coveted the headship of the Xu family and feared Xu Xiyue, he was still a family member.

If the Xu family fell…

A chill ran down his spine, leaving him weak and numb.

Then, a voice whispered in his ear.

“How about this,” said the youth in coarse cloth below the dais, still wearing a mocking smile, speaking earnestly.

“You change your name to Xu Jinshou, and I will find a way to help the Xu family… surpass the Zhou family.”

“Outrageous!” Before Xu Yuanshou could respond, the brown-robed steward erupted in anger and shouted sharply.