Heretic Apothecary Genius

Chapter 56: The War Drums Are Sounded

You sincerely acknowledged me as your Master, I sincerely accepted you as a disciple. There’s no need to say any useless rubbish in the future.

These words touched Chang Laosi, this person who’d been in the Jianghu for so many years. At the very start, it was indeed because Ren Jie’s words had opened for him a world that he’d never understood or thought of. It showed him the road for his breakthrough to the Yin Yang Realm, that was why he threw caution to the wind. But today, something else was breeding.

“Don’t worry, Master. After all, I’ve been in the Jianghu for so many years. Even if the Fang family wants to kill me, they got to think it through. Besides, I won’t easily give them the chance.” Chang Laosi was not a simple person too. Since he dared to do this, he naturally understood the stakes.

“That’s in the past. This time, you are truly getting embroiled into the fight between the five big family clans. They don’t dare to strike at me, but you are different. This time, we’ve thoroughly humiliated the Fang family by saying totally opposite things. They’ve suffered heavy losses and some people are having a hard time. Add to that the issue with the Black Nether Sword, they will absolutely stop at nothing to kill you.” Ren Jie realized that Chang Laosi still thought too simply of the matter. He himself wasn’t afraid because he had the title of Ren Family Head, no matter how he wreaked havoc and stirred trouble, they wouldn’t dare to go too far. However, Chang Laosi was different.

“But you don’t have to be too worried. For some matters, making it big is instead the way to protect yourself. Today, this Fang Yan could not hold back and jumped out, giving us this opportunity. I’ll show you what a big spectacle is in a while. Get someone to spread the news of everything that happened here today according to what I said. This way, we’d more or less be able to fight for some more time. If you can break through to the Yin Yang Realm as soon as possible, that would truly give the Fang family some scruples.” Ren Jie was very clear about some ideas and thoughts of the five big family clans. Although being at the ninth level of the Divine Power Realm made him really strong, he wasn’t untouchable. Especially someone in the Jianghu like Chang Laosi. Although he had taken him in as his disciple, how many people truly cared about that?

“Yes,” Chang Laosi responded. Not continuing to badger about the Black Nether Sword, he turned around and went to arrange the matter that Ren Jie instructed.

After Chang Laosi left, Ren Jie returned to the courtyard for a look. Fatty, that fellow had actually fallen asleep while seated by Sun Rui’s bed. Ren Jie told Fatty to join her in training and even got him to take care of her. At present, seeing that all the wounds from the forceful cultivation on Sun Rui’s body had been treated, Ren Jie showed a hint of a smile. Fatty was still pretty meticulous, except other than refining potions, he was startlingly lazy in all other aspects, wishing he could hide in the room all day long.

Ren Jie checked Sun Rui’s condition. The little girl had actually taken medication before resting. It was evident how uptight she was. That memory left too deep a print. Although Ren Jie really wanted to persuade her, he also knew that was something not any words of an outsider could make clear. They could only slowly depend on time and opportunity to do so.

Following that, Ren Jie carried Fatty to the room next door. This fellow was really heavy. After putting Fatty down on the bed, Ren Jie suddenly recalled something. Wait a minute!

He’d pulled him once when he brought him to poison Fang Qi. Previously, when it was chaotic, he’d also thrown him aside, and this time he carried him to the bed. Ren Jie suddenly thought of a problem. Weight. That’s right, it was weight. Not only was Ren Jie’s current memory extremely retentive, but even detailed feelings and memories also remained very clear in his mind. These few times, Fatty’s weight had been exactly the same. A person’s weight saw great changes throughout the day, especially a big fatty like Gao Ren.

Moreover, he’d been forced to train today. According to Tong Qiang, his perspiration would’ve been a few kilograms. How could there be not the slightest change in his weight? At this thought, Ren Jie could not help but recall the scene he had saw when he just opened his eyes. He could not help but bent and pinch Fatty’s chubby hands and face. It felt very delicate and real, they didn’t seem to be fake.

However, at the thought of this world being completely unlike Earth and things were no longer limited to simple disguise and makeup, Ren Jie’s thoughts involuntarily went to some divine power and dharma spells aspects that he had read in books.

Could it be…

“Reporting to Family Head. Fang Family Head Fang Tianen is rushing over with a large group of troops, he’ll arrive very soon.” Just as Ren Jie was pondering over Gao Ren’s weight problem, Tong Qiang’s voice sounded from outside.

What was to come would come. He made use of Fang Qi’s poison to extort the Fang family, and the Fang family wanted to swallow up Chang Le Gang and made it their own, ruining his reputation while at it. The Black Nether Sword that they had given him was also defective. Originally, in their eyes, this deal was no loss and even a gain, because the Chang Le Gang and Chang Laosi, this powerhouse at the ninth level of the Divine Power Realm, were worth tens of millions of jade coins. Moreover, they could even ruin his reputation and deal a blow to the Ren family while at it.

However, they never would’ve expected that Chang Laosi would become his own disciple and that the Black Nether Sword would be restored by him. Today, Fang Yan was being tied to a pillar at the gates on his orders. How could Fang Tianen not be anxious?

Ren Jie put down Fatty’s issue for now and ordered Tong Qiang to gather his people and rush to the main gates.

In reality, some well-informed people in Jade Capital already knew what was going on. All the initial waves of insults targeted at the Ren family and Ren Jie instantly stopped. Quite a number of people were slightly confused, not believing that this was real. Why did the dandy, wastrel Ren Jie who seized other people’s property become the victim all of a sudden, and how was it possible that Chang Laosi acknowledged him as his Master…

And he even gifted him a superior-grade spiritual artifact. This caused even more disbelief. Only, when the winds outside started to change, Fang Tianen also received news.

Fang Tianen was incredibly incensed. He’d just made that comment in the Hall of Supreme Harmony at the morning court assembly. Following that, the entire Jade Capital knew that Chang Le Gang and Chang Laosi were part of the Fangs and convicted Ren Jie to all sorts of charges. This storm would sweep through the entire Jade Capital very quickly and finally give the Ren family an invisible strike and damage.

Now that this happened, the Fang family instead became ungrateful people who seized others’ property.

What was even more detestable was that Ren Jie actually dared to injure Fang Yan, detain him in the Ren residence, and even tie him up at the main entrance of the Rens. This was already a provocation targeted at the Fang family.

At such times, he certainly could not hold back anymore. Fang Tianen resolutely came to a decision after raging.

He led two elders, about seven guests, tens of experts, two hundred guards, more than a thousand servants, and charged aggressively toward the Ren residence at once. While the matter had not been spread, he was going to salvage the situation. Once Chang Laosi was dead, everyone would definitely not believe Ren Jie then. Besides, once the mater was blown up, he didn’t believe that the Ren family would support such a dandy wastrel.

Given the Ren family’s current situation, they absolutely would not open fire against the Fang family. Chang Laosi, you actually dared to fool my Fang family. If I don’t kill you, the Fangs will not be one of Jade Capital’s five big family clans. Only, throughout the whole journey, he never figured out the issue with the Black Nether Sword. It was impossible. This Black Nether Sword had been with the Fangs for many years. Over all these years, many generations had studied it…

“Look, Marquis, didn’t I say that the best is yet to come.” At the top level of a restaurant not far from the main entrance of the Ren residence, Gao Peng, who had just left the Rens, was with Li Yan. From here, they could see the mighty group of the Fang family’s troops rushing to the Ren residence.

“This bastard, the Ren family was on the verge of doom. I’ll watch how long he can keep that arrogance up for. Sooner or later, I’ll settle both old and new scores all at once!” Li Yan had not taken a single bite of food at the Ren’s. At present, he downed a mouthful of wine and spoke unhappily.

“That’s of course, Marquis is of noble descendant, of royal blood. How is that something that Ren Jie can compare to.” Gao Peng intentionally flattered Li Yan.

“Of course. Back then, if it wasn’t for that… um, all of you know that. Blame it all on Ren Tianxing, the old fellow. A son will pay his father’s debts. I definitely will not let them off… hmph.” Li Yan downed several more glasses of wine and went on talking.

Gao Peng responded with a smile while his eyes were fixed on the Fang family’s advance.

“Fang Yan, why… why are you so badly injured? This detestable bastard. If the Ren family won’t give me an explanation today, the Fang family absolutely will not let this matter rest…” The troops had yet to arrive when Fang Tianen used his divine sense to communicate with Fang Yan.

“Family head, my injuries aren’t considered bad. Only, I was humiliated by that dandy wastrel, opinionated, bullsh*t family head. If it was my personal matter, it would be nothing. I don’t know what method that Ren Jie used that he actually got Chang Laosi to follow him wholeheartedly. This way, our previous plan is finished. Now, we must kill that Chang Laosi. Also, my Fang family’s Black Nether Sword has actually been restored and it’s also in that Chang Laosi’s hands. Family Head must find a way to get it. We cannot let it go easily this time. After tonight, my Fang family’s reputation will suffer greatly. At such times, we must make a decision. At the least, Chang Laosi cannot live past tonight, and the Black Nether Sword must re…”

Fang Yan was present when Fang Qi and Fang Tianen were studying this issue. The entire plan was the Fang family coming forward to reap the benefits and push forward this storm, but the family would nor act in reality. Although doing so would gain them a favorable impression from the emperor, the Fang family didn’t need it that much. After all, for the Ren family, a starving camel was still bigger than a horse. No one wanted to be the first to collide head-on with them.

Except the Fang family had been pushed to this extent now. This was unlike the previous Gao family’s issue. If it was an individual’s issue, especially a junior, tolerating it would do. After all, when something like that was spread, it wouldn’t damage anything, neither did it have great implications. However, things were different this time. The Fang family had stirred this storm all over the Jade Capital. With a flip of things, they would be thoroughly embarrassed. Moreover, that family clan wouldn’t easily let go of the superior-grade spiritual artifact.

“Does the Ren family have any adults, anyone who can make a decision. This is your Ren family’s hospitality, this is your Ren family’s hosting. Men, rescue Fang Yan. Report it to the emperor and hand over the culprit Chang Laosi. If anyone stops you, kill.” Without needing to reply to Fang Yan, Fang Tianen’s command was the best answer.

To Fang Tianen, their previous tolerance was merely because to them, regardless of how Ren Jie messed around, it was just a dandy young master’s havoc. Although he’d been rather infuriated by him then, to them, thinking about the overall situation was the most important.

Hence, when Ren Jie hit Gao Peng before the palace, Gao Zhanyuan ultimately tolerated it. Ren Jie was very likely the person who poisoned Fang Qi behind their backs, then used curing her to extort the Fang family. Fang Tianen tolerated it too. However, precisely because Ren Jie blackmailed the Fang family, the Fangs made use of the situation to try to swallow up Chang Le Gang, trying to kill two birds with one stone by driving a targeted attack at Ren Jie and the Ren family. Yet, they didn’t expect things to turn out this way. Without needing Fang Yan to say it, Fang Tianen absolutely would not keep Chang Laosi and would not give the Black Nether Sword to the Ren family in vain.

“Dong dong dong dong dong…” Just as the Fang family’s experts and guards received the order and were about to rush forward, the sound of drums resounded through the skies from Ren Jie’s mansion.

The beat of the drums was supported with dharma spells. Every beat echoed to the clouds, and the entire Jade Capital could hear it. The sound was hurried like millions of horses running wildly, the resonant sound making people’s blood seethe with ardor.

That rhythm, sound, anyone who lived in Jade Capital would have heard it before. That was the beating of drums that Ren Tianxing, Marshal Ren would personally beat before he led the army out to battle. When the 13 countries allied army invaded, the emperor was trapped when personally leading the exhibition of the cruel heretical sect that slaughtered Jade Capital on a blood oath…

Each time this drumbeat sounded, it steadied the frightened people and rallied the low-spirited, making the soldiers’ blood race.

“Could it be… Ren Tianxing is back, how could that be…” Fang Tianen abruptly got out of the spiritual beast carriage, looking towards the Ren residence in disbelief.

The servants and experts from the Fang family all froze, staring in the same direction in fear. A person’s reputation was as important as a tree’s shadow. Ren Tianxing’s name was the legend of Jade Capital and the Clear Jade Dynasty.

“Ren Tianxing…” In the restaurant, Gao Peng stood up abruptly and walked to the window.

“What… bam… crash…” Li Yan, who was eating and drinking, cursed and became agitated, causing his wine glass to drop. Then, he accidentally knocked over a plate.

“What’s going on, are we going to war?”

“Marshal Ren is back. The war drums sounded, could it be that the Ren family is going to war?”

“If it wasn’t because the Ren family had been attacked, why would the war drums sound. Something disastrous has happened.”

All at once, the entire Jade Capital was upside down. No one knew what was going on.

“Men, immediately find out what exactly is happening. Hasn’t Li Yan gone to attend the banquet, why is there still no news? What a good-for-nothing. When necessary, mobilize the intelligence system inside the Ren family. I want to know what is going on.” The emperor who had been drinking with a favored concubine immediately chased her away and summoned people to be questioned, yet no one knew what was happening. He was angered.