Chapter 8

Qin Yang said calmly, "Lord Shen, I will take the money, but I won't take advantage of you. I'll give you a piece of advice."

"Lord Shen, you might as well buy more Wood Essence Fruits, even at a premium. Try to buy as much as possible."

Shen Qianshan asked doubtfully, "Young Master Qin, the price of Wood Essence Fruits seems to be on a downward trend. Buying more of them—"

"I've said all I can. Whether you believe me or not is up to you," Qin Yang said indifferently.

Qin Yang clearly remembered that ten days later, a locust plague swept through the Tian Tang Empire and some surrounding countries. The Wood Essence Fruits were severely affected, and their prices in the Tian Tang Empire and surrounding countries soared, reaching up to ten times their usual price!

While Wood Essence Fruits had little impact on ordinary people, they were an important ingredient in alchemy!

"Thank you, Young Master Qin."

Shen Qianshan bowed.

"Let's go!"

Qin Yang and his group arrived at the entrance of the Shen family's mansion. A luxurious carriage was parked there, pulled by three extremely valuable Snow-Treading Divine Steeds.

The Snow-Treading Divine Steeds were tall and entirely black, except for their white hooves.

The cost of one Snow-Treading Divine Steed could buy dozens of ordinary Swift Horses.

"Lord Shen, what is this?" Qin Yang asked calmly.

Shen Qianshan smiled and said, "This is a gift for you, Young Master Qin, to use for transportation. The driver, Old Yang, is an old servant of our family and very loyal. Old Yang, from now on, you will follow Young Master Qin and serve him diligently."

"Yes, Master."

Qin Yang glanced at Old Yang, who looked to be in his fifties and had an ordinary appearance. However, Qin Yang could tell at a glance that his cultivation had reached the Qi Condensation realm.

"Meet Young Master Qin."

Old Yang bowed.

"Then you will follow me from now on. Lord Shen, farewell!" Qin Yang said calmly.

Qin Yang climbed into the carriage, and Shen Yuling also entered. Soon, the carriage disappeared from Shen Qianshan's sight.

...

In the western part of Qingyun City, Hundred Families Alley.

Qin Yang's mother, Xie Yan, rented a house here, which was quite old and dilapidated.

In front of Xie Yan sat two people: a woman in her forties and a girl about Qin Yang's age with an ordinary appearance.

"Xie Yan, let's not waste time. Let's get straight to the point," the woman said.

Xie Yan nodded. "Alright."

The woman frowned. "Xie Yan, everyone knows Qin Yang's situation. He has only reached the first level of Qi Gathering after three years in the Thunderfire Sword Sect!"

"He has wasted three years there and has no other skills."

"To put it bluntly, he's a good-for-nothing!"

Xie Yan frowned inwardly.

"Our daughter, Yin, is beautiful and skilled in embroidery. Many people from the surrounding areas have come to propose marriage. If she marries Qin Yang, everything must be up to standard!"

Xie Yan sighed. "What do you suggest, Sister Hua?"

Sister Hua said, "First, you need to prepare a house. You can't get married in a rented place, right?"

"Second, you need a donkey cart. Otherwise, Yin will have to walk when she visits her parents."

"Third, a thousand taels of silver as a dowry, and some jewelry for Yin."

Xie Yan smiled bitterly. To send Qin Yang to the Thunderfire Sword Sect, she had even pawned the token of love from Qin Yang's father. How could she afford all this now?

"Sister Hua, can we negotiate?"

Sister Hua shook her head.

"Mom, why bother? Their family is so poor, and Qin Yang is a good-for-nothing. Who would marry him?" the girl Yin said disdainfully.

...

"Clatter!"

The sound of hooves approached, and occasional exclamations could be heard. Sister Hua and her mother immediately stood up and went outside.

The horses pulling the carriage were actually valuable Snow-Treading Divine Steeds, and there were three of them!

Such a carriage would cost 100,000 taels of silver!

"Yin, kneel down quickly. If the important person in the carriage chooses to take you as a servant, you will be set for life."

Sister Hua pulled her daughter down to kneel, indicating their willingness to become servants. If the other party agreed, it would be settled!

"Stop!"

The carriage stopped beside Sister Hua, and a calm voice came from inside.

The carriage stopped smoothly, and Yang Zhong jumped down and stood respectfully beside it.

Sister Hua and her daughter's eyes lit up with joy. The carriage had stopped. Could it be that the young master inside was willing to take them as servants?

In the courtyard, Xie Yan was stunned. It sounded like Qin Yang's voice?

Shen Yuling came out of the carriage first. When she appeared, everyone around her was stunned by her beauty. Sister Hua, who was close by, was almost mesmerized, and her daughter Yin looked away, feeling inferior.

"Master, please get out of the carriage."

Shen Yuling gently lifted the curtain and said in a soft voice.

Qin Yang stepped out of the carriage, his heart pounding. The moment he appeared, many people were shocked.

"Isn't that Qin Yang, the good-for-nothing?"

"It is Qin Yang!"

Many people whispered, unable to believe it.

Qin Yang, the good-for-nothing, was now returning in such a luxurious carriage!

And the girl called Master Qin was so beautiful, like a fairy.

"Yang'er!"

Xie Yan came out of the courtyard, her brows furrowed tightly when she saw Qin Yang and the luxurious carriage.

"Yang Zhong, drive the carriage away and come back when I call you." Qin Yang said as he got out of the carriage.

"Yes, Master Qin."

Yang Zhong quickly drove the carriage away.

"Xie Yan, let's talk about Qin Yang and Yin's marriage again," Sister Hua called out.

"Mom, let's go."

Before Xie Yan could respond, Sister Hua's daughter quickly pulled her away. With such a beautiful servant by Qin Yang's side, why would he look at her?

...

Qin Yang and Shen Yuling entered the courtyard, and Xie Yan closed the gate.

"Miss, please wait outside. Qin Yang, come with me to the house." Xie Yan said sternly, her face not looking good.

Qin Yang followed his mother into the room, his heart pounding. After so many years, he finally saw his mother alive and well in front of him!

"Mom, don't worry. I earned all this myself, it has nothing to do with the family in the capital."

Qin Yang knew why Xie Yan was angry. When he was expelled from the family and sent to Qingyun City, thousands of miles away, he almost died from illness on the way.

Xie Yan harbored resentment towards her father and her cold-hearted siblings.

Seeing Qin Yang return in such glory, Xie Yan assumed he had received help from the Xie family, lacking backbone.

"Mom, even if we begged, they wouldn't give us a single tael of silver. Why would they be so kind to me?" Qin Yang said.

Xie Yan's expression softened. What Qin Yang said made sense.

When she was expelled from the family, the Xie family didn't give her a single tael of silver. If it weren't for her savings, she might not have made it to Qingyun City!

Xie Yan said sternly, "Yang'er, remember, we may be poor, but we must not lose our dignity! I won't use a single coin from the Xie family!"

Qin Yang nodded seriously. "Mom, one day, I will bring you back in glory. We will repay every humiliation we suffered, bit by bit!"

Xie Yan was silent. She didn't dare to hope for that.

The Xie family was a massive entity.

Xie Zhen, the prime minister, had held power for twenty years, wielding immense influence.