Against Hong Wei's request, Zhao Wenyuan let out a breath of relief, then quickly said, "I will give him a hundred lashes to make him understand the gravity of his actions, and then place him under strict house arrest."
After addressing the matter of his son's offense, Zhao Wenyuan hastily began to explain how he would handle anyone else who dared stir up trouble in the town. He vowed to make this the safest town in the entire Xia Dynasty.
When the son is a clown, the father is bound to be a bigger one… that was all Hong Wei could think at that moment.
In the end, he waved his hand and told Zhao Wenyuan to speak in human language, before sitting down for a brief discussion. He asked about the backing of the Black Dog Gang.
Zhao Wenyuan naturally said everything he knew. And eventually, Hong Wei also asked for the martial arts technique he cultivated… received it… and then finally said, "I don't mind you reporting this to your superiors. Just remember, no matter how powerful they are, they won't rush to your aid. And even if they did, I could still kill you before fleeing. So let's not create unnecessary trouble. Let's live peacefully, if possible, alright?"
Zhao Wenyuan naturally nodded and began spouting all kinds of promises, but Hong Wei didn't wait to hear the rest. Instead, he rose and took his leave.
Walking through the town with Shan Mei beside him, Hong Wei could sense how the rumors about him seemed to grow with every step they took. Whispers followed his back, but he didn't dwell on it. Instead, he made his way toward the best cloth shop in the town.
He intended to buy some clothes for Seren. Even though he felt that the clothes sold here shouldn't be up to her standards, they were still better than letting her continue wearing that battle dress all the time.
But Shan Mei, a little too enthusiastic, wanted to pick something for him too. And in the end, he had to yield to her persistence.
"How much are all these worth?" Hong Wei asked, pointing at the few pieces he had selected, with Shan Mei's help.
The shopkeeper, clearly nervous, bowed and replied, "It is the honor of our humble shop to serve Immortal Master. Please, just take whatever you need."
'Why do I feel like information here spreads even faster than in the modern world, despite all its technology?' Hong Wei thought, as he looked at the man's expression. In the end, he didn't argue. He simply placed a few taels of silver on the counter, then turned and walked away.
There was something strange about this kind of treatment, and he couldn't help but recall what his predecessor used to face. But in the end… this was the cultivation world. And he had to adapt.
Even after that, Hong Wei didn't return home. Instead, he made his way toward the herb shop run by Physician Zhang Bo.
He still needed to gather the ingredients for his medicinal bath, after all.
"Welcome, young master," Zhang Bo greeted warmly as Hong Wei stepped inside. The physician appeared to be in his fifties, with a calm and dependable aura about him.
Hong Wei returned the greeting with proper respect, treating him as an elder. After all, Zhang Bo had been one of the few who never looked down on him, nor had he ever joined the others when they ridiculed him.
With that brief thought passing through his mind, Hong Wei listed the herbs he needed, starting from moonshade root, Jade Serpent Grass, to many more.
And Zhang Bo immediately began move about the shop, gathering each of the herbs with practiced ease.
Once everything had been prepared, he stated the price, without attempting to flatter Hong Wei or brush the cost aside like the cloth shop had.
Hong Wei, who naturally didn't mind such a thing, paid the full amount without hesitation, then took his leave.
Zhang Bo stood at the doorway of his shop, watching the young man's retreating figure, as well as the poised presence of Shan Mei walking beside him.
For a while, he simply stared, at the youth who was no longer someone he could recognize. And only after some time passed did he finally shake his head and return inside.
On the other side, when they were some distance away, Shan Mei suddenly said, "Master, that man... he is actually a cultivator."
Hong Wei didn't immediately react to her words.
He was finally on his way home, and today, even if not as exhausting as yesterday, had still felt unbearably long. He could feel the fatigue creeping in, heavier with each step.
That's why it took him a moment before Shan Mei's statement registered in his mind, and he asked, "Really? He's the cultivator Seren mentioned?"
"It should be," Shan Mei affirmed, her tone confident.
And Hong Wei didn't know what to feel.
He had been planning to ask Seren about the cultivator's identity once he returned, since he had originally assumed it was the town chief. But now, discovering it like this, in such an unexpected way, he was a little surprised.
Still, Zhang Bo was someone who, even in this world where everyone seemed to be at odds with each other, was genuinely liked by the townspeople. He was that humble and easy to talk to.
But just to be sure, Hong Wei asked, "And what about his cultivation level?"
"Qi Refinement Realm, ninth stage," she replied.
'Even lower than Shan Mei?' Hong Wei thought, before deciding to stop thinking about it altogether.
He had no grievance with Zhang Bo, after all.
So long as they could peacefully coexist in the same town, there was no problem at all.