Grinding Cultivation Toward Martial Saint

Upon hearing this statement, Xie Zhengtian's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, suddenly dropped with a thud, and his legs went a little weak.

At this moment, Jiang Ning placed the documents that had been before him in front of Xie Zhengtian.

"Family Head Xie," said Jiang Ning, "you just mentioned that the crimes committed by members of the Xie family will be handled according to Great Xia's legal code, with no leniency shown. Are you truly capable of being so resolute?"

Hearing this, Xie Zhengtian quickly slapped his chest and said, "Commander Jiang, please rest assured, I have made up my mind! If the pests within our clan continue to wreak havoc like this, there will come a day when the Xie family will surely invite disaster."

"A family wanting to thrive for a long time must endure such pain."

"The existence of these pests in the clan, for the long prosperity of the Xie family, is nothing but harmful, with no benefit."

"The case files for these people have already been transferred to the government office. Justice will be served according to Great Xia's laws, with no leniency!!"

"Moreover, my Xie family being the largest grain merchant in the county town, I have seen the light. I will choose a day to open the Xie family's grain storehouses and relieve all the townspeople to help them through this cold winter!!"

At this very moment, upon hearing Xie Zhengtian's last statement, Jiang Ning immediately nodded in approval.

"Good! I hope you can do as you say, opening up your grain storehouses to relieve the townspeople!"

Upon hearing this, Xie Zhengtian slapped his chest again in assurance.

"You can rest assured, Commander Jiang. Since I have made such a boast, I will surely follow through!"

"The townspeople are also my fellow villagers. In such times, it is only right for my Xie family, rich and powerful as we are, to fulfill our obligations."

...

A moment later.

After seeing Xie Zhengtian off, Jiang Ning looked at the bars of gold arranged on the table and his heart was filled with a mix of emotions.

He had not anticipated that after sending a gift of twenty thousand taels in silver notes on his last visit, Xie Zhengtian would today bring sixty-six taels of gold.

It's worth noting that in Great Xia, gold was a precious consumable, extremely rare, so one tael of gold was equivalent to a thousand taels of silver.

Sixty-six taels of gold at the official exchange rate alone amounted to sixty-six thousand taels of silver.

In private trade among civilians, there often was a premium.

This sixty-six taels of gold was therefore approximately equivalent to seventy thousand taels of silver.

"With this money, I can also buy the final Immortal Treasure stored in Wanhua Building!"

With this thought, Jiang Ning was filled with anticipation.

His Five Animals Fist experience value had long been sufficient to Break Limit four times; what he lacked were only Source Energy Points.

But with this wealth, combined with the gifts sent by various forces in the county town on the first day of the Lunar New Year, he would have over ninety thousand taels of silver.

With the VIP Token left to him by Shen Congyun, he could make purchases from Wanhua Building at an eighty percent discount.

Thus, an Immortal Treasure worth one hundred thousand taels of silver could be bought for only eighty thousand taels.

With the sixty-six taels of gold from Xie Zhengtian, the funds were sufficient, and there would even be a significant surplus.

"I need to make a trip to Wanhua Building myself this afternoon!"

"By doing so, my Five Animals Fist should be able to achieve the Break Limit four times tomorrow!"

"With that achievement, not to mention the added traits, just the breakthroughs in Five Animals Fist would allow me to gain more Qi-Blood when practicing the fist form, and also draw more Five Elements Spirit to nourish my internal organs!"

"This Xie Zhengtian, he really knows his place!"

Thinking of Xie Zhengtian, a smile couldn't help but appear on Jiang Ning's face.

To be honest, in his view, Xie Zhengtian was indeed ruthless.

Based on the records in the case files, if judged according to Great Xia's laws, over a hundred of his family members would face the death penalty.

In addition, dozens more would be sentenced to heavy imprisonment and exile.

There would be only a few dozen people in the entire Xie family not subject to trial.

Jiang Ning felt that even if there were things hidden, they were not significant.

Moreover, given such circumstances, the Xie family could still open their grain storehouses to relieve the townspeople.

Undeniably, this act was a great kindness.

This winter, by Jiang Ning's reckoning, the average temperature must be around minus ten degrees Celsius or colder.

Though not extremely extreme, for the impoverished people lacking clothing and food, it was difficult to get by.

Especially since last year's summer and autumn had been very dry. Even though Luoshui County could divert water from the Luoshui River to irrigate the fields, the harvest was still affected and was not good.

Which made this winter particularly hard to endure.

Especially as time went on, with the diminishing reserved food supplies, it became increasingly difficult to survive.

Now with the Xie family's open grain storehouses, it was different.

The Xie family was the largest grain merchant in Luoshui County.

Their stores were abundant enough to help all the townspeople who might not have survived get through the winter.

This was a tremendous good deed.

...

Elsewhere.

After Xie Zhengtian and the stern-faced man stepped out of the door.

Sigh.

Xie Zhengtian's expression relaxed.

Although the cost was significant, it was well worth it to him.

If the Xie family fell into the same situation as the Liu family, all their careful planning would have been in vain.

At this crucial step for the Xie family, he dared not harbor any frivolous hope.

What he did today was also the greatest effort he could make.

"Thankfully, I've weathered this crisis!"

He murmured to himself.

Just at that moment,

the dark-faced man behind him spoke.

"Big brother, I've been thinking about the words Jiang Ning just said."

"What words?" Xie Zhengtian turned to ask.

"Why did Jiang Ning want the porridge mixed with soil during the distribution?" the dark-faced man asked, his face showing confusion.

Hearing this, Xie Zhengtian immediately showed an admiring expression.

"That statement precisely shows that Commander Jiang possesses great kindness and great wisdom!"

"Great wisdom?" The dark-faced man looked even more puzzled, "Why do you say that, big brother?"

Xie Zhengtian replied, "If someone handed you a bowl of porridge mixed with soil, would you drink it?"

"How could I, the second master of the Xie family, drink such a thing?" the dark-faced man exclaimed with wide eyes.

Xie Zhengtian continued, "What if you were starving and about to faint from hunger?"

"Then naturally, I wouldn't be so squeamish!" The dark-faced man scratched his head, seemingly embarrassed.

"That's it!" Xie Zhengtian smiled, "Those who are not lacking food wouldn't want to drink porridge mixed with soil; but for poor families who lack food and can't survive this winter, they would eat even a half-bun found in the drain water."

Hearing this, the dark-faced man suddenly realized and his eyes widened.

"I understand! No wonder you said Commander Jiang is a person of great wisdom!"

"Yes!" Xie Zhengtian showed a look of emotion, "If we allowed the whole city's people to come for porridge, even with the food reserves of my Xie family, we wouldn't last long before it was all gone."

"But like this, it's different; only those really in need of food, who are poor, will come to drink the porridge mixed with soil!"

"This way most of them should be able to survive this bitter winter!"

...

Noon.

"Young Master, I've returned!" Lv Yi appeared in front of Jiang Ning, who had just finished practicing his Five Animals Fist, standing there panting slightly with sweat on her forehead.

"Have you eaten?" Jiang Ning asked.

"I was in a hurry on the way and haven't eaten yet!" Lv Yi replied.

"Perfect, come have lunch with me!" Jiang Ning stood up.

"Young Master?" Lv Yi showed a look of surprise, then asked, "Hasn't Lady Liu called you to eat yet?"

"It's because everyone was waiting for you!"

"Young Master…" Lv Yi's eyes suddenly reddened.

Watching Jiang Ning walk towards the courtyard gate, she quickly followed.

After stepping out of the courtyard, Lv Yi adjusted her emotions.

"Young Master, Master Lin just told me to ask if you could visit her when you have time; she has a letter for you."

"My letter?" Jiang Ning stopped in his tracks, looking puzzled, "How come I have a letter?"

"I do not know!" Lv Yi spoke.

"Stop calling yourself a servant!"

"Yes, Young Master!" Lv Yi immediately reacted, got startled, then covered her mouth.

"It's alright!" Jiang Ning smiled, "You're not used to it yet, which is very normal!"

Hearing this, Lv Yi spoke again, "I just don't know! But Master Lin said the letter is for you and insisted I pass on the message."

"Then come with me this afternoon for a visit!" Jiang Ning said.

Then he glanced at Lv Yi, "Did you buy everything you need for skin exfoliation?"

"Young Master, I have already bought the exfoliating sand!" Lv Yi replied.

Hearing this, Jiang Ning, who had just begun to move, stopped again, "What about the Skin Protecting Cream?"

"That is too expensive!" Lv Yi lowered her head, looking as if she wanted to bury it in her chest.

"This afternoon, come with me to see Master Lin; I'll help you buy it. Without it, your skin will worsen, which I would not like! I still prefer the refreshing and radiant you!"

Hearing this, Lv Yi, who had been looking down, bit her lip.