In response to Qiao Zhi's question, Chu Qiguang grinned and replied, "Firstly, I don't believe in the Heavenly Master Religion, nor do I resent demons and fiends. Besides, didn't you say that humans and fiends come from the same origins? Humans can turn into fiends through fiendification, while demons can attain human forms through cultivation, and they can even have children together, so in my eyes, the distinction between humans and fiends is very blurred.

“Secondly, if the Great Han Empire really is going to fall in forty-eight years as you predicted, then it’s no longer the dominant force that it once was, and it must be gradually losing its advantage and control over the demons and fiends. In fact, I daresay that there are already people in the imperial court colluding with demons and fiends, isn’t that right?”

Qiao Zhi felt as if Chu Qiguang’s gaze could pierce straight into his soul, and he exclaimed, “How did you figure that out?”

Chu Qiguang stroked him from head to tail as he replied, “You told me all of this yourself, didn’t you? More importantly, you helped me when I was at my lowest, so I am indebted to you, Master Qiao. We’re going to be good friends forever, right?”

“Of course! We’re definitely going to be good friends forever!” Qiao Zhi replied as he nodded vigorously.

However, inwardly, he was thinking to himself, Could it be that Chu Qiguang has already figured out who I am? But how? I didn’t tell him anything! I really need to be extra careful around him from now on. Shoot! Why am I scared of him again? Don’t be afraid, Qiao Zhi! You’re fighting for all of the cats in the world!

Now that I think about it, if he’s already figured out who I am, then can I begin revealing some things to him? We’re already good friends... I can’t believe I’ve become good friends with Chu Qiguang! Goddamn, I deserve a huge pat on the back! 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Qiao Zhi kept encouraging himself inwardly, and before he knew it, they were almost back home. He could already see Ergou’s sister playing with Fine Silk and Fish Egg in the distance.

After returning home, Chu Qiguang didn’t tell Ergou's mother and sister about the three hundred taels of silver. It was too difficult to explain to them, and given that they had never seen this much money before, revealing it to them would only invite trouble.

So Chu Qiguang took out forty taels of silver to carry with him, then buried the rest in the yard before entering the house to begin his daily meditation.

However, he had only taken a few steps when his complexion suddenly paled, and an intense sense of foreboding rose in his heart.

Shit! It’s back again!

As Chu Qiguang stood there drenched in sweat, his face deathly pale, Ergou’s sister suddenly sat up on the brick bed and shouted, “Are you going to poop your pants again?”

“Shut up and go to sleep!” Chu Qiguang snapped, shooting her a stern glare.

Ergou’s mother had also woken up, and she asked him where he had gone during the day and why he had come back so late.

Chu Qiguang made up a story to placate her, then quickly left the house, telling her that he had diarrhea.

His forehead was dripping with cold sweat, and he was gasping for air as he thought to himself, I have to do something about this immediately, but what can I do at this hour?

Chu Qiguang looked around and saw that the entire village was shrouded in complete darkness. There were no forms of entertainment in the village at night, and most of the residents had already gone to sleep.

Desperate for an outlet, Chu Qiguang turned his gaze to Qiao Zhi.

“Meow?”

Qiao Zhi looked back at him curiously, tilting his head to the side.

Unbeknownst to Chu Qiguang, someone had been spying on him ever since he left his house.

Chen Gang was hiding behind a tree, holding a rock in his hand as he glowered at Zhou Ergou with an indignant expression.

He had felt utterly humiliated after Zhang Da beat him in front of Zhou Ergou and everyone else back at the Wang Manor.

I don’t know how this bastard managed to swindle Master Wang! If it were up to me, I would’ve already knocked him out with a rock to the head! Why go to all this trouble when I can just knock him out and make him do whatever I want?

He had grown up together with Ergou, and he knew him better than almost anyone else. Ever since they were children, Ergou had always been a sniveling coward who could only endure his bullying in silence.

That was why, after Chen Gang was kicked out of the Wang Manor, the more he thought about his situation, the more indignant he felt. So he had waited here to ambush Ergou and knock him out. After that, he would drag Ergou to the Wang Manor to vindicate himself to the Wang Clan and Zhang Da.

***

Chu Qiguang grew increasingly agitated, and aggressive impulses surged through him in waves, filling him with the urge to barge straight into a neighbor’s house and hurl a torrent of insults at them, or even give them a vicious beating.

After walking for a bit longer, Qiao Zhi’s voice suddenly sounded in his mind.

“There’s someone following us.”

Chu Qiguang turned to discover Chen Gang sneaking through the darkness behind him. The moment he was spotted, Chen Gang didn’t bother to remain stealthy any longer as he raised his rock high and charged straight at Chu Qiguang.

Chen Gang? What is he doing here? Has the Wang Clan seen through my scheme? Chu Qiguang thought to himself in alarm, and his first instinct was to run away. Has the Wang Clan sent people to ambush me, or is it the authorities or the Daoist temple? But how did they figure it out? This doesn’t make any sense!

The tension in the situation temporarily distracted Chu Qiguang from the symptoms of his mental condition.

“Stand your ground if you’re a man, Ergou!” Chen Gang yelled, picking up the pace as soon as Chu Qiguang began to make his escape.

Chu Qiguang ran even faster, and as he did so, he asked, “Can you see if there’s anyone else after me, Master Qiao? Who sent him after me, and which way should I go?”

Qiao Zhi leaped onto an earthen wall, and his eyes glowed green in the darkness as he scanned the surrounding area. At the same time, his ears perked up as he listened intently.

“There’s no one else,” he concluded in a puzzled voice after some observation.

“So it’s just him?”

Chu Qiguang immediately understood what was happening. He stopped in his tracks before turning around to face the fast-approaching Chen Gang. Meanwhile, the aggression in his chest continued to build.

“Do you need me to deal with him?” Qiao Zhi asked.

“Don’t panic,” Chu Qiguang replied. “He’s nothing to be scared of. Why did you suddenly start running away like that? I only started running because I saw you running!”

“Ptui!”

Qiao Zhi spat onto the ground in disdain.

“I’ll take care of him,” Chu Qiguang said. His expression grew increasingly menacing as the aggression inside him continued to build.

He clenched one hand into a fist and lunged at Chen Gang.

After only two strides, he was already within two meters of Chen Gang. As he took his third step, he swung his right fist through the air.

Using the momentum built from those three strides, his punch shot forward like a speeding cannonball as he unleashed the Heavenly Spirit Body Refinement Fist Techniques that he had been cultivating day and night.

Force rose from the ground beneath his feet, and surged upward through his legs, his spine, his shoulders, then his arms.

An explosive bang rang out in the air, and Chen Gang wasn’t able to react at all. All he saw was a blur before Chu Qiguang's fist slammed into his chest, lifting his entire body into the air before he crashed heavily to the ground.

Qiao Zhi’s pupils shrank in shock.

He generated an audible bang with his fist and circulated his qi through his entire body! He’s already reached the first state of martial arts without even using any Hundred Refinement Ointment! Holy meow!