Chapter 21: The Tragic State of the Chen Family Village

The journey was silent.

Before nine in the evening, the group arrived at Changping Village.

Seeing Zhang Ze again, Erlong felt a surge of emotion. When this young man had come previously with Baldy, Erlong hadn't paid him much attention. Yet, in just two days, this youth was about to intervene in the fierce pill rivalry between two powerful families.

"I really can't tell if he's a promising talent or just a reckless youth," Erlong thought as he led everyone into the room, his mind churning with thoughts the entire way.

"Zhang Ze, right?" Erlong asked directly after they had all sat down. "You want to supply us with pills?"

Zhang Ze was just as straightforward. "If you get pills through me, the price is negotiable," he replied. "And I guarantee the quantity as well."

As he spoke, Zhang Ze produced the pills he had prepared ahead of time.

For martial artists below the third rank, the demand for first-grade Body Strengthening Pills was immense. After all, most people were in the lower ranks and couldn't afford the more potent second or third-grade pills for recovery. Thus, those present could judge the pills' quality with some accuracy.

"These pills are of exceptional quality," Erlong remarked, surprised as he examined the pills Zhang Ze handed over. "Even the pharmaceutical companies might not reach this level."

Hearing Erlong's words, Baldy and Wang Chao, each holding a pill, nodded in agreement.

"Since you're so pleased, Erlong, perhaps we could..." Zhang Ze began to broach the topic of cooperation, but Erlong interrupted him with a quiet refusal, returning the pills.

"To be honest," Erlong said, "the Lin family offers us pills at forty-six thousand per dose. It's not cheap, but it's the same price our previous supplier gave. And you should know the Lin family's standing in the pharmaceutical industry and in the whole Anqing Province."

He shook his head, almost in pity. "For your own future, it's best not to get involved in this. I don't know who's backing you with these pills, but since they're not openly taking a stand against the Lin family, you should be on your guard."

Looking at Zhang Ze's young face, Erlong was reminded of his own men—still kids, really—and couldn't help but say a few more words.

Zhang Ze could only offer a wry smile at this. "What power do I have behind me?" he thought. But knowing the sensitivity around his pills, he decided to go with the flow.

"Their stance doesn't matter to me," Zhang Ze said calmly. "Let me put it this way: if I can offer you a lower price, would you consider using my pills?"

His composure made the others feel as if he truly didn't fear the Lin family's influence.

Even so, Erlong remained silent, his expression conflicted. It was Liu the Fatty who eyed Zhang Ze with suspicion.

"Just two days apart, and he's already found himself a powerful patron?" The thought crossed Liu Fatty's mind, but he quickly dismissed it. After knowing Zhang Ze for so long, he could tell exactly what the guy was up to. In an instant, he was certain—Zhang Ze was bluffing.

"Let's make it an even number," Zhang Ze continued, "Forty thousand for a first-grade Body Strengthening Pill. What do you say?"

The moment the words left his mouth, Baldy could no longer keep calm. "Forty thousand? If you sell to me at that price, I'll take them all."

Zhang Ze chuckled lightly at Baldy's eagerness. "Baldy, I can offer you that price as well. But it's not enough. Your family can't handle such a large supply on your own."

At this, Wang Chao and Huang Ming showed visible agitation. It was clear that, aside from Fatty, everyone in the room was shocked by the "power" backing Zhang Ze.

To them, Zhang Ze wasn't just trying to earn a little money—he was aiming to seize the markets of both the Qian and Lin families.

After all, even if Erlong hadn't said so, Baldy and Wang Chao both easily guessed that their previous supplier was the Qian family.

There was no denying the appeal of Zhang Ze's offer. After a long silence, Erlong's lips moved as if he was about to speak.

Suddenly, a young man burst in, cutting off everyone's thoughts. "Something's happened!"

"Erlong, there's been an incident!"

"Chen Family Village—Chen Family Village has been burned to the ground!"

"What did you say?" Erlong roared, instantly leaping from his seat and rushing outside, the others following close behind.

Stepping outside, they saw a red glow blazing in the northwest.

"What happened? Get the villagers to help put out the fire—quickly!"

The people of Chen Family Village were old acquaintances, and the villages weren't far apart. Everyone was kin in these parts; Erlong barely needed to give the order.

"The villagers are already on their way, as are those from the neighboring villages!" The young man was hoarse with anxiety.

"I have to go see for myself," Erlong muttered, not bothering to address Zhang Ze and the others. They followed Erlong and the others from Changping Village as they ran toward Chen Family Village.

By the time Zhang Ze and the rest arrived, the fire had been extinguished by the villagers who had come to help. Because of the distance from the county seat, no professional firefighters had appeared from beginning to end.

"What started this?" Erlong's eyes were bloodshot as he demanded an answer.

In just a few moments, they saw several villagers badly burned, but none of Blindman's group was in sight.

Standing among them was an old man from Chen Family Village.

"This is a sin!" he cried. "I told Blindman not to act rashly, but he had to show off his courage."

It was June, the weather dry and hot. At first, everyone thought it was an accident, but the old man's words suggested something else.

"Uncle, what are you saying? Did you see the Lin family?"

Having just tried to block the Lin family's convoy himself, Erlong was quick to connect the dots.

"Do I need to see them?" the old man replied, trembling with fury. "All the young men of the village were crippled by Lin Dong's men. Erlong and the others were dragged away, and the fire spread through the village in an instant. Who else but them?"

The old man nearly screamed himself hoarse, his whole body shaking. At last, he collapsed backward in a faint.

Among the group, Zhang Ze was the most shocked by his words.

"In a world with martial artists so powerful, and in a modern society with sound laws, how could such an outrageous act of arson happen so brazenly?"

Zhang Ze could hardly believe it.

This world was identical to the one he had lived in before, making it seem so familiar. Yet now, he realized he didn't understand it at all.

No one noticed Zhang Ze's confusion.

In the silence, Erlong's muttered words reached his ears clearly: "This was supposed to be Changping Village's fate..."