Chapter 21: Chapter 19: Ruthless (Seeking Recommendations and Collections)
```
For Manager Wang, the person he feared the most in the entire Qingchuan County had to be Guo Longfei. Not only was Guo Longfei an elder, but he also managed the region of Qingchuan County, his word carrying immense weight, able to directly determine Manager Wang's honor or disgrace.
"Elder Guo, I give you my respects!" The moment he saw Guo Longfei, Manager Wang bowed and said.
Guo Longfei waved his hand and said, "No need for such formalities!"
Manager Wang, with a smile plastered on his face, said, "Elder Guo gracing us with your presence is truly an honor for our Luming Town Branch, please come inside."
No sooner had he finished speaking, Manager Wang's face twitched because he saw a young man standing shoulder to shoulder with Guo Longfei.
A young man with a faint smile on his face, looking straight at him.
Manager Wang was familiar with this young man. Zheng Ming, the youth who always wore a smile on his face as he helped others in Luming Town, the same youth who, several days ago, had suddenly revealed his true abilities as a martial artist.
By taking his enemies by surprise with ruthless ferocity, he had caused Zheng Hu to suffer a major loss.
At the time, Manager Wang hadn't gone to see the spectacle, but he had heard about it from the employees who had, and his opinion on the youth's performance was simple.
He was someone to reckon with!
However, he had already pinned the youth to a region; that region was Luming Town!
A noteworthy figure from the small Luming Town couldn't compare with Manager Wang because behind him stood the Medicine King Pavilion.
But Miller wasn't optimistic about this youth, nor did he have high hopes for the Zheng family of Luming Town behind the youth, and furthermore, hoping to secure a gift that would stand out, he directly went to the Zheng family to press for debt.
Under threats and temptations, he exchanged a Peiyuan Pill for the armor that Zheng Gongxuan treasured like a family heirloom.
How come this Zheng Ming came along with Elder Guo? Could it be that he had complained about him in front of Elder Guo?
Elder Guo shouldn't favor him because he, Miller, was Elder Guo's own man. With these thoughts flickering through his mind, the slight panic that had just begun to rise in Manager Wang's heart was swept away cleanly!
"Manager Wang, our Medicine King Pavilion values righteousness, embodying the heart of a healer's parents. You took advantage of Zheng Gongxuan's family's plight to cunningly snatch away their Golden Silk Armor, which is a heinous crime. Now bring out the Golden Silk Armor and apologize to Young Master Zheng!" Elder Guo, who had been calm a moment before, slammed his hand on the table after sitting down and spoke angrily.
Miller, who was contemplating a strategy in his mind, at that moment realized one thing: he was going to take a fall this time.
Elder Guo had already defined the situation, and any attempt from his side to argue would likely only lead to more losses.
So while his face shifted from one expression to another, he immediately knelt on the ground and said, "Elder Guo, I admit my guilt. I will now return the Golden Silk Armor to the Zheng family and apologize to Young Master Zheng."
Guo Longfei was quite satisfied with Manager Wang's performance; in fact, he didn't think that Manager Wang had made any serious errors.
It was just that Manager Wang had offended someone he shouldn't have!
"Young Master Zheng, I was blinded by greed which led me to trade for your family's Golden Silk Armor. Here I return it and beg for your forgiveness." A while later, Manager Wang, who had brought out the Golden Silk Armor with a full smile, said.
From the smile on Manager Wang's face, Zheng Ming could tell that the man harbored no true remorse.
And the unchanged Prestige Points in his heart more accurately and unequivocally told him that Manager Wang felt not a shred of awe towards him.
In Manager Wang's eyes, he was nothing more than a minor character who took back his family's heirloom armor by snitching to Guo Longfei.
Zheng Ming, who already harbored quite a bit of dissatisfaction with Manager Wang, felt even more irritated by this perfunctory attitude, a fury rising within him.
Such a despicable person deserved a severe lesson; how else could he feel satisfied?
"Elder Guo, for such an unforgivable person, this is a disappointing response from your Pavilion!" Zheng Ming said, ignoring the Golden Silk Armor and calmly lifting a teacup, "I think we should talk about our cooperation some other time!"
Some other time? That wouldn't do for Guo Longfei. He thought to himself that this was a matter that could take the Medicine King Pavilion to new heights. If Zheng Ming decided to sell the two types of elixir pills to a rival of the Medicine King Pavilion, it would make him, Guo Longfei, a sinner of the Pavilion.
It seemed that Zheng Ming held a considerable grudge against Manager Wang!
He had not considered thoroughly enough before and now needed to immediately rectify the situation.
"Someone come here, Manager Wang has violated the rules of our Medicine King Pavilion, committing atrocious crimes. As of now, he is to be stripped of his position as the Chief Manager of Luming Town's Medicine King Pavilion."
No sooner had Guo Longfei spoken than Manager Wang's face turned extremely unsightly. He had climbed his way to become the Chief Manager of the Medicine King Pavilion with much effort and cunning.
And now, because of a single utterance from Zheng Ming, that position was being severed from him.
The Medicine King Pavilion was never short of people; who knew how long it would take him to climb back up to become the Store Manager again.
At that moment, his heart swelled with hatred for Zheng Ming.
But Zheng Ming maintained a face devoid of any smile, his expression taut, making it clear he was not satisfied.
Without hesitation, Guo Longfei said, "Take him out and beat him with fifty heavy strikes!"
Fifty heavy strikes could cripple a person, and although Manager Wang was also an Eleventh Rank martial artist, such a beating would still be more than he could bear.
"Elder Guo, spare my life, please look at the years of loyal service I've dedicated, and forgive this one transgression of mine!" Manager Wang lay prostrate on the ground, pleading in his voice.
Guo Longfei said nothing, but his gaze was fixed on Zheng Ming.
Everyone at the scene understood the implication behind Guo Longfei's silence: Your appeals to me are futile; you must beg Zheng Ming.
At that moment, Manager Wang came to a full realization that this youngster, whom he initially hadn't taken seriously, actually held a status that allowed him to converse with the Elder as an equal.
```
```
No matter where this identity came from, the youth who possessed it was already able to determine his own fate.
At this moment, he was filled with immense regret. The world had so many fine things, why had he set his heart on that Golden Silk Armor?
"Young Master Zheng, spare my life, I was wrong, I won't dare to do it again!" Manager Wang crawled to Zheng Ming's feet, begging loudly.
And when he saw that Zheng Ming was still looking at him with cold eyes, his heart grew even darker with despair, knowing that if he couldn't get past this hurdle, everything would be over for him. He stretched out his hand and slapped his chubby face hard.
"I was wrong, please, Young Master, spare my life!"
In just a quarter of an hour, Manager Wang's face had swollen up, but Zheng Ming's expression remained indifferent, his demeanor cold and detached.
Manager Wang was slapping his own face with great force, and the more he slapped, the harder he hit. In his heart, his fear of Zheng Ming deepened.
What Manager Wang didn't know was that as he slapped his face with force, it was also very uncomfortable for Zheng Ming to restrain himself.
The Prestige Points display in his mind was increasing rapidly with each swing of Manager Wang's hand. In just half a quarter hour, his Prestige Points had increased by over a hundred.
And most of these one hundred plus Prestige Points were yellow in color.
Earning Prestige Points was not easy, how could he make things difficult for himself?
Whether Manager Wang's face was broken or not, that had nothing to do with him. Moreover, he didn't really think much of Manager Wang in the first place.
When blood started flowing down from the corner of Manager Wang's mouth, Zheng Ming noticed the increase in Prestige Points had stopped.
Once Zheng Ming confirmed that even if Manager Wang were to beat himself to death it would be useless, he waved his hand and said, "Since you know you were wrong, I will plead for you."
"Elder Guo, let's halve the fifty strokes of the plank!"
Manager Wang nearly passed out. Damn it, couldn't you just say it directly? Halving it could still beat me half to death!
And the staff of Medicine King Pavilion, who had already looked at Zheng Ming with fear, felt their trepidation increase at this moment. They exchanged wary glances, each reading caution in the other's eyes.
Young Master Zheng of the Zheng family is ruthless and cruel, definitely not someone to offend!
Leaving Medicine King Pavilion, as the sun was setting, Zheng Ming holding the family heirloom Golden Silk Armor, walked toward his home.
"Big brother, where were you today? You didn't even say you'd play with me," the moment he stepped through the door, Zheng Xiaoxuan, like a little koala, clung to Zheng Ming's leg, coquettishly complaining.
Doting on her, Zheng Ming pinched Zheng Xiaoxuan's delicate little face and said, "I went out to handle something. What is father busy with?"
"Some relatives from Qingchuan County are visiting, and dad is busy entertaining them!" Zheng Xiaoxuan pouted and said, "Mom and dad are both busy talking to them and nobody is paying attention to Xiaoxuan."
Initially planning to give the Golden Silk Armor to his father right away, hearing Zheng Xiaoxuan's words, Zheng Ming decided to wait until tomorrow.
Holding his sister's small tender hand, Zheng Ming started playing with Zheng Xiaoxuan.
After a quarter of an hour, Zheng Xiaoxuan was all covered in sweat, but she still clung to Zheng Ming, insisting on playing more, leaving Zheng Ming quite unable to resist.
Just then, he felt a stirring in his heart. The Prestige Points that had been increasing slowly were suddenly picking up speed again.
The red Prestige Points, which had been reduced to just over a hundred after he had spent some, surged to over two hundred after he had taught Manager Wang a lesson at Medicine King Pavilion.
Five hundred… Six hundred fifty… Eight hundred.
In the blink of an eye, it was almost a thousand. Could it be that the incident at Medicine King Pavilion had gotten out? Is that why…
When the red Prestige Points reached one thousand, Zheng Ming's heart started to itch - he was tempted to draw again. So, thinking of a way to send his sister away, he prepared to act.
At that moment, he saw Fu Yuqing, dressed in simple clothes, strolling out from the courtyard, looking like a celestial fairy under the pale moonlight.
"If you wish to engage with the world, then you need to be prepared for every part of it. As a wife, the relationship with your sister-in-law is really important."
"So, I'll give you a chance now. Go and play with Xiaoxuan," he said righteously. After delivering these words, he ran off like a whirlwind toward the distance.
Looking at Zheng Xiaoxuan, who was blinking her clear, bright eyes at her, Fu Yuqing shook her head helplessly. She took Zheng Xiaoxuan's hand and said, "Let's play together, Xiaoxuan. Let's ignore that scoundrel."
Zheng Ming, who had been called a scoundrel, returned to his room and immersed himself in drawing from the random card deck.
He hoped that this time, he would draw a useful card.
Countless card shadows flickered in Zheng Ming's mind, just like before. Having not drawn anything worthwhile in his last two attempts, he was a bit hesitant this time.
Damn it, just draw it!
Zheng Ming closed his eyes and chose a card from the General Level.
Although it wasn't his first time flipping a random card, Zheng Ming felt a little nervous in the moment of revelation.
Damn it, with a ten percent chance, it's too easy to squander the hard-earned Prestige Points.
A person, good! But when Zheng Ming saw the name and skills marked on the character, his eyes nearly turned red.
```