Eternal Life from the Golden Needle Technique

Chapter 145: Chapter 142: Knight

After some discussion, and with Shen Changchuan’s insistence, the crowd finally agreed.

”This... Thank you, Young Master Shen, for making this possible. If you ever have need of us in the future, just say the word. We would go through fire and water and would not hesitate!”

A young man with a white cloth band tied around his head clasped his fist toward Shen Changchuan and declared solemnly.

”Indeed! I, Zheng Chuxin, have no way to repay Young Master Shen for this great kindness. My humble self is at Young Master Shen’s command!”

”I, An Dawu, feel the same!”

”Count me in. I, Hua Yongxing, am no great master, but I can run errands. If Young Master Shen needs anything in the future, just give the order!”

The rest of the crowd excitedly voiced their support, vowing to repay this immense favor.

Seeing this, Shen Changchuan nodded inwardly in approval.

According to the information Si Houqing had provided about the Blood Slaughter Three Demons, their enemies clearly weren’t limited to the people gathered here.

’For them to have traveled thousands of miles after hearing the news, they are likely not the type of petty people who say one thing to your face and do another behind your back.’

’The promises they’re making now are unlikely to be empty.’

’One could say that if I just gave the word, I could immediately take them all under my command and significantly expand my forces.’

However, after a moment of thought, Shen Changchuan abandoned this tempting idea.

With him protecting Dawan Village, there was no immediate need for them to join him.

This favor should be saved for a critical moment.

Even if he never cashed it in, the reputation he gained would bring many intangible benefits to himself and, by extension, all of Dawan Village.

”Everyone, there’s no need to be so formal.”

”The bodies of the Blood Slaughter Three Demons are of no use to me. Since you all have need of them, you may take them.”

”However, there are only three corpses. Each of you has a blood feud with them. Some may wish to take a head to pay respects to their families, while others may want to grind their bones to dust to vent their hatred. With so many different needs, you will ultimately need a plan for how to proceed.”

Three bodies naturally couldn’t satisfy everyone.

Shen Changchuan’s gaze then fell upon Nangong City, the gaunt-faced man who had stood out from the very beginning.

This man’s aura was so powerful that even Shen Changchuan felt a faint sense of pressure.

’This must be an expert at the Qi Introduction Eighth Layer!’

’The strongest person here!’

So, he clasped his hands in a salute toward him and said,

”I must trouble Fellow Daoist Nangong to discuss with the other heroes how to best handle the remains of the Blood Slaughter Three Demons.”

”I would not dare to refuse!”

Nangong City’s expression turned serious, and he returned the salute with clasped fists.

Shen Changchuan then stepped aside, letting the crowd discuss how to proceed.

He stepped back and walked over to Si Houqing’s side.

”Fellow Daoist Si.”

Shen Changchuan greeted him.

He had already seen Si Houqing watching the excitement in the crowd when he first arrived.

He had been busy dealing with the matter at hand and hadn’t had a chance to greet him.

Now that he had passed the responsibility off to others, it was a good opportunity to chat and find out more.

”Brother Shen, you are truly magnanimous! If you had taken the bodies of the Blood Slaughter Three Demons and jacked up the price, it would have been no problem to make them bankrupt themselves to scrape together a few thousand Spirit Stones. To pass up such a huge profit... I, Si, am truly humbled!”

Si Houqing said, half in admiration, half in jest.

”Some Spirit Stones are worth earning, and some are not. That much, I understand.”

Shen Changchuan shook his head upon hearing this.

’It can’t be helped. My heart just hasn’t turned completely black yet, has it?’

These people had nearly all had their entire families slaughtered by the Blood Slaughter Three Demons and bore a deep-seated blood feud with them.

’There was no need to use a few worthless corpses to force them to give up their entire fortunes.’

’It’s just like those merchants in ancient times who hoarded grain during a famine. Admittedly, when there’s no grain on the market, you can set an exorbitant price, bankrupting everyone and squeezing out every last drop of profit. But unfortunately, I can’t bring myself to be that kind of unscrupulous merchant.’

’Perhaps it’s because even after crossing over into this world, I still have some of my own moral code left.’

Of course, he was willing to give away the bodies of the Blood Slaughter Three Demons because the crowd had been sufficiently humble from the beginning. They hadn’t tried to push their luck or resort to any moral blackmail.

That’s why Shen Changchuan was willing to do it.

If any of them had dared to take the moral high ground and guilt-trip him from the start, Shen Changchuan would have been more than happy to show them what a truly unscrupulous merchant looked like.

”And who is this Nangong City? I can see his bearing is extraordinary, and his strength is not weak. He doesn’t seem like an ordinary person.”

A cultivator at the Qi Introduction Eighth Layer Realm was definitely considered an expert.

Shen Changchuan had noticed him from the very beginning.

”Nangong City? That one... he can be considered a heroic figure, a knight of sorts.”

Si Houqing looked toward the somewhat gaunt figure in the middle of the crowd, who was discussing matters with the other victims, his voice tinged with a trace of admiration.

As Si Houqing spoke, Shen Changchuan began to understand the man’s background.

Nangong City was indeed a figure much like a knight among Cultivators.

Many years ago, a mundane family had a stroke of fortune when one of their children became a high-and-mighty Cultivator. The family then used this status to annex the surrounding fertile fields at extremely low prices, forcing many families into ruin.

One victim once blocked the path of that fortunate Cultivator, hoping to ask for justice, but the Cultivator had no intention of listening and casually cut down the victim who stood in his way.

After that, the family’s persecution of the local people became even more cruel and brutal. They even raised hunting dogs and wild beasts, letting them loose to bite people, forcing the surrounding populace to flee.

At that time, Nangong City was just passing through and happened to overhear the story in a tavern.

No one had asked for his help, and there was no personal gain involved.

Yet, Nangong City stayed in that place for a considerable time, spending a great deal of effort to find some of the surviving victims who were now homeless, stormed the Cultivator’s home, and cut down both the evil Cultivator and his family, obtaining justice for the wronged.

And that was just one of his many heroic deeds.

Punishing the wicked, protecting the good, helping those in danger, and aiding the poor.

Perhaps in this dog-eat-dog Immortal Cultivation Realm, there were many things beyond the control of a mere Qi Introduction Eighth Layer Cultivator like Nangong City.

But as long as he encountered it and had the ability to intervene, he never shied away from the trouble of upholding justice.

Such people were undoubtedly rare in the Immortal Cultivation Realm.

No one knew why he did these things, but he did them nonetheless.

Because of this, Nangong City’s reputation was excellent. Essentially, everyone who had heard of him held him in high regard.

”I see... In that case, this Hero Nangong is truly worthy of admiration.”

After hearing Si Houqing’s story, Shen Changchuan’s expression grew solemn.

’I admit, I couldn’t do something like that, but that doesn’t stop me from admiring someone who can.’

After all, no one remains at the top forever. And when a person suffers injustice, they will always harbor a sliver of hope that a righteous person will appear to deliver justice on their behalf...