I Have Infinite Attributes

C31 – Pill Book

Zhou Jibo halted and turned to face the woman.

“Why should I help you?”

“I’m Zheng Fanshuang. You’ve shopped with Xunqin before, and I’ve always been there with you. I’m her cousin!” The disheveled woman was, in reality, just a fourteen-year-old girl. He couldn’t fathom how she had ended up in such a state.

Zhou Jibo was certain that Zhou Kaile and the others were honorable men. With their strict supervision, the Zhou family’s disciples and servants wouldn’t force themselves upon a woman.

So how had she come to be this way?

“What’s going on?” Zhou Jibo inquired. “The Zhou family won’t kill you. You’re not the one Zheng Linghan pointed out. Just go on with your life. The Zhou family might not leave you any inheritance, but if you sell some of your jewelry, you should be able to get by.”

“Do you have any other concerns?”

In a hushed tone, Zheng Fanshuang asked, “Will you sell us to a brothel?”

Zhou Jibo replied with scorn, “I deal with my enemies, but the Zhou family doesn’t degrade people like that. What do you take us for?”

“Xunqin and my brother have told me about families that lose their feuds, and how the women end up in dire straits, some not lasting even a day,” Zheng Fanshuang spoke up, her voice laced with fear.

Hearing this, Zhou Jibo felt a chill. It was outrageous, the brutality of these family conflicts.

He realized he could not afford to lose. A single defeat could plunge the Zhou family into a nightmarish abyss. The Zhou family upheld basic human decency, something the Zheng family seemingly disregarded.

In future confrontations with such ruthless families, they would need to be harsher, demanding blood for blood. They couldn’t afford to let them off easily.

With this in mind, Zhou Jibo asked, “Has the Zheng family ever resorted to such measures?”

After pondering, Zheng Fanshuang answered, “Not even once. They’ve only cautioned us about the savagery of family struggles, warning us not to rely on luck.”

Zhou Jibo nodded, taking the lesson to heart.

Since the Zheng family hadn’t engaged in such acts, there was no need for him to scrutinize them further.

With this thought, Zhou Jibo no longer lingered and prepared to depart.

“Young Master Zhou.”

As he was about to leave, Zheng Fanshuang quickly prostrated herself and called out to him.

Zhou Jibo turned back with a frown. “What is it? You don’t believe what I’ve said?”

“It’s not that I don’t believe you!” Zheng Fanshuang exclaimed, “Young Master Zhou, can you spare my brother’s life?”

“Your brother?”

“He’s right over there.” Zheng Fanshuang gestured toward a group of Zheng family men under strict surveillance by the Zhou family, slated for execution.

The Zheng men glared at the Zhou family members with eyes full of hatred, one of whom was now watching Zhou Jibo and Zheng Fanshuang converse.

Zhou Jibo’s demeanor grew icy. “Impossible. Your brother harbors deep hatred. He’s chosen to oppose me and the Zhou family. His death today is inevitable.”

Despite Zheng Fanshuang’s pleas, Zhou Jibo refused to listen any further and strode towards the exit.

“I know of a secret book in the clan leader’s study. Could that secure my brother’s life?”

Zhou Jibo halted. “Zheng Fanshuang, your brother conspired against me. His fate is sealed today.”

Zheng Fanshuang broke down in tears, overwhelmed by despair.

Zhou Jibo continued, “The secret you’ve mentioned has indeed eluded the Zhou family. As a reward, and for your protection, you will accompany me to the Zhou family today.”

This only deepened Zheng Fanshuang’s despair. “You promised you wouldn’t harm me.”

“If I don’t take you with me today, do you really think you’d survive? You’ve divulged the Zheng patriarch’s secret. The Zheng family has myriad ways to ensure your life is a living hell,” Zhou Jibo stated.

Hearing this, Zheng Fanshuang’s gaze drifted helplessly around her, meeting the fearful, hateful, and scornful eyes of her kin. She tried to speak, to explain, but words failed her as tears streamed down her face.

Zhou Jibo, however, didn’t afford her the opportunity to wallow in her misery. He escorted her into the Zheng patriarch’s study, and with her direction, retrieved a wooden box hidden behind a painting on the wall.

Inside the box lay two books: “Xu’s Medical Book” and “Explanation on Alchemy.”

One was a tome of medicine, the other, a treatise on alchemy.

The cover of the books bore dark brown stains of dried blood, a grim testament to their dubious provenance.

It was likely that the Zheng family had slain the books’ previous owners.

This thought diminished Zhou Jibo’s already scant pity for the Zheng clan. Were it not for his adherence to basic moral principles, he might have deemed their total eradication justified.

With the two books in hand, Zhou Jibo, accompanied by Zheng Fanshuang, approached the Zheng family’s main gate amidst the resentful stares of its members.

On the threshold of departure, he turned to issue his final decree.

“Henceforth, Zheng Linghan shall lead the Zheng family. Let there be no further trouble, or I will ensure you are watched.”

Zheng Linghan hastily concurred, his emotions a tangle of relief and trepidation.

His ascension as family head was cause for celebration, yet under the circumstances, was he truly fit for the role? With Zheng Xunqin or an envoy from the Holy Land possibly arriving, his fate hung in the balance.

It appeared he had no alternative but to heed Young Master Zhou and safeguard the Zheng family.

From this day forward, his fate was intertwined with Young Master Zhou’s—shared glory and shared downfall.

Zheng Linghan, now facing the same icy stares that had greeted Zheng Fanshuang, was undeterred. Assuming the mantle of leadership, he began to command with authority.

They hadn’t gone far from the Zheng estate when a series of agonizing screams echoed from behind.

Tears streamed down Zheng Fanshuang’s face as Zhou Jibo led her away. She glanced back intermittently, fearing that her brother’s voice might be among the cries.

As they continued and the streets grew crowded, she bowed her head, weeping silently, too distraught to speak.

Upon their arrival at the Zhou residence, a concerned Qian Jiajia rushed to meet Zhou Jibo and the tearful young girl in his care, eager to understand what had transpired.

Upon hearing that all was well, she quickly raised her hands to the sky in a gesture of deep gratitude. She gave thanks to the heavens for safeguarding her husband and son and for their triumphant success.

Qian Jiajia, upon recognizing the woman as Zheng Xunqin’s cousin, Zheng Fanshuang, turned to Zhou Jibo and inquired, “What will you do with her? Will she be a concubine or a servant in your household?”

Zheng Fanshuang, stricken with fear, protested, “I don’t want that.”

Zhou Jibo dismissed the concern with a wave of his hand, “There’s no need for that. She can keep Ninghe company. I brought her here to spare her life, lest the remaining members of the Zheng family seek retribution for her giving me the book collection.”

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