Chapter 4: Provocation

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Tang Xue’er’s expression changed immediately upon hearing this. She got off the bed anxiously and asked,
“Then you still drank it?”

Shen Xing waved his hand, signaling it wasn’t a big deal.
“It’s not harmful. It’s a slow-acting poison; it only becomes serious after a long time.”

Tang Xue’er still looked worried.
“That’s still not good to drink. You really mustn’t drink it again next time.”

Shen Xing nodded.
“Alright.”

The two sat at the table. Tang Xue’er frowned, puzzled.
“But why would she poison you? Could it be that you’re overthinking it?”

Shen Xing shook his head.
“No. I’ve had a habit of reading medical books since I was young. This poison is called ‘Moon Yellow Spring.’ As the name suggests, taking it continuously for a month will lead to death. It’s not a rare toxin.
As for why she targeted me, it’s probably because of you.”

“Me?”

Tang Xue’er was momentarily stunned.

Shen Xing didn’t explain much but reminded her,
“Do you really think Zhao Sujuan would willingly marry off such a beautiful daughter like you to me? Although marrying you off would reduce one competitor against Tang Xinya for resources, if she were cruel enough, there are ways to maximize her benefits.”

Tang Xue’er pondered deeply.

She was intelligent herself and quickly sensed Zhao Sujuan’s true intentions.

Along with anger, she also felt a surge of fear.
“This family really can’t be stayed in anymore. Shen Xing, we have to find a way to leave.”

Tang Xue’er spoke earnestly.

Shen Xing thought for a moment but shook his head.
“I know you’re scared, but now is not the time. I need a little more time.
Don’t worry, Zhao Sujuan probably won’t target you.”

Tang Xue’er clasped Shen Xing’s hand.
“But I don’t want anything to happen to you either.”

...

Late at night.

Tang Xue’er had already gone to bed.

Before sleeping, Shen Xing gave her the bottle of Qi and Blood Pills he had purchased.

After returning it, there were now quietly lying in the package ten thousand bottles of Qi and Blood Pills.

At five hundred yuan per bottle, ten thousand bottles meant five million yuan.

Considering the current social reality where a monthly salary of ten thousand yuan is already considered good, this was undoubtedly a huge sum.

With enough Qi and Blood Pills, Shen Xing did not waste time and immediately opened one bottle and took them all.

A huge amount of medicinal power dissolved in his body, transforming into surges of qi and blood energy, strengthening Shen Xing’s physique.

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The process was somewhat painful but still within tolerable limits.

After a night like this, Shen Xing had consumed ten bottles of Qi and Blood Pills in total.

He slowly opened his eyes. Clenching his fist produced a clear crisp sound.

“The feeling of power expanding is truly captivating!”

Excitement inevitably flashed in Shen Xing’s eyes.

In today’s era of advanced martial cultivation, resources and aptitude often determine one’s upper limit of strength.

But with the system in hand, these two would no longer be problems.

In the next two days, Shen Xing didn’t even leave his room, continuously swallowing Qi and Blood Pills like crazy.

The consequence of taking them consecutively in a short period was a significant decline in effectiveness.

Nearly thirty percent of the medicinal power could not be absorbed and was wasted.

But Shen Xing didn’t care at all; even if he could only absorb ten percent, he would still eat them like candy beans.

After such extravagant consumption, Shen Xing was unsure exactly how strong he had become.

Finally, on the third day, when the Tang family invited him downstairs for a meal again, Shen Xing stopped his power enhancement.

“After dinner, let’s go to the martial arts hall. I want to test my current level.”

This was Shen Xing’s plan as he went downstairs with Tang Xue’er.

...

At the dining table.

There were quite a few people.

Recently, due to wedding preparations, many young members of the Tang family had come to join the festivities.

Now, one by one, they curiously cast glances between Shen Xing and Tang Xue’er,

Interspersed with giggles and whispers.

Shen Xing didn’t need to look to know they regarded him as a desperate man who had never been close to a woman.

They thought his absence in recent days was surely because he had been busy with that kind of thing and didn’t want to move anymore.

Shen Xing was too lazy to explain and ate calmly as usual.

Tang Xue’er, however, was teased by several sisters and couldn’t keep a composed face; a faint blush never faded from her cheeks.

Opposite Shen Xing sat Tang Xinya, who felt somewhat irritated for reasons unknown.

Shen Xing’s indifferent demeanor made her feel embarrassed.

“That bastard Shen Xing, is he deliberately trying to embarrass me? The person he is about to marry isn’t me, yet he acts so indifferent...”

“Xinya, if I remember correctly, isn’t a teacher from Qingbei Advanced Martial School coming today?”

Tang Tianming’s words briefly pulled Tang Xinya out of her inexplicable mood.

“Oh, yes. They said they want to take a closer look at my situation to help formulate an improvement plan for after enrollment.”

Tang Xinya said calmly.

The peers around couldn’t help but cast envious glances.

Even Shen Xing involuntarily glanced at her once.

Though brief, Tang Xinya keenly noticed it.

Her mood immediately improved considerably.

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“Hmph, no matter how much you pretend, it’s useless. I will shine brighter and brighter. You should feel a little pity now; maybe in the future, I’ll feel some guilt and give you some compensation. But if you insist on acting indifferent, don’t blame me for being heartless.”

Tang Xinya thought silently, beginning to look forward to life at Qingbei Advanced Martial School.

As one of the top advanced martial schools, it gathered numerous prodigies.

It was very likely that her future partner would appear there.

At this tender age of first love, Tang Xinya had only rejected Shen Xing but still yearned for romance.

On the other side, Zhao Sujuan’s nephew, Zhao Ting, kept showing excessive attentiveness toward Tang Xue’er.

His manner was completely unabashed, as if Shen Xing did not exist at all.

Tang Xue’er began to feel awkward and gradually grew increasingly angry.

She glanced at Shen Xing several times; he noticed but gave her no response whatsoever.

As if it had nothing to do with him.

Tang Xue’er did not understand his meaning and could only handle it in her own way.

“Zhao Ting, please watch your manners. I’m about to get married, and if you keep this up, you’ll make my fiancé angry.”

Tang Xue’er did not deliberately lower her voice, so nearly everyone at the table could hear.

The atmosphere, which had been fairly good, suddenly stiffened.

Zhao Ting’s face flushed red, feeling embarrassed.
“What did I do? You’re my sister. What’s wrong with feeding you? Are you afraid Shen Xing will be angry? Then I’ll ask him for you.”

He looked at Shen Xing with an unfriendly expression and asked,
“Shen Xing, I treat my sister like this—are you angry? Think carefully before you answer.”

All eyes then turned to Shen Xing.

The young men wore playful expressions.

The girls looked excited.

They loved these kinds of jealousy scenes the most.

But Shen Xing’s reaction disappointed everyone.

He seemed not to have heard at all.

He finished the last bit of rice in his bowl, put down his chopsticks,

Then stood up and left, going all the way out the front door.

Leaving behind the stunned people who looked at each other in bewilderment.

“Tch, coward!”

After a brief daze, Zhao Ting sneered disdainfully.

Tang Xue’er frowned slightly, feeling somewhat unsettled.

At this moment, she still hoped Shen Xing would stand up for her.

After leaving the Tang family, Shen Xing directly hailed a cab and headed straight for the nearest martial arts hall.