Chapter 41: Making an Oath with a Sword (First Update Seeking Recommendation)

  Xiao Gu Shan, Longqing Wine House.

  This Qian Chao City top ten large restaurant has always been booming with business.

  Thanks to its excellent location adjacent to the mansions of several prominent families, Longqing Wine House became a popular venue for feasts and merriment among the aristocracy, with even the high prices failing to deter those young masters accustomed to squandering gold like dirt.

  The small pavilion on the second floor has a warm and peaceful atmosphere that is completely different from the hustle and bustle outside.

  Qin Yun and Qin Mingzhu savored the tea and snacks after a sumptuous dinner, though they were silent, their occasional exchange of glances was enough to surpass thousands of words.

  As time was getting late, Qin Mingzhu said reluctantly: "Qin Yun brother, let's go back, the rules of Dan Medicine Hall can't be too late."

  Qin Yun nodded, but didn't immediately get up. Instead, he handed the package he had brought with him to the girl: "This is for you."

  "This is..." The girl said somewhat strangely.

  She noticed Qin Yun carrying a package when he arrived, but didn't think it was for her.

  "Consider it a gift!" Qin Yun chuckled and casually opened the outer wrapping cloth.

  The dark golden honeycomb was immediately exposed, and it was a nest of golden needle bees that he had raised!

  These seventy-two golden needle bees once helped Qin Yun defeat a powerful enemy in the Black Iron Mine, and it can be said that they saved his life.

  But in that battle, the 72 Golden Needles Bee lost more than a third of its numbers. To recover to its original state would require a long period of careful nurturing and care.

  The queen bee in the hive can re-hatch young bees, but it needs to be constantly fed with various precious medicinal materials.

  Although Qin Yun had the secret recipe for cultivating and nurturing in his hand, he focused on the path of martial arts and swordsmanship, where did he have so much time and energy to cultivate insects, let alone prepare medicines.

  So far, the queen bee has not hatched a single young bee, but only ensured that other worker bees do not starve to death.

  It would be a pity if this golden needle bee were wasted like this, so Qin Yun decided to give it to Qin Mingzhu.

  Moreover, Qin Yun did not want to cultivate the habit of relying on external forces, just like he was unwilling to rely on elixirs to practice his skills.

  He hopes to rely on his own efforts to climb step by step to the peak.

  After listening to Qin Yun's introduction, Qin Mingzhu was so surprised that she almost couldn't close her mouth.

  She understood far more than Qin Yun the preciousness and rarity of this Golden Needle Bee, and also knew its value to herself.

  Although Dan medicine all have the foundation of martial artists, those who do not open their veins cannot cultivate Dan Tao, but the combat power of Dan medicine practitioners is absolutely far weaker than that of martial artists and swordsmen.

  In order to have the ability to protect themselves, alchemists often need to take a different approach to enhance their own strength. Some rely on swallowing large amounts of precious elixirs, some carefully study poisonous medicines and substances, and others raise powerful beasts or insects.

  A single nest of Golden Needle Bees that can kill warriors below the Innate Realm, placed in a Dan Medicine Hall is also a top-notch treasure, and even first-rate figures may not necessarily possess it.

  Qin Yun didn't have the time and conditions, but for Qin Mingzhu it wasn't a problem at all. With this Golden Needle Bee, she was equivalent to having a powerful protective charm.

  "Thank you, Qin Yun brother!" Qin Mingzhu's beautiful eyes sparkled with an intoxicating charm as she took the beehive without hesitation.

  If it were in the past, such precious things she would never dare to accept.

  But now their relationship has progressed further, and the girl doesn't mind owing Qin Yun more, anyway there will be plenty of opportunities to repay him in the future.

  Her generous attitude made Qin Yun happy: "You like it, I'll take you back!"

  He naturally pulled up Qin Mingzhu's small hand and left the side room together.

  The two had not yet gone downstairs when a group of people came up from the floor below, led by none other than Qin Wenbing himself!

  Enemies meet with tearful eyes!

  Qin Wenbing's face suddenly fell.

  Qin Yun had more than one acquaintance, and behind Qin Wenbing were also Qin Jun, Qin Heshan, Wu Zhishi, as well as seven or eight young men from the Outer Affairs Hall and the Military Hall.

  Everyone's expression was different, Qin Jun stared at Qin Yun and Qin Mingzhu's still clasped hands, his eyes almost spewing fire, his originally handsome face twisted.

  His pursuit of Qin Mingzhu is well-known on Moyang Road, and he usually claims to be Qin Mingzhu's guardian.

  But now the fact that happened in front of him was like a loud slap on Qin Jun's face.

  Wu Zhi's face was expressionless, but the ruthless and poisonous color revealed in his eyes exposed his inner thoughts.

  Because of Qin Yun, he was severely rebuked and whipped fifty times by Qin Liehai, the master of the Punishment Hall, losing all face.

  Afterwards, he didn't secretly think of ways to deal with Qin Yun, but Qin Yun not only escaped unscathed, but also gained the family's merit award due to his misfortune.

  This feud will never be resolved!

  Qin Haishan's mood was very complicated.

  Originally a close younger cousin, she has now become almost a stranger to him. He relies on Qin Jun and Qin Wenbing but cannot gain recognition from others, and facing Qin Yun makes him feel like he can't even lift his head up.

  This is also a tragedy for many young people in large families who are not close relatives, if they have no backing within the clan, it's extremely difficult to climb up.

  No merits, no swordsmanship, no elixir distribution... what can be relied on to increase strength?

  How long will it take for me to stand out from the crowd after practicing and working hard step by step? I'm afraid that before achieving success, I'll be kicked out of this fiercely competitive family.

  So many people, like Qin Hai Shan, choose to rely on a direct descendant with real power, relying on the other's sympathy and charity to gain more resources than others.

  No one spoke, a group of people stood at the stairs entrance, blocking Qin Yun and his companion's way.

  The originally noisy second-floor hall suddenly quieted down, and many of the Qin family's children gathered here for dinner in the evening. Many new faces knew Qin Yun, Qin Jun, and others, and were even more familiar with Qin Wenbing.

  As Qin Yun and Qin Wenbing seemed to be on the verge of a head-on collision, many people held their breaths with wide eyes, waiting to see what would happen next.

  Among these onlookers, some people were gloating, thinking that if Qin Yun wanted to compete with Qin Wenbing, it would be a suicidal move.

  One is an insignificant collateral newcomer, the other is a powerful clan's direct descendant, and the two are not on the same level in terms of status or strength.

  Some people secretly admired Qin Yun, who was able to stand his ground in front of the powerful Qin Wenbing without losing any face. This courage alone was enough to earn their respect.

  Standing beside Qin Yun, Qin Mingzhu's face turned slightly pale, but she didn't retreat half a step. Under the gaze of everyone present, she tightly grasped Qin Yun's hand.

  Qin Yun felt the girl's worry and determination. He turned his head to smile at Qin Mingzhu, surprisingly not putting Qin Wenbing in his eyes at all.

  Qin Wenbing's face looked even more unsightly.

  When everyone thought that the second son of the Qin family's direct descent, famous for his arrogance, would explode with anger and give Qin Yun a good scolding, he instead turned around and gave Qin Jun a cold glance.

  Under Qin Wenbing's suggestive gaze, Qin Jun immediately took a step forward and stood in front of Qin Yun.

  In fact, he had been holding back his anger for a long time.

  "Qin Yun, a month from now is the family's newcomer assessment. Do you dare to have a sword-fighting contest with me?"

  A contest of sword skills!

  The wine shop was suddenly in an uproar!

  The Qin family and the Moyang Sect hold new promotion assessments and intra-clan martial arts competitions every year, the former targeting newcomers, and the latter facing all clan children.

  To motivate their sons, families allowed them to engage in individual sword fights during the new recruit assessment and intra-clan martial arts competitions.

  It is usually the outer disciples who challenge the inner disciples, or the inner disciples who challenge those of higher status, even up to the level of the elders. The reward for the winner is often to take their place directly.

  If you don't advance, you'll retreat. The strong prey on the weak, and internal competition within clans and factions has never been warm and fuzzy.

  It is rare for the younger generation of the inner courtyard to take the initiative to challenge the new younger generation of the outer courtyard, because winning would not bring any glory or benefits, but only give people a bad feeling of bullying and unfair victory.

  As an outsider, Qin Yun could have flatly refused with a clear conscience.

  However, Qin Jun obviously didn't want to give Qin Yun a chance to refuse: "If you're afraid, you can refuse, but from now on, when you see us, just roll far away and shrink into a turtle under the woman's feet!"

  Venomous words spewed out of Qin Jun's mouth, and Qin Yun's sword-like eyebrows suddenly rose.

  Qin Mingzhu took a look and felt that something was wrong. She worried that he had fallen for the opponent's provocation, so she quickly grasped Qin Yun's hand tightly.

  "If you want to compare, then let's compare!"

  Contrary to everyone's expectations, Qin Yun did not get angry and lose his composure in a verbal spat with Qin Jun.

  However, he did not refuse the other party's challenge, but only curled up a cold sneer at the corner of his mouth, looking at Qin Jun's eyes with extreme disdain, as if the other party was just a crawling worm on the ground!

  For some reason, seeing Qin Yun's expression, a chill suddenly rose in Qin Jun's heart, but it immediately turned into anger at being humiliated, and his entire head was engulfed by the surging flames of rage.

  "Alright!" He sneered: "But what's the point of just trying, let's make a bet. Whoever loses will be kicked out of the family and can never come back!"

  This is a plan to remove the cauldron from the fire, and also to force Qin Yun onto a dead-end road!

  "Since it's a bet, I'll add one too!" Qin Wenbing smiled slyly beside him: "Qin Yun, I heard you just got 150 family merits. I'll bet 300 family merits with you!"

  "If you win against Qin Jun, you can take away these 300 merits; if you lose..."

  "Hmm!" He stared at Qin Yun's eyes like a venomous snake staring at its prey, vicious, sinister and cunning!

  This is going to strip Qin Yun of all his family's assets and let him leave with nothing!

  It's simply outrageous! Qin Mingzhu's pretty face turned bright red with anger.

  But before she could utter a word of refutation, Qin Yun spoke out loud without hesitation: "Alright! Then it's settled!"

  Clang!

  He drew out his long sword and held it horizontally in front of his chest, his left hand lightly stroking the blade, leaving a long trail of blood.

  "I swear on my sword, I will never go back on my word!"

  Those who break their oath sworn on a sword will be despised by all!

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