Chapter 48: A Warning of Malice

"You want to pull out all my vegetables to plant pear trees?"

"Just a few Great pear trees, do they really need to take over the entire vegetable garden?"

"If we don't plant vegetables, what will we eat in the future?"

"What? You say we'll buy vegetables every day?"

"Oh dear, what kind of household are we, still buying vegetables to eat?!"

Madam Cai stood protectively at the entrance of the vegetable garden, blocking Zhao Xing's way with a barrage of words.

"Madam Cai, can't I just pay for the vegetables?" Zhao Xing said helplessly.

Madam Cai reluctantly replied, "It's not about the money, I just can't bear to part with this vegetable garden. I enjoy growing some vegetables for the family..."

"I'll pay double for the vegetables!"

Madam Cai's face lit up with a smile, stepping aside, "Go ahead, pull them out, pull them out. Do you need my help?"

"..." Zhao Xing chuckled, "Your face changes too quickly."

"No need for you to lift a finger, I'll do it myself," Zhao Xing said as he entered the garden, preparing to make room for the Tianyuan Pear trees.

At this moment, Zhao Rui De walked over, having heard Madam Cai's words, and raised an eyebrow, "You even let Xing'er buy vegetables? What kind of elder are you?"

"The third family's yard is barren, why don't you plant there?"

Madam Cai pouted, "He said it himself, it's not like I asked for it. Besides, if he buys vegetables, won't he eat them... He has the ability to be filial, what's wrong with that?"

Zhao Rui De sighed, "You're really short-sighted. That pear tree is worth more than ten plots of vegetable land. If it thrives, won't it provide plenty for the family?"

Madam Cai questioned, "How much can one pear tree be worth? He promised double the price."

"You! You're embarrassing..." Zhao Rui De pointed at her, then turned and left.

Madam Cai looked at her husband, then at Zhao Xing in the garden, suddenly filled with regret, "Oh dear, since it's so precious, if he goes elsewhere to be an official, won't this precious pear tree be left for Xing'er? I was really muddle-headed just now..."

Soon after, Madam Cai's eyes twinkled, and she hurried off.

Before long, she brought Zhao Zheng over.

"Brother Great, my mother said I should come help."

"No need, go play on the side," Zhao Xing waved him off, then began to cast his spell.

"Rising Wind!"

Whoosh~ A strong wind blew through, uprooting all the vegetables in the soil, even turning the earth over.

"Wow, Brother Great is amazing, Brother Great is amazing!" Zhao Zheng clapped his hands excitedly on the side, "Brother Great, do it again!"

"Do you think I'm playing around?" Zhao Xing said irritably, wondering what this little brother was thinking.

Clearing the soil, Zhao Xing reactivated the Rising Wind Magic Arts.

It transformed into a small dragon-like whirlwind, digging a large hole.

Then he shattered the pot and planted the [Tianyuan Pear Tree].

"Grow strong!" Another spell was cast, falling upon the Tianyuan Pear Tree.

However, this was not to hasten the ripening of the Tianyuan Pear Tree, but mainly to help its roots quickly take hold and adapt to the new soil environment.

A third-grade sapling is not so easy to nurture; re-rooting requires at least half an hour of continuous Magic Arts.

"Brother Great, these pears are so delicious, why wouldn't my mother let you plant them?" Zhao Zheng had tasted a small piece before, and it left a deep impression on him, thinking it was the best pear in the world, icy and refreshing, very comfortable.

"Your mother hasn't tasted it, she probably doesn't know," Zhao Xing replied.

"Mother really has no vision."

"Shut up!" Zhao Xing scolded, "Don't speak ill of your mother."

"Brother Great, I'm sorry," Zhao Zheng said, tugging at his ear, obediently lowering his head.

Madam Cai was a rare find, allowing Zhao Rui De to have a son in his old age. If it were someone else, they might have been over the moon. However, given Zhao Rui De's modest savings, she still didn't mind working hard at home, growing vegetables and cooking, which could be considered quite virtuous!

She loved money, no doubt, but it was mostly just talk. She never demanded Zhao Xing be kicked out, perhaps because Zhao Xing, as an adopted son, also had inheritance rights, providing her with a sense of security. That was just her protective color.

Zhao Xing didn't hold any grudges against Madam Cai, even understanding her quite well, as her selfishness was all for her son.

"In the future, don't let me hear you speak ill of your mother again, or your butt will be in for a spanking, understand?"

"Understood," Zhao Zheng nodded, seemingly understanding.

"I know, Zhao Xing's house is in Pingkang Ward, I have a relative in Tongji Ward, just two streets away. There's plenty of opportunity to run into each other, chatting in the streets is no problem, rest assured."

"Don't be too deliberate," the Three Bay Hall master chuckled, "Just chat casually when you go to the east market to sell fish."

"I understand," the fishmonger nodded.

"Xuantian will bless you."

"Willing to die for Xuantian," the fisherman's eyes flashed with a hint of fanaticism, then he took on his task and left.

[The fifteenth year of Jingxin, September 13th, in the corner, already at the hour.]

[Warning of Malice: Minor Malice; Eyes and ears are everywhere, hidden dangers in all directions.]

"Hmm?"

On this day, Zhao Xing was on his way to the Department of Agriculture when the Evil Dispelling Almanac suddenly flipped its pages, revealing a warning.

Immediately, the page provided a more detailed explanation.

[You have triggered the effect of the third-grade treasure 'Evil Dispelling Almanac'. Based on your luck level and known information, you receive the following hint:]

[You have consecutively ranked in the top three, attracting the attention of the Xuantian Sect. They have decided to send new followers to monitor and investigate you. Wherever you go in the four directions, hidden disasters will be buried.]

"Xuantian Sect again?!" Zhao Xing raised an eyebrow, "How are they still near Valley City, isn't it over yet?"

"I didn't provoke you, why are you targeting me?"

Feeling annoyed, Zhao Xing now only wanted to peacefully cultivate and develop himself, completely unwilling to stir up any trouble. He originally thought that after the last thorough investigation, the Xuantian Sect had moved on, but unexpectedly, they were still lurking around, even starting to focus on him.

"It's just a minor malice level, indicating that the Xuantian Sect won't take action yet, but this will inevitably lead to future actions. What is the Xuantian Sect up to with the Jingxin Strange Case?"

Zhao Xing recalled the details.

"Right, they captured so many Sinoong officials to create natural disasters across Great Zhou, capturing weavers and mechanics purely to cover people's eyes and ears. In reality, their main target was still the Sinoong profession."

"The Xuantian Sect is a closed sect, but its followers are not insignificant. Stirring up trouble in Great Zhou is to assert their presence, planting the seeds of Xuantian Sect among the people, gaining incense and faith, laying the groundwork for future revival."

"After the Jingxin Strange Case was replayed by players, this infiltration activity by the Xuantian Sect continued for a full ten years. The first nine years were all about secretly capturing people, brainwashing officials, and nurturing them in the dark. By the tenth year, they began creating chaos everywhere, erupting all at once, and their ultimate goal was... the Source Cave Heaven in Guangling Prefecture!"

Update times are as fixed as possible, not exceeding 24 hours. Some days are required to track reading data, but the actual author has drafts to achieve fixed-time updates.

Additionally, if the new book period feels slow with four thousand updates, it's normal, as the author has their own writing rhythm. Once it's on the shelves, it will be much better.

Speaking of which, the author has a knack for writing, being an experienced writer. Some people switch accounts to curse and provoke, trying to teach me how to write, but you can save it. Stepping on peers won't improve you, nor does it have any effect. In this line of work, writing honestly is the hard truth.

Why don't you give a hundred thousand likes? I'll immediately believe in your writing!! (End of this chapter)