A Debt Repaid in Crimson

"No need to overthink it. Whatever you gift them, they'll be delighted." Madam Wu Shuya once again offered her gentle reassurance.

"I already know what I want to give. I'll surprise Second Uncle when the time comes."

"You'll be staying with me for the next few days, right? There are still a few months before your Second Uncle's wedding ceremony."

"I want to visit Vulture Mountain to thank Third Uncle for his care back in the day," Chen Jinshu replied.

During her difficult years of secluded cultivation on Vulture Mountain, her Third Uncle, Chen Huaiyang, had given her significant support. Whether it was the spirit plant manual he gave her when she later joined the Xuanming Sect, the escorting and trading in the market, or the techniques like Rainbow Step and Veiled Breath Art—all of it had greatly benefited her cultivation journey.

Even in the years she shut herself in to train, it was her Third Uncle who helped her trade resources in the markets. Though bound by blood, the extent of his help showed real devotion. Chen Jinshu felt she had to repay that debt.

Though she couldn't give him a Foundation Establishment Pill—she only had two—she could offer another breakthrough aid: the Scarlet Blood Fruit. While its success rate for breaking through was only about 30% compared to a Foundation Pill, it was already a huge gift for someone like Chen Huaiyang.

She had resolved her business here and could now focus entirely on cultivation back in her sect.

"Your Third Uncle… two years ago, he failed to establish his foundation. His cultivation regressed to the ninth level of Qi Refining. Such a pity," Madam Wu Shuya sighed softly.

"What happened? With Uncle's solid foundation, he should've succeeded," Chen Jinshu frowned.

A few years ago, she had seen Chen Huaiyang act several times. Each time, the spiritual energy he released was powerful and stable—clearly showing he'd been solidifying his late-stage Qi Refining for years. He had only lacked a Foundation Pill to advance.

But now he had failed? She couldn't make sense of it.

"I suspect the Lin family had a hand in it. Years ago, two Foundation Pills retrieved from Ziyun Valley were auctioned at Vermilion Market. The auction was handled by Lin family's Tianyi Pavilion. During the bidding, the Lin family and several others only made a show of competing. When the price reached a good point, they deliberately let the Chen family win."

"The senior members of the Chen family thought the Lin family was just being polite. But when your Third Uncle tried to break through using the pill, something went wrong. The Foundation Pill contained a trace of fire poison, which damaged his dantian. If he hadn't stopped in time, he might've been crippled entirely."

"But the combination of fire poison and a disrupted breakthrough caused a backlash, resulting in his cultivation regressing. He's yet to recover." There was clear resentment in Mdam Wu Shuya's voice toward the Lin family.

She had hoped to live out her years peacefully in the Chen family. But the family had been ensnared and suppressed by various clans. In the end, she was forced to leave and take shelter in Vermilion Market.

Though she had taken many of the Chen family's resources, she had also borne them two daughters, one of whom became an inner disciple of a major sect. She owed the Chen family nothing anymore.

"The Lin family again... their ambition truly knows no bounds," Chen Jinshu muttered with a sigh.

"Shu'er, have you heard of that Lin family genius at your sect?"

"I have. In last year's outer sect competition, he ranked in the top twenty. He should have reached Foundation Establishment by now. His cultivation is likely on par with mine. But we've never interacted, and I've never revealed I'm from the Chen family," Chen Jinshu answered honestly.

"If you run into him someday, just say you're not part of the Chen family. You traded a Foundation Pill with that Chen Qiaozhen girl and repaid the family's debt. You owe them nothing more," Madam Wu Shuya urged, worry in her voice.

"Don't worry, Mother. I came this time just to tie off loose ends with the Chen family. I won't forget how they treated me in the past. But I also received years of stipends from them. The Foundation Pill settles everything."

"Good. If you're heading to Vulture Mountain, deal with our three acres of farmland while you're there. Sell it to either the spirit farmers from the Chen family or your Third Uncle—whatever you decide, I'll follow."

"Alright."

The Next Day

Chen Jinshu left Vermilion Market with her mother and headed toward the Chen family's territory at Vulture Mountain. The Gale Gourd's speed was no joke. Before, her unrefined cultivation made it hard to control a second-grade spiritual tool. But now, with her Foundation Establishment level, it flew like the wind.

What once took an hour now took them only two quarters of an hour. She had already suppressed her cultivation aura back to the ninth level of Qi Refining. Chen Qiaozhen had already disclosed that as her level to outsiders, so there was no need to reveal her breakthrough.

"This mountain didn't look so rundown just a month ago!" Madam Wu Shuya was shocked as she looked at the fallen trees at the base.

"Must've been the Lin family and the other clans. Vulture Mountain, being on the edge of our territory, would've been the first to suffer during the invasion."

Chen Jinshu surveyed the wreckage around them. The scene was worse than she had expected. Vulture Mountain, as a spirit farmland zone, was a vital resource. Had the invaders given up on using it later?

"Mother, let's head up."

The two climbed quickly. Before long, they saw several spirit farmers working to rebuild the ruined buildings. No surprise—most of the homes were in ruins, and even the main hall had several large holes in its structure and fractured ground.

"Third Uncle!" Chen Jinshu called out when she spotted Chen Huaiyang directing the repairs.

"You're back? Why come to the mountain instead of the family estate?" Chen Huaiyang turned in surprise, unsure if he was hearing things—until he saw her.

"I came especially to visit you. You helped me so much over the years, Uncle. I had to come thank you personally." She smiled as she explained.

"Vulture Mountain isn't the tranquil haven it once was." Chen Huaiyang looked around the wreckage and shook his head.

"When the Lin family came, there was no time to mount a defense. This place isn't suitable for conversation. Come with me." He led the two to a still-standing but small courtyard.

Such quarters used to be for spirit farmers. Now, even someone like him—once a senior steward—had been reduced to staying there.

"It's a modest place. Sorry for the lack of hospitality." He brought out a tea table and quickly brewed some tea.

"No need for such formality, Uncle."

"The Lin family's cultivators only left half a month ago. Before leaving, they destroyed most of the courtyards and even contaminated several spirit fields. No idea when planting can resume," he said bitterly.

Vulture Mountain used to feed many spirit farmers of the Chen family. Now even basic survival was a problem. He felt ashamed as the one in charge.

"I didn't think the Lin family would go this far," Chen Jinshu's expression darkened upon hearing all this.

"I heard their actions caused your Foundation Establishment failure too?"

"Not entirely. We failed to notice the trap in the pill, and that led to…"

"I can't help you get justice, Uncle, but I can give you another chance to break through—if your will is strong enough."

She pulled a Scarlet Blood Fruit from her storage pouch. Its crimson glow made the fruit look incredibly rare and precious.