The demonic energy gathered on Huang Munya's head as if it had a will of its own, preparing for a fierce battle. 'This is not something I can recklessly touch.' It was a troublesome situation.

If I attacked carelessly and a collision occurred in his head, Huang Munya would have to greet the grim reaper.

No, perhaps by now, the grim reaper was already clicking his tongue behind Qingming.

But what if I just retreat like this? 'That would be even worse.' The area beneath Huang Munya's head was perfectly purified.

However, that wasn't necessarily good news.

A purified body would accept the demonic energy at an even faster rate.

It was like ink spreading in clear water.

Advancing would lead to death, and retreating would lead to death.

Qingming, trapped in a dire situation, hesitated for a moment, unable to decide what to do. 'What should I do?' 'What should I do?' Naturally, he wanted to charge in immediately, but if he acted on impulse, the outcome was all too predictable.

After much contemplation, Qingming bit his lip tightly. 'So that's it.' Unable to do either, then why not do neither? Qingming concentrated his energy to one side.

A rat cornered will bite a cat, and a soldier in a desperate situation will fight to the death until the very end.

But what if there was a chance to escape? The rat would flee, and the soldier would retreat, abandoning his weapon. 'Now, here is a place to escape.' Qingming opened a path.

There was no longer anywhere for Huang Munya to run.

But there was one place.

Just one escape route.

That was Qingming's body.

As he concentrated his energy to one side and began to press down on his head, the demonic energies, as expected, started to surge forth like a flood, seeking out the empty spaces.

Eventually, they flowed over to Qingming's hand that touched Huang Munya.

Since all of Qingming's energy was sent to Huang Munya, his own body was empty, making it even more suitable for escape.

"Ugh..."

A groan escaped involuntarily.

A tingling sensation rushed up his arm and quickly spread throughout his body.

With terrible pain, his vision blurred, and consciousness began to fade.

"Cough!" Qingming retrieved his energy from Huang Munya's body.

Then he began to spread it throughout his own body.

Boom! Boom! Boom! The sound of a waterfall echoed from within him.

The demonic energies, having lost their way, began their desperate resistance.

However, Qingming's energy ruthlessly suppressed the demons, as if it were an invading army.

The body transformed into a battlefield.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Explosions rang out from within.

With each explosion, unbearable pain tormented Qingming.

But he bit his lip, his eyes bloodshot.

Losing consciousness here? 'Don't make me laugh.' The pride of the Plum Blossom Sword Master would not allow it.

Qingming stood firm, waiting for the final explosion.

The last remaining demonic energy was overwhelmed by Qingming's energy.

Boom! The sound of heaven collapsing erupted.

His vision turned white, and consciousness faded into the distance.

Qingming slowly closed his eyes.

The energy that completely suppressed the demons began to swirl around his body, ringing the victory bell.

One turn.

Two turns.

In an instant, after completing the Twelve Heavenly Circles, the energy finally returned to his dantian, coiling up obediently.

Only after finishing all that did Qingming open his eyes.

"Ugh... I almost died."

It was no joke; it had truly been dangerous.

Such demonic energy was beyond what Qingming could handle at his level.

If he had made even a slight mistake, either he or Huang Munya would have died. 'This time was really dangerous.

I must never do this again.' Qingming gently rubbed the area around his dantian.

"But it feels like something has increased."

There was no particular reason for it to increase, yet his dantian felt fuller.

"Well, it's still just a rat's tail."

The saying that small peppers are spicy was certainly true, but small was still small.

It felt far off when he thought about when he could fill it like a great river.

With a sigh, Qingming turned his head to look at Huang Munya.

His face was flushed, perhaps because the poison had disappeared.

He seemed to have regained his health in an instant.

That made sense.

Not only had the poison disappeared, but he had also received a cleansing.

While it couldn't be compared to a complete transformation, at least his lifespan had likely increased by ten years.

"Tsk."

Feeling like he had done a good deed for nothing, Qingming clicked his tongue and approached Huang Munya.

"Ugh... Ugh."

It seemed he was regaining consciousness.

His eyes twitched, and soon he slowly opened them.

The pupils of Huang Munya, which had been shaking without focus, landed on Qingming.

Then, in a voice that sounded like he was on the verge of death, Huang Munya spoke.

"Who... are you?" Qingming smiled brightly.

"A celestial being." "......"

"No, a small celestial being?" "......"

Huang Munya muttered weakly.

"I must have died and come to hell." "......"

What are you talking about?

After Huang Munya regained consciousness, the Galaxy Merchant Association quickly organized itself.

Ban Ja-bok, who had attempted to assassinate Huang Munya, seemed to have planned to kill Huang Zhongyi next, and then even his children, if his initial plan succeeded.

If all the bloodlines of the Huang family slowly died from the same illness, people would believe that the Huang family was cursed or afflicted with a strange disease, thus avoiding suspicion.

In reality, that plan had worked quite well.

If Huang Munya had died suddenly, everyone would have suspected foul play, but after suffering for nearly a year, no one suspected murder.

Didn't the family even certify that it wasn't poison? If Qingming hadn't appeared, according to the plan of the chief, the Huang family would have all perished, and the chief would have pocketed their wealth.

Meanwhile, Ban Ja-bok, who had previously competed with Huang Munya, recited a sorrowful tale that could not be heard without tears, but that was of no concern to Qingming.

"If you commit a crime, you must be punished. Is there anyone in this world without a story?" The only thing Qingming was interested in was the source of the poison.

But even that was said to have been discovered from a corpse encountered deep in the mountains while on a business trip.

Qingming felt deflated. 'Well, if the demonic sect was involved, it wouldn't have been so careless.' No, more than that, they wouldn't have handled things so cautiously and quietly.

If they were bothered, wouldn't they just overturn everything?

In any case, in conclusion, he had caught the poisonous creature, healed the illness of the great Huang, and confirmed that the demonic sect was not involved, so everything had turned out well.

Thanks to that, Qingming became a benefactor of the Galaxy Merchant Association and received a warm welcome as a precious guest.

A very precious guest indeed.

"Uhm."

Huang Munya lightly sat up.

"Father, you still need to be careful with your movements. It hasn't been long since you got out of bed."

"It's fine. Although I had been lying down for a long time, I feel even stronger now than before I collapsed."

"Still..."

"There's nothing to worry about."

Huang Zhongyi looked at Huang Munya with suspicious eyes.

That was understandable, as Huang Munya looked no different from a ghost.

He seemed ready to collapse at any moment, yet he claimed to be overflowing with strength.

"More importantly," Huang Munya raised his head to look at Qingming.

"You are Qingming, the small Daoist, right?" "Yes. Didn't we meet before?" "You seem a bit different from that time."

"Ah. I've been eating well."

Qingming scratched the back of his head with his chubby hand.

Those watching the scene all had subtly shaken expressions. 'He has doubled in size.' 'How much did he eat in three days for his clothes to be about to burst?' 'His face is dripping with grease; he looks like a Buddha.

If he had gone to the Buddhist sect, he would have succeeded, but why did he go to the Daoist path?' 'So that's why he was talking about the sound of a dying pig.' Everyone shook their heads at the sight of Qingming, who had doubled in size in just three days.

Only Huang Munya maintained a calm expression, showing how seasoned a merchant he was.

"First, let me greet you."

Huang Munya suddenly bowed deeply.

Huang Zhongyi was startled and tried to lift him up, but upon receiving a stern look from his father, he silently stepped back.

With just a glance, Huang Munya had subdued Huang Zhongyi and bowed his head again, speaking.

"Thanks to the small Daoist, I have been saved. I cannot repay this kindness."

"Oh, get up, get up."

Repay? Why would he have nothing to repay? There were too many things to count.

As Qingming spoke, Huang Munya slowly straightened his back and smiled brightly.

"I have heard the story from Zhongyi. If it weren't for the Daoist, I would already be dead. Even beasts know to repay their saviors; if a person forgets their gratitude after being born as a human, they would be worse than a beast."

"Oh, you speak well."

That's right.

Huang Munya looked at Qingming quietly and said, "There may not be a way to repay the kindness of saving my life, but I want to do everything I can. If you have any wishes, please feel free to tell me."

"Ah, wishes?" "Yes."

"Haha. How can a Daoist save a person and ask for a reward? It would be a big deal if the sect found out."

"Repayment knows no bounds. If someone seeking the Dao were to overlook a kindness, the people of the world would laugh at me. And I myself would not be able to accept it."

"I understand your heart, but... the sect would not allow it. I came here without the sect's permission."

"Without the sect's permission?" "Yes. It was such an urgent matter that I didn't have time to get permission."

Huang Munya looked at the young Daoist before him with eyes full of emotion.

How could he not be moved by the fact that someone had risked crossing the sect's walls to save him? "To that extent!" "As I said, it was a very urgent matter."

Huang Munya was touched, and Huang Zhongyi narrowed his eyes. 'He looks so relaxed.' But he dared not speak in front of his father.

Huang Munya, nodding repeatedly with a satisfied expression, spoke.

"I will resolve that issue for you. And Daoist, I will not inform the sect, so please tell me what you desire. I will do my utmost..."

"Did you promise?" Huang Munya tilted his head slightly at Qingming's voice, which interrupted him.

"What?" "You promised not to inform the sect."

"Ah... Of course. I am a merchant, after all; I have that much sense..."

Before Huang Munya could finish his sentence, Qingming pulled out a book from his sleeve and held it up.

Huang Munya stared at the book with a puzzled expression.

"What is that book?" "Oh, it's nothing special. As I've grown older, my memory has become a bit hazy."

Growing older? You? Qingming grinned and lightly shook the book.

"I wrote down a few things." "...... What?" "You told me to say what I wanted."

"I did."

"So I wrote it down."

"Ah, so... that book? All of it?" Qingming wet his finger and turned the pages, grinning as he raised the corners of his mouth.

"So, can we start now?" "......"

"Right now?" "......"

Huang Munya thought he might have made a huge mistake.