Top Soldier Pursued by a Beauty

Yun Keqing's expression was complicated. She held a miniature Magic Artifact in her hand that resembled a qin. It was made of pure silver, exquisitely delicate, and only the size of a palm. Zhao Dong knew that a descendant of a great family like Yun Keqing would always have such hidden weapons.

He asked Yun Keqing coldly, "Miss Yun, what is the meaning of this?"

Yun Keqing bit her lip. "Zhao Dong, he's my senior brother. Don't do anything rash."

Zhao Dong responded coldly, "I'm not the one being rash; your senior brother is. If I hadn't been strong enough today, he likely wouldn't have just stolen my Dragon Blood Stone—he would have crippled me."

Yun Keqing's face paled. "My senior brother is from Zixiao Academy. If you dare to touch him, you'll make an enemy of the academy. Then, no one in the entire East Sea will be able to help you!"

"Are you threatening me?" In a flash, Zhao Dong appeared in front of Zu Zhanpeng, his hand clamping directly around his throat.

Yun Keqing screamed, "Don't do anything foolish!"

"And what if I do?"

Her voice trembling and her face a deathly white, Yun Keqing pleaded, "Zhao Dong, I give you my word. If you don't trust him, please, trust me this once... I promise my senior brother won't bother you again. Please don't be impulsive!"

Zhao Dong squinted at Zu Zhanpeng, whose eyes were bulging, and said indifferently, "I can spare your pathetic life, but hand over whatever valuables you have on you."

As if grasping at a lifeline, Zu Zhanpeng fumbled in his pocket and shakily handed a small wooden box to Zhao Dong.

Zhao Dong shoved Zu Zhanpeng aside and opened the box. Inside lay a single, blood-red pill. He sniffed it faintly and was instantly overjoyed, his eyes filled with hidden excitement.

Is this... a Blood Replenishing Pill?

The Blood Replenishing Pill was a life-saving elixir. For an ordinary person, it could pull them back even if they had one foot in the grave. For a cultivator, it was even more useful. Even if mortally wounded, swallowing one could restore seventy to eighty percent of their vitality in moments. It was less of a Blood Replenishing Pill and more of a Life-saving Pill.

But what delighted Zhao Dong most was that with this one Blood Replenishing Pill, he could create a hundred, or even a thousand, more.

Out in the world, a single pill like this would fetch at least a hundred million at auction. Even then, countless tycoons and cultivators would fight frantically for it, because it was essentially an extra life.

A single glance was all it took for Zhao Dong to understand the pill's composition; he already knew how to refine it. If he could produce these pills in bulk, he could exchange them for all sorts of resources.

Zhao Dong was thrilled. He glanced at Zu Zhanpeng, who lay on the ground like a dead dog, and snorted. "Fine. I'll let you keep your miserable life. Get lost!"

Letting Zu Zhanpeng go was exactly what Zhao Dong had intended. After all, Yun Keqing was right—Zu Zhanpeng was currently a Disciple of Zixiao Academy. Zixiao Academy was powerful, one of the six great sects of Longdong Province. Killing Zu Zhanpeng might truly bring the academy's wrath down on him, which was an unnecessary risk. A lesson was sufficient, especially since he had acquired the Blood Replenishing Pill.

Zhao Dong looked at Yun Keqing and said indifferently, "Miss Yun, today I'll give you and the Yun Family face. I won't pursue your senior brother's transgression. But tell him to be more careful next time. Not everyone is someone he can afford to offend."

Yun Keqing bit her lip and sighed softly. "I understand. The Dragon Blood Stone... here, it's yours." She tossed the Dragon Blood Stone over, and Zhao Dong caught it. After glancing at the two of them, he turned to leave.

After Zhao Dong left, Zu Zhanpeng, still on the ground with a bloodied face, slammed his fist into the dirt. "That son of a bitch! I won't accept this! I won't accept it!"

Yun Keqing helped Zu Zhanpeng to his feet and sighed softly. "Senior brother, this Zhao Dong might not be as simple as he appears. There's no need to get entangled with him. You should give up on revenge."

Zu Zhanpeng's face was a dark mask of fury. "I refuse to accept this! Why is that bastard stronger than me? Keqing, don't worry. If that bastard dares to look down on us, I'll see to it that he dies! Just because I can't beat him doesn't mean others can't!"

Yun Keqing clenched her teeth. "Senior brother, must you seek revenge?"

"I swear I'm no man if I don't get revenge for this!"

Zu Zhanpeng snorted coldly and limped away.

A look of helplessness crossed Yun Keqing's face, and she sighed again. But in the next moment, her mind filled with questions.

Why is this Zhao Dong so strong? How could he defeat my senior brother? Something isn't right... Could it be that he has some kind of Secret Technique? I need to go back and tell the family elders... There's something strange about this Zhao Dong!

Without hesitating, Yun Keqing hurried back to the Yun Family estate.

Zhao Dong returned home to find his father, Zhao Kangyou, and his mother, Zhang Cuimei, sitting in the small courtyard.

Seeing him, Zhang Cuimei immediately stood up with a smile. "Xiao Dong, have you eaten? Tell me what you want, and I'll make it for you."

Zhao Dong smiled. "I've already eaten, Mom. Have you two eaten?"

"We had a little something to eat," Zhang Cuimei said, smiling. "We were worried you'd be hungry after being out, so we thought we'd make you a bite when you got back."

Zhao Dong was touched. "Mom, you and Dad should be resting. Don't worry about me. I'm fine out there."

Zhao Kangyou said with feeling, "Xiao Dong, your mother and I don't know what you're doing out there. That's your private business, and we won't ask. But you must be careful and stay safe. Remember that."

Zhao Dong nodded. "I will, Dad! By the way, have the neighbors stopped coming by to cause trouble?"

Zhang Cuimei gave a wry smile. "No one came to bother us, but a lot of people came to the house this afternoon."

Zhao Dong frowned. "Came to our house? What for?"

Zhang Cuimei quickly explained, "They weren't here to make trouble; they were looking for you. They all brought gifts, asking if you could help them by inquiring about the demolition."

Zhao Dong's brow furrowed. "The demolition is impossible. Our family doesn't need the money now, so it doesn't matter if the house is torn down or not. Those people were blinded by greed, so they get what they deserve! It's useless for them to ask anyone for help now."

Zhang Cuimei sighed softly. "You're right, but... I still feel a little guilty."

"Mom, that's because you and Dad are too soft-hearted," Zhao Dong said. "Did they feel guilty when they were causing trouble for our family and bullying you two? Did they feel guilty when they tried to seize our land?"

Hearing her son's words, Zhang Cuimei felt a weight lift from her heart. She managed a smile. "Alright, we understand. We won't get involved."

Zhao Dong smiled back. "Mom, Dad, let's move tomorrow. The house I bought is already renovated, so let's move over then. After that, you and Dad can just tend to the flowers and go fishing when you're bored. Stop worrying all the time."

Zhao Kangyou shook his head. "That won't work. We'd go stir-crazy staying home all day. Your mother and I will find jobs. We may be old, but your mother can work as a cleaner, and I can do odd jobs on a construction site. We can still earn money."

Zhao Dong's eyes grew warm. "Dad, Mom, if you really insist on working, I'll find something for you. You don't have to do jobs like that."

Looking at his parents' weathered faces, Zhao Dong felt a pang of heartache.

The elderly couple simply sighed, smiled, and said no more.

With Zhao Dong home, they went inside to rest, leaving him alone in the courtyard with his thoughts.

Right now, the most important thing for him was to increase his strength. He had the herbs, so it was time to begin Alchemy. However, he still needed a Pill Furnace and two more ingredients, which meant a trip to the herbal market tomorrow. His plan was set: move his parents, visit the market, and then refine the pills. He had to get stronger as quickly as possible.

His premonition was growing stronger: Xiao Hongtian was coming. People from Lin Qingyun's Lin Family would also be on their way soon. He had to get serious.

His mind drifted to the two people from the Gu Family that Ji Xueyao had hit with her car on the overpass today.

I noticed right away that Gu Moning has some kind of health problem. I wonder if she went to the hospital.

Zhao Dong didn't know why Gu Moning had suddenly popped into his head.

After sitting for a while longer, he decided to head inside. Just then, he heard footsteps at the gate. A beautiful, slender figure walked in.

Zhao Dong looked over and froze.

It was none other than Wang Yan, Liu Meihua's daughter.

Wang Yan had been a childhood playmate, but they had drifted apart as they grew up. They'd had a falling out when they were young and had never played together since.

Now, she was dressed in a black miniskirt, her long hair styled in large waves—the very image of a sophisticated city woman. Her pretty face was covered in heavy makeup, and her long, narrow eyes held a cold indifference. She wore black stiletto heels that highlighted her sultry figure. Carrying a small purse, her long, captivating legs and ample chest were the very picture of temptation.

Their eyes met. Wang Yan stared at Zhao Dong, her brows knitting slightly. Zhao Dong stared back for a few seconds before speaking in a tone that was neither warm nor cold.

"What are you doing here? Here to get revenge for your mother?"