Chapter Sixty-Seven: Bearing the Burden

The position of Inspector was a leisurely one—at least for Qin Ming. He had reached an agreement with Zhuge Tao: as long as they refrained from causing trouble, he wouldn’t bother to interfere. But if they did, he would show no mercy.

After returning home, rumors about him spread wildly throughout the neighborhood. Visitors arrived in an endless stream, yet Qin Ming couldn’t be bothered and left it to his father to handle. Qin Yicheng, on the other hand, was tireless, finding joy in welcoming and seeing people off.

As night fell, in the study—

“Dad, look, what’s this?” Qin Ming said with a smile, handing over a vial of the Water of Life.

“Is it really that?” Qin Yicheng’s eyes brightened, his body trembling as he took it, his voice quivering, “Three billion worth of Water of Life? The priceless Water of Life?”

This was something he had coveted day and night. Yet, with his own abilities, it was impossible to obtain. Even with three billion, there was no channel to purchase it.

“With my status now, what does this amount to?” Qin Ming replied. “Once your severed arm has regenerated, Dad, you’ll need some time to adjust. Then I’ll give you Dragon Blood. After you use it, your physical strength will reach the level of a War God.”

“Dragon Blood?” Qin Yicheng’s breath caught. He had heard of it in passing—that was truly legendary.

Qin Ming nodded, opened a jar of wine he’d brought, and carefully dropped in a bead. He instructed, “Dad, just now I put in the pistil bead of the Drunken Sky Flower, a spirit of flora. After soaking for three days, let Mom and Lulu drink a small cup each day. It will improve their constitution, at least raising them to warrior level—possibly even to the rank of a war commander. But never let them drink too much in a day.”

“Spirit of flora? What is that?” This time, Qin Yicheng was genuinely clueless but still deeply shaken. “It can raise their constitution to warrior level?”

“Yes. It’s even more precious than Dragon Blood. Dad, don’t speak of it to anyone, not even Mom or Lulu. If word gets out, our doorstep will be trampled flat.”

“Alright.” Qin Yicheng’s heart tightened as he nodded, gazing at the Water of Life in his hand, the jar steeped with the spirit bead, and recalling his son’s promise of Dragon Blood. His eyes grew hot, and he nudged Qin Ming’s arm. “Good son!”

“If I didn’t share good things with my own father, heaven would strike me down.”

“Hahaha!”

Qin Yicheng laughed heartily, tears glistening in his eyes.

After calming himself, he drank the Water of Life in one gulp. Moments later, a tingling numbness and piercing pain surged from the wound. He paid no mind, focused solely on the scar. The scab split, flesh wriggled forward, even bone extended outward—a shocking sight, but both were warriors forged in blood and were not afraid.

Elbow, wrist, and finally, when the fingers fully formed, Qin Yicheng stared wide-eyed, rotating and clenching his hand repeatedly.

“My hand has grown back, Xiao Ming, it’s really grown back!”

He repeated his joy, speaking through tears, and pulled Qin Ming into a tight embrace, releasing all the past repression and anguish.

“Son, you don’t know, you really don’t know—when I returned with my arm severed, how heavy, how hopeless I felt!”

“All I ever wanted was to give your mother the best life, to create the finest conditions for you and Lulu!”

“But with my arm gone, I could no longer go out hunting!”

“At that time, you hadn’t succeeded in martial arts—at eighteen, you were just an average student, your academic scores so-so. Even if you got into a second-tier university, with my care you wouldn’t be bullied, but in the end, you’d fade into the crowd. And if I were gone?”

“Your sister was only twelve!”

“I suffered insomnia every day back then!”

“Thankfully, you rose swiftly!”

“But then I worried—you might someday follow in my footsteps, or worse…”

“Now, I am completely at ease!”

“Finally, I can sleep soundly!”

Qin Yicheng released him, wiping away tears.

“Dad, from now on, this family is my responsibility,” Qin Ming said, earnest and resolute.

It was the continuation of bloodline, the passing of duty.

After things settled, they moved to the living room. When Luo Xia, watching television, saw Qin Yicheng’s arm had grown back, she wept for joy. Even Lulu cheered.

The couple was left alone in the house.

The siblings wandered into the courtyard.

“Brother, I really admire you! I’ve decided you’re my idol from now on!”

“Why do you admire me?”

“You invented the Air-Stepping Technique, letting warriors fly through the air. You don’t know—at school, everyone worships you! Especially the girls—they clip your pictures from newspapers, magazines, even download them to stick on their textbooks! Some are annoying enough to tattoo your image on themselves!”

“Cough, tattooed?”

“Yep! But I’m annoyed with you too!”

“You just said you admired me—now you’re annoyed?”

“Because of you, they added two extra PE classes every day!”

“Heh, that’s great!”

“Great? It’s exhausting! But thanks to you, I’m a little celebrity now!”

“Don’t get proud! And don’t use my name to bully anyone!”

“I’m the most well-behaved, okay?”

“Good.”

Under the sparse stars, the moon unchanged through the ages, Qin Ming lay in bed as night deepened, sleeping sweetly. No matter how soft the beds outside, nothing compared to a night at home.

The next day, after breakfast, Qin Ming prepared to head out. As he stepped outside, he saw Wang Lang approaching.

“Qin Ming!” Wang Lang quickened his pace, coming near.

“Brother Wang, it’s been over two months. You look a little worn out.”

Qin Ming noticed that, compared to two months ago, the once sunny young man now had a hint of world-weariness and was much more composed.

“I went out hunting, just returned a few days ago,” Wang Lang said. “You don’t realize the danger humanity faces until you go out. Outside the base, beasts are everywhere—no matter how many you kill, they’re endless.”

“As long as we keep growing, one day we’ll completely subjugate them, just like pigs, cows, and sheep once were!”

“Hahaha, I’m not as confident as you.” Wang Lang laughed. “I heard you became an Inspector? But you don’t look it—still the same as always, not putting on airs.”

“Put on airs in front of the neighbors? Believe me, my dad would chase me with a mop!” Qin Ming replied. “I’m just a little stronger, a little richer, that’s all.”

“Invincible War God, richest man in the world—just a little stronger and richer?” Wang Lang shook his head. “Heading out?”

“Yeah.”

“Go on, don’t let me hold you up.”

“Alright, let’s catch up soon.”

Watching Qin Ming walk away, Wang Lang sighed, “Even with power to awe the world, he hasn’t changed his old nature. That’s rare. If it were me, I doubt…”

After Qin Ming left, he went to a nearby café. Not long after, Niu Piaopiao arrived.

“Sister Niu, over here!”

“A few days apart and you’re a changed man. I should look up to you now!”

“Sister Niu, you jest! How have things been lately?” Qin Ming smiled, having invited her today.

“Pretty good,” Niu Piaopiao answered. “I work as a coach at the martial arts hall. Life is solid. You invited me to ask about their families, right?”

By “they,” she meant Yang Sanbao, Ma De Cao, and Xiong Tianao.

Qin Ming nodded. “How are they?”

“They grieved, but life goes on. Don’t worry, nothing serious.”

“That’s good.” Qin Ming said, taking out a vial of Water of Life and handing it over. “Drink it—it’ll remove your scars.”

“Remove scars? Could it be…” Niu Piaopiao’s heart raced. Seeing Qin Ming nod, she pushed it back. “I’ve grown used to the scars on my face. This is too precious—I can’t accept it.”

“Sister Niu, you’re not getting any younger!”

Niu Piaopiao’s expression darkened and she shook her head. “If a man dislikes the scars on my face, he’s not worth having.”

“Sister Niu, I make billions in minutes—a vial like this means nothing to me!” Qin Ming struggled to persuade her, finally rising and heading out. “If you really don’t want it, the trash bin’s right there.”

“You rascal…” Niu Piaopiao smiled bitterly, touched in her heart.