I Have Infinite Attributes

Chapter 30

C30 – The Person Who Betrayed His Master

The Zheng family was herded into the courtyard by the Zhou family, fear etched on their faces, some tinged with anger.

They couldn’t grasp the full story, so they felt the Zhou family’s actions were excessively cruel. First, they inexplicably forced Zheng Xunqin into a divorce. Then, they murdered the Zheng family elder, Zheng Kang. Now, they seemed intent on annihilating the Zhengs.

Was there no justice left in the world?

The sight of their patriarch, Zheng Huai, and the bodies of other senior and regular elders only deepened their fear and rage.

Zhou Jibo remained silent. Once the entire Zheng family was present, he signaled to the defector who had sought his protection to step forward and speak.

“Fellow Zhengs, I am Zheng Linghan, son of Zheng Shuidong. I’ve been aware of the feud between our families from the start. Today, I will reveal everything and identify those who have wronged the Zhou family.”

“Whether you curse or strike me is of no consequence. Young Master Zhou has assured me that he will only execute those who have wronged his family. No one else will be harmed.”

“The Zheng family members who were killed died because they resisted; it was never the Zhou family’s desire to do so.”

As he spoke, looks of loathing were cast his way.

The Zhengs, though fearful of death, found themselves united in their hatred for Zheng Linghan, who seemed even more despicable than the Zhous.

But then, Zheng Linghan exposed their own family’s treachery: their defection to the Shrine of Astral Radiance, Zheng Xunqin leading the Second Palace Holy Son to extract Zhou Jibo’s bone root, Zheng Kang’s failed assassination attempt on Zhou Jibo, and Zheng Hongyi’s provocations leading to their business ostracization in Icefair. Many Zhengs were left in disbelief.

Had their family really committed such vile acts?

It was no surprise the Zhou family had retaliated!

Naturally, some had been privy to these deeds from the start. Even with the truth laid bare, their hatred for the Zhou family persisted. Loyalty to one’s clan is not easily swayed by revelations or regrets.

Zhou Jibo observed their reactions closely, his gaze settling on Zheng Linghan.

What decision would Zheng Linghan make? Whom would he single out?

As Zhou Jibo had stated, this was both an opportunity and a test.

The test was twofold: it gauged Zheng Linghan’s choices and probed the attitudes of certain Zheng family members. Should Zheng Linghan resort to deceit, the Zheng family would forfeit a chance. And if hostility towards the Zhou family ran high, Zhou Jibo would spare no one.

The moment of choice for Zheng Linghan had arrived. He identified several individuals bearing grudges against the Zhou family.

Zhou Jibo scrutinized their demeanor closely, sensing no scapegoats among them. It was likely that some Zheng family members, previously uninvolved in conflicts with Zhou Jibo, now bore ill will.

Essentially, Zheng Linghan had included those whose enmity could incur Zhou Jibo’s displeasure.

Zhou Jibo handed over the individuals Zheng Linghan had indicated to other members of the Zhou family for handling, but he retained two.

One was Zheng Hongyi, the Zheng family’s steward, who had sought trouble with him at the Myriad Treasure Auction House within the Glorious House.

The other was a man who had fled to the Zhengs and was now apprehended: Zhou Xiuyun, Zhou Jibo’s former bodyguard.

Zheng Hongyi, kneeling, frantically begged for mercy. When Zhou Jibo inquired about Zheng Xunqin’s whereabouts and received no answer, he executed him without hesitation.

Wiping the blood from his blade, Zhou Jibo turned to Zhou Xiuyun. “Zhou Xiuyun, you were an orphan taken in by the Zhou family, who never wronged you. What drove you to betray us?”

With eyes aflame, Zhou Xiuyun retorted, “Yet you never fulfilled my desires. Fangyin and I are in love. Without betraying you, how could we ever afford a decent life?”

“Since your engagement to Miss Zheng, we’ve been siphoning the Zheng family’s wealth. To date, we’ve amassed four hundred taels of silver.”

“Four hundred taels?” Zhou Jibo’s voice was icy. “Quite the ‘steep’ price indeed.”

With a swift turn of his sword, Zhou Jibo plunged the blade into Zhou Xiuyun’s neck, then withdrew it, ending the betrayal.

Zhou Jibo had disengaged from the Zhou family’s affairs, no longer concerning himself with how they managed their people and wealth. He made his way to the Zheng family’s storeroom.

His intent was clear: to punish only those whom Zheng Linghan had identified as guilty, without unnecessary bloodshed. However, he had no plans to leave any assets for the Zheng family.

Upon entering the Zheng family’s storeroom, Zhou Jibo was taken aback by the meagerness of its contents. The weapons were subpar, accompanied by a modest collection of Element Gathering Powder, Bleeding Control Powder, a small cache of gold and silver, and Yellow Rank mental cultivation methods and martial skills.

To Zhou Jibo, who was versed in Earth Rank mental cultivation and Profound Rank martial skills, these Yellow Rank techniques were utterly useless. His own skills, along with his bone root, could be swiftly enhanced through the use of attribute points; he had no need for such inferior items.

Moreover, squandering attribute points on such trivialities would be pointless. Despite having a sufficient supply, Zhou Jibo was not one to waste them thoughtlessly, especially since his body had its limits on how much it could handle in terms of attribute enhancement.

But the scarcity of gold and silver puzzled him. He pondered the Zheng family’s recent attempts to ingratiate themselves with the Shrine of Astral Radiance, Zheng Xunqin’s current absence, and the recent refusal of Icefair City’s shops to conduct business with the Zhengs.

Then it dawned on him: the Zheng family had been incurring significant expenses lately. Likely, Zheng Xunqin had taken the wealth to other cities in pursuit of cultivation resources.

It appeared that Zhou Jibo’s gains from this venture would be modest at best.

Nonetheless, Zhou Jibo nonchalantly gathered over a dozen packets of Bleeding Control Powder. With a discreet use of attribute points, he enhanced the powder into Acquired Bleeding Control Pills and administered them to Zhou Zhenbo, Zhou Chulang, and other injured members of the Zhou family.

These individuals had battled valiantly for the Zhou family and served Zhou Jibo loyally; they did not deserve to perish so easily.

“Is this a pill?” Zhou Zhenbo, Zhou Chulang, and the others gaped in astonishment. The opportunity to consume such fabled medicine was beyond their wildest dreams.

After taking the pills, their injuries noticeably healed quickly. Initially unable to move, they gradually found themselves able to sit up and exchange a few words.

Zhou Jibo nonchalantly used over a dozen pills, leaving not only the Zhou family in awe but also drawing astonished looks from the Zheng family members.

Could the Zhou family really afford to produce more than ten pills? How much silver must that have cost?

Zheng Linghan, who had just identified members of his own Zheng family, shuddered at the thought. He had been holding onto hope that the arrival of the Holy Land’s emissary might turn the tide. However, it was becoming clear that Young Master Zhou was far from straightforward.

The situation was complicated. It would be best for him to comply willingly; any underhanded resistance would surely lead to dire consequences.

Filled with gratitude and respect for Zhou Jibo, the Zhou family members resumed their tasks with renewed vigor.

Zhou Jibo walked out, his recent actions against the Zheng family having brought no significant gains, nor had they eradicated the underlying threats. With Zheng Xunqin absent, he found no reason to linger.

Just then, a disheveled woman burst forth. Falling to her knees before Zhou Jibo, she implored him, “Please, I beg of you! Help me, Young Master Zhou!”

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