C5 Revoke Their Qualifications

"Qingmei!" Xiao Qiufeng called out to Lau Qingmei with a face full of regret. He then turned to Zhou Ruoxue with an icy glare, exuding a formidable aura as he warned, "Given our history and my grandmother's kindness towards me, I'm willing to let bygones be bygones. But if you dare cross me again, don't expect me to hold back!"

Zhou Ruoxue and Lu Xiaochuan felt an immense weight bear down on them, their bodies involuntarily shuddering. They stared at Xiao Qiufeng, their faces a mix of horror and disbelief, wondering, "Could this be the same person we once dismissed as worthless?"

"Let's go!" Lau Qingmei said, dismissing the pettiness of the confrontation. She turned to leave, and Xiao Qiufeng quickly followed.

By the time Lu Xiaochuan and Zhou Ruoxue regained their composure, Xiao Qiufeng had vanished from sight.

Lu Xiaochuan clenched his fists in fury. "Damn it! I must have been cursed!"

The thought of being intimidated by someone they considered a nobody was unbearable.

Zhou Ruoxue, fuming, vowed, "That wretch better not cross my path again, or she'll regret it."

Meanwhile, inside the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Lau Qingmei glanced at Xiao Qiufeng and asked out of the blue, "Does the divorce hurt?"

Xiao Qiufeng paused, then admitted with a tinge of sorrow, "Somewhat."

"Your ex-wife will soon regret her decision," Lau Qingmei assured him with a meaningful look.

Xiao Qiufeng sheepishly scratched his head and hesitantly said, "Thanks. Miss Lau, could I possibly borrow some more money?"

Lau Qingmei had already covered his mother's medical bills, but to fully heal her, Xiao Qiufeng needed to improve his cultivation—a feat impossible without funds to buy the necessary herbs.

"Here, take this," Lau Qingmei said, handing him a bank card. "The PIN is on the back. There's a million in there."

Xiao Qiufeng hastily gestured his refusal, insisting, "I only need 50,000 yuan!" In truth, the cost of the medicinal herbs required for his cultivation wasn't steep—50,000 yuan would suffice. Plus, he was confident that there would be plenty of opportunities to make money in the future.

Lau Qingmei blinked her large, dewy eyes and, with a grin, pushed the bank card into Xiao Qiufeng's hand, saying, "Here, take it. Lending 50,000 yuan or a million makes no difference to me. And from now on, just call me Qingmei, okay?"

Xiao Qiufeng's mouth fell open, but all he managed to do was grip the bank card tightly, his heart swelling with gratitude.

As they pulled into a luxurious residential complex and came to a stop in front of a standalone villa, Lau Qingmei handed Xiao Qiufeng a set of keys and announced, "This is your new home!"

Stunned, Xiao Qiufeng sputtered, "Qingmei, what's all this about?"

With an eye roll, Lau Qingmei explained, "Your mother's place is scheduled for demolition, right next to a foul-smelling ditch. It's no place for someone in her condition."

She continued, "Just take them. You've already borrowed the money; what's a house on top of that?"

For a long moment, Xiao Qiufeng was at a loss for words. Finally, he inhaled deeply, accepted the keys, and said earnestly, "Miss Lau, I am deeply grateful for your kindness today. I will find a way to repay you."

Lau Qingmei's smile was radiant as she replied, "There's no need for such formality with me!"

Her words carried a hint of closeness that sent Xiao Qiufeng's heart racing. Could Miss Lau have feelings for me? The thought boldly crossed his mind, yet it seemed laughable.

After all, he was a man of no particular success and already divorced—how could someone like Lau Qingmei possibly be interested in him?

"Dummy. I've got to run. I'll drop by to see you another day," she said casually.

Lost in his thoughts, Xiao Qiufeng watched as Lau Qingmei drove off. Her departure only strengthened his resolve to become stronger.

He decided against rushing to the hospital to see his adoptive mother, as she no longer required surgery. He was confident he could heal her himself, but he knew he had to prepare thoroughly first.

With a key in hand, he unlocked the villa's door and hastened to his room, unable to contain his eagerness. Settling cross-legged on the bed, he closed his eyes and delved into the legacy left by his father, a wealth of knowledge ripe for the taking.

He pondered briefly before diving into the medical texts. To save his mother, he needed to master this knowledge. As Xiao Qiufeng absorbed the information, he realized that these medical secrets were beyond the grasp of the average person, each intricately linked to the Spiritual Energy within him.

With sufficient Spiritual Energy, he could potentially reverse death itself. There were pills, like the Essence Cultivating Pill and the Longevity Pill, whose miraculous effects could grant a century of life. Yet, the ingredients for these pills were prohibitively expensive, and Xiao Qiufeng couldn't yet afford them.

Next, he turned his attention to the teachings of Martial Arts cultivation. Despite his mental preparation, the revelations left him astounded. Suddenly, Xiao Qiufeng felt a surge of restlessness. Who wouldn't dream of becoming immortal?

For a moment, his breath caught in his throat as he immersed himself in the study of Martial Arts cultivation. Qi Refining was merely the initial step on a path that included nearly ten stages, such as Foundation, Golden Core, and Taoist Fasting.

Reaching the Qi Refining Stage would grant him the freedom to do as he pleased. And upon achieving the Foundation level, he would be unstoppable, capable of killing with a mere gesture and extending his life to three hundred years.

With this newfound knowledge igniting a fire within him, Xiao Qiufeng's eyes sparkled with uncontainable excitement. "If I become such a powerhouse, who in this world could ever belittle me again?" he thought, fists clenched. The taunts from his mother-in-law, Lee Xia, his ex-wife, Zhou Ruoxue, and Lu Xiaochuan's mockery at the temple replayed in his mind, fueling his resolve.

"Just wait. You'll regret this!" Xiao Qiufeng's fists tightened, his expression turning icy.

Without delay, he began his cultivation, and the Spiritual Energy from all around the villa converged towards him, seeping into his body through his pores before finally fusing with his Dantian and his breath.

Meanwhile, in another opulent villa, Lau Qingmei sat on the sofa, her demeanor cool and authoritative.

The butler approached and reported, "Miss, the Municipal Director and J City's wealthiest man have requested the honor of dining with you."

Lau Qingmei declined without a second thought, "I refuse. If they wish to meet me, they can attend the cocktail party."

The butler, unsurprised, continued, "Calls have come in from the Provincial Director and the top military commander of Jiangnan Province, confirming their attendance at the cocktail party."

Lau Qingmei gave a nonchalant nod, then mused aloud, "That Xiao Qiufeng seems rather interesting. Certainly more so than those from the capital."

The butler's smile conveyed agreement. "The Old Master's decisions are always sound."

Lau Qingmei offered a small smile before steering the conversation elsewhere, "Speaking of which, has there been any interest from the Lu family in attending the cocktail party?"

"Yes, they hold significant influence in J City. We've extended an invitation for this occasion," the butler replied after a moment's thought.

Lau Qingmei's response was immediate, "Revoke their invitation to the cocktail party."