Due to the viral spread of the video, within just one night, all of Lei Ping’s personal information was dug up. Early the next morning, people were already gathered outside her parents’ apartment. A conflict broke out between Lei Ping’s parents and these people, resulting in both parents fainting and being rushed to the hospital for emergency care.

When the video surfaced, the comments section was filled with applause, with many saying it was retribution for not properly raising their daughter.

The hotel where Lei Ping was temporarily staying was also exposed. Upon hearing about her parents’ accident, she hurried back to her hometown to the hospital, only to be met by a group of people taking photos and videos. She was even pelted with rotten eggs, leaving her in a disheveled state. Lei Ping broke down in tears at the hospital, and her meltdown was live-streamed by some opportunistic content creators.

When she finally saw her unconscious mother, her father angrily berated her. Lei Ping, who had never experienced such treatment in her life, completely lost her composure. In her desperation, she reached out to Gu Xingzhao, hoping that Gu Xingzhao would release a video to clarify things.

Hiding in the bathroom, Lei Ping anxiously waited for a response from Gu Xingzhao, her fingers turning white from gripping the phone too tightly: “Gu Xingzhao, even if I said some bad things about you, they were all true, weren’t they?”

Lei Ping: “You stole my boyfriend in college, and I didn’t even hold it against you. Now, do you really have to be so petty and make things difficult for me?”

Lei Ping: “Please, they’re pushing me to the brink. I’ll apologize, but you have to help me first.”

Lei Ping was so angry she was nearly hysterical, gritting her teeth: “Gu Xingzhao, if something happens to my mother, you’re a murderer!”

Lei Ping: “I know where you live. If they push me to the point where I can’t take it anymore, I won’t let you get away with it either!”

Gu Xingzhao, seeing the message, couldn’t help but laugh out loud at the absurdity. Overnight, it had escalated to moral blackmail and threats to her life. Unfortunately for Lei Ping, Gu Xingzhao had no morals to be swayed by, nor could she be threatened.

She quickly recorded a video of the message screenshots and immediately blocked Lei Ping. She then contacted a lawyer recommended by her roommate, with the intent to take Lei Ping to court as quickly as possible, rejecting any possibility of mediation.

If Lei Ping really dared to cause trouble, Gu Xingzhao wouldn’t hesitate to strike back—no way was she going to waste the 8,800 yuan she spent on learning the Lightning Technique.

After scheduling a meeting with the lawyer, Gu Xingzhao lay on the couch, watching as Lu Qing and the others resumed their journey. She casually browsed the system store, taking notes on functions she might need someday, to avoid getting scammed by the system again.

After an hour of browsing, she finally found something she could use right now—an extraction technique that could quickly extract raw materials from any item, all for just 25 points of offering value.

Things like sulfur and charcoal weren’t hard to find in modern times; the key was saltpeter. Since it’s not available for purchase nowadays, and she couldn’t very well scrape it off latrines, she figured she’d try extracting it from fireworks. If that didn’t yield enough, she’d look into buying saltpeter in ancient times. Even if the purity wasn’t high, it could still be refined.

Moreover, fireworks didn’t exist in the era Lu Qing and the others were in, so there might be a chance to make a fortune by selling them to ancient people.

She immediately exchanged her points for the extraction technique and contacted Yang Hui to order a batch of fireworks.

Meanwhile, in ancient times…

The exiled group had only traveled for half a day before Du Hangwu ordered them to stop and rest. He walked away from the group alone, returning with a particularly grim expression.

A minor officer reported to him about the Lu family’s activities that day, “Boss, that Lu Xingyan is acting like nothing’s wrong today. He used to cough every day, but today he looks even more energetic than that Lu Zhou!”

The divine power of the Lu family was indeed impressive. Previously, Lu Xingyan had seemed on the brink of death, but now it looked like he could live for another fifty or sixty years.

Du Hangwu pressed his lips together and said in a deep voice, “Hand over those items you collected from Laiyuan Town.”

The minor officer’s eyes darted nervously, and he stammered with a forced laugh, “What items?”

But Du Hangwu extended his hand, leaving no room for negotiation.

Realizing he couldn’t escape, the minor officer reluctantly pulled out a jade thumb ring from his pocket and placed it in Du Hangwu’s hand, feeling a deep sense of loss.

Du Hangwu glanced at the ring but wasn’t satisfied. His hand remained outstretched.

The minor officer gritted his teeth and took out a heavy gold lock, placing it in Du Hangwu’s hand. “Boss, that’s really all I’ve got.”

He couldn’t figure out how Du Hangwu knew he had accepted bribes back in Laiyuan Town.

Du Hangwu’s voice was cold. “If you want to sell your life, you should pick a better master. That man, Surname Yu, works for Prince Su. How many lives do you think you have to sell?”

The minor officer clenched his teeth. He didn’t want to work for Prince Su, but just delivering messages for those people brought him more benefits than he could earn by staying honest in the capital for a lifetime.

Du Hangwu didn’t say anything further. He took the ring and the gold lock and walked over to the Lu family.

At that moment, several members of the Lu family, hungry, were discreetly eating instant noodles or gnawing on chicken legs. Lu Xingyao, holding a chicken leg, noticed the “plague god” heading their way and instinctively shoved the whole chicken leg into his mouth, leaving only a bit of bone sticking out.

His cheeks bulged, and his eyes stared warily at Du Hangwu, full of suspicion: Was this guy here to steal their food?

But Du Hangwu ignored Lu Xingyao and went straight to the old man, Lu Qing. “Elder Lu.”

Lu Qing, leaning on his cane, stood up with a smile. “Is there something you need, Officer Du?”

Du Hangwu had been rather accommodating to the Lu family these past few days, something Lu Qing had noticed.

Du Hangwu wasn’t one to beat around the bush. After glancing around and noticing that those who had been curious turned their heads away, he lowered his voice and said, “Elder Lu, the day you saved Yu Heng’s life, it was clear that your medical skills are exceptional. I’m not feeling well and would like to offer some wealth in exchange for medicine.”

Though Du Hangwu’s words were tactful, not mentioning divine intervention, everyone knew the truth: he was asking for medicine from the divine, not from Lu Qing.

Lu Qing appeared slightly hesitant, but when his gaze fell on the jade ring and gold lock in Du Hangwu’s hand, he remembered that his ancestors had once mentioned a fondness for gold and jewels.

“This matter… I need to discuss it with my family. I can’t promise it will be as you wish.”

Du Hangwu nodded and handed the items to Lu Qing.

When Lu Qing called out to Gu Xingzhao, she was downstairs at work, having just finished ringing up a customer. She immediately heard Lu Qing’s voice.

“What’s up?”

Lu Qing’s voice came through, “Ancestor, Du Hangwu claims he’s unwell and wishes to request medicine from the divine.”

Gu Xingzhao, lounging in her chair, lazily yawned. “I’m just a mere mortal, not a real deity, and I’m certainly not a doctor. How can I give him medicine?”

Lu Qing added, “He offered a jade ring and a gold lock as payment.”

“Gold lock?!” Gu Xingzhao immediately jumped up from her chair.

Compassionate healer indeed!

She quickly closed the supermarket, hanging up the “Resting” sign, and said to Lu Qing, “Hold on, don’t let Du Hangwu get away. I’m coming right now!”

Lu Qing was left speechless.