Chapter 148: Do You Sell Martial Arts Manuals?
Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Do You Sell Martial Arts Manuals?
"Oh, right."
As everyone fell into a strange silence, Wang Xi continued, speaking as if to himself:
"Commander Zhong said that Liu Mengzi, who preyed on men and women alike, was one scourge of Qingwei Town; Mao Xinrong, who abused his power for personal gain, was the second; and the Three Rivers Gang, who committed every evil imaginable, was the third..."
"This whole affair started because of me, yet it ended with me eliminating all three scourges. That makes me a Hero."
"A Hero eradicating pests for the people—what crime is there in that? Therefore, he thanked me profusely, respectfully saw me out of the Defense Bureau’s main gate, and even invited me to visit him for tea whenever I have time."
Everyone’s expressions grew stranger and stranger.
KLAK KLAK KLAK...
The sound of turning gears came from Wang Xi’s chest.
「You have told a lie.」
「Experience Points +10」
A sharp pain instantly shot through him.
Fortunately, it was a small lie and within his range of tolerance. He used the "Life is like a play" Seal to control his facial expression, revealing no flaws.
"Xizhi, you..."
Huo Mingchuan started to speak, but stopped himself. In the end, he just patted his disciple’s shoulder lightly.
"As long as you’re all right."
A man as worldly as him could easily tell that Wang Xi was holding something back. But sometimes, true wisdom is knowing when not to press the matter.
Huo Shenglan and Yu Ruiyang exchanged a look, remaining silent in their mutual understanding. Only Zhang Fuyun couldn’t hold back, rushing forward with a face full of admiration.
"Senior Brother, you’re incredible! You killed Liu Mengzi with a single punch yesterday, and then you caught a bullet with your bare hands! Can you teach your junior brother how to..."
"Why don’t you master the basics first!"
Huo Qiao’Er chimed in from the side, cutting him down.
"Trying to fly before you can even walk."
"Alright, alright, Senior Sister..."
Zhang Fuyun scratched his head, looking embarrassed.
"My Martial Arts were all taught by Master. Fuyun, once you’ve trained enough, you’ll be able to do it too."
Wang Xi said with a smile.
Huo Mingchuan let out a light cough, his old face nearly flushing with second-hand embarrassment. He thought to himself, ’Forget me, even if the old master of the Huo Family were still alive, he probably couldn’t do that!’
’Catch a bullet with his bare hands?’
’That was a feat from Martial Arts Legend, a realm only a Grandmaster who had broken through the Nine Palaces and Two Instruments, perfected their Acquired Essence, and cultivated the power of Nine Oxen and Two Tigers could possibly reach.’
’He had trained bitterly for decades, yet he had only managed to break through the Nine Palaces. The Two Instruments remained completely out of reach.’
’Now, it seemed his disciple, Wang Xi, had truly undergone a Metamorphosis—after experiencing life and death, he had a sudden epiphany and achieved the realm of a Grandmaster.’
It was hard to believe, but the facts were right in front of him, and he could only sigh in wonder.
"Master, Master’s wife, I bought you gifts."
Taking advantage of everyone being present, Wang Xi took out the things he had bought last night.
"And Brother Yu, Junior Brother Zhang, there’s something for you too."
He gave the porcelain bottle of Black Yudan to his master to heal old injuries and strengthen his constitution. He gave the copper mirror, Separation, to his master’s wife to light up their home and ensure their safety.
He presented the ginseng root, Duan’s Beard, to his senior brother to nourish his Physique and refresh his mind. He gave the Ancient Copper Coins, Five-Cent Duck, to his junior brother to improve his luck and ward off evil.
As he gave out four gifts in a row, everyone was both surprised and delighted.
Huo Mingchuan uncorked the wooden stopper and took a gentle sniff from the mouth of the small porcelain bottle. A rich medicinal fragrance wafted into his nose, and he instantly felt a faint warmth spread through his meridians, the dull ache of old wounds suddenly easing.
The moment the fragrance entered his body, it was like a frozen stream thawing in spring; the old injuries accumulated over the years seemed to be gently soothed by an invisible hand.
A look of astonishment flashed in Master Huo’s eyes.
’This was just from a single sniff, and the effect is already so obvious. If I were to take this elixir, my old injuries from all these years could probably be completely cured!’
’He had been immersed in the Qihuang Skill for half his life, yet he couldn’t identify even three or four of the main ingredients. Not only was the concoction exquisite, but more remarkably, its medicinal properties both clashed and complemented each other, its domineering power concealing a gentle, nourishing nature.’
’Such methods were unheard of.’
Huo Mingchuan’s Adam’s apple bobbed as his fingertips traced the faint ice-crackle pattern on the porcelain bottle.
"Xizhi, you’re too kind."
He didn’t ask where his disciple had acquired these items. He just sighed inwardly; Xizhi’s destiny had truly changed.
Zhang Fuyun held the five Ancient Copper Coins strung together with a red thread, unable to put them down. He thanked his senior brother repeatedly and added:
"Senior Brother, wait till I go home, I’ll get you a gift in return. My uncles have a lot of good stuff stashed away..."
As he was listening, Wang Xi caught a glimpse of a figure flashing past the arched gateway in the corner of the courtyard.
"I’m going to relieve myself."
Wang Xi patted his junior brother’s arm, gave a small smile and nod to the others, then got up and walked quickly in that direction.
He walked straight through the archway and saw his senior sister, Huo Silin, with her hair in a ponytail, leaning against a wall and staring into space.
Although he hadn’t been here for long, Wang Xi had already figured out that this senior sister of his was not good with words and had a reclusive personality. She had probably been hiding here for a while.
"Senior Sister, there’s a gift for you too."
Wang Xi walked forward slowly and took out the long, reddish-brown paper box containing the Rain Prayer Incense.
Huo Silin turned her head to look at him, her expression complicated. She seemed to want to say something but couldn’t find the words.
Finally, she said in a low voice:
"Junior Brother, you’ve really changed a lot after your near-death experience. I just want to say, it’s good that you came back safely. You don’t need to give me a gift..."
"Please take it, Senior Sister." Wang Xi held out the long box. "Everyone got one, how could I leave you out... Besides, I spent a long time picking this gift just for you."
Hearing this, Huo Silin opened her mouth, but in the end, she simply sighed, accepted the long box, and said, "You’re too thoughtful, Junior Brother. Thank you."
...
...
After breakfast, Wang Xi went out again.
After leaving the Huo Family Martial Arts Hall, he returned to the spot where he had met the vendor the previous night.
It had been too dark to see clearly then. Returning to the place now, Wang Xi discovered it was a shop called "Sun’s Rice Shop."
But at the moment, the shop’s door was wide open for business under the eaves. People were coming and going, and a couple of children were sitting by the side playing with marbles.
The vendor was long gone.
Just as Wang Xi was feeling a pang of regret, he heard a laugh from not far behind him:
"Young man, could you be looking for me?"
Wang Xi turned around and saw the gray-robed vendor standing by the roadside, carrying his large and peculiar display case on his back. He was holding a food box, eating and smiling at Wang Xi.
"Mister vendor," Wang Xi greeted him immediately and walked over. "I thought you had left."
"Hey now, young man. We agreed: the deal was done, no refunds or exchanges."
The vendor picked up another piece of twice-cooked pork with green peppers with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth, a look of pleasure on his face as he chuckled.
"I’m not here for a refund," Wang Xi said, waving his hand. "Everyone at my martial hall loved the things you sold, Mister vendor. I came to thank you, and to buy a few more things."
"Oh?" The vendor looked up. "I’m flattered. What else would you like to buy, young man?"
"Do you have any Martial Arts Manuals?"
Wang Xi asked.
The vendor looked him up and down, his smile widening.
"Of course, I do." The man said, pausing briefly. "However, masterpieces of this caliber, the kind that could establish a whole new school of Martial Arts, can’t be bought with mere silver coins."
Hearing that there was a chance, Wang Xi was overjoyed.
’This vendor is no simple character.’
"Then what would I need to buy a Martial Arts Manual from you, Mister vendor?"
Wang Xi nodded and asked.
The vendor put down his chopsticks, closed the lid of the food box, and lowered his voice.
"To be honest with you, I didn’t originally plan to stay in Qingwei Town. But after looking around this morning, I found this place to be quite interesting. So, I’ve decided to stay a few more days to restock."
"If you are truly sincere about buying a Martial Arts Manual, young man, then I’ll ask you to do two things for me."
Seeing the vendor’s mysterious demeanor, Wang Xi couldn’t help but ask, "What things?"
"First, tonight, just after the first watch of the night begins, go to Zhang’s Coffin Shop. The Shopkeeper will be receiving a batch of defective paper cuttings from the Provincial City. Help me get them."
"Second, also tonight, at the third quarter past nine, someone will sneak into the Zhang Family estate. Their target is a broom in Mrs. Zhang Sr.’s room. Help me get that as well."
’Paper cuttings and a broom?’
’Is this the vendor’s unique way of restocking?’
’How utterly bizarre.’
’And he can provide the time, place, and specific details of future events with such accuracy... This vendor either has a massive intelligence network or, as I suspected before, he’s a master of divination.’
Wang Xi thought.
"Young man, one item for one manual."
The vendor smiled.
"What do you say?"
"All right, it’s a deal."
Wang Xi nodded thoughtfully, then said:
"If I accomplish what you’ve asked, where do I find you?"
"South of Qingwei Town, there’s a crooked-neck tree by the fields on the outskirts. I’ll be resting there for now."
The vendor said with a laugh.
...
...
That night, as the evening hour drew to a close.
Dusk had just fallen on the town, with the last vestiges of daylight lingering in the streets and alleys. Families who had finished dinner lit their oil lamps, while elderly people in twos and threes fanned themselves with cattail fans, enjoying the cool evening air on their doorsteps with their grandchildren.
Wang Xi crossed two long streets and turned into a quiet alley. Looking up, he saw a small coffin shop, its dim yellow light conspicuous in the surrounding darkness.
On the right side of the shop hung a long, vertical wooden plank with the words "Zhang’s Coffin Shop" written in cinnabar ink.
’This shop... I think it’s also one of the Zhang Family’s businesses, run by one of Zhang Fuyun’s uncles...’
The thought flashed through Wang Xi’s mind as he stepped forward.
The alley was somewhat deserted, the only sound the occasional soft chime of a copper bell hanging from the eaves in the night wind.
He had just reached the door when he heard rustling whispers from inside. The voices were hushed, as if deliberately trying to avoid being overheard. He could only make out fragmented words like "finally here," "not discovered," and "Qi Family."
Just as he was trying to listen more closely, the conversation inside abruptly stopped.
WHOOSH—
The blue cloth curtain in front of him was suddenly thrown open, releasing a mixed scent of sandalwood and dust. Two men in bowler hats, with canvas bags slung over their shoulders, walked out quickly. The brims of their hats were pulled down low, obscuring their faces.
"?!"
The two men were startled to run into Wang Xi standing at the entrance. They exchanged a glance, said nothing, and quickened their pace, disappearing around the corner of the alley in an instant.
Wang Xi averted his gaze, then raised a hand to lift the curtain and enter.
"Ah, an honored guest has arrived!"
The thin old man behind the counter looked up, wiped his hands on his apron, and beamed, his face a mess of wrinkles.
"Young master, for you to visit my humble shop at night, could it be that there is to be a funeral in your household?"
But soon, the old man’s gaze sharpened. He peered at the young man in the long black coat under the dim oil lamplight and exclaimed in surprise:
"Huh? Aren’t you Young Master Fuyun’s senior brother?"
"I am," Wang Xi confirmed with a nod.
He walked up to the counter with his hands behind his back, glancing around at the shop’s wood samples, incense, and candles. "You know who I am?" he asked casually.
"How could I not?"
The old man said with a fawning smile, tucking his hands into his sleeves.
"Young Master Fuyun has joined the Huo Family Martial Arts Hall. We servants of the Zhang Family have to keep our eyes peeled, lest we neglect or offend someone important..."
"Good that you do." Wang Xi nodded. "I’d like to buy some paper."
The old man’s expression changed slightly.