I am about to die of old age, and I have awakened the character of longevity.

Chapter 23 Arrows Breaking the Air
Xie An remained calm, squatted down and carefully examined the wound on He Chunli's buttocks.

The blow was very heavy, the skin was torn and some areas were bloody.

"This injury is quite serious. Hot water alone won't reduce the swelling. This butt will be broken." Xie An took out some small change and handed it to Han Li. "Go to Chen's Martial Arts School and ask Chen He to buy some medicine and gauze. It's best to invite Chen He as well."

On New Year's Eve, the pharmacy was closed early.

But if Chen He knew that he needed it urgently, he would definitely agree.

Han Li took the silver and rushed out. Not long after, he returned with gauze and medicine. With Chen He behind him, too.

"Old Chen, I'm so sorry that you came all the way here instead of staying home to celebrate New Year's Eve!" Xie An hurried to greet him. In fact, he was not surprised by Chen He's arrival.

Ever since Xie An saved Chen He's life from the robbers last time, Chen He's attitude towards Xie An has changed drastically.

In addition to gratitude, there is also a bit of awe.

Before, Chen He always acted like the eldest brother in front of Xie An. After that, the eldest brother became the younger brother...

"I have no children, so how can I stay here for the rest of my life? Let me come and see your beloved disciple." Chen He waved his hand, took out the medicine box he carried with him, and took out the golden wound medicine and gauze to treat He Chunli's wound.

Chen He had helped the Chen family martial arts school run the medicine shop for many years, so he was very familiar with treating wounds and bandaged it in a few strokes.

"Luckily, there are no broken bones. It will heal in a month or so of recuperation. Remember to change the dressings frequently during this time..."

He Chunli was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes. "Thank you, Shopkeeper Chen."

"Why are you being so polite? Brother Xie, we're one family." Chen He left enough gauze and wound medicine, explained in detail the details of the dressing change and various precautions, and then left in a hurry.

Xie An didn't put on any airs. He still saw Chen He out politely as usual, and watched Chen He go away before returning to the pawnshop.

Perhaps the medicine was effective, He Chunli was able to stand up with the help of a table and chair. When he saw Xie An, he knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face. "Thank you so much, Master, for saving my life! From now on, my life belongs to you, Master. I will work like a slave for you to repay you."

Han Li was moved and knelt down as well.

In this world, it is normal for a disciple to kneel before his master.

Furthermore, as a slave, He Chunli was well aware of the insignificance of his life. If his master hadn't called in Chen He to treat and bandage him today, his butt would have been crippled. A crippled man would have rendered him useless to his master and would have been abandoned and sold.

He Chunli couldn't even imagine such an outcome.

For a lowly slave in troubled times, it is a great fortune to meet a good master.

"Your butt isn't healed yet, so don't worry about these formalities. Get up quickly." Xie An helped He Chunli up, feeling vaguely touched.

I also went through the same thing back then, so I can understand He Chunli's feelings.

"Don't go back to the big bunk tonight. Follow the master to the backyard to stay up all night together."

The two disciples were extremely happy to hear this.

He Chunli lost his parents long ago and grew up with Xie An. Every year, when he stayed up with his master to celebrate the New Year, he felt at home, and it was also the happiest day of the year.

Han Li also had a bad fate, having been sold by his family when he was young. However, Han Li was kind-hearted and would save some money to support his seriously ill father. This was the reason why he had taken leave earlier.

Entering the backyard, Han Li quickly closed the doors and windows and lit the stove. Xie An, on the other hand, took out the dried fruit snacks he had prepared long ago and opened a jar of his treasured aged wine. The three of them gathered around the stove, eating snacks and drinking wine. They chatted around the stove, wishing a peaceful New Year.

Since He Chunli's butt was ruptured and he couldn't sit, he had to lie on the bench. The position was uncomfortable, but he could enjoy Han Li's occasional feeding, which was a special treatment, and he laughed happily.

After three rounds of drinks, Xie An asked, "Xiao He, you will be eighteen after the New Year. Do you have any wishes?"

He Chunli took a bite of peanuts and said naturally, "I just want to serve Master peacefully."

Xie An knew that He Chunli was always honest, so he didn't ask any more questions. He turned to look at Han Li and asked, "What about you?"

Han Li said, "I want to save money, redeem myself, marry a wife and have a child. If I'm lucky, I'll buy a house and become a young master."

He Chunli retorted: "You, you still want to be the master?"

"Why? Don't you want to?"

He Chunli looked gloomy. "I think so, but I know it's impossible."

Xie An saw through his two disciples' thoughts, but he didn't point them out. Han Li was two years older than He Chunli, a man of quick thinking and a bold mind. He Chunli, on the other hand, was more practical, determined, and less ambitious.

Although life is difficult, both of them have dreams.

But it is not easy to achieve.

If I didn't have the golden finger, I would probably be the same as these two disciples.

At this time, He Chunli asked Xie An, "Master, what is your wish?"

Xie An smiled with relief and said, "As for me, I just hope that you two little guys can finish your apprenticeship soon and have a promising future. I will be content with that in this life."

The two disciples were so moved by their master's words that their eyes warmed. Han Li, in particular, felt a little guilty because he thought his master was thinking about him, while he was thinking about getting married.

By the second half of the night, the two disciples could no longer hold on and fell asleep on the bed.

Xie An, who had long practiced health-preserving exercises, was in better spirits than a young man. He covered his two disciples with quilts and looked at them carefully for a while, a pleased smile on his face.

Xie An had no family in this world, but he had lived with these two disciples for over a decade. Although they were not related by blood, they had grown close after spending so much time together. He sincerely wished that his two disciples were well and happy.

After a moment of hesitation, Xie An turned around, picked up the dagger, slung over his heavy bow, put on his quiver, and went out.

……

There are many restaurants in Wuqiao Town, but there is only one high-end restaurant.

Feiyun Restaurant.

The ingredients inside were so precious that a normal meal would cost at least five or six coins of silver, and a slightly better meal would cost one or two taels of silver. It was definitely not something that ordinary people could afford.

Even on New Year's Eve, restaurants are decorated with lights and open their doors to welcome guests.

In the second half of the night, the drunken Li Shaoyun and Zhang Biao walked out of the restaurant with their arms around each other's shoulders, looking as if they were still reluctant to leave.

"Mr. Li, thank you for your convenience today. I was able to let Li He go to the pawnshop to interrogate the man."

"They are just a few lowly servants. Their life or death is of no consequence. Brother Zhang, don't worry about them."

"Haha, Master Li is so generous. By the way, I'll leave Envoy Zhu Dian in your care."

"Don't worry, Brother Zhang. Zhu Dianshi is my mentor at the Military Academy. There just so happens to be a vacant position for a constable. With Brother Zhang's ability and resume, it won't be a problem for him to take the position of constable in the county government. However, my position as a nominal deacon..."

"No problem. I don't have the ability to get you a deacon with real power, but a figurehead position is no problem. I've already arranged all the connections. On the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, you can go directly to the Blood Ridge Black Market and take up the position."

"Thank you, Brother Zhang." Li Shaoyun bowed his hands in thanks. Outsiders only knew of Li Shaoyun's superficial glory, but only Li Shaoyun himself knew that Wu Xiucai was able to pass the exam this time because the Li family had emptied most of their savings and given expensive gifts.

He was far from being able to pass the provincial examination three years later. If he could become a nominal steward at the Tiger and Wolf Sect, he would have access to better resources for martial arts training.

Only in this way can he pass the imperial examination.

Just as the two people said goodbye at the door, a masked man walked out from the dark corner.

It was Xie An.

"My disciple He Chunli was severely tortured and nearly forced into a confession... It was definitely you, Zhang Biao, who was behind this!"

"Li Shaoyun...you're actually involved in this! Just wait for me."

After weighing the pros and cons, Xie An quietly followed Zhang Biao.

Zhang Biao was seen riding a green-maned horse towards the Black Blood Ridge outside the town. Because he was in a good mood, the drunken Zhang Biao hummed a little tune all the way.

"Hmph, Zhang Lin, you old bastard, do you really think I consider you your rival? And you, Wei Dian, are not a good person either. You suppress me in every way. Do you really think I want to be a small deacon? Wait until next year, I will become the head of the yamen police. I will bring people to extort your Xueling black market. When you, Wei Dian, see me, you will have to bow your head and pay the money to settle the matter."

"My nephew's death was unjust. He was most likely killed by someone from your Blood Ridge black market. When I become the captain of the police, I will definitely get to the bottom of this matter."

Zhang Biao was riding his horse along a forest path, muttering to himself with a grim look on his face.

At this moment, Zhang Biao heard a sharp whistle from behind him...

It's the buzzing sound of an arrow breaking through the air!
(End of this chapter)