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Chapter 149 Do You Sell Martial Arts Manuals?

"Oh, right."

An eerie silence fell over everyone. Wang Xi spoke to himself:

“Commander Zhong always says that Liu Mengzi is a scourge to Qingwei Town, bullying men and women; Mao Xinrong abuses his power for personal gain, making him the second scourge; and the Sanhe Gang commits all sorts of evil deeds, making them the third scourge…”

"This matter was started by me, yet I eliminated three scourges in the process, so I should be called a hero."

"The hero rid the people of harm, what wrong has he done? Therefore, I am extremely grateful and respectfully saw me out of the militia bureau. He even invited me to visit him more often and offered me tea."

The expressions on everyone's faces grew increasingly strange.

Click...

The sound of gears turning came from Wang Xi's chest.

"You lied."

Experience Points +10

The sharp pain suddenly came.

Fortunately, the lie was small, within Wang Xi's tolerance. He controlled his facial expressions with the "life is like a play" mentality, without revealing any flaws.

"Xi Zhi, you..."

Huo Mingchuan hesitated for a moment, then simply patted his disciple's shoulder lightly.

"It's okay."

As experienced as he was, how could he not see that Wang Xi was holding back in his words? But sometimes, it is wise to leave things unsaid.

Huo Shenglan and Yu Ruiyang exchanged a glance, remaining silent in tacit understanding. Only Zhang Fuyun couldn't contain himself, leaning forward with a face full of admiration:
"Senior brother, you're amazing! Yesterday, you killed Liu Mengzi with one punch and then caught a bullet. Could you teach me how to do it...?"

"You should hone your basic skills first!"

Huo Qiao'er, standing to the side, chimed in.

"He hasn't even learned to walk yet, but he's dreaming of flying."

"Alright, senior sister..."

Zhang Fuyun scratched his head, looking embarrassed.

“My martial arts skills were all taught by my master. Fuyun, you can do it too once you've mastered them.”

Wang Xi smiled.

Huo Mingchuan coughed lightly, almost losing face. He thought to himself, "Let alone myself, even if the old master of the Huo family were alive, he probably couldn't do it!"

Catching a bullet with bare hands?
That's a realm that only grandmasters in martial arts legends can reach, having mastered the Nine Palaces and Two Elements, perfected their acquired essence, and cultivated the power of "Nine Oxen and Two Tigers".

He cultivated diligently for decades, but could only barely penetrate the Nine Palaces; the Two Elements remained elusive.

Now it seems that my disciple Wang Xi has truly lived up to the saying "breaking out of the cocoon and becoming a butterfly"—having experienced life and death, he suddenly realized the truth and achieved the status of a grandmaster.

Though it was hard to believe, the facts were undeniable, and he could only sigh in disbelief.

"Master and Mistress, I bought you gifts."

Taking advantage of the presence of everyone, Wang Xi took out the things he had bought the night before.

"And Senior Brother Yu and Junior Brother Zhang, you also have a share."

The porcelain vase "Black Sandpiper's Cinnabar" is given to the master to remove hidden ailments and strengthen his constitution; the bronze mirror "Love and Separation" is given to the master's wife to illuminate the home and protect her peace.

Ginseng root "Duan Shi Hu" was given to the senior brother to nourish his body and refresh his mind; copper coin "Five Qian Ya" was given to the junior brother to increase his luck and ward off evil and disaster.

The four gifts were given out in a row, which surprised and delighted everyone.

Huo Mingchuan uncorked the bottle and took a sniff at the mouth of the small porcelain bottle. A rich medicinal fragrance wafted into his nostrils, and he immediately felt a slight warmth in his meridians, and the hidden pain subsided.

The moment the medicinal fragrance entered the body, it was like a spring stream thawing, and the hidden wounds accumulated in the past seemed to be slowly soothed by an invisible hand.

A look of surprise flashed across Master Huo's eyes.

This was only from smelling it, yet it had such a noticeable effect. If I were to take this pill, the hidden injuries I've sustained over the years could probably be completely cured!
He had immersed himself in the art of traditional Chinese medicine for half his life, yet he couldn't identify three or four of the main ingredients. Not only was the combination exquisite, but what was even more remarkable was the synergistic effect of the medicinal properties, a powerful yet gentle approach.

Such methods are unheard of.

As Huo Mingchuan's fingertips traced the faint cracks on the porcelain vase, his Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

"Xi Zhi, you're so thoughtful."

He didn't ask where his disciple had bought these things, but he sighed inwardly, realizing that Xi Zhi's fate had been changed because of this.

Zhang Fuyun held the five old copper coins strung together with red thread in his hand, admiring them dearly. He repeatedly thanked his senior brother, saying:

"Senior brother, when I go home, I'll return the favor with a gift. My uncles have quite a few good things hidden away..."

As he was speaking, Wang Xi glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw a figure flash by at the corner of the archway in the courtyard.

"I'm going to make it easier."

Wang Xi patted his junior brother's arm, smiled at everyone, and then got up and walked over quickly.

He walked straight through the archway and saw his senior sister Huo Siling, who had her hair in a ponytail, leaning against the wall in a daze.

Although she hadn't been there long, Wang Xi had already noticed that this senior sister was not good at speaking and had a withdrawn personality, so she had probably been hiding here for quite some time.

"Senior sister, you also have a gift."

Wang Xi stepped forward slowly and took out a long, dark red paper box containing the "Rain Prayer Incense".

Huo Siling turned her head and glanced at him, her expression complicated, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

Finally, whispered:
“Junior brother, you’ve really changed a lot after going through life and death. I just want to say that I’m glad you’re back safe and sound; there’s no need for gifts…”

"Please accept this, Senior Sister." Wang Xi handed over the long box. "Everyone else has one, how could you be left out... Besides, I spent a long time choosing this gift for you."

Upon hearing this, Huo Siling opened her mouth, but in the end, she sighed softly and accepted the long box, saying, "Junior brother, you are very kind. Thank you."

...

...

After having breakfast, Wang Xi went out again.

After leaving the martial arts school, he returned to the place where he had met the peddler the night before.

It was dark at the time, and he couldn't see clearly. Now, returning to the place, Wang Xi realized that it was a shop called "Sun's Rice Shop". However, at this moment, the door was open under the eaves, people were coming and going, and two children were sitting on the side playing marbles.

The peddler had long since disappeared.

Just as Wang Xi was feeling a pang of regret, he heard a laugh coming from not far behind him:
"Young man, are you perhaps looking for me?"

Wang Xi turned around and saw the peddler in the gray coat standing by the roadside, carrying a huge and strange-looking container. He was also holding a food box in his hands, eating and smiling at him.

"Mr. Peddler," Wang Xi greeted him immediately, stepping over. "I thought you'd left."

"Hey buddy, we agreed on a cash-on-delivery settlement, no refunds or exchanges."

The peddler picked up another piece of twice-cooked pork with green chili peppers with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth, looking pleased and chuckling.

“It’s not a return.” Wang Xi waved his hand. “The entire sect likes the peddler’s things very much. I’m here to thank him and buy a few more things.”

"Oh?" The peddler looked up. "Thank you for your patronage, young man. Is there anything else you'd like to buy?"

Do you have any martial arts manuals here?

Wang Xi asked.

The peddler looked him up and down, his smile widening.

“Of course there are.” The man said, pausing slightly. “However, such unique skills, enough to establish a sect, cannot be bought with money alone.”

Wang Xi was overjoyed to hear that there was hope.

This peddler is no ordinary man.

"What is needed to buy a martial arts manual from the peddler?"

Wang Xi nodded and asked.

The peddler put down his chopsticks, closed the lid of his food box, and lowered his voice:

"To be honest, I didn't originally plan to stay in Qingwei Town, but after taking a walk around this morning, I found it quite interesting, so I'm going to stay a few more days to bring in some new goods."

"If you are truly interested in buying martial arts manuals, then please do two things for me."

Seeing the peddler's secretive demeanor, Wang Xi couldn't help but ask, "What's the matter?"

"The first thing to do is to go to Zhang's Coffin Shop tonight, just after the first watch of the night. The shopkeeper will have a batch of defective paper-cuts from the provincial capital. Please fetch them for me."

"The second thing is also tonight, at three-quarters past 9 PM. Someone will sneak into the Zhang family's residence. Their target is a broom in Old Madam Zhang's room. Please fetch it for me."

Paper cutting and brooms?
Is this the peddler's unique way of sourcing goods?
It's like a row of monks' houses—a neat and orderly temple!
'Moreover, he even provided the time, place, and specific events that were about to happen so accurately… This peddler either possesses a vast intelligence network, or, as previously suspected, is a master of divination.'

Wang Xi thought.

"Brother, one item in exchange for a secret manual."

The peddler smiled.

"I don't know what to do?"

"Okay, it's a deal."

Wang Xi nodded thoughtfully, then said:
"If I do what you say I should do, where should I look for you then?"

"South of Qingwei Town, there is a crooked tree by the field ridge in the suburbs. I will rest there for the time being."

The peddler laughed.

...

...

That night, at the end of the You hour (5-7 PM).

As dusk settled over the town, the last rays of sunlight lingered in the streets and alleys. Families who had finished their dinner lit oil lamps, and groups of elderly people, fanning themselves with palm-leaf fans, gathered in front of their doors with their grandchildren to cool off.

Wang Xi walked through two long streets and turned into a quiet alley. Looking up, a small coffin shop stood out against the surroundings with its dim yellow light.

On the right side of the shop, there is a long vertical wooden board with the words "Zhang's Coffin Shop" written on it in red ink with a brush.

'This shop seems to be owned by the Zhang family, run by Zhang Fuyun's uncles...'

The thought flashed through Wang Xi's mind, and he took a step forward.

The alley was rather deserted, with only the copper bells hanging from the eaves occasionally ringing softly in the night breeze.

As soon as he reached the door, he heard rustling whispers coming from inside. The voices were extremely low, as if deliberately trying to avoid being heard, and he could only vaguely make out a few fragmented words such as "finally here," "not discovered," and "Qi family."

Just as I was about to listen more closely, the conversation inside abruptly stopped.

wow——

The blue curtain in front of them was suddenly lifted, bringing with it a scent mixed with sandalwood and dust. Two men wearing top hats and carrying canvas backpacks strode out, their faces obscured by their hat brims.

"?!"

The two men were startled when they bumped into Wang Xi standing at the door. They exchanged a glance but said nothing, and in a few quick steps, they disappeared around the corner of the alley.

Wang Xi withdrew his gaze, raised his hand, and lifted the curtain to go inside.

"Oh, a distinguished guest has arrived!"

The lean old man behind the counter looked up, wiped his hands on his apron, and grinned, his face full of wrinkles.
"Is this young master visiting my humble abode at this hour because you are preparing for a funeral?"

But soon, the old man's gaze sharpened as he scrutinized the young man in the black robe by the dim light of the oil lamp, and he exclaimed in surprise:

"Eh? Are you Young Master Fu Yun's senior brother?"

“Exactly.” Wang Xi nodded.

He walked to the counter with his hands behind his back, looked around at the wood samples and incense and candles in the shop, and casually asked, "Do you recognize me?"

"How could I not recognize you?"

The old man, with his hands tucked in his pockets, smiled obsequiously.

"Now that Young Master Fuyun has become a disciple of the Huo family's martial arts school, we servants of the Zhang family must keep our eyes peeled to avoid neglecting or offending him..."

"It's good that you recognize it." Wang Xi nodded. "I'd like to buy some paper."

The old man's expression changed slightly.

(End of this chapter)