Fangxian Heretical Path

Chapter 23 The Second Generation of the Marketplace's Murderous Intent Is Hard to Suppress

"Hungry Beast, someone is looking for you."

A young Taoist priest passing by the temple casually called out to Fang Shu.

Fang Shu immediately opened his eyes, nodded to the other party, then grabbed the Taoist robe next to him, put it on, and walked towards the entrance of the Taoist temple, his body covered in sweat and stench.

Although the cultivation of insect skills mainly relies on insect blood to drive the practice, the tempering of one's own muscles and bones is still essential.

When practicing, Fang Shu still needs to move his energy and stretch his muscles and bones. However, when tempering his body, he must remember to use the correct breathing method and not go astray.

This method of practice is quite different from the meditation and Zen practice that Fang Shu had imagined.

However, he hasn't even passed the first tribulation of immortals yet, and is just a mortal, so it's reasonable for him to cultivate in this way.

Continue straight ahead.

Fang Shu thought it would be his second uncle, Yu Le, who would come to find him. After all, he hadn't been home for a whole month, and his second uncle probably wanted to call him back to rest and have a meal.

However, at the entrance of the dojo, he saw Li Hou'er's father—Li Yuan, the talisman master next door.

This surprised Fang Shu slightly, but he stepped forward calmly to greet him.

"Greetings, Uncle Li."

Li Hou'er was also nearby. Talisman Master Li Yuan smiled and nodded at Fang Shu, then shooed Li Hou'er away.
"I have something to say to your brother Fang, so get out of here."

Li Hou'er winked and made a sad face:

"Alright, you two can chat all you want. Brother Fang, I'm off to the canteen now."

Li Hou'er was also carrying a bag, which, judging by its appearance, was probably tofu again, which was why he was looking so worried.

After Li Hou'er had gone far away, the talisman master Li Yuan pulled Fang Shu to a secluded corner, suddenly pulled out a bottle of pills from his sleeve, and handed it to Fang Shu:

"Here, take it."

Fang Shu examined the medicine bottle in his hand and immediately recognized it as the "Essence Nourishing Pill," which cost three hundred talismans per bottle.

He immediately hesitated, saying, "This... how can this be done?"

Before Fang Shu could refuse again, the talisman master Li Yuan said, "It wasn't given to me by me, but by your second uncle who asked me to bring it to you on the way."

You can accept it without worry.

It would have been better if this person hadn't said those words; as soon as he did, Fang Shu's heart skipped a beat.

He pondered for a few moments, then, holding the medicine bottle, cupped his hands and asked in a deep voice:
"Uncle Li, what happened to my second uncle? Why didn't he deliver it in person? Please tell me, Uncle Li!"

Talisman Master Li Yuan muttered to himself, intending to make up a lie to get by.

But when he saw Fang Shu's serious expression as he looked at him, he sighed.
"Alright, alright, you're not as heartless as that Li Hou'er, you shouldn't be able to keep this from you."

The talisman master Li Yuan pondered for a moment, then hesitated before saying, "But let me make this clear first: once you know this, you must not act rashly. Otherwise, I will truly be letting down your second uncle."

Also, for the time being, you should focus on your training at the dojo, okay?

Upon hearing this, Fang Shu felt even more uneasy, but he remained calm and nodded, saying, "Alright, I will not act rashly."

Then, the talisman master Li Yuan pointed to the essence-nourishing pill in Fang Shu's hand:
"Originally, your second uncle learned leatherworking skills from somewhere and set his sights on my supply of talisman leather. He pestered me for a long time, wanting to help me out, saying that after he made the leather, he would cut it into talisman leather and sell it to me."

I couldn't dissuade him, so I let him try. It turned out that this guy was quite capable and didn't ruin the skin at all.

For the past month, this guy has been tanning animal and demon hides day and night. Far from being tired, he looks much more energetic and has found a purpose in life.

The other person then sighed softly: "This bottle of essence-nourishing pills in your hand was made by him after a month of leather processing, and he saved up money to buy it for you."

Upon hearing this, Fang Shu unconsciously tightened his grip on the medicine bottle in his hand.

"We thought that Yu Le was finally going to turn over a new leaf and live a stable life. We neighbors were all quite happy for him."

But who would have thought that your second uncle would be targeted by that Cheng Guanzi again.

Talisman Master Li Yuan slapped his thigh and cursed under his breath:

"This guy who gave birth to a child without an anus has actually set his sights on your second uncle's paper house, which has been in operation for over ten years. He claims that his nephew also came from the mortal realm a long time ago, and he wants to register his nephew under your second uncle's name, thus taking your place."

Of course, your second uncle refused. But then Cheng Guanzi used your second uncle's unpaid rent as an excuse, saying that if it wasn't paid for more than three months, he would burn down your second uncle's paper house, void his lease, and everyone would be done with it.

Hearing this, Fang Shu vaguely understood, but what he wanted to know most now was how his second uncle was doing.

Finally, he couldn't hold back any longer and interrupted the talisman master Li Yuan, who had been rambling on for so long without getting to the point:

"Uncle Li, may I ask where my second uncle is now, and whether he is alright?"

Talisman Master Li Yuan was taken aback, and quickly said:
"Oh, thank goodness, it should be alright..."

The other person stroked his beard, deep in thought.

Upon hearing this, Fang Shu frowned.

Fortunately, the other party quickly added:

"The rent issue was originally just a matter of lending money, which could have been resolved. But that bastard Cheng Guanzi has spread the word that he can't control what happens in other neighborhoods, but if anyone in his neighborhood dares to lend money to your second uncle, he'll make their life miserable!"

In addition, you're still training at the dojo, and your second uncle said that you'll have to pay tuition again soon.

So your second uncle made a snap decision, gave up his leatherworking job, signed a long-term contract, and went straight into the cave to mine.

"Going into the cave to mine?!"

Fang Shu's eyelids twitched. He was filled with mixed feelings, unsure whether to breathe a sigh of relief or become even more tense.

To be honest, he had even prepared for the possibility that his second uncle might not have died, or that his second uncle might be seriously injured and bedridden.

Fortunately, my second uncle was neither of those; he was just forced to go mining.

But immediately, Fang Shu clenched his teeth slightly and muttered to himself, "Mining is no good job."

He remembered clearly that, according to his second uncle, farming was just like being a beast of burden, a bit hard and tiring, but mining was a dangerous job, second only to gathering herbs and searching for treasures in the mountains, with risks such as encountering monsters and landslides.

Even if none of these things happen, being in a mine for a long time is still very harmful to the human body, especially to the lungs and internal organs.

Every single one of the old miners in Guling Town suffers from lung disease!
Talisman Master Li Yuan nodded upon hearing Fang Shu's words:

"That's right! Mining is not a job for decent people."

"Sigh, if your second uncle hadn't been forced into this situation, he probably would have preferred to sell his blood again rather than go mining."

Noticing that Fang Shu seemed a bit off, the talisman master Li Yuan patted Fang Shu on the shoulder to comfort him:

"Fortunately, your second uncle is shameless and ruthless. He only went to mine for a few months, so he should be fine."

"And he's already discussed it with me; every now and then he'll ask the mine owner to bring back some money for the talismans so I can deliver the medicine to you. You can just focus on your cultivation at the temple."

Seeing that Fang Shu didn't reply, the talisman master Li Yuan patted him hard and said seriously:

"My child, listen to my advice. When you are weaker than others, the right thing to do is to cultivate yourself properly."

"If you had entered the Dao earlier, at your age, do you think that Cheng Guanzi would still dare to bully your second uncle?"

Fang Shu then came to his senses. He realized that what the other person said was kind and reasonable, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Uncle Li, I understand."

Upon seeing Fang Shu agree, a wide smile immediately spread across the face of the talisman master Li Yuan:

"Good boy, much more sensible than that rascal Li Hou'er."

Although he agreed, it didn't mean Fang Shu had given up on the matter. He then asked the other party about the rental agreement they had mentioned earlier.

After Master Li Yuan explained, Fang Shu suddenly realized that Guling Town also had a household registration system.

Anyone who comes to the town and has no one to take them in or find a place to stay will be evicted from the market within three days and forced to spend the night outside the town.

Given the environment of Mount Lu, even if the ferocious beasts and monsters near Guling Town have been cleared away by the town, it is still hard to guarantee that monsters will not sneak over at night.

Furthermore, the most dangerous thing outside the town isn't monsters, but people! Living people!

Fang Shu was unaware of this situation because his second uncle took him to the paper mill as soon as he arrived in town, providing him with a place to stay.

Without his second uncle, he wouldn't be able to find a place to stay for a while, so he would have to sell his blood every five days. Only with the money from selling his blood could he avoid being kicked out of the market within five days.

The "position" mentioned by Master Fu Li Yuan refers to the household registration position under the name of his second uncle, Yu Le.

Although my second uncle, Yu Le, was also unable to register his household in Guling Town, he had rented a paper house early on. Every paper house in the town had a proper contract, which was equivalent to a temporary household registration.

If a temporary household registration exceeds ten years, one relative can be accommodated. Furthermore, when such a relative registers their household in Guling Town later, it will be even simpler, as the household registration will be counted from the generation of the homeowner.

For example, square bundles.

He is currently taking refuge in his second uncle's house. Once he obtains his household registration in Guling Town, he will no longer be considered a naturalized first-generation resident of the town, but rather a second-generation resident with a solid foundation.

Master Fu, Li Yuan, spoke eloquently:

"In this town, only those who have been rooted here for three generations or more can be considered native. The second generation is considered half-baked, and the first generation is neither fully born nor fully established."

Don't underestimate this small difference. It may seem insignificant at first glance, but it involves things in the town, such as opening a shop or finding work.

This is especially important when joining a Taoist temple or a sect of immortals. You'll learn more about it later.

Although the talisman master Li Yuan did not provide detailed examples of the benefits of being a "second-generation market vendor".

However, Fang Shu immediately retrieved something from his mind that corresponded to something from his previous life in the dream.

Cheng Guanzi is essentially eyeing the "school district places" under his second uncle Yu Le's name, wanting to place his sons and nephews there!

Fang Shu himself didn't quite understand this, but his second uncle, Yu Le, certainly did, which is why he went directly into the mine, intending to find a way to protect Fang Shu's future status as a "second-generation resident of the market town".

As for that scoundrel Cheng Guanzi, the reason he doesn't use his own is either because the other party's has already been used up, or he's a bully who thinks it's a fool not to take advantage of a good deal.

To clarify the above.

Fang Shu closed his eyes slightly, the killing intent in his heart had reached its peak.

very good!

This scoundrel has a knack for courting death; he must be killed.

As for the slight risk of killing the other party, Fang Shu instantly made up his mind.

Right now, his second uncle, Yu Le, has already hidden himself in the mine, and Fang Shu himself is in the Dugu Pavilion. Even if killing that guy causes some trouble, he can still cover it up for the time being.

On the contrary, if this scoundrel Cheng Guanzi is not eliminated, he might cause even greater harm!

"Young man from the Fang family, don't overthink it, just focus on your cultivation."

Talisman Master Li Yuan patted him again and repeatedly instructed, "Cultivate diligently and increase your qi and blood; that's more important than anything else."

Although Fang Shu's killing intent was extremely strong, his expression remained calm.

He not only did not disappoint the talisman master Li Yuan's kind words, but also nodded earnestly:

"Yes, improving blood circulation is better than anything else."

Seeing that Fang Shu's words did not seem to be false, the talisman master Li Yuan also breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Then, the other party said a few more words to Fang Shu before slowly leaving the Dugu Pavilion.

After watching the other person leave completely, Fang Shu finally withdrew his gaze.

Immediately afterwards, he hid in a corner and took out the bottle of essence-nourishing pills given to him by the talisman master Li Yuan.

He examined it carefully, trying to determine its authenticity based on his second uncle's instructions.

Although there was no reason for the talisman master Li Yuan to lie to him, let alone tamper with the pills, his second uncle Yu Le had instructed him never to easily take pills of unknown origin.

Fortunately, after a thorough inspection, there was nothing unusual about the medicine bottle or the pills inside.

It is an authentic product purchased from an old shop in the market. Each pill has a thin layer of beeswax and unique anti-counterfeiting markings.

After confirming that everything was correct, Fang Shu snapped a beeswax pill in half and popped the essence-nourishing pill into his mouth.

He then calmly walked into the training hall, found a corner, and began frantically expending the medicinal power and circulating his own qi and blood!

Just as he had told the talisman master Li Yuan, his most pressing task right now was to improve his qi and blood.

However, Fang Shu did not intend to nourish himself with this increased blood and qi, but rather to give it all to his Long Tongue Sword!
The Secret Sword Technique of the Mouth and Abdomen is a genuine first-stage tribulation magic technique. The long tongue sword forged from it can be upgraded to a true first-stage tribulation magic weapon if properly nourished with qi and blood.

At this moment, Fang Shu was vigorously promoting his qi and blood to nourish the tongue sword, first nurturing this thing to enter the tribulation.

His eyes flashed with a cold light: "Cheng Guanzi, you are just a first-stage immortal who has entered the Dao by taking medicine. Let's see whether your physical body is tougher or my tongue is sharper."

Gurgling!

Nourished by Fang Shu's blood and qi, the Long Tongue Sword was hidden in his chest and abdomen, radiating intense heat, like a red-hot stick, making Fang Shu's face slightly ferocious.

The other young disciples who were also cultivating in the hall vaguely sensed that something was wrong with Fang Shu, so they all moved a little further away to avoid getting into trouble.

This practice continued until nightfall.

Within half a day, Fang Shu had taken three essence-nourishing pills. This was already the limit his body could take.

Fortunately, after taking the three essence-nourishing pills, and with the previous support from Fang Shu, the Tongue Sword technique is getting closer and closer to a certain bottleneck.

After ceasing his cultivation, Fang Shu slowly opened his eyes, then quickly tidied his clothes and strode out of the hall.

Instead of returning to the dojo's dormitory, he left the dojo and headed straight for the paper mill.

Just like when inspecting elixirs, although the talisman master Li Yuan had no reason to forge or deceive him.

However, Fang Shu had to investigate such a sensitive matter himself to verify the authenticity of the information, lest the other party's words be inaccurate.

Not long after.

Fang Shu, feeling his way in the dark, quietly arrived at the paper mill.

He first peeked into the paper mill of the talisman master Li Yuan and found that the other party was probably setting up a night stall again, working hard to earn money.

So Fang Shu quietly went back to his second uncle's paper house and checked it in the dark.

After finding no letters or other items left by his second uncle, he had no choice but to leave with regret. Then, he quietly made his way to the paper house of his neighbor, Dou Sufu.

Milk shop beauties usually only work during the day, unlike talisman master Li Yuan who works so hard. She should be inside right now, so Fang Shu can go and ask her for advice.

As Fang Shu crept over in the dark, he saw a short figure moving about beside the ditch.

Fang Shu became alert, worried that someone might be lying in ambush nearby, so he crouched down and took two more steps forward more quietly.

Soon, he heard the soft gurgling of water splashing into the ditch.

Taking two more steps forward, a blinding white moonlight suddenly burst into his view, startling him.

(End of this chapter)