The Martial Saint Started from Scavenging

The small boat went upstream, with Ah San standing at the bow, punting.

Ye Sheng sat at the stern, gazing ahead. The river was surging, and the scenery on both banks gradually became familiar.

"Brother, what are you planning to do when you get back?" Ah San asked, turning around.

"Check on your brother first," Ye Sheng said calmly, "then go about your business."

Ah San smiled and said, "That's true. Your brother has been home alone for so long, he must miss you."

After about two hours of sailing, the pier of Shuilongdu finally came into view.

Ye Sheng felt relieved and stood up.

Those dilapidated shacks, that creaking pier, and the peach wood plaques hanging under the eaves.

Everything is still the same as when I left.

The small boat docked, and Ye Sheng jumped off.

"Thank you." He clasped his hands in thanks to the Indian man.

"Don't mention it." Ah San waved his hand. "By the way, Brother Zhang asked me to tell you not to run around these few days and to stay put."

Ye Sheng nodded.

The Indian man rowed away and quickly disappeared on the river.

Ye Sheng turned around and walked quickly toward the shed.

The wooden planks of the pier creaked underfoot, a sound that felt particularly comforting.

Pushing open the door, Ye Kai was leaning against the corner of the wall, flipping through the book "Fengwu Zhi" (A Record of Local Customs).

Hearing the noise, he suddenly looked up.

"elder brother!"

Ye Kai's eyes instantly reddened, and he struggled to stand up.

"Don't move." Ye Sheng quickly stepped forward and pressed down on his shoulder. "Your leg isn't healed yet, don't move around."

Ye Kai bit his lip, and tears fell down his face.

"Brother, you're finally back."

Ye Sheng sat down next to his younger brother and reached out to rub his head.

I'm sorry to have worried you.

Ye Kai wiped away his tears. "Brother, how have you been these past few days? Have you gotten hurt?"

"It's nothing, I'm just feeling a bit stifled hiding in this run-down house," Ye Sheng smiled. "And you? Have you been busy these past few days?"

Ye Kai shook his head. "The people from the boatmen come to see me every day, bringing me food and helping me change my bandages."

He paused, then lowered his voice.

"It's that... that bastard Zhao Hu, he's been here a few times."

Ye Sheng's eyes turned cold. "What did he do?"

"I didn't do anything," Ye Kai said in a low voice. "I just walked around outside our shed a few times and asked me where I had been."

"I said I didn't know, and he left cursing."

Ye Sheng was silent for a moment, then asked, "What else did he say?"

"He said..." Ye Kai bit his lip, "He said that you killed the garrison commander's men and you'll be caught sooner or later."

Ye Sheng sneered, "He's always spouting this kind of nonsense."

He stood up, walked to the corner of the wall, and rummaged through a broken wooden box to find a few herbs.

"I'll go brew you some medicine."

Ye Kai looked at Ye Sheng's retreating figure, his eyes filled with worry.

"Brother, is everything really alright at the naval base?"

"It's all over." Ye Sheng said without turning his head. "Brother Zhang has taken care of it, and the arrest warrant has been withdrawn."

He paused.

"But that bastard Zhao Hu definitely won't let this go. We still need to be careful in the future."

Ye Kai nodded.

Ye Sheng went outside the shed, lit a fire, and threw the herbs into an earthenware pot to boil.

Before long, the aroma of medicine filled the air.

He poured the boiled medicine into a bowl and handed it to Ye Kai.

"Drink it while it's hot."

Ye Kai took the bowl and drank it down in small sips.

After drinking the medicine, he looked up.

"Brother, how is Sister Su...?"

Ye Sheng remained silent for a moment.

"Not good."

He briefly told Ye Kai what Ah San had said.

Upon hearing this, Ye Kai's face turned deathly pale.

"How could this be? Sister Su was clearly being hunted down by the Blood Pact Merchant Guild, how could she be colluding with them?"

"Someone framed her," Ye Sheng said in a deep voice.

"who?"

"I don't know," Ye Sheng shook his head, "but it's definitely related to the Blood Pact Merchant Guild."

Ye Kai bit his lip, his eyes filled with worry.

"What should we do now, Sister Su?"

"She's at the Qingyun Sword Sect, she should be fine," Ye Sheng reassured her. "That's a major sect in the Eastern Region. No matter how arrogant the Blood Pact Merchant Guild is, they wouldn't dare to cause trouble there."

Ye Kai nodded, but the worry in his eyes did not lessen.

Ye Sheng stood up and walked to the door.

As the sun sets, the river surface shimmers with a dark red glow.

In the distance, the shouts of boatmen calling out to finish their work could be heard from the ferry dock.

Everything is still the same as before.

But Ye Sheng knew in his heart that undercurrents were surging.

Although Zhao Hu's situation has been temporarily resolved, that bastard will definitely not let it go.

There were also people from the Blood Pact Merchant Guild.

Will Su Wan's matter implicate him?

Ye Sheng shook his head, deciding not to think about it anymore.

there is always a solution to a problem.

The most important thing now is to continue to become stronger.

Only by being strong enough can one protect their younger brother and survive in this world.

He turned and went back into the house, where he sat down by the fire.

"Little brother, how's your leg doing while I've been away?"

Ye moved his left leg. "Much better, I can move it a little now."

"However, Manager Hu said that he needs to rest for a while longer before he can walk."

Ye Sheng nodded. "Then let it continue to recover. Don't rush it."

He took the cloth bag out of his pocket and opened it.

Inside was one hundred coins given by Zhang Hugang, along with some copper coins he had saved up over the past few days.

"How much money do we have now?"

Ye Kai pulled the broken jar from under the bed and poured out the copper coins inside.

The two counted together.

"Five hundred and eighty coins." Ye Kai's eyes lit up. "Brother, that's enough for us to pay back the boatmen's debt!"

Ye Sheng nodded.

Five hundred and fifty coins is enough.

There were even 30 more coins.

"I'll go to Longmen Gorge tomorrow and pay off the debt."

Ye Kai bit his lip. "Brother, once we pay off the debt, will we no longer owe the boatmen anything?"

"Okay." Ye Sheng nodded. "Once we pay off the debt, we'll be free."

Ye Kai's eyes reddened again.

He had witnessed how much his brother had suffered in order to pay off this debt.

He chopped wood, gathered herbs, sold things at the ghost market, worked for the boatmen, and even almost got wanted by the garrison headquarters...

Now, the debt is finally being paid off.

"Brother, can we finally live a peaceful life from now on?"

Ye Sheng remained silent for a moment.

"Yes."

He reached out and ruffled Ye Kai's hair.

"Once your leg is healed, I'll take you to town and buy you a new set of clothes."

Ye Kai wiped away his tears and nodded.

That night, both of them slept soundly.

Ye Sheng lay on the straw mat and closed his eyes.

Although the ten-odd days of hiding were frustrating, they were also quite rewarding.

The progress of [Basic Knife Techniques] has increased significantly, and [Internal Breath Techniques] has also been unlocked.

More importantly, his understanding of martial arts has deepened.

Now, even he himself doesn't know that his strength has already reached the mid-stage of the Entry Realm. Although the mid-stage of the Entry Realm isn't much in this world, it's at least much stronger than before.

Ye Sheng opened the panel and took a look.

[Standing Posture: Beginner Level 23/500]

[Basic Knife Techniques: Beginner 55/500]

[Internal Breathing Technique: Beginner 7/100]

[Herbal Identification: Beginner 19/100]

[Scavenging: Proficient 41/500]

Progress is steadily increasing.

If he continues like this, he will become stronger sooner or later.

Ye Sheng closed his eyes and quickly fell asleep.

He slept very soundly, and when he woke up, it was already broad daylight.

Ye Sheng got up and walked to the door.

Sunlight shone on the river, making it sparkle.

He took a deep breath, turned around, and went back into the house.

"Brother, I'm going out for a bit."

Ye Kai looked up. "Brother, where are you going?"

"Longmen Gorge, settle the debt."

Ye Sheng strung the 550 copper coins together with hemp rope and put them in his pocket.

"Stay home and behave yourself, I'll be back soon."

Ye Kai nodded.

Ye Sheng picked up a wood-chopping knife and pushed open the door to go out.

The river breeze brushed against my face, carrying the familiar moisture.

Ye Sheng walked quickly along the riverbank towards Longmen Gorge.

After walking for about an hour, we arrived at Longmen Gorge.

Several speedboats were moored on the riverbank, with black flags flying from their masts.

Several burly men squatted at the bow of the boat, smoking pipes and chatting idly.

Upon seeing Ye Sheng approach, one of them stood up.

"Oh, Brother Ye is back?"

Ye Sheng nodded. "Is Brother Zhang here?"

"It's inside, you can go in."

Ye Sheng walked into the cave at the foot of the cliff.

Inside the cave, there was still that same rough wooden table, with account books, an abacus, and writing implements on it.

Zhang Hu sat behind the table, looking down at something.

He looked up when he heard footsteps.

"Young man, you're back?"

"Brother Zhang." Ye Sheng walked to the table and clasped his hands in greeting.

Zhang Hu nodded and put down the account book in his hand.

"You've had a hard time these past few days."

"Of course." Ye Sheng took out the string of copper coins from his pocket and placed it on the table.

"Brother Zhang, is Uncle Chen not here? Here are five hundred and fifty coins. Please pass them on to him. I've paid off my debt to the boatmen."

Zhang Hu glanced at the string of copper coins, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"Oh ho, you've gathered enough so quickly? Okay, Uncle Chen has gone to town, I'll tell him when he gets back."

"Mm." Ye Sheng nodded.

Zhang Hu picked up the copper coins and counted them carefully.

"That's right, not a penny less."

He put the copper coins into the drawer and said, "Young brother, although the debt has been paid off, you are still a brother of the ship gang."

Zhang Hu stood up and walked up to Ye Sheng.

"If you need anything in the future, feel free to come to me."

Ye Sheng clasped his hands in greeting to Zhang Hu.

"Thank you for taking care of me, Brother Zhang."

Zhang Hu waved his hand, "Don't be so polite, we're all brothers."

He paused, then continued.

"By the way, although the situation at the naval base has been resolved, you should still be careful."

"That bastard Zhao Hu is no pushover."

Ye Sheng nodded. "I know."

Zhang Hu patted him on the shoulder.

"Alright, let's go back."

Ye Sheng turned and left, walking out of the cave.