Becoming a Martial Master: Starting as a Swordsmith

Not only that, the three hundred taels of silver also vanished without a trace.

When Master Li and the eldest son return, this debt will surely be settled with him.

Li Jiwu grew angrier the more he thought about it, and suddenly kicked a charred wooden board next to him. The board flew a long way, hit the wall, and cracked in two with a loud crack.

"What are you looking at!"

Li Jiwu, unusually losing his composure, roared at the servants who were peeking around.

"Clean this place up! Those who are supposed to be working, get to work! What are you all doing gathered around here?!"

The servants trembled at his shout and scattered in all directions. Some fetched water, others swept the floor, and they began to clear the ruins in a flurry of activity.

Shen Chu mingled in the crowd, slowly turning around and walking towards the forging courtyard.

He remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was recalling the fleeting, strange look on Zhang the constable's face when he examined the corpse.

That constable Zhang definitely figured something out, but he chose to keep it a secret.

The reason behind this is probably more intriguing than whether Zhao Dezhu lives or dies!

.......

Zhao Dezhu's disappearance and the two charred corpses cast a shadow over the knife-forging compound. Everyone was restless and uneasy while working. Seeing this, Shen Chu also slowed down his work, which was unusual for him.

After a day's work,

Shen Chu returned to her residence, closed the door, and took out the silver pouch and banknotes from her bosom to count them.

The three hundred taels of silver that Zhao Dezhu withdrew from the account for purchasing, plus the silver and banknotes found in the secret compartment under his bed, totaled about six or seven hundred taels.

This amount of money is a huge fortune for an ordinary person, enough for him to start over in a new place and live a stable life.

He rewrapped the silver, stuffed it under the bed, and then sat on the bed, lost in thought.

We can't stay here any longer.

He had a growing premonition.

Since the so-called flag leader of the Red Lotus Sect was able to plant Zhao Dezhu as a pawn in the Li family,

This shows that their infiltration of the Li family is far deeper than it appears on the surface.

Although Zhao Dezhu is dead, the flag master will eventually discover that this pawn has lost contact. If he follows the trail, it's hard to say whether it will lead back to him.

In addition, he had previously preached to Han Tieshan and a group of refugees.

Shen Chu didn't believe for a second that the Red Lotus Sect didn't want to cause trouble.

Furthermore, the reaction of that constable Zhang was also very suspicious.

He clearly noticed something was wrong with the corpse, but chose to cover it up.

Either they are colluding with the Red Lotus Sect, or there is another hidden story!

But either possibility is not good news for Shen Chu.

Of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, running away is the best!

But he can't just leave whenever he wants.

Zhao Dezhu had just disappeared, his house had just burned down, and the case had just been closed.

He, a newcomer to the knife-forging compound, quit his job and suddenly ran away.

This is far too attention-grabbing.

If Li Jiwu and the government become suspicious and send people to investigate, it will be easier to expose them.

But the most crucial issue is that his innate talent is still too low. His "Thousand Refinements" skill remains stuck, unable to improve. He still wants to further increase his innate talent.

Shen Chu thought it over and over again, and decided to wait a little longer.

Once the dust settles and people's attention has shifted away from the fire, he'll find a suitable opportunity to quietly leave, ideally with a plausible excuse...

......

A few days later, a carriage, surrounded by more than ten guards, slowly drove into the gate of the Li residence.

Master Li lifted the carriage curtain, his face showing the weariness of a long journey, but his brows revealed an undisguised joy.

Following closely behind him as he got out of the car was the eldest son, Li Chengwen.

Unlike the slightly impetuous and uneasy chubby boy who set off, Li Chengwen now seemed like a completely different person.

His movements were clean and efficient, and his face radiated an unprecedented confidence and glow.

It was as if this trip had completely transformed him.

As soon as Master Li got out of the car, the steward led the entire household to greet him.

The second young master, Li Jiwu, and Liu Shi were also waiting at the door early. One had a smile on her face, and the other had exquisite makeup. They went forward together to greet them.

Master Li was in high spirits. He patted his eldest son on the shoulder and smiled at everyone, saying, "Chengwen has done a great job on this trip! He was the one who helped me secure that large, long-term weapons supply contract with the Qingyang County government. This boy may seem impulsive and reckless on ordinary days, but when it comes to important matters, he's much more reliable than I expected!"

Upon hearing this, everyone present showed surprise, but quickly put on smiles and offered their congratulations.

Li Chengwen was so proud of his father's praise that he almost radiated smugness. He puffed out his chest and blurted out, "Father, I told you long ago, this little matter is something I could have handled myself without my sister's help!"

The smile on Mr. Li's face froze for a moment, and then he glared at his eldest son speechlessly.

He praised him in front of the whole family to give him face.

But this kid couldn't hold back any longer and revealed his hand.

However, his eldest son's performance on this trip really impressed him. Although he felt a little helpless, he was still in a good mood and didn't bother to dwell on this little incident.

He glared at Li Chengwen with annoyance, then waved his hand and instructed the steward, "Go to the account and withdraw some reward money, then send it to the forging workshop. This is a benefit that Chengwen secured for everyone. Once the government's orders arrive, tell the craftsmen in the workshop to work hard! If they do a good job, I will reward them handsomely!"

The butler quickly bowed and agreed.

The second young master, Li Jiwu, stood to the side with a perfectly measured smile on his face, clapping and congratulating along with the others.

Although he said polite things like "Congratulations, Father, Congratulations, Eldest Brother," and "Father, you've worked hard; Eldest Brother, you've had a tough time,"

However, his hand was clenched tightly in his lowered sleeve.

After the initial excitement of the welcome subsided, Li Jiwu composed himself and stepped forward.

He lowered his head slightly, his tone heavy: "Father, during the days you were away, a major event occurred in the family. I dare not hide it and must report it to you."

Mr. Li's good mood was interrupted by these words, and he frowned slightly: "What is it?"

Li Jiwu then recounted Zhao Dezhu's affair in detail.

He spoke earnestly and with a heavy heart, and at the end he bowed deeply: "Father, this happened while I was managing the household chores. It was due to my inadequate supervision and negligence in hiring people. Please punish me, Father."

Upon hearing this, Master Li's face immediately darkened.

During the time he was away from the manor, such a big thing actually happened!

Not only were several hundred taels of silver stolen, but people also died!

Just as Master Li was about to lash out, Madam Liu stepped forward first, hugged Master Li, and began to cry.