Gou Zai Xianwu Wenjing Search for Opportunities

Li Si paused for a moment: "There's also the 'Snake-Slaying Saber Technique,' which is quite good. It can be used with a single-edged sword or a short sword. The sword is small and easy to conceal, so people in the martial arts world love to practice this."

Lin Yuan knew from the names of the four sword techniques that they weren't anything particularly sophisticated, but as long as they could kill people, that was fine.

Each of these four martial arts techniques has its own advantages and disadvantages, and for a moment he and Hu Cai didn't know which one to choose.

Wu Yong had no interest in these martial arts techniques, so he remained silent.

Lin Yuan had no choice but to ask Li Si for help: "Sir, which one is more suitable for us newbies to learn? We don't care about anything else, as long as it works well in business!"

"The more confined the space, the more powerful the 'Snake-Slaying Saber Technique' becomes, especially in indoor combat, such as when entering a room to conduct business," Li Si said, then smiled slightly, took a sip of tea, and added, "The Black Snake Gang leader, Black Snake Gentleman, was once a disciple of the Snake Intent Sect, skilled in the 'Snake Intent Fist' and the 'Snake Intent Saber Technique,' which are of the same lineage as the Snake-Slaying Saber Technique. Later, when he established the gang, he only passed on some of the martial arts to his disciples, namely the 'Black Snake Saber Technique' and the 'Black Snake Fist.'"

Lin Yuan's eyes lit up after hearing this. This sword technique was highly professional and suitable for both breaking into homes to fight for justice and protecting oneself while sleeping.

He had previously wanted to find the spirit of King Kong from the Black Snake Gang to learn the Black Snake Blade Technique, but unexpectedly, it was related to the "Snake-Slaying Blade Technique": "Which is stronger, the Black Snake Blade Technique or the Snake-Slaying Blade Technique?"

Li Si pondered for a moment: "The Snake-Slaying Saber Technique is slightly stronger, but only to a limited extent. The most authentic one is still the Snake Intent Saber Technique, which is the ultimate skill of the Snake Fist Sect. Only a few hall masters in the Black Snake Gang have learned it; the other disciples can only learn the Black Snake Saber Technique."

Lin Yuan immediately had an idea: "Steelman, then I will learn the 'Snake-Slaying Saber Technique'."

"Me too!" Hu Cai chimed in.

Li Si looked at Wu Yong, who shook his head, but did not try to persuade him. He then said to Lin Yuan and the other man, "Alright then. Instructor Li of the manor is not only good at using the 'Snake-Slaying Saber Technique,' but also at teaching it. However, if you mind his background, I can teach you both for Li Tingzuo's sake."

As a steward, Li Si wasn't actually required to teach disciples, but since he had received too many benefits from Li Shi, he had to lend a hand.

Lin Yuan then remembered that Li Dao was originally a servant of the Li family. He exchanged a glance with Hu Cai. There was no need to choose. The two of them said in unison, "Sir, please accept our bow."

After saying this, the two stood up, clasped their hands in greeting, and bowed.

Li Si helped the two up and advised, "There's no need for that. It's just a martial arts technique. In a few days, I'll come to the martial arts arena to find you two. This technique is simple; I'll teach you twice, and that should be enough. As for how much you learn, that's up to you."

Clearly, Li Si only teaches twice, and he doesn't care whether the student learns it or not.

"Thank you, Deacon." The two nodded in agreement.

"If you really want to improve your martial arts, you'll need to find a good master and learn some advanced techniques," Li Si reminded him one last time. "You two should get a knife these next few days."

"Are there any requirements regarding the form or design?" Lin Yuan asked.

"A knife will suffice for catching thieves, preferably an unsharpened one," Li Si emphasized.

"it is good."

……

The three left the Li residence.

"I'll go ask in the pavilion." Lin Yuan thought about borrowing the knife from the Carp Pavilion. He said he would borrow it, but as for when he would return it, he would deal with that later.

"The knives in the pavilion are definitely sharpened. Let's go to the shop and ask," Hu Cai advised.

"Alright then." Lin Yuan thought that sharpening the blade would easily injure him, so it seemed that he couldn't gain this advantage.

"Don't ask!" Wu Yong suddenly spoke up, "I have a few unsharpened ones at home, I'll bring them to you both tomorrow."

"Thank you very much, Senior Brother Wu!" The two of them didn't stand on ceremony and accepted the money directly.

Lin Yuan didn't go to school in the afternoon; instead, he sparred with Hu Cai and Wu Yong in the Hu family's courtyard.

After this period of sparring, although we inevitably suffered bruises and welts, our experience in fighting enemies has indeed increased significantly.

In actual combat, it's not just about basic skills and level of understanding, but also about adaptability on the spot.

Lin Yuan understood that this required long-term training to develop muscle memory, just like tempering the body; it couldn't be rushed.

……

The next morning.

As usual yesterday, Lin Yuan arrived at the Carp Pavilion to report for duty, and nothing happened again.

He told Li Shi and Zhao Sheng about learning swordsmanship, and then he and Zhao Sheng slipped away again, leaving the pavilion and parting ways.

Lin Yuan arrived at Little Peach Grove two quarters of an hour late today and was severely beaten by Instructor Hong again. Fortunately, the effect of tempering his body in the state of selflessness was good, and he had no choice but to endure it before breaking through to the Martial Master level.

When Lin Yuan left the Li residence, he received an unsharpened single-edged sword brought by Wu Yong, which looked much better than the sword he carried for catching thieves.

As expected, gifts from wealthy families are never cheap.

"Thank you so much, Senior Brother Wu!" Lin Yuan exclaimed.

"No need to be polite, we can practice our swordsmanship from now on!" Wu Yong was a very straightforward person, and that was his purpose.

Lin Yuan didn't mind. He couldn't give up everything. Besides, sparring would be beneficial to him: "Senior Brother Wu, you've learned a family secret technique and your level is high. I'll have to fight you with Senior Brother Hu."

"Haha, yeah," Hu Cai chimed in.

"There's no way it can be one against two, no way," Wu Yong disagreed.

Just then, Zhao Sheng ran over, somewhat surprised to see the two men holding knives. He panted, "Uncle, something's happened in the pavilion, come quick!"

"I'm going to change my clothes." Lin Yuan was covered in sweat in his training clothes and needed to change into a scholar's robe to be more appropriate for his status.

"No need, this will do. We're going to raid their property, and the pavilion is short-handed."

"Searching a house? Whose house?" Lin Yuan asked, puzzled.

"Zhang Dengfeng has committed a crime. He absconded with the Hou family's valuables. The county government has issued a warrant for his arrest, and the county constable has personally led a team to search the house. The Zhang family steward has also brought his men."

"Huh?" Lin Yuan was both surprised and felt that this was bound to happen sooner or later. It seemed that the truth had come out. He wondered what would happen to Xu Niang and her daughter.

He made a promise to Old Master Zhang, but given the mirror's abilities, he could choose not to keep it.

However, since he has promised, he will do his best to help.

At this point, he didn't know what the outcome would be; he could only wait and see.

"Our pavilion is only responsible for surrounding the Zhang family, but it's not our place to do the good work of confiscating their shops and land!" Zhao Sheng felt a little regretful. He knew the Zhang family was rich, but it was a pity that it wasn't their turn.

The real money-making jobs are never for those at the bottom.

Zhao Sheng added, "Senior Brother Hu, Senior Brother Wu, if you're free, you can come over too."

"Alright!" Hu Cai also wanted to show off in front of Li Shi.

Wu Yong, however, shook his head, refusing such a public appearance.

So the three of them skipped dinner and immediately went to Zhang Dengfeng's house.

At this time, a crowd of onlookers gathered around the house. Zhang, the village head, ordered his men to chase away the people and block off the surrounding streets to prevent idlers from coming over.

Lin Yuan and his companions were just peripheral errand boys, only able to listen to the people from the Marquis's residence and the county government making a ruckus in the courtyard, with cries and shouts coming from inside from time to time, and people being driven out every now and then.

After a while, he led the county officials to search for the Zhang family's shops and farmland.

Lin Yuan and the others were very hungry, so they asked the guards to buy some steamed buns to eat. The buns were not very tasty, and he only ate half of them.

After a long day of commotion, the Zhang family members, young and old, were all driven out of their house. Their shops were also seized, and even their farmland in Shangwei Village was confiscated. However, the Marquis's mansion only confiscated the farmland and property, without touching anyone, and only drove the Zhang family members out of their home.

Even after the confiscation of the property was completed, the steward of the Marquis's residence and the county magistrate still sent people to occupy the Zhang family mansion.

Outside the mansion, Zhang Dengyun was somewhat dazed, but he managed to keep his composure and kept reassuring everyone.

Lin Yuan walked closer and took a look, and saw that Xu Niang and Yu'er were in the crowd.

Li Shi pulled him back: "Stop looking. His family has offended the Marquis's mansion, they're finished. You all stay away and don't get involved."

Lin Yuan readily agreed and distanced himself from the crowd: "Did Zhang Dengfeng really embezzle money from the Zhang family?"

"How could that be!" Li Shi chuckled, clearly not believing the county's nonsense.

"What did he do wrong?"

"Who knows? Anyway, it's just infighting within the Zhang family, it has nothing to do with us. Let's go, we're starving."

The next day.

Lin Yuan arrived at the pavilion and learned the latest news: Zhang Dengyun had dismissed all the servants in his house and then returned to his hometown of Shangwei Village with his wife and daughter, Xu Niang.

Although the Zhang family's fields and houses in Shangwei Village were confiscated, they still had some clan land, which was not included in the list of confiscated properties. Out of consideration for their friendship over the years, the elders of the clan took them in and provided them with food and lodging.