Chapter 136: Terrifying Connections
Cannot?
Owl Third Master’s facial muscles twitched, somewhat unable to hold it together.
The reason he chose Rongyuan Orphanage to take in adopted sons and daughters for fame was also because nowadays in Wuqing County, dragons and snakes mingle chaotically, and the other places where fame could be gained basically had multiple forces sharing the spoils behind them.
In contrast, Rongyuan Orphanage was clean and simple due to Chen Shun’an’s protection, with no complex interpersonal relationships or other forces behind it.
Although Chen Shun’an’s reputation had risen sharply nowadays, in the end, he was merely second-rate strength.
One must pick soft persimmons to pinch.
Moreover, in Owl Third Master’s view, this was completely a win-win situation.
Chen Shun’an didn’t need to do anything at all; he could save a large sum of silver and continue gaining fame, merely by ‘evening the scales’ with some children for him.
He didn’t believe that Chen Shun’an was really such a good person?
Could a good person reach the status you and I have now?
They would have died long ago!
Owl Third Master took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his fiery temperament, and squeezed out a twisted smile,
“Perhaps Brother Chen has misunderstood. What I mean is, as long as I select a few orphans to take away, the future expenses of the orphanage, I…”
“I said, no. You won’t take even one person away.”
Chen Shun’an’s tone was flat.
Owl Third Master never expected that Chen Shun’an would disregard the bigger picture like this, damaging relations between both sides in front of everyone.
His face completely darkened: “Brother Chen, why is that?”
“Because I too am an orphan without father or mother…”
Owl Third Master looked puzzled.
This is a reason?
He himself was an orphan, there were plenty of orphans in Wuqing County, and orphans under heaven numbered in the tens of thousands?
You, a mere water carrier, citing this grand reason to protect all the orphans in the world—can you protect them?
Owl Third Master completely could not understand.
Too stupid, too ridiculous!
And the group of huo saw their own third master suffer grievance, even more furious, gnashing their teeth.
Think of their Four Great Huo, dividing gold and silver by the scale, changing into fine clothes, each one loyal and righteous, never backing down in fights and brawls.
Now, after much effort to speak reason for once, they actually encountered this unreasonable Chen Shun’an!
“Chen, don’t be shameless when given face. What are you? Our third master is politely discussing with you, and you…”
Xiao Hai flew into a rage, leaping up from the stool with a ‘clang’ as he directly drew his broadsword.
“Courting death!”
Li Shicheng had long disliked this hopping Xiao Hai.
Before the words finished, his figure moved like a snake, agile and swift, in one step closing in, creating an afterimage, and in an instant he was already behind Xiao Hai.
Li Shicheng turned his arm, and suddenly a strand of condensed Golden Snake Strength appeared in the air, wrapped in surging palm force, abruptly striking down!
“Family Head Li has gone too far.”
Owl Third Master’s eyes sharpened, flying over, his body’s true intent strength surging explosively, attacking toward Li Shicheng like pushing a mountain.
Having consecutively lost face to Chen Shun’an, with this move, Owl Third Master couldn’t help but ignite some anger.
You, Li Shicheng, just recovered from a serious illness—how much of your strength remains?
Out of respect as a martial world senior, he called you Family Head Li.
If without respect, what are you?
In this world, one ultimately relies on strength to speak; even at your peak, Li Shicheng was merely slaying one bandit.
With this move, Owl Third Master was already prepared to send Li Shicheng home to lie down for several more months.
To let him know that today’s Wuqing County is no longer the place he dominated back then.
Facing the malice attacking from the side, Li Shicheng’s expression unchanged, his feet like nails firmly rooted into the ground.
Under his robe, muscles undulated, as if dragons and snakes were wandering; his qi and blood, dormant for many years, rapidly revived at a speed beyond ordinary imagination.
Especially his intent, long tormented by insomnia and chronic illness, after taking Ran Yi Calming Water, surprisingly showed signs of breaking and then establishing, stepping into a new realm.
Making Li Shicheng’s entire body’s qi and blood and strength come alive, agile and spirited, as controllable as his own arms.
He merely shrugged his shoulder, and unremarkable Golden Snake Strength left his body; in Owl Third Master’s eyes, it seemed to turn into a ferocious fire snake, crashing head-on.
Boom rumble!
Owl Third Master retreated several steps, his palm numb, eyes full of shock and doubt.
Immediately after, Li Shicheng’s hand that had struck toward Xiao Hai.
Rip!
The palm print carried scarlet and violent air waves, falling unimpeded.
The insidious palm strength at first was only like a falling withered leaf, light as nothing; Xiao Hai only felt his back stuck to a piece of ice-cold wet mud, a chill penetrating through his clothes.
But immediately after, an extremely vicious aura infiltrated and spread inward.
Everywhere it passed, qi and blood instantly froze and stagnated, meridians tore like pierced by ice needles, muscles and bones even emitted faint ‘sizzle’ sounds, as if being dissolved by invisible force.
Xiao Hai’s eyes suddenly bulged outward, pupils rapidly dilating, and like a puppet with cut strings, he collapsed softly, life or death unknown.
“What thing dares to interject?”
Shicheng coldly snorted and withdrew his hand, his figure flashing back to Chen Shun’an’s side, calm and composed, as if he had done something insignificant.
And Owl Third Master looked down at his own faintly trembling palm, then at Li Shicheng’s gaunt figure that a gust of wind could blow over, a trace of disbelief flashing in his eyes.
What’s going on with this old ghost?
His entire intent, so strong?
Still merely slaying one bandit?
Although that move just now, Owl Third Master hadn’t used full strength, hastily only mustering a few parts of his power, but it was far from something a true intent master just recovered from serious illness could withstand.
But precisely, Li Shicheng not only casually repelled his block, but under his very eyes, injured his man!
“Enough.”
Suddenly, Chen Shun’an, who had been sitting to the side, said indifferently,
“Matters of the dao are settled by the dao’s rules. Brother Li stepping out for Chen Mou counts as winning this round. If Owl Third Master is unconvinced, then set the path, issue challenges for martial duel. I can also invite witnesses from Wuqing Stick Bureau…”
Owl Third Master heard this and glanced at Li Shicheng, seeing his expression normal, casually sipping tea water, clearly tacitly approving and standing on Chen Shun’an’s side.
Owl Third Master’s face darkened, without responding, he flicked his sleeve fiercely and turned to leave.
“Withdraw!”
The remaining huo, seeing this, lifted the limp Xiao Hai like a pile of rotten mud from the ground, and the large black mass followed Owl Third Master away.
“Wait.” Chen Shun’an as if suddenly remembering, raised his voice: “Take this shed and table and chairs too; Chen Mou won’t take your cheap advantage.”
“Oh oh, alright…”
A few young huo at the end immediately snapped to, dismantled the tea shed, and carried away the grand tutor’s chairs.
Watching that group’s receding figures, Chen Shun’an and Li Shicheng exchanged a glance, both shaking their heads slightly.
“Move the things inside.”
Chen Shun’an instructed, and only then did Wanlong Pounding House’s gang members begin carrying the grain and rice into the orphanage.
The two then slowly stepped inside.
……
Owl Third Master reached the street’s end, suddenly pausing, the gloom on his face gradually fading, replaced by shrewdness and suspicion.
He turned sideways, his gaze crossing the long street, falling on the still wide-open courtyard gate of the orphanage.
Inside the courtyard, light and shadow mottled, vaguely visible was Chen Shun’an’s figure surrounded by a group of half-grown children.
And what made his heart jolt even more was that Golden Snake Li Family’s family head Li Shicheng actually stood calmly at Chen Shun’an’s side, even half a step behind, in a posture of protect the dao for him.
The suspicion on Owl Third Master’s face grew deeper.
Strange, Li Shicheng’s family background was extraordinary, ancestors wealthy, and he himself proud and arrogant; even tormented by hidden injury for years, that aloof nature hadn’t diminished.
How today, for mere Chen Shun’an who had sent him blessed water, not only did he fight fiercely, but lowered his stance so much?
“Could it be that Li Shicheng’s injuries improving is related to this Chen Shun’an?”
A thought flashed like lightning through his mind, making him secretly draw a cold breath.
Hiss, what methods does this Chen Shun’an have? Zhao Guangxi publicly stated support and protection, Li Shicheng backing him, and he has a life-saving favor to Hong Junxian.
Oh, and it seems Lin Shou Zhuo of Grit Well also favors Chen Shun’an greatly, considering him a brother.
Adding it up, behind this Chen fellow surprisingly stand four true intent masters?
What connections!
“Forget it, misjudged; not a soft persimmon, hit an iron plate… I’ll just switch to another orphanage!”
Owl Third Master shook his head, suppressing that bit of unwillingness and shock in his heart, and helplessly departed.
……
Inside the orphanage, the kitchen and small room were piled full of newly delivered rice, grain, oil, and salt, almost no place to step.
Zhou Daquan was so excited his lips trembled, hands incessantly wiping on his lapels.
The female steward suddenly knelt toward Chen Shun’an, tears streaming, voice choking,
“Master Chen, your great kindness, this woman has no way to repay, can only build a living shrine for you, burn incense morning and night, offer a longevity plaque, praying for your fortune, longevity, and well-being!”
That Owl Third Master and huo are no good sorts, how could they be so kind-hearted as to generously fund the orphanage?
The female steward saw clearly; they definitely wanted to suck the marrow from these children’s bones, ruthlessly recouping double the money spent.
And the female steward had been locked in the room earlier, only hearing vague talk and sudden fighting noises outside.
It scared the couple silly, anxious and regretful.
How did this involve dragging Master Chen into it!
Sin, sin; even dying and going to hell, hard to wash away our sins!
So when seeing Chen Shun’an unscathed, even forcing back Owl Third Master and the others, the couple was beyond astonished.
In a daze, they really thought Chen Shun’an was a deity incarnate, specially come to resolve disasters and ferry people.
Who knew that upon hearing “build living shrine” and “offer plaque,” Chen Shun’an immediately panicked, helping the female steward up and hastily refusing,
“No! Don’t build it! Chen Mou can’t bear it; just think of Chen Mou’s good in your hearts, I don’t do these empty things!”
The Sacred Dynasty has big problems; those temples and daoist temples worshiping who knows what evil things.
He, Chen Shun’an, didn’t want to openly harvest incense yet.
Now he could only quietly enter the village, don’t let the gunshots ring out, develop stealthily.
【Wish+2】
【Wish+3】
【Wish+4】
…
【Wish+122】
Strands of invisible wish power gathered from the people present in the field.
Some children helping carry grain and rice, some stoking the stove in the kitchen, some clearing silt and cleaning.
