Chapter 84: Measure Measure, Senior Brother Fang
The next day at dawn.
Dou Su Fu was awakened by the knocking at the shop door outside:
“Boss’s wife!”
“The sun has come out, why hasn’t the door opened yet? Not doing business today?”
She had actually slept nearly a whole night in one go.
Opening her eyes, Dou Su Fu stared at the lace canopy above the bed for a long time before finally recalling the events of last night.
Subconsciously, her fingers trembled lightly as she reached toward her chest and looked down at her body.
After confirming that her clothes were intact, still the same set from yesterday, and her body felt no different, she let out a slight sigh of relief.
But at the same time, a trace of melancholy that she herself didn’t notice flickered unconsciously in her eyes.
“Little rascal.”
Dou Su Fu secretly spat: “Just wasting time on my business.”
However, she didn’t pay attention to the thumping knocks outside the shop, but instead continued to curl up comfortably on the bed, enjoying the rare sense of peace and comfort.
It seemed like nearly ten years since she had slept so soundly.
In the past, no matter how tired or sleepy, she would always wake up a few times, or get up before dawn to boil porridge water and prepare the next day’s milk products.
After indulging in sleep, when she finally got up, Dou Su Fu felt that she had slept so sweetly last night that she felt refreshed and light as a swallow, as if the toil of the past ten years had vanished in that one night.
Dou Su Fu originally thought this was because of the wine she drank yesterday evening.
But when she walked to the table and saw a stack of talisman money amid the leftovers, along with a note, she finally realized.
Dou Su Fu looked at the note in surprise, at the bug the size of a millet grain, and thought to herself: “Sleepy bug?”
In an instant, she remembered more about drinking with Fang Shu last night, her cheeks slightly flushed, and she secretly spat at the bug on the note:
“What an improper bug.”
But Dou Su Fu immediately followed Fang Shu’s instructions, took a fine needle, pricked her finger, and fed a drop of blood to the sleepy bug.
She meticulously refined the gu worm into her possession, establishing a certain connection between her and the bug.
Then, staying in the room, she controlled the sleepy bug and played with it happily for a while.
A moment later.
Dou Su Fu looked at the plates and bowls on the table in the room, sighed, rolled up her sleeves, and quickly started cleaning up.
She muttered under her breath:
“Help a person to the end, close the door then, doesn’t even know to wash the bowls, leaving the old woman to clean up.”
But as she cleaned the plates, her steps were light and lively, just like Jiao Lulu, like a little girl, with an irrepressible smile on her face.
…………………………
On the other side.
Fang Shu had meditated while keeping watch all night.
After letting Dou Su Fu sleep well, he left meal money and the sleepy bug, then directly left the courtyard house and headed to Du Gu Guan.
In Du Gu Guan.
He happened to run into his second uncle Yu Le, who was sneaking a bite before starting work. After greeting each other, he mooched a breakfast, then returned to the room in the dojo.
In going and coming back, no one knew that Fang Shu had made a trip to Qian Shan Mine and had quite an encounter.
In the following days.
He didn’t go out casually anymore, but used purple lead mica milk while circulating his energy to cultivate, increasing his qi and blood, while thinking of various ways to inquire in the marketplace about news related to Qian Shan Mine.
Occasionally, he would return to the courtyard house to gather with his second uncle and others, and mooch food and drink in Dou Su Fu’s room.
Their interactions remained as close as sister and brother, and even became a bit more familiar.
However, the meal money that should be given, Fang Shu still paid, not skimping.
This day.
While refining his qi and blood in the dojo, Fang Shu suddenly heard his second uncle Yu Le calling:
“Shu’er, the Dojo Master is looking for you, go to the assembly hall in the inner courtyard.”
Hearing this, Fang Shu opened his eyes, slowly withdrew his energy, and felt slightly surprised.
He had thought the Dojo Master was going to lecture and impart teachings again, but hearing “assembly hall” made it seem otherwise.
Without wasting effort guessing, Fang Shu tidied up and promptly went out, heading straight to the assembly hall in the inner courtyard.
Before entering the hall, his gaze suddenly shifted and caught sight of a departing figure that looked somewhat familiar, but the other’s attire and demeanor were not from the dojo—clearly an outsider.
When he arrived in the assembly hall, Fang Shu saw quite a few people had come, including Qin Min waiting in the hall.
He immediately stepped forward, cupped his hands in salute: “Greetings, Master.”
The Du Gu Guan Master sat steadily on the grand chair. Hearing Fang Shu’s voice, her eyelids lifted slightly, and she nodded almost imperceptibly.
The others in the hall also turned their gazes to Fang Shu, each with eager, competitive looks.
“Alright, almost everyone is here.”
The Du Gu Guan Master spoke:
“This dojo master has been receiving so many provisions from them year after year, it’s time to back them up. Since the disciples left in the building are useless and got bullied, with a challenge for a fight, do you have the guts to respond?”
The inner courtyard disciples, regardless of their expressions, quickly responded:
“This disciple has the guts!” “Disciple is willing to assist in a fight.”
Only one older disciple with a sickly face among them looked full of shame, head down in silence, seemingly the “useless disciple” the Du Gu Guan Master mentioned.
Though Fang Shu only half understood, he followed the crowd in agreeing and quickly pulled Li Hou Er aside to ask carefully.
Soon, a look of realization appeared on his face.
It turned out the Du Gu Guan Master had gathered everyone today not for a lecture, but because someone was “challenging a subordinate establishment.”
This “challenging a subordinate establishment” was different from “challenging a dojo.”
The former meant forces under Du Gu Guan’s protection, like restaurants and medicine halls, being provoked by others; the latter was someone bold enough to come to Du Gu Guan to stir trouble.
“Challenging a dojo” was rare; Fang Shu had hardly heard of any cases.
But he had heard plenty about “challenging a subordinate establishment” in the marketplace and knew the rules for assisting in such fights were a common way to resolve disputes in the town.
The various dojos supported this, and assisting parties usually stopped at a point, honoring the bet.
Because such assistance resolved disputes efficiently, trained dojo disciples, and allowed dojos to collect an extra “hardship fee” from merchants each time.
Especially that hardship fee—disciples who prided themselves on some strength were always keen on assisting.
This was Fang Shu’s first time facing such a matter; he had no personal experience assisting the dojo in fights.
But for some reason, he felt that the Du Gu Guan Master had likely chosen him for this assistance!
In the hall, disciples argued:
“Hmph! Junior Sister Qin Min has recently been measuring other dojo disciples in town for our dojo, earning quite a reputation. They want the strongest Second Calamity Immortal, specifically targeting Junior Sister Qin Min.”
“Exactly, what’s there to be proud of, you oaf? They want her most, not you.”
Sure enough, as Fang Shu expected.
Amid the noisy arguing, the Du Gu Guan Master’s gaze swept over the inner courtyard disciples, lingering a moment on Qin Min, before settling on Fang Shu.
The old woman stared intently at Fang Shu and spoke:
“Shu’er, are you willing to represent our dojo and take on this assistance?”
Fang Shu unhesitatingly cupped his hands and responded:
“Yes, this disciple thanks Master for the opportunity!”
Such a task ordered by the Dojo Master—low risk, gaining fight experience, and earning extra money—was not to be missed.
“Good.” The Du Gu Guan Master nodded in satisfaction. “Then you will represent our dojo.”
But this choice caused no small surprise in the hall.
Because the opponent for this assistance was an old Second Calamity Immortal, and the Du Gu Guan Master sending Fang Shu meant his own cultivation must have passed the Second Tribulation, a Second Tribulation Refining Essence Human Immortal!
Among the disciples, Li Hou Er was the most shocked. As soon as Fang Shu stepped back, he grabbed him and asked all sorts of questions.
Facing their inquiries, Fang Shu nodded reservedly.
“Really? Fang Shu, you’ve reached Second Tribulation too!”
This made the hall even noisier; some immediately congratulated him:
“Junior Brother Fang Shu truly has exceptional talent!”
Some unfamiliar disciples who didn’t often cultivate in the dojo looked at Fang Shu repeatedly, wanting to remember this young Second Calamity Immortal from the dojo.
Some congratulated, some exclaimed in amazement, and naturally some were displeased, muttering:
“What’s to be proud of? They wanted Junior Sister Qin Min most.”
Without Fang Shu speaking, Li Hou Er retorted: “Why yap? If you’re so capable, go yourself!”
This left the mutterer deflated and angry, glaring at Li Hou Er, but Li Hou Er was fearless.
“Enough!” At that moment, the Du Gu Guan Master spoke, and the hall fell silent:
“This old body chose Fang Shu not out of favoritism, but because he has some karma with Seven Fragrance Tower. Him assisting in the fight is most suitable.”
Correct, the ones requesting Du Gu Guan to send someone this time were precisely the people from Seven Fragrance Tower.
The Dojo Master’s words reminded everyone in the hall; upon thinking, many recalled that Fang Shu indeed had some past karma with Seven Fragrance Tower.
Thus, the hall became even quieter, and the disciples no longer acted out.
The inner courtyard disciples who had just been indignant for Junior Sister Qin Min immediately changed their tune:
“Right! What kind of person is Junior Sister Qin Min? How could Seven Fragrance Tower just summon her at will.”
Everyone thought the assistance matter was settled, and Fang Shu planned to take leave to prepare.
But at that moment, a clear, cold voice suddenly sounded in the hall:
“Senior Brother Fang Shu, please wait.”
Everyone turned in surprise toward the voice and saw it was Qin Min, who had been standing aside mostly silent, speaking up.
The woman had a calm expression and cupped her hands toward the Du Gu Guan Master:
“Master, although Senior Brother Fang Shu has some karma with Seven Fragrance Tower, since they came specifically for me. This disciple thinks I should first measure Senior Brother Fang Shu’s magic power to see if he is fit to go out.”
Thud!
These words silenced the hall completely; the other disciples’ gazes turned to either Qin Min’s face or Fang Shu’s.
Even the Du Gu Guan Master frowned slightly, completely unexpected.
But Qin Min showed no sign of backing down; she turned to Fang Shu with an indifferent tone:
“To avoid Senior Brother Fang Shu being too weak and getting suppressed by outsiders again, losing our dojo’s face.”
