Chapter 106: Jingping Silver, Noble Person Sets Out
Chen Shun’an took a detour to the fish market first and bought two big black fish.
By the time he arrived at the Great Pharmacy, Lin Shou Zhuo and the others had just finished tidying up the water cart and checking the hub, preparing to return to the county.
Seeing Chen Shun’an return, Lin Shou Zhuo’s gaze casually passed over the two wild black fish that could only be bought from the earliest fish catch.
Lin Shou Zhuo handed over a heavy money bag.
“This is…”
Chen Shun’an opened it and saw that it contained a brand-new Jingping silver ingot. Weighing it, it must have been thirty Liang.
Pure as snow, without dense tooth marks or clipping, it was clearly a newly smelted ingot from the furnace house.
It felt smooth in his hand, like a young girl’s hand—soft to the touch and softening the heart, making one unable to help but grin with joy.
Lin Shou Zhuo said, “The weasel we killed last night sold to the Great Pharmacy for seventy-six Liang. You and I each get thirty Liang.”
“So much…”
Chen Shun’an looked toward Sun Xiao, Cheng Bin, and the others.
Sun Xiao laughed, “Instructor Lin provided the strength, Old Chen you provided the wits. We didn’t do anything and still picked up a few Liang of silver. It’s thanks to you two—take it quickly.”
Cheng Bin and the others also had faces full of smiles, quite self-aware.
Rewarding according to merit was only natural.
Chen Shun’an nodded, said nothing more, and accepted the money bag.
His heart immediately burned hot.
So hunting demons was this profitable?
A mere weasel with strength no more than second-rate realm, only minimal intelligence, relying only on claws and fangs, farting stench, was worth this much money.
What if it was comparable to a first-rate martial artist?
Even one that refined its transverse bone, spoke human words, and knew various demon arts…
But thinking of the corresponding risks, the flame in Chen Shun’an’s heart immediately extinguished.
Especially if the guess in Chen Shun’an’s heart was true.
Demons held absolutely extraordinary significance for the Sacred Dynasty!
The waters ran deep!
The imperial examination specializing in the Martial Strategy Dao Scripture, the barrier changing mortal cognition, the idealistic immortal fate that required fortune telling to suppress…
Chen Shun’an hadn’t figured these out yet, and now a demon resembling a human had appeared.
Fine, fighting and killing weren’t suited to Chen Shun’an’s physique.
Seeing everyone packed up, Lin Shou Zhuo cupped his fists toward the big-nosed, big-eared man from the Great Pharmacy.
“Brother Tan, farewell!”
“Brother Lin, safe travels!”
Lin Shou Zhuo turned and said to the group,
“Let’s go! Rest today, and head to the well again tomorrow!”
……
In the dim morning light, the banners flapping noisily outside street shops shattered last night’s cold quiet.
On the streets and alleys outside, sounds of spitting phlegm, greetings, bowls and chopsticks clinking, and shopkeepers hawking intertwined.
Chen Shun’an and his group hurried back to Wuqing County. Seeing this scene, they immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
The sudden demon evil last night had brought enormous psychological pressure to everyone.
Even Lin Shou Zhuo’s slightly furrowed brows relaxed a bit.
Chen Shun’an, familiar with the way, found a street-side breakfast shop.
He plopped down on a bench, leaned his saber against the table edge, raised his hand and shouted,
“Shopkeeper, arrange a bowl of noodle tea for each brother, with extra sesame paste, double portion of pepper salt! And five iron spade chickens first!”
The shopkeeper saw Chen Shun’an and the others—tall and sturdy, with coiled muscles—definitely martial artists who could eat and drink heartily. Knowing big business had arrived, he shouted and bustled about.
Sun Xiao and the others parked the water cart and walked over, laughing,
“It has to be you, Old Chen, a glutton for food. Eating with you means nothing’s ever bad!”
In no time, the shopkeeper brought all the food, especially the noodle tea bowls—each a large sea bowl like a small basin, which an ordinary person couldn’t finish in two days.
But for martial artists like Chen Shun’an, it was just one meal’s worth.
Chen Shun’an said, “This place’s iron spade chickens are young ones not yet mature, fried through and chopped, then boiled in beef bone broth for flavor. The soup is rich and aromatic— one bowl down and it’s utterly delicious!”
Everyone took a bite, the deliciousness dancing on their taste buds, their faces immediately glowing with health. They said no more and tucked in.
The human world’s fireworks soothed mortal hearts the most.
As they were eating, a low and majestic gong sound approached from afar, ringing steadily.
The originally bustling long street split open like it had been plowed by an invisible giant plow, instantly falling dead silent.
Chen Shun’an frowned and looked toward the sound.
He saw escorts with hands on sabers and swords, gazes sharp as hawks, leading the way, surrounding martial artists in uniform black short jackets.
A blue wool private sedan chair rolled unhurriedly down the center of the street.
The sedan curtain hung low, airtight, hiding the person inside, yet naturally emanating a bone-chilling heavy pressure.
Bystanders along the way scattered, turning away in unison.
Peddlers and laborers, passersby and merchants all tightened up their livelihoods, silent as cicadas in winter.
Chen Shun’an and the others were at least second-rate realm martial artists, so they didn’t need to.
However, in Chen Shun’an’s view, the blue wool private sedan slowed to a stop as it passed the tea shop.
The sedan curtain lifted, light and shadow intermingling, magnifying and distorting the side profile of the person inside, like a demon.
Then, a face somewhat similar to Zhao Guangxi’s but with even colder brows and eyes slowly turned from the light and shadow.
Lin Shou Zhuo paused silently, didn’t stand, and slightly cupped his fists,
“Lin has seen Lord Zhao.”
With Instructor Lin leading, Chen Shun’an and the others didn’t stand either, greeting scatteredly,
“Lord Zhao.”
“Morning, Master Zhao. Eaten yet? If not, come have a bite!”
“Master Zhao!”
Noticing the group’s irreverent attitude, a trace of imperceptible chill flashed in Zhao Guanghui’s eyes from the sedan, but his voice was very mild,
“I hear Brother Lin has broken through to first-rate realm—congratulations. My useless younger brother has loyal and righteous men like you assisting him, so he hasn’t disgraced the Zhao family name.”
“Lord Zhao is too kind.”
“I wonder if Brother Lin has plans for other employment? Whatever my brother pays you, I’ll double it.”
“Thank you for the regard, Lord Zhao. The landlord showed me great favor in knowing me; I dare not abandon him.”
Zhao Guanghui’s smile remained, but his voice cooled slightly.
“That’s a pity.”
With that, Zhao Guanghui’s gaze passed over Lin Shou Zhuo and the others, lingering a few breaths longer on Chen Shun’an’s face.
The sedan curtain fell, and Zhao Guanghui’s figure vanished back into the shadows.
The gong sounds and the lead escorts’ shouts resumed. This grand procession swept past like a cold wind over the noisy distant street.
Only after a long while did the crowd standing with backs turned slowly thaw, cautiously turning around.
Gradually returning to bustle.
Sun Xiao sneered, “Same as landlords, but Zhao Guanghui’s pomp is quite something!”
Cheng Bin shook his head, “Zhao Guanghui’s wife is a Hanlin Academy scholar’s daughter—got status through marriage. He thrives in both official and merchant circles. The gongs and drums today aren’t overstepping.”
Someone interjected, “We just sat down and Zhao Guanghui came. Could he be coming straight for us?”
