Chapter 82: Observing Birds And Beasts To Form Martial Arts, Risking A Lowly Life To Fight An Immortal!
After listening to Instructor Lin’s account.
Chen Shun’an finally realized that in the morning’s gang interception chaos today, many people from both Wanlong Pounding House and the water station had died.
Now both sides were gripped by panic, especially the lowly gang members below, who feared being ambushed on the road by Guo Lu Society Brothers.
On top of that, a group of outsider greenwood martial world figures were stirring restlessly, becoming destabilizing factors.
So San Dezi and Scarred Liu, after much deliberation, simply came to Chen Shun’an to band together for warmth!
And Instructor Lin, bearing an official order, was uneasy about leaving his grandson alone at home, and under some inexplicable impulse, also came to Chen Shun’an to ‘entrust his orphan.’
It was really Chen Shun’an’s sly and cunning behavior that had left a deep impression on everyone.
Once there was any hint of trouble, Chen Shun’an seemed able to detect it in advance.
Being with him, nothing else could be said, but at least detecting danger was a step ahead of others.
Moreover, San Dezi, Scarred Liu, and the others had an excellent sense of propriety.
Although they came seeking protection, they kept an appropriate distance and did not stay in the Chen household, instead renting beds in nearby private homes for silver.
And San Dezi had money, so with a wave of his hand, he covered everyone’s food, clothing, and daily needs for this period!
“He Qiang ruined the coiling silk hidden strength, became a great hero, and now leads a group of water carriers rushing about to capture the culprit?”
When Chen Shun’an heard this news, his expression was exceedingly strange.
With a slight deduction, he knew this was Landlord Zhao slacking off, while concealing from Wanlong Pounding House the fact that a mysterious expert had intervened.
Moreover, Chen Shun’an vaguely sensed that there seemed to be some ambiguous relationship between Landlord Zhao and the Guo Lu Society.
So this so-called rushing about to capture the culprit was just going through the motions.
Instructor Lin, He Qiang, and the others were probably mostly just startled but unharmed, unlikely to be assassinated by Guo Lu Society Brothers.
Facing the requests from San Dezi, Scarred Liu, Instructor Lin, and the others, Chen Shun’an did not refuse and opened the door to let everyone in.
When poor, tend to one’s own affairs; when prosperous, aid the world.
Chen Shun’an now had the spare capacity to protect his relatives and friends, so naturally he would not hole up in his small building as an observer, watching coldly as people he cared about suffered.
Thus, Chen Shun’an’s not-so-large courtyard suddenly buzzed with liveliness.
San Dezi’s family, Scarred Liu’s family, and Instructor Lin’s family—totaling seven or eight adults and six children.
Among them, four boys and two girls, all now hiding behind their parents, sizing up Chen Shun’an with curious, innocent gazes.
Instructor Lin’s family had only two people: him and his grandson Dou Dou, dependent on each other.
Widow, orphan, widower, childless—Instructor Lin occupied widower and childless.
Old age without a wife, no children under his knees; they had died years ago, leaving only a single sapling.
Instructor Lin had even remarried once, but she too had ultimately died of illness.
And situations like Instructor Lin’s were extremely common in the Sacred Dynasty.
Human lives were cheaper than grass.
A male child could be adopted multiple times, inheriting for several families just to continue the incense, having three or four ‘fathers.’
A female child, if spared from abandonment or drowning, might still face child bride arrangements or live infant harvesting, married off as a wife to bear children year after year for the family.
Even Chen Shun’an having lost five wives caused no ripple in the Capital City.
Instructor Lin, San Dezi, and the others had no mind to gossip about it over tea and meals.
It was all too normal.
It was merely the tip of the Sacred Dynasty’s iceberg.
Children frolicked and played all over the courtyard.
Letting Chen Shun’an get a little taste of the joy of dandling grandchildren.
Of course, provided the little ones weren’t noisy or troublesome, were sensible and likable, not little rascals.
Chen Shun’an hated rascals the most.
With guests arriving today, Chen Shun’an naturally couldn’t nap.
Wan Niang, San Dezi’s wife, and Scarred Liu’s wife went together to the market to buy meat and vegetables.
Chen Shun’an subtly eyed Scarred Liu’s wife.
She was an ordinary woman of average looks and figure, just with a dry, lackluster complexion.
The occasional glance she gave Scarred Liu was fierce, but with outsiders present, she still gave him face.
Scarred Liu said nothing, just smiled obsequiously.
“What a henpecked fool…”
Chen Shun’an sighed inwardly, feeling a resonance unique to middle-aged and elderly men.
Moments later,
The men handled slaughtering live ducks and chickens, cleaning pig stomachs and entrails.
The women managed the kitchen, kneading dough for horseshoe cakes, roast chicken, roast duck, and other authentic Capital City home-style dishes.
Chen Shun’an occasionally lent a hand.
The atmosphere was warm and harmonious, almost like preparing New Year’s Eve dinner.
Instructor Lin did not stay long.
Seeing Dou Dou already familiar and getting along well with the other children, he rose to take his leave.
Chen Shun’an saw him to the door.
Instructor Lin saw that San Dezi and the others were all busy with their tasks, not looking this way.
He hesitated, then said softly to Chen Shun’an,
“Old Chen, let me tell you something. In the future, don’t touch tobacco of unknown origin. If someone sends you fancy goods or stuff from Nanhai Prefecture, refuse it all!”
Chen Shun’an’s heart stirred upon hearing this.
Instructor Lin stood behind the threshold, one hand on the doorframe, the other hanging at his side along his thigh.
His arms were extremely long; at this moment, his sleeve slipped down, revealing coiled, taut muscles, a pair of ape arms iron fists, with veins wriggling slowly like earthworms.
Instructor Lin continued, “Recently in Wuqing County, underground, a tobacco called Hibiscus Paste Fire is circulating—its aftereffects are endless.
It seems beneficial for martial arts cultivation, but it’s just no visible deaths; it secretly withers the bone marrow! Even Landlord Zhao and his lot avoid it like snakes and scorpions. Those Guo Lu Society people came for the Hibiscus Paste Fire!”
Instructor Lin’s face took on a sarcastic edge as he said,
“Of the four people we lost today, three had secretly been smoking Hibiscus Paste Fire, with ties to Wanlong Pounding House or Ghost Market’s Yin Qian Cui… The Guo Lu Society is settling accounts with those who smoke the paste fire!”
So the Guo Lu Society Brothers entered the capital to eradicate the Hibiscus Paste Fire?!
Chen Shun’an’s expression shook.
Under the emperor’s feet, dangers abounded, even with officials and merchants colluding, miasma from top to bottom.
Yet the Guo Lu Society Brothers still risked death to enter the capital.
This suggested the Guo Lu Society had considerable chivalrous spirit, doing a good deed.
It was just their methods were rather radical.
Seeing Chen Shun’an’s shocked look, Instructor Lin thought he was frightened by the ‘Hibiscus Paste Fire,’ and softly said,
“Normally, when buying tobacco, just go to a familiar shop; generally no issues. That paste fire, well, it’s very distinctive; a little attention and you’ll spot it.”
“Thanks for the warning, Instructor Lin.”
Instructor Lin nodded and was about to leave when Chen Shun’an suddenly called him back.
“Instructor Lin, Chen Mou has a martial path question I’d like to consult you on.”
Instructor Lin turned, one hand subconsciously on the doorframe again, like an ape leaning against a tree.
Instructor Lin said, “Go ahead.”
Chen Shun’an said, “I wonder why us martial artists’ nicknames all include birds and beasts…”
Chen Shun’an had another question he didn’t voice.
The more one practiced this martial art, the more beast-like it seemed?
Great Accomplishment Ape Instructor Lin, Spider Poison Hand Sun Xiao, Sickly Big Bug Yang Lu, and even first-rate experts like Jade Faced Duck Zhou Qing.
It was just that Chen Shun’an had acted very few times and hadn’t built a reputation.
If he frequently displayed lightness skill in public, with Flying Immortal Strength flowing, that wooden lacquer hue all over, drifting unpredictably like spore dispersal.
Someone would long ago have nicknamed him ‘Flesh Ganoderma.’
Instructor Lin was somewhat surprised and said,
“For thousands of years, these martial world nicknames have always been taken this way, haven’t they?
Our martial arts were originally imitations by predecessors observing insects, fish, birds, beasts—the five animals, turtles and softshells, white cranes, and such—so our nicknames mixing in bird and beast shorthand is perfectly normal.”
Was that so?
Watching Instructor Lin’s receding back, Chen Shun’an stood at the door, eyes showing deep thought.
He always felt this was no coincidence.
Was it really observing insects, fish, birds, beasts, and heaven and earth nature to create martial arts?
You, Instructor Lin, are altogether too much like a violent ape.
Always climbing high and leaning on branches anytime, anywhere.
Master Li, who cultivated 《Golden Snake Coiling Silk Hand》, even really sheds skin.
And why did Chen Shun’an feel that the more he cultivated his 《Meat Flying Immortal》, the more he resembled a Flesh Ganoderma?
The Sacred Dynasty’s waters were far too deep.
……
“No suspects found?”
Near dusk, the stifling heat gradually dissipated.
Zheng Mansion, winding corridors, arched gateways, rockeries, and flowing streams.
And in front of the rear courtyard’s stone cave.
Zheng Shicheng stood like a stone statue, blood seeping through the bandages on his head.
Bai Manlou’s sword, with its killing sword qi and circulating heaven and earth qi, had thoroughly destroyed his ear meridians.
In other words, Zheng Shicheng would henceforth be called One-Ear.
“We’ve searched the homes of nearly a thousand Water Carriers in the county west, found nothing. Saint, might you have guessed wrong… that person isn’t from the water station?”
“Is that so…”
Tian Xuan Saint’s voice held some hesitation.
Zheng Shicheng, who had his head bowed, now slightly raised it, looking toward the deep stone cave with probing, curious eyes—even disrespectful toward an immortal.
Why did Tian Xuan Saint keep hiding in the stone cave?
Why didn’t Tian Xuan Saint have the power to overturn seas and mountains, striking down the Guo Lu Society crowd with thunderous might?
Instead, she was entangled by Red Lao Wu.
Did immortals also have strengths and weaknesses, and get injured?
Did cultivators heal like martial artists, by circulating qi and blood and taking pills?
How did they cultivate…
At this moment, a peculiar seed took root in Zheng Shicheng’s heart.
He suddenly felt immortals weren’t so lofty after all.
Zheng Shicheng respectfully said, “Tian Xuan Saint, we ordinary mortals have failed in our task, unable to recover the Azure Gang Yang Huo. I’m afraid we’ll have to trouble you to personally step in; perhaps you can find some clues.”
In the stone cave.
Tian Xuan Saint sat cross-legged on the ground, hands forming finger seals; that idol-like face showed a trace of gloom.
She naturally sensed the shift in Zheng Shicheng’s attitude toward her.
These ordinary mortals feared power not virtue—damn them!
“Withdraw; I have my own plans for this matter.”
“Yes, Saint.”
Zheng Shicheng withdrew.
Tian Xuan Saint sat long in the stone cave, as if a clear wind swirled around her body, strands of mysterious black qi body coming from the stone cave and underground.
Puff!
Her throat’s qi and blood churned, a thread of blood overflowing from her mouth.
“Red Lao Wu!”
She murmured lowly, with deep-seated hatred.
Though she itched to tear Red Lao Wu to pieces and avenge herself.
But she did not move, nor leave the mansion.
Because a domineering, majestic intent, without any concealment, locked onto her from afar.
The moment she moved, the intent would turn into a sky-covering Mount Tai; that person would come crashing with unmatched killing intent, perishing together!
Red Lao Wu was outside the Zheng Mansion.
Squatting her all along.
She dared not leave the mansion.
“Guo Lu Society… these bandits who disregard court laws and are disloyal and unfilial! Sooner or later, us cultivators will slaughter you all clean!”
……
Zheng Mansion, several wide streets away.
Narrow, twisting alleys like chicken intestines wound about, hiding itinerant vendors inside.
Foot repairers, shoe menders, denture fitters, eye patchers, sellers of all sorts of snacks and tidbits, street food—everywhere.
Red Fifth Master took off his tattered jacket, pained at the face as he spent 1 tael of silver to have the mender repair the damage.
The mender said, “Eh, was your coat chewed by a dog? So many pits and holes… it’ll take fabric; 1 tael of silver.”
In these times, clothes weren’t cheap, so patching with raw materials naturally wasn’t either.
But Red Fifth Master’s jacket was just ordinary material; patching shouldn’t cost 1 tael.
Clearly, the mender heard Red Fifth Master’s outsider accent and was fleecing the out-of-towner, cutting a small knife.
Red Fifth Master naturally noticed.
But Red Fifth Master had his pride and didn’t want to haggle with words.
He stripped almost naked.
Bare-chested in shorts, Red Fifth Master got a bowl of sweet soy milk porridge nearby, paired with Lu Zhu Huo Shao.
Then stood at the alley mouth, bowl in hands, eating while watching something.
The porridge stall boss saw Red Fifth Master’s getup and laughed,
“Out-of-towner? Us locals, when drinking sweet soy milk porridge and eating marketplace snacks, all squat to eat, slurping while eating!”
Red Fifth Master glanced toward Zheng Mansion, smiled,
“My legs are bad; can’t bend at the waist, can’t bow my head—born cheap!”
The porridge boss pursed his lips, chuckled lightly, said no more.
While Red Fifth Master seriously ate his porridge, watching the person.
Cheap life, so not afraid to risk it.
If he could take down an immortal’s life in the fight, that would be even better.
