Chapter 10

Longhu District

“Boss Yu, Boss Yu!”

At Huayue District, in front of a restaurant called Yu’s, Kui Shan shouted loudly.

Huayue District was also a middle-level district. This Yu’s was two stories high and occupied a large area. In terms of industrial value, it was even more valuable than the Fugui Rice Shop.

Lin Yan followed behind, feeling uneasy.

He could tell that Kui Shan did not seem to agree to let him practice martial arts. As soon as he left Bright Jade Building, Kui Shan brought him to Huayue District. He did not know what he wanted to do.

“Master Kui! You actually came personally! Come, come, come in!”

A middle-aged man with half-white hair quickly walked out of the restaurant and greeted Kui Shan warmly.

Kui Shan waved his hand. “There’s no need to go in. Where’s Yu Qian? Ask her to come out. I’ll take her to Longhu District today.”

Boss Yu’s eyes lit up. “Really! Aiya, I’ve really troubled Master Kui. I’ll treat you to a good meal tonight!”

“I’m just doing what I’m paid to do. There’s no need to eat.”

“How can I do that? I must invite you to dinner!”

“If that’s the case… then I can only accept it!”

The two of them looked at each other and smiled. Not long after, a beautiful girl of 15 or 16 years old bounced out.

“Dad!”

She was wearing a bright yellow shirt and had an oval face. Her facial features were exquisite, and her eyes were lively. She had the energy of a young girl.

“Hey, this is Master Kui. Follow him and practice martial arts well!”

“Yes! Greetings, Master Kui!”

The girl bowed slightly, and Kui Shan nodded. “Then let’s go!”

“Goodbye, Master Kui!”

Lin Yan did not understand and followed behind Kui Shan.

The young girl, Yu Qian, was a body’s length away from him, walking side by side.

As they walked, the girl tilted her head and whispered, “Hey, my name is Yu Qian. What about you?”

“Lin Yan.”

“Are you also going to learn martial arts?”

Lin Yan couldn’t figure out what Kui Shan meant and could only say, “Probably…”

“Probably?”

Yu Qian did not understand.

However, Kui Shan suddenly said, “He is indeed going to practice martial arts with you. Yu Qian, you know the rules of the Dragon Gate Pavilion, right?”

Yu Qian hurriedly said respectfully, “Father told me that other than the three free meals a day, I have to take care of my own expenses.”

“Oh? Did your father say what the exact expenses are?”

Yu Qian did not know what Kui Shan was thinking, so she could only say, “Father said that practicing martial arts consumes blood energy and requires meat to replenish it. A simple meal will definitely not be enough to fill one’s stomach, so the money for meat costs more than 100 to 200 copper coins a day. There’s also accommodation. There’s a free common bed. If you don’t want to live in a common bed, you have to spend money to rent a single room. However, this is cheaper. One tael a month…”

Seeing that Kui Shan was noncommittal, Yu Qian could only continue, “As for socializing with others, asking Master to guide me alone, as well as medicinal herbs and weapons. These are even more costly…”

Kui Shan nodded. “That’s right. Meat and accommodation are just the cheapest expenses. Martial arts isn’t about training behind closed doors and sparring with friends. You have to ask Master for guidance and even buy blood energy medicine to increase the speed of blood energy recovery. Which one doesn’t cost a lot of money?”

“Yes, Yu Qian has learned her lesson.”

Lin Yan also said, “I’ve learned something too!”

Not long after, the three of them entered the Longhu District.

Longhu District was also a middle square, and it was just south of Liuying District. However, the moment he entered the district, Lin Yan felt that the surrounding buildings were different from the other districts. They were simple and straight, as if there was a murderous aura everywhere.

Speaking of which, he seemed to have heard of the name Longhu District before…

With this thought in mind, his eyes narrowed slightly. A group of six or seven people wearing grayish-yellow leather armor walked past them.

“Tiger Camp…”

His expression changed slightly as he recalled that Tiger Camp was located in Longhu District!

Fortunately, they did not follow the leather-armored soldiers in the same direction. Instead, they quickly stopped in front of a courtyard that occupied a large area.

Lin Yan looked up. On the main entrance of the courtyard, there was a yellow wooden plaque with the words “Dragon Gate Pavilion” engraved on it.

Yu Qian looked excited. “We’re finally here!”

“Yu Qian, go in and wait for me.”

Yu Qian did not understand. She took a deep look at Lin Yan and entered.

Only then did Kui Shan turn around and look at Lin Yan. Lin Yan’s heart tightened.

He suddenly said, “Lin Yan, do you know how much Yu Qian’s father spent to let Yu Qian enter the Dragon Gate Pavilion to cultivate?”

Lin Yan shook his head.

“Two hundred taels!”

Lin Yan gasped slightly. 200 taels, so much!

“There are twenty taels of silver in my hands alone. There’s also the internal arrangements, tuition fees, miscellaneous fees, and so on. Altogether, it’s at least two hundred taels.”

Lin Yan was silent. The qualifications to practice martial arts in the Dragon Gate Pavilion were actually so expensive?

“There are many places to learn martial arts in Ding’an City, but there aren’t many places like the Dragon Gate Pavilion.

“I don’t think Elder Li has told you how valuable this opportunity is, right? You’re very lucky that Elder Li gave you this opportunity. But have you really thought about what price you have to pay to practice martial arts?”

Lin Yan was silent. He understood what Kui Shan meant. The man wanted to persuade him to back off.

“Elder Li has done me a favor. I don’t want the person he values to go astray like this. So, make your own choice. If you give up on practicing martial arts, I’ll give you five taels of silver. Go and look for Elder Li. He must have other arrangements for you.”

With that, he turned around and entered. “Stay here and think about it. When I come out, give me your decision.”

Lin Yan was speechless. If he didn’t have the Golden Bodhi Scripture, after hearing those words, he would probably be hesitant and find it difficult to make a choice, right?

However, with the Golden Bodhi Scripture, not to mention five taels, he could not give up even if it was a million taels.

After calming down, Lin Yan closed his eyes to rest.

A moment later.

“Eh? It’s you!”

Suddenly, a surprised shout made Lin Yan open his eyes.

He turned around. “Guard Geng?”

Behind him, Geng Bing’s face was gloomy. He was holding a wooden box and looking at Lin Yan in surprise.

Beside him was a woman with heavy makeup and a charming appearance. However, she had high cheekbones and a mean face.

The woman asked, “Who is this guy?”

“A little thing from the rice shop.” Geng Bing looked at Lin Yan. “You, you, you, what’s your name again?”

“Lin Yan.”

“Yes, that’s the name. You’ve been hanging out with that coward Wu San all day. You’re not a good person either. Why are you standing here?”

Lin Yan didn’t answer. He just dodged and made way. “Guard Geng, after you.”

Geng Bing snorted in disdain. “Coward.”

After saying that, he went forward and reached out to pull a bell by the door.

Clang! Clang!

Geng Bing pulled a few times, but there was only the sound. No one came out.

The woman beside him said impatiently, “Are you done? Why haven’t they come out yet? If anything happens to my brother, I won’t let you off easily!”

Geng Bing’s face alternated between green and red, but he did not dare to say a word.

Lin Yan took a few steps back. He heard that Geng Bing married into the family and became a martial artist because of his wife’s sponsorship. Now, it seemed that the rumors were true.

However, didn’t Liu Quan enter the Tiger Camp?

Why were they waiting for Liu Quan here?

Seeing that no one came out of the pavilion, Geng Bing’s wife became more and more impatient, and her words became more and more harsh.

Lin Yan frowned and quickly took a few steps back.

Geng Bing had a bad temper. If he did not stay away from the man when he saw his ugly state, Lin Yan was afraid that he would be implicated…

Just as he thought of this, Geng Bing’s fierce gaze immediately swept over.

“What the f*ck are you looking at!”

Lin Yan tensed up slightly. Suddenly, he heaved a sigh of relief when he saw someone slowly walking out of the hall.

Kui Shan came out.

When Geng Bing saw that Lin Yan was actually ignoring him, he became even angrier. “Are you f*cking deaf?! Come over here!”

Lin Yan’s eyes turned cold as he slowly walked forward.

“How dare you look at me directly? I’ll beat you to death…”

Geng Bing laughed sinisterly. Just as he raised his fist, he suddenly heard a person behind him say coldly, “What are you doing!”

He turned around and saw Kui Shan dressed in short combat attire. “Who are you?! It’s none of your business that I’m teaching my servant a lesson!”

Kui Shan frowned. “Servant? Lin Yan, did you sign a contract?”

Lin Yan cupped his hands and said, “No. Master Kui, I’m a worker at the rice shop. He’s only a guard at the rice shop. I’ve never signed a contract either.”

“If you didn’t sign a contract, then why are you saying that he’s your servant!”

Kui Shan snorted.

At this moment, Geng Bing could already tell that Kui Shan had walked out of the door. He said fiercely, “He’s just a small accountant, and he’s my servant! Also, I’ve been ringing the bell for so long. Why did you only come out now? Didn’t you hear me ringing the bell?!”

His wife shouted from behind, “That’s right, that’s right. My brother has already joined the Tiger Camp. He’s a hero who sacrificed himself for the city. Who bullies the family members of heroes like this?!”

“What the hell is that!”

Kui Shan did not understand what he was talking about at all. He could not be bothered with him and walked out directly.

“Hey, stop right there! We clearly agreed that you would send the things to my brother!”

Geng Bing immediately came over and raised the wooden box to block in front of Kui Shan. “I’ve already given you the money. How can you not do anything!”

Kui Shan said impatiently, “I’ll say it again. Get lost!”

“You’re just a small concierge. Watch your mouth!”

Kui Shan did not hold back anymore and raised his leg to kick his chest.

“How dare you hit me…”

Geng Bing clenched his fist tightly and punched out. He wanted to block this kick and argue later.

Unexpectedly, Geng Bing’s expression changed drastically the moment they came into contact.

A powerful force came from the other party’s feet and instantly broke his right hand. The remaining force did not decrease and smashed heavily into his chest like a galloping horse!

Bang!

With a muffled sound, a huge force wrapped around Geng Bing’s body and sent him flying dozens of feet away, landing heavily on the ground.

The wooden box in his hand instantly shattered, and dried fruits, dried meat, and clothes flew in all directions.

Geng Bing clutched his chest. His face was as pale as a sheet of paper as he collapsed in the mess. He pointed at Kui Shan and shouted in fear, “Tough, tough force…”

Then, his head tilted to the side, as if he had stopped breathing.

“AHHHHHH!”

His wife screamed at the side, sounding extremely ear-piercing.

“Shut up! Otherwise, I’ll kill you too!”

Kui Shan shouted and Geng Bing’s wife froze.

“How unlucky. Come, Lin Yan, come in with me!”

Lin Yan’s entire body was trembling, and his breathing was rapid.

With Geng Bing’s appearance, it was very likely that his sternum had pierced through his heart and he was no longer alive.

Geng Bing, who had been arrogant and domineering just now, had become a soft corpse in just a few seconds.

Lin Yan took a deep breath.

This was the law of this world!

The strong preyed on the weak, and life and death were in their hands. If they could not become the powerhouse who determined their own fate, they would die at any time like Geng Bing and Hu Biao!

He was not alone. He wanted to ensure Xiaozhi’s safety and ensure that she grew up safely. If he had the ability, he really wanted to find out why his father had died…

“So, how can I not practice martial arts?”