The Martial Arts World is Full of Experts Chapter 14

50

The speed at which Hua Liuque changed faces, both front and back, far exceeded Zhang Xiaoyuan's expectations.

He knew Hua Liuque was timid and shameless, but he never expected him to be so shameless.

Wang Henian had already stood up. He had come down from the mountain only after receiving news from Qi Chaoyun. The houses on the mountain were not yet built, so he had to go back to continue working. Hua Liuque had to be taken away. There should be no problem with practicing in the mountains. As for Zhang Xiaoyuan...

Wang Henian asked Zhang Xiaoyuan, "Xiaoyuan, do you want to play for a few more days down the mountain, or do you want to go back with your master now?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan was eagerly anticipating the temple fair starting tomorrow. Even if he wanted to leave, he'd have to wait until after strolling through the fair. He blinked pitifully at Wang Henian, but before he could speak, Lu Zhaoming said, "Master, tomorrow is the temple fair."

Wang Henian nodded. "I know."

Lu Zhaoming: "This disciple wants to go to the temple fair and take a look."

Wang Henian paused, as if not understanding Lu Zhaoming's words. "You want to go to the temple fair to take a look?"

Lu Zhaoming nodded. "Yes, I'll take Junior Brother with me."

Jiang Jianyu raised his hands self-consciously, "Alright, I know, this Junior Brother certainly isn't me."

Wang Henian remained in a daze for a while, but She Shuyi laughed first. "Zhaoming, it's the first time I've heard you say you want to go out and play."

Wang Henian coughed, joining She Shuyi in laughter, while asking, "If you're going out to the temple fair, you should bring some money. Zhaoming, I don't have much left..."

As he reached for his money, Zhang Xiaoyuan lifted his head and glanced at Wang Henian's forehead.

「Sect funds: Ten copper coins.」

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

In just a few days, how did it become only ten copper coins?!

With only ten copper coins left, maybe it'd better if Master didn't contribute!

Zhang Xiaoyuan acted swiftly, grabbing Wang Henian's hand as he reached for money, urgently saying, "Master! I still have money on me!"

Wang Henian was taken aback. "You still have money?"

Hearing Wang Henian mention this, Zhang Xiaoyuan couldn't help but recall the reward silver Qi Chaoyun entrusted to him. He pulled Wang Henian aside, took out the reward silver from the county office, and said, "Master, this is the reward silver from the county office."

Wang Henian took the heavy bundle of silver, surprised. "Reward silver from the county office?"

"Yes, fifty taels of silver. It should be enough for the sect's use for a while," Zhang Xiaoyuan said, "Magistrate Qi said the families of the rescued girls will be giving substantial rewards, and it will be delivered to Master in some time."

Wang Henian: "......"

To ease Wang Henian's concerns, Zhang Xiaoyuan added, "Master, don't worry. When I left, my mother gave me several hundred taels in silver bills. It should be enough."

Things at the temple fair were mostly inexpensive. Even candied haws were only five or six copper coins each. Just a casual stroll at the fair wouldn't require much money.

Wang Henian: "......"

"Well then... Master, I'll go ahead?" Zhang Xiaoyuan looked at the number above Wang Henian's head, now at fifty taels and ten copper coins. Feeling quite satisfied, he said, "Eldest Senior Brother and I will just spend two days at the temple fair and then return!"

Wang Henian's lips moved, and after a long while, he uttered a single word, "...okay."

Wang Henian watched Zhang Xiaoyuan walk away, then reached out to hold She Shuyi's hand beside him.

"The child... the child has grown up." He looked at the silver in his hand, unable to express his sense of loss and sadness. His voice trembled as he said, "They're earning their own money now."

She Shuyi: "......"

51

The temple fair was today.

The curfew had lifted, and amid the night's lingering fireworks, Zhang Xiaoyuan couldn't contain his excitement since early morning. His foot injury hadn't fully healed, so he could only limp as he walked. But clearly, he had overlooked this concern.

Wen Tingting, early in the morning, took Pidun out for a stroll. She intended to patrol around openly, taking advantage of the festive atmosphere. Pei Junze, on the other hand, was still inside the county office assisting Qi Chaoyun with daily affairs. The busier the streets became, the more anxious Zhang Xiaoyuan felt. However, Eldest Senior Brother, steadfast as always, continued practicing swordplay. They had planned to go to the temple fair together today, so he couldn't just slip away on his own.

Lu Zhaoming was genuinely not in a hurry. He packed up his belongings and only left the county office with Zhang Xiaoyuan in the afternoon. Despite the lively streets, his interest was not particularly high. He appeared to be dutifully accompanying Zhang Xiaoyuan, following him and watching as Junior Brother looked around.

In Zhang Xiaoyuan's eyes, the streets today were crowded with people, and no matter where he looked, it seemed like each person had a line of text above their heads, conveying a myriad of messages. It was overwhelming. Every moment felt like he had stumbled upon a tremendous secret.

Zhang Xiaoyuan was stunned.

Xing Yan was, after all, a member of the Demon Sect, so Zhang Xiaoyuan was somewhat wary of her. Curious about what Xing Yan was asking Six Fingers, and noticing a small tea stall nearby, he grabbed Lu Zhaoming's hand and said, "Eldest Senior Brother, my feet are tired. Let's sit for a while!"

Naturally, Lu Zhaoming had no objections.

Seated where he could see Six Fingers and the others, Zhang Xiaoyuan, with no snacks served yet, stared intently at Six Fingers's group.

「——He's just an ordinary person, not as complicated in background as you think. His martial arts are high, but with such a master, how could his martial arts not be high?」

After saying this, Six Fingers paused to listen to Xing Yan's questions and continued.

「They haven't fought each other, no winners or losers. Naturally, they don't know each other's skill levels. But Pei Wuluan once said that Wang Henian's martial arts surpass his, and that shouldn't be mere politeness.」

Zhang Xiaoyuan had seen the name of the Chief of the Martial Arts Alliance on his master's head. It was said that Wang Henian defeated him in a private contest, but the matter was not made public. Xing Yan was asking about Wang Henian's disciples... could they be discussing Eldest Senior Brother?!

Zhang Xiaoyuan abruptly turned his head and looked at Lu Zhaoming beside him. Lu Zhaoming seemed to be lost in thought again, holding a teacup, his expression dull as he gazed at the clouds in the sky, as if he had entered a trance.

Zhang Xiaoyuan lightly poked his arm with one finger. Lu Zhaoming glanced at him, as if waiting for him to say something next. However, Zhang Xiaoyuan didn't have much to say. He smiled with raised eyebrows at Lu Zhaoming, who was slightly surprised. Lu Zhaoming pursed his lips slightly and seemed to smile too. "Where do you want to go later?"

"Find something to eat?" Zhang Xiaoyuan whispered, "I heard there will be fireworks at the county office in the evening, and I want to see."

Lu Zhaoming nodded. "Sure."

Zhang Xiaoyuan looked at Six Fingers and Xing Yan again. They had finished their conversation. Xing Yan threw a money pouch into Six Fingers's old bowl. It was evident there was a considerable amount of silver inside. Zhang Xiaoyuan couldn't help but be surprised. He thought Six Fingers's earlier offer of fifty taels was a trick to deceive Eldest Senior Brother. Now it seemed... fifty taels was the normal price for the information.

He blinked, and his eyes met with Six Fingers in the corner. Six Fingers looked embarrassed upon seeing Lu Zhaoming still here. Trying to please Zhang Xiaoyuan, he smiled, and Zhang Xiaoyuan heard a crisp sound as several lines of text sprang up above Six Fingers's head.

「The pricing of information services in the Beggars Sect is regulated and must adhere to the rules. Individuals are not allowed to arbitrarily raise prices.」

「Top-secret information starts at one hundred taels of gold, second-tier secrets start at fifty taels of gold, third-tier secrets start at three hundred taels of silver, and ordinary information starts at fifty to one hundred taels of silver.」

「The above prices are subject to discretionary increases based on martial arts rankings. If the target is from the Demon Sect, the prices double. Returning customers can enjoy a ten percent discount.」

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Selling information could actually... actually be so profitable?

He could easily see into others' thoughts and life stories. This business seemed tailor-made for him!

Zhang Xiaoyuan had a daring idea.

He had to come up with a solution.

Zhang Xiaoyuan turned to Lu Zhaoming. "Eldest Senior Brother! Does Master want to take in more disciples?"

Lu Zhaoming: "Probably."

"When does Master plan to go again?" Zhang Xiaoyuan couldn't suppress the eager desire for sudden wealth in his heart. He firmly grasped Lu Zhaoming's hand, "I want to go too!"

Lu Zhaoming paused, then nodded. "I'll talk to Master when we get back."

Zhang Xiaoyuan was thrilled.

During the last swordsmanship competition, no one was willing to join the sect because the sect had no reputation and was poor.

But things would be different from now on.

The sect would flourish! It was just a matter of time!