The Martial Arts World is Full of Experts Chapter 15

52

This time, when wandering through the temple fair, Zhang Xiaoyuan had another important purpose besides just watching the lively scene.

Since he was going to stay in Fengji County in the future, he had to find out what delicious food there was around the area!

In Fengji County, there were quite a few shops selling pastries and snacks. If Zhang Xiaoyuan were to try them one by one, it would take a long time, and he didn't have a stomach big enough to hold them all.

He chose a shop that caught his eye. Since the street was crowded today, and he couldn't stand for long, he had to ask Eldest Senior Brother to buy candied fruit for him. The shop outside gathered many people, mostly grandmothers buying snacks for their grandchildren or parents holding their children. Only Lu Zhaoming stood out, holding a sword with a cold expression, quite different from those around him.

The big aunt on his right tiptoed, desperately trying to lean backward to stay away from him. The little child on his left, holding a candied fruit stick, stared at him in silence, afraid to speak. Lu Zhaoming noticed the child's gaze, glanced at the child with a cold and indifferent expression, frightening the child to step back and bump into his mother.

Zhang Xiaoyuan felt like laughing and crying at the same time.

He discovered that Eldest Senior Brother really didn't like to smile.

In a flattering light, he appeared serious and reliable, but on the less flattering side, he resembled a handsome yet menacing figure with a cold, stern expression — a character that always seemed to end up at a disadvantage.

Shifting his gaze, he moved from the shop selling candied fruits to another small store nearby — its bamboo-framed entrance displaying various decorative items like woven necklaces. It seemed to house jade pendants and various ornaments. Intrigued, Zhang Xiaoyuan waved to Eldest Senior Brother and slipped into the shop.

The jade jewelry in the store seemed average. Having grown up accompanying his father in shops, and familiar with his father's business associates, Zhang Xiaoyuan had some knowledge of antique jade. He also knew the tricks of bargaining in these small stores.

He took notice of a small piece of intricately carved blue jade. While the quality seemed mediocre at first glance, upon closer inspection, it appeared to depict a cat — a rare and interesting design. He gently weighed it in his hand. The jade seemed sturdy enough. Just as Zhang Xiaoyuan was about to inquire about the price from the shop assistant behind him, he turned around and saw a line of words floating above the shopkeeper's head——

「Cost: Three taels of silver.」

Shopkeeper: "Esteemed customer has a keen eye! This is the treasure of our store. Since you seem familiar, how about a hundred taels of silver? What do you say?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

The cost flipped upward, replaced by another line.

「Well-known shady business in Fengji County.」

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Zhang Xiaoyuan took a deep breath.

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "This quality is worth at most five taels of silver, not a tael more."

The shopkeeper hesitated, then awkwardly smiled. "Young brother, you've slashed the price quite ruthlessly. Look at the craftsmanship. It's worth at least fifty taels."

Zhang Xiaoyuan took a closer look at the so-called craftsmanship. It was somewhat rough and something a skilled hand could carve in no time. Understanding it was a business deal, he decided to compromise, "Five and a half taels."

The shopkeeper continued, "Young brother, how about this? I see you practice martial arts. Your sword lacks a tassel, so I'll throw in a sword tassel for you. I'll even help you put it on. The total will be ten taels. What do you think?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "Six taels."

The shopkeeper looked troubled.

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "Alright, five taels then."

He reverted to the initial price. The shopkeeper, feeling the urgency to make a profit, gritted his teeth and agreed, "Five taels, just five taels."

Zhang Xiaoyuan smiled at him. "I'll trouble the shopkeeper to bring the complimentary sword tassel. I'd like to string it along with this jade pendant."

Shopkeeper: "......"

Zhang Xiaoyuan, holding the sword tassel, stepped out of the shop, feeling quite cheerful at the moment.

Coincidentally, Lu Zhaoming had just bought the candied fruits and was walking out of the shop when Zhang Xiaoyuan pulled his arm, happily saying, "Eldest Senior Brother, I have something for you!"

Lu Zhaoming looked slightly puzzled. "Something for me?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan took out the sword tassel and said, "I just found a jade pendant and asked the shop assistant to string it onto the sword tassel for me. I noticed that Eldest Senior Brother's tassel has faded."

As he spoke, he suddenly felt that his gift might be a bit awkward.

Back when he was still at home, whenever he found interesting little items, he liked to buy them and give them to friends and even the servants at home. This extravagant habit was tolerated by his mother, who rarely restricted his spending. He seldom bought anything expensive, usually just small items worth a few taels of silver, and his parents turned a blind eye to it.

Today, when he saw that jade pendant, it was merely a casual inquiry. Unexpectedly, the shopkeeper mentioned the sword tassel, reminding him of Eldest Senior Brother's worn-out sword.

With the master thinking of taking in new disciples, Eldest Senior Brother carrying such a broken sword would damage the image of the sect. Eldest Senior Brother's habit of casually discarding swords lacked stability and didn't match his usual demeanor. If the tassel had the blue jade on it, the sword might be less likely to break, and perhaps Eldest Senior Brother would mend his ways!

He forgot that he and Eldest Senior Brother had only recently become acquainted. He wasn't someone who knew Eldest Senior Brother well. Suddenly giving a gift might seem a bit strange.

Lu Zhaoming had taken the sword tassel, slightly furrowing his brow as he asked, "Did you buy this?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan nodded. "Yes... a small gift, worth just five taels of silver, not expensive!"

Lu Zhaoming: "Five taels?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Uh-oh.

How could he forget?

Five taels of silver meant... it could buy rice for two years.

Zhang Xiaoyuan looked at Lu Zhaoming's hesitant expression, wracking his brains on how to make Eldest Senior Brother accept the sword tassel. Carefully, he said, "Eldest Senior Brother, your sword looks so worn... it really affects Master's chances of taking in disciples."

Lu Zhaoming was puzzled. "Affects Master taking in disciples?"

"Yes, when others see your sword, they might think our sect is destitute, unable to afford rice, can't even eat proper meals, and the swords we use are so worn. Who would be willing to join us?" Zhang Xiaoyuan continued, steeling himself, "If you change to a better sword tassel, even if the scabbard is a bit worn, they would only think... um... they would think our martial arts have a long and profound history! At a glance, this sword is a precious treasure passed down through generations for centuries!"

Lu Zhaoming: "...There's some truth to that."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "If you wear this sword tassel, I believe many people will come to Master at the next martial arts competition!"

"Eldest Senior Brother, jade is fragile. Please don't casually throw your sword again," Zhang Xiaoyuan whispered, "Master would be heartbroken if you do."

Lu Zhaoming was about to respond when they heard someone by the road exclaim, "Isn't that the newlywed groom from the other day?"

Lu Zhaoming: "......"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

The person continued, "I see the young master beside him looks so much like... Oh! I get it! It's more convenient to go out like this!"

He and his friend exchanged knowing glances.

......

Zhang Xiaoyuan felt certain that they had misunderstood something.

"Indeed, that newlywed groom!" the person exclaimed in surprise. "This dog... hasn't been eaten yet?"

"Young people have plenty of vitality, who needs dog meat to nourish themselves?" The other person laughed. "But with deep marital love, it's eventually necessary. I think raising this dog for a few more years wouldn't hurt."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Lu Zhaoming: "......"

Wen Tingting: "......"

Wen Tingting pulled the leash, keeping Pidun at a distance.

She appeared extremely nervous, and Zhang Xiaoyuan vaguely felt... what she had in mind might not be something good.

「There are no physicians in the county to treat a dog's leg! Pidun! Come back quickly!」

「Stay away from that person with an unlucky star!」

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

......

"Chief Constable Wen." Zhang Xiaoyuan hesitated to speak, "I think there might be some misunderstanding in this matter."

Wen Tingting: "Misunderstanding?"

"My Eldest Senior Brother is not what you think..." He paused, realizing that Lu Zhaoming was nearby. Bringing up the phrase "unlucky star" didn't seem appropriate, so he corrected himself, "It's just a coincidence."

Wen Tingting: "A coincidence?"

Wen Tingting lifted her sword, deflecting the stone. She watched as the stone land with a thud, rolling away, then stiffly turned her head to look at Zhang Xiaoyuan with a terrified expression."Coin... Coincidence?!"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Lu Zhaoming: "?"

Uh-oh, this was really hard to explain now.