The Martial Arts World is Full of Experts Chapter 3

13

Zhang Xiaoyuan trembled.

Younger brother of the richest man, elder brother of the emperor.

This... did he not read it wrong?

He discreetly raised his head again, earnestly inspecting the words above She Shuyi and Jiang Jianyu's heads.

He really didn't read it wrong.

......This sect is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. It's a bit frightening.

He carefully looked again at the words above Wang Henian and Lu Zhaoming's heads, afraid that something like "successor of ancient divine techniques" might appear.

Fortunately, except for the three bushels of surplus grain on Wang Henian's head becoming two bushels, everything else remained unchanged.

Wait, no, this was not good.

How did it become two bushels of grain?

Had they eaten that much?!

Zhang Xiaoyuan glanced at the rice in everyone's bowls and nervously did a quick calculation in his mind.

Given their eating speed, two bushels of rice... probably wouldn't last for fifteen days.

The sect's remaining money was only fifty copper coins, and with current prices at three or four coins per jin of rice, fifty copper coins would barely stretch for another half month.

He came here to learn martial arts, not to starve!

Wang Henian wanted to recruit more disciples, but adding one more student would make it hard to afford meals. If he took in a few more... what would they do?

On Zhang Xiaoyuan's official first day in the sect, he worried about the financial future of the sect. Suddenly, the dried fish in his bowl didn't seem as appetizing.

......

After finishing their meal, Lu Zhaoming stood in the courtyard, looking up at the large hole in the roof of the thatched hut.

They only had two thatched huts — one used as a kitchen, dining area, and storage for miscellaneous items, and the other as a dormitory for several people. They arranged a common sleeping area that didn't look too shabby.

The big hole in the kitchen roof had been there for the past few days since Wang Henian and Lu Zhaoming left. She Shuyi couldn't handle heavy work, and Jiang Jianyu was lazy. Since it hadn't rained in these days, it was left as it was until now.

Jiang Jianyu stood with arms crossed behind Lu Zhaoming and asked, "Senior Brother, what should we do?"

"Let's first gather some thatch," he said, slightly furrowing his brow. Then he added, "I'll go up and check."

Having received the true teachings from Wang Henian, with exceptional lightness skills, Lu Zhaoming easily stood on the thatched roof. After a quick assessment, he leaped down just as She Shuyi walked around the back of the house, waving at him. "Zhaoming, take a trip down the mountain these days."

Lu Zhaoming walked over and asked, "What are your instructions, Martial Uncle?"

She Shuyi said, "Go down the mountain to buy some rice, along with cabbage and wine. I've already provided the money. Just bring back the items."

Zhang Xiaoyuan, who had been gazing at the big hole in the courtyard, became curious upon hearing She Shuyi's words. He followed Lu Zhaoming, and when She Shuyi saw him, he smiled, even ruffling his hair. "Take Xiaoyuan with you. It's boring to stay on the mountain, and it's good for him to have some fun in the town."

Lu Zhaoming nodded. "Alright."

She Shuyi looked around, noticing Wang Henian wasn't nearby, so he discreetly handed a silver ingot to Lu Zhaoming. "Buy some tasty treats, and get some snacks for Xiaoyuan."

Lu Zhaoming furrowed his brow slightly. "Martial Uncle, this..."

She Shuyi: "This is Martial Uncle's private money. Don't let your master know. Keep it a secret."

After much hesitation, Lu Zhaoming finally nodded. "Zhaoming understands."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Zhang Xiaoyuan clutched the few small silver notes in his pocket, too afraid to speak.

14

Zhang Xiaoyuan couldn't understand why someone as wealthy as She Shuyi would willingly leave home, travel a thousand miles, and live in a dilapidated thatched hut, unable to afford meat daily.

He pondered with a frown. Suddenly, a loud noise from behind startled them all. Zhang Xiaoyuan swiftly turned his head — the roof of the hut behind had collapsed. Jiang Jianyu, sitting amidst the ruins, looked disheveled as he held his head. When everyone looked at him, he awkwardly smiled and said, "Uh... seems like this roof can't bear much weight!"

Lu Zhaoming: "......"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

She Shuyi, somewhat panicked, worried about Jiang Jianyu's well-being. Fortunately, Jiang Jianyu was unharmed, but the house had completely collapsed. Wang Henian, upon hearing the commotion, hurriedly came out from another room. Seeing the situation, he was stunned for a moment before asking, "What happened?"

Lu Zhaoming finally responded to Jiang Jianyu's earlier question, "Use your lightness skills, unload the force, step three feet away, and you won't fall like this."

Jiang Jianyu rubbed his sore waist. "Senior Brother, my lightness skills can't match yours, and I'm heavier..."

"If you step solidly, of course, you'll fall," Wang Henian said, "How many times have I told you to use qi to transform force? Look at your senior brother's movements when landing."

He turned his head, asking Lu Zhaoming to demonstrate.

Lu Zhaoming leaped onto the roof effortlessly, light as a swallow, agile like a cat bounding to a high place. Not a sound was made as he landed in the courtyard. Wang Henian, stroking his beard, was quite satisfied. He nodded, then asked Jiang Jianyu, "Jianyu, did you see clearly?"

Jiang Jianyu: "I... think I understand."

Wang Henian: "Quick, give it a try."

She Shuyi hurriedly tried to stop him, but Jiang Jianyu had already leaped onto another intact roof.

He wobbled a bit, feeling nervous, but at least he successfully unloaded the force. The roof remained intact. He sighed in relief, finally showing a pleased expression, happily exclaiming, "Master! This disciple understands!"

The ground suddenly sank beneath his feet.

Jiang Jianyu: "......"

She Shuyi: "......"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

15

Another roof collapsed.

16

She Shuyi no longer wanted to talk to Wang Henian. He squatted in the ruins of what used to be a bedroom, searching with a stern face. He looked angry, while Wang Henian, standing awkwardly by the side, tried to comfort Jiang Jianyu, "Jianyu, you did well this time. It's just this roof... should've been built better by your master."

Lu Zhaoming brushed his robe and sat beside him, saying only one thing, "Get used to it."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Get used to it?

She Shuyi suddenly spoke, "I've told you before, go down the mountain and hire people to come back and help build a tiled house." She Shuyi sounded slightly irritated. "You insist on doing it yourself. How many times has it been this year?"

Wang Henian felt wronged. "Hiring workers costs a lot per day, not to mention the additional expense for bricks and tiles. Where will we get so much money?"

She Shuyi: "......"

She Shuyi finally found what he was looking for amid the rubble — a money pouch containing some silver coins. He gathered the pouch, turned to Zhang Xiaoyuan and the others, and said, "Let's stay in the town for these days. Tomorrow, I'll find people to come up and build a new house."

Wang Henian: "It's too costly..."

She Shuyi: "I'll foot the bill."

Zhang Xiaoyuan blinked and turned to cautiously ask Lu Zhaoming, "Eldest Senior Brother, is Martial Uncle very wealthy?"

Lu Zhaoming shook his head. "Martial Uncle's family is in business, but it's just a small venture."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

The wealthiest man in the capital, a small venture?

Zhang Xiaoyuan couldn't believe it.

Lu Zhaoming: "The sect mostly relies on Martial Uncle's support. Occasionally, his family sends him money."

......It's likely not just money from his family but also that incredible private stash of his.

Zhang Xiaoyuan couldn't understand why She Shuyi would hide his identity. Frowning, he thought of other questions.

"Then... how do we make a living usually?" Zhang Xiaoyuan asked cautiously. "I see the Purple Mist Tower has hundreds of tenant farmers, and the Scattered Blossom Palace has several shops in Jiangnan."

Lu Zhaoming: "We rely on odd jobs."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Lu Zhaoming, thinking he hadn't heard clearly, repeated, "Working odd jobs."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

After a moment of hesitation, Zhang Xiaoyuan asked again, "What about Second Senior Brother? His family should be well-off, right?"

Lu Zhaoming shook his head, lowering his voice slightly to prevent Jiang Jianyu from hearing their conversation. "Second Junior Brother's parents have passed away. His aunt used to be a skilled seamstress in town, and he learned some skills from her."

Pausing, he extended his foot, showing Zhang Xiaoyuan his shoe, and continued, "Second Junior Brother repaired it."

Finally gathering courage, Zhang Xiaoyuan asked, "And... what about you, Eldest Senior Brother?"

"I don't remember." Lu Zhaoming frowned slightly. "I never saw my parents. I was adopted by Master."

Zhang Xiaoyuan instantly understood. He apologized in a somewhat incoherent manner, "I'm sorry, Eldest Senior Brother. I shouldn't have asked those things."

"It's fine." Lu Zhaoming remained calm. "I don't remember anyway."