The Martial Arts World is Full of Experts Chapter 47

131

After Zhang Xiaoyuan spoke, Lu Zhaoming couldn't help but look back at him, full of confusion, as if he didn't understand why he wanted to help these two.

Cao Zilian, needless to say, only sensed that Zhang Xiaoyuan had no good intentions. Bringing up the idea of borrowing money at this moment seemed like an attempt to swindle him.

Zhang Xiaoyuan, for some unknown reason, intervened in this matter. The proprietor also found it a bit strange. But as long as someone could pay, it was a good thing. He didn't care who paid the money.

Zhang Xiaoyuan asked him, "Shall we talk on the side?"

Cao Zilian remained vigilant.

Zhang Xiaoyuan cleared his throat. He knew Cao Zilian's weakness and naturally knew how to persuade him. So, he deliberately lowered his voice, whispering to Cao Zilian, "There are so many people here. If they know you can't even come up with fifty-seven taels, it would be quite embarrassing."

Cao Zilian: "......"

Cao Zilian grimaced and said, "They already knew."

Zhang Xiaoyuan had mentioned lending him money, and the curious onlookers surrounding them heard it loud and clear. Now, everyone knew that Cao Zilian — future overlord of the dark path — was so impoverished that he couldn't even come up with fifty-seven taels. It was pitiful to the extent that his adversaries were voluntarily offering financial assistance, a truly shameful situation.

"It's different," Zhang Xiaoyuan patiently explained, "heroes have their difficult days. When you rise again, others will only admire you for this incident."

Cao Zilian was taken aback. "Admire me?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "Starting from scratch, being flexible — of course, that's admirable!"

Cao Zilian: "......"

Seeing Cao Zilian furrowing his brows as if contemplating, Zhang Xiaoyuan seized the opportunity. "Borrowing money from me is better than seeking help from others!"

Cao Zilian looked up at him, even more bewildered.

Why did he recall Zhang Xiaoyuan's Elder Senior Brother having confronted him just a few days ago, not once but twice?

"For ordinary people, fifty-seven taels is no small amount. Perhaps you can only borrow it at a high interest rate. The proprietor might be considering offering you a loan at a hefty interest. Can you afford such interest?" Zhang Xiaoyuan questioned.

Cao Zilian: "I..."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "In the future, when you become renowned in the martial arts world, rumors might start spreading that, despite having prestige, you owe money and refuse to repay."

Cao Zilian: "......"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "Borrowing from me would save you from such troubles. I don't charge interest."

Cao Zilian was thoroughly shaken.

He found Zhang Xiaoyuan's words quite reasonable — undeniably so!

Not only did he think Zhang Xiaoyuan made sense, but when he glanced at Ashner, he noticed he seemed to agree with Zhang Xiaoyuan as well.

Indeed, those in the righteous path often had kind hearts!

However, he still hesitated a bit.

Cao Zilian lowered his voice and asked Zhang Xiaoyuan, "What do you want in return?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan innocently blinked and said, "I want you to do something for me. I haven't figured out what it is yet, but I'll let you know later."

Seeing Cao Zilian about to refuse upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaoyuan quickly added, "Rest assured, this matter will absolutely not harm our sect, nor will it force you to violate your 'principles.'"

Cao Zilian: "How can I trust you?"

"We can draw up a written agreement," Zhang Xiaoyuan suggested. "You write a promissory note, and I'll inscribe this statement below, with signatures and seals from both of us. Each of us keeps a copy. If anyone breaches it or refuses to comply in the future, presenting this agreement will be enough to ruin their reputation."

Cao Zilian: "Even with black and white..."

Those in the dark path weren't necessarily inclined to honor agreements on paper.

Zhang Xiaoyuan observed Cao Zilian's concern about not being able to come up with fifty-seven taels and knew that, despite being part of the dark path, he likely valued sentiments and principles. If a written agreement were established, Cao Zilian himself would be unlikely to easily violate it.

Zhang Xiaoyuan patted his chest and declared, "I am a man of the righteous path!"

Cao Zilian pondered, realizing that people of the righteous path differed from those in the dark path. The former often spoke of benevolence, virtuousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness. Even if someone was a hypocrite, if there was evidence proving their false virtue, that person would undoubtedly suffer a tarnished reputation. What Zhang Xiaoyuan said seemed trustworthy.

Cao Zilian nodded, grasping Zhang Xiaoyuan's hand, and said, "I trust you."

Lu Zhaoming stood nearby, eyes slightly widened, completely unaware of what had just occurred.

Moreover, fifty-seven taels of silver — wasn't that a considerable amount?!

He turned to look at Ashner beside him and found him in the same bewildered state, with wide eyes. That expression seemed like he hadn't understood Zhang Xiaoyuan's words, perhaps due to his limited proficiency in the official language.

Zhang Xiaoyuan borrowed pen, ink, paper, and inkstone from the proprietor. He had Cao Zilian write a promissory note, and beneath it, he penned their agreed-upon words. After the ink on the paper dried, he kept one copy and handed the other to Cao Zilian. Only then did he retrieve silver notes from his small money pouch.

Initially, he had stacked the silver notes together — those he brought from home combined with the ones the Drunken Immortal Pavilion's proprietor gave him that day. Surprisingly, he now possessed seven to eight hundred taels of silver. The fifty-tael silver notes formed a small stack. He pulled out one, also taking out some silver coins from his money pouch. Instead of giving them to Cao Zilian, he smiled slightly and whispered, "I'll hand the money to the proprietor."

Cao Zilian didn't voice any objections.

He stared at the stack of silver notes and coins in Zhang Xiaoyuan's hand, clearly dumbfounded.

He couldn't comprehend.

They said murderers and arsonists wear golden belts, and bridge builders leave no corpses. Yet, as a member of the dark path, why did his entire sect only have a meager sum of three or four taels of silver, while this righteous youth before him effortlessly produced several hundred taels in silver notes?!

He felt a hint of wavering in his convictions.

......

Lu Zhaoming was equally astonished.

He knew Zhang Xiaoyuan's family engaged in trade. He initially thought it was likely similar to Martial Uncle, who occasionally contributed a few taels of silver to support the sect. He had thought fifty-seven taels was excessive, and there was no need to assist a stranger and member of the dark path like Cao Zilian. He never expected Zhang Xiaoyuan to have so much silver — several hundred taels, perhaps?

Lu Zhaoming pondered carefully and realized that in his entire life, he had never seen so many silver notes at once.

Meanwhile, Zhang Xiaoyuan had already stood up and approached the proprietor. He took out fifty-seven taels of silver, with the intention of paying on Cao Zilian's behalf. The more he could negotiate the proprietor's prices down, the more profit he could pocket.

Zhang Xiaoyuan was experienced in bargaining.

Having just seen the actual prices for the damaged items on the proprietor's head, he repeated them confidently, certain that the proprietor wouldn't stubbornly hold out.

Zhang Xiaoyuan pulled the proprietor aside, spoke in hushed tones, and said, "Boss, there are things I believe you wouldn't want others to hear."

The proprietor seemed reluctant to engage in unnecessary talk and furrowed his brows, responding bluntly, "If you're here to repay his debt..."

"I doubt the damaged items are as valuable as you think," Zhang Xiaoyuan interrupted. "Bowls and plates cost at most a dozen copper coins each, the wine was diluted with water, and the pigeon was leftover from yesterday."

The proprietor looked at him warily, probing cautiously, "What are you trying to say?"

"If compensation is needed, these items wouldn't amount to more than four or five taels," Zhang Xiaoyuan remarked. "Chief Pei doesn't appreciate martial artists brawling in Baicang City, but do you think he would appreciate you threatening and extorting people from the martial arts world?"

The proprietor hesitated, "I..."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "Even if Chief Pei remains unaware of this incident, what if someone spreads the news?"

Proprietor: "......"

"Judging by your skills, this shouldn't be your first time dealing with such matters, right?" Zhang Xiaoyuan smiled at him, his youthful expression clear and friendly, as if offering a well-intentioned reminder without malice. "People in the martial arts world often have hot tempers. If they learn the truth, Chief Pei might not be able to restrain them."

Observing the proprietor seemingly catching on, his expression growing more tense, Zhang Xiaoyuan innocently blinked, continuing the friendly tone. He whispered, "I heard there's a 'Martial Arts World's Secrets Digest' circulating in the martial arts world, fond of recording these trivial matters. Many people in the martial arts world read it..."

The proprietor grabbed his arm.

"Young man, no need to say more. I understand." He forced a smile, his lips slightly strained. "It was my momentary confusion. I'll go apologize to that young hero."

Apologize?

If he apologized, the truth would be revealed!

Zhang Xiaoyuan hastily stopped the proprietor. "Even if he only needs five taels of silver, he can't afford it!"

The proprietor looked ashamed. "No need for five taels of silver. Some of the bowls and plates aren't completely broken. I'll find someone on the street who will repair them, so they can still be used."

Zhang Xiaoyuan was puzzled, "Oh?"

"I got carried away with my greed. How about this, young man, would you mind apologizing to that young hero on my behalf? I'm getting old, and I find it hard to swallow my pride." The proprietor sighed deeply. "Let's consider this a friendship. Among friends, we don't talk about money. Let's just forget about this small sum of silver."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

132

Zhang Xiaoyuan felt truly accomplished.

The fifty-seven taels of silver returned to his money pouch. Not only that, but there was also a promissory note from Cao Zilian, stating the repayment of fifty-seven taels of silver.

It was like catching a wolf with bare hands.

Utterly shameless!

However, Zhang Xiaoyuan didn't feel a shred of guilt. He pondered. With fifty-seven taels of silver, if he bought rice alone, it would be enough to feed the sect for a year or two.

You're a pig's head if you don't take advantage of making a profit!

Returning to the table, he saw Cao Zilian, burdened with debt, lifting his head with a pitiful smile.

Zhang Xiaoyuan cleared his throat and said to Cao Zilian, "I've settled things with the proprietor."

Cao Zilian looked disheartened, and Ashner couldn't help but speak softly, "Fifty-seven taels of silver, how long will we have to earn that?"

A new idea sparked in Zhang Xiaoyuan's mind.

Suppressing his excitement, he asked, "How much silver do you both have left?"

Surprisingly, Cao Zilian answered truthfully, "A bit over three taels. Things are quite expensive in Baicang City, and I've spent a lot in just a few days."

Perhaps it was Zhang Xiaoyuan's unrestrained assistance that made Cao Zilian drop his guard. He complained to Zhang Xiaoyuan with a somewhat friend-like tone, "I originally wanted to achieve something great, but unexpectedly, I'm almost at the end of my resources."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "What great endeavor were you planning?"

Cao Zilian: "Naturally, it's to revitalize a sect with nothing, revive it from the brink, and make it renowned throughout the world, becoming the most extraordinary sect worldwide!"

Zhang Xiaoyuan became even more excited.

Wasn't this goal similar to his wish to revitalize his sect?

Taking a sip of tea, he asked Cao Zilian eagerly, "What kind of sect do you want to revitalize?"

Cao Zilian rubbed his chin. "Well... I haven't thought about it much. To be honest, I look down upon the despicable deeds of those evildoers in the dark path, involving lowly acts of debauchery and plunder. I just hope that everyone in our sect can be open and carefree, enjoying life in the martial arts world!"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "Wouldn't that be no different from the righteous path?"

"I feel the distinction between right and wrong paths isn't very clear-cut," Cao Zilian, seemingly treating Zhang Xiaoyuan as a friend who had come to his aid in times of trouble, spilled his thoughts without reservation, "In the righteous path, there are hypocrites, and in the dark path, there are quite a few who don't prey on the weak and defenseless."

Good, very good.

He wasn't determined to stay in the dark path.

Zhang Xiaoyuan asked again, "What if you're not the sect master?"

"What does that matter?" Cao Zilian said. "In the same sect, when one prospers, all prosper, and when one suffers, all suffer. If the sect becomes renowned, as long as I'm still part of it, I share in its glory."

Excellent, even better!

He didn't even want to be the sect master, just genuinely wanted to witness a destitute sect revitalizing in the martial arts world. Since Cao Zilian lacked the strength to lead a sect, which sect in the martial arts world would be more suitable for this than Zhang Xiaoyuan's sect?

Zhang Xiaoyuan became more excited. He took another sip of tea, suppressed his emotions, and hoped that this plan would succeed in one go, preferably without wasting the opportunity he had just written on the promissory note.

Zhang Xiaoyuan said, "I have a great idea. Would Big Brother Cao like to hear it?"

He changed his address.

Before, he thought Cao Zilian was a foolish lunatic, but now deliberately calling him "Big Brother" made their relationship sound even closer. Naturally, Cao Zilian would be more willing to listen to him.

Moreover, if Cao Zilian really joined their sect, in the future, he would have to address him as "Senior Brother" every day.

At this moment, calling Cao Zilian "Big Brother" didn't put him at a disadvantage.

However, Lu Zhaoming was already bewildered.

He didn't understand what was happening.

Just over a moment ago, Zhang Xiaoyuan asked him to apprehend this weird person, and now... why was he calling him "Big Brother"?

Lu Zhaoming furrowed his brow, slightly displeased.

......

When Cao Zilian heard Zhang Xiaoyuan calling him "Big Brother," he felt that this person not only willingly lent him so much silver but also wanted to be sworn brothers with him. Despite the ongoing division between good and evil, he couldn't help but smile. He felt that even though he was injured and bruised, he gained a good brother. It had only been two months since he entered the martial arts world. This journey was truly worthwhile!

Cao Zilian nodded repeatedly and said, "Little Brother, feel free to speak!"

"Establishing a sect independently is too difficult. If Big Brother Cao just wants to revitalize a sect, I have a good solution," Zhang Xiaoyuan took a deep breath and said, "Big Brother Cao, how about joining us? Our sect treats people very well!"

Cao Zilian: "Ah?"

Lu Zhaoming: "......"