Gou Zai Wudao Shicheng Dao

The dining hall was filled with the aroma of food.

After finishing her meal, Fang Xia put down her chopsticks and bowl.

Looking out the window, it was still early, and dusk had not yet fallen.

With a slight thought, Fang Xia decided to go home early today.

Firstly, his martial arts breakthrough and formal entry into the inner sect was a day of great joy.

Secondly, the news that Luo Yue brought that day was like a fishbone stuck in my throat.

After analyzing the situation with his elder brother Fang Qing, he concluded that the situation in Heishan County was bound to descend into chaos.

The county seat will also be unsafe.

Going home early will help you avoid the dangers of traveling at night.

"My younger sister, Wanqiu, hasn't had any meat for over half a month."

Previously, my family had scrimped and saved to pay for my tuition, and I rarely ate meat.

Now that the academy owner has waived my tuition fees, my family no longer has to struggle to make ends meet.

"Taking advantage of today's joyous occasion, let's buy some extra meat so the whole family can enjoy it."

Having made up his mind, Fang Xia stood up and bowed slightly: "Senior Brother Zhou, I wish to go home early today to share the good news with my family, so I will take my leave now."

As Zhou Cheng picked up the demon meat, seeing his earnest expression, he immediately smiled and nodded: "Go ahead, but be careful on the way."

The county town is not safe right now, so don't linger too long and head home as soon as possible.

"Thank you for your advice, Senior Brother. I will remember it." Fang Xia bowed again, turned and left, heading out of the Sanyang Hall.

Fang Xia's silhouette fell into the eyes of Zhang Yuan in the outer courtyard.

He was squatting on the ground, gnawing on the half-eaten flatbread he was clutching in his hand.

Upon seeing Fang Xia's fleeting figure, a glint flashed in Zhang Yuan's eyes.

In those eyes, there was both jealousy and resentment.

"Hmph, what's there to be so smug about!"

Zhang Yuan spat, the sound reaching the ears of the surrounding outer courtyard disciples.

"Does someone with such poor physique deserve to be allowed into the inner sanctum?"

He just got lucky and managed to climb up.

The inner circle is a deep and murky place. Do you really think you can stand firm here?

"I'm afraid that in just a few days, their true colors will be revealed, and they'll be utterly destroyed!"

The surrounding outer disciples were taken aback; they had not seen Fang Xia.

However, they quickly realized what it was about!

They were already jealous of Fang Xia's leap into the inner sect, and Zhang Yuan's provocation caused an uproar.

They all echoed the slander!

"Brother Zhang is right!"

Fang Xiabing's current situation is entirely due to luck, given his inherent talent.

The inner sect is full of hidden talents; he definitely can't stand firm here!

"that is!

They used to be just like us, eating coarse bread and practicing hard skills in the outer courtyard.

Now that they've entered the inner circle, they probably won't even recognize us old acquaintances anymore. It's truly despicable!

........

Meng Zhang, who was standing to the side, frowned and couldn't help but retort, "You guys should say less!"

Brother Fang's achievement in stance training is due to hard work and comprehension, not some kind of luck!

His entry into the inner circle was well-deserved; how can one say he was arrogant and overbearing?

You're just jealous!

Zhang Yuan glanced at Meng Zhang sideways, a sneer curling at the corner of his mouth: "Meng Zhang, are you trying to curry favor with him?"

They're now high-ranking inner disciples, and what about you?

Still lingering in the outer courtyard, not even touching the edge of basic stance training, aren't you ashamed!

Meng Zhang's face turned red with anger, his chest heaving violently. He was about to step forward to argue when Lu Sheng grabbed his wrist.

Lu Sheng frowned slightly, his gaze fixed on the direction Fang Xia had left, his expression complex and difficult to decipher.

There was resentment, admiration, but not a trace of jealousy.

He spoke slowly, his voice low and clear: "It's pointless to say less."

What Fang Xia can do, we can certainly do if we work hard and diligently.

Instead of spreading rumors and slander here, you should go back and practice your skills, lest you fall further and further behind him in the future.

Upon hearing Lu Sheng's words, Zhang Yuan was speechless.

His eyes swept over Lu Sheng and Meng Zhang with a sinister glint, and he stomped his foot angrily, saying, "Hmph! Just you wait!"

Zhang Yuan glared at Meng Zhang, then turned and left dejectedly.

The surrounding disciples also dispersed.

Lu Sheng remained standing in the same spot, a flame igniting in his eyes.

On the other side, Fang Xia had already left Sanyang Hall and entered the streets and alleys of Beizheng District.

Heishan County is divided into inner and outer cities, with eight main streets crisscrossing the area, dividing the entire city into sixteen districts.

The North Zheng District, where Sanyangtang and Fangjia are located, is the most bustling area in the outer city.

The area is usually bustling with people and traffic, but it is even more lively now.

All one can see are stalls lining both sides of the street.

The sounds of vendors hawking their wares, haggling over prices, and children playing filled the air, creating a continuous cacophony.

Following her memory, Fang Xia walked toward the butcher shop.

Ding ding........

Suddenly, the sound of gongs and drums came from ahead, and the crowds all gave way.

"Make way! Make way! The county government is conducting a case; do not obstruct it!"

Fang Xia also took the opportunity to stand under the eaves and looked up.

A tall, burly man with a long sword at his waist is holding up a portrait.

The man was dressed in the uniform of a constable, exuding a solid aura and commanding respect without anger.

Those around instinctively held their breath, feeling an invisible sense of awe.

Fang Xia squeezed to the side of the road and heard people whispering among themselves.

This Constable Yang is said to be a powerful expert at the Inner Refinement Heavenly Ladder Realm.

He is responsible for maintaining order in this area.

"A martial artist at the Inner Refinement Heavenly Ladder Realm indeed possesses an extraordinary aura."

As Fang Xia's gaze swept over this person, he sighed inwardly.

Yang, the head constable, walked to the center, raised his hand and held up a portrait, and said in a loud voice, "Fellow villagers, listen up! The county government is offering a reward for the notorious thief Bai Yujin!"

A reward of thirty taels of silver will be given to anyone who provides information on his whereabouts. A reward of three hundred taels of silver will be given to anyone who captures him personally!

Remember, anyone who conceals or harbors this offender will have their entire family punished, up to three generations, once discovered. There will be absolutely no leniency!

As soon as he finished speaking, a chorus of gasps erupted from the crowd.

They all craned their necks, looking at the portrait with greedy expressions.

Fang Xia also looked up.

The portrait depicts a man with a gaunt face, high cheekbones, and a sinister gaze. It is so lifelike that it is easy to remember at a glance.

But when her gaze fell on a line of small print below the portrait, Fang Xia's lips twitched slightly.

The small print clearly stated: "This criminal is a serious offender of the Innate Realm, hunted by the Demon Suppression Division. His Innate Realm cultivation was destroyed, and he has lost only one-tenth of his martial arts..."

"A congenital repeat offender? He was even hunted down by the Demon Suppression Division!"

Fang Xia shook his head, cursing the county government for being inhumane.

Even if a powerful expert at the Innate Realm has their cultivation reduced and only one-tenth of their martial arts remain, they are still far beyond the capabilities of ordinary martial artists.

The county government offered a reward of three hundred taels of silver, which seemed generous, but in reality, it was a death sentence.

"The master thief incarnate?"

It seems the waters of Heishan County are far deeper than my brother and I had analyzed!

In the future, we must be more cautious in our actions and absolutely avoid getting involved.

Fang Xia gently shook her head, looked away, and stopped thinking about it.

The disputes are irrelevant to him; the most important thing right now is to cultivate himself well and protect his family.

Before long, Fang Xia arrived at the butcher shop.

The butcher was busy cutting meat, and grease splattered with each stroke of the knife.

Fang Xia stepped forward and said directly, "Boss, weigh out three catties of mutton, five catties of pork, and one catty of dog meat. Fresh meat is preferred."

He paused, then added, "Do you have beef?"

The butcher looked up, glanced at Fang Xia, put down his cleaver, and replied with a smile, "Alright!"

"Don't worry, sir, they were all slaughtered this morning and are very fresh!"

As he deftly cut and weighed the beef, he lowered his voice and said, "Sir, I dare not sell beef."

The imperial court had strict laws: those who slaughtered cattle would be punished with one hundred strokes of the cane and exiled three thousand li away!

That's a ration only for the owners of martial arts schools.

Fang Xia was slightly taken aback, then understood.

Beef is available daily at the Sanyangtang Dining Hall.

That's the privilege of martial artists!

In this world, the strong ultimately reign supreme.

"Thank you for reminding me, it was my oversight." Fang Xia smiled and looked away. "Then that's fine, that's all."

The boss quickly wrapped the meat in clean lotus leaves.

"Sir, one pound of mutton costs seven qian, one pound of pork costs five qian, and one pound of dog meat costs eight qian, for a total of fifty-four qian!"

Fang Xia took out one tael of silver and handed it over.

I took the meat wrapped in lotus leaves and weighed it in my hand; it was quite substantial.

"So much meat for only fifty-four coins, enough for the family to eat for several meals."

It seems that the purchasing power of silver in this world is still quite strong.