Gou Zai Xianwu Wenjing Search for Opportunities

Chapter 84 My stomach hurts, I'll be back in a bit.

After giving their instructions, Lin Yuan, Wu Yong, and the Red Instructor took a boat to the county town.

It was just past noon. Li Ye treated everyone to lunch first, and then led them to the main residence of the Li family.

The Li family mansion was very large, with gardens, hills, pavilions, and terraces. It was divided into four sections according to the four branches of the family. The eldest branch was located in the northeast, occupying the largest area, and had its own main gate with the words "Li Family Mansion" hanging on it. To the west, right next to it was the "Earl's Mansion" of the Earl of Lishui Pavilion.

Upon entering the Changfang residence, Li Yi did not personally greet them, but instead had an old servant called Li Lao receive them.

Master Li arranged accommodations for them. Since there were many guests in the mansion, apart from the guest ministers who had their own courtyards, the other guests had to share a courtyard.

The main house is in the middle of the courtyard, with east and west wing rooms on either side, usually shared by three people.

However, as a female martial arts master, Hong Gu did not have to live with men, and since the other female martial arts masters' rooms were full, she was lucky enough to get a small courtyard to live in alone.

Lin Yuan and Wu Yong shared a small courtyard with a martial arts master surnamed Wang, and the two of them lived in the east and west wing rooms respectively.

Old Master Li then gave further instructions, mostly concerning taboos within the Li family, urging everyone to avoid them and not to violate them lightly.

Finally, each person was given a reward of three hundred taels of silver as a settling-in allowance, while their monthly salary was separate.

Lin Yuan had already spent most of the more than 1,000 taels of silver he had raised. Fortunately, the third steward gave him 130 taels and Old Master Li gave him 300 taels in the morning, which instantly replenished his funds. After deducting today's expenses, he still had 500 or 600 taels of silver in hand.

He estimated that he would have enough to last until the end of autumn.

Indeed, the path of learning martial arts, becoming famous, and becoming a retainer is a quick way to spend money, but also a quick way to make money—much faster than studying.

He obtained start-up capital through the mirror and began practicing martial arts. Now he uses financing to improve his martial arts skills, uses his skills to gain fame and monetize them, and then continues to raise funds to improve his skills, finally entering a positive cycle.

Even without the mirror or the spirits of the dead, he can still make a living, and might even do quite well.

Liang Yingxiao didn't come over for the next few days.

Li Yi also didn't appear, seemingly having forgotten about the three of them, or perhaps he never cared about them from the beginning and was just keeping them around.

Lin Yuan was delighted with this arrangement. He received money, room and board were provided, and he didn't have to work. Surprisingly, he could buy Body Tempering Pills and Bone Forging Pills from the Li family's eldest branch.

Anyone a member of the eldest branch of the family is eligible to buy them, but supplies are limited. One Bone Forging Pill costs ten taels of silver, while one Body Tempering Pill costs only five taels.

This price is incredibly affordable; it's clearly an internal supply price, a benefit for their own customers.

Dr. Meng is really ruthless!

Lin Yuan suddenly sensed a business opportunity and thought it might be possible to collaborate with Doctor Meng.

On second thought, he gave up. It would be more worthwhile to consume these pills himself and improve his own strength.

After all, the autumn competition is the most important!

So he and Wu Yong started taking cheap bone-strengthening pills and continued to practice martial arts at Instructor Hong's private courtyard every morning.

Coach Hong was happy to continue instructing the two, because she was bored and had nothing else to do but continue planting flowers and plants in the courtyard.

Although Li Ye had promised to let her come and be an instructor, and had given her the job with a monthly salary, she still didn't have any disciples.

I learned that each member of the eldest son's family had a private master to teach them martial arts, and they didn't attend any large classes.

Unless the eldest son's disciples are interested in the Red Instructor's martial arts, they will not come to ask for instruction; otherwise, there is no one to teach them.

But the eldest son's children have no shortage of resources, including famous teachers, which means she was sidelined.

In the morning, the two took bone-strengthening pills and trained their muscles and bones under the long whip of Instructor Hong. In the afternoon, they practiced fist, foot and knife techniques, preparing little by little for the autumn competition.

Lin Yuan also took some time to visit Hu's Coffin Shop in the county town. The shopkeeper was Hu Cai's second brother. Since Lin Yuan had now become a retainer of the Li family, the coffin shop did not dare to let him carry the coffin, let alone let him touch these dead people's things, for fear that he would be tainted with bad luck.

The Hu family meant well, so Lin Yuan didn't insist. He simply focused on martial arts training, thinking that once he entered the Immortal Temple, he would have the opportunity to meet high-quality spirits like Manager Zhang.

Lin Yuan once again entered a life of going back and forth between two points, exercising his body and exchanging ideas, a fulfilling yet repetitive existence.

A few more days passed.

When Liang Yingxiao came to visit, Li Yi finally appeared. Judging from their conversation, it seemed that they had gone to Wushan County together some time ago.

Liang Yingxiao sparred with Lin Yuan in fist and foot techniques, and with Wu Yong in sword and saber techniques. Hearing that Hong Gu was also there, he invited Instructor Hong over, and had Liang, a mid-level martial arts master, spar with Instructor Hong.

As a result, Instructor Hong sent Guard Liang flying with just three lashes, which surprised Liang Yingxiao.

Even Li Yi, who wasn't very skilled in martial arts, was quite surprised, but that was all.

Liang Yingxiao immediately asked Hong Gu for martial arts advice, but Hong Gu was not talkative and taciturn. When pressed, she would only say two words at most, and most of the time she would just nod or shake her head.

Liang Yingxiao immediately lost interest. He didn't lack martial arts masters like Lin Yuan, so he simply continued to exchange martial arts insights with Lin Yuan. The two were already at similar levels, their martial arts were similar, and they were both good at summarizing and organizing their own experiences.

After exchanging words, the two felt a sense of mutual appreciation.

Before leaving, Liang Yingxiao gave Liang the guard a wink, and then he pulled Li Yi aside to talk to him alone.

Taking the opportunity, Guard Liang whispered to Lin Yuan, "Young Master Lin, would you be willing to come to the Liang family as a retainer? The salary is 30% higher than at the Li family, and I can also teach you the Spirit Serpent Sword Technique."

Lin Yuan understood the conditions for learning the Spirit Serpent Sword Technique.

But doing so would offend both the eldest and fourth branches of the Li family at once, and would also implicate Li Shi and Master Xu.

He has always risen to power by clinging to the Li family's coattails. To switch allegiance to the Liang family just for a sword technique would be too cheap.

not worth it!

Lin Yuan politely declined Guard Liang's invitation, but Guard Liang didn't give a definitive answer, telling him to think it over.

The gathering ended in the afternoon.

When Lin Yuan returned to the courtyard, he found that the main house had been occupied by someone else. The new occupant was an eighth-rank martial artist named Liu Jingtian, who was in his early twenties and handsome. He had previously lived in another courtyard and they had met and greeted each other, but they were not close.

"Brother Liu, did you just move here? Where's Brother Wang?" Wu Yong asked first.

"Brother Lin and Brother Wu are back!" Liu Jingtian clasped his hands in greeting and laughed. "I switched rooms with Brother Wang. My courtyard was full of card-playing experts, which caused me to lose a lot of money and I even owed them quite a bit. It just so happens that Brother Wang likes to play cards with them, so we switched rooms."

"It's just quiet here, nothing else." Lin Yuan then remembered that his brother had often invited them to drink and gamble, but they had always refused, probably because they found it boring here.

Indeed, birds of a feather flock together; people gradually choose the people they want to hang out with.

"I've heard that you two brothers practice martial arts diligently. You're right. In martial arts, if you don't practice for a day, you'll know it; if you don't practice for ten days, your senior brother will know it; and if you don't practice for a hundred days, your opponent will know it. I plan to learn from you and practice hard together. It'll be good if we can spar a bit from time to time." Liu Jingtian took the initiative to join in.

"It wouldn't be a problem if we trained hard together," Wu Yong said frankly, "but we're only at the beginner level of the Bone Forging Realm, so we're probably no match for Brother Liu."

"We just play around privately, there's no ranking. Actually, I just wanted to find something to do so I wouldn't get dragged off to gamble again."

.

Lin Yuan asked with a smile, "May I ask what kind of kung fu Brother Liu has learned?"

"My fist and foot techniques are Northern-style Snake Fist, and my weapon is the Mountain-Splitting Saber Technique," Liu Jingtian introduced himself.

"Snake Fist?" Lin Yuan was surprised. This was indeed a good sparring partner. He nodded and said, "I learned the Snake-Slaying Saber Technique, and I am very curious about Snake Fist. I would appreciate it if Brother Liu could tell me more about it."

"That's easy to say," Liu Jingtian readily agreed.

Wu Yong nodded, pleased to have another sparring partner: "That's perfect, having another martial arts training buddy is just what I need."

Early the next morning.

Lin Yuan and Wu Yong went out to practice martial arts, and Liu Jingtian, dressed in his training clothes, followed them out: "You two brothers, up so early?"

Wu Yong invited, "Junior Brother Lin and I are going to Instructor Hong's place to train our muscles and bones. Brother Liu, if you'd like to come, you can come along."

"Wouldn't that be too presumptuous?" Liu Jingtian said politely, but he followed after him.

"As long as you can endure the hardship, that's fine. We'll see what Instructor Hong says when we get there." Lin Yuan didn't care too much. Instructor Hong had taught at least several dozen, if not a hundred, disciples. Those who were truly willing to learn would persevere, while those who weren't would naturally leave.

As for whether or not to teach, that's up to Coach Hong himself.

He also wanted to exchange ideas with Liu Jingtian about Northern Snake Fist, hoping to get closer to him and wonder what the difference was between it and Snake Intent Fist.

The three arrived at the courtyard of the Red Instructor.

Coach Hong opened the courtyard gate and let the three of them in. She glanced at Liu Jingtian but didn't pay him any attention.

Lin Yuan introduced Liu Jingtian to learn martial arts, and Instructor Hong nodded in agreement, still adhering to the principle of teaching without discrimination, and welcoming all learners.

The three of them began taking Bone Forging Pills, then forging their muscles and bones, and practicing martial arts.

As usual, Coach Hong whipped Lin Yuan three times to help him quickly enter a state of self-forgetfulness and high-frequency battle terror, and then gave Wu Yong three more lashes.

Liu Jingtian was stunned for a moment, then swallowed hard, sweat beading on his forehead.

"Crack!" A whip lashed out.

Liu Jingtian tried to dodge but failed; he was immediately knocked to the ground, staring in terror at the Red Instructor, struggling to back away: "What...what are you going to do?"

Coach Hong shook his head, somewhat disappointed, and ignored him.

After a while, Liu Jingtian came to his senses and saw Lin Yuan and the other two trembling all over from being whipped, yet still persisting in practicing martial arts. He was immediately amazed.

He couldn't understand it, but he was deeply shocked. He sat on the ground, speechless for a long time, unsure whether to leave or stay.

In the end, he chose to leave, clasping his hands in a fist salute as he departed, saying, "My two brothers, you two continue practicing. My stomach hurts; I'll be back in a bit."

.

After saying that, Liu Jingtian ran away and didn't return all morning.

At noon, Lin Yuan returned to the courtyard and saw Liu Jingtian practicing his martial arts in the yard.

Wu Yong asked directly, "Brother Liu, what are you doing practicing here? Didn't you go over there?"

"Oh, I'm used to practicing martial arts alone." Liu Jingtian said somewhat awkwardly, then changed the subject, "It's noon, let's go eat."

""

"Sure!" Lin Yuan nodded, helping him out of the awkward situation, and then warmly invited him, "After dinner, let's spar with Snake Fist."

"That's exactly what I was thinking." Liu Jingtian perked up.

The guests had a special side dining room. The food wasn't particularly fancy, but it included both meat and vegetables. There was no alcohol, but the portions were large and filling.

The three of them had a simple meal and then returned to the courtyard to discuss martial arts.

After they had digested their food, they began to spar.

"Please save some strength, Brother Liu!" Lin Yuan clasped his hands in a fist salute, not initially stacking any buffs.

"Of course." Liu Jingtian nodded solemnly.

After exchanging a few blows, Lin Yuan realized that he was no match for Liu Jingtian. Even though Liu Jingtian had reduced his strength, his speed was still slightly better than his own.

Fighting like this, with such an unequal skill level, is pointless for any meaningful exchange of skills.

"Brother Liu, please wait a moment!" Lin Yuan said, intending to stack up his status before competing again.

Liu Jingtian finished his move and asked, "Brother Lin, why does your long fist style look like snake fist?"

"I've combined the footwork of the Long Fist and the Snake-Slaying Saber Technique," Lin Yuan explained.

"Such skill!" Liu Jingtian exclaimed in surprise. "No wonder Brother Lin was favored by Qi Lang."

Lin Yuan vaguely sensed that the other party's intentions were not pure.

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