Chapter 5 There's Money to Be Made

Chapter Five: Money to Be Earned

"The king told me to patrol the mountains, yi er yo oh yi er yi er yo. I patrolled the south mountain and now I patrol the north mountain, yi er yo oh yi er yi er yo..." Ling Hao sat on horseback, humming the Little Drill Wind Mountain Patrol Song in his heart, his little expression very proud.

If it weren't for the need to maintain a facade, to project an image of a sophisticated martial arts master, she would have sung it already. But it doesn't matter; this is the price she has to pay to become a master, she understands. Ling Hao gave her hand a slight shake, adding another layer of resolve to her unwavering choice.

Fortunately, Tian Boguang, who was being dragged along by the clouds, was unconscious, and there was no one else on the road, so no one saw Ling Hao in this state. Otherwise, the glorious and dignified image she wanted to project would have been shattered.

No, it can't be said that no one saw it. At that moment, a person was sitting on a towering tree that Linghao was passing by.

He was soaking wet and looked disheveled, suggesting he had been sitting there for a long time, perhaps even since last night. His head was bowed, obscuring his face, but his air of refinement and the quality of his clothes suggested he was quite handsome.

He just sat there, watching Ling Hao pass by. For some reason, his previously lifeless body seemed to be injected with some vitality, though not much.

Ling Hao dragged Tian Boguang to the government office. The official there was overjoyed and immediately paid the reward with his own money. Normally, it wouldn't be possible to pay so quickly, as there were still some procedures to go through. However, the official who had been bullied was the cousin of the woman in front of him, and he hated Tian Boguang to the core.

Or rather, his whole family deeply hated Tian Boguang and wished they could tear him to pieces. His cousin was the most talented person in their two families, rising through the ranks to great heights, but she was bullied by Tian Boguang when she visited the county town.

This wouldn't have been a big deal originally; his cousin wasn't the type to value her reputation above all else, and they didn't care. However, Tian Boguang publicized the matter extensively and even brought out his cousin's personal belongings. This gave the corrupt and pedantic man, who disapproved of a woman like his cousin holding office, an opportunity to impeach her before the Emperor.

The accusation was against his cousin, who was an official who acted carelessly and couldn't even protect herself. How could she speak up for the people or protect them? This accusation damaged his cousin's reputation. Fortunately, the Emperor reprimanded the disgusting man who submitted the memorial, saying he was making trouble out of nothing. If the victim is the one at fault, where is true justice in this world?

That damned man was fined by the Emperor, and if it weren't for his family's past glory, he might have been demoted. However, this incident still tarnished his cousin's reputation. Thinking of this, both families were filled with rage. That pedantic, disgusting man deserved revenge, but Tian Boguang was even more deserving of death.

Now that he's in his hands, he certainly won't let Tian Boguang live a single ordinary day before he's executed.

Ling Hao could easily tell that the man in front of her had a personal grudge against Tian Boguang. Judging from his teeth-gritting hatred, he must be a victim's relative. Tian Boguang was really "lucky." Wasn't he happy when he was ruining others? Now it was his turn to make others happy.

Happy, Linghao took the money and left with Yunduo. Great, now she had money again; she needed to quickly get herself some new gear. She needed to eat and drink well on her journey, and she also needed to maintain a sophisticated air; she couldn't be without proper equipment.

Thinking of this, Linghao looked up at the sky and sighed deeply. "Master, I've worked so hard for you. If I defeat Linghu Chong—Yue Buqun was forcibly ignored—and go back to the top of Mount Hua to find him, you can't hide anymore, okay?"

With the hope that defeating Linghu Chong would appease Feng Qingyang, Linghao set off for Fuzhou.

What she didn't see was that a gaze was falling on her. But it's normal that she didn't notice; the gaze was so light and gentle, even less noticeable than the gazes of passersby on the street, so of course she wouldn't notice it.

Not only did she not see it, but she also mentally rehearsed the scene of herself defeating Linghu Chong twenty or thirty times. Although she hadn't met Linghu Chong yet, it didn't matter; she could just stick the words "Linghu Chong" on a stick figure's face.

Hehehe.

On his way to Fuzhou, Linghu Chong cried out: "Achoo! Achoo! Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!"

He sneezed several times in a row, stunning everyone.

"Second Senior Brother, you haven't caught a cold, have you?" Yue Lingshan's worried gaze fell on Linghu Chong. He wouldn't have sneezed so many times if he didn't have a cold.

Linghu Chong reached out and rubbed his nose. "I don't think so. I have a feeling that someone is talking about me behind my back. I'm perfectly healthy and not sick at all, so it must be someone who's talking about me."

Yue Lingshan immediately laughed, "Second Senior Brother, maybe someone really is cursing you. Is it some small-time thug from the town at the foot of Mount Hua? You beat him up so badly last time, it would be strange if he didn't curse you."

"Maybe," Linghu Chong said with a grin. "But he deserved it. Who told him to collect protection money from that poor old woman on the street? He deserved to get beaten up."

“That’s true.” Yue Lingshan nodded in agreement.

"What are you two whispering about again?" Yue Buqun turned around and looked at his apprentice and daughter who were muttering behind him, his brows furrowed.

"Master, we didn't say anything. Junior Sister is just worried that I might be sick." Linghu Chong immediately stood up straight, afraid of being scolded.

“Yes, yes,” Yue Lingshan nodded repeatedly. “My second senior brother and I didn’t say anything.”

If her father found out that she and her second senior brother were talking about those trivial things at the foot of Mount Hua again, he would definitely be angry.

Yue Buqun knew perfectly well that his disciple and daughter were lying. He glared at them, frowned, and said, "If you two are so unambitious, how can Mount Hua rely on you in the future? If it weren't for Hao'er..." He suddenly stopped speaking and turned away.

Linghu Chong and Yue Lingshan exchanged a glance, neither daring to speak. They knew their master had remembered their eldest brother, who had been missing for many years. They also knew their eldest brother was a very good person, but he had been missing for many years, disappearing as a child, and was probably already…

They dared not even think about or speak of this possibility, for they would certainly be punished if they did.

A note from the author:

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There wasn't even a complete shadow of that person, hahaha!