Chapter 69 Carp Transforms into Dragon, Li Xian Arrives
"really!?"
Li Xian was overjoyed.
The Great Wu Dynasty values both civil and military affairs. Martial artists can undergo a complete transformation, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth, and possess formidable combat power.
Writers use their pens to capture literary spirit and seize opportunities. Though they may not possess overwhelming power, their influence should not be underestimated.
The two characters “摘花” (picking flowers).
It means that you have good grades in your studies and exams, and you can go to the next level.
"Sigh, you two brothers are both incredibly capable," Aunt Liu remarked.
"Why didn't my brother come to tell me this good news himself?" Li Xian asked casually, in high spirits.
Aunt Liu and Wang Yonghou were both taken aback upon hearing this. They exchanged a glance, their lips parted and closed, as if they wanted to say something but then stopped.
"This matter..."
"I really don't know whether I should say this or not."
Aunt Liu paced back and forth, visibly hesitant. Wang Yonghou said, "Let me speak."
"Little Fairy, we only heard about this secondhand. You need to decide for yourself whether it's true or false."
Li Xian frowned, then nodded and said, "Okay!"
"Now that you're going to be a bodyguard, my wife and I will naturally take care of Xiao Fan for you."
"After the money from last time cured my wife's illness, we actually had a few hundred coins left. My wife and I thought about it and decided to pick an auspicious day to go to Huangyu County to inquire about it."
"Check on Xiao Fan. If possible, buy him some steamed buns and biscuits. It's pitiful that a ten-year-old child has no one to care for or ask about him."
"But when I went there, I heard some bad rumors."
Wang Yonghou carefully observed Li Xian's expression, and seeing that he remained calm, continued, "We have heard..."
"Xiao Fan has been detained."
"What's going on?" Li Xian's eyes flashed with a cold light as he immediately asked.
Aunt Liu said, "I heard... there seems to be a young master from a gang who also participated in the academic exam. Unfortunately, his knowledge was too shallow, and he failed to win a prize. He ranked thirty-seventh, just outside the quota."
"If just one person doesn't go, then... it will be his turn."
“The students picking flowers ahead are at least from wealthy families. Only our Xiao Fan is dressed in shabby clothes and is only a child of ten years old.”
"Of course, you pick the softest persimmons."
"However... it's just a rumor, and neither of us knows if it's true or not."
The Liu and Wang couple looked anxious and tried to be as tactful as possible in their speech.
Li Xian wasn't stupid. If the rumors weren't true, why would Liu and Wang be looking for him? Clearly, the rumors were probably true, and his younger brother was in a precarious situation.
"Is my brother in mortal danger?" Li Xian asked.
"Judging from the rumors, it seems there's no truth to them," Aunt Liu said uncertainly. "Even the young master of that gang wouldn't want to get involved in trouble. This kind of 'murder and robbery' is too despicable and disgraceful."
"And this behavior will be seriously investigated. The students who pick flowers are not ordinary people; they are qualified to... snatch that mysterious fortune."
"Well, we don't really know the specifics, but in short, our lives are safe."
But...but...
"It won't be pleasant."
Li Xian thought to himself, "The Liu and Wang couple came from a farming family and had never left Qingning County in their entire lives. They have already done me a great favor by traveling all the way to Huangyu County because of me."
Their knowledge is limited, and their understanding of what they have seen and heard is bound to be biased. Pressuring them relentlessly is asking too much; it would be better to investigate themselves.
He asked in a deep voice, "Do you know where they have hidden my brother?"
"No...I don't know," Aunt Liu shook her head.
"Alright, Aunt Liu, Uncle Wang, you should go back now. Just don't say you've seen me. This matter has absolutely nothing to do with you," Li Xian said solemnly.
"Xiaoxian, you...you...you must calm down," Aunt Liu said with concern.
"Don't worry, I'm very calm," Li Xian said with a smile.
...
"uncle."
Bi Hao, who had been watching from the sidelines, was bowing and scraping, about to utter some flattering words. But then he saw Li Xian stride past him without stopping.
"This old man is indeed an old man; he walks with real style."
Bi Hao gazed at Li Xian's retreating figure, his envy barely concealed.
Li Xian took a deep breath.
This is a crucial moment for his younger brother to achieve great things and stand out from the crowd. As his older brother, he must give him his full support.
"Fortunately, I have never neglected my martial arts training."
"At times like this, all we can rely on is our martial arts skills."
Li Xian suppressed his anger and remained calm and composed, like a heavy, cold bronze cauldron.
He found Pang Long and asked for leave temporarily.
He then went to his residence and retrieved the "Deer-Shooting Bow".
"Master Li, what are you doing here?"
A guard noticed Li Xian and asked curiously.
"I have some personal matters to attend to." Li Xian suddenly stopped and looked at the guard. Seeing that the guard was about the same height as her, she said, "I remember you have a nice piece of clothing?"
"Yes, hehe." The guard laughed.
“Fifty coins, I’ll buy it from you,” Li Xian said.
"If Master Li wants it, how can I refuse?" the guard said obsequiously.
Li Xian said, "Thanks, but you still have to pay."
I spent some time buying a new piece of clothing.
After leaving the village, they found a dense forest, changed out of the guard's old clothes, and put on new clothes, a bright red cloth robe, which was slightly conspicuous but would not make people immediately recognize him as a guard.
Li Xian buried the old clothes under the tree, carried his longbow, and hurried to Qingning County.
In my memory, there was a blacksmith shop in the east of the city that secretly sold knives.
When they arrived at the blacksmith's shop, the blacksmith was a burly, dark-skinned man whose skin was burned and ulcerated on half of his body, making him look quite ferocious.
He had no children and made a living by blacksmithing and selling knives.
"Young man, judging from your appearance, you're no ordinary visitor."
The blacksmith swung his arm and smashed it against a red-hot iron stone, sparks flying. He glanced at Li Xian and said casually.
"I want a knife," Li Xian said bluntly.
"Alright," the blacksmith said. "Five hundred coins, pay up and I'll take the knife."
Knives are controlled in Qingning County, hence they are very expensive.
After receiving the money, the blacksmith lightly weighed it in his hand and said with a smile, "Take it."
He opened a wooden box and tossed out a knife. Li Xian reached out and caught it; it was a narrow knife about two fingers wide, single-edged, made of ordinary, common iron, but the craftsmanship was quite commendable, and it was easy to wield.
With his inner energy flowing freely, wielding the long sword, he could easily pierce through skin and flesh.
"It's not as good as the lady's weapon. It's a pity that we're not allowed to carry blades when we're not on duty, let alone when I'm on leave."
Strict rules and regulations.
Li Xian wasn't afraid to touch it, but rather unable to touch it.
A rough iron knife is barely enough.
"Kid, keep a low profile and put this on." The blacksmith tossed him a cloth bag. "Don't cause me any trouble."
Thanks.
He covered the bag with the cloth, completely concealing the glint of the blade. Li Xian gave a faint reply and quickly left.
"Buy some more bows and arrows, so that we'll have bows for distant lands and swords for nearby ones, as well as Qingfeng Leg, Sifang Fist, and Biluo Palm..."
"As long as we are careful, we should be able to deal with people unless we encounter a master of the Essence-Eating Realm like the Immortal of the Altar."
Li Xian's eyes turned cold.
Knowing that this journey would be fraught with danger and the potential for serious trouble was uncertain, helping his younger brother achieve success was naturally his top priority. However, he would not act recklessly; his own life was equally important and should not be taken lightly.
Outsmarting them is the best strategy!
The main strategy is to maneuver and negotiate!
Hunters usually make their own arrows. Li Xian was pressed for time and had no time to make arrows, so he simply found a nearby hunter and bought them from him.
After replenishing the arrows to make up the "two hundred" number, they went to the black market in the county to buy some gunpowder and poison powder.
These items were all extremely expensive. The seller knew Li Xian needed them urgently and asked for very high prices. Fortunately, Li Xian had some savings and managed to prepare everything for two taels of silver.
They then headed towards Huangyu County.
The wind and snow never cease between heaven and earth.
The carp will transform into a golden dragon, to peek into the heavenly palace. Li Xian will come lying in the snow, to taste the salty and spicy flavors of the martial world.
(End of this chapter)
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