Since Li Qinglin had made up his mind to completely leave the palace, he did not hesitate at all.

He simply rented a fast horse. Although it was his first time riding a horse, he had already mastered the art of standing still while collecting herbs, so his waist and hips were strong and his legs were stable. He quickly found the trick of riding a horse.

Then he rode away towards the Wang residence.

Half a day later, the crisp sound of horse hooves and iron bits was heard. In front of the palace gate, several guards watched a burly man with a murderous look and eyes like copper bells jump off the horse.

They were so frightened that their hearts were pounding and they felt like they were facing a great enemy.

"Hmm? The tenant servant Li Qinglin?"

After verifying the identity token, several people looked at the snake meat in the sack on Li Qinglin's back with serious eyes, and vaguely sensed a sense of suffocation and a strong smell of blood.

Did he really succeed in slaying the demon?

When several people learned the inside story, they had unbelievable thoughts in their minds.

Li Qinglin stepped over the threshold and strode towards the outer courtyard.

He first went back to the yard to take off his packages and weapons, leaving only the pair of wrist guards. Then, without even changing his clothes, he found Manager Wang Chang with a faint smell of blood and a spirit of bravery.

Wang Chang had already learned the news that Li Qinglin and others had slain the demon. He looked neither angry nor happy, and wanted to say something polite like "thank you for your hard work" or "still need to work harder".

Suddenly, when he heard Li Qinglin's request to redeem his life contract and leave the palace, his face changed and his tone became stern involuntarily, "You are so brave..."

The words stopped abruptly, and Wang Chang suddenly realized that the young man in front of him had become a martial artist.

Then the voice became slightly quieter.

"Have you thought it through? Once this matter is reported to Grandpa and the First Madam, there will be no room for maneuver!"

"Please let Steward Wang know."

Li Qinglin stood straight, neither arrogant nor impatient.

Wang Chang's expression became a little gloomy, but he still took Li Qinglin to the inner house and asked him to wait in a side room.

A moment later, Mr. Wang and Mrs. Jia, the first lady, walked into the side room one after the other.

At the end, there was a plain-looking middle-aged man in black brocade. He was tall and straight, standing there quietly, and one could feel a cold and murderous aura.

But the tense atmosphere that Li Qinglin expected did not appear.

Instead, Mr. Wang smiled and held Li Qinglin's hand, showing concern and comfort, and chatting about family matters.

Jia smiled and called the maid to serve tea, and then brought a wooden tray.

On the wooden tray, quietly placed were ten taels of silver and a book of inferior martial arts.

"You are truly a young hero, a rare talent. Qinglin, right? I've heard Meng'er talk about you before, praising you for your strong mind and that you will achieve great things in the future."

Master Wang waved his hand, and a maid came over with a tray in both hands.

"This is a gift from our Wang family to congratulate you, Qinglin, on your breakthrough to becoming a martial arts master. From now on, we will be a family."

"Grandpa, I heard that you and the maidservant next to the Third Madam, Miao Miao, are very close. As long as you open your mouth, I will be your matchmaker!"

Mr. Wang's face was filled with a warm smile.

"Master Wang, I think you misunderstood."

Li Qinglin chose to ignore these sugar-coated bullets and said directly,

"I, Li, am here today to redeem my life contract and bid farewell to the palace. Please, Master Wang... name a price."

The smile on Mr. Wang's face gradually faded away, and he stared at Li Qinglin expressionlessly for a long time.

But Li Qinglin remained calm and composed.

Finally, Master Wang slowly sat up straight, leaned forward, and his tone became calm.

"In that case, let's be frank. You have been in my palace for many years, and I have provided you with daily food, clothing, and other necessities. Master Ma has also taught you the art of raising autumn insects, and you have received a discount for studying martial arts in the training ground...

Adding up all these expenses, plus doubling the redemption value, it would be at least seventy taels of silver.

And I'm sorry that I can't give you the full reward for killing the demon this time. I'll let you know the exact amount after we discuss it."

Seventy taels? Even though Li Qinglin had expected this, his heart sank when he heard the price.

Seventy taels of silver could buy an ordinary house in the outer city.

If you add a little more silver, you can buy a courtyard with two entrances for more than 100 taels.

Mr. Wang really filled up the amount by doubling the redemption value!

Li Qinglin was not surprised that the reward for slaying the demon was withheld.

The moment he asked for redemption and left the house, he became a complete outsider.

He is not even as good as the martial artists hired from outside.

Mr. Wang naturally had no intention of showing mercy.

When it comes to business, every penny has to be accounted for.

Li Qinglin took out a fifty-liang silver note and twelve liang of silver from his pocket.

"This time I went to Zhuoguang Mountain to kill a monster and got fifty kilograms of snake meat. The flesh and blood of monsters like this are of great benefit to martial artists. Please ask Master Wang to send someone to my yard to check the quality and estimate the price."

Li Qinglin spoke.

Master Wang had a blank expression on his face and motioned for a servant to leave.

After a moment, the man turned back and whispered something in Master Wang's ear.

Mr. Wang said, "The snake meat of the silver-striped python is well preserved. I will buy it at the market price of six guan per jin. Do you want to sell it all, or just deduct the difference?"

“Just deduct the difference.”

"Then take 13.3 jin, and I will remove the remainder."

"Someone, bring Li Qinglin's life deed and seal."

After a moment, Li Qinglin reached out to take his life contract with the seal on it. His hands were shaking slightly as he felt that this thin piece of paper was heavier than the beheading knife.

He carefully put the life contract close to his body, stood up, clasped his hands together, bowed to Master Wang and Jia, and said,

"Thank you for the care and training you have given me in recent years. I will take my leave."

Actually, apart from Wang Baopi, the royal palace had never deliberately deducted or made things difficult for the tenants in the outer courtyards.

Instead, we should follow the rules, reward those who have made contributions and punish those who have made mistakes.

Therefore, Li Qinglin did not have much resentment towards the palace.

It's probably the same feeling as leaving a crazy 007 company where you have to work overtime all the time.

Seeing Li Qinglin leaving, Mr. Wang suddenly said,

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"I almost forgot, you have just become a martial artist, so I think you must have many things you don't understand or are confused about."

"How about this..."

Master Wang turned around and said to the man in black brocade who had been standing quietly in front of the painting screen in the side room, "Let Master Zhao Wu see you off and help you solve your doubts."

Here we come!

When Li Qinglin heard this, he felt a sense of relief.

Twenty years ago, there was no precedent of a tenant becoming a martial artist and leaving the palace. I'm afraid this was the beginning.

The feeling that Master Zhao gave to Li Qinglin was even better than that of Master Wen Tiexin, the most powerful master.

According to common sense, how could a warrior who just started to tighten his skin withstand the "shoveling" of a warrior who penetrated his bones? If he was bruised or hurt, he would be bedridden after being pushed.

But, by chance, he met Li Qinglin.

Li Qinglin and Master Zhao Wu walked out of the side courtyard one after another.

A few breaths later, a burly man with curly hair came running hurriedly outside the side room.

"father!"

Wang Meng rushed into the house, but did not see Li Qinglin.

There was no sign of Master Zhao Wu!

He suddenly understood something and his face became anxious.

"What are you doing here?"

When Master Wang saw Wang Meng, his face darkened. "But now that you have grown strong, do you want to help that outsider?"

"Stand still, don't run around, and wait for Master Zhao to come back!"

Facing the majesty of Mr. Wang, that stern and fierce gaze seemed to see through all of Wang Meng's thoughts.

Wang Meng clenched his fists, his fingers seemed to be pierced into his palms, causing piercing pain. He stood there without saying a word.

Bang, bang, bang! Not far away, there seemed to be a dull sound of force collision.

Accompanied by the sound of cracking bluestone floor.

An aura of brutality and ruthlessness spread faintly.

Seeing this, Mr. Wang showed a look of satisfaction in his eyes.

"Master Zhao Wu's skills have become even more refined. Given time, with the support of my palace, he will surely become a marrow refining expert! He will not be unable to touch the five internal organs."

Hearing this, Jia smiled obediently and said, "A phoenix will roost on a phoenix tree, and the sea can hold hundreds of rivers. With this big tree in my palace, why worry about not being able to recruit talents? As for Li Qinglin, he was born in a humble family and has a short-sighted vision. It is difficult for him to achieve great things!"

As she spoke, Jia glanced at Wang Meng with a hint of indifference in her eyes, as if there was something else behind her words.

After half a cup of tea.

A figure walked back to the side room slowly and hesitantly.

Seeing Master Zhao, Master Wang stroked his beard, leisurely picked up the tea, took a sip, and asked casually,

"How much effort did Master Zhao put in? I heard that Li Qinglin is naturally strong, so I think he can handle it. Just let him lie down for a few months."

Master Zhao Wu did not say anything, but moved step by step towards a rocking chair.

"Wait until he is well again, and then test his attitude. If he is stubborn and unyielding, I will have to lie down again. Sigh..."

Master Wang sighed hypocritically, looked at Master Zhao Wu, and asked in a somewhat strange way,

"Hmm? Why isn't Master Zhao talking?"

Master Zhao raised his head, his lips tightly pursed, moving and trembling...

"Master Zhao Wu, do you have any unspeakable secrets?" Master Wang continued to ask.

Master Zhao Wu's lips opened and closed slightly, and finally...

Phew!

A large cloud of blood mist spurted out, splashing onto the floor and tabletop several feet away!

He fell forward, his eyes rolled up, and finally spoke weakly,

"That boy is so strong!"

"Don't touch me! Let me lie down..."

(End of this chapter)