Chapter 7: A Helping Hand

After finishing their meal, Third Uncle and his companions resumed handling the newly arrived batch of corpses.

It was impossible to tell how many people the white-haired eunuch had killed; these past days had left Third Uncle somewhat numb. Among the dead bodies, he noticed several with peculiar issues.

“Hmm?”

Third Uncle grasped one corpse, ready to bury it, but suddenly froze. He discreetly glanced back, ensuring neither Wang Laozuan nor Luo Cheng had noticed his pause. The white-haired eunuch, sitting further away in meditation, appeared focused on recovering from his injuries.

Convinced there was no immediate danger, Third Uncle cautiously leaned down and retrieved something from within the corpse’s clothing.

It was a small, dark ink-like token, resembling jade yet not quite. Carved upon it was the image of a black tortoise, with an ancient seal script character at its center. Although Third Uncle didn’t recognize the character, he knew well what this token represented.

“This is…the Black Tortoise Seal?!”

The Black Tortoise Seal symbolized the imperial family, and across all the land, only members of the royal lineage dared to use it. Any imposter would be relentlessly pursued by the Astronomical Bureau.

“These people belong to the imperial family!”

Cold sweat instantly streamed down Third Uncle’s forehead. He swiftly buried the token nearby and continued concealing the corpses as if nothing had happened.

Carrying it on his person was out of the question; the old eunuch possessed extraordinary martial skills and mysterious, unpredictable abilities. Keeping the token with him would be a death wish.

By the time they finished burying the last batch of bodies, night had fallen.

The white-haired eunuch, having rested sufficiently, observed them complete their task. Ensuring no remains were left behind, he finally rose and approached. The surrounding soldiers also moved closer, forming a tight circle that completely sealed off the area. Each soldier stood emotionlessly, like unfeeling machines.

As the white-haired eunuch neared, he ignored Third Uncle and the others. Instead, he produced a compass and circled thrice around the mound of buried corpses. After confirming there were no potential issues, he tucked the compass back into his robes.

“Here is your reward.”

The white-haired eunuch stopped three steps away from Third Uncle and his companions, scanning them with a disdainful frown.

Then, he took out a pouch of silver coins and tossed it onto the ground.

The trio exchanged glances but none moved to pick up the silver. With fate’s judgment looming, no one wanted to be the first to die.

Seeming to understand their apprehension, the white-haired eunuch scoffed and turned around.

“Get lost! Your worthless lives aren’t worth my trouble.”

As he spoke, his figure gradually receded, and the soldiers surrounding them silently blended into the forest like ghosts, leaving behind not a trace of sound.

Are they truly letting us go?

With expressions of disbelief, the three men watched the disappearing figures, wondering if they were dreaming. When burying the corpses earlier, they had resigned themselves to death, never expecting that at the last moment, they would be spared.

“Who cares if it’s genuine or not? Every extra day alive counts,” Luo Cheng exclaimed, swiftly turning and lunging towards the silver coins lying in the mud. “I ain’t ready to kick the bucket yet!”

Realizing their situation had changed, Third Uncle and Wang Laozuan quickly sprang into action with Luo Cheng, scrambling to divide the silver from the money pouch.

After all this hard work, they deserved every coin.

As experienced grave diggers, they could easily detect any poison on the pouch. Once confirming it was safe, the trio eagerly began splitting the earnings.

Half a day later.

Having divided the spoils, the three men returned to Qingya County.

Third Uncle headed straight for home.

“Third Uncle?!”

In the courtyard, Chen Luo, who had been practicing martial arts, heard the commotion and rushed to open the gate. Seeing Third Uncle, his face lit up with surprise.

He had feared that his uncle might have met an unfortunate end and spent the past two days trying to gather information about him.

“Haha, surviving calamity brings future blessings! Come, tonight Uncle will treat you to some meat.” Third Uncle was equally excited. During their journey back, both he and Wang Laozuan were constantly anxious, never expecting they would truly make it home safely.

The thought of the silver earned from this business venture brought him immense joy. Now there would be enough funds for his nephew’s martial training expenses.

Tomorrow, I’ll visit Bao’an Hall to get some medicinal prescriptions for blood cultivation and ensure my nephew receives proper nourishment. And it’s high time we start looking for a suitable wife for him—a woman with broad hips and ample curves, perfect for childbearing! That way, when I return home during the New Year, I can give a satisfactory report to his father.

“Uh…”

Chen Luoyu suddenly found himself at a loss for words.

Enjoying food was fine, but indulging in carnal pleasures could be spared. Over the years, Third Uncle had become quite well-known in the red-light district. Whenever he strolled through those alleys, several affordable “aunties” would often greet him, asking why Third Uncle hadn’t visited in so long.

“You rascal, what dirty thoughts are running through your mind?!” Third Uncle playfully slapped his nephew.

“I’m talking about eating meat.” With that, he turned and headed outside.

Whenever they returned from extended missions, the uncle-nephew duo used to dine at their favorite noodle stall. But today, feeling generous, Third Uncle took Chen Luo straight to Jude Restaurant.

In one breath, they ordered over a dozen dishes and two jars of wine before finally stopping.

The money from the white-haired man’s purse was no small amount. Third Uncle, Luo Cheng, and Chen Luoyu each received a small gold bar, along with additional silver coins commonly used in the capital—coins worth significantly more value elsewhere!

After their satisfying meal, the uncle and nephew packed up the leftovers and wobbled back to their residence.

The night passed uneventfully.

Early the next morning, Chen Luo rose to practice his boxing.

With Third Uncle’s return, his last lingering concern vanished. Feeling reassured, his martial progress accelerated even further. The ‘brain’ within his mind continuously optimized his training regimen, refining Cripple Ma’s Black Tiger Fist technique until it had evolved significantly from its original form.

Yet, its power and impact grew stronger.

For several days, he diligently trained in the courtyard. On the third day, after receiving news from Master Cripple Ma, he ventured out to visit him at his home.

“Still under lockdown?”

As Chen Luo approached the street corner, he deliberately took a look. The long road leading to Cripple Ma’s house remained closed off, with the blockade unchanged. An uneasy atmosphere hung over the area, and numerous unfamiliar faces were visible in the county. For some reason, tensions in Qingya County seemed to be escalating steadily.

When Chen Luo arrived at Cripple Ma’s residence via a detour, he found someone already there.

“You made it?”

Cripple Ma was sharpening his bamboo knife at the doorway when he spotted Chen Luo approaching. He looked up and greeted him.

As for this disciple taken on unexpectedly, Cripple Ma held him in high regard. Chen Luo’s aptitude for martial arts was exceptional; it took only a few days to fully grasp Cripple Ma’s boxing techniques. The rest was merely about gaining experience, leaving little more for Cripple Ma to teach.

Cripple Ma himself wasn’t a renowned grandmaster, nor did he harbor any hidden skills. With Chen Luo’s array of ‘external brains’ assisting him, learning from Cripple Ma came naturally.

“Master.”

Chen Luo respectfully bowed.

“Let’s talk inside.”

Cripple Ma set down the bamboo knife and led Chen Luo into the house.

In the courtyard, a young girl, unfamiliar to Chen Luo, was punching a sandbag with evident skill and precision. Her strikes showcased solid fundamentals far superior to Chen Luo’s initial level.

“She’s He Min, your junior sister from now on.”

Cripple Ma provided a brief introduction without elaborating further. Much like Chen Luo, He Min had connections as well. Living in Qingya County, Cripple Ma couldn’t escape local social obligations. No matter how discreetly he tried to hide, people still knew of his abilities.

“Master Ma.”

On the other side, He Min had just finished her boxing routine, her body radiating with heat. The light blue training attire, slightly damp from sweat, accentuated her well-defined figure. Combined with her attractive appearance, she exuded a spirited and formidable presence.

“This is your Senior Brother Chen Luo, whom I took as my disciple half a month ago,” Cripple Ma introduced them.

As both were his disciples, he naturally hoped they would support each other, especially He Min. With her father’s gang background, mentioning it beforehand could prevent many potential issues.

“Senior Brother Chen.”

He Min respectfully bowed, displaying a courteous demeanor.

“Junior Sister He.”

Chen Luo reciprocated the bow.

“Since you’re here, let’s have a sparring session.” Cripple Ma clapped his hands, addressing both of them.

“Yes, Master.”

The two exchanged glances, their eyes igniting with a competitive spirit.

Chen Luo was eager to gauge his current level of skill. Given Junior Sister He’s connection to a gang, her martial abilities were undoubtedly impressive.