https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-146-The-Lu-Family-Young-Master-First-Update-/12898682/
Chapter 147: Martial Artist (Second Update)
Chapter 147: Martial Artist (Second Update)
With Miss White Wine vouching for him, both sides already had a foundation of mutual trust.
Moreover, Diguashao’s words made Hu Ma truly understand the differences between the reincarnated ones and others, which eased his concerns slightly.
Immediately, he had a detailed conversation with Diguashao, asking about his senior brother’s unique skills and weaknesses, and agreed to exchange intelligence every night before finally falling into a deep sleep.
The next morning, he prepared his steel knife and wrapped the red wooden sword in cloth to hide it. After washing up, he went downstairs and sat in the inn, taking out a handful of copper coins and asking the inn boy to brew a pot of good tea for him. He then went out to buy two steamed bun baskets for breakfast.
Of course, this didn’t cost so much. When the inn boy returned, Hu Ma just waved his hand, telling him to keep the remaining copper coins. Then, while eating, he inquired if there were any places around where he could earn some silver.
The inn boy, having received a tip, naturally wore a broad smile and said, "If you have the skills to earn money, there will always be places to earn it. What kind of business are you in, sir?"
Hu Ma smiled and drew his knife from his waist, pulling it out halfway and placing it on the table.
The knife had several rust spots and some dark red, indelible stains, with a few chipped edges, clearly from cutting people.
"Living off the blade?"
The inn boy, upon seeing this, was immediately frightened and dared not speak.
It was the innkeeper behind the counter who, with a smile, joined in, "Sir, you must be a hero from the wandering world. Let me tell you, in our Wutong Town, deadly feuds and fights have become quite rare in recent years."
"If you want to earn silver, there’s a notice in front of the large brick house in the east of the town, looking for capable people like you."
"..."
"Is that so?"
Hu Ma sheathed his knife and said, "If it’s true, I’ll give you another tip when I come back."
Saying this, he got up. Seeing that the weather was gloomy and rain seemed imminent, he took the straw hat and raincoat hanging by the inn door, put them on, and said he would return them when he came back. Neither the innkeeper nor the inn boy dared to stop him.
After he left, the inn boy pursed his lips and sneered.
"In these times, even those who live by the blade dare to come out and do business openly."
The old innkeeper glanced disdainfully in the direction Hu Ma had left and said, "In the past, we would have reported him to the authorities and had him arrested."
Saying this, he lowered his head to continue his accounting, clearly not taking it seriously.
Hu Ma left the inn and wandered around the streets for a while, eventually reaching the western part of the town. Sure enough, he saw a row of large brick houses in the distance, with several notices posted on the flat brick walls.
Upon closer inspection, he found that all the notices had the same content, which read:
"Bandits in Ma Erwa are rampant, robbing and harming people. We are offering a generous reward and recruiting brave men to eliminate the bandits and protect the people. We welcome all heroes from various regions."
At the bottom, the address given was Qianfeng Teahouse.
Hu Ma confirmed that this was the notice posted by Young Master Lu. The young master was indeed looking for people, but he was specifically seeking capable and extraordinary individuals. To avoid drawing attention, he was using the pretext of bandit suppression to attract various martial heroes.
Thus, he tore off one of the notices and, after inquiring from people, headed towards the Qianfeng Teahouse in the town.
Upon arrival, he saw a three-story wooden building, which looked quite large and elegantly decorated. Even in Mingzhou Prefecture, it would be quite eye-catching.
Hu Ma took the notice and walked straight into the teahouse.
At the entrance, a tea server with a white towel over his shoulder saw Hu Ma wearing a raincoat, a straw hat, and leg bindings, with a steel knife hanging from his waist, and immediately recognized him as a wandering martial artist.
Smiling, the tea server greeted him, "Sir, you also came to answer the notice? Please come in!"
Without asking any more questions, he directly invited Hu Ma to sit down in the teahouse. The large teahouse had about a dozen square tables, but it was mostly empty, with only five or six people besides Hu Ma, all of whom looked fierce and seemed to be from the martial world.
Without needing Hu Ma to ask, the tea server brought him tea and a few snacks, but didn’t ask any other questions.
Sitting quietly for about half the morning, a couple more people arrived. In between, a few groups of customers tried to come in for tea, but the tea server whispered something to them, and they quickly left.
It seemed that Young Master Lu had generously rented out the entire teahouse to entertain those who had answered the notice.
As noon approached, some of the people were growing impatient and loudly demanded answers several times.
At this moment, an old man dressed in silk entered, immediately apologizing, "Gentlemen, please forgive the wait. We have prepared a feast to welcome you, but before that, please follow me to the back courtyard to meet our young master."
The group exchanged glances and then all got up, following the old man to the back courtyard.
Behind the teahouse was a large courtyard, about ten zhang square, with a row of stoves burning hot water.
At the end of the courtyard, a grandmaster chair and a small table were set up, with tea and snacks on it.
A man in a white robe, with a slender build, was sitting in the grandmaster chair, sipping tea. Upon noticing the group, he only slightly raised his eyes to glance at them, then lowered his head to continue drinking without a word.
The clerk who had led them in busily said, "Everyone, this is our Young Master Lu. Since we're all people of the Wandering World, there's no need to be overly formal."
Though he said this, a few still clasped their hands and bowed respectfully to Young Master Lu.
However, Young Master Lu did not even raise his head, merely nodding slightly.
"Without further ado,"
Young Master Lu did not speak, and the old man who looked like a steward took over, smiling, "We have invited people here to eliminate bandits and rid the people of harm. However, once the notice was posted, all sorts of wanderers came."
"But let me be frank, we dare not accept anyone just because they dare to come. This is a dangerous business. Ordinary people might lose their lives if they're not careful."
"So, if you don't mind, could you show your skills in front of Young Master Lu?"
"Those with real skills, please come inside. If not, we can still be friends and part ways amicably."
"……"
Everyone exchanged glances, "So, you want to test us?"
They had either seen the notice or heard that there was a way to earn silver here, which was why they had come.
But if the host wanted to see their skills, it was only reasonable to show them.
Thus, a sturdy man dressed in black clothes and pants, with a scarf tied around his head, stepped forward. He took off his outer shirt, revealing two heavy steel knives.
He clasped his hands and bowed to Young Master Lu, proudly saying, "Greetings, gentlemen. I am Chen Dalong, the Dragon Tiger Dominating Knife, famous in three provinces. I have learned excellent knife skills since childhood. Today, I would like to receive your guidance."
With that, he made a sound and began to move, his dual knives whirling with a fierce breeze and a cold gleam.
Hu Ma watched from the side, his eyes wide, and then...
...he almost burst out laughing.
This Dragon Tiger Dominating Knife, famous in three provinces, indeed had good knife skills, but they were completely without any proper form.
Even the few techniques taught by Second Uncle were more orderly than his.
The steward, watching, was clearly also stunned. After a moment, he sneaked a glance at Young Master Lu, whose face was dark, and hurriedly stopped Chen Dalong, clapping his hands, "Good knife, good knife. Sir, please go outside for some tea, and we will provide food."
"Eh?"
Chen Dalong, still enthusiastic, asked, "What do you mean, steward?"
"You're not keeping me? Steward, let me tell you, I've studied knife skills for twenty-eight years, water can't penetrate, and cutting people is like slicing melons..."
"……"
The steward's face was already awkward, and he just wanted to ask him to leave. But this man wouldn't budge, just showing off his knife skills.
Suddenly, in the midst of the pushing and shoving, the seated Young Master Lu suddenly raised his head and looked at Chen Dalong.
"You say your knife skills are so good that water can't penetrate? Fine, if you can do it, I'll pay you five hundred taels of silver to stay."
Chen Dalong was elated, just about to speak, when he saw Young Master Lu stand up, pick up a pot of boiling water from the stove, and throw it right at him.
Reacting too late, Chen Dalong was hit in the face by the pot. The boiling water flowed over his entire body, scalding him so badly that he screamed and rolled on the ground.
"What is this!"
Young Master Lu, his face cold, shouted, "Give him medicine and get him out of here!"
Chen Dalong, still screaming, was carried out, his cries still echoing from a distance. The remaining people were all stunned.
After a moment of hesitation, a sturdy man in gray clothes stepped forward, "I'll give it a try!"
"I've learned the Iron Body Technique. I can withstand a spear through the throat and break large stones with my chest."
"……"
With that, he untied his bundle, revealing three or four red-tasseled spears, which he aimed at his throat, the other end planted on the ground.
With a heave, he thrust forward, and with a "hey," the spears snapped in two.
This man, feeling somewhat proud, stood up straight and looked at Young Master Lu.
Young Master Lu's face grew even colder, and he glanced at him, suddenly pulling out a sharp short spear from his robe and throwing it at his feet, sneering, "Don't use those wooden scraps. Use this. If you can survive, I'll hire you."
The man who had learned the Iron Body Technique hesitated, picking up the short spear and drawing it out to find it extremely sharp.
The steward, seeing the situation, knew it was serious. Without waiting for Young Master Lu to speak, he stepped forward, took the spear, and sighed, "Sir, please go as well?"
The man's face turned red with embarrassment. He didn't even pick up the broken spears and hurriedly left.
"Inviting people, and all we get are charlatans."
Young Master Lu, after seeing two, was already growing impatient, "Are there so few capable people in the Wandering World?"
Feeling ridiculed, the remaining people all looked awkward.
Some, unable to bear the embarrassment, were already thinking of leaving quietly.
Hu Ma, having a clear understanding and self-positioning, pressed his hand on the hilt of his knife, stepped forward, and said, "If you want to hire people, just do it. Why put on such a grand show?"
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
