https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-33-Rules-for-Leaving-the-Village/12618768/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-35-Mutual-Testing-A-Big-Shopping-Trip/12618772/
Chapter 34: The Second Cultivator at the Grand Market
Chapter 34: The Second Cultivator at the Grand Market
"So this is the Grand Market?"
Lu Qing looked at the bustling scene before him, a bit surprised.
The market was even livelier than he had imagined. The stalls on both sides were neatly arranged, resembling the markets he had seen in small towns in his past life.
"Yes, this is it," Wang Da'an nodded, pointing ahead. "Do you see those stalls over there? Only those who are running a proper business will rent those spots."
Lu Qing followed his finger and noticed that the stalls Wang Da'an was pointing to were mostly selling meat, cloth, or grain.
Wang Da'an continued, "Further ahead is an open space where you don't need to rent, but if you want to sell things there, you have to pay a stall fee of one tael."
"If you want to sell fish, Qing, you don't need to rent a stall, just go straight to the open space."
"Who do we pay?" Lu Qing asked.
"Master Ma." Wang Da'an pointed to a spot. "See that man in the blue cloth? He's Master Ma, the one in charge of collecting the fees for temporary stalls here."
Lu Qing looked in the direction indicated and saw a middle-aged man in blue clothing with a somewhat slender build, walking around the market with a smile on his face.
Similarly, he also noticed several other men dressed in the same cloth patrolling the market to maintain order.
As if sensing Lu Qing and Wang Da'an's gaze, Master Ma suddenly turned his head, his eyes sharp and piercing.
Upon seeing that they were just two young farmers in tattered clothes, his expression softened, and he casually averted his gaze, continuing on his way.
Lu Qing's heart skipped a beat.
To be able to sense their gaze from such a distance, this Master Ma was likely no ordinary man.
He dared not stare so directly anymore and only glanced at him from the corner of his eye.
Soon, he saw a thick white light appear on Master Ma's body.
Ma Gu: A man with deep thoughts and fair conduct. His discerning eyes strike fear into those at the Grand Market.
Cultivation: Robust and healthy, having recently entered the Later Heaven Sinew Refinement realm.
Receiving this information from his ability, Lu Qing's face remained unchanged, but his mind was stirred.
A cultivator! Master Ma was a cultivator! No wonder his senses were so sharp; he was indeed an extraordinary man.
This was the second cultivator Lu Qing had encountered since arriving in this world.
The first, of course, was Old Doctor Chen.
However, despite both being cultivators, Lu Qing also sensed a difference between them.
Firstly, the ability's light that appeared on Master Ma was white, while Old Doctor Chen's was red.
Obviously, in terms of cultivation, Old Doctor Chen seemed to be more profound than Master Ma.
Was this difference due to their cultivation realms?
Lu Qing noted that the ability's assessment of Master Ma was that he had recently entered the Later Heaven Sinew Refinement realm.
Old Doctor Chen, on the other hand, was at the Later Heaven Internal Organs realm.
Did that mean the Internal Organs realm was superior to the Sinew Refinement realm? Were there other realms between these two?
Lu Qing's thoughts raced as he pondered these questions.
"Well, Qing, you've seen the market now. What did you want to buy?"
Wang Da'an interrupted Lu Qing's musings.
Lu Qing put aside his thoughts and smiled, "I have quite a lot of things to buy, and I might need your help, Brother Da'an."
"You're buying a lot of things? Did you come into some money, Qing?" Wang Da'an asked, eyes wide.
Lu Qing smiled but didn't answer.
Wang Da'an also realized that this wasn't the place to discuss such matters.
He didn't press further and instead patted his chest, "Don't worry, no matter how much you buy, I can help you carry it all back!"
"Then, thank you, Brother Da'an."
Lu Qing walked towards the meat stalls.
His first stop was the pork stall.
The meat on display didn't have the same quality as the carefully farmed pigs from his past life, but it would have to do.
Chapter 34: The Silver Lining
"So this silver is from your master, the Old Doctor Chen?" Ma Ye's expression changed slightly as he heard this.
"Yes," Lu Qing nodded, his face tense.
"Old Doctor Chen is truly a generous man. No wonder he's known for his kindness." Ma Ye's eyes narrowed slightly, a thoughtful look on his face.
A wave of relief washed over Lu Qing, and he quickly added, "My master is a kind man, and he has always taken good care of me."
"That's wonderful to hear," Ma Ye said with a smile. "Well, it seems we've resolved the issue at hand. Young man, how much meat did you want to purchase?"
"Two large pieces of fatty meat and a few pieces of half-fat, half-lean meat," Lu Qing replied.
The butcher quickly gathered the requested meat and placed it on the scale. The weight came to a total of seven or eight jin.
"That will be three hundred and fifty copper coins," the butcher said, his eyes glinting as he looked at the silver in Lu Qing's hand.
Lu Qing handed over the silver ingot, and the butcher quickly weighed it and gave him the remaining amount in copper coins.
"Thank you," Lu Qing said, putting the copper coins away.
"You're welcome, come again!" the butcher said with a smile.
Ma Ye watched the entire exchange with a thoughtful expression. As Lu Qing and Wang Da'an turned to leave, he called out, "Young man."
"Yes?" Lu Qing turned around, his heart skipping a beat.
"If you ever need any help or have any questions, feel free to look for me. My name is Ma, and I'm in charge of maintaining order in this market," Ma Ye said, his tone friendly and sincere.
"Thank you, Master Ma," Lu Qing replied, bowing slightly.
"You're welcome. Take care, young man." Ma Ye smiled and watched as they walked away.
(End of Chapter)
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