fynovel Chapter 42 Martial Arts Scholar
Chapter 42 Martial Arts Scholar
Deep in the desert.
Beneath a sheltered sand dune lies a huge natural cave.
The entrance to the cave was haphazardly obscured by two tattered caravan flags, and occasionally a bit of wind and sand would blow open a corner of the flags and pour into the cave.
The wind caused the oil lamps inside the cave to flicker.
The reflection on the wall showed the distorted figures of more than twenty wolf soldiers.
In stark contrast to the simple and cozy Li family home and the exquisite and extravagant Lichun Courtyard,
The cave was filled with a wild and rugged atmosphere.
Dry grass and animal hides were scattered on the ground, with gnawed bones strewn everywhere, and the air was filled with the smells of blood, sweat, and cheap liquor.
The wolf demons sat in a circle, tearing at large chunks of beef and mutton. Most of the meat was purchased by paying tolls to enter the city. A small portion was stolen from some less "obedient" merchant caravans.
They ate meat and drank wine, their loud shouts and clamor echoing incessantly, causing dust to fall from the ceiling.
"Boss! They didn't even give the full three hundred taels to the Yan family today, why didn't you send the brothers up?"
A wolf demon with a scar on his face asked indistinctly while gnawing on a bone.
"You know nothing! We've only just arrived and don't know the extent of the problems in these surrounding counties yet. Don't rush into something tough, or you'll break your teeth!" the leading wolf clan leader admonished.
"Boss, you're brilliant! Two hundred taels is enough for us brothers to have some fun for a while." Another wolf demon chimed in.
The wolf chieftain put down the cooked meat, stuck out his dark red tongue, and licked the oil stains between his claws. His green eyes gleamed.
"Two hundred taels is nothing! If you want the tribal elders to erase our deserter records and let us return in glory, we'll need at least that much!"
It released its claws, which it had just finished licking, and made a claw gesture with its furry body.
"Five thousand taels!"
The wolf demons beside them gasped, and each stretched out their claws, trying to count the number.
"How many caravans would they have to rob!"
It's clear that even if they used all four claws, they still couldn't figure it out.
The leader then continued his admonition: "Therefore, we must proceed slowly and steadily, and never offend the local bullies!"
Just as the wolves were discussing and looking forward to returning to their tribe, the wolf demon on guard at the cave entrance growled:
"Boss, three humans have arrived. The leader says he wants to talk to us about something, and he's holding up a silver token!"
Upon hearing that it was a silver badge, the werewolf leader frowned and warily grabbed the curved sword beside him.
"Let the leader, one of them, come in!"
The tattered flag was lifted, and County Magistrate Kang hunched over and crawled into the hole.
As soon as he entered the cave, he quickly covered his nose, bent down, and carefully walked in by the dim light of the oil lamp.
Before him stood a ferocious wolf demon, still tearing at chunks of flesh, its twenty-odd pairs of green eyes staring intently at him.
Even though he was a rank-one martial artist, he couldn't help but feel fear at this moment, and could only raise the silver token with the word "Discussion" high to bolster his courage.
"I am Kang, the county magistrate of Crescent Moon County. I have come on the orders of Magistrate Lun to discuss important matters with the general!"
The silver token gleamed with a special luster under the dim oil lamp. When the werewolf leader saw the word "Discussion" on the silver token, his expression changed.
It recognized this as a token of authority from the Great Tibetan Dynasty, reserved for nobles and representing absolute inviolability.
The werewolf leader hesitated for only a moment before standing up and leading all the werewolves in the cave to kneel on one knee and give Yinling a rough military salute.
"Greetings, Your Honor. What are your orders, Magistrate?"
Seeing the respectful attitude of the other party's leader, County Commandant Kang was finally relieved.
They finally have a lot more confidence now.
He put away the silver token and relayed Lun Ren's message, embellishing it slightly. Essentially, it meant that if they saw the Yan family's convoy in Crescent Moon County, they should kill or rob them at any cost.
"General, rest assured. The Yan family is out of touch with reality and has offended the imperial court. You are doing this for the court, to atone for your sins!"
Upon hearing the words "atone for one's sins," the werewolf leader's green eyes instantly lit up like two lamps. The other werewolves exchanged glances, all seeing the excitement in each other's eyes.
"Please inform the magistrate, County Lieutenant Kang, that the men understand. From now on, the Yan family's merchant caravans will not be able to cross this desert peacefully!"
County Magistrate Kang nodded in satisfaction and gave a few more details, such as how much of the stolen silver should be sent to County Magistrate Lun.
"On the day of success, all past sins will be wiped clean!"
After he finished speaking, he hurriedly left the wolf den that made him uncomfortable. As soon as he stepped out of the den, he heard excited wolf howls behind him.
One after another.
Liu Sheng and the other two finished their meal.
Before heading there, gather at the courtyard where the caravan exchanges goods.
However, there are now four of them.
"Fatty Cao, you're at least an eighth-rank martial artist. Wouldn't it be faster for you to use your lightness skill to return to Crescent Moon County?"
Liu Sheng asked, puzzled.
"Lightness skill?"
Cao Dahuang pointed to his round, swollen belly: "Are you sure?"
"Then why don't you lose some weight? You're so fat, and you call yourself a miracle doctor!" Liu Sheng said without any regard for his contempt.
As Cao Dahuang walked, he patted his belly and said, "As the saying goes, a doctor cannot heal himself..."
Wang Zheng and Li Ying, standing nearby, looked on with envy at the bronze token on Cao Dahuang's belt.
That was Wu Xiucai's identity token.
They were all looking forward to the upcoming martial arts examination, hoping that they would pass it smoothly and become martial arts scholars, so that they could wear a bronze token in a conspicuous place on their bodies and return home in glory.
Especially Li Ying.
He was deeply impressed by that bronze token.
In the Qili County government office, everyone from top to bottom is a demon race; there are no established human families in the area.
Only a few wicked people, relying on the power of the demon clan's government, acted arrogantly and amassed some ill-gotten gains, becoming so-called "wealthy men."
There was a wealthy man named He who had some strange quirks.
Li Ying's younger brother happened to be very handsome, and this wealthy man took a liking to him.
The wealthy man loudly proclaimed that he wanted to buy him as a page.
Anyone with common sense knows what's going on.
Although the He family had hired several ordinary ninth-rank martial artists as guards.
However, as a ninth-grade master martial artist, Li Ying was considered a prominent figure in Qili County.
Master He didn't dare to directly cause trouble.
Once Li Ying went to Yueya County, Master He sent people to harass the Li family in various ways, and Li's mother could not bear the disturbance.
Wang Zheng couldn't stand it any longer, so he and Li Ying went to the door and made a threatening statement, saying that if Master He dared to make a move on Li Ying's little brother again while they were away, then he, Master Wang, had better turn a blind eye to him every night.
This stabilized the situation.
A few days ago, Master He hired a martial artist who had reached the ninth rank of perfection from somewhere. The martial artist was practicing the most powerful imitative boxing style in Qili County.
They originally intended to take advantage of Li Ying's home to put him in his place and seize the opportunity to kidnap him.
Unexpectedly, they ran right into each other.
Cao Dahuang is treating Li Ying's younger brother.
Cao Dahuang didn't raise his hand or reveal his cultivation level; he simply pointed to the bronze token with the words "Martial Scholar" engraved in demonic script on his waist.
This wealthy man, surnamed He, was illiterate. He shouted, "What kind of lousy sign is this?" and ordered his men to take action.
It was the martial artist at the peak of the ninth rank who had the foresight. Upon seeing the bronze plaque, he was so frightened that he immediately threw the silver he had just received back to Master He.
He called out, "Please forgive me, sir."
He turned and ran away.
Only then did Master He realize what the bronze token represented.
He realized the seriousness of the problem and ran away, never daring to return to the Li family.
"What belongs to others will always belong to others; it's better to have what you have yourself!" Li Ying sighed.
Liu Sheng expressed his strong agreement.