23: Chapter 20 Peers 23: Chapter 20 Peers The next morning, Chu Xisheng woke up once again in excruciating pain, rolling all over the bed.
The gain was considerable, though; he had spent a full three and a half hours in his dream the previous night, practicing his sword for the same duration.
Chu Xisheng tirelessly swung his sword at least seven thousand times, equivalent to five days’ worth of his regular practice.
Unfortunately, the ratio of time in the dream was one to one, so Chu Xisheng needed to sleep as long as he wished to practice.
He still had to live and earn silver, so he couldn’t afford to sleep more.
Moreover, he couldn’t cultivate the Nourishing Essence Skill in his dreams, as the dream environment was incapable of nurturing the Primordial Yang Power.
So, upon waking up, Chu Xisheng went to the backyard, sat down crossed-legged in the middle of the courtyard, and faced the Great Sun to cultivate his Qi.
Today was the thirtieth of July, a rest day for Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall.
Although Chu Xisheng was not required to participate in morning training, cultivating the Nourishing Essence Skill was mandatory.
He was only four days away from a breakthrough in the Nourishing Essence Skill, which he anticipated with added excitement.
Following Cao Xuan’s instructions, he then proceeded to the steamed bun shop northeast of the martial arts academy and bought three tangerine peel buns.
Chu Xisheng couldn’t understand why this world even had such a thing as tangerine peel buns.
However, according to Cao Xuan, as long as he and his sister purchased three tangerine peel buns, they were with the Police Pool of Blood.
Last night, Chu Yunyun categorically denied owning the Rebellious God Flag and was also oblivious to Qin Muge’s ‘treasure’ matter; guessing that someone aimed to stir trouble in Xiushui County using Qin Muge’s name, with dark and treacherous schemes.
Chu Xisheng strongly agreed, leading him to conclude that it was somewhat necessary for both of them to align with the Police Pool of Blood.
The situation triggered by the Rebellious God Flag was bound to escalate, and Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall, as well as the entire Xiushui County, would soon be engulfed in the storm’s vortex.
At this time, if they were still just obscure figures in Jianghu, that might be fine.
However, the turbulence at the Library had thrust Chu Xisheng into the midst of this storm.
In his current environment, to say he was on the cusp of turmoil might be an exaggeration, yet he was at the very least at a notably visible position on the periphery of the storm.
Chu Xisheng felt that it was crucial they found a powerful backer; the official role with the Police Pool of Blood could effectively improve their circumstances.
Chu Yunyun was interested in the salary of the Police Pool of Blood.
As per the Daning Court’s regulations, a Ninth Grade small flag officer’s salary was seven taels of Demon Silver and seven stones of rice each month.
This salary was petty, barely enough to sustain oneself.
As Junior Escort Masters at Si Tong Escort Agency, the siblings could earn more than twenty taels of Demon Silver each month.
Hence, those from the Police Pool of Blood didn’t rely on their salary; their small flag officers made demands from local resources, easily netting fifty taels of Demon Silver a month.
Currently undercover, they had no actual power, and thus this extra income didn’t concern them.
However, there were additional allowances for undercover work from the Police Pool of Blood, which meant that each month, both siblings could collectively receive forty taels of Demon Silver and also obtain a few cultivation elixirs.
This was a substantial income, essentially free salary.
Seeing him buy three tangerine peel buns, the shopkeeper of the steamed bun shop immediately beamed with joy.
As no one else was around, he spoke to Chu Xisheng in a discreet whisper, “From now on, Master Chu is one of our own.
The Households Commander has instructed that should you have any issues, you can reach out through our ‘Fumanxiang’ steamed bun shop.
We have seven branches here in Xiushui County, not just this one.
If you have any information, you can come here and buy three mutton buns and one tangerine peel bun; if you encounter danger and need assistance, you can buy three snake meat sandwiches and one bitter melon bun; if you wish to collect your salary, you can purchase four baskets of civet meat dumplings here—”
Chu Xisheng listened carefully while inwardly mocking the situation.
In this steamed bun shop, weren’t there any normal buns for sale?
Mutton buns and snake meat sandwiches were one thing, but could anyone really eat bitter melon buns and civet meat dumplings?
Who came up with this?
It really is tough on the baozi chefs.
After he left the baozi shop, he glanced at the three chenpi buns in his hand and hesitated for a moment, but then he decided not to waste food and bit into one.
Chu Xisheng’s face instantly crumpled like a bitter melon, and he couldn’t take another bite.
The taste of this chenpi filling is truly indescribable.
Just as he was looking around, trying to find a dog to feed the remaining two chenpi buns to, a delicate white hand stretched out and snatched the buns from his hand.
Chu Xisheng glanced to the side and saw that it was Lu Luanti.
Today, she had foregone the disciple attire and was dressed in a purple gauze skirt that fluttered ethereally.
“So you were here, you’re hard to find,” Lu Luanti said, stuffing his bun into her mouth as she spoke.
Chu Xisheng’s gaze flickered at the sight, thinking that shared joy is more enjoyable than solitary joy, and did not stop her.
“I thought you were still in the Library.
I looked there for quite a while and almost got caught by the Library Tower Master, Ye Jingyuan, um—”
Lu Luanti had just bitten into the chenpi filling, and her charming face suddenly twisted like a pretzel.
She threw the bun she was holding back at him: “Is this chenpi?
Why does this weird kind of bun even exist in this world?”
Chu Xisheng simply shrugged his shoulders, he wanted to know that too.
He then realized something odd about the woman’s words and immediately knitted his brows, his eyes sharp: “How did you know I was in the Library?
Were you tracking me?”
Lu Luanti spat out a few times and rinsed her mouth with water from her flask before answering with a cold laugh, “If I didn’t follow you, how would I know you’re not snitching?
I didn’t expect you to have quite the comprehension.
There’s a hint of Sword Intent hidden in that Vengeance Map, and most people couldn’t sense it, but you managed to stay before it for two and a half days.”
A look of surprise flashed in Chu Xisheng’s eyes.
Chu Yunyun said only those with the highest level of cultivation talent could perceive the Sword Intent in the picture.
He let out a scoff, his words dripping with sarcasm, “If I were a snitch, you would have already been invited by the Martial Arts Academy Master Lei Yuan, or outright kicked out of Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall.
Do you really need to tail me all the time?”
Lu Luanti pondered that he was right—if her identity was exposed, it would be a case of both fish and net perishing, and there was indeed no need to tail him so closely.
However, the next moment, she quickly caught up with Chu Xisheng, “Where are you preparing to go now?
Planning to leave the city?”
She noticed that Chu Xisheng was fully equipped for combat, not only wearing a layer of leather armor and carrying his Hundred-refined Light Steel Saber, but also had a spare steel saber strapped to his back.
His bag appeared bulging, seemingly carrying several days’ worth of food and water.
Chu Xisheng cast a sidelong glance at her, “I’m going to the Fire Bone Cave outside the city, happy now?”
Lu Luanti immediately showed a look of realization.
The Fire Bone Cave produces a kind of herb called ‘Yangyang Grass,’ which can be used as the main material for the secret medicine of the second level of Nourishing Essence Skill.
Chu Xisheng was indeed just a step away from the second level of Nourishing Essence Skill; it was time to prepare for the breakthrough.
Her eyes rolled, and she stepped towards the nearby Fumanxiang baozi shop, “Wait for me, I’ll buy some meat buns to accompany you.”
Chu Xisheng was startled, his look one of bewilderment, “I’m going to the cave to find medicine, and you want to follow along?”
Lu Luanti didn’t answer immediately; she bought more than a dozen meat buns from the shop and hurried back to Chu Xisheng’s side, her words carrying a hint of threat, “I’m planning to cultivate a Yang Fire-type magic there and can also provide you close protection.
Be careful after you leave the city or the Blood Wind Thieves might take your head!”
She wouldn’t admit that she was actually bored; she hadn’t found any useful clues in Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall and was bored out of her mind every day.
In the entire Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall, only Chu Xisheng knew her real identity, so she could speak without inhibitions.
Besides, the guy was quite interesting—
Chu Xisheng’s mood turned slightly solemn as he thought of the Blood Wind Thieves’ threats to take his life within a fortnight.
As annoying as Lu Luanti could be, now was not the time to dismiss her.