Chapter 33

The gray and white levels of martial arts really have no secrets to speak of. Although some martial arts can be sold for three to five taels of silver when purchased individually, most of them are not worth that price. Jiao San had done some calculations in his mind. This young Daoist Qingxuan did not specify what kind of martial arts he needed. Even if all 50 manuals prepared were gray-level martial arts, it would still count as completing the task. Of course, the transaction couldn't be entirely like that; he had to prepare two or three white-level martial arts.

But this job was really exhausting. Fifty manuals, just the copying alone could make a person spit blood.

"No problem, how about three months? Is three months enough time?"

Jiao San's mental abacus clicked away, and he finally gritted his teeth and said fiercely, "No problem, I'll do it. But the paper..."

"Use whatever cheap stuff you want, as long as it's clear!"

"Alright, Little Daoist, I'll deliver and collect the payment on this day three months from now—"

With the new job in hand, Jiao San didn't even set up his stall and rushed home excitedly. Judging by the speed of his legs, his lightness kung fu was quite impressive.

After sending off Old Jiao, it seemed that his day and night of trouble finally had an end. Qingxuan was eager to return to his little nest and enjoy a half-day of leisure.

However, despite his eagerness, he still needed to maintain his dignity.

Calming down his excited heart, Little Daoist Qingxuan hummed a rustic tune and walked back to the palace with a leisurely pace.

Seeing Qingxuan far away, swaying and swaying, Third Senior Brother Qingsong, who was busy with secular affairs in the front hall, shook his head helplessly and sighed, wondering what kind of advantage his mischievous little junior brother had gained again.

Qingxuan's little nest was a small, secluded courtyard, originally belonging to Second Senior Brother Qingyan. Now that Qingyan was traveling outside, Qingxuan had shamelessly taken it over.

The small courtyard was very quiet, the closest to the wild forest behind the mountain. It was rarely visited by others, which suited Little Daoist Ye Qingxuan's quiet and introverted nature. Unfortunately, there was no computer.

There were a few fruit trees in the courtyard, transplanted by Second Senior Brother Qingyan, who had a bit of a sage-like demeanor.

In the morning, it was a refreshing time.

Just as Qingxuan was about to enter the courtyard, he suddenly came to a sudden stop and then hurriedly hid behind the door, peering into the courtyard with a sneaky look.

Since advancing to the martial artist level, he had internal energy, and his ears had become more sensitive. It was because of the unusual sound he heard just now that he became so alert.

It seemed that practicing internal kung fu had many benefits.

Peering into the courtyard cautiously, Little Daoist Qingxuan immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

He saw a pair of children, as delicate as jade, sitting on the stone table and stone chairs in the courtyard. However, at this moment, Qingxuan felt no pity for these children, only fear and helplessness.

These two, of course, were the "Qingyun Twin Demons," Lu Yunxuan and Lu Yunming, two little devils.

One of them held a large chicken leg in each hand. Yunming was focused on the chicken leg in his hand, while Yunxuan looked around aimlessly.

"Why hasn't Little Uncle come back yet?" Yunxuan said anxiously, "Daring to make Grandma wait, hmpf, he'll be in for it when he comes back..."

"What's so good to see? (What's so good to see?)"

"Eh? I don't know either, but isn't that what Mom always says when she waits for Dad for a long time?"

"Clunk, clunk... (Don't understand, don't understand...)"

"Finish your chicken leg..."

Outside the door, Qingxuan was breaking out in cold sweat one after another.

His dream of becoming a martial arts hero was just beginning to take shape, and he had no time to play with these two brats.

He lowered his head, turned around, and left through the side door, running back to the front courtyard of the temple.

Grandma, how pitiful, I can't return home for the sake of my dream... and, and... and that damn chicken leg smells so damn good...

Little Daoist Qingxuan was in tears.

With no place to go, Ye Qingxuan wandered aimlessly around the temple.

Just as he reached the front hall, he saw several inner disciples rushing past him, heading out of the temple. Some of them even had broom handles, mops, and door latches tucked behind their backs, ready for a fight.

Hey, what's going on?

Just then, a disciple passed by, and Ye Qingxuan grabbed him and excitedly asked, "What's happening? Where's the fight?"

The disciple, who hadn't seen anyone behind the pillar, was startled and said, "There's a wild kid outside, attacking the temple. Why are you holding me? Let me go, you... Eh? Little—Little Uncle?"

Only then did the disciple realize that the person holding him was his little uncle, Ye Qingxuan.

And Ye Qingxuan also recognized that the person he had grabbed was Fifth Senior Brother's disciple. What was his Daoist name again? Never mind, Fifth Senior Brother's disciples were all orphans, and he had given them Daoist names like Happiness, Wealth, Blessing, Rank, and Longevity.

"Isn't it me? What's going on?"

Hearing about the attack, this little uncle immediately became excited, his eyes shining.

"I, this—" Yunlu stammered, making Ye Qingxuan impatient.

"Talk while we walk—" Qingxuan, unable to wait, grabbed Yunlu's collar and walked toward the front hall.

******

Zheng Biao was very proud today. After two years of hard training, he had finally completed his studies and returned home.

Although only twelve years old, he was already considered one of the few martial arts experts in Qingyang Town. Moreover, he had successfully advanced to the martial artist level a year ago, and today his realm had reached the "Second Heaven of Body Tempering." Even in the entire Yunxia County, he could be considered a young talent.

With his youthful nature, he naturally wanted to show off his newly learned martial arts, and his opponent was already predetermined.

Thinking of that kid who was much younger but much taller and stronger, who had beaten him up so badly, Zheng Biao's proud little heart ached.

Looking at his thick, well-trained hands, he felt a surge of unprecedented confidence.

Damn, this time you're in for it.

Zheng Biao stood at the entrance of Qingyun Temple and pounded his fist.

Zheng Biao, a notorious ruffian in Qingyang Town, had a father, Zheng Youcai, who was a powerful local figure in Yunxia County, with hundreds of henchmen under his command, managing a security company, four casinos, two brothels, six pawnshops, and several shops... He had considerable influence in the area.

The Zheng family had three sons and one daughter: the eldest, Zheng Long; the second, Zheng Hu; the third, Zheng Biao; and the youngest, Zheng Yan Yan. Zheng Biao, the third son, relied on his father's power, was idle and mischievous, and had a particular fondness for martial arts. When he got into a mood, he liked to bully and cause trouble.

However, Qingyang Town was not dominated by the Zheng family alone. There was another former bandit leader, "Ma the Benevolent," also known as Ma Yunyong's father. Although Ma the Benevolent had retired, he had done plenty of no-cost business in the past, and the Zheng family had a security company, so the two had often clashed when they were young.

When Zheng the Official met Ma the Benevolent, although they were older, their fiery tempers had not cooled. They had accumulated grievances for over twenty years, and now, with both in their forties and in their prime, each with three sons, it was like a chess match between equally matched opponents, with the older ones fighting the older ones and the younger ones fighting the younger ones.

Zheng Biao and Ma Yunyong, the third sons of their respective families, had been at odds since childhood, often deliberately finding trouble on the streets and fighting until the sky was dark.

Ma Yunyong was naturally tall and strong, and although Zheng Biao was a few years older, he was a stubborn type. Despite his physical disadvantage, he always insisted on fighting one-on-one. As a result, he was often beaten up by Ma Yunyong.

Finally, after one particularly severe beating, Zheng Biao was bedridden for over two months. This made the wealthy Zheng, who had always hoped his son would be the better one, unable to sit still. It was a disgrace for a child over ten years old to be beaten up by a six-year-old.

He quickly packed his bags and found the largest martial arts school in Yunxia County to learn martial arts. His maternal grandfather's family was also in Yunxia County and was a martial arts family, so they could take care of Zheng Biao and provide additional martial arts guidance.