Chapter 19

The autumn wind was bleak, carrying a chill and yellowing leaves.

Yang Yu walked along the somewhat desolate North Street, constantly calculating in his mind.

In the past two months, Li Er's storytelling had caused a huge sensation, to the point where it was no longer necessary to go to teahouses or taverns.

He could set up a stage, and many people would come to watch.

However, after all the expenses, only about a third of the earnings remained.

Even this was due to Liu Qingqing's frequent visits, as he enjoyed listening to the stories.

Otherwise, the troublemakers would not just be a few small ruffians.

"Old Li is quite generous, giving me three or four taels more than expected. With what I have, it's nearly a hundred taels. It should be enough, right?"

Yang Yu wore only a single layer of clothing but did not feel cold, his heart burning with the calculation of the herbs needed for the "blood change."

The blood change formula consists of two parts.

The first part is a medicinal bath, and the second part is the core of the blood change.

Of course, Old Wei only gave the first part.

In fact, he would never teach the core of the blood change formula to anyone else. However, if someone under his tutelage approached the threshold of the blood change, they would have the opportunity to buy the formula for a price.

Other martial arts schools in the inner city were not much different, all having strict conditions and high prices.

Thinking about this, Yang Yu quickened his pace, crossing several streets, leaving North Street, and heading to the small courtyard where Wei He lived.

He heard cries and the sound of a horn, gradually getting closer.

"Someone else died?"

Yang Yu sighed slightly, stopped, and looked. His brows immediately furrowed.

In the seemingly endless line, there were twenty-seven coffins, all without any color.

He recognized many of the people crying and accompanying the procession.

For example, Zhu Shisan, dressed in mourning clothes, was crying profusely, almost fainting.

"Is there trouble at the yamen?"

Yang Yu was startled and hurried a few steps closer, hearing the passersby discussing and sighing.

More than ten days ago, Head Constable Wang led a group out of the city. Besides the constables, over ten clerks were also dispatched to escort the medicinal herbs from Shunde Prefecture.

This trip took over ten days, but they returned with bad news.

Not only were the clerks and constables severely injured or killed, but Head Constable Wang Fobao was also seriously wounded, carried back from outside the city.

"Every autumn is eventful, but this year is especially so. Sigh, a time of many troubles, a time of many troubles."

An old man sighed, deeply worried:

"Head Constable Wang is injured. This year, this year might not be peaceful..."

The others also fell silent.

Wang Fobao was well-known in Heishan City, not only for his strictness but also for his martial arts skills and multiple captures of bandits.

Even he was injured...

"Could it be an ambush?"

Yang Yu was also guessing in his mind.

Heishan City was a prison city, housing the majority of the criminals from Shunde Prefecture and nearby regions, including many extremely dangerous ones.

Although he had not experienced it, he had heard that every few years, someone would come to break the prisoners out.

"Sigh."

Seeing the long funeral procession, Yang Yu's heart tightened, and he quickened his pace. Soon, he arrived at Wei He's small courtyard.

In the cold and quiet courtyard, only Hu Wan was training.

He casually threw a large stone roller like a straw, and only stopped when he heard footsteps.

"Hmm?"

Hu Wan didn't pay much attention to who was coming, but his eyes immediately fixed on Yang Yu.

After a long moment, he dropped the stone roller, half surprised and half doubtful:

"You've reached this level already?!"

Li Er, who had seen Yang Yu's gradual changes, was also quite surprised, let alone Hu Wan, who hadn't seen him for two months.

"Good lad, good lad!"

Without waiting for Yang Yu to respond, Hu Wan strode over, circling him and examining him closely.

Muttering in amazement, but smelling the faint medicinal scent, Hu Wan was only shocked.

This was clearly the sign that the medicinal bath had penetrated to the bone!

In other words, this kid was about to change his blood!

But how many days had it been?

Without counting, Hu Wan clearly remembered that when he last sent Yang Yu home, he hadn't even heard of the blood change.

How could it be so fast?

How is it possible?

"Master."

Yang Yu was about to say something but saw Old Wei puffing on his pipe, so he greeted him.

"Hmm."

Old Wei walked over with a stern face, looked him up and down, and suddenly grabbed Yang Yu's shoulder.

"Master..."

Yang Yu's eyelids twitched, and he instinctively raised his arm to block, trying to step back.

Pata!

In the next moment, the thin hand had already grabbed his shoulder.

With just a light shake, Yang Yu felt as if his whole body had lost all strength, and he was shocked.

"Strong tendons and heavy bones, especially the heavy bones are rare."

Old Wei withdrew his hand, and a hint of a smile appeared on his stern face, though he was genuinely surprised.

Although he wasn't particularly diligent in taking disciples, he always checked their bones and tendons when he did.

Although he didn't remember Yang Yu's bone structure at the time, it must have been average, or he would have remembered.

Could I have really misjudged him?

"What kind of martial arts is this? I felt like my bones were scattered..."

Yang Yu shook his numb arm, genuinely surprised.

In the past few months, he had practiced martial arts almost day and night, using the decades of sword techniques he had learned from the old man, making rapid progress.

None of the ruffians who often fought on the streets could withstand his punches or kicks.

But just now, he had no way to fight back.

"Just some small grappling techniques. If you familiarize yourself with the bones, you can do it too."

Wei He raised his hand, and Hu Wan quickly brought a large chair for him to sit on.

Tap tap~

After tapping his pipe a few times, Wei He said:

"Are you here to prepare for the blood change?"

"Blood change?!"

Hu Wan's voice almost broke, his rough face full of shock: "Master, Yang Yu is going to change his blood now?!"

He had seen Yang Yu's rapid progress, but how could he change his blood in just two months?

Isn't it supposed to take half a year, or even a year?

"People are never the same."

Looking deeply at Hu Wan, Old Wei said with a touch of emotion: "Some people are just different."

"..."

Hu Wan's body trembled, and he was speechless.

These words were all too familiar.

If he remembered correctly, when a junior disciple asked about his progress, Wei He had said this to that disciple.

Now, it was his turn?

Seeing the dejected Hu Wan, Yang Yu took out silver notes and silver pieces and handed them over:

"Disciple wants a 'blood change elixir.'"

"Hmm..."

Wei He pondered for a moment, just as a series of urgent knocks came from the door.

Bang!

Bang bang!

The old wooden door trembled, and dust fell.

Old Wei's eyelids twitched, and he cursed:

"Knocking so urgently, are you preparing to be reborn?"

Yang Yu frowned and walked over.

The door opened, and a young constable in black clothes strode in, seeing the stern Old Wei and quickly smiled:

"Don't be angry, Master Wei. This time, there's a big job!"

Without waiting for Wei He to speak, the constable took a few steps forward, took out a silver note, and handed it over.

"A hundred taels?!"

Yang Yu's eyes widened.

A hundred taels could buy two small courtyards in the inner city.

He had spent a little over a hundred taels on his blood change so far.

Executioners make that much money?

"So much?"

Old Wei took the silver, weighed it, but instead of being pleased, he frowned:

"Who is dying that can make Liu Qingqing pay so much?"

"Hehe."

The constable glanced at Yang Yu and Hu Wan, smiled, but didn't speak.

Yang Yu and Hu Wan exchanged glances, about to leave, but Old Wei called them back, specifically Yang Yu.

"Yang Yu, stay."

Hu Wan's eyes were full of resentment, but he didn't dare say anything, walking away dejectedly and kicking over the stone roller as he left.

"What is this?"

The young constable asked cautiously.

"Until a hundred, no more. This is an old rule! I said I would stop before the year, and there's no reason to change it before the year is up."

The constable hesitated, looking at Yang Yu: "But he's not as good as Master Hu..."

"Then get lost."

Wei He didn't say another word, ready to send the guest away.

"Master Wei..."

The constable wanted to go back, but seeing the silver note in Wei He's sleeve, his face twisted.

Why don't you give the silver note back?

"Master..."

Yang Yu's eyelids twitched, wanting to say something but was stopped by Wei He.

"Fine, fine."

The constable reluctantly agreed, asking for Yang Yu's address before leaving.

"In previous years, executions had to wait for the imperial approval, then the order would be sent from Qingzhou to Shunde Prefecture, and finally to Heishan City.

This year, it seems to be a bit late."

Wei He took a deep puff of his pipe, his expression relaxed, and said firmly:

"This year, after autumn, you will perform the execution!"

"This..."

Yang Yu hesitated.

He didn't look down on the executioner's profession, but he felt that he was a refined person, and beheading people didn't suit him.

In his imagination, he should be wearing white robes and wielding a sword.

Not wearing a small vest and a red headband, cutting heads in the market.

"Ha~"

Seeing Yang Yu's hesitation, Old Wei suddenly sneered:

"I hear you're close to a storyteller. Don't you know the rules of apprenticeship?"

"I know a bit..."

Yang Yu took a deep breath and nodded:

"I understand."

In the Ming Dynasty, most professions were passed down through apprenticeship, not just father-to-son.

However, to learn someone's livelihood, there must be a price.

The rules vary among professions, but most are "three years of learning, one year of helping," and some are even stricter, "three years of chores, three years of learning, three years of helping."

Compared to this, Old Wei was relatively lenient.

After all, no dynasty has had daily executions...

"Take the money back."

Wei He got up and went into the house, then came out with a large bag of herbs and gave it to Yang Yu, returning his silver notes and silver pieces.

"What is this?"

Yang Yu was surprised.

Old Wei was known for his greed, and once money entered his hands, it never came back.

"A hundred taels, no less, no more."

Wei He tapped his pipe, slowly turned, and went back into the house:

"Come back after the blood change."