Redeeming Merits While Bearing Guilt

"Oh, isn't this Young Master Liang!"

Before Chen Sanshi could make a move, a shrill voice sounded.

Wang Zhi stepped in front of the old servant and said with a chuckle, "What wind has blown such an honored guest here? Forgive me for failing to welcome you from afar, forgive me! May I ask what business brings Young Master Liang here?"

Chen Sanshi answered before him, "Young Master Liang wanted to invite me to Chunman Tower as a guest."

"Really?!"

Hearing this, Wang Zhi beamed so broadly that his mung-bean eyes narrowed into slits. "Young Master Liang, that's not very brotherly of you. Why invite Stone and not me? Come, come, come—we'll go together!"

Liang Zhan hurriedly backed away, forcing out an awkward smile. "Commander Wang, I only wished to ask about something. Since Officer Chen is unavailable, I'll come another day."

As he spoke, he tried to leave.

Wang Zhi stepped forward and threw an arm around his shoulders. "He's unavailable, but I'm free! Come on, come on! I heard Chunman Tower has some new girls lately—so tender and fresh~"

"Commander Wang!"

Liang Zhan struggled free. "Well, I suddenly remembered that I have something to do too. I need to leave first."

"Hm?"

Wang Zhi's face fell. "Young Master Liang, have we grown distant?"

"Not at all, not at all."

Liang Zhan took out a five-tael silver ingot from his sleeve. "I truly have business to attend to. Next time, for sure!"

He stuffed the money into Wang Zhi's hand, then hurriedly dragged his servant away in a hasty retreat.

"Twenty taels nearly went down the drain!"

After confirming no one had followed them, Liang Zhan let out a breath.

That Fatty Wang would not hold back once they got to a restaurant. He would order nothing but the expensive stuff. Even if Liang Zhan had a vast family fortune, he could not just throw money away.

"Young Master."

The old servant asked, "Are we letting this go?"

"Guess what I saw just now?"

Liang Zhan gestured at his neck. "That brat Qin Feng's Longevity Locket was hanging around Fatty Wang's neck. This has nothing to do with the one surnamed Chen."

"Oh?"

The old servant said in surprise, "Could Commander Wang have come into contact with the immortal treasure?"

"No."

Liang Zhan analyzed, "If he had gotten hold of the immortal treasure, would he dare hang the Longevity Locket around his neck so openly?

"It seems I worried too much before. The immortal treasure was truly snatched away by people from the Witch God Cult. Uncle Wu, we need to hurry. We must think of every possible way to find the immortal treasure before Xiang Tingchun does, or else we'll have to spend a fortune buying it!"

"Rest assured, Young Master."

The old servant lowered his head. "All the trustworthy disciples in the martial hall have been sent out."

"This Young Master Liang is getting stingier by the day. Here, take it."

Wang Zhi was about to toss the silver ingot to Chen Sanshi, but halfway through lifting his hand, he pulled it back and replaced it with two taels of loose silver. "Half and half!"

"..."

Chen Sanshi did not mind the small amount and tucked it away.

"What was he looking for you for?"

A sharp gleam shone in Wang Zhi's narrow eyes as he pinched the gold locket at his neck. "Was it because of this kid? What was he called, Qin something-or-other?"

"I'm not sure either."

Chen Sanshi played dumb.

He had not expected the gold locket to belong to Qin Feng. No wonder Liang Zhan had glanced at it several times just now.

Qin Feng's death probably could not be kept hidden anymore. But in truth, so long as it did not involve the immortal treasure, no one would trouble him over the death of a mere Qin Feng.

"Heh, you don't trust me?"

Wang Zhi found it amusing. "Do you remember what I told you? When something happens, there's no need to be overly cautious. If you killed him, then you killed him—what are you afraid of? With me here, no one will dare touch you."

Chen Sanshi answered conservatively, "I really don't know."

Some matters were better left unsaid, even if both sides knew them perfectly well.

"Look at that guarded face of yours!

"Fine, let's stop hiding things and beating around the bush, lest you always think I'm plotting against you."

Wang Zhi suddenly turned serious. "In Poyang County, no matter who you offend, I'll help you—even if it's a Thousand Household Commander!

"I have only one request of you.

"If someday you can enter the Eight Great Camps and become Lord Governor's personal disciple, I only ask that you pass on a single message for me.

"Tell Lord Governor that I, Wang, wish to redeem my merits while bearing guilt!

"I only ask Lord Governor to give me a chance. Even if it means becoming a groom and going off to die, I want to die in the Eight Great Camps!"

Chen Sanshi had heard some rumors in the Military Camp.

For example, Wang Zhi came from the Eight Great Camps and knew high-ranking officials there.

But redeeming merits while bearing guilt...

Those four words sounded grave.

Since Wang Zhi was a Hundred Household Commander, his cultivation could not have surpassed Bone Tempering.

How great a crime could a Bone Tempering Martial Artist commit to warrant redeeming merits while bearing guilt? And from the sound of it, he had once been quite familiar with Governor Sun.

Forget it.

Since the other man had put it this way, Chen Sanshi had to state his position as well.

He said solemnly, "Rest assured, Commander Wang. If I truly live up to expectations and enter the Eight Great Camps to meet Governor Sun, I will convey your words no matter what."

"Good, good!"

Wang Zhi nodded repeatedly. "From now on, don't call me Commander. We're brothers—just call me Fatty."

"Is that appropriate?" Chen Sanshi asked.

"You're being precious! What's inappropriate about it?"

Wang Zhi cursed, flicked his sleeve, and left. "If that Liang fellow comes looking to trouble you again, tell me. I'll cover my face one night and butcher him for you."

"..."

At that moment, Chen Sanshi watched the fat man's broad back and felt that the phrases "greedy as life itself" and "treacherous petty man" seemed somewhat out of place on him.

Of course.

One could not judge a person by appearance, much less easily believe what others said on the surface. It still depended on what they actually did.

He stopped dwelling on it and went home to consider tomorrow's hunt.

Improving his strength could not wait a moment.

Chen Sanshi never wanted to experience the feeling of someone coming to his doorstep again.

If he could bring down a tiger, it would last him a long while!

Tomorrow, he would return to Yanbian Village and ask Uncle Zhao.

Though they did not have the strength to hunt tigers, they had spent many years roaming the mountains and surely knew where tigers could be found.

Though he had Tracking, he still needed a rough area. Otherwise, the Tiger Head Mountain Range was vast beyond measure—how long would it take to find one?

After eating, Chen Sanshi brewed and drank another bowl of Blood Replenishing Soup, then practiced until the latter half of the night before resting.

The next day.

Chen Sanshi rose early.

Yanbian Village was not nearby, and he wanted to ride a horse to save time.

He failed again.

This horse was incredibly fierce. It refused to be tamed no matter what and kept going mad.

Fortunately, his proficiency had increased quite a bit.

Skill: Horse Riding (Not Yet Initiated)

Progress: (75/100)

Effect: None

After another try or two, once the Horse Riding Technique was initiated, he should be able to tame it no matter what.

Having a means of transportation was still crucial.

After leaving the Military Camp, he headed straight for Yanbian Village.

"You want to hunt a tiger?"

Zhao Qiao, Wu Da, and Zhuang Yi were all there, preparing to join forces and hunt wolves.

"Yes."

Chen Sanshi nodded. "Uncle Zhao is an old hunter. He must know."

"Fine, let's go up the mountain together!"

The group of four arrived beside a stream at the boundary between Tiger Head Mountain's northern and southern peaks.

Zhao Qiao pointed southwest. "Five years ago, Old Liu from the village saw a Great Worm in a cave twenty li in that direction. He was so frightened he pissed himself on the spot. Luckily, it didn't notice him, and he managed to run back. But I can't say whether that Great Worm is still there now."

"Thank you, Uncle Zhao!"

Chen Sanshi cupped his fists and was about to cross the stream.

From far away, he could already see traces left by animals in the mountain forest across from them.

They were all silver!

Zhao Qiao and the other two stood where they were, watching him eagerly.

"Uncle Zhao."

Chen Sanshi knew their lives were difficult. "How about coming along?"

"No, no."

Zhao Qiao waved his hands repeatedly. "That Black Bear nearly cost us our lives, let alone a Great Worm. We'd only hold you back—we wouldn't dare go. Little Stone, you be careful too. A Great Worm is even fiercer than a Black Bear!"

"Uncle Zhao."

Wu Da stared longingly at the lush forest across the stream. "How about we go over too? We won't hunt a tiger. Even a mountain goat or something would be good."

"Are you crazy?"

Zhao Qiao rebuked him. "Have you forgotten how Old Liu died?

"Three years ago, he couldn't survive any longer, so he went across and hunted a deer. In the end, some martial hall disciples spotted it and wanted to snatch it. Those people were unwilling to pay for it, so they shot him alive until he looked like a hedgehog! If I hadn't risked myself to go find him, we wouldn't even have seen his corpse!"

"..."

Just because he could no longer survive and went across to hunt, he had to die?

Chen Sanshi felt as though something was lodged in his chest.

He did not dare persuade them further. It was fine for him to cross over himself, but he was not some high official after all. If anything happened to Uncle Zhao and the others, it would not be worth it.

After bidding the three farewell.

Chen Sanshi carried his bow and arrows on his back, held his spear in hand, leaped across the stream, and plunged into the dense forest.