Performing Meritorious Service While Under Sentence

"Well, if it isn't Young Master Liang!"

Before Chen Sanshi could make a move, a sharp voice rang out.

Wang Zhi stepped in front of the old servant, smiling broadly. "What wind blows our esteemed guest here? Please forgive my lack of welcome! May I ask what brings Young Master Liang here?"

Chen Sanshi cut in first, "Young Master Liang wanted to invite me to Chunman Tower as a guest."

"Is that so?!"

Wang Zhi's eyes lit up, narrowing into slits. "Young Master Liang, you're not being fair! Why invite Stone but not me? Come on, let's all go together!"

Liang Zhan hastily retreated, forcing an awkward smile. "Commander Wang, I was actually just hoping to inquire about something. Since Officer Chen is busy, perhaps another day."

He made to leave as he spoke.

Wang Zhi stepped forward and slung an arm around his shoulder. "He's busy, but I'm free! Come on, I've heard Chunman Tower has new girls recently, so tender~"

"Commander Wang!"

Liang Zhan struggled to break free. "Uh, I just remembered I have something to attend to, so I must be going."

"Hmm?"

Wang Zhi's face fell. "Young Master Liang, has our relationship grown distant?"

"Not at all, not at all."

Liang Zhan pulled a five-tael silver ingot from his sleeve. "I really have something to do. Next time for sure!"

He stuffed the money into Wang Zhi's hand, then quickly pulled his servant along and fled.

"Almost twenty taels of silver lost!"

Once he confirmed no one was following, Liang Zhan breathed a sigh of relief.

That Fatty Wang wouldn't be polite once they got to the restaurant; he'd order the most expensive things. Even with his family's wealth, he couldn't afford to throw money away like that.

"Young Master."

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

"Guess what I just saw?"

Liang Zhan gestured to his neck. "Qin Feng's Longevity Locket is on Fatty Wang's neck. This has nothing to do with that Chen fellow."

"Oh?"

The old servant was surprised. "Then has Commander Wang come into contact with an Immortal Treasure?"

"No."

Liang Zhan analyzed, "If he had gotten his hands on an Immortal Treasure, would he dare to flaunt the Longevity Locket around his neck like this?

"It seems I was worrying for nothing. The Immortal Treasure was indeed snatched by those from the Witch God Cult. Uncle Wu, we must hurry and find the Immortal Treasure by any means necessary before Xiang Tingchun does, otherwise, we'll have to pay a hefty price to buy it!"

"Rest assured, Young Master."

The old servant lowered his head. "All the trustworthy disciples in the Martial Arts School have been dispatched."

"This Young Master Liang is getting stingier and stingier. Here, it's yours."

Wang Zhi prepared to toss the silver ingot to Chen Sanshi, but stopped halfway and retracted his hand, replacing it with two taels of broken silver. "Let's split it fifty-fifty!"

"..."

Chen Sanshi didn't mind the smaller amount and pocketed it.

"What was he looking for you for?"

A sharp glint appeared in Wang Zhi's narrow eyes as he fiddled with the Golden Locket on his neck. "It's because of that kid, right? What's his name again, Qin something?"

"I'm not sure."

Chen Sanshi played dumb.

He hadn't realized the Golden Locket belonged to Qin Feng. No wonder Liang Zhan had looked at it so intently just now.

Qin Feng's death probably couldn't be kept secret anymore. However, in reality, as long as it didn't involve an Immortal Treasure, no one would bother him over the death of some Qin Feng.

"Heh, you don't trust me?"

Wang Zhi found it amusing. "Remember what I told you? You don't need to be so cautious about things. If you kill someone, you kill them. What's there to fear? With me around, no one will dare to touch you."

Chen Sanshi remained cautious. "I really don't know."

Some things, even if both parties know them to be true, are better left unsaid.

"Look at that wary expression on your face!

"Alright, I won't beat around the bush either, lest you always think I have ulterior motives towards you."

Wang Zhi suddenly became serious. "In Poyang County, no matter who you offend, I will help you, even if it's Commander Xiang!

"I have only one request of you.

"If, one day in the future, you manage to enter the Eight Great Camps and become a personal disciple of Lord Governor, I only ask that you deliver a message for me.

"Tell Lord Governor that I, Wang, wish to atone for my past crimes!"

"I only ask that Lord Governor give me a chance. Even if it's just to be a stable hand, or to go on a suicide mission, 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 "atone for crimes by meritorious service"...

Those four words sounded very serious.

Since Wang Zhi was a Hundred Household Commander, his cultivation level wouldn't exceed Bone Tempering.

What kind of crime could a Bone Tempering martial artist commit that would require atonement through meritorious service? And it sounded like he and Governor Sun knew each other well before.

Forget it.

Since the other party had said so much, Chen Sanshi had to show his stance.

He said solemnly, "Don't worry, Commander Wang. If I can truly live up to expectations, enter the Eight Great Camps, and meet Governor Sun, I will definitely deliver your message."

"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.

"Don't be so formal! Why wouldn't it be appropriate?"

Wang Zhi cursed, waved his sleeve, and left. "If that guy surnamed Liang comes looking for trouble with you again, tell me. I'll cover my face at night and kill him."

"..."

At this moment, Chen Sanshi looked at Fatty Wang's retreating figure. Why did the words "greedy for money" and "cunning villain" feel a bit out of place when applied to him?

Of course.

You can't judge a person by their appearance, and you shouldn't easily believe what people say on the surface. You still have to see what they actually do.

He stopped thinking about it and went home to consider hunting tomorrow.

Improving his strength was urgent.

Chen Sanshi didn't want to experience the feeling of someone coming to his doorstep again.

If he could hunt a tiger, it would be useful for a long time!

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

Although they didn't have the strength to hunt tigers, they had been living in the mountains for many years and would surely know where to find one.

Even though he had the Tracking skill, he still needed a general area. Otherwise, the Tiger Head Mountain Range was vast, and how long would it take to find one?

After dinner, Chen Sanshi brewed and drank more Blood Replenishing Soup. He practiced until past midnight before resting.

The next day.

Chen Sanshi got up early.

It wasn't close to Yanbian Village, so he wanted to ride his horse to save time.

He failed again.

This horse was too wild and stubbornly refused to be tamed, acting crazy the whole time.

Fortunately, his proficiency increased quite a bit.

Skill: Horse Riding (Beginner)

Progress: (75/100)

Effect: None yet. With one or two more attempts, he'd reach the beginner level for Horse Riding and conquer it eventually.

Having a mode of transportation was still crucial.

He left the military camp and headed straight for Yanbian Village.

"You want to hunt a tiger?"

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

"Yes."

Chen Sanshi nodded. "Uncle Zhao is an old hunter; he'll definitely know."

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

The four of them arrived by the stream at the junction of the north and south peaks of Tiger Head Mountain.

Zhao Qiao pointed southwest. "Five years ago, Old Liu from our village saw a great worm in a cave about twenty miles in this direction. He was so scared he peed his pants on the spot. Fortunately, he wasn't discovered and managed to run back. But I'm not sure if that great worm is still there."

"Thank you, Uncle Zhao!"

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

From a distance, he could already see animal tracks left in the forest on the opposite mountain.

It was all silver!

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

"Uncle Zhao."

Chen Sanshi knew they were having a hard time. "If not, how about we go together?"

"No, no."

Zhao Qiao waved his hands repeatedly. "The black bear almost killed us, let alone a great worm. We'd only be a burden to you, so we wouldn't dare. Little Stone, you be careful too, the great worm is even more dangerous than the black bear!"

"Uncle Zhao."

Wu Da looked longingly at the lush green forest opposite. "Why don't we go over there too? We don't have to hunt a great worm, even hunting a mountain goat or something would be good."

"Are you crazy?"

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

"Three years ago, he couldn't survive anymore and went across to hunt a deer. He was spotted by disciples from the martial arts school who wanted to rob him. Those people weren't willing to pay for it, so they shot him alive until he looked like a hedgehog! If I hadn't risked going to find him, you wouldn't even have seen his body!"

"..."

He just went across to hunt because he couldn't survive, and he had to die for it?

Chen Sanshi felt a lump in his throat.

He didn't dare to persuade them further. It would be fine for him to go across alone, but he wasn't a high official. If something happened to Uncle Zhao and the others, it wouldn't be worth it.

He bid farewell to the three of them.

Chen Sanshi, carrying his bow and arrows and holding his spear, leaped across the small stream and plunged into the dense jungle.