Monk Ciren

"A poisonous insect that grows in the southern frontier. The Gu people there like to use it to refine Gu Worms."

"This Daoist must have gotten the insect from somewhere and learned how to raise it. He kept it in his mouth, waiting to release it to harm people when needed."

The Old Monk explained.

Song Chengan clasped his hands in salute.

"Many thanks to Master for today's help. May I ask for your Dharma name?"

If it had not been for this monk today, Song Chengan might well have been injured.

Sure enough, he could not underestimate anyone else.

Whether they practiced martial arts or refined qi, which one of them did not have a few tricks hidden up their sleeves?

"You are too polite, Benefactor Song. This old monk is Ciren."

The Old Monk said.

"Master Ciren!"

So Yu Changfu had been impersonating this Old Monk that day. He must have seen him somewhere.

Song Chengan found this rather puzzling.

"May I ask how Master Ciren knows me?"

Song Chengan did not understand.

No wonder bargaining with the monk at the Ghost Market had gone so smoothly.

So the monk knew him.

Could he be someone his father and mother had known before?

"This old monk does not know Benefactor Song. I merely know that a hero wearing a bamboo hat and carrying an Iron Staff once rid Zhao Family Village of a man-eating fish demon."

"And now you have saved Young Master Zhao as well. Benefactor Song truly has an affinity with the Zhao Family."

Song Chengan suddenly understood. "So that was it."

"What brings Master here today?"

Monk Ciren said, "I happened to be passing by and heard the sounds of fighting in the courtyard, so I came over to take a look."

"Benefactor Song, Master Ciren!"

"If it had not been for the two of you, my Zhao Household of more than ten people..."

Supported by the steward, Zhao Jingjie walked over.

As soon as he finished speaking, he was about to kneel.

But Song Chengan and Master Ciren hurriedly reached out to support him. "It was all thanks to Benefactor Song. This old monk did nothing."

"Benefactor Song..."

Song Chengan waved his hand. "Young Master Zhao, this is not the time for such words. Quickly send someone to the yamen and report this matter to the County Magistrate."

"Yes, yes!"

Zhao Jingjie came back to his senses as well. This was not the time for such talk. He immediately sent someone to the County Yamen with a calling card.

Before long, people from the yamen arrived.

The one leading them was none other than Lingqiu County Magistrate Xiong Huaiyi.

"Young Brother Song is truly young and promising!"

"If Young Brother Song had not exposed these thieves, who knew how many more lives Lingqiu County would have lost!" Xiong Huaiyi patted Song Chengan on the shoulder.

"County Lord, you flatter me. I was merely lucky. Master Ciren also helped greatly in this matter!"

"Amitabha!"

"Many thanks to Master as well!"

"The County Yamen had originally set the bounty at one hundred and fifty taels of silver."

"How about this? I will add another one hundred and fifty taels. Young Brother Song and Master Ciren will each receive one hundred and fifty taels!"

Song Chengan and Monk Ciren exchanged a glance, then accepted without ceremony. "Many thanks, County Lord!"

"Think nothing of it, think nothing of it!"

Xiong Huaiyi wore a smile on his face.

Luckily, Song Chengan had been there.

Otherwise, if those three thieves had escaped and claimed several more lives, his great merit would have turned into a grave fault.

"Then, County Lord, we shall take our leave first."

"Travel safely, both of you. I will have someone deliver the reward silver in a few days!"

"Thank you for the trouble."

"My lord, how did Scholar Song become a martial arts expert?"

"One strike, one kill."

At that moment, Captain Ding Dahai walked over.

The smile vanished from Xiong Huaiyi's face.

"Scholar Song hid himself deeply indeed." He said, "I recall that the Song Family in Sanjiao Prefecture seemed to be a great Lineage."

Captain Ding nodded. "It seemed to be a great Lineage that cultivated both martial arts and qi."

"It seems the Song couple brought something with them back then."

Captain Ding's eyes lit up.

"My lord, are you talking about martial arts manuals?"

Xiong Huaiyi glanced at him. "What, are you tempted?"

"Scholar Song killed those three thieves with just three staff strikes."

Captain Ding smiled awkwardly. "You jest, my lord. How would I dare?"

"I remember that the Jiang Family Gambling House once had someone lure Scholar Song into gambling away his entire family fortune. Now there will be a good show to watch."

"Only..." Xiong Huaiyi grew puzzled as he spoke. "With Scholar Song's current strength, he must have trained bitterly since childhood. Why had he never caused trouble with the Gambling House before?"

"County Magistrate!"

At that moment, Young Master Zhao walked over.

A smile appeared on Xiong Huaiyi's face.

"Young Master Zhao, your life truly is tough."

"That household last time did not have a single survivor."

"Consider yourself fortunate."

Young Master Zhao hurriedly nodded. "Yes, yes. This time, County Magistrate and all the brothers have worked hard."

"This is a small token of my appreciation. Please let the brothers have a drink."

In a corner where no one else could see.

Young Master Zhao took out two banknotes and slipped them to Xiong Huaiyi.

Xiong Huaiyi accepted them without changing expression.

"Young Master Zhao is most thoughtful."

Then he changed the subject.

"But when all is said and done, your Household's matter this time was resolved thanks to Scholar Song and Master Ciren of Xuanqing Temple."

"As for the incense money for Xuanqing Temple, and Scholar Song..."

Young Master Zhao understood the unspoken meaning at once.

"Understood, understood!"

"I just wonder how much incense money would be appropriate for me to contribute?"

"Two hundred taels."

Young Master Zhao took out two banknotes. "As for this incense money, I will have to trouble the County Lord to pass it on for me."

"Think nothing of it, think nothing of it!"

The smile on Xiong Huaiyi's face grew ever warmer.

In one stroke, he had gained three hundred taels of silver for nothing.

As for the bounty silver.

Naturally, that would come from the County Yamen's funds.

Could it possibly come out of Xiong Huaiyi's own pocket?

"I still need to buy rice."

After leaving the Zhao Household, Song Chengan went to the west side of the city to buy some rice, along with a pig trotter.

"Song Chengan, is your family eating meat again?"

Song Chengan singed the pig trotter in the courtyard.

To his surprise, the moment he finished, a head popped up over the courtyard wall.

It was Brother Dan.

Brother Dan took one look, then ran into Song Chengan's home and squatted nearby to watch him cook the pig trotter.

"The fish at your home tastes so good."

Brother Dan said this after watching for a while.

"Is the fish at your home not tasty?"

Song Chengan said.

"It's not tasty."

Brother Dan shook his head.

"It's not as tasty as what you make."

Song Chengan rubbed Brother Dan's head.

Naturally, he knew why it did not taste good.

Oil and salt were expensive.

And fish needed heavy oil, heavy salt, and heavy spice. If it was merely boiled through, of course it would not taste good.

"Go help me tend the fire. I'll treat you to pig trotter later."

"Yay!"

The moment Brother Dan heard that, he cheered and ran off to tend the fire.

Later, I should find Old Man Ge and buy this courtyard.

Song Chengan thought as he watched over the stove.

In his previous life, he had never had a fixed abode.

This life had been the same.

He was accustomed to loneliness and accustomed to wandering from place to place.

But deep in his heart, he still wanted somewhere to belong.

That was why owning a home held a special meaning for him.

Now that he had silver, naturally he needed to settle this matter.

As a cultivator, he naturally would not live here forever.

But no matter where he went, he wanted to remember that he had a residence on East Street in Lingqiu County.

"Song Chengan, isn't it ready yet?" Brother Dan stared eagerly.

"Wait a little longer. Let it stew until tender."

"After you finish eating, take a bowl home for your family."

"For my sister?"

"But my mother can't see it. She told my sister to be careful around you."

Song Chengan: "?"