Arrows Shattered the Air

Xie An calmly crouched down and carefully examined the wound on He Chunli's buttocks.

The blow had been vicious. The flesh was split open, and parts of the area were a bloody mess.

"This wound is quite serious. Hot water alone won't reduce the swelling. His buttocks might be ruined." Xie An took out some loose silver and handed it to Han Li. "Hurry to Chen Martial Arts School and buy some golden wound medicine and gauze from Chen He. Better yet, invite Chen He here as well."

On New Year's Eve, the medicine shops had already closed.

But if Chen He knew that it was an emergency, he would surely agree.

Han Li took the money and rushed out in a panic. Before long, he returned with gauze and golden wound medicine. Chen He was with him as well.

"Old Chen, you should be staying home to see in the New Year instead of troubling yourself with a trip here. I'm truly sorry for the trouble!" Xie An hurried over to greet him. In truth, he wasn't surprised by Chen He's arrival.

Ever since Xie An had saved Chen He's life during the bandit attack, Chen He's attitude toward him had changed drastically.

Besides gratitude, there was now a hint of awe.

Before that, Chen He had always acted like the senior disciple in charge in front of Xie An. Afterward, the senior disciple had become the junior disciple...

"I have neither children nor a wife. What am I supposed to stay home for? I came to see your precious disciple." Chen He waved his large hand, took out the medicine box he carried with him, and pulled out golden wound medicine and gauze to treat He Chunli's injury.

Chen He had helped run the medicine shop for Chen Martial Arts School for many years, so he was naturally highly practiced at treating wounds. After only a few quick movements, he had finished bandaging it.

"Fortunately, the muscles and bones weren't injured. With a month or so of rest, he'll make a full recovery. Remember to change the medicine frequently during that time..."

He Chunli's eyes brimmed with tears. "Thank you, Shopkeeper Chen."

"Don't be so formal. Brother Xie and I are family." Chen He left behind sufficient gauze and golden wound medicine, carefully explained the details of changing the dressing and all the precautions, then hurried away.

Xie An didn't put on any airs. As usual, he courteously saw Chen He out and watched him leave before returning to the pawnshop.

Perhaps the golden wound medicine was effective, because He Chunli was already able to lean against the tables and chairs and struggle to his feet. When he saw Xie An, he knelt on the ground and bowed, tears streaming down his face. "Thank you, Master, for saving my life! From now on, this little He's life belongs to you. I'll work like an ox or a horse to repay you, Master."

Han Li was moved as well and knelt down.

In this world, it was perfectly normal for disciples to kneel before their master.

What was more, as a slave by registration, He Chunli knew all too well how lowly his life was. If his master hadn't brought Chen He to treat and bandage him today, his buttocks might well have been ruined. If he became crippled and lost his value to his master's household, he would inevitably be abandoned or sold.

He Chunli didn't even dare imagine such an end.

In a chaotic age, meeting a good master was already the greatest fortune a lowly slave could hope for.

"Your buttocks haven't even healed yet, so don't worry about these empty formalities. Get up." Xie An helped He Chunli to his feet, faintly moved in his heart.

He had endured the same hardships in his own past, so he understood He Chunli's feelings very well.

"Don't go back to the shared barracks tonight. Come with your master to the rear courtyard and see in the New Year together."

The two disciples were overjoyed to hear this.

He Chunli had lost both his parents long ago and had grown up alongside Xie An. Every year, seeing in the New Year with his master made him feel as if he had a family. It was the happiest time of the year.

Han Li's fate was pitiful as well. His family had sold him when he was young, but he was kindhearted and still saved some money to help support his seriously ill father. That had been the reason he had requested leave earlier.

After entering the rear courtyard, Han Li efficiently shut the doors and windows and lit the brazier. Xie An brought out the dried fruits and pastries he had prepared long ago, then opened a jar of treasured aged wine. The three of them sat around the brazier, eating pastries and drinking wine. They chatted by the fire and saw in the New Year in peace.

Because He Chunli's buttocks had been split open, he couldn't sit and had no choice but to lie facedown on a long bench. The position was certainly uncomfortable, but he got to enjoy Han Li feeding him from time to time. It was special treatment, and he kept grinning from ear to ear.

After three rounds of wine, Xie An asked at the right moment, "Little He, you'll turn eighteen after the New Year. Do you have any wishes?"

He Chunli ate a peanut and answered naturally, "I only want to serve Master peacefully at his side."

Xie An knew that He Chunli had always been honest and didn't ask further. He turned to Han Li. "What about you?"

Han Li said, "I want to save money, redeem my freedom in the future, then marry a wife and have a child. If I'm lucky, I'll buy a small single-courtyard residence and become a little master of the house."

He Chunli objected, "You? You want to become a master?"

"What? Don't you want to?"

He Chunli's expression turned gloomy. "I do, but I know it's impossible."

Xie An saw both his disciples' thoughts, but he didn't expose them.

Han Li was two years older than He Chunli. His thoughts were nimble, and he dared to dream and act. He Chunli, on the other hand, was steadier, with a tenacious temperament and no taste for reaching beyond his station.

Although life was difficult, both of them carried dreams in their hearts.

But to make them come true—how easy could that be?

If he hadn't come into this world with a cheat ability, he would probably have ended up just like these two disciples.

At that moment, He Chunli asked Xie An, "Master, what is your wish?"

Xie An smiled with relief. "Me? I only hope that you two little brats will graduate early and each make something of yourselves. Then I'll have no regrets in this life."

The two disciples' eyes grew hot with emotion at their master's words. Han Li in particular felt that his master was thinking of him, while he was thinking about marrying a wife. He felt somewhat ashamed...

By the latter half of the night, the two disciples could no longer hold on and had collapsed onto the bed, fast asleep.

Xie An, who had practiced the Health Cultivation Technique for years, was more energetic than a young man. After covering both disciples with quilts, he studied them carefully for a while longer, a gratified smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.

Xie An had no family in this world. Instead, he and these two disciples had depended on each other for more than a decade. Though they shared no blood relation, after living together for so long, bonds and concern had naturally formed in his heart. He sincerely wished for the two disciples to live well, safe and happy.

After standing dazed for a moment, Xie An turned, picked up his dagger, slung his heavy bow over his shoulder, strapped on his quiver, and left.

Wuqiao Town had quite a few eateries, but there was only one upscale restaurant.

Feiyun Restaurant.

The ingredients inside were mostly precious. An ordinary meal cost at least five or six qian of silver, while eating somewhat better would cost one or two taels of silver. It was absolutely beyond the means of ordinary commoners.

Even on New Year's Eve, the restaurant was decorated with lanterns and lights and remained open to welcome guests.

By the latter half of the night, the drunken Li Shaoyun and Zhang Biao walked out of the restaurant with their arms around each other's shoulders, still looking somewhat reluctant to leave.

"Young Master Li, thank you for making things convenient today. That was how I was able to have Li He take people to the pawnshop for interrogation."

"They were only a few lowly servants. Their lives and deaths were of no importance. Brother Zhang needn't take it to heart."

"Haha, Young Master Li is generous. By the way, I'll leave Officer Zhu to you."

"Rest assured, Brother Zhang. Officer Zhu is my instructor at the Martial Arts Hall. As it happens, there's a constable's position open. With your strength and experience, taking the county yamen constable position won't be difficult. It's just that my honorary steward position..."

"Leave it to me. I naturally don't have the ability to get you a steward position with real authority, but an honorary one won't be a problem. I've already smoothed out the connections. On the eighth day of the first lunar month, you can go straight to Blood Ridge Black Market and take up the post."

"Thank you, Brother Zhang." Li Shaoyun cupped his hands in thanks. Outsiders only knew of Li Shaoyun's superficial splendor. Only Li Shaoyun himself knew that he had passed the Martial Scholar examination this time because Li Manor had emptied most of its savings to send an extravagant gift.

If he wanted to pass the provincial examination three years from now, his strength was still far from sufficient. If he could become an honorary steward at Tiger Wolf Gate, he would be able to obtain better martial arts resources.

Only then would he have a chance of passing the examination.

Just as the two men parted at the entrance, a masked man walked out from the dark corner.

It was Xie An.

"My disciple He Chunli was brutally tortured and nearly forced into confessing... So it really was you, Zhang Biao!"

"Li Shaoyun... You were involved as well! Just wait."

After weighing things over, Xie An quietly followed Zhang Biao.

He saw Zhang Biao ride a Green Mane Horse toward Black Blood Ridge outside the town. In a good mood, the drunken Zhang Biao hummed a little tune all the way.

"Hmph, you old bastard Zhang Lin. You really thought I regarded you as a rival? And you, Wei Dian, aren't any good either, suppressing me at every turn. Did you really think I was content to be a mere little steward? Next year, I'll transform into the yamen constable. I'll lead men to extort your Blood Ridge Black Market. By then, when you, Wei Dian, see me, won't you obediently bow your head and pay up to settle things?"

"My nephew sure died unjustly, though. He was most likely killed by someone from your Blood Ridge Black Market. Once I become a constable, I'll investigate this matter until every last detail comes to light."

Zhang Biao rode past a forest path, muttering to himself with a hideous expression.

Just then, Zhang Biao heard a sharp whistle from behind...

It was the humming shriek of an arrow tearing through the air!