Tang Qingfeng's Reply

Xie An had little silver left.

It was the five taels Madam Li had given him before she left.

He had spent fifty wen on a meal just now, leaving him with only a little over four taels. He could not afford any fine gifts, so he found a shop selling local specialties and bought some smoked meat, notoginseng, and other goods from Wuqiao Town. He then wrapped them in mulberry paper.

Altogether, he spent two taels of silver.

They could not be called precious, but they were presentable enough.

This visit to see Tang Qingfeng was partly because he truly wanted to glimpse the Tang Family Fort's secret techniques. On the other hand, he was also genuinely grateful in his heart for Tang Qingfeng's instruction back then.

After asking passersby for the location of the Tang Family Fort, Xie An led his horse there.

For ordinary commoners, riding horses within the city was a major taboo. Although Qingwu County had no explicit ban on commoners riding horses in the city, everyone tacitly followed this unwritten rule.

Only members of prominent wealthy families or government guards and constables generally rode horses within the city.

After passing through the crisscrossing bluestone streets, he finally arrived at the entrance of the Tang Family Fort.

Xie An was genuinely stunned by the sight before him.

The Tang Family Fort's buildings were comparable to the towering walls and mountain-like solidity of the Qiao Family Compound from his previous life. There was also a broad square outside the gate, currently packed with people. Most were young men who had come to participate in the recruitment, though some middle-aged men had also come after hearing of it.

A long table stood at the entrance. An examiner sat beside it, accompanied by several saber-wielding guards, all of them quite formidable.

The crowd queued beside the table to register. Then they either demonstrated the Health Cultivation Technique or had the examiner feel their pulses and bones to test their talent, Root Bone, and so on. The place was bustling with activity.

Xie An tied his horse to the trunk of a camphor tree by the roadside. Then he carried his gifts over and joined the line, inching forward in turn.

After more than half an hour, it was finally Xie An's turn. The examiner caught sight of his head of white hair and slightly aged cheeks, and immediately furrowed his brows.

Most of those who came to participate in the recruitment were young men under eighteen. Even the oldest was no more than thirty.

How had a half-century-old man come here?

In truth, Xie An's appearance was not much different from that of a forty-year-old man. It was merely that his head of white hair was far too conspicuous.

Still, the examiner spoke politely. "Old man, our Tang Family Fort is recruiting worthy talents, but only those under thirty. You should... go home early."

Those words immediately provoked jeers from the surrounding crowd.

Xie An did not take it to heart. He presented the mulberry-paper-wrapped gifts to the examiner with both hands and explained that he had come to express his gratitude for Tang Qingfeng's instruction back then.

After hearing Xie An's sincere words, the jeering crowd around them fell silent.

Everyone felt that Xie An was a grateful and sensible old man.

The examiner also regarded Xie An more highly. He knew that the Tang family traveled far and wide to promote the Health Cultivation Technique, yet no one had ever come to offer their thanks of their own accord like this old man before him.

If he went and told Tang Qingfeng about this, Tang Qingfeng would certainly be gratified. He would also think that the examiner had handled the matter well, and might even form a favorable impression of him.

With that thought, the examiner's attitude improved considerably. "Old man, please wait a moment. I'll go report to Brother Tang."

Xie An nodded in agreement and stood where he was, waiting.

Before long, the examiner returned. The gifts were no longer in his hands, but his face was wreathed in smiles. "Brother Tang said he understands your kind intentions. Old Master Tang is unwell at present, and Brother Tang is attending to him at his side, so he cannot get away. He asked me to convey his thanks in his stead."

With that, the examiner cupped his fists and bowed to Xie An, returning Tang Qingfeng's courtesy and gratitude.

Then the examiner added, "My surname is Lu, and my courtesy name is Changshui. If you also wish to seek an opportunity, please perform a set of health-preserving boxing. If you do well, I can report the situation to Brother Tang. It may not be impossible to make an exception and recruit you."

Xie An saw through him. This Lu Changshui likely thought that he had some connection with Tang Qingfeng, so he had taken the initiative to curry favor with him, putting on a show of generosity.

It was merely a gesture to save face.

No one else had been granted an exception. If he, Xie An, were given one merely because he had presented a gift, what would everyone else think?

If Xie An truly accepted, it would put Lu Changshui in a difficult position. It would also put Tang Qingfeng in a difficult position and leave Tang Qingfeng with a poor impression of him.

Besides, Xie An had said that he had come to express his gratitude to Tang Qingfeng. Naturally, he should appear sincere and untainted by ulterior motives. Smuggling in a personal request would only ruin the effect.

With that thought, Xie An hurriedly returned the courtesy with a bow. "Thank you, Brother Lu, but you've misunderstood. I only came to express my gratitude to Master Tang Qingfeng for his instruction back then. I hope Old Master Tang recovers soon. I'll take my leave."

Lu Changshui sensed that Xie An was speaking from the bottom of his heart and consequently thought more highly of the old man. He bowed and said, "Take care, old man."

Xie An left.

Xie An felt somewhat disappointed that Tang Qingfeng had not come to see him, but he understood it perfectly. After all, Tang Qingfeng was Old Master Tang's adopted son. Now that Old Master Tang was critically ill, he naturally had no mind to spare for Xie An.

After all, Xie An was merely an insignificant outsider who could not even claim to have any friendship with Tang Qingfeng.

As long as the gifts were delivered and his sentiments conveyed,

that was enough.

To avoid danger from leaving the city late at night, Xie An did not linger within the city. He left early, mounted his horse, and hurried along the official road toward Wuqiao Town.

Although Xie An now possessed enough strength to crush martial artists who had just entered the Bronze Skin Realm, making him one of the foremost experts in Wuqiao Town, that strength was not worth mentioning in Qingwu County.

The last time he had encountered the Giant Whale Gang's raid, he still shuddered with lingering fear whenever he thought of it.

Fortunately, no one followed him on this trip.

Moreover, Xie An had traveled to Qingwu County with Chen He several times before and had learned to ride a horse. His horsemanship could not be called masterful, but it was more than adequate for making the journey.

When he reached the place where he had been ambushed last time, Xie An saw that the surrounding fields were deserted and stopped. He went to the roadside to inspect the pit where the bodies had been buried.

The pit was concealed, and there were no signs that it had been dug open.

It seemed the Giant Whale Gang had not found Li Wei's corpse.

To make absolutely certain, Xie An deliberately rode several li farther to inspect the ravine where Wang Wu's body had been discarded. He found that the wild beasts had eaten the corpse until only bones remained.

Only then did Xie An relax. He returned to the roadside, mounted his horse, and continued on his way.

By the time he returned to Wuqiao Town, dusk had already fallen.

Xie An first went to find Chen He and return the horse, then returned to the small room in the rear courtyard of the pawnshop.

The moment he entered, he saw Han Li and He Chunli standing respectfully on either side. Their gazes toward Xie An held both delight and awe, along with a few traces of unfamiliarity and a faint sense of disappointment and distance.

Xie An sat in the seat of honor, opened his teacup, poured himself a cup, and drained it in one gulp. "What's with the two of you?"

He Chunli stammered and could not get the words out, while Han Li said, "Shopkeeper Chen came by just now and told us about you buying your freedom, Master..."

Xie An understood at once.

Han Li and He Chunli were both eighteen or nineteen, no longer young. Previously, like Xie An, they had been servants of Li Manor. Since they felt that Xie An belonged to the same stratum as them, they had naturally drawn close to him.

Now that they knew Xie An had bought his freedom and become a free commoner, the gap between them had suddenly opened. In one leap, he had become someone of a higher social class.

It was only natural that they would feel distant, perhaps even suffer a deep sense of disparity.

After all, buying one's freedom... was every servant's greatest dream. They were merely held back by a lack of ability.

Xie An saw it all, but offered no words of comfort.

Everyone's life was different. Even brothers born into the same family and starting from the same point would ultimately include one who did well and another who did poorly.

Even parents could not help with such matters.

Much less a master and his disciples?

Xie An encouraged them. "I've worked as an Appraisal Master for thirty years. It's time I went out and saw the world. Besides, only after I leave will the two of you have a chance to rise."

Upon hearing this, the two finally brightened considerably and looked at Xie An with eager anticipation.

They knew that being an Appraisal Master was a technical profession. Once Xie An left, Li Manor would certainly consult him about the candidate for the next Appraisal Master.

And Xie An's recommendation would essentially determine who became the next Appraisal Master.