Verification

Chapter 34: Verification

Three days later.

Evening.

A tall, skinny youth pushed a cart carrying a huge wild boar and hurriedly stopped in front of HengWu Tavern in Shanbao County.

He wiped away his sweat, glanced respectfully at Li Yuan beside him, and said, "Brother Yuan, we're here."

Li Yuan nodded, grabbed the wild boar, hefted it onto his shoulder, and strode through the tavern's back door with powerful bearing.

He had already come to the tavern yesterday to arrange things with someone Uncle Wang had introduced him to.

Tian Bao watched Li Yuan with admiration.

In just two or three days, he had witnessed Li Yuan's prowess.

That archery skill was truly earth-shaking and miraculous.

After waiting for a while, a slightly plump middle-aged man dressed like a steward came out to see Li Yuan off.

These days, hunters were a good source for fresh meat.

Moreover, in the steward's eyes, Li Yuan was a ruthless man. He could hunt a wild boar in the morning and deliver it by evening, and the boar had few wounds on it, perfectly meeting the tavern's requirements.

"Bring us your game again next time. As long as it's fresh, you won't be shorted on payment," the steward said with a smile.

Li Yuan replied, "We're old customers. I'll definitely keep it fresh."

Then he beckoned to Tian Bao. "A'Bao, come here."

Tian Bao lowered his head and hurried over cautiously.

Li Yuan patted his shoulder and said, "Call him Uncle Wu."

Tian Bao quickly said, "Hello, Uncle Wu."

The steward nodded at him. "Learn from your Brother Yuan. Before, he only brought roe deer, wild rabbits, and wild chickens. This time, he directly carried in a wild boar. The younger generation truly surpasses the old."

Tian Bao's eyes were full of admiration as he said excitedly, "My brother is the most formidable person in our village."

Li Yuan gave a mocking laugh. "Uncle Wu, don't listen to his nonsense. I'm just a lousy hunter.

"A'Bao is from the same village as me. Sometimes, if I can't come, I'll have him deliver the game."

"It's no trouble. I'll remember him," the steward said with a smile.

Li Yuan felt the silver in his pocket.

When Brother Xiong and the Qian Family were still around, he had only hunted roe deer.

Now, he could hunt wild boars and Blind Bears without restraint.

The weight was different, so naturally the price was different as well.

Today was merely a test.

It was a sow. Steward Wu did not weigh it, merely estimated it to be under three hundred jin, and gave Li Yuan thirty taels of silver: two ten-tael silver ingots, five one-tael silver beans, and fifty Big Coins.

Li Yuan tossed Tian Bao two Big Coins.

Tian Bao hurriedly caught them. Afterward, he looked somewhat stunned. "Brother, why are you giving me money? You hunted the boar, and you even taught me your skills. I..."

Li Yuan glanced at him. "Take it. Go back to the village first. I'll head back on my own later."

"Alright, Brother." Tian Bao pushed the cart back the way they had come.

Li Yuan waited a little while, then returned to HengWu Tavern.

"Hey, Brother Yuan, you haven't left yet?" one of the tavern kitchen hands greeted him.

Li Yuan smiled. "Where's Uncle Wu?"

"I'll go get him." The kitchen hand ran off.

He was gone for a long time.

Li Yuan was in no hurry and waited patiently.

About the time it took for two incense sticks to burn, Steward Wu finally arrived in a rush. "Brother Yuan, did you need something?"

Li Yuan smiled. "It's getting dark, and I have a little money in my pocket now, so I thought I'd treat Uncle Wu to a drink."

"You brat." Steward Wu smiled. "You have something to ask, don't you?"

Li Yuan said, "What could I possibly need? You've always helped me out, and if I couldn't even bring myself to spend money around mealtime, wouldn't that be unbrotherly? I, Li Yuan, am not that sort of person."

"It isn't easy for you hunters to earn money. You risk your lives in the mountains for every bit of it," Steward Wu said with feeling.

Li Yuan suddenly said, "How about Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion?"

Steward Wu:

I thought this kid was just trying to brush me off. I never expected him to invite me to Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion?

Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion was a pleasure house in Shanbao County, a place the poor dared not enter. Steward Wu had to grit his teeth before he could bear to visit even once.

Since that was the case...

Steward Wu changed his tone. "Brother Yuan is being so sincere that it would be rude for me to refuse. But the tavern is busy at this hour. How about we go at the Hour of the Pig?"

"Fine." Li Yuan smiled. "I'll wander around for a bit first."

Steward Wu turned and went back to work, while Li Yuan temporarily left HengWu Tavern.

Today, he had to figure out the matter of the Blood Saber Sect and make a decision immediately.

After having a bowl of fried rice at a street stall, Li Yuan waited beside HengWu Tavern while quietly observing the tavern's guests as they came and went.

There were "0–1," "1–2," and "2–3" among them...

Suddenly, a "39–40" occupied Li Yuan's vision.

With a sidelong glance, he spotted the exquisite long saber at the man's waist, then quickly withdrew his gaze to avoid inviting unnecessary trouble.

Weapons, skill proficiency, and realm all affected one's overall strength.

If he replaced his bow with a better one, he would probably become several points stronger.

In the cold wind, he waited quietly.

He had told Sister Yan when he left that morning, so she would not worry too much.

But he had to settle the matter of moving as soon as possible.

Only Silver Creek truly had good public order.

Before long, Steward Wu came out.

After walking for a while, the two arrived at Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion.

The first visit was unfamiliar, but the second was easy. Li Yuan directly requested Yun Niang.

His luck was good. Yun Niang had only recently finished receiving a client and had planned to rest a little longer. But when she saw the youth downstairs through the curtains on the upper floor, she hurriedly touched up her makeup and went down.

The nearby girls understood something when they saw this and gathered to take a look.

They saw a young man standing in the hall. His appearance was nothing remarkable, though he was not ugly either. More importantly, he carried himself with a calm steadiness and a powerful presence.

The girls giggled.

Yun Niang lightly swatted Li Yuan with her scented handkerchief. Her beautiful eyes shifted alluringly as she said in a coquettish voice, "Didn't you say you wouldn't come?"

Li Yuan smiled without answering.

Then Yun Niang led him and Steward Wu into a room, and called another girl over to accompany Steward Wu.

Cups clinked and wine flowed, until their faces grew warm with drink.

Before long, Steward Wu wrapped an arm around the prostitute and entered a room.

Yun Niang looked at Li Yuan with a giggle and teased, "It's already so late. Don't tell me you're still going home to find your wife? Do you want this servant to attend to you? If you do, I'll go bathe and make sure you have a wonderful night."

Li Yuan said, "Miss Yun, help me save some money. Next time I come, I'll request you again. I won't sleep here tonight, but you'll still get the money for the night."

Yun Niang paused, then smiled. "I truly envy your wife."

Li Yuan did not believe a word of it.

Yun Niang added, "This servant will help save money for you, young master. But the night is long. What would you like to do with this servant?"

Li Yuan said, "Let's just talk."

He urgently needed to understand Shanbao County.

Morning.

Yun Niang could no longer fend off her exhaustion and fell asleep.

Li Yuan paid the bill in advance. It was about the same as last time, but because he had stayed the night, it cost a bit more, totaling six taels of silver.

He quietly closed his eyes to rest and waited.

After a while, Steward Wu finally emerged from the room.

The two left Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion.

Steward Wu said, "Brother Yuan, you're truly loyal. Come by the tavern more often when you have nothing to do. Wu can still afford to treat you to a few cups of cheap wine."

"No need for a treat. If I come to the tavern, I naturally won't let Uncle Wu spend money. Still, I hope you'll take good care of my business," Li Yuan said with a smile.

Steward Wu laughed. "Of course. That goes without saying."

Li Yuan added, "There is just... one thing I'd like to ask Uncle Wu."

"What is it?" Steward Wu was refreshed and in high spirits.

Li Yuan said, "Does Uncle Wu have any relatives in the Blood Saber Sect?"

Steward Wu froze, even stopping in his tracks. Stunned, he said, "You... you..."

Li Yuan waited quietly.

Steward Wu said, "I don't have any relatives in the Blood Saber Sect. Those martial factions already belong to a different world from ordinary people like us. I only know that in Silver Stream Village, the Blood Saber Sect stands high above all others."

Li Yuan said, "If someone could get Uncle Wu into the Blood Saber Sect, would Uncle Wu..."

Steward Wu froze for a moment, then was overjoyed. "Really? Brother Yuan... no, Brother Yuan, just say it. What does that person want? I can give anything, as long as he can let me join the Blood Saber Sect."

Li Yuan:

He had originally intended to probe further, but there was clearly no need now.

The Blood Saber Sect was a good place.

Then he would go.

Although Cai Ze had not said he would recommend him into the Blood Saber Sect, Li Yuan could already sense some clues.

This time, carrying silver to find Cai Ze would mean taking a step into the martial world.

But there was no other choice.

The eerie mountain manor deep in the wilderness and the danger of the Red Lotus Bandits breaching the city at any time left him no alternative.

He had considered whether the Black Market might sell powerful cultivation methods, but after learning Shanbao County's true power structure, he dismissed that possibility.

How could a major martial faction tolerate others selling cultivation methods right under its nose?

"Uncle Wu, I was just joking. I only wanted to ask whether the Blood Saber Sect was formidable," Li Yuan said with a laugh.

Steward Wu also came to his senses. Right, this hunter had some skill, but how could he possibly have any connection to the Blood Saber Sect?

One was on the ground, the other in the heavens.

If one wanted to soar into the sky, one could not do it that way.

"Of course they're formidable," Steward Wu snorted.

After parting with Steward Wu, Li Yuan did not return directly. Instead, he quickly took a detour toward One Cicada Pavilion in Silver Stream Village.

After talking with Yun Niang for a long time last night, he naturally learned that One Cicada Pavilion was the finest restaurant in all of Shanbao County.

After spending two taels of silver to buy a box of high-grade breakfast, Li Yuan quickly arrived at White Cloud Alley.

After entering the alley, he stood before the second door on the left and stepped forward to knock.