Chapter 49: Seven Star Steps - I Just Went Hunting, How Did I Become a Martial Saint?

Wang Zhi's voice drew Lu Chuan's gaze.

He followed it, finally noticing the boots on Ye Qi's feet.

He followed the sound and finally noticed the boots on Ye Qi's feet.

The fight earlier had been too intense to stare at his feet.

The fight had been too intense to spare a glance at his feet.

Now that Ye Qi lay on the ground with his boots exposed, Lu Chuan could see how unusual they were.

Now that Ye Qi lay sprawled on the ground, the boots exposed, Lu Chuan could see how unusual they were.

The leather was fine and smooth, the grain tight, carrying a subdued luster.

The leather was fine and smooth, the grain tight, with a subdued luster that spoke of quality.

Lu Chuan's heart stirred.

He had experienced Ye Qi's Seven Star Steps firsthand—truly uncanny.

He'd experienced Ye Qi's Seven Star Steps firsthand—truly eerie.

Though his own Eagle Eye could track the movements, anyone else meeting him at night would only be waiting for the blade.

Though his Eagle Eye could track the man's movements, anyone else meeting him at night would be dead meat.

These boots might just... let him obtain that footwork!

These boots might just... let him acquire that footwork!

He immediately called out to Wang Zhi: "Brother Wang, can I take these boots?"

Escort Head Fang was crouched by the cart inspecting the herbs. He looked up at the words, then lowered his head again.

Fang the escort captain was crouched by the cart inspecting herbs; he looked up at the words, then lowered his head again.

The other guard also stayed silent.

The other guard said nothing either.

Just a pair of boots. Lu Chuan had killed the man; what did it matter if he took them?

Just a pair of boots—Lu Chuan had killed the man, so what if he took them?

Wang Zhi chuckled twice. "Ye Qi was killed by Brother Lu anyway. I wouldn't dare claim your boots."

Wang Zhi chuckled twice. "Ye Qi was killed by Brother Lu anyway—how would I dare take your boots?"

As he spoke, he crouched down and helped Lu Chuan pull off the boots, handing them over with both hands, all eagerness.

As he spoke, he crouched down, helped Lu Chuan pull off the boots, and handed them over with both hands, all eagerness.

"Brother Wang, thanks." Lu Chuan took them.

The boots didn't look big, but they were heavy in hand, the leather fine and tough, the craftsmanship exquisite.

The boots looked small but were heavy in hand, the leather fine and tough, the craftsmanship exquisite.

His mind stirred, and the system responded as expected.

He focused his mind, and sure enough, the system responded.


[Weapon: Night Travel Boots]

[Weapon: Night Roaming Boots]


[Quality: Mortal Grade, Peak]

[Quality: Peak Mortal Grade]


[Description: Night travel boots made from the soft belly leather of a White Spirit Rhinoceros. Light and tough, silent to walk in, providing a faint boost to footwork-type martial arts.]

[Description: Night Roaming Boots made from the soft belly leather of a White Lingxi. Light and tough, silent when walking, with a faint boost to footwork-type martial arts.]


[Collection Effect: Obtain martial art Seven Star Steps · Minor Success]

[Collection Effect: Can obtain martial art Seven Star Steps · Minor Success]


[Collect?]

[Collect?]

Lu Chuan's heart leaped.

It really was the Seven Star Steps!

Even if only Minor Success, it was the signature footwork of the Night Travel Sect.

Even if only at Minor Success, this was the footwork that made the Night Roaming Gate famous.

He suppressed the excitement in his chest, keeping his face neutral, and tucked the boots into his robes, close to his body.

He forced down his excitement, kept his face blank, and tucked the boots into his chest, close to his body.

Now wasn't the time to collect—there were people watching.

Now wasn't the time to collect—the others were watching.

Escort Head Fang walked over, glanced at the boots, and said offhandedly:

Fang the escort captain walked over, glanced at the boots, and said offhandedly:

"These boots use White Spirit Rhinoceros leather. That stuff's rare—at least twenty silver taels."

"These boots are made from White Lingxi hide—rare stuff, worth at least twenty taels of silver."

Lu Chuan nodded.

Fang didn't press further. He turned and called to Wang Zhi and the other man: "Alright, stop dawdling. Pack everything up. We move before dawn."

Fang didn't press further. He turned and called to Wang Zhi and the other man: "Alright, stop dawdling. Pack everything up and get moving before dawn."

The four of them busied themselves for a while, reloading the scattered herbs onto the cart and lifting the two corpses onto it as well.

The four of them busied themselves again, reloading the scattered herbs onto the cart and hoisting the two corpses up as well.

By daybreak, the cart was back on the road.

No one spoke along the way. They had just been through a fierce battle, but no one relaxed, afraid that Ye Wu might circle back.

No one spoke along the way. They'd just been through a fierce battle, but no one relaxed, afraid that Ye Wu might double back.

Only when the city gate of Qinghe County came into sight did Escort Head Fang let out a long breath, his tense shoulders loosening.

Only when the gates of Qinghe County came into view did Fang let out a long breath, his tense shoulders loosening.

"We're here," he said.

Once inside the city, the cart headed straight for the back door of Renhe Hall.

Once inside the city, the cart headed straight for the back door of Renhetang Pharmacy.

Zhao Xuanhe was already waiting there.

Escort Head Fang jumped down, walked up, and without a word first clasped his fists and bowed his head:

Fang jumped off the cart, strode over, and without a word, clasped his fists and bowed his head:

"Young Master, I mishandled the command this time. There was a traitor in the team. Two men died."

"Young Master, this time my command was flawed. There was a traitor in the team, and two men died."

The smile on Zhao Xuanhe's face froze instantly.

His gaze swept over the cart, over Fang, over Lu Chuan, over Wang Zhi and the other man, and finally landed on the two corpses covered with straw mats.

His gaze swept over the cart, over Fang, over Lu Chuan, then over Wang Zhi and the other man, finally landing on the two corpses covered with straw mats.

"A traitor?" His voice dropped. "What happened?"

Escort Head Fang recounted the whole story from start to finish.

Fang recounted the whole story from start to finish.

Ye Wu's ambush, Lu Chuan's warning, Mo Lao'er's betrayal and murder, Ye Qi's appearance, Lu Chuan's fierce fight, his own return, Mo Lao'er's execution, Ye Qi's beheading...

Ye Wu's ambush, Lu Chuan's warning, Mo Lao Er's betrayal and murder, Ye Qi's appearance, Lu Chuan's fierce fight, his own return, Mo Lao Er's execution, Ye Qi's beheading...

Zhao Xuanhe listened, silent for a long time.

Zhao Xuanhe listened, then was silent for a long time.

He stood there, staring at Lu Chuan, his expression complicated.

He stood there, staring at Lu Chuan, his gaze complicated.

In his eyes were shock, lingering fear, relief, and something else.

In those eyes were shock, lingering fear, relief, and something else.

Wang Zhi thought the young master was about to blame someone, so he quickly spoke up.

Wang Zhi thought the Young Master was about to blame someone, so he quickly spoke up:

"Young Master, someone died this time, but the goods didn't suffer major problems. Captain Fang worked hard the whole way—he couldn't have foreseen a traitor popping up..."

Zhao Xuanhe raised a hand to stop him.

"I'm not blaming anyone. With how dangerous it was, just bringing the goods back is a huge achievement."

Then he added, "I've decided—everyone's bonus gets a fifty-percent increase."

Wang Zhi's eyes lit up.

Zhao Xuanhe turned to Lu Chuan.

"Brother Lu, besides your usual thirty taels for this job, I'm giving you an extra fifty taels on top."

Fifty taels!

Wang Zhi and the other man sucked in a sharp breath and exchanged a glance.

Fifty taels—that was three months' pay for them.

But neither said a word. They just looked at each other, envy in their eyes but no jealousy.

That merit was worth the price.

If Lu Chuan hadn't held off Ye Qi, they'd both be dead under Mo Lao Er's blade.

And with Ye Wu, Ye Qi, and Mo Lao Er joining forces after that, even Captain Fang might not have escaped unscathed.

Forget about keeping that fifteen-hundred-tael shipment of medicinal herbs.

Lu Chuan was stunned.

He remembered running into Zhao's Father in the backyard that day.

Zhao Xuanhe had pushed back against his father's pressure to squeeze Lu Chuan into this team, even offering a Second Qi and Blood rate.

He already felt indebted to Zhao Xuanhe.

"Brother Zhao," Lu Chuan shook his head, "I just did what I had to. I can't take that much..."

Captain Fang cut in from the side: "Lu Chuan, don't be modest. You saved Renhetang Pharmacy fifteen hundred taels of silver this time. You've earned that money fair and square."

Lu Chuan thought it over and didn't refuse again.

If he acted aloof and turned down the money, how could anyone else who made a contribution feel comfortable taking theirs in the future?

Over time, that wouldn't be good for Renhetang.

"Then thank you, Brother Zhao." He clasped his fists.

Once the pay was settled, Zhao Xuanhe dismissed the others and pulled Lu Chuan aside.

"Brother Lu," he said with a smile, clearly in high spirits, "I'm treating tonight. Let's hit Chunxiang Tower!"

Chunxiang Tower.

Lu Chuan had heard of it, of course—it was the biggest tavern in Qinghe County. A single table of dishes started at no less than ten taels of silver.

"Brother Zhao, this..."

"None of that," Zhao Xuanhe cut him off. "Today you saved over a thousand taels of my pharmacy's goods and the lives of several of my guards. If I don't even buy you a meal, what kind of man would people say I am?"

Lu Chuan couldn't refuse anymore.

And honestly, he was a bit curious about what Chunxiang Tower was really like.

Chatting and laughing, the two headed for the back door.

As soon as they stepped out, they ran straight into someone.

Old Master Zhao.

He stood there, his expression solemn.

Lu Chuan paused, feeling awkward inside.

He still remembered that faint, indifferent look Zhao's Father had given him last time.

Zhao Xuanhe's smile faltered too, but he glanced back at Lu Chuan and seemed to find some backbone: "Dad."

Old Master Zhao looked at him, then at Lu Chuan behind him.

Lu Chuan clasped his fists. "Uncle."

Old Master Zhao said nothing.

Zhao Xuanhe steeled himself and spoke: "Dad, there was a hiccup with today's medicinal herb shipment. Thanks to Lu Chuan, we didn't lose over a thousand taels. I was planning to take him to Chunxiang Tower to celebrate..."

Old Master Zhao was silent for a moment. Then he spoke.

"Mm. Don't let them look down on us. Spend a bit more."

Zhao Xuanhe was taken aback.

Then, Old Master Zhao turned to look at Lu Chuan.

Lu Chuan met his gaze, his heart tightening slightly.

But this time, Old Master Zhao watched him and gave a slight nod.

"Young man," he said. "Xuanhe didn't misjudge you. Do well."

With that, he stepped past the two of them and slowly walked toward the Backyard.

Zhao Xuanhe stood there, stunned for a long moment, before suddenly whirling toward Lu Chuan, his face splitting into a grin.

"Brother Lu, did you see that? My father—he acknowledged you!"

Lu Chuan looked at him and couldn't help but smile too.

"I noticed."

"You have no idea," Zhao Xuanhe said as he started walking. "All these years I've made friends, he's never let me off. Always saying I only keep company with worthless scoundrels, wasting my days on nothing..."

Lu Chuan listened without interrupting.

"But now," Zhao Xuanhe said, beaming, "Brother Lu, that move of yours—it earned me more face in front of him than I've had in years. Fifteen hundred taels' worth of goods, nearly lost, and you snatched it back with your bare hands..."

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Seven Star Steps