Resolving Lingering Worries!

Li Chuan waited boredly in the tearoom, watching the hourglass sand slip away in silence.

"Tap, tap!"

Footsteps approached from afar, sounding quite urgent.

Soon, Luo Zheng appeared at the entrance of the tearoom.

He wore a sincere smile on his face, grabbed Li Chuan's hand, and said excitedly:

"A-Chuan, my father agreed! You can have that house in the Inner City!"

Agreed?

Li Chuan was stunned upon hearing this.

In truth, he hadn't held much hope at the beginning.

After all, Luo Zheng was not the one in power within the Luo Family; his words didn't carry much weight, and it all depended on his father's attitude.

As the head of a large family, everything had to be prioritized by the family's interests.

This move clearly did not align with the Luo Family's interests.

After all, he was just a Dark Force practitioner with inferior bone structure...

Precisely because of this, Li Chuan felt the house was all the more precious.

Li Chuan smiled bitterly:

"Senior Brother Luo, I owe you for this one."

Luo Zheng glared at him:

"What owe or not owe? Don't say such things!"

Li Chuan changed the subject:

"I mean, I owe you two more steamed buns..."

Luo Zheng nudged him with his elbow and cursed with a laugh:

"You brat, I already told you I want noodles!"

"Right, when do you plan to move your family in? I'm ready whenever."

Li Chuan thought for a moment:

"Let's do it now. Every day they spend in the Outer City is another day of danger."

Luo Zheng nodded:

"Then let's go now!"

The two took a Luo Family carriage, traveling all the way from the south of the city to the north.

Li Chuan arrived at the rented house and knocked gently on the door.

"Who is it?" Li Qing's vigilant voice came from inside.

"Big Brother, it's me."

With a creak, the door opened.

Li Qing put down the kitchen knife in his hand and let out a sigh of relief:

"I was wondering who it was; you gave me a fright."

"I haven't been able to rest easy in this house these past few days. My heart jumps every time I hear a knock at the door."

Qin Sanfeng glared at Li Qing.

It was as if she were saying he shouldn't have said those things to make Li Chuan worry.

She smiled and explained:

"Don't listen to A-Qing's nonsense; we've been sleeping quite soundly these past few days!"

Li Chuan looked up and glanced around.

The roof was low and tiled, and there wasn't even a window.

Perhaps because the sunlight couldn't reach inside, the air felt damp and foul.

Four beds were crammed into the room, taking up almost every inch of the narrow, cramped space.

Compared to their old shop, this was a world of difference.

Li Chuan sighed inwardly.

He knew very well that his aunt was lying to him.

Under these conditions, coupled with the threat of assassination that could come at any moment, how could they possibly sleep?

"Chuan'er is back. Who is that behind you?" Wang Xiumei walked forward and asked.

Li Chuan introduced them:

"This is my second senior brother at the martial hall, and the eldest son of the Luo Pharmacy."

"Auntie." Luo Zheng greeted her with natural ease.

Wang Xiumei covered her mouth in surprise:

"The Luo Pharmacy?"

This remark also drew over Grandfather Li Nian.

In the Outer City, who could claim they had never bought medicine from the Luo Pharmacy?

In the past, they had always assumed that people of such standing would never have any intersection with them.

For no other reason than that the two were simply not in the same league.

They were merely an expendable breakfast stall in the Outer City...

For a moment, Wang Xiumei appeared somewhat flustered.

Li Chuan laughed:

"Mother, don't be nervous. Senior Brother Luo and I are on very good terms; just treat him like a son."

Wang Xiumei glared at Li Chuan: "You child, is that any way to talk to people?"

Luo Zheng, however, chimed in: "Auntie, A-Chuan is right. You should just treat me like a son, though he will have to call me brother!"

With those words, the somewhat stifling atmosphere was instantly dispelled, making Wang Xiumei beam with delight.

Standing behind them, Li Nian felt a sense of deep emotion.

This was the upbringing of a prominent family; one could glimpse the whole from a single spot.

Li Chuan continued:

"Mother, you all should pack up your belongings. Senior Brother Luo has found a place for me in the Inner City, and we are moving there in a little while!"

Wang Xiumei was extremely astonished, then quickly said:

"How could we possibly do that!"

She hurriedly pulled Li Chuan aside and whispered:

"Chuan'er, we are living quite comfortably right now, don't you worry."

"In the Inner City, where every inch of land is worth gold, if they move us in, think of how massive a favor you'll owe them!"

Li Chuan said helplessly:

"Mother, no matter how big the favor is, I can afford to repay it."

"If you don't move into the Inner City, I won't be able to focus on my training at the martial hall."

Luo Zheng suddenly stepped forward and smiled:

"Auntie, that house in the Inner City isn't being used by my family anyway; it's a waste to leave it empty, so it's no trouble at all."

Hearing this, Wang Xiumei finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Nian, however, had a complex look in his eyes; he was thinking much more deeply.

A house in the Inner City, even if left empty, was priceless and incredibly precious.

It was by no means a waste just because it was vacant.

I'm afraid... I am still benefiting from my grandson's success.

The group packed quickly, and within an hour or so, everything was ready.

Having left in such a hurry initially, they didn't have many belongings to begin with.

Outside the house, Luo Zheng had already summoned a carriage for them.

After loading their things, the carriage soon set off.

Along the way, Li Nian poked his head out from time to time to observe the scenery outside.

Many people who saw him wore expressions of envy.

To be able to ride in a carriage belonging to the Luo Family was no small matter.

The carriage soon arrived at the Inner City.

Li Chuan got out to help, and after bustling about for a while, he finally breathed a sigh of relief once his family was settled in.

My family is safe for the time being, and I can prepare for the Martial Exam without any distractions...

Unwilling to waste time, Li Chuan soon returned to the Pine Wind Martial Hall.

Greeted by cries of "Senior Brother Li," Li Chuan stepped into the Inner Courtyard.

Ever since he had become an inner-chamber disciple, his living quarters had changed.

He had moved from the Common Dormitory to an independent little courtyard.

Although it wasn't large, it was fully equipped with everything he needed.

"The most important thing is being able to have an independent area to practice the Thunder Shadow Leg!"

Li Chuan looked at the wooden stakes in the courtyard and nodded with satisfaction.

"Let me see how much silver I have now so I can make plans."

Li Chuan sat on a bamboo chair and emptied all the silver on his person to take stock.

Of the thirty taels of broken silver obtained from the Wave-Breaking Gang, twenty remained after giving ten to his family.

He had just received an advance of fifteen taels for this month's salary from Senior Brother Luo.

That added up to a total of thirty-five taels!

He hadn't eaten the ten catties of tiger meat his master gave him yet, and he had received another ten catties from Senior Brother Luo for this month.

That made twenty catties of tiger meat!

In other words, he now possessed thirty-five taels of silver and twenty catties of tiger meat.

I finally understand the joy of being a hoarder... Li Chuan felt nothing but contentment inside.

Silver to a martial artist was like money to a man.

It was the greatest sense of security!

This thirty-five taels of silver, plus the tiger meat, was enough for him to cultivate steadily until the Martial Exam!

"Once I pass the Martial Exam, my family will be exempt from taxes and corvée labor, and I won't have to live in constant fear of being drafted to the front lines!"

And what he had to do was reach mastery in the Thunder Shadow Leg within this month and a half!

[Skill: Thunder Shadow Leg (Entry)]

[Proficiency: 103/500]

Previously, he had never had the time to practice this powerful leg technique because of the progress required for the Mountain-Holding Stance and the Through-Arm Fist.

Now that all matters were settled, he could finally devote himself heart and soul to improving!