The Human Sect Enters the World, Silver Dollars in Hand

"We need to report this to the higher-ups."

Third Master Cao narrowed his eyes. "The Dragon King Society colluded with foreign devils, trafficked people, and made evil things from them. This is a case that reaches the heavens. I suspect they took over Ping'an Cart Company to get at Guan Ershun and those bosses who'd reached a higher level."

"If we prove it, we'll earn ourselves a huge commendation."

Third Master Cao glanced at his nephew, a grin spreading across his face. "If the higher-ups are pleased, they might find a new post for these old bones of mine. Or... they might get that brat Xiaoliu half an official title. That would bring glory to the family."

"Heh, Third Uncle, you'll have to put in a good word for me then."

At the words "official title," Cao Xiaoliu's eyes lit up. "If I could land a job at the Earth Official's Office, who in Tianjin wouldn't look at me with new respect?"

"Don't forget to give the rest of us a share."

Shopkeeper Lu joined the banter.

After a while, the excitement faded, but the earlier tension had gone with it.

After all, the night had been perilous, but their gains had been enormous.

They had uncovered the truth behind the foreigners' corpse-raising and picked up a lead on the Dragon King Society.

"Enough. We shouldn't stay here."

Shopkeeper Lu tightened the straps of the black case on his back and glanced at the sky. "Let's go back. Keep what happened tonight buried in your bellies. Don't go talking about it and alert the snake."

With that, he turned to Qin Geng and cupped his hands with utmost solemnity.

"We owe a great deal to Brother Xiao Wu this time."

Shopkeeper Lu spoke earnestly. "Without your Old Horse Knows the Way skill, whether we'd made it out in one piece would've been anyone's guess. And that final clue about the corpse's identity was crucial. We could've racked our brains all night and never thought to look there."

"That's right, Master Qin. We owe you one."

Third Master Cao's expression turned solemn too.

"You're the real deal, Master Qin."

Cao Xiaoliu gave him a thumbs-up. "I'm training at Mighty Martial Arts Hall, just below the southern wall of Tianjin's old city. Come find me when you have time. We can spar."

Master Miao Zhen said little, but she gave Qin Geng a slight nod. There was a little more approval in her eyes.

Qin Geng smiled and returned their salute, saying, "You're too kind," and, "It was only right."

But in truth, he paid little mind to those hollow words of thanks.

A huge commendation? That was far beyond his reach.

Right now, only two things occupied his mind.

The first was the silver dollars.

He had risked his life for that money. With it, he could buy a batch of Bone-Strengthening Powder and even afford Tiger Bone soup, pushing his [Martial Artist] level higher.

The second was the "teacher" Shopkeeper Lu had promised him.

Tonight, he had seen Master Miao Zhen's Golden Light Talisman, Third Master Cao's tomb-raiding methods, and even that uncanny Snake Corpse.

Qin Geng understood more clearly than ever that the world was vast, and its waters ran deep.

He needed someone who knew the way to guide him!

He had the Book of a Hundred Trades, and he could reach a higher level by training blindly on his own. But that would be far too slow. With a skilled teacher's guidance, his experience would climb much, much faster.

Shopkeeper Lu had already said that if things did not work out, he would teach Qin Geng himself. That promise was as good as settled.

"Let's get moving!"

Qin Geng tightened his belt and felt some of the exhaustion leave his body.

By moonlight, the group hurried down the mountain.

Dawn had yet to break fully. Tianjin's streets were empty, save for the breakfast shops that had just taken down their shutters, thin wisps of steam drifting out.

The five of them returned from outside the city and parted ways beneath the South City wall.

Third Master Cao and his nephew tucked away the Luoyang Shovel and hurried toward Hengtong Pawnshop. They said they needed to catch up on sleep and wash the earthy smell off themselves.

Master Miao Zhen did not linger either. She gave Lu Xingmin a Daoist salute, then headed west with her Peachwood Sword on her back.

Qin Geng had assumed she was returning to some Daoist temple for quiet cultivation. But Lu Xingmin remarked offhandedly, "Master Miao Zhen may be a Daoist, but she doesn't live in a temple. There's an orphanage in the west of the city. It used to be run by the authorities, then it fell into neglect. She helps care for dozens of children there who have no parents. The Daoist Human Sect believes in cultivating among the dust and bustle of the mortal world, tempering the heart among ordinary people."

Hearing this, Qin Geng watched the woman in green Daoist robes recede into the distance and felt a little more respect for her.

In these times, looking after a group of orphans through the chaos was a more tangible kind of cultivation than chanting scriptures and sitting in meditation.

Once the others had left, Qin Geng followed Lu Xingmin back to Osmanthus Fragrance Studio.

The assistants were not up yet when they entered the shop.

Lu Xingmin closed the shutters again, shutting out the cold wind, and led Qin Geng into the back room.

It was warm inside. Lu Xingmin took off his fitted black jacket and changed into a loose robe, looking much more at ease.

He took a tin of tea leaves from a cabinet and heated a pot of water himself.

As the water boiled, the scent of tea filled the room.

"Sit."

Lu Xingmin poured two bowls of tea and pushed one toward Qin Geng. He lifted the other, took a sip, and let out a long breath.

"Last night was dangerous."

Lu Xingmin set down his tea bowl, his fingers absently rubbing the tabletop. "When I went there alone last time, I didn't dare go inside. At Heaven-Reaching Gate, I sent a paper figure in to scout while I crouched just inside the entrance."

He gave a bitter smile and pointed to his leg. "I thought the paper figure had no breath of life, so it could avoid those filthy things. But that Human-Speaking Snake was wicked. It followed the trace of my soul-thought left on the figure straight back to me. If I hadn't severed the link so quickly, I'd have lost more than a few days' use of my leg. I'd probably have lost my life."

Qin Geng held his tea bowl. "So you sought me out specifically because of my Old Horse Knows the Way skill?"

"Yes."

Lu Xingmin nodded and fixed Qin Geng with an intent gaze. "At night, the Earth Veins there churn. The place becomes a natural maze that bewilders the mind. Forget people—even a compass would spin wildly in there. Without an old horse that knew the way, we might have seen what we came for last night, only to die trapped inside."

With that, he rose and walked to the large rosewood cabinet in the back room. He opened a hidden compartment.

Something inside clinked and rattled.

Lu Xingmin returned carrying three rolls of silver dollars wrapped in red paper and a letter.

Thud.

The bundle landed on the table with a weighty sound.

"Thirty silver dollars. Not one missing. Count them."

Qin Geng did not stand on ceremony. He picked up a roll, rubbed a coin lightly between his thumb and forefinger, blew on it, and held it to his ear.

Hummm—

The note rang clear and long. They were genuine silver dollars.

Qin Geng tucked all three rolls into his coat without further fuss. Their hard weight against his chest made him feel deeply secure.

With this money, he could keep up his medicine and strengthen his body further. He might even reach the Bright Force level.