yasinovel Chapter 74 Notes
Chapter 74 Notes
The two hundred taels of silver on the table could not possibly have been stored by Hu Qiu in Lin Duhai's courtyard. It was simply that Steward Song understood the meaning behind Lin Duhai's words and acted according to his instructions.
But Manager Song couldn't possibly pay out of his own pocket, and he might not be able to come up with such a huge sum of money. The silver was obviously withdrawn from the public treasury, and Lin Duhai would inevitably have to pay out of his own pocket to cover the shortfall afterward.
In other words, these two hundred taels of silver were the compensation Lin Duhai paid to Chen Luo.
Lin Duhai knew this better than anyone else. Seeing Chen Luo grinning at the silver, he was so angry he wanted to slap the guy to death.
Zheng Shanjia glanced at Chen Luo. "Do you still have any doubts?"
"disciple..."
Chen Luo was about to speak when he was interrupted by a shout from the courtyard gate.
"Disciple Lu Cheng has something else to say!" Lu Cheng strode in, his face urgent.
He had been waiting at the courtyard gate to see Chen Luo be punished, but he never expected that Chen Luo would not only escape the death penalty with just a few words, but also receive two hundred taels of silver!
Most importantly, it seems that no one mentioned Cheng Yuling at all from beginning to end.
Chen Luo not only killed Hu Qiu, but also seriously injured Cheng Yuling!
He was anxious, knowing that if he didn't speak up soon, he might really have to watch Chen Luo escape unscathed.
He couldn't even bother with basic etiquette at that moment. Instead of greeting Zheng Shanjia, he hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "Master, Chen Luo not only killed Hu Qiu, but also seriously injured my fellow disciple, Senior Brother Cheng Yuling!"
He quickly added, "When Senior Brother Cheng saw Chen Luo about to kill someone, he didn't know what was going on, so he tried to stop him, but Chen Luo attacked him and seriously injured him. He's still unconscious!"
Although the term of a registered disciple is limited to one year, within that time, they are considered members of a martial arts school recognized by the Martial Arts Selection Division.
The fact that the martial arts school disciple was seriously injured was undoubtedly a private fight.
Strangely, after Lu Cheng uttered this accusation, the room fell into a brief and eerie silence.
Even Lin Duhai just stared coldly at Chen Luo without saying anything.
That's why.
Firstly, Zheng Shanjia's words, "If you dare to do something, you must bear the consequences," were a subtle warning to him. Although he desperately wanted Chen Luo to die, he dared not speak rashly again.
Secondly, he was fully aware that Chen Luo's actions today, though seemingly reckless, were actually calculated step by step, with every step within the rules of the martial arts school.
He was certain that since Chen Luo dared to seriously injure Cheng Yuling, he must have a backup plan.
Therefore, he was just observing coldly for the time being, wanting to see what Chen Luo would say next.
Pharmacist Xu thought the same thing, and his gaze toward Chen Luo even carried a hint of expectation.
Zheng Shanjia also glanced at Chen Luo, "Do you want to defend yourself?"
"Of course, I must defend myself."
Chen Luo said calmly, "Today is my first day at the martial arts school, and Senior Brothers Cheng and Lu have come to my door without reason, disturbing my cultivation. According to the rules of the martial arts school, in order to avoid disturbing cultivation, registered disciples are not allowed to visit each other at will. That is one of the rules."
"Secondly," he changed his tone, his voice turning cold, "two senior brothers approached me with ulterior motives, intending to recruit me into their so-called Qingyun Clan. I believed this was forming cliques for personal gain, so I resolutely refused. But who knew that after being rejected, the two senior brothers would threaten me, implying that they would harm me? I was both shocked and terrified at the time."
"Under such circumstances, when I killed that villain Hu Qiu, Senior Brother Cheng suddenly attacked me. I didn't know what he wanted to do, and in my haste, I overreacted and accidentally injured Senior Brother Cheng."
After Chen Luo finished speaking, Lu Cheng's expression changed, and he angrily said, "You didn't mean it was an accident; you clearly intended to hurt someone!"
Zheng Shanjia ignored Lu Cheng, but looked at Chen Luo, frowning, "What is the Qingyun Clan?"
Upon hearing this question, Lu Cheng's expression immediately changed.
"Reporting to the Master..." Chen Luo immediately repeated Cheng Yuling's original words about the Qingyun Clan.
As soon as he finished speaking, Pharmacist Xu flew into a rage, "You came to my Qingyun Martial Arts School, but instead of considering the inner workings, you dare to form cliques and engage in corrupt practices!"
"Is what Chen Luo just said true?" Zheng Shanjia asked calmly.
"Brother, disciple..." Lu Cheng panicked immediately. He wanted to say that Chen Luo was lying, but Zheng Shanjia glanced at him calmly. For some reason, he felt as if his internal organs were trembling, and he couldn't muster the courage to tell a lie. He stammered for a long time but couldn't say anything. His guilty conscience was evident.
Seeing this, Chen Luo immediately added insult to injury: "Before recruiting me, these two were said to have recruited Song Ruokui. If you have any doubts, you can confront Miss Song."
Upon hearing this, Lin Duhai looked away with disdain, having lost all interest in reading any further.
He knew that Chen Luo would be able to escape unscathed once again.
"There's no need for further confrontation."
Zheng Shanjia said calmly, "The disciples Cheng Yuling and Lu Cheng, who are registered disciples, are to be expelled from the academy."
"Yes." Pharmacist Xu and Lin Duhai accepted the order.
"Master!" Lu Cheng's eyes widened, and he was about to explain himself.
--Snapped!
Lin Duhai had long been impatient. He stepped forward and slapped Lu Cheng hard across the mouth like swatting a fly.
With a crisp sound, Lu Cheng was sent flying backward, even spitting blood from his nose in mid-air, before crashing heavily to the ground, unconscious.
After that slap, Lin Duhai felt that the overwhelming anger he had been suppressing in his heart had finally been released in a small amount.
Both Pharmacist Xu and Zheng Shanjia present ignored his slap and remained calm.
Chen Luo, on the other hand, was secretly amazed. The force of that slap was much greater than the kick he had given Cheng Yuling.
This slap revealed both Lin Duhai's anger and the martial arts school's disgust for the two of them forming cliques. Even Lin Duhai himself clearly showed some disdain for them.
It seems that he is not the only one who looks down on the Qingyun Clan, Chen Luo thought to himself.
Of course, not only were the Qingyun Sect members disliked, but Cheng Yuling and Lu Cheng themselves also violated the rules of the martial arts school.
The martial arts school stipulates that registered disciples should prioritize cultivation. If they cause trouble or fail to make progress within the school, their disciple status will be revoked and they will be expelled from the school.
This rule is very broad and does not specifically name the category of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble," but Chen Luo understands very well that recruiting him into the Qingyun Clan must have violated this rule, which is why he dared to brazenly attack Cheng Yuling at that time.
At this moment, Zheng Shanjia looked around at everyone in the room, "Is there anything else to say?"
Everyone, including Chen Luo, shook their heads and said they had nothing to say.
Zheng Shanjia nodded, a hint of weariness flashing across his face. "Then let's disperse. Master Lin and Steward Xu, you two take good care of the martial arts school. If any similar incidents occur again, I will hold you two accountable."
"Yes!" Lin Duhai and Pharmacist Xu nodded quickly.
Zheng Shanjia said nothing more and turned to leave.
Lin Duhai looked at Chen Luo with murderous intent in his eyes, but ultimately remained silent, his face grim as he turned and left.
Zheng Shanjia was clearly getting impatient, and he dared not cause any more trouble.
Immediately afterwards, Steward Song came over and dragged the unconscious Lu Cheng away, and wisely closed the courtyard gate before leaving.
In an instant, only Pharmacist Xu and Chen Luo remained in the courtyard.
Pharmacist Xu clicked his tongue a few times and looked at Chen Luo, "You asked for the book recording the martial arts school's rules just to plan this?"
"Yes." Chen Luo smiled frankly.
"Excellent. Rather than hiding in my courtyard, this proactive attack to intimidate is more appropriate." Pharmacist Xu made no attempt to hide his approval. "A good tactic, as the saying goes, 'A single punch can prevent a hundred more.'"
"It's all thanks to Pharmacist Xu's help." Chen Luo smiled and pushed the box containing the silver over. "This two hundred taels of silver is a small token of my gratitude to Pharmacist Xu for his assistance."
Two hundred taels of silver is a considerable sum even for an Inner Realm martial artist.
While surprised, Pharmacist Xu was indeed somewhat tempted. He looked at Chen Luo and asked, "Are you willing to part with it?"
"If it weren't for Pharmacist Xu, I would have been slapped to death by Lin Duhai long ago."
Chen Luo said earnestly, "In addition, this can also be considered a way of repaying the kindness of the pharmacist who gave me medicine that day."
"It's rare that you have this kind thought."
The pharmacist's smile deepened, and his approval grew stronger.
In his opinion, Chen Luo's performance today was nothing short of amazing.
Seemingly reckless, but actually proceeding step by step with meticulous planning and flawless strategy.
On his very first day at the academy, this young man killed Hu Qiu, and was posthumously sentenced to death.
Lu Cheng, who was questioning Cheng Yuling, was severely injured and expelled from the institution along with the severely injured Cheng Yuling.
Even Lin Duhai suffered a great loss, being extorted for two hundred taels of silver, yet he dared not speak out against it.
In short, not only is he exceptionally kind and talented, and knows how to repay kindness, but he is also truly cunning. With these characteristics combined, he genuinely felt that this boy's future might be limitless.
Thinking of this, Pharmacist Xu unconsciously recalled the conversation he had with this young man when he came to the martial arts school to ask for medicine that day.
"You, a mere disciple of the Yishu Academy with only a second-level martial arts skill, come here under some pretext to ask me for medicine. What do you intend to offer in return?"
"That depends on what Pharmacist Xu needs."
"Ha, what do I need? You might not be able to give it to me."
"We might not be able to give it to you now."
The implication of his statement, "I may not be able to give it now," is that he is confident he will be able to give it in the future.
Pharmacist Xu recalled that this kid was only at the second level of the Nine Yang Strength back then, yet he was so arrogant, which touched him somewhat. As if possessed, he actually gave the kid the Bone Tempering Medicine.
Now, looking at the two hundred taels of silver in front of him, it was a reward that could tempt him, and it could even offset the Lion Bone Powder he had refined.
So it seems that this kid wasn't being arrogant at the time.
Whatever he needs, this kid might actually be able to give it to him someday.
And they can give a lot.
Thinking of this, Pharmacist Xu felt a faint warmth in his heart.
—Add note.
This investment seems well worth considering.
My thoughts shifted so quickly.
The slight attraction that Pharmacist Xu had initially felt for silver vanished instantly.
He chuckled and pushed the box back, saying, "Keep the money safe; you'll need it for a lot of things in the future."
"This is what the pharmacist deserves," Chen Luo insisted.
But no matter how much he insisted, Pharmacist Xu was even more insistent and stubbornly refused.
This made Chen Luo feel even more grateful, and in the end he could only give up the idea and solemnly said, "I will always be grateful for the kindness of the medicine master."
"There's no need for that," Pharmacist Xu chuckled and waved his hand.
"In addition," Chen Luo hesitated for a moment, "this disciple may need the apothecary's help with something else."
Upon hearing this, Pharmacist Xu's eyes lit up, showing a hint of anticipation. "What is it?"
"After what just happened, Lin Duhai should not dare to make things difficult for the disciples inside the martial arts school." Chen Luo frowned and said, "But I am worried that he might do something sneaky outside the martial arts school."
"That's certainly possible." Pharmacist Xu frowned, pondering, "Do you have any close friends or relatives outside the martial arts school?"
Chen Luo pondered for a moment, "This disciple has two close friends."
He explained the situation to Zhou Xiaoliang and Lu Qun, and Pharmacist Xu nodded. "If Lin Duhai or even that damned Qingyun Clan wanted to harm you, they might indeed target your two friends. Are your two friends both in the Mountain Guard?"
"Exactly," Chen Luo said.
"That makes things easier."
Pharmacist Xu smiled and said, "I have a very good relationship with Luo Yi, the commander of the Mountain Guard. I will go to find Commander Luo later and explain this matter to him. With him taking care of your two friends, there will definitely be no problem."
"Thank you, Pharmacist Xu." Chen Luo was delighted. He knew Commander Luo's strength. With Commander Luo around, Zhou Xiaoliang and Lu Qun were definitely safe, and he would have fewer worries.
"However, there is something I need to tell you."
Pharmacist Xu laughed and said, "Commander Luo is extremely strict. If he were to take care of you, your two friends would probably suffer a bit."
Suffering?
Chen Luo paused for a moment, then his eyes suddenly lit up. "It's alright. Please make sure Commander Luo disciplines them strictly, without showing any leniency. The harsher the better!"
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I've been too busy these past few days with the college entrance exams approaching, so I'll only be updating this once today. I'll resume regular updates tomorrow. I apologize for the inconvenience.