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nChapter 44: Chapter 44 But She Gave Too Much

nTranslator: 549690339

nZhou Heng, who had focused on practicing martial arts at the dojo all day, was unaware of how he had been touted by the outside world.

nNow, dusk was approaching.

nStepping out of the dojo, Zhou Heng was walking home when he realized that people were looking at him somewhat differently.

nYoung men’s gazes were filled with envy.

nYoung women’s gazes were laced with admiration.

nMiddle-aged men and women looked on with amazement.

nElderly men and women passing by would also take a good look at him before sighing softly that comparisons are odious.

n“What’s going on?” Zhou Heng felt that something was amiss, he touched his face and thought to himself, “Could it be that I’ve become more handsome?”

nAlthough he was already quite handsome, who would refuse to become even more so?

nAfter all, whether on Earth or in this world, looks often mattered.

nLike when opening a Fortune Bag.

nIt wasn’t until he bought two pounds of pork ribs from a butcher’s shop that he learned people were not only paying attention to him because he was handsome, but also because he was a Seventeen-year-old Ninth Grade.

nHow did Zhou Heng find out?

nBecause when he went to buy pork ribs, the butcher was beating his child with a knife.

nHe was muttering to himself:

n“That’ll teach you not to practice martial arts diligently, that’ll teach you to slack off. Look at Zhou Heng, Ninth Grade at seventeen, and damn it, you’re already thirteen and can’t even maintain a proper horse stance. I’ll have to ask your mom if she’s cuckolded me, why are you so lazy!?”

nZhou Heng still remembered when he left, the butcher’s wife had just entered the door and, upon hearing her husband’s words, immediately grabbed the pig-slaughtering knife from beside her and walked over to him.

nAll he could do was wish that butcher good luck.

nCarrying two pounds of ribs and a pound of freshly purchased lotus root, he watched the setting sun in the distance and the sky filled with crimson hues.

nWalking on the road home.

nZhou Heng truly felt this was life.

nToday, he planned to treat himself and stew a pot of lotus root and pork rib soup.

nTomorrow, he had to go to the dojo earlier.

nThe owner would personally confer upon him a new identity different from his role as an apprentice, and also assign him an independent training room.

nThe key point was—

nTuition is free!

nAnd lunch was included!

nThis instantly filled Zhou Heng with a great sense of happiness.

nEven though he no longer had the convenience of the internet, no computer, no games, this kind of leisurely and stable life, witnessing his own progress every day, seemed not too bad either.

nThe only drawback was that money was a bit tight.

nIn order to save, he had deliberately chosen the cheapest off-cuts for the two pounds of pork ribs he bought.

nThe stew wouldn’t taste like the ones he had on Earth.

n…If only he had the chance to return to Earth for a visit, to see if his parents were doing well.

nTwo and a half years already.

nThinking of this, some emotions he had deliberately suppressed for a long time began to surface in Zhou Heng’s heart. He shook his head, letting the fleeting memories dissipate from his mind.

n“There’s no use thinking about these things right now. Focus on practicing martial arts, on cultivating the Martial Path, on studying Taoist Formulas!” Actually, he had gotten used to this kind of mental adjustment, he said to himself silently, “Gaining strength is everything!”

nThis was not a peaceful and tranquil world.

nThe scene he had witnessed two years ago made Zhou Heng acutely aware that the saying ‘when Immortals fight, mortals suffer1 was not mere talk.

nHad those two high-rank warriors fighting back then passed through his village, everyone there, including himself, would not have survived.

nNot even their bones would have remained.

nBesides these evident “Immortals,” there were ghosts and evil creatures breeding in the dark.

n“One step at a time, let’s secure the position of an outer sect disciple of the Chang Xing Sect first.

n“At least sixty taels of regular income a year, and the chance to rent a midrange room in the Chang Xing Tower for ten taels of silver for a year can’t be missed.

n“This is indeed making a killing!”

nBefore he had even left the city, Zhou Heng confirmed that someone was following him.

nIt was a young nobleman wearing a white brocade robe, with a jade crown on his head, not tall and even somewhat slender.

nThis left him feeling mystified.

nI don’t seem to have offended anyone, he thought, so why would someone be trailing me?

nMoreover, judging by how this person concealed his footsteps and their agility, they were at least a Ninth Rank Warrior, and possibly even Eighth Rank.

nSo, when he was close to the city gate, Zhou Heng stopped in a secluded alley.

nNo one around.

nOnly the shadow behind him continued to skulk.

n“Come out,” Zhou Heng said sternly, “What are your intentions for following me?”

nNo one responded.

nNo one came out.

nIt was as quiet as chickens.

n“Come out!” Zhou Heng called out again, his voice not too quiet, and his hand was already on the hilt of his knife.

nClang!

nThe sound of something being stepped on came from a corner of the wall.

n“Ah! Not good!”

nImmediately after, a young master dressed in a white brocade robe, with a gentle and handsome appearance, walked out from that corner of the wall.

nCompared to her appearance in the teahouse, she now had a folding fan in her hand.

n“This young master…” She smiled, about to greet Zhou Heng, and at the same time, she flicked open the folding fan in her hand.

nPop!

nShe seemed to be mimicking the way the storyteller opened his fan; however, she used too much force, and the brand-new fan split right down the middle, tearing the fan surface into two pieces.

nThe breeze caused by the splitting fan also blew her fake mustache askew.

nYet she was completely unaware of this.

nZhou Heng was dumbfounded. What on earth was this person doing?

nPerformance art??

n“This, this was an accident, just an accident,” the young master said with an awkward smile, hiding the broken fan behind her back, trying to regain her composure. “Excuse me, are you Zhou Heng?”

n“No, I’m not Zhou Heng,” Zhou Heng denied, while keeping his composure, his wariness suddenly heightened.

nHe had heard Lin Cang speak of such matters in the martial world.

nIf someone followed you or tried to ambush you, and they also asked if you were a certain person, that meant you might be facing an assassination.

nThe person’s target was your life.

n“Ah?” The young master scratched their head, after making quite an inquiry, how could it not be? The young master was somewhat puzzled, “Aren’t you the Zhou Heng who fought a great battle with Sun Zhengping, competing for Wang Qjngqing’s final favor?”

n“What the heck??” Zhou Heng was flabbergasted.

nWhat was all this about?

nSince when had he battled Sun Zhengping and competed for Wang Qingqing?

n“That’s the story the storyteller was telling…” Seeing Zhou Heng’s reaction, the young master was utterly baffled and briefly recounted the content of the storyteller’s tale to Zhou Heng.

nIt turned out that the story involved not only romantic entanglements but also meetings with immortals in dreams who bestowed Taoist formulas, reincarnation of ancient divine beings, and so forth.

nOf course, the most ludicrous part was the claim that Zhou Heng fought Sun Zhengping because of his love for Wang Qingqing.

nZhou Heng listened with his mouth agape.

nAre storytellers in this world always so incredible?

nEven fan fiction should follow some rules, right?

nIt was too preposterous!

n“Do you want to know what happens next in the story?” Zhou Heng, suppressing the desire to critique internally, took a deep breath, and said, “I cannot comment on that, miss. Please, you should go home.”

n“How can you, the protagonist of the story, have no comment?” The young master shook her head, then let out a light ‘eep,’ and suddenly became pale with shock. She staggered backward, pointing at Zhou Heng, exclaiming in astonishment, “No, how did you find out!??”

nI’m not blind… Zhou Heng’s mouth twitched slightly, pointing to his lips.

nAnd besides, anyone with a working brain could tell you’re a girl just by looking at that exceptionally handsome face.

n“Oh no! Why is it crooked!”

nThe girl touched the little mustache above her lips, straightened it quickly, and then looked at Zhou Heng again, “There, it’s fixed. You really don’t know the rest of the story?”

n“…” Zhou Heng was speechless, sighing, “Miss, you’d better go home early, lest you get deceived by someone outside.”

nHe was sincerely offering a warning.

nAfter all, it appeared this girl’s mind wasn’t working too well.

n“Hmm,” the girl’s eyes wandered, glancing at the spareribs in Zhou Heng’s hand, smiling, “What if I pay you to tell me, how about that?”

nEh?

nDid she deduce that I was short on money from the cut of spareribs I’ve bought?

nZhou Heng was taken aback but still shook his head, “I’m not that kind of person… Hmm… how much are you offering?”

n“One hundred taels,” the girl beamed.

n“Deal!” Zhou Heng immediately nodded, decisively agreeing, which left the girl somewhat dumbstruck.

nThe Golden Crow was hanging low, and the setting sun’s rays shone through the tree leaves, falling upon a small path in the woodland.

nA luxuriously decorated carriage was slowly moving along.

nInside the carriage, a young man in his twenties, holding a sword, sat quietly. He had a handsome face and slightly tanned skin, as if he was often exposed to the sun.

nIt was none other than Kong Chengshun, the Law Enforcement Elder’s direct disciple from the Chang Xing Sect. A promising young man, ranked ninetyninth on the lists of martial artists, and already an Eighth Rank Martial Artist in the Martial Path at the age of twenty-three, known as “Sunset Flying Sword.” Thud thud.

nAt that moment, a knocking sound came from outside the carriage, accompanied by a voice asking, “Brother Kong, we’ve just received a message by carrier pigeon. It’s a letter for you.”

nKong Chengshun slowly opened his eyes, “From whom?”

nThe voice outside said, “It’s from Master Huang Jingfu of the Tongchang Martial Arts School. Do you want to see it, Brother Kong?”

n‘No need,” Kong Chengshun said indifferently, “Burn it.’

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