Chapter 29 - 28: Reuniting, Deciding the Winner with Fists
All under heaven is bustling, all for the sake of profit; all under heaven is clamorous, all for the gain.
The definitive break with Luo Yongcheng did not bring any negative emotions. Instead, it made Jiang Shu’s heart for Martial Arts even firmer. He strolled within the inner city of Pingling County, observing a scene of prosperity: nine main streets, three markets, carriages and horses moving like dragons, buildings clustered together, and pavilions towering high. Unfortunately, all this never belonged to the common people. From the inner city to the outer city, from grand mansions with flying eaves and upturned corners to humble hovels built from dirt in Qu She Alley.
Luo Yongcheng wanted to keep his secret recipe, and there was nothing wrong with that. Most people would have made the same choice. After all, the secret recipe was something his grandfather had painstakingly acquired from gathering herbs in remote mountains, surviving several life-and-death situations. Not to mention the time and effort, a considerable amount of Silver Taels had also been spent. This blood-nourishing medicinal meal indeed had astonishing effects on commoners preparing to learn martial arts. Once sold in Pingling County, it was akin to owning a hen that laid golden eggs. By safeguarding the secret recipe, one could continuously earn Silver Taels. It truly was a family business capable of enriching several generations.
Was it wrong to want to protect such a family legacy? No, there wasn’t anything wrong. It’s just that his strength was too weak. An innocent man invites trouble by possessing something valuable.
In Pingling County, to truly establish oneself, one needed to be steady and ruthless. To be steady meant having a sufficient Martial Arts Realm or finding a reliable backer. To be ruthless meant eliminating all troubles before danger even approached.
Luo Yongcheng’s current predicament is something I will surely face in the future. I must prepare early.
He practiced diligently day and night using Two Realms Shuttle, standing stances, breathing techniques, and boxing. A month passed quietly.
「Pingling County.」
The sky was somber, clouds densely packed, as if a heavy rain was imminent.