To Take or Not to take

Just a few days ago, a big event happened in the martial arts world.

The number one assassin on the Heaven List, 'Song Tianxing' from the top underground organization 'Black Heaven Gate', killed the assassin ranked number fifteen on the Earth List, 'Grey Lion'.

From this top assassin on the Heaven List who was too arrogant and unrestrained to even use a code name, it could be seen that he looked down on any master below the upper level of the Earth rank. He had even boastfully claimed that unless it was a top expert above the Earth rank, no matter how much money was offered, he was too lazy to take action.

So for the whole incident, Song Tianxing did not try to cover it up at all. Also, since this 'Grey Lion' was not a professional assassin and did not belong to any organization, naturally no one blocked the news, causing it to spread very quickly.

According to rumors in the martial arts world, it seemed that a corrupt official from Dawu Country learned that someone in the underground world had offered fifty thousand taels of silver for his head. This mission was taken by 'Grey Lion', the number fifteen assassin on the Earth List who was at the upper level of the Earth rank. But because the news leaked, this corrupt official became wary.

Grey Lion's name resounded loudly in the martial arts world and his skills were formidable. However, because this assassin on the Earth List would not kill the poor or the kind, he had always been unwilling to join any organization to avoid taking on missions he did not wish to do.

Moreover, there were rumors that sometimes even without taking on missions, Grey Lion would on his own take action against some local rascals, bullies, and corrupt officials.

There were also those in the underground world who mocked Grey Lion, saying he was 'doing righteous deeds in the underground world'.

But it was also because of these reasons that the corrupt official did not hesitate to spend one hundred thousand taels to hire the number one assassin on the Heaven List, 'Song Tianxing', just to ensure Grey Lion was killed. He also wanted to find out from Grey Lion which organization had issued the assassination order, and trace it back to find the real person behind the mission.

Of course, in the end Grey Lion died. It was unknown whether Song Tianxing managed to extract any secrets from him about who was behind the mission.

...

In the painting and calligraphy shop, Zhang San frowned as he listened to the old man in yellow clothes slowly recount the big incident that had happened in the martial arts world over the past few days. Zhang San had not expected such a huge matter to occur while he was away for just a few days to assassinate a fisherman.

An assassin at the upper level of the Earth rank was killed just like that.

It was indeed right of me to not take on missions at the Earth rank.

However...

This 'Grey Lion' really wasn't suited for the underground world.

Although Zhang San felt some sympathy and even a trace of admiration for Grey Lion, hearing about the top assassin on the Heaven List, 'Song Tianxing', made Zhang San even more determined to reject taking on that child as a disciple.

Joking around, that guy had cultivated his lightness skill and martial arts to the Heaven rank!

What if he came looking for me? Then I'd be dead for sure!

Zhang San directly said, "Uncle Yellow, it's better if you take that child away. This is not something a small-time assassin like me can get involved in."

The old man in the yellow clothes said, "I'm not asking you to get involved. Grey Lion was like your master and martial uncles, forced into the underground world twenty years ago amid the decline of orthodox martial arts. He knew how dangerous the underground world was, so he protected his wife and child well. No one even knows Grey Lion had any relatives."

Zhang San thought to himself, assassinating a corrupt official whose head was worth fifty thousand taels was obviously a top secret mission. However, even such a secret had leaked. That official must have had great connections everywhere. Who knew if he had uncovered anything deeper?

Zhang San said, "You're not asking me to get involved, yet you brought that child here and want me to take him as a disciple? How does this make any sense? With my meager skills, how can I presume to be someone's master?"

The old man in yellow clothes sighed, "I told you before, Grey Lion was my junior whom I knew for many years. Now that he has left behind this orphan and widow, the other day Xiao'er's mother came to plead with me, only hoping the child could learn some skills to preserve his life. How could I refuse?"

Zhang San cursed inwardly. What's there to be unable to refuse? Old Yellow, we're in the underground world!

Why were the righteous ones in the underground world these days becoming more and more like the orthodox martial arts world next door?

Zhang San helplessly said, "It has to be me teaching him? Don't you know martial arts too?"

"Given my identity that you know of, it's inconvenient. And nowadays, the martial arts schools on the roads are either part of the underground world or have ties to it. I don't feel assured either. Of all the assassins I know, only you, Little San, I feel I can trust."

Zhang San still tried to decline, "But our sect doesn't have any impressive martial arts either."

The old man in yellow clothes had been speaking amiably, but suddenly spat and cursed, "Little San, don't try to deceive your Uncle Yellow. Although the orthodox sect was just a minor one on the righteous path back then, it was small in numbers and scale, not in its martial arts. The Iron Cloth Shirt and White Crane Flies of the orthodox sect were top-notch martial arts."

"But my master didn't teach me much. Besides, my lightness skill is barely at the initial stage of the Earth rank. As you know, Uncle Yellow."

"Ai, Little San, can't you just do a good deed?"

"Uncle Yellow, I'm an assassin. How can I be considered a good person?"

"The child and his widowed mother just hope he can learn some skills to preserve his life."

"Then I'll give him some martial arts manuals to practice on his own. Uncle Yellow, my place is small and really can't accommodate him."

As Zhang San kept trying to decline while the old man in yellow clothes kept pleading, the two went back and forth for over half an hour until the sky darkened!

Zhang San's mouth had gone dry from all the talking. Finally, he decisively turned and prepared to chase out Wang Xiao'er. If it really came down to it, he'd just give the boy a beating. There's no way someone would be willing to cling onto false hopes right?

That's right!

Zhang San suddenly understood. What was the point of wasting time arguing with this old guy?

Once he dealt with that Wang Xiao'er and made the boy himself unwilling to take him as master, what could the old man do?

Thinking it through, Zhang San's pace quickened as he strode towards the hall. He was even starting to imagine in his head how he would give Wang Xiao'er a fierce beating and kick him out of the painting and calligraphy shop!

What, was that too much since the other party was just a child?

Hello, I'm in the underground world!

Seeing Zhang San walk away with such determination, the old man in yellow clothes could only sigh softly in the corner, "What a pity. Xiao'er's mother prepared eight hundred taels for the apprenticeship gift, and said she would also send living expenses every month. After all, she's the widow of an assassin at the upper level of the Earth rank... But since you're so set against it, Little San, I won't persuade you further. I'll go refund the money then."

In the night breeze, Zhang San halted his steps, a smile emerging at the corners of his mouth, albeit a mocking one.

Zhang San sneered to himself. Joking around, eight hundred taels was a lot, sure. But was he supposed to take on the risk of Song Tianxing coming to find him just to keep this Wang Xiao'er at his place?

Which was more important, his life or money? How could Zhang San not know?

But then the old man in yellow clothes suddenly called out, "Little San, today is the third day of the seventh lunar month! You... haven't forgotten, have you?"

After hearing this sentence, Zhang San paused briefly in his tracks.

...

Seeing Zhang San resolutely stride into the hall, the old man in yellow clothes wondered to himself, "That's not right. This isn't Little San's money-grubbing personality. Could it be time to use the 'add money' tactic?"

But how much money should be added? One thousand five hundred taels should work, right?

However, while the old man in yellow clothes was thinking this, Zhang San's voice already rang out from the hall, "Good disciple, quick, come pay your respects to your master!"

"What? No need, no need for any apprenticeship gifts. It's just..."

"Look Xiao'er, it's this... Hehe, when can your mother come over for a visit?"

Hearing this exchange, the old man in yellow clothes stroked his beard as a smile emerged on his face. He had an expression as if everything was going according to his plans.