Revenge

At the moment of awakening, Zhang San realized that it was already evening.

The aroma of the meal prepared by Wang Xiaoer wafted from the dining hall.

Coming back from a nightmare, Zhang San forced a difficult smile and said, "Revenge seems so distant from me."

But first, let's have a meal.

...

...

Five days later, as the end of the month approached, the sky was clear and the air was crisp.

Xiu Wangchou, upon waking up in the morning, used some ingredients from the noodle shop to make some noodles.

Despite their mediocre taste, Xiu Wangchou, who had only two coins left, was already content.

He washed up, polished his sword, and carried it on his back.

Inside the noodle shop, Xiu Wangchou faced north and kowtowed three times.

"Father, mother, master... Xiu Wangchou won't let you down."

Xiu Wangchou's gaze was as sharp as lightning!

With the help of Zhang San's medicine and his own cultivation at the first stage of the Qi realm, Xiu Wangchou, whose injuries had already healed by ninety percent in just five days, could no longer contain his inner hatred.

Twenty years of arduous cultivation, all for this day.

Xiu Wangchou said each word with emphasis, "Gang Master Lin, this game... should... end..."

...

...

On the other side of the county town, in a calligraphy and painting shop.

"Master, why hasn't there been any news from my mother?"

"Yes." Zhang San nodded solemnly.

Zhang San wasn't interested in the letter from Wang Xiaoer's mother, but it was indeed strange that the letter and the "living expenses" that usually arrived around the middle of the month hadn't come by the end of the month.

Zhang San suggested, "Shall we go to Huang Laotou's place tonight and ask him? I think he should have some connection with your mother."

Wang Xiaoer eagerly nodded, clearly concerned about the letter from his mother, and said, "Okay, let's go in the evening."

Zhang San also nodded solemnly, after all, the weight of one hundred and fifty taels had been pressing on his mind.

Just as the master and disciple were talking, a commotion could be heard outside.

The streets and alleys were actually the places with the fastest flow of information, which was why Zhang San chose to hide in the bustling market.

Due to recent events in the small county town, the master and disciple walked to the window to listen out of curiosity.

It turned out that people on the street were talking about the newly appointed county magistrate who was planning to inspect several small villages in Xiaoyun County. It wasn't really a big deal, after all, it was within the jurisdiction of the county magistrate.

However, this new county magistrate seemed extravagant. For a simple inspection, he had gathered all the experts from the martial arts schools in the nearby towns and villages, using them as temporary guards. At this moment, they were already lining up in front of the government office in a grand manner.

Wang Xiaoer said to Zhang San when they returned to the room, "Master, it seems like this county magistrate wants to flee."

Zhang San closed the window and sneered, "Getting a few martial arts experts? Even if they're at the Human Realm, they're no match for Xiu Wangchou's cultivation at the Qi Realm."

Wang Xiaoer nodded thoughtfully and asked, "But if their martial arts are useless, why did the county magistrate look for them? And why did he make such a big fuss about the inspection? Making the entire county aware of it?"

Zhang San replied with a question, "Don't you understand?"

Wang Xiaoer pondered for a moment and said, "Hmm... I understand! You mean we should lure the tiger out of the mountain."

Zhang San sighed and said, "I always say that the martial world is so cliché. Indeed, even running away seems to have no future."

However, Wang Xiaoer scratched his head and questioned, "But Master, I feel like something is wrong."

Zhang San replied, "What could be wrong? The Wang family is dead, and the people in the Poison Valley are temporarily out of our control. The Prefecture doesn't send anyone, so if we don't run, we'll be waiting for death."

After thinking for a moment, Wang Xiaoer said, "It seems you're right."

...

...

At noon, a group of fifty to sixty people, along with an official sedan chair, left the yamen with drums and gongs. There were many onlookers, mostly good-hearted folks.

There were also many murmurs among the crowd, questioning whether the county magistrate had a problem with his brain. So many people died at the yamen a few days ago, and he didn't investigate properly. What was the point of conducting an inspection?

Of course, such words were not spoken aloud.

At a teahouse next to the yamen, Zhang San and Wang Xiaoer came in extravagantly to have tea.

After taking only a few sips, Zhang San cursed, "Xiaoer, do you have the nerve to charge me three wen for this tea? There's something wrong with this water!"

Surprisingly, Xiaoer's attitude was extremely arrogant. He retorted, "If you like it, drink it. If you don't, leave. What's wrong with the water? Our well is connected to the yamen next door. Maybe the officials there put something in the water. Why don't you go and ask them?"

Such service attitude these days?!

Unfortunately, as the current role was that of a fair-skinned, weak, and poor scholar, Zhang San had to endure it.

On the opposite side of the tea table, Wang Xiaoer had no interest in this "tea." After Xiaoer left, he leaned forward and whispered, "Master, have you noticed anything wrong?"

After all, the unpleasant taste was bought with money. After drinking a sip of tea, Zhang San said to Wang Xiaoer, "That county magistrate is definitely not in the sedan chair. Ah... I thought he might be playing some tactics, like going against expectations, but it turns out to be disappointing."

Wang Xiaoer asked again, "Master, how did you figure it out? So where do you think the county magistrate is now?"

Zhang San shrugged and said, "How did I figure it out? You'll understand when you accompany me on missions. As for where he is now, you'll have to ask Xiu Wangchou, but it's none of our business. We're just passing through. It's getting late, so let's go to Huang Lao's place and wait. That person is never punctual."

My one hundred fifty taels of silver are probably on the way! Zhang San silently thought to himself.

However, Wang Xiaoer still expressed his concerns, "Um, but I'm still worried, Master. I have a feeling that something is off, but I can't put my finger on it."

These days, Wang Xiaoer had repeated this statement several times. He always felt that something was strange about the situation, but he couldn't articulate why.

With a stern gaze, Zhang San muttered, "What are you worried about, you brat? Are you worried about my medical skills? Or are you worried that your second-stage martial arts won't be invincible in this small county town?"

After hearing this, Wang Xiaoer could only agree.

...

...

In the evening, as the sky darkened, the people on the street slowly packed up their stalls and went home, and the streets gradually became deserted.

Suddenly!

A hurried black figure dashed out from the county office, swiftly leaping onto the roof under the dusk's cover, and quickly moved towards the outskirts of the county office.

In the distance outside the county office, atop a large tree, a white-clad swordsman had been waiting for quite some time.

The white-clad swordsman smirked coldly, muttering to himself, "Gang Master Lin, trying to escape? I'm afraid you're a little late!"

At the same time, in a secluded courtyard to the south of the county.

An elderly man in yellow robes pushed open the courtyard gate and, to his surprise, saw Zhang San. However, he didn't expect Wang Xiaoer to be there as well.

"Grandpa Huang!" Wang Xiaoer exclaimed excitedly and ran over.

Grandpa Huang didn't anticipate seeing Wang Xiaoer and was momentarily taken aback. But as someone who had wandered the martial world for many years, he quickly composed himself and smiled, saying, "Ah, Xiaoer! Come, let me have a look at you. Oh, my, have you lost weight? Is your master not feeding you enough?"

Wang Xiaoer didn't pay attention to Grandpa Huang this time and hurriedly said, "Grandpa Huang, what about my mother's letter? It's already the end of the month, and it hasn't arrived yet!"