Crimson_Lore
patreon
Chapter 3: Stealing Master’s Skills Openly
🕑 Added 2025-01-22 10:43:24 +0000 UTCBy midmorning, around ten o'clock, the shop began to see some activity. A few regular customers trickled in, familiar faces who knew the shop's inventory well. They headed straight for the porcelain and jade counters overseen by the senior shopkeepers, asking about any newly acquired items.
Chen Xiao, with little to do, sauntered over, his posture deferential, hands at his sides, wearing an eager-to-serve expression. In truth, he was eavesdropping, keen to pick up anything he could from the shopkeepers' exchanges with customers.
The shopkeepers, noticing his intent, cast him annoyed glances but refrained from chasing him off in front of the patrons. Instead, they took their frustrations out on him by ordering him around—to fetch tea or bring snacks—at every opportunity.
Although thin, Chen Xiao was swift and nimble. He darted back and forth, not spilling a drop of tea or losing a crumb of the snacks. His competence left the shopkeepers no grounds to rebuke him, forcing them to tolerate his silent observation.
The regulars, too, noticed Chen Xiao's attentive behavior but found his earnest demeanor and almond-shaped eyes rather endearing. This made them more inclined to overlook his antics and less inclined to intercede on behalf of the irritated shopkeepers.
The regulars were there to either browse for themselves or select gifts, and they didn't linger long. By noon, they had all departed with their chosen items. The shopkeepers didn't prepare lunch unless a big client visited, as sealing a significant deal would warrant rewards for everyone at Taxue Xunxian Pavilion.
On such occasions, even the shop owner would appear, hiring a renowned chef from the county to prepare an exceptional banquet. Chen Xiao had been fortunate enough to attend one such feast, an experience that had left an indelible impression on him. That was also the first time he encountered the owner of the unique, spirit-bead-powered stove that had brought out the full potential of the chef's culinary artistry.
Today, however, was business as usual. With no major clients, the senior shopkeepers took a break, leaving only a few assistants to mind the store. The assistants rotated their lunch breaks, with Chen Xiao heading out in the second shift alongside Zhao Erhu. The two parted ways, with Zhao heading west while Chen Xiao went east.
Watching Chen Xiao walk off, Zhao Erhu shook his head. The eateries in the east were known for their delicious food, but they were also notoriously expensive.
Chen Xiao couldn't care less about what others thought. He stepped into a small but tastefully decorated restaurant and ordered a bowl of chicken noodle soup, a steamer of juicy buns, and a small plate of sweet pickled melon. The meal cost him twenty copper coins, a sum that explained Zhao's disapproval. It was true—such indulgence made saving money nearly impossible.
But Chen Xiao had his principles. He could endure hardship in other areas, but he refused to compromise when it came to food. If he could eat well, he would.
After enjoying his satisfying lunch, Chen Xiao strolled back to the shop through the antique street. When he returned, Zhao Erhu pointed to the rear of the store and said, "Your uncle came to see you. I let him wait in your room."
Chen Xiao paused, surprised. During his months here, the trade caravan had visited the city once, during which one of the martial artists who had trained Hanwa sought him out. It had to be Master Zhou. Zhao had been present at the time, and Chen Xiao had indeed addressed the man as Uncle Zhou.
Thanking Zhao, Chen Xiao grabbed a pot of hot tea and two cups from the shop before heading to the rear courtyard. When he opened the door to his modest room, he saw a robust man sitting boldly at the table.
Chen Xiao's room, situated in a corner of the courtyard, was poorly positioned and perpetually cold. During the day, he preferred staying in the shop, where at least there were brazier-warmed rooms.
"Uncle Zhou," Chen Xiao greeted him with a smile. "It's so cold back here—why didn't you wait in the shop?"
He placed the cups on the table and poured a steaming cup of tea for Master Zhou.
Master Zhou took the cup and chuckled. "The shop's full of important customers. What place does a coarse martial artist like me have among them?" He sipped the tea, his large frame still visibly affected by the room's chill.
Seeing this, Chen Xiao fetched the brazier, grabbed a few pieces of charcoal from a corner basket, and prepared to light it.
Master Zhou hurried over to stop him. "Don't waste it. Charcoal is expensive this time of year. Save it for later."
Chen Xiao smiled. "Consider it a favor to me. Ever since I recovered, I've been particularly sensitive to the cold."
Hearing this, Master Zhou relented, sitting back down while watching Chen Xiao light the brazier. "You're still not fully recovered?" he asked with concern, his eyes scanning Chen Xiao's thin frame. "You're still so frail. It must have left a lasting weakness. How will I ever explain this to your uncle?"
Master Zhou was someone Hanwa's uncle had entrusted with his care, having met him twice through connections. Despite sending Hanwa away due to financial hardship, Hanwa's uncle still worried deeply for his nephew and had earnestly asked Master Zhou to look out for him.
Chen Xiao sat down and offered a faint smile. "I'm lucky to have survived at all. Uncle won't blame you for that."
Master Zhou sighed. "You were fortunate indeed. Spending so much to buy life-saving medicine was worth it—what use is money if you lose your life? Still, you mentioned last time that your illness affected your memory. Has it improved in the past three months?"
Chen Xiao's expression darkened with regret. "No, I still can't recall much of anything."
Master Zhou patted him on the shoulder with a hand like a fan, his grip firm yet reassuring. "If you can't remember, then don't worry about it. I've heard of others losing all sense from fever. Compared to that, you've come out much better. Anything you don't know, just ask us. We'll remind you when needed."
"Thank you, Uncle Zhou," Chen Xiao murmured softly.
Master Zhou frowned, gripping Chen Xiao's bony shoulder. "You're too thin. You need to eat more."
Chen Xiao offered a wry smile. Despite eating well and choosing the best food, his body remained stubbornly lean.
He said with a troubled expression, "I've been eating quite a bit lately, but I'm just not putting on any weight. It's strange."
Master Zhou dismissed his concerns. "You were so ill you were nearly dead. Recovering so quickly must have taken a toll on your body, so it's no surprise you'd need to replenish. Besides, you're still growing for a few more years. Eating a lot isn't unusual—if anything, it means you're not eating enough."
Chen Xiao only smiled without responding.
It wasn't like he hadn't experienced growth spurts before, but no matter how much his body was developing, his appetite shouldn't be this insatiable.
As for the idea that rapid recovery had drained his body, he didn't buy it either. The doctor who had treated him had assured him that the pills he'd taken were extremely effective, allowing him to heal quickly without leaving any lingering effects.
Four months ago, he even revisited the clinic for a follow-up. The physician confirmed that his body was fully healed and, apart from being slightly frail, he was no different from an average person.
But if an average person ate the way he did, they'd have blown up like a balloon by now. Chen Xiao suspected this might have something to do with his transmigration. If that were the case, it wasn't something he could explain to anyone. He could only bury his confusion deep in his heart.
Seeing Chen Xiao's silence, Master Zhou assumed he was feeling down. He reached into his robes, pulled out a small bundle, and placed it on the table, pushing it toward him.
"This is the money you entrusted to me before. Keep it for yourself and buy whatever supplements you need. Don't skimp," Master Zhou said.
Chen Xiao was startled. "Uncle Zhou? How come you never mentioned this before? You're not just using your own money to cover for me, are you?"
Master Zhou couldn't help but laugh and gave Chen Xiao a light knock on the forehead. "What nonsense are you thinking? This is the money you saved for building a house and getting married!"
The sharp sting of the tap convinced Chen Xiao of the truth in his words. Only then did he untie the bundle, revealing a small pile of silver coins, glinting brightly.
In this world, the common currency was still based on precious metals like gold, silver, and copper.
The smallest denomination was the copper coin, resembling the ancient coins from his past life but with a round hole in the center instead of a square one. The mid-tier currency was the silver coin, referred to as silver money, and served as the primary high-value currency among the populace, akin to a hundred-yuan bill. All forms of currency were collectively called "money," just like in his previous life. The highest-value coin was gold, which Chen Xiao guessed was made from a gold alloy.
The exchange rate was simple: one gold coin equaled one hundred silver coins, which equaled ten thousand copper coins.
Chen Xiao earned a fair amount but also spent a lot. After working at the Stepping Snow Immortal Pavilion for five months, he'd only managed to save fifty coins—the silver coins roughly the size of one-yuan coins in his past life. Yet, the bundle before him held at least a hundred and fifty coins.
Master Zhou explained, "After you were promoted to guard, your pay naturally increased. Aside from your expenses, you managed to save quite a bit. Since you were living with the caravan and didn't have your own place, you left the money with me. You probably planned to save up, return to your uncle's village, build a house, and get married someday. But then disaster struck, leaving you weak and unable to continue with the caravan."
Chen Xiao didn't tell Master Zhou that he now earned more each month than he did as a guard. Naturally, Master Zhou assumed he'd suffered a great loss. In his view, being a martial guard was tough and dangerous, but it paid well.
"Keep the money safe. I have something else to discuss with you," Master Zhou said.
Chen Xiao carefully rewrapped the bundle and placed it in his wardrobe. After sitting back down, he asked, "What is it? Please go ahead."
Master Zhou frowned. "I came here to tell you that your uncle wants you to return home as soon as possible."
Chen Xiao was surprised. "You mean... my uncle wants me to go back? Did something happen?"
Master Zhou spoke in a tone of mild disapproval. "I heard that the village where you used to live now has a sect recruiting disciples. Your uncle likely wants you to go back and give him some advice."
Chen Xiao's uncle's family consisted of three sons and one daughter. The eldest, like Chen Xiao's parents, had passed away during their flight. The second child, a daughter, was already engaged. The third was only eleven, and the youngest, born after they settled here, was just five.
Before fleeing, the family had been farmers. After arriving in this region, they worked as long-term laborers for the wealthiest household in the village. They were simple folk with little experience and panicked when faced with something as significant as sect recruitment. They wanted Chen Xiao to return and help them navigate the situation.
To them, Chen Xiao had seen more of the world, having traveled south and north. Now that he was working at a reputable shop in the county city, they believed he was well-connected and knowledgeable.
Master Zhou, however, didn't think Chen Xiao could be of much help with something like sect recruitment. Without the right destiny, what could he do? Going back would only waste time and cause unnecessary heartache if others were selected while he wasn't.
But to his surprise, Chen Xiao's eyes lit up at the mention of his uncle's request. Without a moment's hesitation, he declared that he would return!
