Chen Jie had practiced with the spear all afternoon and was hungry.
He ate heartily, and after having his fill, Chen Jie took a long spear and said to the guard, "I’m taking this spear. Tell my adoptive father when he returns."
The guard replied, "Alright, Fifth Master, please do as you wish."
Chen Jie went outside and saw Feng Xuan coming in. Upon seeing Chen Jie holding a long spear, Feng Xuan smiled and asked, "Is this the spear technique Jiu Si chose? Is it the Dong Family Spear?"
Chen Jie was startled and then smiled, "The Thirteen Breaking Tribulation Strokes."
Feng Xuan’s expression paused before he smiled and said, "Good, that’s a fine technique."
"Are you heading home? Si Xi is waiting for you at the door."
Chen Jie asked, "Big brother, what’s going on?"
Feng Xuan replied, "Oh, nothing serious. My men had a little conflict with Guild Cao, three people died. I need to report this to my adoptive father."
Chen Jie suggested, "I think adoptive father went to watch a play."
"I know, at the Spring Breeze Theater. Mr. Peng would also go to support Miss Huadie’s performance," Feng Xuan said.
After speaking, Feng Xuan still headed inside. Chen Jie knew that Feng Xuan was aware Mr. Peng Shizhong was absent yet still proceeded inside, which clearly indicated there were rules he was unaware of.
Being new here, it wouldn’t do to ask too many questions.
Having understood this, Chen Jie left and saw Si Xi waiting, with Si Xi’s carriage still there.
Si Xi called out. Chen Jie walked over, placed the long spear on the shaft of the carriage, and got on.
He realized a problem with using a spear; it was very inconvenient to carry around. Indeed, it was a problem.
Chen Jie thought of a solution: to custom-make a quality long spear that could be disassembled and assembled, such as one made in three sections with threaded joints that could be screwed together to form a two-meter-long spear when needed for battle.
When not in use, the sections could be taken apart, resulting in three rods, each about seventy centimeters long.
Even in close combat or narrow alley fights, when a long spear was impractical, it could still be used as a short spear.
Chen Jie pondered this concept, but creating such a spear would require a skilled blacksmith and high-quality materials.
Additionally, this construction, especially the threaded connections, would likely be labor-intensive and therefore expensive.
With just under fifty silver taels in his pocket, it seemed like a lot, but in the county town, even just listening to a play could cost several taels—it was hardly enough.
At this moment, Chen Jie couldn’t help but miss Xiantao Town. There, with those fifty taels, he could indulge in food and extravagance for a whole year without running out.
But here, it wouldn’t last long.
This county town had too much opulence and also dark, underground dealings.
Like the Black Market!
The Black Market, a place shrouded in secrecy, operated its trades only after nightfall.
It was an ordinary tea house in Mianshui County, sparsely filled with tea patrons sipping their beverages.
At this time, a middle-aged man in coarse cloth and with a purposely attached bushy beard approached the shopkeeper at the counter.
"The tea here is too weak and tasteless," he complained.
The tea house shopkeeper immediately smiled apologetically, "Sir, we’re just a small business. Ten cents for a cup of tea. What would you like?"
"Shopkeeper, I have some fine tea leaves. Can I borrow your stove?"
"To borrow the stove, you need to have top-quality tea leaves."
Hearing this, the middle-aged man fetched a bundle, unfolded it, and revealed a stack of silver notes.
At the sight of the silver notes, the shopkeeper’s face lit up with joy, "Zhuzi, please take this gentleman to the back yard to steep his tea."
Upon hearing this, a staff member quickly appeared with a smile, "Sir, please come this way."
The middle-aged man gathered his bundle and headed straight to the back yard.
Once there, Zhuzi lifted a board, revealing an underground passageway.
Descending the tunnel, the space was surprisingly well-lit.
Zhuzi said, "Sir, please proceed inside. Someone will assist you."
After speaking, Zhuzi closed the board and left the room as if he was any ordinary staff member tending to customers.
The middle-aged man, carrying his bundle, moved down the corridor to the door, where he saw a man sitting with a long saber, his face covered by a hat, as if he were sleeping.
Looking past the middle-aged man into the room, voices could be heard conversing.
"Are you here to buy or sell?"
The seated man asked, and the middle-aged man promptly replied, "Buy. I’m looking for a roster."
"Ah, Room Jia number one!"
The middle-aged man nodded and entered. The corridor was long, lit by torches and oil lamps.
It was clear there had to be ventilation.
Room Jia number one was easy to find as it was the very first room.
Upon entering, inside was only a skinny old man who was puffing on a tobacco pipe, looking up briefly at the middle-aged man, "First time here?"
The middle-aged man nodded.
"Don’t be nervous. Although we call this the Black Market, we never shortchange. If you’ve come to me, surely you’re here to kill someone?"
The old man took a puff from his pipe, blowing a smoke ring.
Hearing this, the middle-aged man said, "The Fishing Guild, Chen Jiusi!"
The old man tapped his pipe, speaking, "Killing someone from the Fishing Guild, hmm, it won’t be cheap."
"Money is not an issue. I just want him dead!"
The middle-aged man said eagerly. The old man inquired, "You have a grudge?"
"Yes, he killed my master. I must take revenge on his behalf!"
The old man nodded, "So, a loyal servant. Tell me about this Chen Jiusi in detail; no omissions. If our people find any discrepancies with your information, they can stop the operation at any time, and the deposit is non-refundable."
The middle-aged man acknowledged, "Understood."
After a moment, the old man, piping in hand, furrowed his brow into a frown, "The adoptive son of Peng Shizhong, that’s problematic."
"Please think of something. Money is not a problem."
The old man replied while puffing on his pipe, "Well, if the money is right, it’s not impossible. Lucky for you, Chen Jiusi only has the Cultivation of the Refining Body Realm. If he were any higher, no one would take the job; after all, masters of the Dark Force are not keen on getting involved in such troubles."
"However, with the Refining Body Realm, we can look around. Those who have just broken through to the Dark Energy needing money, or those at the Peak of Refining Body, or with Half-step Dark Energy might be willing to take the risk for money."
"That being said, three thousand taels, non-negotiable."
The old man stated. The middle-aged man hesitated, "Three thousand taels, I only have two thousand."
"Then I am sorry, please make your way," the old man was about to send him away.
"Wait! Did you say that as long as there are three thousand taels, you can absolutely kill this Chen Jiusi, even if he is the adoptive son of Peng Shizhong?"
The middle-aged man asked, his face flushed.
"Yes, if the money is right, it can be done."
"Alright, help me find someone first, I will go raise the money right now!"
The middle-aged man turned and left. Upon exiting the tea house, the moonlight shone upon him. Looking up at the sky, he murmured,
"My lord, I will avenge you. Chen Jiusi, you are doomed!"