parentshiftbook Chapter 17: Departing Early
Chapter 17: Departing Early
"The thrill of power!"
Looking around at the mess, Zhang Ping finally found an outlet for the pent-up frustration in his chest. Just as he had expected, with the divine power's blessing, his strength instantly soared to the Flesh Refining Realm.
With a sneak attack, dealing with these henchmen was a piece of cake.
He lifted his foot, crushing several mangled corpses on the ground. His gaze swept over the old beggar feigning death in the corner, and with a flick of his wrist, he flung a short knife. A flash of light, and the blade pierced precisely into the old beggar's gaping mouth!
"Ugh—ah!!" Accompanied by a shrill and indistinct scream, the old beggar's mouth was full of blood, and he writhed and rolled wildly on the ground like a fish out of water.
Zhang Ping didn't look at it again and turned to leave.
Back in the dilapidated courtyard, Zhang Ping grabbed the prepared materials, called over the timid little beggar in the corner, and strode towards the city gate.
He couldn't stay here any longer. He wasn't sure if those people had relayed his presence to the An family before they died. Just to be on the safe side, he'd better go directly to the city gate to wait for Ruan Qiuhe, get the eye-catching sapling, and leave.
The sun was gradually setting in the west, about to disappear behind the mountain ridge.
At the east gate, the flow of people returning to the city gradually thickened. Herb gatherers carried bamboo baskets full of their loads, and hunters carried wild animals that were still warm from their hunts. They hurried along, all fearing that once the city gates closed, they would have to feed the wild beasts in the wilderness that night.
"San Gou, don't you think something's... off about Big Sister ever since she crawled out of that hole?" Simo, his feet aching from the stones, grimaced as he leaned closer to San Gou and asked in a low voice.
"That's right," San Gou muttered under his breath, "talking all mysterious, moving his lips but not making a sound."
Several young beggars struggled to carry saplings that were half their height. Ruan Qiuhe, walking at the front, carried one sapling in each hand, but remained unusually silent.
Those once bright and lively eyes now seemed somewhat unfocused, and her lips parted slightly as if she were muttering something, yet remained silent.
"Boss! It's getting dark!"
It wasn't until San Gou timidly reminded her several times that Ruan Qiuhe seemed to suddenly wake up, letting out a soft "Oh," and involuntarily quickening her pace.
After jogging for a while, with the city gate in sight, Ruan Qiuhe subconsciously touched the cold jade pendant hidden in her bosom through her large, tattered robe. A strange tension gripped her heart.
Just then, a faint, ethereal, and mysterious female voice resounded in her heart: "Don't panic, enter the city as usual."
Ruan Qiuhe paused almost imperceptibly, took a deep breath, and led San Gou and the others toward the city gate.
"Big sister! Over here!"
A large crowd thronged beneath the city gate, where a small beggar, his face smeared with soot, was jumping and waving frantically. Many looked at him with disgust, but upon catching sight of Zhang Ping, a martial arts apprentice standing beside him, they quickly withdrew their gazes.
"My lord, the saplings you requested!" Seeing that Zhang Ping was personally leading people to wait outside the city gate, Ruan Qiuhe's heart tightened, and she hurriedly ran forward.
Zhang Ping's gaze swept over the saplings held by the little beggars, which were no bigger than the palm of his hand. This was roughly the size needed to brand the beast markings; if even this wasn't enough, then there was nothing more he could do.
"Let's go." Zhang Ping didn't want to linger at the city gate. Sensing the gazes, both overt and covert, around them, he led Ruan Qiuhe and her group back into the city. He first found a place for them to wash away their grime, and then, amidst their bewildered stares, tossed them a few sets of relatively clean coarse cloth clothes. Once they had changed and were no longer so conspicuous, he led them towards the south side of the city.
Only when they approached the territory of Sitong Martial Arts School did Zhang Ping's tense nerves relax slightly.
It seems the An family hasn't received news of the failed arrest yet... but it won't be long.
"My lord...can we...go now?" Ruan Qiuhe's voice was tinged with unease. The bustling city south was so unfamiliar to her, a weed growing in the eastern corner of the city, that it made her feel extremely uncomfortable. She was even more concerned about going back to check on Erdan's foot injury.
The other little beggars were even more at a loss, huddled together, their tiny hands nervously clutching the hem of their newly changed clothes.
"Okay, go ahead." Having successfully obtained the eye-catching sapling, Zhang Ping was in a good mood, having completed the final piece of the puzzle for imprinting the perception beast pattern.
Ruan Qiuhe and her companions felt as if they had been granted a pardon. Just as they turned to leave, they heard Zhang Ping's voice behind them: "Wait!"
Ruan Qiuhe's heart skipped a beat, and she turned around abruptly, only to see two heavy silver ingots rolling to her feet.
"Take this. Leave tonight, don't go back to the east side of the city."
The An family's forces will likely arrive at that abandoned courtyard complex in no time. If Ruan Qiuhe and her group go back and run into it, they will surely be caught in the crossfire.
Zhang Ping didn't consider himself a kind person, but he didn't want to involve these struggling beggars because of himself.
Besides… his gaze lingered for a moment on the curves of her figure vaguely visible beneath the wide, tattered robe. The girl's tenacious will to survive, like wild grass, and her keen sense of opportunity inexplicably made him feel somewhat pleasing to the eye.
If she hadn't been born in this quagmire of the eastern part of the city, with her temperament, she might very well have been able to carve out a path for herself in this world.
"If you really want to learn martial arts in the future, and save up enough money, you can come to Sitong Martial Arts School to find me, Zhang Ping."
Zhang Ping added, "It was just a sudden thought that came to mind today." With that, he didn't linger, his figure disappearing straight into the martial arts school's gate.
Ruan Qiuhe pursed her lips and quickly stuffed the two heavy silver ingots into her bosom. Facing the direction Zhang Ping had disappeared in, she bowed deeply and performed a solemn salute. San Gou and the others had already knelt down with a thud when they saw the silver ingots, their foreheads hitting the bluestone slabs with a loud thud.
"Big sister...where are we going from now on?"
After the initial excitement, a sense of bewilderment returned to the faces of San Gou and the others. These eight- or nine-year-old children had been raised in the shadows of the eastern part of the city. Leaving that familiar, dirty corner, the world before them felt so unfamiliar that they were at a loss.
Ruan Qiuhe pursed her lips, a bright smile suddenly blooming on her face. Her slightly rough hand landed on San Gou's messy head:
"Do you... want to learn martial arts?"
In the east of the city, there was a small alleyway filled with blood and filth.
"Butler An... this, this is Li Qian's sword..." A man's voice trembled as he pointed at the twisted and deformed steel short sword on the ground, his face filled with disbelief.
An Chou's expression appeared calm, but the furrowed brows betrayed the turbulent emotions churning within him.
A fine steel short sword, twisted into this shape?!
To possess such immense strength, one must at least be a martial artist at the Body Refinement Realm. The Sitong Martial Arts School actually went so far as to send a Body Refinement Realm martial artist to personally protect Zhang Ping? Just who is this kid?
After a long silence, An Chou coldly ordered, "Clean it up. Remove the spies watching Zhang Ping."
The situation changed drastically; that inconspicuous little duckling had become a hard, unyielding rock. Whether to advance or retreat, he had to immediately consult the master.
Zhang Ping returned to his residence at the martial arts school and laid out all the materials needed to imprint the beast patterns.
Only one eye-catching sapling was needed. He glanced at the other few drooping saplings, then casually dug a few shallow holes in the corner of the yard and planted them. Whether they would survive was entirely up to fate.
"The danger sense brought by an owl... let's see what surprises you have in store!"
Even though Zhang Ping was already used to being branded with beast patterns, this time was different. This beast pattern contained a mysterious power that was almost prophetic, filling him with anticipation.
Inside the room, the candlelight flickered. He placed his palm over the materials and whispered, "Mark, danger perception."
A faint light seemed to flash before his eyes. Immediately afterwards, the material under his palm silently transformed into specks of light, gathering at Zhang Ping's brow and slowly outlining a clear white owl head pattern.
The white lines stood out starkly against his sun-darkened forehead.
"Danger perception... When a crisis approaches, the lines will turn red and hot, issuing a warning. There's even a slight possibility that it will directly reveal the source of the danger..."
Upon understanding the ability to sense beast patterns, Zhang Ping was instantly overwhelmed with immense joy.
"With this perception beast mark, my chances of surviving the autumn dart in half a month will be much greater!"
Moreover, this ability to foresee danger is far more than just a passive warning. It can also serve as a subtle guide when making crucial decisions, its uses are endless!
That minuscule possibility, yet capable of directly revealing the source of danger, once triggered, allows him to instantly grasp the situation and seize the initiative—it's simply ingenious!
Of course, this ability is not without its flaws. Zhang Ping keenly realized that this danger perception must have some limits; the beast pattern would probably only issue a warning when the threat reached a certain level. He would need to verify this himself in the future.
Furthermore, another thought came to mind: enhancing the power of beast markings requires constant practice and refinement. Ox-strength markings and horse-leg markings are relatively easy to master, but this ability to sense danger… how do I actively “use” it?
Are we supposed to keep going to those dangerous places outside the city every day?
Zhang Ping stroked his chin, also finding the idea somewhat absurd. Just then, the distinctive pecking sound of a messenger bird came from the window again, so he decided to temporarily put aside his troubles.
"Never mind, I'll think about it later."
A few days later.
In the courtyard, Zhang Ping's fists whistled through the air, sweat trickling down his taut back.
The punches grew faster and faster, leaving afterimages in their wake. In just a few breaths, a powerful straight punch pierced the air, and the dormant blood and energy within his body surged violently as if a floodgate had been opened!
"Mid-stage skin tempering... Done!"
Feeling the surging energy and blood within him, Zhang Ping couldn't hide his joy. The speed at which this energy and blood accumulated was even faster than he had expected.
"It's a pity I'm short of money and can't afford the nourishing medicine, otherwise I could have progressed even faster."
As Zhang Ping was feeling quite pleased with himself, the keen sense of smell brought by the dog-nose beast pattern almost made him faint from the strong, sour smell of his own sweat.
He couldn't help but chuckle wryly and mutter, "Dog nose print... I never thought it would have such an 'advantage'."
Just as he was about to go back inside to shower, a series of urgent knocks and shouts came from outside the courtyard gate: "Brother Zhang! Open the door quickly! Brother Zhang!"
It was Li Fan's voice.
Zhang Ping frowned slightly, opened the courtyard gate, and saw Li Fan leaning against the wall, panting heavily.
"Brother Zhang, something terrible has happened! The time for escorting the autumn goods has been moved up; we have to leave this afternoon! The master personally requested that you go with us!"
"Earlier?" Zhang Ping was taken aback. According to past practice, the autumn escort mission would take another half a month; if it were to be carried out earlier, there would be no goods to escort.
Li Fan waved his hand, indicating that he didn't know either.