Chapter 15: The Uncut Jade Has Fallen Into My Net
“Then let’s treat it!”
Liu Shen made the decision, then cupped his hands to Doctor Zhang and said, “I must ask you, Doctor Zhang, to heal my sister’s leg!”
“Of course…”
Doctor Zhang stroked his long beard and nodded, replying, “Bone-setting is delicate work. The day is already late; I’ll come early tomorrow to treat your sister. How does that sound?”
“We’ll follow the doctor’s advice…”
Liu Shen let out a long, relieved sigh.
“Let them stay here tonight,” Pei Xueyan said, her words carrying an implicit meaning. “I’ve already asked the innkeeper to arrange rooms and fresh clothes for the siblings. It’s best they stay here tonight—it will save them some trouble in the days to come.”
Liu Shen cupped his hands again, “Thank you, Young Mistress.”
“As for the money, you needn’t worry about that either, Liu Shen.”
Pei Xueyan’s lips curved into a smile. “Since you’ve come to apprentice at Tongda Hall, you’re now one of us. Treating our own doesn’t come with a fee.”
“This…”
Liu Shen was startled by this wave of generosity, and replied earnestly, “On behalf of the siblings, I thank you, Young Mistress!”
He then turned to the bewildered Yuan Xiaofei and Yu Hong, asking, “Do you remember the two things I promised to do when I brought you to town?”
“I remember…”
Yuan Xiaofei nodded, speaking shyly, “You said you’d find me a way to earn a living, and get medical help for Hong’s leg.”
“Now, both matters are settled.”
Liu Shen raised his brows with a smile. “Hong’s leg will start treatment tomorrow, and your work is here at Tongda Hall as apprentices. You’ll have food, lodging, a monthly wage, and you’ll learn a trade. How does that sound?”
Yuan Xiaofei blinked, utterly uncomprehending, his face full of disbelief. When he finally realized what was happening, his eyes reddened and he knelt deeply, bowing low, “Thank you, Brother Shen!!”
“You shouldn’t thank me, but this Young Mistress.”
Liu Shen didn’t help him up this time, but admonished, “The Young Mistress is compassionate. After hearing your story, she remembered Tongda Hall needed hands, and decided to let you and Hong apprentice here. This is an opportunity many have begged for, but few receive. Do you understand?”
“I do!”
Yuan Xiaofei nodded fiercely, then turned to Pei Xueyan, bowing repeatedly, “Young Mistress, thank you for your kindness! Thank you, Brother Shen!”
Little Yu Hong seemed to understand as well, climbing from bed to bow to Pei Xueyan, “Young Mistress, thank you for your kindness! Thank you, Brother Shen!”
“That’s enough, no need for such ceremony…”
Pei Xueyan smiled warmly, helping the siblings up. “Your connection to Brother Shen brought you here. Learn well, don’t let him down, understood?”
“We understand! We won’t let Brother Shen’s efforts go to waste, nor the Young Mistress’s kindness!”
Yuan Xiaofei and Yu Hong wiped away their tears, knowing full well that their lives might now be divided into two distinct parts.
Just then, the manager of Tongda Hall knocked and entered: “Young Mistress, the rooms are ready, and fresh clothes have been placed inside.”
“Good…”
Pei Xueyan nodded and instructed, “Show the siblings their room and settle them in. From now on, they’ll be your apprentices.”
“Yes…”
The manager caught the Young Mistress’s glance and hurriedly promised, “I’ll see to it personally.”
With that, he kindly led Yuan Xiaofei and Yu Hong toward the inner hall.
The siblings had never been treated so warmly before, and kept glancing back at Liu Shen, anxious and nervous.
“No need to be afraid…”
Liu Shen couldn’t help but smile, reassuring them, “Settle in here, and I’ll come check on you tomorrow morning.”
Hearing this, the siblings finally relaxed, following the manager in peace…
“They’re still just children,”
Liu Shen sighed inwardly, once again saluting Pei Xueyan, “Sorry for troubling you, Young Mistress.”
“You’re too polite…”
Pei Xueyan smiled mischievously. “If you truly want to repay me, perhaps you could teach me arithmetic?”
“It’s only arithmetic—a small matter…”
Liu Shen knew he owed her a favor and could see that the Young Mistress of the Song family was sincere. He cupped his hands and excused himself, “Arithmetic isn’t something that can be taught in a few words. The day is late; I hope you’ll allow me to prepare and return tomorrow.”
“Of course…”
“Farewell.”
Pei Xueyan watched Liu Shen’s departing figure, her lips curving up like a fox who’d just outwitted her prey…
‘A rough gem now falls into my hands~’
On the way back, Liu Shen mused, thinking how lucky the Song family’s heir was to marry such a beautiful, intelligent, dignified, generous, and kind wife—especially one with such an unexpected side…
Though he was envious, he knew she belonged to another, and kept his thoughts in check.
He hadn’t learned anything about the Song family’s stone statue today, but he wasn’t troubled by it. One cannot rush such matters; after all, it was only his second meeting with the Young Mistress, and they were hardly familiar.
With Yuan Xiaofei and Yu Hong now at Tongda Hall, and the pretext of teaching arithmetic, he was sure there would be further opportunities.
He’d take it slow…
Returning to the docks.
After a busy day, Liu Shen bathed, locked his room, and carefully pulled out the book “Mad Demon Blade Technique” to study.
Blade techniques belong to external skills, or simply, martial forms.
The blade moves described in the “Mad Demon Blade Technique” matched its name—wild, aggressive, with not a single defensive move. The style was all about advancing and never retreating, focused on the word ‘mad.’
Overall, the technique wasn’t particularly advanced. Aside from basic blade forms, it included only one killing move, “Heaven and Earth Eternal.”
This move gathered all one’s essence, energy, and spirit into a single, ferocious strike—unstoppable, shaking the soul, indescribably powerful!
But the book also warned that its power depended on the wielder. To use it, one must unleash their murderous intent, advance without hesitation, and possess a ruthless determination, ready to burn everything with the enemy.
Three lines in the “Mad Demon Blade Technique” summed up this killing move: “Those who cherish life will find it useless; those who are ruthless pierce the heavens; those who show fear before this move—die!”
This was why the technique was named “Mad Demon Blade,” and why the killing move was called “Heaven and Earth Eternal.”
A blade that takes the extreme path, always forward, never back!
Taken as a whole, the blade technique wasn’t particularly sophisticated—almost crude, relying on sheer courage and ferocity. But once that ruthlessness was fully channeled and “Heaven and Earth Eternal” unleashed, it was like putting the finishing touch on a dragon; the technique came alive!
After all, not everyone is willing to fight with reckless abandon, nor can all bear the mindset of mutual destruction in a confrontation…
Under the terrifying power of “Heaven and Earth Eternal,” as soon as the enemy showed fear, death awaited!
Liu Shen’s heart stirred as he read, silently admiring the genius who devised it—it truly embodied “the best defense is a strong offense.”
He then recalled what happened outside Wei Dafu’s home earlier today, subconsciously touching his brow, his expression growing grave…
After sensing the brute’s malice, he distinctly felt his brows throbbing, almost pulsing, and a surge of murderous energy rose—violent and impossible to suppress!
That murderous intent seemed to rush straight to his head, overwhelming his reason, desperate for release.
Liu Shen could imagine that he must have looked fierce at that moment—ready to kill the brute!
Yuan Xiaofei’s frightened pleas that murder was against the law and urging him to calm down proved it…
Liu Shen considered himself no pushover, but neither was he a lawless ruffian who’d kill at a whim.
So that state must have been caused by the eye at his brow!
He thought of the Song family’s Six-Armed Bodhisattva statue, of that terrifying corpse, of the descriptions of the Killing Lord in old tales, and combined it with today’s events—a shadow crept into his heart…
That eye at his brow was no ordinary thing…
Every time he remembered that something so strange and sinister lurked within him, he couldn’t help but worry…
Liu Shen resolved inwardly to seize this opportunity, to draw closer to the Young Mistress of the Song family, and strive to rid himself of the hidden danger of the eye at his brow!