"I want to be a hero," Jiang Quan clenched his fist, excited, a true passionate youth.
"I want to protect myself," Wang Xiao Shi stammered, a little embarrassed.
Zhang Liunian stared at them for a long time before finally agreeing to take them in. "Are you sure you want to become my disciples? I'm not a famous master, nor am I an expert in seclusion. You should think carefully."
"We've thought it through. We want to be your disciples," Jiang Quan and Wang Xiao Shi said in unison, their eyes firm.
Zhang Liunian smiled, "Alright, from now on, I officially accept you two as my disciples."
"Greetings, Master," Jiang Quan and Wang Xiao Shi bowed with clasped fists again, in sync.
Zhang Liunian stroked his non-existent beard and chuckled, "Don't get too excited too soon. I'm not from Jiangcheng, and I won't be staying here long-term for now.
Although I've accepted you, I certainly won't be able to teach you personally at the moment.
However, before I leave, I will give you a martial arts manual. You can practice according to it at home first. When I come back to Jiangcheng, I will check your progress and guide you personally then."
Before coming to Jiangcheng, Zhang Liunian's plan was to stay for two or three days to resolve the matter. However, to his surprise, as soon as he arrived in Jiangcheng, he encountered those people from the Red Gang and quickly dealt with the issue.
Since everything was settled, he could return earlier, especially since all the Red Gang's assets were waiting for him!
He wondered if there was any evidence of dealings between the Tang family and the Red Gang. Thinking this, he became even more eager to return to Nancheng.
"It doesn't matter. You're my master now, and I, your disciple, will treat you to a meal at the Jiangcheng Restaurant." Finally having succeeded in taking him as a master, even though this master wouldn't stay long in Jiangcheng, Jiang Quan didn't mind, especially since the master was giving them a manual.
Zhang Liunian waved his hand and chuckled, "There's no reason for a junior to treat the elder. I'll treat. You go ahead and order at the Jiangcheng Restaurant. I'll wait for Li Shu and the others, and bring them along."
Jiang Quan smiled and nodded, not objecting, because he knew Zhang Liunian had the means to treat so many people.
"Little Quan, this master seems a bit unusual," Wang Xiao Shi said, opening up after leaving with Jiang Quan.
Jiang Quan rubbed his hands and gestured, smiling, "Of course. With our discerning eyes, how could we not tell he's a master? Moreover, I dare say that even in Jiangcheng, no one is more formidable than him.
I've carefully observed his moves. Every single one is perfectly placed, hitting vital points with extreme sharpness. I like that."
Wang Xiao Shi nodded in agreement, "We both wanted to learn some real skills since we were young, but we never found a good master. Meeting him this time is indeed good fortune."
"I'll go back and tell my dad about this. He'll definitely be very happy," Jiang Quan thought of his wish finally coming true and couldn't wait to share it with his father immediately.
Wang Xiao Shi, however, hesitated. Although his family had some standing in Jiangcheng, his family members were more inclined towards academics than martial arts, and they disliked him learning such things.
However, Wang Xiao Shi was well aware that a frail scholar without martial prowess would only be bullied.
Zhang Liunian was unaware of these matters. At this moment, he and others were finding a temporary storefront again, right across from the burned-down shop. This new place was smaller, costing only a thousand yuan for the year. Zhang Liunian had intended to rent it for a few months, but the owner insisted on a year's lease upfront. Zhang Liunian didn't argue and rented it.
After sorting out the storefront, Zhang Liunian made a few phone calls to Nancheng, then bought notebooks and pens and began transcribing a martial arts manual he had collected in his previous life.
In his past life, he had no wife or children, and his only hobby was collecting legendary martial arts manuals. Whether they were real or fake, he would buy them and place them in his study. Whenever he had free time, he loved to flip through them. He had memorized the contents of several excellent manuals, so rewriting them now only took him half an hour.
By the time he returned to the entrance of the burned-down shop, everyone else had also returned.
"Here is the manual. Practice according to it first. When I come to Jiangcheng next time, I will guide you personally." After the meal, Zhang Liunian handed the newly written manual to Jiang Quan.
"Master, you must remember to come back soon," Jiang Quan received it excitedly, his gaze reluctant.
"Once things are stable in Nancheng, I'll have time to come over." There were still a few messes waiting for Zhang Liunian in Nancheng, so he wouldn't have time to return anytime soon.
After bidding them farewell, Zhang Liunian got into a truck and headed back to Nancheng.
Meanwhile, Mr. Huang, having received a call, selected a few discreet individuals and went to a residential house to stake it out.
They waited there for more than half the afternoon. Only when the sun began to set did Zhang Liunian arrive.
"Boss, I've been watching this residence, and I haven't found anything unusual." Mr. Huang didn't understand why Zhang Liunian had given him this instruction to wait here, but Zhang Liunian's word was an order, so he could only comply.
Zhang Liunian joined Mr. Huang, stopped, and glanced at the unremarkable blue-brick tiled house. This was Hong Fei's hideout in Nancheng, but it wasn't an obvious one. It was a place he used specifically for hiding things.
The secret teenager had revealed something to him about this house. He said he had seen Hong Fei entering and exiting this place stealthily with items on two occasions.
The secret teenager wasn't sure what was hidden inside, but he was certain it was a very important place, because Hong Fei had not disclosed its existence to anyone in the Red Gang.
As for Hong Fei's public residence, it was behind the Red Gang's main compound, with them.
"Is anyone inside?" Zhang Liunian asked.
"No one has entered or exited all afternoon. I've also listened, and I'm sure no one is there." Mr. Huang hadn't brought many men, only three, who were positioned at the four corners of the house.
Zhang Liunian nodded, "Wait here. I'm going inside to take a look." After speaking, he scanned the surroundings, found a blind spot, took a running start, and leaped. Within moments, he flipped into the house.
Entering the courtyard, he saw a well, a jujube tree, and a stone bench.
The house had two bedrooms and a living room. Zhang Liunian went directly into the two rooms to search. One was piled with things, while the other contained only a bed, two large wooden chests, and a table.
Moreover, compared to the other room filled with items, this one was much cleaner, indicating frequent use.
Zhang Liunian focused his attention on the large wooden chests. Unfortunately, they contained only a few sets of clothes, all for men. It looked like the home of a bachelor.
"If I were Hong Fei, where would I hide my money and important belongings?" Zhang Liunian had searched all the visible places but found nothing useful.
He didn't believe that Hong Fei had secretly set up such a house just for his solitary pleasure. This house must be hiding something.
After concentrating and thinking for a moment, he began to search hidden corners, such as floorboards, walls, the ground, under the chests...
His efforts were finally rewarded when, after tapping along this wall and then that one, he discovered something unusual.
He leaned closer to observe and found that this wall indeed showed signs of movement. He reached out and removed a brick, then another, then a third... fifty-eight bricks later, the contents within the wall were finally fully exposed.
It was a wooden shelf hidden within the wall, filled with bundles of cash, all of the "Da Tuo He" denomination. Just by visual estimation, there was over a hundred thousand.
"There must be more than just this location," Zhang Liunian recalled Hong Fei mentioning that half his fortune was hundreds of thousands. This place clearly contained more, indicating he had hidden things in several places.