Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Xiongwei Martial Arts Hall, Exorcising Ghosts!_1
Black Rain City only had one Martial Arts Hall and one Dart Bureau. This was mainly because such establishments were difficult to sustain financially. Learning martial arts not only required tuition but also good food and drink, and the main benefit was simply physical training. Therefore, only the children of wealthy families came here to learn.
However, the Martial Arts Hall also kept disciples, who might serve as household guards for wealthy gentry or be trained as other types of guards.
Wang Linchi observed the disciples of the Martial Arts Hall training. It was just normal physical conditioning. After training, they were indeed stronger than ordinary people, but they possessed no True Qi or Inner Strength, much less any ability to break human limits. Their ability to fight demons and ghosts still relied on equipment bearing forty-nine symbols.
"Rooster Crow Temple? Ah, you mean the Ghost Temple thirty miles south of the city." Xu Sui, the master of Xiongwei Martial Arts Hall, hadn’t immediately recalled Rooster Crow Temple, but then he remembered. He was middle-aged; when the incident at Rooster Crow Temple had occurred, he had still been a young man. As time passed, he had naturally forgotten some details.
"What business does a young master like yourself have at the Ghost Temple?" Xu Sui asked, somewhat puzzled. Are all wealthy people so peculiar these days, rushing off to places teeming with demons and ghosts?
"I have some business there," Wang Linchi replied vaguely.
"Oh? In that case, we won’t take the job," Xu Sui refused without hesitation; Wang Linchi could be evasive, but Xu Sui could also refuse.
That place is a nest of Headless Ghosts! How could Xiongwei Martial Arts Hall possibly have the capability to escort a pampered young master like Wang Linchi to and from the Ghost Temple? Does he really think we’re some kind of heroes from a storybook, able to casually defeat ten opponents at once? Besides, Wang Linchi won’t say why. Who knows what he’s planning? What if it’s a deliberate attempt to get us all killed at Xiongwei Martial Arts Hall?
"One hundred taels, payable in advance." Wang Linchi, having anticipated Xu Sui’s refusal, was prepared and thus resorted to the power of money.
"This isn’t about money. More money can’t buy back a life."
"Two hundred taels. My purpose is simple: I want to clear out the Headless Ghosts and restore the golden body of the Buddha statue in Rooster Crow Temple," Wang Linchi continued.
Xu Sui was taken aback at first, not expecting Wang Linchi to say such a thing.
"Can you tell me why?" This time, he didn’t refuse.
"My late father once received a kindness here. He passed away from illness not long ago, and his dying wish was for me to return and see this place."
"I just never imagined Rooster Crow Temple would fall into such a state. So, I wanted to offer what little help I can," Wang Linchi said, fabricating a reason.
"One thousand taels. You pay first." Xu Sui didn’t really believe him, but if Wang Linchi could actually produce one thousand taels, then it would be worth risking their lives. To put it bluntly, even if he sold his entire Martial Arts Hall, including himself and all his disciples, he might not fetch a thousand taels.
"I don’t have that much. I only have three hundred taels on hand, but..."
When Wang Linchi spoke the first half of his sentence, Xu Sui lost interest. What does his desire to repay a kindness have to do with me? However, the word "but" signaled a potential turning point.
"Let’s use this as a substitute. It should be worth quite a bit," Wang Linchi said, taking out a square object that appeared to be a stone, polished from a glass beverage bottle.
"This is... a gemstone!" Xu Sui exclaimed, his expression shocked as he looked at the colored glass sparkling brilliantly under the sun. He hadn’t expected Wang Linchi to be serious.
"Indeed. This is a rare treasure," Wang Linchi said. Seeing his bluff had worked, he played along. He had inquired before; there was no glass in Black Rain City, let alone colored glass like this, which could even change colors under the sun.
"Alright, it’s a deal then!" Xu Sui agreed without hesitation.
"You’ll also need to give me an additional five hundred taels," Wang Linchi then said.
"One hundred taels," Xu Sui immediately countered, then added, "Whether it’s repairing Rooster Crow Temple or re-gilding the Buddha statue, one hundred taels is enough." It’s just re-gilding, not crafting a solid gold Buddha statue. A thin layer on the outside will do.
"And if it’s not enough, will you cover the difference?" Wang Linchi asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Let’s compromise. I won’t give you any money back, but I’ll handle the repairs for Rooster Crow Temple and the re-gilding of the Buddha statue. You can supervise," Xu Sui proposed, thinking of a better solution. His Martial Arts Hall naturally had contacts with people from all walks of life. He quickly estimated that one hundred taels indeed wouldn’t be quite enough. If he did it in the name of Xiongwei Martial Arts Hall, he could also enhance his hall’s reputation; exterminating ghosts and repairing a temple were both deeds that would bring good renown. Wang Linchi was the one actually paying. They only needed to contribute labor to gain reputation.
Wang Linchi chuckled inwardly, not expecting the other party to be so astute.
"Alright, we’ll do it your way. Let’s go to the government office and sign a formal contract," Wang Linchi said. If this isn’t handled formally, what if the other party backs out?
Xu Sui, naturally, had no objections; he was actually eager to sign. He also didn’t need to worry about others coveting this gemstone; his Xiongwei Martial Arts Hall was capable of protecting it. At least, before the ghost extermination, no one would dare make a move.
The process of signing the contract at the government office went very smoothly. It was drawn up in triplicate: one copy for Wang Linchi, one for Xiongwei Martial Arts Hall, and one for the government office. If anyone were to violate the contract, the government could then intervene.
After signing, the piece of glass was handed directly to Xu Sui. He was overjoyed, and Wang Linchi was very pleased as well.
The officials at the government office, however, weren’t too pleased. After all, such a fine ’gemstone’ had fallen into the hands of Xiongwei Martial Arts Hall, and seeing it made the officials itch with desire. Yet, they didn’t dare act recklessly. Xiongwei Martial Arts Hall was, after all, a local power, not so easily trifled with.
"The matter of exterminating the ghosts at Rooster Crow Temple will take about three more days. I need to gather some men. My Xiongwei Martial Arts Hall alone isn’t enough to handle it."
"Rest assured, all expenses will be covered by Xiongwei Martial Arts Hall." Xu Sui naturally didn’t plan to just rush over with his current disciples. He intended to first sell the gemstone, convert it into silver, and then recruit more manpower. For example, he could hire from the city’s Dart Bureau, or various enforcers in the city. With more people, it would be easier to act.
He estimated that even in Black Rain City, wealthy households would be willing to pay ten thousand taels for this gemstone. And from recruiting people to repairing the temple, he would spend at most one thousand taels. The remaining nine thousand taels would be enough for him to live comfortably for the rest of his life.
"Good. I’ll await your good news. I hope it won’t be three days after three days," Wang Linchi agreed, but also added a warning.
"With the contract from the government office, how would I dare to mess around?" Xu Sui wasn’t foolish. If I dared to do such a thing, with the officials already eyeing this gemstone greedily, they could squeeze the money out of me even if I sold it. It’s best not to try any tricks. Besides, his is the only Martial Arts Hall in the city. If he lost his integrity, how could he attract children from wealthy families to train in martial arts in the future? Martial arts training isn’t a necessity; one can stay fit and healthy without it.
"Fine. Just remember what you’ve said," Wang Linchi didn’t press further. As long as Xu Sui got the job done, that would be enough.