Chapter 37
The next day.
Han Zhao opened his eyes. The sky outside the window was bright.
Getting up early every day had become his habit, so he didn’t need anyone to remind him.
However, this time, he woke up from Han Lin’s bed.
He had given his bed to Yu Niang.
He sat cross-legged on the bed and prepared to cultivate the Life Nurturing Technique.
Suddenly, he stopped circulating his true qi.
This was because Yu Niang’s sleep-talking voice came from the bed through a curtain.
It was a little strange to suddenly have someone by his side but it didn’t feel bad.
Just like that, Han Zhao cultivated the Life Nurturing Technique. After a while, he heard the sound of the curtain being gently lifted.
Han Zhao opened his eyes and saw Yu Niang lifting a corner of the curtain and sizing him up curiously.
“I’m… I’m sorry. I didn’t do it on purpose.” Yu Niang was like a frightened little rabbit. She shrunk her neck and hurriedly lowered the curtain.
“I’m fine.” Han Zhao smiled.
After a while, the sound of clothes being put on came from the curtain.
“I’ll make breakfast.” Yu Niang got out of bed.
“No need. I’ll take you out to eat later and familiarize you with the surrounding living environment,” Han Zhao reminded her.
“Yes, Brother… Han,” Yu Niang said softly.
“Okay,” Han Xiao replied and closed his eyes again.
After the cultivation ended, Han Zhao put on his coat and found Yu Niang sitting at the wooden table in a daze.
“Let’s go.” Han Zhao waved at her.
“Yes, yes!”
“In the future, without my permission, you can’t let anyone know that you can transform into a bird, especially not in the city! You don’t want to be made into a dish and eaten, right?” Before leaving, Han Zhao reminded Yu Niang with a serious expression.
Yu Niang was so frightened by Han Zhao’s words that her face turned pale. She nodded heavily and said, “I… I will definitely listen!”
“Let’s go. I’ll bring you to familiarize yourself with the environment.” Seeing her reaction, Han Zhao felt like he was lying to a child. He couldn’t help but laugh in his heart.
After leaving the house, the two of them quickly arrived at the market in Xinqiao District.
Yu Niang was like a country bumpkin entering the city. She curiously sized up the dazzling array of shops on both sides of the street.
Seeing this situation, Han Zhao reminded her, “Oh right, when I’m not at home, try not to go out alone. If you need to go out to buy anything, just tell me my name if you encounter any trouble. There aren’t many people in Xinqiao District who dare to provoke me.”
“I’ll remember, Brother Han!” Yu Niang looked at Han Zhao with admiration.
“I’ll bring you to familiarize yourself with Xinqiao District first. If there’s anything you can’t solve and I’m not around, you can go to the Mountain Shaking Fist Academy in Yejiang District. I’ll practice martial arts there.” Han Zhao continued, “Also, don’t go to the Heilin District.”
“Yes, yes.” Yu Niang nodded obediently.
…
After dinner, Han Zhao brought Yu Niang around to familiarize herself with the surrounding environment before sending her home.
He took the silver and went to look for Xu Ling.
However, when he arrived at the martial arts school, he realized that Xu Ling was not around.
Han Zhao went to Xu Ling’s residence in the inner city. When he found out that Xu Ling was entertaining guests in the residence, he asked the gatekeeper to inform her and waited at the door.
After a while, the gatekeeper walked out and said with a smile, “Young Master Han, my young lady is ready to see you.”
Han Zhao nodded and followed the concierge into the house.
The concierge led Han Zhao to the backyard.
Xu Ling was sitting at a stone table in the middle of the courtyard, drinking tea. Su Yun was also there.
The stone table was filled with all kinds of nuts and exquisite snacks. Two maidservants stood behind the two women.
Xu Ling was wearing a long green dress that perfectly outlined her graceful figure. She was filled with the aura of a young girl.
Su Yun, on the other hand, was wearing a long purple dress that reached her chest. She was covered in a short silk coat and exuded a rich aura.
As expected of a rich young lady, her standard of living was extraordinary.
“Miss, Young Master Han has arrived.” The gatekeeper came outside the courtyard and bowed respectfully to Xu Ling.
When Xu Ling saw Han Zhao, her face lit up. She stood up and waved at him. “Junior Brother Han.”
Han Zhao walked forward. “Senior Sister Xu.”
As he spoke, he greeted Su Yun, “Senior Sister Su.”
Su Yun nodded and responded.
“Junior Brother Han, you don’t visit unless you need something.” Xu Ling looked at Han Zhao mockingly.
She sat down again and patted the stone bench beside her. “Why are you looking for me today? Sit down and talk!”
“Senior Sister Xu, you must be joking. However, I did come to look for you for something.” Han Zhao smiled awkwardly.
As he spoke, he glanced at the maids behind the two women.
Su Yun frowned. It seemed like Han Zhao wanted to borrow money from Xu Ling again.
Previously, it was already too much to ask for the Breeze Powder. Now, it was happening again.
200 taels of silver were enough for a Blood Tempering expert to be nominal.
He was really pushing his luck.
Just as she was about to speak, Xu Ling spoke first.
“Chun Tao, Qiu Ju, you guys can leave first.” Xu Ling gestured for the maidservant behind her to leave.
“Yes, Miss.” The two maids curtsied and walked out of the courtyard.
At this moment, Xu Ling looked at Su Yun.
Seeing this, Su Yun snorted in dissatisfaction and waved at the two maidservants behind her.
However, there was no movement behind him.
Su Yun turned around and saw that her two maidservants were staring straight at Han Zhao.
It was too embarrassing to look like someone who had never seen the world!
“Get lost!” Su Yun’s expression sank.
“Yes!” The two maids came back to their senses and hurriedly retreated.
“Junior Martial Brother Han, can you speak now?” Xu Ling asked with a smile.
Han Zhao nodded. He took out a bulging cloth bag and placed it on the stone table.
He opened the cloth bag. There were twenty silver ingots inside. Each silver ingot was ten taels, so it was a total of two hundred taels.
“Junior Martial Brother Han, this is?!” Looking at the silver in front of her, Xu Ling raised her head in surprise.
“This is the silver I owe you, Senior Sister Xu. According to the market price of the Breeze Powder and the dosage you gave me, it should be worth about 200 taels.” Han Zhao smiled.
“Could it be that Junior Martial Brother Han really…” Xu Ling revealed a shocked expression and quickly reacted. No wonder Junior Martial Brother Han wanted the maidservants to leave.
“Yes, Senior Song successfully killed that heretic Blood Tempering expert. It’s all thanks to your help this time. Senior Song also gave me a lot of compensation for my hard work.” Han Zhao’s expression turned solemn as he said seriously, “As for the favor I owe you, I can only repay it in the future.”
Xu Ling and the others widened their eyes and were at a loss for words.
Su Yun couldn’t help but look sideways. Although this world was very chaotic and all parties fought endlessly for benefits, it was basically limited to those below the Blood Tempering Realm martial artist. It was very rare to hear of a Blood Tempering Realm martial artist fighting to the death.
From Han Zhao’s words, it was obvious that the Senior Song he mentioned had killed that heretic Blood Tempering martial artist alone.
After a martial artist reached the Blood Tempering Realm, there would be a qualitative change. Their vitality would increase greatly, and they would not be easy to kill.
Although that heretic Blood Tempering martial artist was injured, he was good at using poison and was definitely not easy to deal with.
“Junior Brother Han, from what you’re saying, Senior Song doesn’t belong to any faction. You have a good relationship with him, right?” Su Yun changed the topic. If a person who could kill a Blood Tempering Realm martial artist of the same realm could join the Su family’s trading company, it would definitely allow the Su family’s trading company to expand its business. Her father would also have a higher say in the main lineage in the future.
However, considering that Han Zhao had a better relationship with Xu Ling, even if Senior Song chose to serve a faction, the probability of joining the Xu family would be higher.
However, in Su Yun’s opinion, this was not bad either. It could help Xu Ling obtain a huge advantage in the process of fighting for the family business.
The Su family’s trading company couldn’t handle Blackrock City’s business either. If Xu Ling could become the head of the family, with the relationship between the two families, they could work together to achieve greater success.
As soon as Su Yun finished speaking, Xu Ling reacted and looked at Han Zhao hopefully.
Her relationship with her second brother, Xu Jin, was already extremely bad. Now, Xu Jin was openly targeting her.
Unless she could break through to the Blood Tempering Realm in the next few years, her outcome would definitely be very tragic if she failed to compete for the position of family head.
“Senior Song indeed doesn’t belong to any faction, but he has no intention of joining any faction at the moment.” Han Zhao shook his head.
Unless he exposed himself, Song Que would have no choice but to fight alone. After all, he and Song Que couldn’t appear at the same time.
Otherwise, he would be willing to help Xu Ling.
When his Mountain Splitting Saber Technique broke through to the Blood Tempering Realm, he could officially help Xu Ling. This wouldn’t take long.
“I hope Senior Sister Xu and Senior Sister Su can help me keep this secret. Senior Song doesn’t want to be disturbed.”
Han Zhao added.
Of course, it did not matter even if he was exposed.
However, it was naturally best if he could be exposed later.
Although Xu Ling was a little disappointed, she saw Han Zhao’s serious expression and said seriously, “Don’t worry, I’ll keep it a secret.”
As she spoke, she glanced at Su Yun.
“Don’t worry, I’m not a big mouth.” Su Yun rolled her eyes at him.
“Thank you.” Han Zhao cupped his fists and said, “I still have something on, so I’ll take my leave first.”
“Junior Martial Brother Han…” Xu Ling’s pink lips parted slightly.
She wanted to ask Han Zhao to sit down and have a cup of tea, but Han Zhao had already left the courtyard.
After Han Zhao left, Su Yun picked up a silver ingot on the table and brought it to her eyes. She looked at the seal at the bottom of the silver and could not help but shake her head and laugh.
“How is it?” Xu Ling smiled brightly.
“It seems that I looked down on Junior Martial Brother Han a little too much.” Su Yun wasn’t stubborn and openly admitted it.
“I told you Junior Martial Brother Han was a man of his word!” Xu Ling raised her head with a proud expression.
“Alright, alright, alright. It’s my bad taste.” Su Yun teased, “Your Junior Brother Han is the best!”
“What nonsense are you spouting?! What do you mean by my…” Xu Ling blushed.
“Oh yes.”
Su Yun seemed to have thought of something. She called the maidservant in and whispered instructions into her ear.
“Su Yun, what are you trying to do? Don’t tell me you’ve revealed Junior Brother Han’s secret?” Xu Ling blinked.
“Wow, you! Am I such a person in your eyes?”
“No, I’m just a little worried, so…”
“You still say you didn’t? See if I don’t punish you!” Su Yun stood up and touched Xu Ling’s chest, reaching her hand into her undergarments.
“Aiya, what are you doing? Itchy~ I was wrong, I was wrong!” Xu Ling begged for mercy.
The two of them played around for a while before the maidservant returned to the courtyard. When she saw Xu Ling’s disheveled clothes and flushed face, she could not help but look sideways.
Su Yun sat upright on the stone bench and asked indifferently, “How is it?”
“Miss, it’s true.”
The maid curtsied and handed her a slip of paper with both hands.
Su Yun opened it and took a look. Her eyes immediately focused and she handed the note to Xu Ling.
Xu Ling took the paper. On it was Song Que’s portrait, and next to it was a line of small words.
Song Que: Saber Hunter, a foreign Blood Tempering Realm martial artist in his early thirties. He is good at saber and sword techniques. Chief Constable Wu Feiyi has evaluated his strength as unfathomable. He is suspected to have undergone a second Blood Qi Breakthrough!
“Junior Martial Brother Han isn’t simple!” Su Yun couldn’t help but sigh.
Just by looking at Song Que’s appearance, he had an extraordinary bearing. It was indeed extraordinary for Han Zhao to be able to build a good relationship with such an expert.
If Han Zhao broke through to the Blood Tempering Realm one day, or if Song Que joined the Xu family, then Xu Ling’s help back then would really give her a huge profit.
Of course, nothing had happened yet.
No one could predict the future in advance.
However, Han Zhao’s actions today made her doubt her judgment for the first time.