Starting as The Young Master of A Pharmacy, He Trained Swordsmanship in Seclusion For Twenty Years - Chapter 70

The only question was how many system points eliminating this Human-Faced Anomaly would yield.

Lu Xuan recalled that last time, killing the Hazardous-level anomaly in Liugou Village had netted him fifty system points.

“Enough of that. Tomorrow, I should first find a blacksmith to forge a new blade.”

With that, Lu Xuan stopped his musings and decided to have that kid Shen Yuan show him the way first thing in the morning.

The next day!

Early in the morning, the residence of the Black Tiger Gang leader was surrounded by dozens of county magistrate’s constables.

The main gate of the gang leader’s residence was tightly shut and sealed with official strips.

A middle-aged man wearing the uniform of the county’s chief constable stood blocking the entrance.

He impatiently waved at the pedestrians on the street in front of the door, shooing away those who wanted to watch the commotion.

“Move along, move along!”
“Official business! All idle bystanders, disperse!”
“Nothing to see here, everyone, clear out!”

However, the chief constable’s words did little to deter the curious onlookers.

“What’s going on here?”
“Isn’t this the Black Tiger Gang leader’s residence?”
“Why have the magistrate’s men surrounded it?”
“Well, I’ll be. This is like the floodwaters washing over the Dragon King’s temple [a saying meaning fighting among one’s own]. Doesn’t the Black Tiger Gang leader have… intricate connections with the Magistrate himself?”

The chief constable had originally intended to just stand post at the gate for show.
But when he heard someone in the crowd daring to gossip about his superior, he flew into a rage.

“Huh?”
“How dare you!”
“Who said that!”
“Step forward! Let me see who has the audacity to slander the Magistrate!”

Even if it were true, it wasn’t for them to say!
He wanted to see which fool had a death wish, whose life was too long!

As the chief constable’s genuine anger flared, the pedestrians crowded outside the gang leader’s residence immediately scattered like birds and beasts, fleeing in a disorderly swarm.

In the distance, two young men watched this scene unfold, taking it all in.
These two curious onlookers were none other than Lu Xuan and Shen Yuan.

Lu Xuan had asked Shen Yuan to take him out early to find a blacksmith shop.
They happened to pass by here; the Black Tiger Gang leader’s residence was only a street away from the Shen Residence.

Shen Yuan, seeing this, looked puzzled, seemingly unable to understand.
Strange, why are the magistrate’s men surrounding the Black Tiger Gang leader’s place?

Others might not know, but Shen Yuan was well aware.
The Black Tiger Gang leader was the Magistrate’s cousin. Who would dare send men to blockade his residence?

After watching for a moment, Shen Yuan lost interest.
Anyway, however they stirred up trouble was their business.
In clashes between powerful figures, it’s the common folk who suffer. Best not to be too curious about such things.

“Never mind, Brother Xuan, let’s go.”
“The blacksmith shop isn’t far. That old blacksmith is the most famous one in Dengfeng County.”
“Basically, all the skilled martial artists in the county go to him to forge their weapons.”

Before long, Lu Xuan followed Shen Yuan to a bustling, lively street.
Amid the crowded thoroughfare stood a large, prominent blacksmith shop.

As Lu Xuan and Shen Yuan stepped inside, the interior scene unfolded before Lu Xuan’s eyes.
Around the main hall of the shop stood several tall wooden racks filled with all kinds of weapons.
The hall was already packed with martial artists there to make purchases, creating a cacophony of noisy, lively chatter.

“Young Master Shen!”

Two shop assistants, seemingly spotting Shen Yuan outside, hurried over, their faces breaking into ingratiating smiles.

“Mm.”
“Where’s Uncle Liu? Take me to him. It’s been a while since I last paid my respects to Uncle Liu.”

Shen Yuan seemed very much at home, giving instructions to the two assistants.
The ‘Uncle Liu’ Shen Yuan referred to was the owner of this blacksmith shop, Liu Yi!

Led by one of the assistants, Lu Xuan and Shen Yuan went up to the second floor of the blacksmith shop.
The atmosphere here was completely different from the bustling main hall below; it was quiet and secluded.
The corridor on the second floor was lined with rooms, their doors tightly shut.

“Brother Xuan, only honored guests of the blacksmith shop can come up here.”

Shen Yuan didn’t forget to explain to Lu Xuan.

Following the assistant, they reached the end of the corridor.

Knock, knock, knock!

The assistant raised his hand and gently knocked on the door at the end of the hall.

“Shopkeeper, Young Master Shen Yuan is here to see you!”

The next moment, a vigorous voice came from inside the room.

“What brings young Shen here? Let him in.”

The door opened, and Lu Xuan and Shen Yuan walked in without hesitation.

Lu Xuan scanned the room. The interior looked very simple and austere.
Only a few small stands were arranged, displaying some exquisitely crafted weapons that gleamed under the daylight.
Further in was a bare-chested, burly middle-aged man with skin the color of bronze and a short white beard on his chin.

“Young Shen Yuan, what brings you to see this old man? Shouldn’t you be at home keeping your lovely wife company?”

The middle-aged man smiled upon seeing Shen Yuan, his tone teasing.

“Uncle Liu, please don’t tease me. Didn’t I come specifically to visit you?”

Shen Yuan’s face reddened, looking somewhat embarrassed.

The shopkeeper, Liu Yi, had a very close relationship with Shen Yuan’s father, Shen Yunwei.
That’s why Shen Yuan dared to speak so casually and joke with Liu Yi.

Ever since marrying Lu Qingqing, his life had become a two-point routine, constantly shuttling between the medicine shop and the Shen Residence.
In the past, obsessed with martial arts, he would often come to the blacksmith shop to pick out good weapons for his training.

“Alright, out with it. You showing up here out of the blue surely means you want something.”
“See a weapon you like? This old man will make the call—it’s yours!”

Liu Yi looked very cheerful, speaking with an air of generosity.

“Uncle Liu, you jest. How could I dare take advantage of your generosity? If my father found out, he’d probably break my legs.”

Hearing this, Shen Yuan quickly waved his hands, declining Liu Yi’s offer.

Then, without beating around the bush, Shen Yuan got straight to the point.

“Uncle Liu, this is my brother, Xuan!”
“I’m just here today to run an errand for him. He wants to buy a blade from you!”

“Oh?”

Hearing Shen Yuan’s words, Liu Yi looked at Lu Xuan with some surprise.
This young Shen Yuan was proud and arrogant by nature. For him to so readily admit he was running an errand for someone else…

Interesting!

Lu Xuan, standing to the side, made no attempt to hide his purpose. He looked directly at the shopkeeper, Liu Yi, clasped his fists, and said.

“Shopkeeper Liu, I would like to purchase a good blade!”