Longevity Martial Arts: I have a Mysterious Water Snake Avatar-Chapter 192 - 185: The Cruel World Devours People! Muscular Protection!
Lichun House is a famous brothel in Pengcheng. Though located in the outer city, it attracts scions of noble families and Martial Artists from the inner city with its charm.
In recent years, it has welcomed a major patron—Zhang Chenye, a Disciple of the Qinglu Taoist Temple from the Overlord Sect and the transport commissioner of Pengcheng.
Zhang Chenye is known for his generous spending. Despite his unpredictable and brutal nature, the women of Lichun House still flock to him, one after another.
This included Zhang Yingyu!
With this Silver Coin, Yinghe can join the Hui Shan Fist Martial Club and might even get the opportunity to have his potential awakened, Zhang Yingyu thought, happily looking at the substantial amount of Silver Coin by her pillow.
She thought she was going to die three days ago, but she had lucked out and survived.
Zhang Chenye was a pervert, an extreme one. He unleashed his pent-up bestial urges on the brothel’s women without restraint.
Whipping, wax dripping, bondage... All manner of aberrant activities left even Zhang Yingyu, a seasoned woman of Lichun House, feeling terrified.
If there were to be a next time, Zhang Yingyu did not doubt that she would meet the same demise as the other unfortunate sisters.
Zhang Yingyu lifted her head. Just as she reached to push the Silver Coin under her pillow, she could not help but let out a hiss of pain. Sharp pains coursed through her lower body and back, bringing tears to her eyes. Yet she clenched her teeth and stayed silent while she continued to push the Silver Coin under her pillow, hiding the Silver Coin well.
My parents are gone; I must raise Yinghe and provide a bright future for him.
I can be as lowly as grass, but Yinghe absolutely cannot!
Thinking of her brother, Yinghe, Zhang Yingyu’s heart was filled with joy and sorrow.
Yinghe was proud and abhorred the idea of his sister degrading herself in such a place as Lichun House.
But as a weak woman, how else could she raise Yinghe? And how could she even think to secure a bright future for him?
The current world was truly cruel!
「Sanli District.」
In a dilapidated hut with a broken-tiled roof in a corner of the district.
Hong Yuan was on a ladder. With the aid of the young Zhang Yinghe, Hong Yuan climbed onto the eaves and began laying new clay tiles to repair the dilapidated corner of the hut.
"Yezi, the clay tiles are ready," Zhang Yinghe called out loudly after setting the tiles in a basket.
Hong Yuan responded with a grunt, slowly pulling up the rope, and powerfully hoisted the basket filled with a stack of tiles.
Below him, Zhang Yinghe looked on with stars in his eyes, full of admiration as he gazed at Hong Yuan’s bulging, exposed muscles.
This is strength! True manliness is having a thick waist and broad shoulders, brimming with potent Power Tao!
Yezi has such huge fists, just like sandbags! he marveled.
If he were my age, he would definitely join the Hui Shan Fist Martial Club and be taken in as Elder Zheng’s secret Disciple; maybe Elder Zheng would even pay him Silver Coin to join!
Zhang Yinghe’s admiration grew.
The Hui Shan Fist Martial Club was the strongest force accessible to the children of Sanli District.
To them, places like Qinglu Taoist Temple and Phoenix Creek Sect were too remote.
Zhang Yinghe had once witnessed Elder Zheng cleaving a stone in half with his strength, an event that had astonished the entirety of the outer city.
Elder Zheng is a third-tier Martial Artist. If Yezi is taken in, he might soar to great heights and become a Martial Artist himself!
Zhang Yinghe clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with fiery passion.
Lost in his excitement, he selectively ignored Hong Yuan’s calls.
Looking down at the inexplicably agitated Zhang Yinghe, Hong Yuan’s lips twitched. Could it be that this kid has developed some issues from being isolated by others because his sister works in that kind of establishment? I hope not; problem kids are quite a handful...
After several more shouts from Hong Yuan, Zhang Yinghe, jolting as if electrocuted, quickly trotted over to place the clay tiles in the basket.
Faced with such a troubled youth, Hong Yuan could only offer gentle reminders, patiently laying the tiles himself to fix Zhang Yinghe’s roof.
Indeed, apart from being a laborer, Hong Yuan had also become half a roofer!
Furthermore, for nearly a month, under the pretext of earning Silver Coin for a wife, he had mingled in various trades in the outer city of Pengcheng. Thanks to his culinary skills, he even took up a position as head cook at a family celebration!
Thus, while Hong Yuan did not manage to ascertain the exact whereabouts of the other Qinglu Taoist Temple Disciples, he did manage to track the unpredictable Zhang Chenye.
However, to lure Zhang Baicun and the others from the inner city, Hong Yuan remained cautious in maintaining his ’Niu Yezi’ identity.
Phew, that’s done. Zhang Yinghe is just a boy; he probably won’t just pay based on time. No need to drag it out, Hong Yuan thought to himself.
Brushing off his hands, he descended the wooden ladder.
It had been less than an hour since he had started working; he had completed the job quite efficiently.
"Yezi, is it finished?" Zhang Yinghe asked, bringing a gourd full of rough tea and offering it to Hong Yuan.
Hong Yuan pulled out the gourd stopper and poured the bitter tea straight into his mouth.
GULP. GULP.
His expression was natural, his demeanor calm, indistinguishable from any other bricklayer who had finished their work.
"Of course," Hong Yuan said pridefully as he set aside the gourd, extremely confident in his craftsmanship. "You can rest assured with my work. If there are any problems, you come find me."
The young Zhang Yinghe believed him and reached into his sleeve for the Silver Coin, taking out the agreed-upon wages to give to Hong Yuan.
Watching Hong Yuan’s departing figure, Zhang Yinghe’s eyes were filled with longing.
Someday, I will earn Silver Coin with my own hands like Hong Yuan, support my sister, and provide for this family!
"Yezi."
Zhang Yingyu, a beautiful woman with bright eyes and pale skin beneath her veil, greeted Hong Yuan.
Zhang Yingyu had a slender figure, dressed in a plain white dress that ended mid-thigh, revealing alluring fair skin.
By her side, the old laborer Zhang Xiaohua stood silently, protecting her.
"Miss Rongyu," Hong Yuan nodded in return.
Exchanging a glance with the old laborer Zhang Xiaohua, Hong Yuan saw the melancholy in his eyes.
As an elder unable to protect his niece and nephew, it is indeed tragic for a man with a sense of responsibility.
The situation of the old laborer Zhang Xiaohua and Zhang Yingyu unavoidably reminded Hong Yuan of himself and Yue’er...
Hong Yuan sighed quietly in his heart and said no more, promptly leaving.
The weather was already gloomy.
Shortly after Hong Yuan left, a light rain began to fall.
Raindrops dripped from the eaves, striking the clay tiles.
Inside the dilapidated hut, Zhang Yinghe anxiously watched the corner of the roof that Hong Yuan had repaired.
DRIP. DRIP. DRIP... The tiles made a crisp sound.
After a while, Zhang Yinghe breathed a sigh of relief, patting his chest. Yezi is really a reliable person; no wonder Hua heaps so much praise on him.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Zhang Yinghe, sitting on a stool, immediately took out some lime powder from his pocket and held it in his right hand.
As he called out to see who it was, he prepared to throw the lime powder.
"Who is it!?"
"Yinghe, it’s me..."
Hearing his sister Zhang Yingyu’s voice, Zhang Yinghe quickly rewrapped the lime powder in its paper and opened the door.
Under the eaves by the wall, Zhang Yinghe and Zhang Yingyu stood.
"Yinghe, Sister has some Silver Coin now," Zhang Yingyu said softly, her voice as clear as a mountain spring. "You can go to the Hui Shan Fist Martial Club and train. You’ll have the chance to become a Martial Artist!"
Looking at the Silver Coin in his sister’s hand, Zhang Yinghe was silent for a long time.
His masculine pride made it hard to accept his sister’s life-risking money to chase the distant dream of becoming a Martial Artist.
Just as he was about to refuse, he recalled the diligent and steadfast Hong Yuan from this recent period.
He especially remembered Hong Yuan’s arms, as thick as thighs, and his broad back, like a mountain capable of supporting a family.
Slowly, a determined light grew in Zhang Yinghe’s eyes, and a resolution formed in his heart.
Under Zhang Yingyu’s anxious gaze, Zhang Yinghe nodded heavily. "Sister, I will make something of myself quickly, so you can escape this sea of suffering soon."
Hearing her brother begin to understand her, Zhang Yingyu’s eyes misted over again, tears welling up.
She hugged her brother Zhang Yinghe tightly, tears streaming down her face as she cried silently.
"Dad, Mom, do you see? Yinghe has grown up... SOB. SOB..."
Outside the eaves, the rain subsided, and a rainbow slowly rose into the sky, bringing a hint of warmth to the gloomy and narrow Sanli District.
In the green alleyways tinged with blackish gray, Hong Yuan, now clad in the ’Li Jianhe’ guise, hurried through the streets, heading straight for Lichun House.
Zhang Chenye would be seeking pleasure at Lichun House again at dusk.
The Heavenly River Sword could hardly wait any longer!
VMMMM...
