Martial Arts: I Have a Wilderness World-Chapter 85 - 84: Buying Martial Arts

In the blink of an eye, an hour had passed.

In South City, inside a dilapidated old residence, Cheng Zongyang handed the buns in his hands to the beggars there.

This was a temporary gathering spot for the city’s beggars.

After a great deal of effort, he managed to learn some things from them.

’This should be foolproof now. I hope I won’t have to use my backup plan.’

Using that backup plan would mean the situation in the city had spiraled out of control.

Time continued to pass. As night fell, Cheng Zongyang left his residence with a black cloth strip tied over his face.

All the necessary preparations were complete. All that was left was to buy the Martial Arts and get his second uncle. Then, in the morning, he would take his second uncle and aunt and leave the County Town.

After this, he likely wouldn’t return to the County Town until the surrounding situation stabilized.

As long as he could hold out for a while and add a few more Martial Artists to the family, things would be much more secure.

The County Town was currently under curfew. As long as he was careful and avoided being seen by the patrolling government officials, he should be fine.

He felt his way through the darkness, heading toward the East Gate. Having been there before, he was familiar with the route.

After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, ducking and weaving through the streets, he arrived at a sealed-off area near the East Gate.

An area under the nightly watch of the Gangs.

Two men stood at the entrance. They held Long Sabers, their faces expressionless and their gazes cold.

Cheng Zongyang walked up to them. Instead of trying to enter, he said to the men at the gate:

"I’m looking to spend some money."

The guard, who had been about to stop him, paused and glanced at Cheng Zongyang. "The rules."

Cheng Zongyang immediately took out five taels of silver and handed it over.

The guard took the silver, weighed it in his hand, and gave a slight nod. "Follow me."

And so, the guard who took the money led Cheng Zongyang into the black market.

However, they didn’t go down the street with stalls and vendors, but another one lined with residences.

A moment later, they arrived at the tightly shut doors of a private house.

The guard stepped forward and knocked on the door with a specific rhythm.

After a short wait, the door was opened from the inside, revealing a plainly dressed young man.

The guard said nothing, simply leading Cheng Zongyang inside.

Candlelight flickered within, and there was no one else around. After closing the door, the young man followed behind them without a word.

Cheng Zongyang was secretly on high alert as he followed the guard into the main hall. If Li Lu hadn’t said this place could be trusted, he really wouldn’t have dared to enter so casually.

Just then, the man in front of him spoke. "Since someone referred you, that means you know the rules."

Cheng Zongyang nodded. "I do. Martial Arts of the Beginner or Elementary Levels are fine. Or even High Level ones that are missing their final sections."

The guard nodded after hearing this and glanced at the young man behind Cheng Zongyang.

The young man gave a slight nod and, still silent, walked toward the inner room.

A moment later, the young man returned with seven or eight booklets, which he placed on the table and arranged in a row.

"These are the Martial Arts you asked for. Three Beginner Level Martial Arts, four Elementary Level ones, and the incomplete one you requested."

Hearing this, Cheng Zongyang reached for them. But the guard tapped the booklets with his scabbard, blocking him, and said in a cold tone:

"You may not view more than three pages. Otherwise, you must buy it."

Cheng Zongyang paused, nodded, and withdrew his hand. He then glanced at the names on the booklets.

Beginner: Basic Stick Technique, Basic Boxing Skill, Basic Saber Technique

Elementary Level: Bull’s Charge, Blood Slaughter Saber Technique, Mad Dog Staff Technique, Wind-breaking Saber Technique

High Level Imperfection: Wind-Stepping Step

A sharp glint appeared in Cheng Zongyang’s eyes as he looked at the eight booklets.

At this point, the guard reminded him, "The Beginner Level Martial Arts are normal transcriptions with no annotations. They are thirty taels each.

The Elementary Level ones have no annotations and are sixty taels each.

That incomplete one is a High Level Martial Arts. It originally had four techniques, but it’s missing the Fourth Technique, so it’s priced as a Middle Level Martial Arts at one hundred taels.

Alright, consider your options. You have limited time, only half an incense stick’s worth."

Hearing the prices, Cheng Zongyang nodded impassively. He picked up Bull’s Charge and, while opening it to the first page, asked:

"And what if they were annotated versions?"

"Double the price."

Cheng Zongyang paused, then gave a slight nod.

The Beginner Level Martial Arts were a better deal; they could be used to build a foundation for children. The Elementary Level ones were more suitable for adults.

Of course, it wasn’t that adults couldn’t use the Beginner techniques, just that they would find the training much easier to grasp than children would.

Cheng Zongyang quickly did the math in his head. All eight Martial Arts came out to four hundred thirty taels!

’It’s enough!’

Cheng Zongyang immediately made a decision.

So, he put down the booklet and looked at the guard. "If I take them all, can’t you give me a discount?"

"All of them?" The guard was a bit surprised. He then said, "We guarantee our Cultivation Techniques and Martial Arts are authentic and complete. Therefore, the prices are final. No haggling."

Cheng Zongyang was speechless.

In the end, he took out four hundred twenty-five taels in silver notes and loose silver to pay for them.

With that, Cheng Zongyang gathered up all eight of the incredibly precious Martial Arts booklets.

Now, he had less than one hundred taels of silver left on him.

This would have to be left at home for emergencies.

The transaction complete, Cheng Zongyang opened the door, preparing to leave the small courtyard.

Just as he was about to leave, the guard suddenly spoke up.

"Wait a moment."

Cheng Zongyang froze and turned to look at him. "What is it?"

"You’re not a Martial Artist from one of the city’s factions, are you?"

Instantly, Cheng Zongyang’s heart leaped with vigilance. He said flatly, "What are you trying to say?"

"No need to be nervous." The guard smiled and walked over. "Let me introduce myself. My name is Li Xiaofei, and I’m a member of the Celestial Eagle Gang. This black market is a joint enterprise of the Four Great Gangs."

Cheng Zongyang listened in silence.

"You must be a Martial Artist from a small family, correct? I don’t mean anything by it, but right now, our Celestial Eagle Sect is in urgent need of Martial Artists. If you’re willing to join, the compensation will definitely satisfy you. Plus, you’ll be able to borrow Martial Arts Techniques and Martial Arts for free."

Cheng Zongyang had heard about this from Li Lu. The major Noble Races and Gangs were all recruiting Martial Artists.

Although the benefits were good, Cheng Zongyang wasn’t interested. He politely refused, "My apologies, but I currently have no intention of joining your esteemed gang. Farewell."

Li Xiaofei watched Cheng Zongyang’s departing figure with a burning gaze but did nothing else.

He was there to maintain the black market, not to rob people on the road.

If the black market’s people started attacking customers, word would get out, and they might as well shut down.

As long as you were within the black market’s territory, everything had to be kept stable and secure.

Outside the black market, however, it was none of their business.

Just then, the young man from before came up behind Li Xiaofei and whispered, "People from the other families have been loitering near the black market recently. Shouldn’t you tell him?"

Li Xiaofei shot him a look.

"As long as they don’t cause trouble inside the black market, we don’t interfere in matters outside it. That’s the rule. If we’re the ones to break the rules, we’ll just be giving them an excuse. We shouldn’t break the rules unless absolutely necessary. Let the An and Miao Families handle it. However, one more Martial Artist means our chances of success increase. You keep watch. I’m going to take a look; maybe I can still win him over."

"Yes, sir." The young man clasped his hands in a salute.

Cheng Zongyang tucked the eight small booklets, which combined were still thinner than a single book, inside his robes and quickly left the black market.

With these eight Martial Arts, plus the Body Refining Skill, it would be enough for his family’s initial accumulation of resources.

However, he had just left the black market area, turned a corner, and entered a shortcut through an alley when two people suddenly blocked his path.

Cheng Zongyang’s heart lurched as his gaze darted around warily.