Chapter 127: The Business That Begins in Earnest

At dawn, the light snow gradually ceased.

A pale streak of white appeared on the horizon, and soon after, a golden glow lit up, staining half the sky red.

Amid the crimson clouds, half a blazing red sun floated at the edge of the sky.

The temperature remained just as cold, the snow still thick, but the shift in the sky’s hue made it feel far more bearable than night.

Chu Tianshu gazed out the window at the scene.

The road was lined with vehicles, all moving slowly.

Along one side of the road stretched vast stretches of factories, their iron gates piled with snow, windows tightly shut.

On the other side lay vast, flat expanses of snow, whether originally farmland or not, now buried beneath white.

Dozens of power line towers stood within the snow, wires stretching overhead to connect to distant poles.

Early as it was, many power workers had already climbed the towers, wielding hammers and wooden poles to clear frozen ice and snow.

A few minutes later, the car turned onto a cement road.

Compared to the earlier highway, the power poles beside this road were noticeably shorter.

Some old poles, seemingly abandoned, exposed their steel rebar inside, yet had not been removed, still leaning beside newer poles.

Both old and new wires were strung atop the poles, stretching into the distance.

Many young people in blue-and-white school uniforms, wearing gloves, held wooden sticks to clear ice here.

Chu Tianshu noticed, on the left chest of their uniforms, two bold ink-stroke characters: “Golden Knife.”

Beside the characters, red-thread-embroidered fire clouds added a splash of color against the snow.

“Our martial arts school students have been taking turns outside clearing ice and snow, with a few temporary electricians giving basic guidance.”

Qi Lianyong, gripping the steering wheel, smiled as he spotted the students.

“Everyone here trains martial arts—strong bodies, no burden of heavy academic work like those purely scholarly schools, so they’ve got time to help out.”

“If Little White hadn’t been kidnapped and we didn’t have to chase after him, we’d probably be out clearing ice this morning too.”

Chu Tianshu nodded. “The weather’s fine this morning, but my phone says more sleet is coming.”

Qi Lianyong pointed ahead. “We’re almost at the school.”

The car turned from the cement road onto a wide asphalt road.

Across the asphalt stood a towering stone archway.

The four gilded characters “Golden Knife Martial Arts School” were carved into the arch’s lintel; on either side stretched long walls.

Qi Lianyong leaned out and greeted the gatekeeper.

The sliding iron gates opened, and several cars drove in one after another.

Snow inside the campus had been shoveled aside and piled onto the grassy edges.

The lush trees on both sides, though weighed down by snow, still showed their deep green hues.

Looking ahead, a large stone-paved square came into view; the fountain pool in the center was frozen, and several buildings bore massive engraved characters on their sides, their purposes immediately clear.

Teaching Building, Library, Cafeteria, Lab Building, Indoor Sports Hall…

Further off, other buildings bore no visible names.

“Since this is a martial arts school, the largest open area is naturally the outdoor training ground.”

Qi Lianyong explained, “The training ground is divided into several zones for different grade levels.”

“Compared to ordinary schools’ playgrounds, ours has more sand pits, plum-blossom stakes, weapon racks, dummies, and straw bundles…”

“Hey! It’s breakfast time—let’s head to the cafeteria.”

Chu Tianshu smiled. “Perfect.”

All the cars pulled up outside the cafeteria.

After getting out, Chu Tianshu glanced around and saw the principal and others had also exited, leaving only the captives inside the vehicles.

Inside the large cafeteria, tables and chairs were neatly arranged, but few people were present.

A thin, pale-haired man with light eyebrows, wrapped in a black fur coat, was pouring hot water from a thermos into his large teacup.

Beside him stood a woman in her thirties, short-haired, with a straight nose and full lips, dressed in casual pants and a top, wearing sports shoes.

“Dad, with today’s industrial pollution, your melted snow water is worse than tap water.”

The white-haired man remained unmoved. “Even scientifically, snow water contains less heavy water and more active components—it’s beneficial.”

“Besides, I’ve trained for fifty years—do you think I’d get diarrhea from snow water? Even if you slipped arsenic in, you won’t stop my habit!”

The woman clucked. “I just hate how you waste good tea leaves.”

Feng Jianhua walked in and laughed heartily. “Old Yuan, Little Yuan, still at it with the tea?”

He pulled out two cans of cola. “Here, drink cola!”

Old Yuan sighed. “My tea’s almost ready—I won’t drink this sweet nonsense.”

Qi Lianyong introduced from behind: “This is our vice-principal, Yuan Chongxiao; the young one is Teacher Yuan Zhonglu, who teaches Chinese.”

Chu Tianshu whispered, “Pi?”

“Yuan, Zhong, Lü.”

Young Teacher Yuan smiled and stepped forward to shake hands. “The ‘Zhong’ and ‘Lü’ from the ‘Zhong-Lü Transmission of the Dao’—you must be Mr. Chu, the one Teacher Qi mentioned on the phone. Pleased to meet you.”

As Chu Tianshu shook her hand, he sensed her body’s hidden resilience, her strength like a slender, taut bowstring.

He couldn’t tell if she practiced internal energy, but in strength cultivation, she was clearly an expert.

She too sensed something, praising: “Your heartbeat echoes like the lingering tone of a bronze bell—Mr. Chu, your physique is remarkably clear and refined!”

“Have you eaten yet? Join us?”

Chu Tianshu didn’t refuse. “What’s on offer?”

“Morning options are simple: soy milk, fried dough sticks, buns, tea eggs.”

Young Teacher Yuan paused. “And ginger-cooked cola.”

Yuan Chongxiao said, “The principal took half a crate of cola last night and ran off—I figured he’d need more on the road, so I asked the cafeteria to prepare extra.”

“Turns out he arrived too late—the matter was already settled, no need for him to act. Saved a lot of cola.”

Chu Tianshu found this odd.

It sounded as if Principal Feng needed to drink more cola the more he fought.

Qi Lianyong chuckled softly. “Just one of the principal’s quirks.”

The short-haired girl and others seemed utterly unfazed.

Bai Mei, who had been sleeping soundly in the short-haired woman’s arms, suddenly woke, meowed at Chu Tianshu, and leapt to his feet.

Yuan Chongxiao exclaimed in surprise. “Since Old Yang passed, Little White only became slightly more affectionate when he wanted snacks—why is he so eager with Mr. Chu?”

Young Teacher Yuan stepped back beside her father and whispered, “Wasn’t Uncle Yang the top strength cultivator in the school?”

Yuan Chongxiao shook his head. “We’ve had other strength experts visit—maybe it’s just a matter of affinity.”

Chu Tianshu gently lifted his foot, nudging the cat aside; it returned three times before he snapped his fingers.

“Alright, let’s go get something to eat.”

He walked toward the cafeteria counter, Bai Mei trotting after him, alert and eager.

Not knowing what the cat liked, Chu Tianshu ordered several tea eggs and fried dough sticks, and, out of curiosity, two portions of ginger-cooked cola.

After placing the tray on the table, he took a sip of the ginger-cooked cola.

Confirmed.

It was nothing but ginger-sweetened water—no surprise at all.

He bit into a tea egg and decided not to offer any opinion.

After all, this was a school cafeteria—even the famed Golden Knife Martial Arts School only ensured nutritional value.

As for taste, the tea egg was merely salty and drenched in overly thick soy sauce—nothing else penetrated.

Perhaps his taste buds were just too sensitive, too picky.

Principal Feng had already mentioned “Li Guangzong,” “interrogation,” and “Ghost Market” to the vice-principal.

Yuan Chongxiao looked regretful.

“Fine, I’ll take him. The others, send them to the Special Captors’ juniors.”

Yuan Chongxiao picked up his large teacup and left the cafeteria.

Qi Lianyong and the others were busy ordering and eating.

Principal Feng walked over to Chu Tianshu and scratched Bai Mei under the chin.

Bai Mei closed its eyes in delight, forgetting its fried dough stick, and without realizing it, was lifted into Feng’s arms and placed across the table.

“Taste’s pretty ordinary, right?”

Principal Feng smiled. “Everyone here burns a lot of energy—they eat and feel satisfied. But I find it bland; I rarely eat cafeteria food.”

“If you don’t like it, come to my office—I’ll get you something better?”

Chu Tianshu, halfway through peeling his tea egg, said, “I already ordered—wasting food isn’t good. I’ll just eat this for now.”

Principal Feng nodded lightly.

“Alright, then—eating while talking is an old tradition. Let’s get to the business.”

Feng Jianhua lifted another steaming bowl of ginger-sweet tea, took a sip, and spoke calmly.

“Lately, strange events have been frequent—several department heads have been sent to branch campuses.”

“Fewer people here can make decisions. I get sleepy when it gets cold, so let’s talk early—what exactly is this business you want to discuss?”

He just blurted it out like that? Not a hint of a merchant’s tact.

Chu Tianshu, however, was perfectly at ease. “I’ve hit a barrier in my cultivation—I need a master steeped in lethal qi to speak the word ‘kill’ aloud while I train, to help purge my distractions.”

Principal Feng’s eyes flickered with surprise: “From what you’re saying, did you encounter a bodily calamity?”

Virtue not matching one’s position inevitably brings disaster.

When the body cannot match the progress of one’s mind, it is called a ‘bodily calamity.’

When the mind cannot match the advancement of one’s martial art, it is called a ‘mental calamity.’

This is a native martial arts term, with broad applicability.

Chu Tianshu said: “In my martial art, this is called the Mortal Body Barrier.”

“A Fomen term?”

Principal Feng pondered briefly, then nodded. “Indeed, that’s quite apt.”

“Your business, as you describe it, only requires someone to chant the word ‘kill’ for you—but the requirements are far from low.”

Chu Tianshu smiled: “I think your previous killing intent was more than sufficient.”

He opened his mobile banking app, pulled up his account balance, and placed the screen on the table.

“Take a look—how long could these funds hire you to help me with this business?”

Principal Feng glanced at it and chuckled: “Hmm, your wealth isn’t bad—but for me to chant the word ‘kill’ for you…”

The old man sipped ginger-sugar water, thinking for a long while.

“Here’s another option—I have another method. Come with me and see if it meets your standard.”

(End of Chapter)