Chapter 173

Since Pingyang Town was changed to Pingyang County, and with the possibility of replacing Huaiyin Prefecture in the future, the whole atmosphere was completely different.

Except for the Cao Shixiong who had never been seen in the Western Army, several Senior Brothers who didn't live nearby had moved to Pingyang County one after another.

Liang Qu visited them all along the way, and it didn't even take an hour.

Bidding farewell to the last Cao Shixiong Yu, Liang Qu walked along the street and entered a shop; the lacquerware on the horizontal shelves was dazzling.

"Shopkeeper Wang, has the large item I wanted been delivered?"

"Oh, Lord Liang!"

The shopkeeper walked out from behind the counter, gave an order to his servant, and personally served tea to greet him, "Lord Liang, you've come just at the right time. The yellow pear wood weapon rack I told you about last night was just delivered this morning. Take a look and see if you're satisfied?"

While speaking, two servants carried a vermilion wooden rack from the backyard and placed it on the ground.

It was a square wooden board with carved flowers, with a double-sided rack underneath; both sides of the board were painted, with a black base and vermilion edges, outlining dark red cloud-dragon patterns.

The front of the square board had three rows of curved wooden hooks, one in the center of the top row, and two each in the middle and bottom rows.

As Yang Dongxiong was a Hunting Tiger martial artist, Liang Qu couldn't send anything truly useful, so he could only choose a large item from the small categories.

A so-called weapon rack is a horizontal weapon stand; a sword, a saber, or even a long spear could be placed horizontally on it.

Ordinary martial families used vertical display racks, with makeshift wood, and they certainly wouldn't be lacquered; only nobles would use lacquered weapon racks.

"Hairpins and tassels never cease, weapon racks face each other"—the weapon rack refers to a prominent family.

Last time he went to the Yang Mansion, he saw that Yang Dongxiong's weapon rack was slightly old and kept it in mind.

With a glossy, generous, and beautiful appearance, Liang Qu nodded continuously while touching the rack; it was much better than the makeshift one in his own home.

"How much?"

The shopkeeper laughed: "For anyone else, I would charge at least a hundred taels for this rack, but a good horse deserves a good saddle, and a good ship deserves a good sail. Since it's for Lord Liang, I'll give you a discount—eighty-eight taels! How about that?"

Eighty-eight taels, in normal times, could buy nearly a hundred shi of grain; not counting other things, it was enough for a family of six to eat for three years.

Liang Qu bared his teeth.

Lacquerware is inherently expensive; a good lacquer plate is worth several taels of silver, and with better patterns and carving, it could easily exceed two digits.

The materials used for the rack in front of him were excellent, the lacquer wasn't bad, the patterns were exquisite, and it was a large item—eighty-eight taels.

The shopkeeper was right; he really gave him a cheap price.

"Done, I'll take it!"

"Alright, shall I wrap it up and send it to your mansion?"

The shopkeeper took the silver note, didn't even look at it, and tucked it into his bosom.

"Shopkeeper, aren't you going to check if it's real?"

"No need! Lord Liang is our Pingyang County's famous young hero. You kicked the hall in March and became famous in Pingyang County. I even went to watch that day; clean, neat, and top-notch handsome—I don't know how many young girls you've infatuated."

The shopkeeper tied the rack with a red rope and pulled out a knot that could be lifted.

"My little son also once studied martial arts at Master Yang's hall for two or three years, and now he's a Second-Barrier martial artist.

Although he can't compare to you lords, he has some achievements compared to the neighbors on the left and right, and he can save some face when he goes out...

Take it well, come often in the future, and leave a word if you want anything; I'll save good items for you. If you don't like them, it doesn't matter; I do business and know many people, so I'll go elsewhere to find them for you."

"Shopkeeper Wang is too kind."

Liang Qu cupped his hands.

Yang Mansion.

The gatekeeper saw it was the Ninth Master, opened the door to let Liang Qu in, and upon hearing his intention, ran to report it himself.

Two servants came up to take the rack and followed behind Liang Qu.

When Liang Qu paced to the hall, Yang Dongxiong and Mistress Xu were already sitting on the left and right.

He stepped over the threshold and bowed.

"Disciple Liang Qu pays respects to Master and Mistress!"

"Sit."

Yang Dongxiong waved his hand, and a maid came up to pour tea.

"Why did you think of coming today? Did you encounter any difficulties?"

"Just a happy occasion to share with Master and Mistress."

Liang Qu looked back, and the two servants carried the rack into the hall.

"A weapon rack?" Yang Dongxiong stood up, knocked on it, and lifted it, "Yellow pear wood?"

"Master has sharp eyes!" Liang Qu said with a chuckle, "Disciple saw a few days ago that Master's rack was a bit old, so I took the liberty of bringing a new one for Master."

Mistress Xu smiled: "What kind of happy occasion is such a valuable gift for? You're showing courtesy for no reason; don't tell me you've taken a fancy to some girl and want us to be your matchmaker?"

Liang Qu blushed slightly: "Mistress, you're wronging me; it's only right and proper for a disciple to show filial piety to his Master."

Don't you know there's a rule in the carpenter's trade: after becoming an apprentice, you have to serve your Master and Mistress in every way, teaching them to make stools for five years and tables for ten.

How many ten years are there in a life?

Serving excrement and urine for ten years just to learn how to make a table?

Yang Dongxiong truly treated him as a disciple, and he truly showed filial piety to his Master.

If it weren't for the platform Yang Dongxiong gave him, Liang Qu would still be drifting around in Yixing Market, only able to sing Lotus Songs everywhere—oh, you have to have a master to sing Lotus Songs too.

Yang Dongxiong felt very comforted and sat back in the grand chair.

"What exactly is the happy occasion?"

"Master knows that the disciple works in the River Patrol Office. At the beginning of the month, I was ordered to go to Fengbu County to solve a case of water monsters hurting people. Unexpectedly, there was more to it; the spirit monster wasn't a real spirit monster, but a person in disguise."

Liang Qu briefly introduced the rise of the Liu Jie and Liu Yi brothers.

Including their evil deeds of sending people to disguise themselves as spirit monsters to kill, sink ships, and use fishing weirs to control the livelihoods of tens of thousands of fishermen in the whole county.

"Disciple killed all the Liu brothers, and the entire Fengbu County is being thoroughly investigated by the Three Judicial Departments.

Brother Xu took care of me, counting the case investigation and the bandit suppression separately, giving me two major merits, an opportunity for promotion, some silver, and a mysterious iron bow.

Besides that, there is one more thing: the disciple has broken through the Blood Barrier and has been certified as a martial artist!"

Martial artist, martial artist—one who can be a teacher in the martial path.

Being able to become a Four-Barrier martial artist is definitely a great happy occasion.

"According to what you said, this Whale Gang has committed many evil deeds; it's not unjust to kill them!"

Yang Dongxiong isn't someone who can't tolerate sand in his eyes, but the Whale Gang was no longer sand—it was a stone!

"To be able to grow to such a level, the county office is mostly a nest of snakes and rats."

"Disciple thinks so too."

Yang Dongxiong looked at Liang Qu and smiled: "The fate measurement that day was indeed not wrong; you are a dragon in the water. Once you go to another county, it's inevitable that you'll turn things upside down!"

Liang Qu chuckled.

"Disciple has gained a lot from this trip; I've prepared gifts not only for Master, but also for Senior Brothers and Mistress."

After saying that, he took a palm-sized wooden box from his bosom.

The small wooden box was plain and unremarkable, made of the most common poplar wood, not in the same league as yellow pear wood at all.

Mistress Xu took the box and joked: "You gave your Master such a large yellow pear wood lacquerware, and for me, just a small wooden box? Don't tell me you bought some jewelry on the road to dismiss me?"

Liang Qu cried injustice: "Mistress, you are truly wronging me; if this item were sold, it would be more expensive than Master's weapon rack!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Yang Dongxiong was quite curious: "What's inside?"

"Mistress, open it and you'll know."

Mistress Xu opened the wooden box.

Inside the square wooden box, there was actually a round, fist-sized pearl!

No wonder it was so heavy.

Mistress Xu looked at Liang Qu in surprise and observed it carefully.

The surface of the pearl was covered with a dazzling silver luster; looking closely, one could see the delicate texture hidden under the luster, and it could reveal flame-like patterns against the sunlight.

Regardless of quality or color, this pearl was excellent and belonged to a category that was priceless and unavailable.

Nandi, who was serving on the side, had her eyes light up.

Yang Dongxiong straightened up: "Such a large pearl? No, there's no iridescence; is it an ivory ball?"

Mistress Xu was clearly more knowledgeable about jewelry than Yang Dongxiong: "It's a giant clam pearl; it doesn't have the iridescence of a pearl but has fire color. Only a small amount of high-quality giant clam pearls can form flame patterns.

Moreover, it's so round, as if it were carved; this point is even more precious than having fire color. Did you buy it?"

"I couldn't afford it." Liang Qu shook his head, "Disciple obtained it by chance in the water; I picked it up for nothing, didn't spend a penny."

Ordinary giant clams don't have intelligence, and the pearls they nurture are all odd-shaped.

Old giant clams are different; intelligent creatures have their own aesthetics, just like toads like large ships.

If the pearl isn't round, the old giant clam doesn't feel comfortable in its heart; every pearl is like it was carved, and the proportions are perfect.

Yang Dongxiong was enlightened: "Strange, can an ordinary giant clam really nurture such a round pearl? Could it be an intelligent spirit monster?"

Liang Qu smiled and didn't speak.

Yang Dongxiong understood; everyone has their own opportunities, so there's no need to ask more.

"Mistress, what do you think? Is it better than Master's weapon rack?"

Mistress Xu couldn't put it down, playing with the pearl, and waved for Liang Qu to come over.

Liang Qu leaned in and was immediately poked on the forehead with a finger; he cooperated by covering his forehead and falling backward.

"Mistress, why did you poke my forehead? It hurts me so much."

"I couldn't tell you were someone who knew how to please people. You gave such a treasure in a broken wooden box to an old woman like me?

If you marry a wife in the future, this pearl would be a top-notch betrothal gift; who wouldn't be fooled? Look at Nandi, her eyes aren't even turning."

Nandi on the side covered her blushing face and reached out to poke Mistress Xu's shoulder.

"Mistress..."

"You're really giving things away recklessly. I'll keep it for you first, and return it to you when you marry a wife in the future."

"No need, no need, I have more than that over there..."

Mistress Xu's eyes narrowed slightly: "Don't tell me there are even better ones?"

Liang Qu coughed and didn't deny it.

There were several pearls of similar size from the old giant clam; it wouldn't be a problem to ask for two more after getting familiar with it in the future.

Yang Dongxiong was shocked.

"You kid, are you really born in the water and raised in the water? Why does every treasure fall into your hands?"

"Master is too kind, too kind."

Yang Dongxiong shook his head; he couldn't quite see through this Ninth Disciple he had accepted by chance.

He turned to give a few orders to the maid and looked at Liang Qu.

"When we killed the sturgeon earlier, I entrusted someone to refine the sturgeon bones into pills; in total, there were one hundred and forty-two pills.

Excluding the refining fees and the auxiliary medicines, I got seventy-eight pills. I'll give you eighteen according to the proportion, and I'll make the decision myself to round it up to twenty for you."

The maid came up with a tray, on which were two large-bellied medicine bottles the size of a palm, ten pills in each.

Liang Qu took them with both hands and bowed again.

"Thank you, Master."

"No need to say more; it's what you deserve."

"Master, actually, I have one more thing to say."

Liang Qu looked around, the meaning self-evident.

"Let's go, let's talk in the courtyard."

The April courtyard was lush with vegetation, with tender green buds sprouting everywhere, a fresh scent of grass and wood, and even a faint plum fragrance mixed in—it was feared that they would be ripe in a few days.

"What is it that you have to avoid others to say?"

Yang Dongxiong walked in the courtyard with his hands behind his back, picking an old branch from the top so that the new buds could grow more lushly.

I don't know why, but if you don't pinch off the old branch at the top, the new buds just won't grow out.

Liang Qu knew what was going on, but he didn't explain: "Disciple learned a new technique yesterday."

"A new technique?" Yang Dongxiong turned around, "Better than 'Wansheng Baoyuan'?"

"Yes and no; the technique is quite peculiar, more suitable for the disciple's martial bones, and can complement the 'Wansheng Baoyuan'."

"Then what's there to talk about? This is a good thing; no need to tell me specifically. Being able to go far is your own ability."

Yang Dongxiong didn't take it to heart; he believed Liang Qu wasn't the kind of person who would turn around and take others as his master—it was just a technique.

"Disciple didn't mean that; it's just that the person who taught the disciple the technique is a bit special. It happened at the beginning of the month, and due to that person's strength and status, I didn't tell you for a long time..."

Liang Qu roughly explained the old monk's background.

He didn't know if the old monk was really a Perfected Form Jiang Zongshi, but he was definitely very strong.

Regardless of whether it was true or false, leaking others' information without permission and provoking a strong person was unwise, so he hadn't said anything.

Today, Liang Qu felt that the two of them were getting along well, and he asked the old monk this morning if he could tell others about his affairs; the old monk only said not to publicize it widely.

"Perfected Form? Evil monk?"

Yang Dongxiong didn't expect that a Jiang Zongshi-level figure had come to Pingyang County without anyone knowing.

"Disciple has been with him for half a month and feels he is not a bad person, and what he said should be true. Master needs to be careful of that evil monk hiding in the dark."

Yang Dongxiong nodded: "You have suffered a lot since you were a child, so your martial bones are hidden; you should have your own set of identification methods, and I believe your judgment.

Since the other party is a Jiang Zongshi, it's better for me not to make rash contact, lest I cause displeasure. It's just that I can't help you look at the technique.

If it's really a Jiang Zongshi's favor, it's your opportunity; don't ruin this friendship. Whether it's good or evil, pay more attention yourself, and don't be too greedy or lose your head."

"Disciple will remember."

"Have you changed your martial registration?"

"I was in a hurry to come back."

"Then go and change it immediately. You are an official, so you don't care about those little benefits, but you must follow the rules."

A Four-Barrier martial artist can go to the county office to change their household registration, from then on no longer needing to pay taxes, and can also receive a little silver subsidy every month.

Liang Qu is now an official and doesn't care about paying taxes, but this kind of registration is a management tool in itself.

The impact caused by a Four-Barrier martial artist doing evil is much greater than that of ordinary people, so a certain degree of control is needed.

"Yes, Master, disciple takes his leave."

"Go."

1:15 PM.

Liang Qu stood in front of the county office; several laborers pushed the door open and lined up in two rows, bowing.

"Lord, please enter."

For ordinary people to come here, it would be good if they weren't beaten and driven out.

But Liang Qu had a waist token hanging from his waist; although it wasn't an official uniform, the clothes he wore weren't something ordinary people could afford.

Generations of clerks wouldn't be so lacking in discernment.

Liang Qu stepped in; the front office and back residence of the county office were all newly built, and one could still smell a trace of lacquer in the air.

Bypassing the screen wall carved with greedy beasts, there was a stretch of pavilions and towers; in the distance, there were even three-story wooden houses with upturned eaves, and all kinds of patterns on the walls on both sides.

The setting sun shone on the walls, casting a half-length yellow light.

It was said to be newly built, and the County Magistrate's office, Registrar's office, Police Inspector's office, east and west flower halls, guest house, and dining hall were all there.

Facing south, civil on the left and martial on the right, office in front and residence in back, prison in the south.

Liang Qu hadn't wasted his time reading books; following this "mantra," he easily found the hall named "Household Department" on the east side.

Inside the hall, there was only a small clerk in a soap-colored robe lying on the desk, writing official documents with a wolf-hair brush; seeing Liang Qu come over, he hurriedly stood up to greet him.

"I don't know what business this Lord has come for?"

"Four-Barrier martial artist, here to register."

"May I have your name?"

"Liang Qu, originally from Yixing Market, civilian household of fishermen."

The clerk hurriedly flipped through a large "Civilian Household" register and found the corresponding file according to what Liang Qu said.

"Sixteen?"

The clerk looked up in surprise.

Liang Qu was over five feet five inches tall, with a heroic appearance, and combined with his official position of from-eighth-rank, he thought he was a young man, but he didn't expect him to be so young.

A sixteen-year-old from-eighth-rank, Four-Barrier martial artist...

"Lord, please sit on the side and rest for a while."

The clerk became even more afraid to be negligent, brought a chair, drew a red circle with a cinnabar brush behind Liang Qu's column, flipped out another thinner register, and copied Liang Qu's information onto it.

Nothing needed to be proven.

With one word from Liang Qu, he became a Four-Barrier martial artist and was registered in the martial records.

Although he hadn't concealed his aura, aura can be faked.

Taking some special pills can easily create an aura that exceeds one's own strength.

Just because of the from-eighth-rank River Lord waist token on Liang Qu's body, all checks and verifications were tacitly omitted by the clerk.

By the time Liang Qu finished and went out, it wasn't even 1:45 PM.