Chapter 198: Spreading the Word, Master Liang is Righteous!

The bluestone street was full of noise, and passersby stopped. A flag at a wine shop fell, and the waiter forgot to go and lift it.

"Lin Guanzhu Lin!"

A loud shout pulled Lin Yao, who was standing at the door, back from his wandering thoughts. He cupped his hands and smiled.

"I was wondering why I saw a magpie on the branch this morning. I thought there was good news. It turns out it's Lin Guanzhu Tang visiting! Please come in, Luan Zi, go make tea."

Tang Zutao hurriedly waved his hand: "Eh, Lin Guanzhu Lin is too polite. I just have two words to say. After I finish, I'll leave."

Lin Yao tilted his head to look at the flash of crimson on the street, his expression knowing. He lifted his sleeve and pointed slightly: "Is it related to this?"

Tang Zutao nodded: "Lin Guanzhu Lin is a smart man, so I'll be direct. Do you intend to go to the River God Festival in a few days?"

Lin Yao's eyes moved slightly, and he pondered for a moment.

"This... Brother Tang, you don't know, my second brother is coming over in a few days. I definitely have to fulfill the duties of a host, so I might not have time."

Tang Zutao had a mirror in his heart, knowing this old guy was pretending to be polite, his little thoughts were one after another, and most of what he said was a lie.

There were two martial arts halls that had moved to Yixing Town in total.

One hall master was surnamed Lin, named Yao, and one hall master was surnamed Tang, named Zutao.

At first, the two hall masters didn't care about the so-called River God Festival.

It was a program for ignorant villagers to entertain themselves, and they weren't familiar with Liang Qu.

Martial artists valued face. Liang Qu was a junior, a disciple of Yang Dongxiong. People hadn't come to invite them, so if they rushed to go, what would their disciples think?

But looking at that ten-meter-long crimson beast, it really gave people quite a shock, and the most critical thing was that it was a water beast!

Beasts are divided into three categories: birds, beasts, and fish.

Among the three, beasts are the easiest to deal with. Both humans and beasts are on their home turf, each relying on their own skills.

Birds are second. A fallen phoenix is not as good as a chicken. The vast majority of birds only occupy the advantage of being easy to move and escape, and it is difficult to capture them. In terms of strength, they are often not as good as beasts of the same realm.

Only fish are the hardest to deal with!

In the water, they occupy all the advantages of time and place, and their own strength is strong.

The so-called big things are all in the water. If a human falls in, they are basically going to suffer. They basically need to be several small realms, or even a major realm, higher to be an opponent.

That crimson beast's aura, while unstable, was still a proper Great Spirit Monster, matching a Wolf Smoke martial artist!

Tang Zutao suspected that if he encountered that crimson beast in the water, he would only be digested.

He didn't know what means Liang Qu had used, or if he had caught it himself, but the facts were right in front of him.

Not going before could still be considered not being familiar.

Using a Great Spirit Monster as an offering, one could imagine what a grand scene it would be when the time came.

Being in the same town, not going would be a bit of a slap in the face, and he would lose a good opportunity to show his face.

In the end, the financial resources of a martial arts hall come from the common people. The more prosperous the place, the more money the martial arts hall makes.

A good martial arts hall also needs to win the "hearts of the people."

Lin Yao was definitely going. The second brother was just an excuse. His second room couldn't produce a son, and he didn't even have a laundry woman to serve him. This was known to everyone when they were in Jinming County. If his own brother came, it would be good if he wasn't assigned to sweep the stables.

The problem was, who goes first?

Doing things below is one set, and communicating above is another.

This matter is particular.

The one who visits first loses a thin layer of face and is a "flatterer." Only the one who visits later has both face and substance.

Lin Yao made excuses just to bluff him.

Seeing Lin Yao constantly pondering and not giving an answer, Tang Zutao cursed inwardly.

"Old dog Lin, your heart is more calculating than my corns!"

He said directly.

"A famous teacher produces a great disciple. We are not as good. Master Yang is a great man who stands tall, and the disciple he taught is also a pillar of talent. We take the initiative to visit, which doesn't lose face.

Furthermore, the River God Festival is a big event for the entire Yixing Town. Since we outsiders want to take root here, of course, we have to follow the local customs. I will definitely go another day, and I think Lin Guanzhu Lin has the same idea, right?"

"Of course, of course."

Seeing Tang Zutao loosen his mouth first, Lin Yao hurriedly followed.

"Since that's the case, let's not distinguish who comes first. When the time comes, I will come to find Lin Guanzhu Lin and go together, how about that?"

Lin Yao pondered for a moment and agreed.

"Brother Tang's words are excellent. We will go together when the time comes."

"Good, then we will go together."

Liang Qu didn't know about the scheming of the two hall masters of the only two martial arts halls in the town. He carried the crimson beast and hurried home.

Splash!

The crimson beast was thrown into the lake. The clear water of the entire pond overflowed, passing over Liang Qu's ankles, and then flowed back into the pond.

Liang Qu kicked a few duckweeds back into the water and waved his hand to dismiss the villagers who were watching the fun.

"Alright, everyone go back, go back. I'll keep it in my house for now. At the River God Festival in a few days, you can watch it however you want. No rush."

"Master Liang, I heard people say before that Master Liang is going to share the offerings. Is it true?"

"When have I ever said anything false?"

The crowd was in an uproar, even more enthusiastic.

"Master Liang is righteous, Master Liang is righteous!"

"The first time the River God Festival doesn't need us to pay, and we can still get meat. This is a blessing we couldn't enjoy in several lifetimes!"

"In our town, since my grandfather's generation, there hasn't been a figure like Master Liang!"

The villagers almost spread the word, and in a short while, the news spread throughout Yixing Town.

Evening.

The setting sun cast a long, slanted black shadow along the wall. Chen Zhaoan, leaning on a cane, brought Chen Jiecang and Li Libo to visit.

Using a spirit monster as an offering—this scene, Chen Zhaoan hadn't seen it even after living past seventy. Many arrangements had to be changed.

"But this spirit monster, how should it be slaughtered?"

"Yes, can the two of us slaughter it?"

Chen Jiecang and Li Libo didn't have much confidence.

Pigs, oxen, and sheep are easy to slaughter—a white knife in, a red knife out, and the blood spurts straight out.

This spirit monster covered in scales was probably harder than refined steel. An ordinary person with an iron knife could only grind out sparks and break the knife.

"It doesn't matter. When the time comes, I'll borrow two good knives. Having some strength is enough."

The two were skeptical.

But looking back, it was truly like a lifetime ago.

The three of them who had joined the martial arts hall together, the gap had become so large that it couldn't be described in words.

Not to mention the title and official position, just the spirit monster he caught—if it were placed there for the two of them to kill, they couldn't even kill it.

Chen Zhaoan nodded. He didn't understand these things; he only knew that if Liang Qu said it was okay, then it was enough.

"But killing the three beasts requires three people. Now we are still missing one..."

"Let Songbao come."

"Songbao?"

Chen Zhaoan couldn't remember who this person was for a moment.

Li Libo reminded: "It's Lin Di's son."

Chen Zhaoan suddenly realized: "Speaking of which, I haven't seen Songbao in that small hut at the pier for a long time. Where did he run off to?"

"He also went to learn martial arts. It's been more than two months. He's learning Crane Fist, and I'm the one who taught him."

Li Libo's words were slightly envious.

Lin Songbao was a concubine's son and was not valued by Lin Di. But after being spoken to by Liang Qu that day, Lin Di sent Songbao into the martial arts hall the next day.

In any case, Lin Songbao's family background was much better than the two of them, who were fishermen. Fifty taels of silver for the entrance fee, and his progress was much faster than theirs had been initially.

After chatting for a while and discussing the details of every aspect, Chen Zhaoan was extremely moved.

"I have lived for decades, and this is the first time I've organized such a big festival. The money sent by several wealthy families is so much that there's nowhere to spend it, so I had to think of a trick—invite an opera troupe to perform water stage plays, and let them arrange a good play."

Water stage play doesn't refer to the type of drama, but a form of performance.

Extending the stage and building it on the water to perform is called a water stage play.

Liang Qu wasn't very interested in these, but he still nodded.

"That's a good thing."

Chen Zhaoan smiled happily, not fully explaining. ===== CHAPTER 199 =====