Chapter 49: Li Family's Li Mo

A strange man burst through the door.

Cheng Feng took a look; he did not recognize him.

That meant he was here to find Zhang Zhuo.

Ever since Cheng Feng entered the county seat and began practicing martial arts,

he had always maintained a low-profile style of living.

Aside from his nighttime activities causing a bit of a disturbance for the neighbors,

Cheng Feng had never turned red in the face with anyone.

When going out to buy household supplies, if he could solve it with money, he wouldn't bother haggling.

Haggling back and forth would only hurt the harmony, wouldn't it?

As long as it was reasonably appropriate and he wasn't being ripped off, that was fine.

Therefore, Cheng Feng was certain that the man was not here to find him.

He silently picked up a bite of food and watched Zhang Zhuo handle it.

Sure enough.

The person who arrived also stated his business directly: "Zhang Zhuo, your Li Family brother has arrived."

Zhang Zhuo looked at the man who had interrupted his conversation with Cheng Feng and asked in confusion: "Li Mo? What are you doing here? Aren't you busy with your business?"

Li Mo, however, was all smiles: "How could that be? I saw you had arrived, so I prepared to host you."

He turned his head and shouted to the waiter outside: "Bring up good wine, bring my jar of Yunchun Brew, and bring a few signature dishes."

Cheng Feng could not read the situation; it did not seem like he was here to pick a fight.

Since Zhang Zhuo was the host, he should just watch the host; staying silent now was the best choice.

Li Mo, however, was the type to get familiar quickly.

With the addition of good wine and food,

he began to pull Zhang Zhuo into drinking with him.

Zhang Zhuo pondered the intention behind Li Mo's sudden intrusion.

Before two cups were finished,

he asked Cheng Feng with an implied meaning: "This brother looks unfamiliar; may I ask your name?"

A flash of sharp light appeared in Zhang Zhuo's eyes; it was coming.

Li Mo had once helped Zhang Zhuo out.

Therefore, Zhang Zhuo owed Li Mo a favor.

Given Li Mo's status and position, there was nothing he lacked.

The sudden intrusion and the way he pulled Zhang Zhuo in

made Zhang Zhuo, who came from a great family, understand instantly.

Martial Arts Halls had competitions, and the great families had competitions among themselves as well.

You have this friend, and I have that connection.

As long as it was not a situation involving murder, or broken hands and legs,

the back-and-forth disdain, underhanded tricks, and laughter were all basically within the acceptable range for the great families.

This was also a means for great families to cultivate and select talent.

Zhang Zhuo did not know why Li Mo was asking about Cheng Feng.

But since he had accepted Li Mo's favor, he had to follow through.

Besides, this was not a big deal.

He introduced him to Li Mo: "This is the Tenth Disciple just admitted into my Tieshan Martial Arts Hall, Cheng Feng."

He then introduced him to Cheng Feng: "Cheng Feng, this is the eldest young master of the Li Family, Li Mo; this restaurant belongs to his family."

Looking at the man before him with a rather effeminate face,

Cheng Feng's first impression was that this guy was a sissy.

His second impression was that this person was not someone to be trifled with, like a venomous snake hidden in the shadows.

However, one does not hit a smiling face.

Cheng Feng stood up, cupped his hands, and said: "I am Cheng Feng, greetings, Brother Li."

Li Mo, however, realized suddenly: "Martial Arts Hall Master Wang's Closed-door Disciple, Cheng Feng! I have long heard of your great name!"

Cheng Feng was full of question marks.

Closed-door Disciple?

Me?

Is it me?

How come I don't know about this?

No one told me?

You haven't been deceived, have you?

Cheng Feng hurriedly clarified the relationship and corrected him: "Not a Closed-door Disciple, I am just the Tenth Disciple who was just admitted."

Zhang Zhuo, who was beside him, was greatly shocked.

Closed-door Disciple?

It meant being able to inherit the Martial Arts Hall Master's mantle.

It meant the Martial Arts Hall Master would not take on any more disciples in the future.

It even more so meant that Cheng Feng possessed extremely high martial arts aptitude, enough to be recognized by Wang Tieshan, one of the top experts in Qingxi County.

Is Wang Tieshan preparing to wholeheartedly teach Cheng Feng?

Does he view Cheng Feng as the future hope of the Martial Arts Hall?

If anyone else had said this, Zhang Zhuo would have just laughed it off.

But the person before him was the eldest young master of the Li Family.

The Li Family, with a century of foundation in the restaurant business.

Those who run restaurants are all well-informed.

But they are certainly not as well-informed as the upper echelons of the Li Family.

Anything confirmed by the Li Family is basically nine times out of ten accurate.

This news was truly too shocking.

Even Zhang Zhuo, as the Inner Sect Ninth Senior Brother, had not received the news.

How did Li Mo know?

So that was it; a flash of wisdom flickered in Zhang Zhuo's eyes.

Being a Closed-door Disciple proves that the Martial Arts Hall Master will take no more students and intends to wholeheartedly teach Cheng Feng.

Living together day and night,

anything Cheng Feng says can reach the ears of the Martial Arts Hall Master.

This mouthpiece is the disciple the Martial Arts Hall Master cares about most.

He certainly won't let this disciple go astray.

It is even possible that the Martial Arts Hall Master will personally step in to resolve troubles.

Well played, Li Mo.

This is casting a long line to catch a big fish!

Cheng Feng did not yet understand the significance of being a Closed-door Disciple.

Zhang Zhuo and Li Mo had already exchanged countless glances.

As the two went back and forth, they drew the bewildered Cheng Feng into the rhythm of their conversation.

The atmosphere rose even higher.

Li Mo transformed into an incredibly enthusiastic host.

He frequently toasted the two of them.

In just a few words, he learned that Cheng Feng wanted to learn Medical Skill as a means to make a living.

Li Mo felt a surge of joy in his heart and boasted, "Upon our first meeting, I never expected Brother Cheng Feng to still have the energy to study medicine. It just so happens that I know a master of Medical Skill; I will ask tomorrow to see if they are taking on apprentices. If they are, I will send someone to inform you. Oh, I still don't know where Brother Cheng is staying?"

Looking at the two incredibly enthusiastic men, Cheng Feng realized something; he guessed that his status as a Closed-door Disciple could help them, and they wanted him to owe them a favor first.

He smiled and told them his address at Room Two, saying they could just leave a message there in the future.

Cheng Feng did not want to owe favors.

He knew that favor debts are hard to repay.

But his study of medicine was the priority.

A skill in the medical field, after all.

That is something that can save one's life.

The masters in Great Zhou truly viewed their craft as more important than their own lives.

Cheng Feng had once tried hard to inquire in many places.

Later, he gave up.

There was none; not a single old doctor was willing to teach even a little.

Unless one performed the tea ceremony and toasted to establish the master-disciple relationship.

Only then would they teach a tiny bit.

It was that same old way of the hunters in the countryside.

Cheng Feng felt helpless and gave up.

Seeing Zhang Zhuo and Li Mo both promising to keep it in mind,

Cheng Feng felt that if he could really acquire a medical skill,

this favor would be worth it.

It was a key matter concerning his future.

And it could bring him long-term benefits.

Cheng Feng had no reason to push it away.

Drinking Li Mo's Yunchun Brew,

the taste was indeed better than ordinary liquor.

But compared to the industrialized white spirits he had drunk before,

it was still lacking something.

Cheng Feng had previously considered distilled spirits to obtain a more mellow and fragrant wine.

But he didn't know anyone who did that kind of work.

So he gave up.

But with Li Mo here, perhaps he could give it a try; it was something that would benefit everyone.

However, he would wait and see first.

Cheng Feng's way of getting along with others came from slow adjustment after spending a long time together.

Only those who remain after weathering the storms are true friends.

Cheng Feng had previously tried to sound out the restaurant owner, asking if he could sell his wine at the restaurant if it were good.

The shopkeeper directly asked Cheng Feng to bring out a sample.

Cheng Feng joked and laughed it off before leaving.

Right now, there are still two small jars of wine sitting at home.

It still comes back to that one point.

Cheng Feng is a klutz with his hands, but a master of experience.

Rich in theory, zero in practical application.

He has thought about it and simulated it, but he has simply never done it.

Looking at the two young masters drinking good wine with beaming smiles.

Cheng Feng fears he still has to return to the Martial Arts Hall to ask about the matter of the Closed-door Disciple.

If he doesn't ask clearly, he won't feel at ease!

This matter concerns him as the protagonist, yet in reality, the protagonist is the last one to know.

Is this reasonable???

This is not reasonable.

After eating and drinking his fill, Cheng Feng decided not to trouble Master Shi for now, and instead ask Zhang Zhuo and Li Mo, who had drunk their fill.

Don't look at how dizzy the two of them are; they were still able to piece together the general meaning of what being a Closed-door Disciple represents, one sentence at a time.

Li Mo was still saying from the side: "Cheng, Brother Cheng, I, my information, is not necessarily, accurate, you, later, can go ask, *hiccup*, Martial Arts Hall Master Wang, can, can, confirm it again, but, but you must never say that I was the one who said it."

Cheng Feng nodded and said: "That goes without saying."

Seeing that the two of them were about done, Cheng Feng also pretended to be dizzy on the surface: "That's about it, thank you for your generous hospitality, Brother, I, I should head back."

Inside, however, Cheng Feng was evaluating the wine with zero emotional fluctuation: the alcohol content is low, the mouthfeel is mild, the aftertaste is decent; it is far better than what he buys himself.

Zhang Zhuo and Li Mo were both dizzy.

Cheng Feng had a headache, but fortunately, Li Mo's personal attendant was still waiting outside the door.

He called the attendant over to look after the two young masters.

Cheng Feng walked out in a leisurely manner.

Walking downstairs, he found the Shopkeeper and asked about the price.

Good heavens, it was twenty-two taels for one meal.

Cheng Feng admits that the meal was delicious.

But he absolutely does not admit that this price is reasonable.

The money he has at the bottom of his chest is only thirty taels.

Fortunately, the Shopkeeper said it was put on Li Mo's tab, so Cheng Feng did not need to pay.

Only then did Cheng Feng walk out of the restaurant, still acting dizzy.

Not far from the door, he turned back and glanced at Hongyun Restaurant.

When he turned to leave, all traces of drunkenness in Cheng Feng's eyes were gone; he was very sharp.

Back in the private room, the Shopkeeper came up personally and whispered: "Great Young Master, that guest has left."

The two who were still slumped on the table also straightened up with a start.

The two locked eyes and laughed at each other.

"Young Master Zhang has a good tolerance for alcohol."

"Young Master Li has a good tolerance for alcohol indeed."

"Hahahaha."

Good heavens, all three people at the wine table were faking drunkenness.

The Shopkeeper was already used to this.

This was not a matter he needed to understand.

After reporting everything Cheng Feng did downstairs, the Shopkeeper retreated.

Li Mo thought to himself: "Wants to learn medicine, and is short on money, is that it?"

Zhang Zhuo watched Li Mo deep in thought and laughed: "Brother Li, I can consider that favor from last time repaid."

Li Mo responded: "That is natural, thank you for your introduction, Brother Zhang."

Zhang Zhuo waved his hand and said: "Then, about the matter of learning medicine?"

Li Mo said confidently: "Naturally, it will be up to each of our own means."

Zhang Zhuo cupped his hands: "Brother Li is a straightforward person."

Li Mo cupped his hands: "Brother Zhang is too kind."