Chapter 21

In the old alleys of the ancient city, an old man sat curled up against the wall, and a young scholar stood bending over.

A turbid gaze and a clear gaze met.

"Can this be repaired?"

"The canopy can be repaired; I'll remake it with bamboo. The cloth inside here has also been torn, so this will need to be sewn with needle and thread."

"As long as it can be repaired."

"I have to charge for two things!"

The old man was dark-skinned, his face full of gullies, and he looked at Lin Jue with some worry, as if he felt sorry for him, or as if he were afraid Lin Jue wouldn't be willing.

"How much will it cost?"

Lin Jue also became worried.

"Three wen for sewing the cloth, five wen for repairing the book basket," the old man said while gesturing with his hands.

"Eight wen..."

Lin Jue couldn't help but feel dazed for a moment.

Listening to the old man earlier and seeing his demeanor, he had thought he would have to pay a large sum or be gouged, but it turned out that this Danxun County City was just like Shu Village. What the old man was concerned about and worried about, and what he would earn after working for a while, was merely a measly eight copper coins.

"Thank you for your hard work, old man."

Lin Jue paid the money first, agreed on a time and place to pick it up, and then left.

After walking a long way with the book basket, suddenly walking in the city empty-handed, he felt his whole body light and airy. With nothing digging into his shoulders, he felt incredibly comfortable.

In his leisure, he also had more of a mind to look around.

But his main goal was still to buy a blade.

The state of the world in recent years was truly chaotic—people were chaotic, yaoguai and ghosts were chaotic. Merchants all had to carry weapons for self-defense, and a small knife was indeed not enough.

At the same time, the yaoguai and ghosts in this world clearly did not have the ability to kill people like chickens once they attained the Dao; most were also made of flesh. Therefore, an iron weapon could not only defend against people but also against yaoguai. Even for things like ghosts, which were more illusory and ethereal, having a more powerful weapon in his hand made his own courage and vitality stronger, making it harder for ghosts to take advantage of him.

Lin Jue had also heard legends of martial artists in the jianghu slaying ghosts at night, hearing that the frost on the blade would not fade for three years; he didn't know how much was true and how much was false.

In any case, he had to buy a blade.

The first choice was the pu dao.

As the saying goes, "one inch longer, one inch stronger." Even though experts in the military all claimed their single blades could break spears and snap halberds, once they went into battle, they all went with spears and halberds; no one took a blade.

Experts were like this, and the weak were even more so.

At the same time, the pu dao was cheaper, more functional, and more low-key.

Lin Jue strolled around and soon bought one.

This was because the pu dao was truly too common.

It was a combination weapon:

A firewood chopper;

A whistling stick.

Usually, they were separated and could be used individually. He could also put the chopper in his book basket and carry it, using only the whistling stick as a walking cane. He would use the chopper when needed and the wooden stick when needed.

If there was danger, they could be combined.

Because it was the result of the imperial court's strict control over long weapons in the previous dynasty—

At that time, the imperial court did not allow the public to carry long spears and large blades at will. Even carrying a long stick required drilling a hole at the front, which would make a whistling sound when swung, hence the name "whistling stick." Those without holes were called "muffled sticks." The so-called "giving someone a muffled stick" meant this. This was not allowed. However, martial artists traveling the jianghu had needs for self-defense and fighting, so they combined the firewood chopper used by ordinary families with a whistling stick. The handle of the chopper itself was hollow and could be fitted with a wooden handle, and the top of the whistling stick happened to have a hole. Once combined, the blade was longer, and the whistling stick didn't whistle—killing two birds with one stone.

The pu dao came into being.

This was very practical for Lin Jue.

Not only did he have a walking cane, but also a firewood chopper. If he were to go to the difficult mountain paths of Mount Yishan later, the chopper would be more useful than a sword if tree branches and thorns blocked the way.

A scholar with a book basket, plus a wooden walking stick, was quite harmonious.

Thus, leaning on the wooden stick, he walked back to the inn.

Lin Jue smelled that he already had a bit of an odor. The last time he washed was in a river by the road. Although the river water was cool, it was ultimately not as refreshing as hot water, so he asked the inn attendant:

"How much for a bucket of hot water to take a bath?"

"Does the guest want a small bucket or a large bucket? A small bucket is full, and there is a dedicated place to bathe downstairs with cloth screens, costing only five wen per bucket. A large bucket allows you to sit inside and wash, and it can be moved to your room. The water and the wooden bucket together cost twenty wen per bucket, and moving it to the room adds two wen," the inn attendant said. "The water we use is canal water, and this is the very upstream, so it's very clean."

The price was a bit more expensive than Lin Jue had thought.

It should be because water and firewood were expensive these days; firewood and water were always important expenses for city residents.

Lin Jue hesitated for a moment.

Although he had just earned money, he didn't know how far the road ahead was, so he had to save a little.

Moreover, his uncle, aunt, and cousin at home were likely still living frugally. This road overlapped somewhat with the route taken by the merchants from Shu Village, and Lin Jue was thinking that if he happened to meet merchants from the same village on the road, he would ask them to take ten taels of silver back to repay some of their kindness.

But after a moment's thought, he let it go.

It was rare to have a comfortable rest; if he missed this chance, he feared he would be thinking about it for days, feeling unhappy.

"Bring a large bucket, and make the water hotter!"

"Do you want it moved upstairs?"

"Save yourselves some effort."

"All right! Guest, please rest for a moment. Once the hot water is ready, I will come to invite you!"

The attendant went to fetch and boil the water.

Not long after, steam rose in the bathing room.

Lin Jue sat in the wooden bucket, scrubbed himself clean, and then sat still. With his whole body from the neck down soaked in the hot water, he felt an indescribable comfort.

This comfort was not only something he hadn't felt in the past half-month, but also something he hadn't felt since coming to this world. By the time his pores were opened by the hot water and he even began to feel dizzy and sleepy, all the dissatisfactions since coming to this world were temporarily washed away in this extreme comfort, giving him a feeling that everything was just a dream.

"Does the guest want more hot water?"

"Does it cost money?"

"Four wen per bucket, two wen for half a bucket. I'll only bring it to you once it's boiling."

"No need."

"Do you want me to start preparing the meal?"

"Just a stir-fried egg with five-leaf ginseng will do," Lin Jue said, lacking the strength to speak. He paused, "And a bowl of rice. A large bowl of rice. Plain white rice."

"All right!"

It was as if he had been intoxicated for a moment, or as if he had slept.

"Splash..."

Lin Jue finally stood up and picked up his original clothes, feeling the odor was even heavier. Fortunately, there were clean ones placed nearby.

Walking out, he happened to run into the inn attendant coming over.

"Was the bath comfortable, guest?"

"I feel half a jin lighter."

"The meal is ready; I was just about to invite you."

"All right, I'm coming."

Lin Jue was too lazy to go back upstairs to put his things away, so he went out, put his clothes on a stool, and started eating.

The so-called five-leaf ginseng was actually a type of wild vegetable in this area. It grew in spring and summer and grew very well. It could be used for cold salads, stir-fries, or soups. Mainly, it didn't cost money and was a wild vegetable that locals often ate.

The inn didn't skimp on the oil; in fact, it was a bit heavy. The wild vegetables and eggs tasted quite good and were nutritious.

Paired with a bowl of white rice, it would have been a bit simple in his previous life, but at this moment, Lin Jue felt extremely satisfied.

He was used to drinking porridge at his uncle's house anyway.

Along with satisfaction came contentment.

After all, it was money he had earned himself.

The young scholar lowered his head and shoveled the food in. The small bits of egg mixed with the loose, distinct grains of white rice and the oil went down extremely smoothly.

He didn't notice someone nearby observing him.

At this time, the inn attendant came out holding a jar, from which steam kept rising. He used a damp cloth to insulate the heat and walked quickly toward the table next to him.

Unexpectedly, the person at the next table suddenly spoke:

"Is this the young gentleman who, along with a jianghu hero, got rid of the strange monkeys outside the city this afternoon?"

"That is correct."

Before Lin Jue could speak, the attendant had already answered for him.

"Present this pot of soup to the young gentleman!"

"Ah?"

"Serve it quickly."

The inn attendant, who had just arrived in front of him, was surprised but didn't dare to argue. He nodded quickly, turned a corner, and walked quickly toward Lin Jue's table.

With a *clatter*, the clay jar was placed on the table.

The attendant immediately let go and pinched his ears.

Inside the jar was half a free-range chicken, not chopped up, mixed with some light, thin things like seaweed, all submerged in the chicken soup, the liquid sloshing.

"Hm?"

Lin Jue was surprised.

Sitting at the next table was a middle-aged man, looking unremarkable, who was cupping his hands toward him:

"Young gentleman, do not be surprised, and there is no need to be polite. My elder brother runs a tea shop outside the North City Gate and lent a pu dao to you today."

"That is your elder brother?"

"That is correct."

"Since that is the case, I should be the one thanking your elder brother, but what is this..."

"Young gentleman, do not be polite. That group of strange monkeys outside the city has been causing trouble for a long time, and we have long been furious. Today, news is spreading everywhere in the city that someone got rid of them and took a horse-back full of monkey heads to the county government office to collect the magistrate's reward. Everyone who heard was overjoyed, all admiring the courage and passion of the two heroes. I, Wei, am the same, which is why I specifically came to find you. There is no other reason; I just see that you worked hard to get rid of the pests and that eating only a small side dish and a bowl of rice is truly not enough, so I invite you to drink a pot of chicken soup to nourish your body."

"How can this be?"

"Why not! I fear the young gentleman thinks it's not good enough. If so, attendant, please bring another plate of 'knife-board meat'!"

"No, no, no..."

Lin Jue was embarrassed and quickly called a stop.

Looking at the man again, he had already squeezed out a smile and was cupping his hands toward him again: "Thank you, young gentleman, for doing me the honor."

"This..."

It was hard to refuse again.

Lin Jue had no choice but to continue eating.

"We have many rainy days here, and the weather is often damp, so 'stone ears' often grow in the damp stone crevices of cliffs and riverbanks. This thing looks thin and soft, as if it has nothing to eat, but it is actually delicious," the man continued to chat with him. "I don't know if the young gentleman eats this in his hometown, but we eat it here. I like to use it to stew chicken soup the most; it has a unique flavor."

"I don't eat much of it."

Since the man had said so and was looking at him, he had to serve a bowl to taste.

This was the city, an inn on the main street, and there were other people in the shop, so Lin Jue didn't worry about any problems.

A bowl of clear chicken soup, with thin, fluffy stone ears floating in it. Lin Jue blew a breath, blowing away the oil on the surface and a puff of heat, then lowered his head to taste it.

It was indeed different from ordinary chicken soup.

This stone ear looked like seaweed, and tasted three or four parts like it, but its influence on the soup's flavor was not as heavy as seaweed.

"How is it?"

The man asked, looking at him.

"Not bad."

"I'm glad the young gentleman is satisfied! If there are other dishes you like, just say so!"

"Don't do that." Lin Jue declined repeatedly, then changed the subject, "Are many people in the city talking about this?"

"What matter? The matter of you getting rid of the strange monkeys?"

"Of course."

"Indeed, many people are talking about it. Before my elder brother came to find me, I had already heard about it once. That group of strange monkeys is truly a great scourge of our Danxun. Many people say that if they meet you, they must invite you to drink a bowl of wine," the man said. "But only I have had my wish fulfilled."

"It wasn't just my doing; the bulk of the work was done by that person."

"I wonder where that person is?"

"He left the city."

"That settles it then."

The man asked the attendant to bring wine, poured himself a cup, gave Lin Jue a cup, raised his glass to drink with him, and sighed, saying: "Fortunately, not many people know the young gentleman is staying at this inn; otherwise, I fear you wouldn't be able to leave tomorrow."

"You exaggerate."

Lin Jue didn't like to drink, but the wine at this time didn't have much alcohol content, and the other party was full of good intentions, having given a large dish and raised his glass, so he took a small sip.

It was rice wine, with a rich rice fragrance.

The man continued to chat with him from across the table, with many compliments, and in a daze, it really had the flavor of a "hero or scholar who is complimented and treated to meals wherever he goes" in a story.