Chapter 18: Fine Talent, Beautiful Jade

Five Beggar Sect scum were slapped to death by Hong Qigong without any suspense, yet the children in the cage remained completely unaware.

Just as Wu Chengyu was at a loss, Hong Qigong walked over, took a look, and said, "Don't worry, they've only been drugged with a knockout drug; there's no serious harm."

Hong Qigong called on the sect members to carry the children out of the cave. Wu Chengyu wanted to carry A Ku on his back, but his left leg couldn't support him. In the end, Hong Qigong carried A Ku in one hand and grabbed Wu Chengyu's belt with the other, bringing them back to the City God Temple.

The drug's effects hadn't worn off yet, so the children were temporarily settled. Wu Chengyu placed A Ku by the fire. After two days apart, A Ku seemed even lighter. The only fortunate thing was that her cold hadn't relapsed.

Hong Qigong, with Lu Youjiao, interrogated the Gushan Branch scum. They soon discovered that six children had been stolen from rural villages, while the remaining two, like A Ku, had been forcibly snatched by men sent by Hao Laosì. Their families had also met the same fate as Mo Laodao — murdered.

Hong Qigong's expression remained grim. He hadn't expected the Gushan Branch to be rotten from top to bottom, and rotten for more than a year at that — yet he had never discovered it.

By now Wu Chengyu couldn't be bothered to retort. Same old story: aside from his prestige, Hong Qigong was truly mediocre as Chief.

Lu Youjiao discovered a pile of treasures in the underground secret chamber of the City God Temple. Some gold items still bore bloodstains — who knew where Hao Laosì had stolen or robbed them from.

Over a dozen gold ingots, hundreds of silver ingots, and all manner of jewelry, jadeite, jade articles, and agate. Most importantly, there was actually a one-chi-tall gold Buddha.

A mere small county-town Beggar Sect Branch Chief had amassed such wealth — one could well imagine how much evil he had done.

Since transmigrating, Wu Chengyu had lived through nothing but hardship — truly scared poor. The jade pendant on his body was one thing, but the single gold coin he had was only remembered later.

Even in his previous life, with gold prices so high, he'd never splurged on a gold ring for himself. So Wu Chengyu got a bit excited all at once, forgot his leg pain, and ran into the secret chamber to join the excitement. He squeezed in until his eyes blurred, then plopped down on a stool nearby.

This time he felt something off. The sensation under his buttocks was completely different from stone. He examined the stool closely — it was actually a Ghost-Fearing Chou made of silver.

The so-called Ghost-Fearing Chou was what old-time landlords and tycoons made by melting silver into a stone-block shape — both theft-proof and convenient for hoarding wealth. A single Ghost-Fearing Chou weighed hundreds of catties; ordinary thieves couldn't possibly steal it.

Wu Chengyu had only read about this thing in novels in his previous life; he never expected to actually see one after transmigrating.

Looking like a money-grubber now — touching this, hefting that gold Buddha, finally trying to lift the Ghost-Fearing Chou — he made Hong Qigong's gaze turn rather subtle. At this moment Wu Chengyu finally looked like a child — well, a money-grubbing child too young for lust.

As if sensing Hong Qigong's gaze, Wu Chengyu whipped around, staring fixedly at Hong Qigong, much like he had stared at the Ghost-Fearing Chou.

"Chief Hong, let's settle the debt your Beggar Sect owes me now. I, Wu Chengyu, want a share of this ill-gotten wealth here."

Hong Qigong valued righteousness over wealth; he was the Chief after all. Even in the Beggar Sect, he wasn't someone who had never seen money. For a moment his estimation of Wu Chengyu dropped considerably.

"What debt does my Beggar Sect owe you? Today it was you who went to great lengths to find me, asking me to decide for you.

Moreover, since it's ill-gotten wealth, you have the nerve to claim a share just because you're here?"

Wu Chengyu chuckled as he walked up to Hong Qigong, rolled up his sleeves, and tallied the account: "We suffered this calamity entirely thanks to your Beggar Sect. As Chief you failed to discipline your subordinates and were deceived by them. It was I who told you the truth, enabling you to purge the sect's scum and salvage the Beggar Sect's reputation. So I'm helping you, not you doing me a favor.

Also, my elder died at the hands of your Beggar Sect — shouldn't the funeral expenses be paid by your sect?

Today, to lure you out, I staged such a grand affair: treating the entire restaurant's guests to a meal, distributing porridge to beggars, and specially roasting four whole sheep. Just the mutton alone — you ate it, didn't you? Everything cost me a full fifty taels, and that was with a discount because people took pity on me.

To scrape together those fifty taels of silver, I pawned the jade pendant my aunt left me. That pendant is extremely important to me. Poor me, a lame kid — where would I get money? For over a month I've begged daily to survive, yet I never sold that pendant. No matter what, I must redeem it."

Hong Qigong was growing annoyed with Wu Chengyu's behavior; he couldn't help wanting to send him off as soon as possible.

"Enough. Just say how much you want. The Beggar Sect may be poor, but debts owed must be repaid."

"That's more like it. Chief Hong is truly righteous and generous with wealth. Then I'll ask for one hundred taels of silver."

The words "one hundred taels" gave Hong Qigong a sudden floating sensation — not because it was too much, but because it was too little. Given Wu Chengyu's posture just now, as if he wanted to swallow all the treasure, Hong Qigong had thought Wu Chengyu had his eye on that hundred-catty Ghost-Fearing Chou.

"Are you sure it's one hundred taels? You don't want to ask for more? You can't move the Ghost-Fearing Chou, but what about the gold Buddha?"

"One hundred taels is enough. Fifty taels to redeem my jade pendant. Arranging Mo Laodao's funeral doesn't require a lavish burial — five taels should suffice.

The remaining money: rent a better house, buy good food to build up A Ku's health. I'll go storytelling daily to earn meal money. By the time my leg heals, I should have at least ten or twenty taels left — just right for travel funds for A Ku and me to leave. After all, a poor family needs a rich journey; that's sufficient."

The more Wu Chengyu calculated, the more excited he grew, as if a beautiful life were beckoning to him — completely missing the change in Hong Qigong's gaze toward him.

"Lu Youjiao, give him one hundred taels of silver." Hong Qigong ordered. Lu Youjiao immediately handed Wu Chengyu ten silver ingots, each weighing ten taels.

Wu Chengyu tucked the ingots away. His originally beaming face suddenly turned solemn. He looked Hong Qigong in the eye and spoke word by word.

"Chief Hong, with this one hundred taels in hand, the matter is settled. My grievances with the Beggar Sect are wiped clean."

Hong Qigong instantly understood Wu Chengyu's meaning. Money received, grievances dissolved. Otherwise, Wu Chengyu would pin the account on the Beggar Sect. A lame child daring to openly threaten him, the Number One Under Heaven Chief — yet Hong Qigong truly couldn't take him lightly. In his eyes, though Wu Chengyu was small, he was a genuinely formidable figure.

Wu Chengyu wasn't doing this for the one hundred taels, but to bring closure to the affair. Mo Laodao was killed by Hao Laosì. Whether scum or not, Hao Laosì was a Beggar Sect disciple, so the sect should bear responsibility. Handing over this one hundred taels meant the Beggar Sect had apologized and compensated Mo Laodao — only then could it end here.

Wisdom beyond his years, fearless of life and death, exceptionally gifted, loving wealth but not greedy — most importantly, understanding reason, knowing when to advance or retreat. Where on earth did Huang Laoxie find such a fine talent and beautiful jade? And why did he not cherish him so?

Since ancient times, disciples choose masters, and masters also choose disciples. A youth of such character — Hong Qigong had traveled the world and encountered only this one before him. How could he not be moved? Even though Wu Chengyu was lame, he still stirred in Hong Qigong the impulse to accept a disciple.

Thanks to Book Friend 5234's reminder, I've decided to change the "Myriad Heavens" in the title to "The Legend of the Condor Heroes." After all, I'm still hesitating whether to write it as a Myriad Heavens story, but with "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" in the title it might get a few more searches. Right now this book is buried too deep — hardly anyone sees it. Pity the name can only be changed after a working day.

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(Chapter End)