"Secret dicine is naturally available," Hong Xinghua said. "After all, everyone needs to cultivate in the mountains, but whether there is secret dicine suitable for your use is not certain. However, I can have soone help you look for it. Look, that Geng Lao Liu over there is specifically in charge of that."
Geng Lao Liu nodded in agreent upon hearing this. "Indeed, as long as you have silver, no matter how rare the secret dicine is, I can find it for you."
Coach Song also chid in, "We have secret dicine at Black Tiger Village, and we have more varieties than Xinghua Village. We also sell it cheaper to our own people. If we don't have what you need, you can go see Geng Lao Liu to supplent."
At this mont, Ma Lu added, "But I've lost all my silver in gambling. Can I get so secret dicine on credit first?"
Hearing this, Hong Xinghua's brows furrowed.
"Our Xinghua Village has its own rules. Secret dicine cannot be taken in advance. Otherwise, if everyone does this, there wouldn't be enough for anyone. You're skilled in martial arts. Simply go down the mountain to rob passing rchants, and naturally you will get your share when the loot is divided."
Coach Song also felt that Ma Lu was a bit greedy, having his eyes on the village's secret dicine even before joining.
But for bandits, greed is not necessarily a bad thing, and greedy people are also often easier to control.
Of course, the main reason was that he had just exchanged blows with Ma Lu and had developed a sense of appreciation for his talent. Wanting to recruit another strong warrior for Black Tiger Village, he took the initiative to say,
"How about this, if you're willing to join our village, I can ask Dalang and Erlang for leniency and credit you so secret dicine first to continue your cultivation. When you get your share of the money later, you can pay it back slowly."
"Then we'll go to Black Tiger Village," Ma Lu finally made up his mind.
Coach Song felt a weight lift from his shoulders, a smile returning to his face. He said 'good' three tis, patting Ma Lu's shoulder excitedly.
"Brother He, rest assured, now that you and your sister-in-law have co to Black Tiger Village, our village chief will surely not let you down."
Hong Xinghua was sowhat disappointed, shaking her head. "For a bit of petty profit, you'd put your wife in danger. It seems that the disciples of Songxi Sword Sect are nothing more than that after all."
After saying this, she turned and walked back up the mountain.
Ma Lu ignored her; that woman was sour-graping because she couldn't get the grapes.
It was not a matter of petty profit at all. Ma Lu wanted to take this opportunity to find out where Black Tiger Village stored its secret dicine so that he could take action when leaving. If things went smoothly, he could fill up his Collection Bag.
This was a full thousand jin of secret dicine. Even if he went to Hundred Herbs Sect to buy the cheapest kind, it would cost several thousand taels of silver, not to ntion if he were lucky enough to get high-level ingredients, he would make a fortune.
Coach Song was still oblivious to the fact that Brother He before him had already set his sights on his village's secret dicine and was happy with the addition of a strong reinforcent to the village.
He imdiately led the way, guiding Ma Lu and Gu Qingyi towards Black Tiger Village.
Finding Black Tiger Village was not difficult, situated halfway up Crouching Tiger Hill. However, the defenses were indeed strict, with wooden walls and hedges, and archers on the wall.
Jianghu rumors say that before the Du Brothers beca outlaws, they were military leaders on the frontier, who fled with a group of remnants. Hence, their stronghold was built like a military camp.
After entering the village, Ma Lu learned why the Du Brothers had not co to et him in person. It turned out that the eldest, Du Dalang, had led n down the mountain for a raid the day before, and Du Erlang remained to guard the village and could not conveniently leave.
However, after hearing about what happened at the foot of the mountain from Coach Song, Du Erlang still made an appearance to welco Ma Lu. His gaze lingered on Gu Qingyi for half a second, but then quickly moved away.
He also enthusiastically showed Ma Lu and Gu Qingyi around the village and had a clean room prepared for them.
Just as night fully fell, Du Erlang also had food brought to them, and before leaving, he ntioned that once Dalang returned, he would invite Ma Lu to drink with him, which showed he held Ma Lu in high regard.
Once he had left, Gu Qingyi made a circuit of the room and glanced out the window a few tis before speaking in a low voice, "There's more than one sentry watching us."
To this, Ma Lu was not surprised. Although his performance at the foot of the mountain was convincing and he had even demonstrated the Songxi Fast Sword to prove his identity, he was still an outsider. Black Tiger Village and Du Erlang would not take his word at face value and would likely have soone verify it.
Only after thoroughly investigating his identity and background would they truly accept him as one of their own.
Gu Qingyi was still worried. "Black Wind Village has nearly four hundred people; how will we find Qin Feng among so many?"
"This is simple, just ask directly,"
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Ma Lu said as he opened the door and shouted, "Who is Qin Feng?"
His voice was so powerful that it startled the nearby guards,
but luckily it didn't take long before the door of the neighboring room opened, and a beardless pale-faced man ca out, greeting Ma Lu with a fist and palm salute.
"I am Zhang Yuan. Are you the new friend looking for Qin Feng?"
Ma Lu nodded, "Yes, before we headed up the mountain, we stopped in Yuchang County and t a junior mber of the Qin family. He knew we were planning to go to Crouching Tiger Hill and entrusted us to deliver sothing to Qin Feng."
"What is it?" Zhang Yuan asked.
"A knife."
Ma Lu said as he pulled out the Chef's Knife.
"This knife does look quite unique. However, it's too short to be much of a weapon. Why would that junior of the Qin family want you to bring this knife to Qin Feng?" Zhang Yuan asked curiously.
Ma Lu shook his head, "How would I know? I just saw he was in a sorry state and decided to help him out. If Qin Feng isn't here, then never mind."
In fact, Ma Lu had decided to "deliver the knife" only because after the Chef's Knife was upgraded to Level 6, he could summon it back to his hand at any ti and wasn't afraid of losing it.
Zhang Yuan said, "I do know Qin Feng. I'll take you to him."
"Alright," Ma Lu replied without any hesitation.
Zhang Yuan led Ma Lu to a small wooden house at the northwest corner of the village, knocked on the door, and soon a sowhat thick voice ca from inside.
"Who is it?"
"It's , Zhang Yuan," Zhang Yuan replied.
"Ah, strategist, what brings you to look for ?"
The wooden door quickly opened, and a man with a horse-like face, draping clothes on, walked out from inside.
"A junior from your family sent soone to deliver sothing to you," Zhang Yuan said.
anwhile, Ma Lu already shoved the Chef's Knife into the hands of the horse-faced man, "Here, take it."
"......"
Qin Feng looked at the Short Blade in his hands, his gaze sowhat dazed as if he hadn't grasped the situation.
However, he quickly seed to recall sothing and said to Ma Lu, "You...you've seen my nephew."
This ti it was Ma Lu's turn to be surprised, "That person is your nephew? I had no idea; he just said he was one of your younger relatives."
"It must be him; you definitely saw my nephew Qin Heng."
Qin Feng said excitedly, "Co into my house with , and tell more about my nephew."
Zhang Yuan stood to the side, listening silently to the conversation between the two, not discerning any issues. Seeing that Qin Feng was inviting Ma Lu inside, he felt it wasn't appropriate to follow, so he gave Ma Lu another salutation with his fist and palm.
"Then you two chat. If Brother He has any more matters, he can find at my place."
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