Chen Ping's Sword-Chapter 37: Safe House
Displeasure is, after all, just displeasure.
There are too many things in the world to be dissatisfied with, but sometimes, it’s worth weighing whether you have the ability to intervene.
Fighting against odds is not something a wise person would do.
When the egg is broken and the stone remains, it becomes somewhat laughable.
Therefore, one must first develop oneself well, cultivating strength is the proper thing to do.
When you can’t protect yourself, everything you think about is just a dream.
...
At noon.
When Chen Ping and Zuo Duanshou arrived at a residence next to the government office.
Hua Lian’er and the Kuihua Brothers had already arrived.
The group had brought large and small bags, and even daily necessities, indeed looking like they were moving house.
Hua Lian’er wasn’t idle. Upon seeing someone enter, she just looked up, sweetly called out "Seventh Brother," and went into the kitchen on her own.
The food was bought from a restaurant, but it had already cooled, just needed a bit of reheating to be edible.
However, the [Qi Blood Powder] required simmering for half an hour to bring out its full medicinal properties, and should be drunk hot to operate its effects.
This thing quite consumed the Fire Skill, thus they had to find a concealed place to temporarily settle down and slowly simmer it.
Chen Ping also noticed, the Little Stool wasn’t idle either, holding a dragon-shaped malt sugar block, entertaining a five or six-year-old boy.
The two of them were talking like chickens speaking with ducks, yet they were having a cheerful conversation.
Little Table stood to the side, looking a bit awkward. When he saw Chen Ping’s gaze, his eyes slightly shone with a flicker.
"What’s with the kid?"
Chen Ping remembered that in the emergency measures he had set out, he had planned the strategy of a cunning rabbit with three burrows.
Once in danger, the group would immediately withdraw, looking mid-way for inconspicuous residences, giving some silver to temporarily settle down.
By evening, as night approached, they would immediately head to the "safe house."
The plan was made because Xingqing Prefecture was currently on high alert, needing to guard against both sea bandits landing and spies from Beizhou; most times, a curfew strategy was adopted.
At night, no one was allowed to wander the streets.
As long as they escaped to the "safe house" before dark, they could basically ensure safety.
No force, regardless of size, could muster a manhunt at night.
The midday temporary dwelling was also chosen beforehand, belonging to a domain no one would expect.
Like here, three hundred meters from the front corner stood the county government officer’s room.
No matter how powerful the Seven-Colored Hall was.
Next to the government office, they had to restrain themselves a little.
They couldn’t search here.
After killing a man in the small courtyard and making numerous arrangements thereafter.
Chen Ping, although somewhat reassured.
Still did not dare to guarantee one hundred percent that news wouldn’t leak.
Thus, they had to remain cautious.
Preventing being targeted and tracked down to themselves.
In such hiding times, Little Stool had the heart to play with a child?
"He’s the son of the house owner here. Initially, we gave the couple two taels of silver, just to stay for one night, leaving the next day.
But unexpectedly, Second Brother suddenly offered an extra tael because he liked children and wanted Tiger Head to play marbles with him..."
At this, Little Table’s face flushed.
Having such a brother was somewhat embarrassing.
Being so grown-up, yet still playing marbles.
"Did the landlord agree?"
"How could he not for more money..."
Little Table looked utterly bewildered.
"Little Table, back when you brothers volunteered to go to the Jinghai Prince’s Mansion, it must have been your younger brother’s idea, right?"
"Yes."
As Little Table smiled, his face turned slightly bitter, recalling how beautiful things seemed at first and how disappointing they turned out later.
Nine times out of ten, life doesn’t go your way.
So.
Chen Ping was nearly certain of the Kuihua Brothers’ personalities.
Little Table was stable and dependable in handling matters.
Whereas Little Stool preferred unconventional approaches, often acting unscrupulously.
’This is not about liking to play marbles with children, but clearly guarding against the house owner couple.’
Never imagine human nature as too beautiful, nor ever test the human heart.
Although young, Little Stool deeply understood this principle.
Remembering that time at the ruined temple, little Stool saw an opportunity, picked up bricks, and fiercely beat the tall, skinny guy to death.
Chen Ping thought, this kid is actually a good sword.
It’s just a pity that his background is too humble, he hasn’t even found a path to progress.
He can only go with the flow, living one day at a time.
This is the tragedy of the era, unrelated to character or talent.
Seeing that little Table was still standing by his side, wanting to say something but hesitating, Chen Ping wondered, "Is there any doubt?"
"Not really a doubt, just some concern."
Little Table glanced at Hua Lian’er busy in the kitchen, lowered his voice slightly, and said cautiously, "Earlier, after we packed up and left the rented house, when passing by the Jadeite Pavilion, Hua Lian’er went in for a while, saying she wanted to discuss some musical matters with Sister Xinyi. About the time of two cups of tea, she came out, and didn’t delay much."
"Has there been any change?"
Chen Ping’s eyes tightened.
With little Table’s steadiness, if there were no discoveries, he wouldn’t be speaking secretly like this.
Hua Lian’er made a trip to the Jadeite Pavilion along the way, Chen Ping actually knew about it beforehand.
She mentioned that the courtesan who is skilled in music had been very generous... She hadn’t finished learning three pieces, yet nine hundred taels of silver had already been gradually given. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
Hua Lian’er hadn’t even written out the score for the third piece yet.
Since they were leaving now, generally she wouldn’t come back, so certainly, she couldn’t owe the courtesan, saying goodbye was only right.
Simply writing the lyrics and music wasn’t difficult, just writing it down according to the tune. However, it involved many complex aspects of tone length, phonetics, singing style.
It required careful deliberation.
Hua Lian’er was thorough in her work, because "Sister Xinyi" had treated her well, she didn’t want to cheat her out of anything, so she wanted to write down all her comprehensions, also describe it in a way the other could understand, which took a lot of effort.
According to her, this was a repayment to "Sister Xinyi," and also a respect for Seventh Brother’s lyrics and music.
Learning and singing carelessly would dishonor such wonderful lyrics.
This approach, more or less, had a flavor of "compulsive disorder."
"I don’t know if I’m being paranoid, but when Hua Lian’er came out of Miss Xinyi’s Xiaoxiang Garden, I saw a young gentleman hiding behind a curtain watching for a long time, also asked a few questions to the madam.
That person’s face was solemn, as if discovering something shocking, when he saw me looking at him, there was a moment that the noble’s gaze seemed murderous..."
"Such was the case?"
Chen Ping suddenly became serious.
Little Table, though studying poetry, wasn’t very knowledgeable about the Martial Dao practiced by people of Jianghu.
He said the noble’s gaze was murderous, not implying the other truly intended to kill...
It’s likely that the other harbored malicious intent at that moment and couldn’t conceal it in time.
After exposing it, it gave ordinary people a sense of Spiritual Shock.
In martial artists’ confrontation, words, gaze, and thoughts, all are tools for killing.
Later generations falsely associated it with high-end terms like "speech craft," "witness," "belief," and such.
At the root, it’s the external manifestation of murderous intent.
Thoughts determine intention, mind decides, presented as outward appearance.
"Considering this, going to the Jadeite Pavilion is no longer an option."
Chen Ping mused and shook his head.
"It has to be this way, even though it’s unfortunate for Sister Xinyi, it cannot be helped."
Hua Lian’er carried out two large bowls of meat dishes, having heard the tail end of the conversation, she responded with some helplessness. Her fine brows tightly furrowing, her expression dazed.
Actually, she felt it too, when leaving, a gaze from inside looking out like a thorn in one’s back.
"Have you thought of anyone? Someone who might wish ill on you?"
Chen Ping asked.
"I suspect it relates to some troubling matters at home. Let’s not talk about it for now, it’s worrying. Seventh Brother, eat quickly, later there’ll be Qi Blood Powder, quickly enhance your skills. Beat those villains thoroughly."
Hua Lian’er had a big heart.
Just moments ago she was worried. The next moment, she was full of vitality.
Clenching her small fists, she called out, picking up the chopsticks.
Climbing onto the chair without proper posture, she lay across it, searching in the bowl for soft bones in the ribs to eat, she loved the crunchy feeling.
Such carefree behavior.
Chen Ping watched, a soft feeling rising in his heart.
He chuckled, sat at the table, no longer caring about the storm.
Just thinking, after eating, while the place was stable, Tribulation Points must be used, can’t accumulate them any longer.
Though further cultivation techniques in Qi Blood Martial Arts weren’t available... but given present circumstances, enhancing the Seven Stars Step Realm could be one way.
Strengthening slightly could offer more flexibility.
As for Fortune Points, they must be used too, selecting Jiang Teng.
This person’s Realm strength wasn’t particularly strong, but that swordsmanship was too remarkable...
Chen Ping considered, even if his power grew rapidly and his body’s strength advanced unbelievably, in a fair fight, he might not actually suppress the opponent.
Perhaps using "Trace Origin and Steal Fortune," he could gain something from that young man.
Before dark, he still needed to go to the "safe house" in the north of the city, hoping for peace on the way without unforeseen incidents.
