Chapter 1 A Guarantee

With Miss White Wine vouching for them, both sides had a foundation of mutual trust.

Moreover, what Sweet Potato Brew said made Hu Ma truly understand the difference between the transmigrator group and others, which slightly eased his mind.

Immediately, he discussed the matter with Sweet Potato Brew in detail, asked clearly about his senior brother's special skills and weaknesses, and agreed to exchange information once every night before falling into a deep sleep.

Early the next morning, he brought his steel knife, while the red sandalwood sword was still wrapped in cloth strips to keep it hidden. After washing up, he went downstairs, sat in the shop, took out a handful of copper coins, asked the waiter to brew him a pot of good tea, and then went out to buy two笼 (lóng) of steamed buns to eat.

Of course, this didn't cost so much. When the waiter returned, Hu Ma simply waved his hand, telling him to keep the remaining copper coins, and then while eating, he asked if there was any place nearby to earn silver.

The waiter, having received a tip, was naturally all smiles, saying, "With the ability to make money, how could there not be a place to make money? What line of work is the esteemed guest in?"

Hu Ma smiled and lifted the knife at his waist, drawing it halfway out and placing it on the table.

The knife had several rust spots and some dark red, indelible stains. Several chips were missing from the blade, obviously from cutting people.

"You make a living with a knife?"

The waiter was immediately startled and didn't dare to speak.

The shopkeeper, who was calculating accounts behind the counter, spoke with a smile, "Esteemed guest, you seem to be a hero of the Jianghu (martial world). I must inform you that in our Wutong Town, vendettas and fights have been rare in recent years."

"If you want to earn silver, there's a notice in front of the blue brick compound in the east of town, looking for someone with your skills."

"..."

"Is that so?"

Hu Ma sheathed his knife and said, "If there really is, I'll give you another tip when I return."

With that, he got up. Seeing that the weather outside was gloomy and it might rain at any moment, he took off the bamboo hat and raincoat by the door of the inn and put them on, saying he would return them later. The shopkeeper and waiter didn't dare to stop him.

After he had gone far away, they curled their lips and secretly sneered.

"These days, people who make a living with a knife dare to come out and do business so openly."

The old shopkeeper glanced disdainfully in the direction Hu Ma had left, saying, "In the past, we would have reported him to the authorities."

As he spoke, he lowered his head to calculate the accounts, clearly not taking it to heart.

Hu Ma left the inn and wandered around the street for a while, slowly arriving at the west of the town. Sure enough, he saw a row of large blue brick houses from afar. Seven or eight notices were posted on the smooth brick wall.

Upon closer inspection, they all contained the same message, which read:

"The Ma'erwa bandits are rampant, robbing rice and harming people. We are gathering generous rewards and provisions, and enlisting brave men to eliminate the scourge for the people. We await heroes from all walks of life."

Looking further,

Hu Ma was certain that this was the notice posted by the young master of the Lu family. This young master was seeking people everywhere, but he was looking for capable and extraordinary people. It was difficult to say it openly, so he used the name of suppressing bandits to recruit heroes from all corners of the Jianghu.

So he tore off a notice and asked around, heading toward the Qian Feng Teahouse in town.

Arriving there, he saw a three-story wooden building, which looked quite grand and elegantly decorated. Even in Mingzhou Prefecture, it would have been pleasing to the eye.

Hu Ma took the notice and walked straight into the teahouse.

A waiter with a white towel on his shoulder stood at the door. Seeing Hu Ma wearing a raincoat and bamboo hat, leggings on his legs, and a steel knife hanging conspicuously at his waist, he immediately knew he was a Jianghu traveler.

Smiling, he greeted him and said, "Esteemed guest, did you also come because of the notice? Please come inside!"

Without asking any further questions, he directly invited Hu Ma into the teahouse to sit down. The large teahouse had a dozen square tables, but it was mostly empty, with only five or six people sitting besides Hu Ma, all looking fierce and undoubtedly from the Jianghu.

Without Hu Ma having to ask, the waiter brought tea and some snacks, but didn't ask anything else.

It was quiet. Half the morning passed. During this time, two or three more people came, and several groups of customers wanted to come in for tea, but the waiter just whispered something to them, and these customers quickly left.

Presumably, the young master Lu had deep pockets and had directly booked the teahouse to welcome Hu Ma and the other Jianghu heroes who had come to answer the call.

As noon approached, some people were getting impatient and asked loudly several times.

Just then, an old man in silk clothes walked in and immediately apologized, "Everyone, I've prepared a banquet to welcome you all, but before that, please follow me to the backyard to meet our young master?"

Everyone exchanged glances and then got up and went to the backyard in single file.

Behind the teahouse was a courtyard ten zhang (approximately 33 meters) square, with a row of stoves, all with boiling water on them.

At the end of the courtyard was a Grand Tutor's chair and a small table with tea and snacks.

A thin man in a white robe was sitting in the Grand Tutor's chair, drinking tea. Noticing these people coming in, he merely raised his eyes slightly, glanced over them, and then lowered his head to drink his tea, without saying a word.

The advisor who had led them in quickly said, "Everyone, this is our young master Lu. We are all from the Jianghu, so there is no need to stand on ceremony."

Although he said this, several people still cupped their fists to Lu Dashao and bowed respectfully.

But Lu Dashao still didn't raise his face, only nodding slightly.

"To be honest."

Young Master Lu didn't speak, so the old man in the butler's clothes became his mouthpiece, saying with a smile, "We are inviting people to eliminate bandits and rid the people of harm, but once this notice was posted, all sorts of Jianghu types have come."

"But don't take it personally, we dare not accept you. This is a dangerous business. Ordinary people who go will likely lose their lives without paying attention."

"So, if you don't mind, how about showing off your skills in front of our young master Lu?"

"Those with ability, please come inside. If your abilities aren't suitable, we'll still be friends and part on good terms."

"..."

Everyone listened, looking at each other: "Is he testing us?"

They had all seen the notice, or heard that there was a way to earn silver here, so they came to join in the fun.

But since the employer wanted to see their abilities, there was no reason not to show them.

So, first, a stout man in black clothes and pants, with a scarf tied around his head, came out. He took off his outer garment, revealing two heavy steel sabers inside.

He first cupped his fists to Young Master Lu above and said proudly, "Greetings, everyone. I am Chen Dalong, the Dragon-Tiger Saber Master who shakes three provinces. I have learned good saber techniques since I was young. Today, I ask for your guidance."

With that, he let out a "hey" and opened his stance, wielding his sabers with great force, the cold light glinting.

Hu Ma watched from the side, his eyes widening, and then...

...he almost burst out laughing.

This Dragon-Tiger Saber Master who shook three provinces truly had good saber techniques, completely lacking any order or method.

Even the few moves that Second Master taught him were more organized than his.

The butler also looked visibly stunned. After a long while, he secretly glanced at the gloomy-faced Young Master Lu and hurriedly stopped Chen Dalong, clapping his hands a few times, saying, "Good saber, good saber. Esteemed sir, please go outside for tea. We'll provide the meal."

"Huh?"

Chen Dalong's enthusiasm hadn't diminished, saying, "Butler, what do you mean by this?"

"You're not keeping me? Butler, sir, let me tell you, I've been studying the saber for twenty-eight years, watertight, cutting people like slicing melons..."

"..."

The butler was already full of embarrassment, only wanting to ask him to leave, but this person refused, only showing off his saber techniques.

Suddenly, in the midst of the pushing and shoving, the young master Lu sitting in front suddenly raised his head and looked at Chen Dalong:

"Your saber is watertight? Good. If you can do it, I'll spend five hundred taels of silver to keep you here."

Chen Dalong was overjoyed and about to raise his head to speak, but unexpectedly saw that the young master Lu had already gotten up, picked up a pot of boiling water from the stove, and smashed it over his head.

Chen Dalong didn't react in time and was hit in the face by the pot. The boiling water flowed all over his body, scalding him so badly that he screamed and rolled on the ground.

"What a piece of trash!"

Young Master Lu said coldly, "Give him medical expenses and get him out of here!"

The screaming Chen Dalong was carried out, his distant voice still ringing. The remaining people were all stunned.

Between glances, a sturdy man in gray clothes walked out, saying, "Let me do it!"

"I learned hard Qigong (internal martial arts), piercing the throat with a silver spear, smashing a large stone on the chest."

"..."

With that, he untied the bundle behind him, revealing three or five red-tasseled spears, aiming them at his throat, one end resting on the ground.

He vibrated his arms and suddenly pushed forward, letting out a "hey" sound. The red-tasseled spears were all broken in two.

This man was also somewhat proud, straightened his body, and looked at the young master Lu.

The gloom on Young Master Lu's face deepened a few more points. He glanced at him, suddenly took out a sharp short spear from his bosom, threw it directly at his feet, and sneered: "Don't use those wooden scraps, use this. If you can survive, I'll hire you."

The man who practiced hard Qigong was stunned for a moment, picked up the short knife, pulled it out, and saw that it was extremely sharp, and immediately hesitated.

The butler saw the situation, knowing the danger, and before Young Master Lu could speak, he stepped forward, took the short knife, and sighed: "Esteemed sir, please leave too?"

The face of the man who practiced hard Qigong was flushed red, not even picking up the broken red-tasseled spears on the ground, and hurriedly left.

"Bring in and bring out, all that comes are those fake showmen."

After watching two of them, Young Master Lu was already a little impatient: "Are there so few capable people in this Jianghu?"

Being mocked to their faces, even the remaining people looked embarrassed.

Some people couldn't save face and were already thinking of leaving secretly.

Hu Ma also had a clear understanding and positioning of himself, so he pressed the hilt of his knife and stepped forward, saying, "If you're going to hire someone, then hire someone. What are you trying to do by putting on such a show?"

(End of this chapter)