Eternal Swordmaster
Chapter 250 - 243 Central Prefecture Part 2

Chapter 250: Chapter 243 Central Prefecture Part 2

"If that’s the case, then I shall impose on you for a short time," Lin Xin thought to himself that he indeed knew nothing about Central Prefecture, so the best course of action was to find a place to settle down and slowly gather information. Moreover, he also needed a stable period to carefully study the impact of the Greenfish Lantern on his body.

Sure enough, both Ma Yuan and his daughter heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing Lin Xin’s decision.

"Well then, let’s deliver our goods to this town first, and then go to my kin’s residence," Ma Yuan quickly said. "My family, the Ma Family, is considered an influential family within Shelin City nearby; once I have made arrangements, Master can rest assuredly here for a while. After you have a clear understanding of the surroundings, it won’t be too late to make further plans."

Lin Xin nodded. "That’s fine. We have been traveling for so long that it’s indeed time to clean up properly."

The group first went to a place that looked like a trading firm, where Ma Yuan took out a small pouch to deliver the goods then immediately hired several horse-drawn carriages from a carriage service without delay, stocked up on food and drink, and directly headed for nearby Shelin City.

Shelin City, located next to Hua Drum Town, was the largest trading center in the area, a central trading point for special products of small towns like Hua Drum Town, attracting a multitude of merchants from farther places to collect goods.

After just a day’s journey, Ma Yuan and the others, along with Lin Xin, arrived in front of a deep residence with Vermilion Gates and stone lions.

The group of horses and riders entered from a side door on the side, where they were greeted by a young maid in a black gown outlined with gold.

"It’s Uncle Ma. Miss cousin was still talking about you last time; we didn’t expect to see you again so soon," said the clever and cute maid with a petite frame as she led Ma Yuan and his group through the side gate.

Ma Yuan also smiled and handed over something.

"It’s just a little trinket, not worth much."

"You seem to be in some trouble this time; did you run into trouble with the storm?" the maid asked in a low voice as she took the item.

"Bad luck, ah... it’s a long story," sighed Ma Yuan, and Ma Qiuqiu also seemed to teeter on the edge of tears, recalling the previous events.

"I’ll take you to see Miss cousin first."

The maid said quietly as she gestured for the servants to lead the rest of the group to stay in a nearby guesthouse.

Lin Xin and the other two team leaders, being distinguished guests, were singled out by Ma Yuan and arranged to stay in the mansion’s guesthouse.

With everything in order, Lin Xin settled down in the Ma Family residence with peace of mind.

Days passed in the blink of an eye.

*********************

"The finest pear blossom tofu, add the minced meat sauce to taste yourself!"

Next to the Ma Family residence was a snack street.

The street was bustling with people, and Lin Xin sat in the tofu shop, drinking a bowl of soy milk, listening to the shouting of the shop assistant, and watching the passersby on the street.

The hot soy milk tasted rather plain, diluted with who knew how much water. It was just a bit hot, but once swallowed, it warmed the stomach pleasantly.

Lin Xin squinted his eyes, attired in a dark green coat with a golden plum blossom embroidered on his shoulder, a set of clothes he had casually purchased nearby.

At that moment, he was sitting in the shop, mingling with the others who had come for breakfast, indistinguishable from the crowd, without drawing any unusual attention to himself.

These days, he had been around the neighborhood; Central Prefecture’s dialect was not too different from that of the Southern Prefecture, just a different tone, indicating a common language existed between them.

In the Ma Family residence, few people were seen coming and going, mostly leading a secluded lifestyle.

It had been three days since Ma Yuan and his daughter Ma Qiuqiu left, and yesterday someone had come with a message, saying that the cousin was interested in meeting him after hearing that he was able to dispose of a Blood Beast with his own hands.

The messenger had made it very clear—it was a summons, not an invitation.

Thinking about this, Lin Xin couldn’t help but shake his head and smile.

"Able to deal with ordinary Blood Beasts, one must be at least a Qi Cultivator; a Second Grade Qi Cultivator, to receive such a treatment here, was somewhat unexpected. Not to mention that the Blood Beast I disposed of was a massive type that only a Third Grade could possibly handle."

He did not dwell on why the other party had such an attitude, but focused on the hot tofu that had just been served.

"Enjoy your meal, sir," the shop assistant wiped the table with a towel and hurriedly attended to other customers.

Lin Xin pulled out a pair of chopsticks and gently bit into the white and delicate tofu, finding it exquisitely soft and filled with the fragrance of beans. He sprinkled it with green onion meat sauce and some crushed peanut crumbs.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, two figures soared into the sky on the street, clashing their weapons together dozens of times with crisp sounds, entangling fiercely mid-air.

"Huashi Dragon City, since our paths have crossed, let’s settle yesterday’s grudge today," one of the men’s voice boomed out, his words steady and clear amid the fight, showing he still had plenty of strength.

"Sect Leader Song, you can’t blame me for what happened last time. It was your own female disciple who was pretty. I was just flirting a little for fun, was there any need for such fury?" the other man spoke with a mocking tone, though his breath was noticeably uneven, seeming far less composed than his opponent.

"Since it’s Huashi Dragon City, there’s no better day than today! The hatred of slaying one’s wife cannot coexist under the heavens!"

Immediately, another person joined in the fray with a roar, rushing towards the pair.

The three fought back and forth in the street, knocking over a vendor’s cart at one moment and causing chaos inside a two-story restaurant the next.

Lin Xin’s stall happened to be in a quiet corner, at the end of a dead-end alley, and so the fighters did not come that way.

Their moves were ruthless, their inner Qi surging, all apparently expert practitioners of internal martial arts.

This surprise encounter made Lin Xin, new to Central Prefecture, inwardly marvel at the fact that three random people emerging on the streets all turned out to be masters of internal martial arts.

Watching the few people in the stall continue their meal undisturbed, as if it was a routine spectacle, they looked on unconcernedly, as though watching a play.

"Must be outsiders, those fellows are in for it now, daring to stir up trouble right under the Government’s nose," someone remarked.

"Just two days ago a provincial inspector passed through, and now here they go, causing a commotion and brawling, heh, now there’s gonna be an interesting show," another chimed in.

Among the crowd in the shop, some people rose and left, but most remained seated in their places, without the slightest worry of being affected by any potential trouble.

After finishing off the tofu and drinking the last of the soup, Lin Xin stood up and walked towards another street.

During his stay at the Ma Family residence, he had found a small bookstore nearby, where he could look over various county and prefecture records to learn about the general environment of the Central Prefecture.

Crossing an intersection selling imitation calligraphy and trinkets, there was a small temple by the road. Peering through the white stone plaque from the outside, one could see the long white stone steps extending inward and barely make out the chanting of scriptures from within.

For some reason, Lin Xin suddenly thought of the Qingyu Lantern. Standing in front of the temple now, he felt some peace and tranquility.

"Qingyu Lantern might really be related to Buddhism..."

He felt the Qingyu Lantern heating up again.

Ever since he found out that this item could counteract bodily decay, he had placed it near his heart to protect his vital energies.

Moreover, he had discovered over the past few days that chanting Buddhist Scripture could strengthen the Qingyu Lantern’s ability to resist decay.

Now standing in front of the temple, he felt the same sensation.

After a moment of silence, Lin Xin simply turned and entered the temple.

Since he felt a connection, he decided to have a look immediately.

He followed the direction indicated by the plaque, and on the stone steps, he spotted a young novice sweeping with a broom.

"Benefactor, are you here to stay, or to offer incense?" The novice approached to ask upon seeing Lin Xin enter.

"To offer incense," Lin Xin said, handing over a Silver to the novice.

"For incense offering, please go straight ahead; you will see the incense burner once you enter the main hall.

At this time, there was a continual stream of worshippers, and there were quite a few people ascending and descending the steps. The novice dealt with Lin Xin and then went to attend to other visitors.

Lin Xin proceeded alone, quickly reaching a large hall. Although the temple was small, this one and only large hall was indeed built in a simple and rustic style.

Inside, a Vajra with a fierce expression was enshrined, with its four arms each holding a Golden Hoop, teeth bared and claws dancing, yet exuding a stern majesty.

The people who came to worship and offer incense entered and exited in silence, observing the rules meticulously.

Lin Xin bought a bundle of long incense sticks from a monk at the entrance, lit them, and stood beside an old woman, bowing three times to the Buddha statue.

Closer to the chanting from behind the temple now, the Qingyu Lantern started to burn hotter and hotter, almost like a branding iron pressing against the skin, causing a stinging sensation even to his robust constitution of twenty points.

"It seems to be definitely related to Buddhism, and the connection is not insignificant. Moreover, it might have to do with the chanting," Lin Xin realized.

"Benefactor, would you like to join in the chanting?" A young monk inquired, coming closer.

"Little Master, I’d like to know if you have any Buddhist Scriptures for sale?" Lin Xin asked casually.

"Of course, we have those. Benefactor, would you like the Lotus Sutra, the Karma Sutra, or the Great Name Sutra?" The young monk, sensing a potential sale, asked eagerly with bright eyes.

"Give me one of each," Lin Xin replied, not picky.

Shortly after, he left the temple with several scriptures and bought a few books about the prefecture at the bookstore before returning to the Ma Family residence.

Just as he entered the courtyard.

"Sir, the young lady from the house has already sent someone to invite you over," the maid attending to him said in a low voice.

Lin Xin was slightly taken aback, then responded indifferently,

"Tell them I won’t be staying for many days, and I’ll be leaving soon. No need for concern."

The maid was astonished, as if she had never seen anyone defy the wishes of the young lady from the main house.

Lin Xin, already carrying the books, entered his chamber and closed the door, leaving behind a final remark.

"I’m entering closed-door rest; do not disturb me."

If it weren’t for giving face to Ma Yuan and his daughter, he could have easily found a tavern to stay in and slowly learn about the place. However, it seemed that the young lady from the main house had taken some interest in him, and he wondered what Ma Yuan and his daughter had said about him to her.

*******************

Within the main courtyard of the Ma Family estate.

"That Ma Yuan has brought someone to stay again. The old master is still in the west and hasn’t come back. Letting these poor relatives get away with it every time, won’t the other branches talk behind our backs?"

Two old maids were conversing with a young woman of beauty and grace.

"Indeed, those relatives who can barely be connected to us take the opportunity to ingratiate themselves with the barest of kinship. Once or twice is fine, but if they continue to come often, even the Old Lady will get annoyed."

The young woman, however, smiled faintly.

"My daughter Xuan’er will soon return from the Kunlin Sword Sect as an official Disciple. We’ll hold a big celebration for that, and Xuan’er will need some attendants, not the ordinary common folk from before, but some powerful ones."

"It just so happens that among the refugees who came with Ma Yuan, this one named Honghua has the strength to kill a Blood Beast, which seems promising. He could serve as Xuan’er’s chief Retainer."

"Madam has definitely thought this through. It’s just that if the man doesn’t appreciate it, not knowing what a great opportunity this is, and if he refuses, that would be embarrassing..." an old maid voiced her concerns.

"Refuse? It’s all about benefits. If my Ma Family can offer him enough benefits, he will naturally not leave. If the benefits aren’t sufficient, he will not stay regardless. Xuan’er has a bright future now, with too many people trying to court her. If he understands the situation, he will definitely not refuse. After all, that man is a refugee from the South Prefecture, without identity or a pass. It’s exceedingly difficult for him to move around here. Such a powerful individual in hiding without identity is the best to recruit," the woman said softly. "As her mother, the only thing I need to concern myself with is securing her support so that the Ma Family has nothing to worry about." (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)