Chapter 16: New Year's Eve Party The year ends before winter passes and spring comes. This is the method of dating that the Dayun Dynasty inherited from the previous dynasty, and it has remained unchanged for thousands of years. Before the end of the year, a year's work is over and the new year is about to begin. People, whether rich or poor, will buy household items before that day and buy things for their children that they would not normally eat. The half month before the Chinese New Year is the busiest time of the year. Li Yuan pocketed the silver and said goodbye to Fatty Sun who was reluctant to see him off as he left the middle courtyard. Before he even left the forging shop, he could already see fireworks exploding in the sky. "The warehouse of the weapon forging shop!" After taking a deep look at the large warehouse outside the martial arts arena, Li Yuan clenched his hands and walked out quickly. "Li Yuan!" Suddenly, a powerful voice sounded. Li Yuan's heart tightened, and he turned around and saw the unusually tall Qin Xiong: "Master Qin?"
Li Yuan lowered his head, still unable to hide the shock in his heart. Today's Qin Xiong is even more muscular than when he saw him three months ago. He is probably over two meters tall, and his every move exudes even more power. This…… "follow me!" Qin Xiong didn't even look at him. He called out and walked towards the front yard. Behind him, Niu Gui lowered his head and followed him like a quail. “It’s nice to have a relationship…” Li Yuan sighed, touched the silver on his chest, looked back in the direction of the kitchen, and followed it to the front yard. The layout of the front yard and the middle yard is not much different, except that the place is larger, with two entrances, front and back, more houses, and larger open space. It was just past noon. In the open space, the apprentices in the front yard were building up their strength, standing in stances and dancing with hammers. When they saw the few people, they all came over to look at them. "Practice yours!" Qin Xiong glanced coldly, and all the apprentices lowered their heads. Through the front yard is Qin Xiong's house, which has an independent courtyard and is much better than Fatty Sun's. It also has a separate kitchen and toilet. "You probably guessed why I asked you to come?" Inside the house, Niu Gui lowered his head to close the door, and Qin Xiong came over with his hands behind his back, lowered his head slightly, and looked very oppressive. "Disciple knows..." Li Yuan didn't even raise his head. He had expected this day to happen, so he did not seem panicked at this moment, but rather calm. "Standing like an ape with arms hanging down, blood and energy flowing around your body, your talent is truly amazing. I think you will be able to master the White Ape Cloak Hammer soon?" As Qin Xiong spoke, the corner of his eye twitched and he glanced at Niu Gui, feeling a little more annoyed.
He really didn't expect that a young man with a relatively weak physique and no family financial support could make such progress. Not to mention the Central Courtyard, the only one who could compare with him in the Front Courtyard was Du Yun, not even Lu Zhong. "Master Qin taught well." Li Yuan bowed. It is very difficult to hide martial arts, at least for him at this moment. Three months ago, he was only meters tall, but now he is meters tall. He doesn't look thin at all, and his muscles and bones have become strong. Anyone with eyes can see it, so how can he hide it? In fact, even someone like Li Yuan, who had only learned martial arts for a few months, could tell from Qin Xiong's changes that he might have made a breakthrough. "Good teaching?" Qin Xiong pulled the corner of his mouth, and his tone became heavy: "Although your physique is not as good as Niu Gui's, you are quite suitable for the White Ape Cloak Hammer. With this progress, the place to enter the Inner Court from the Middle Court should have been yours..." Li Yuan didn't even look up, he knew this kind of talk, usually followed by "but". "But I promised someone before that I must take Niu Gui to the inner courtyard this time. Do you have any complaints?" "Disciples don't dare." Only two meters away, what can Li Yuan do when facing the Qin Xiong who is more terrifying than a real bear? "I don't dare, it's not impossible." Qin Xiong looked at Niu Gui again. His brother-in-law had almost lowered his head to his crotch, his face flushed. "In previous years, the Inner Court had an examination only once every three years, but since then, it has been once a year. With your progress, you will definitely get a place in the Intermediate Court next year!" After saying that, Qin Xiong turned around and sat down, picked up the tea bowl, and blew lightly: "Go." "……Yes." Li Yuan bowed and turned to leave. next year? There are connections this year, but no connections next year? After leaving the house, Li Yuan's face felt a little numb. He rubbed it and left quickly. …… "Sister, brother-in-law..." Inside the house, Niu Gui felt as if ants were crawling all over his body: "I, I'll wait a year before entering the inner courtyard. It's the same. Li Yuan, he is better than me..." "Wait a year?" Looking at his useless brother-in-law, Qin Xiong sneered: "You go to the Central Courtyard, Du Yun comes to the Front Courtyard, Su Ling goes to the Back Courtyard... Why are there people interfering in the Miscellaneous Courtyard and the Foreign Affairs Courtyard? They want to enter the Inner Courtyard this year!" "Wait a year, it will be too late!" "Huh?" Niu Gui looked up, his face blank. "In the spring of the following year, the Divine Weapon Valley will open its doors to the public, and our shop has spent an incalculable amount of money to get this opportunity. At the latest, by this time next year, the inner court disciples will have to set off for Zhelong Mansion. If you wait for a year, the gates of Shenbing Valley will be closed!"
Qin Xiong took out a porcelain bottle from his arms and threw it to Niu Gui, saying in a deep voice: “When Divine Weapon Valley recruits disciples, it places the highest priority on physique. Li Yuan’s physique is only average, and he can’t even pass the first level! Your talent is above average. If you keep up with the progress, you may be able to join the Divine Weapon Valley. That will be the greatest fortune of your life!" "God, Divine Weapon Valley!" Holding the porcelain bottle, Niu Gui's face turned red again, but he was shaking with excitement. What is Shenbing Valley? That is the sky of Zhelong Mansion! Niu Gui was very excited, and the guilt in his heart disappeared all of a sudden. He was about to leave holding the porcelain bottle. "Don't go out these days if you don't have anything to do." Qin Xiong put down the teacup and gave some instructions. "Ah? I, I still want to go home to see my third sister..." Niu Gui was stunned: "Hasn't that murderous thief already..." "The New Year is coming soon. The county magistrate is trying to unsettle people. Will the market be held? Will taxes be collected?" Qin Xiong was too lazy to say more and waved his hand to send him away: "Get lost!" …… …… "I'm afraid Qin Xiong has already broken through to the inner strength?" Li Yuan walked quickly. Although he felt a little depressed, he was thinking more about Qin Xiong's martial arts. "If he breaks through his inner strength, he will be the next leader of the guards. I wonder if Fatty Sun can handle it?" Touching the heavy silver in his arms, Li Yuan prepared to give it a try. "To be on the safe side, I need to borrow more..." Muttering to himself, Li Yuan walked out of the weapon forging shop. It was already evening. Under normal circumstances, there would be few people on the road at this time, but because the New Year was approaching, the murderer was caught, and the ban was lifted, the place seemed even more lively. "Buy a few feet of cloth at a low price and make some clothes for the mother..." "Thirty-three cents a pound of meat? Why has it increased so much?" "I want to eat candied haws instead of pancakes. No, I want to eat candied haws..." …… The streets and alleys were filled with voices, and stalls selling all kinds of things spread out along the streets as far as the eye could see. Li Yuan, who had not been out of the weapon forging shop for a long time, suddenly felt the noisy voices coming from all directions, wrapping him tightly. Li Yuan was a little dazed. He is not a person who likes crowds, but going out again after more than two months feels different. "No wonder those cultivators in previous lives had to leave the world from time to time. Living in seclusion is really somewhat inhumane..."
Shaking his head slightly, Li Yuan walked into the crowd. The big fair before the end of the year is bustling not only in the inner and outer cities, but also in the dozen or so towns under Gaoliu, where people drive cattle and carts to sell things and buy salt, iron and the like. This was naturally a great opportunity for Li Yuan, who was in urgent need of an advanced weapon. Otherwise, he would not be able to borrow so much money from Fatty Sun at once. In addition to paying off his second brother's debts, he also wanted to try his luck at the market. "It's worthy of being the annual Gaoliu Fair. There are so many weapons that have reached the highest level!" Moving among the crowd, Li Yuan had to constantly clench his right hand, as the induction of the military talisman surged up in waves, very strong. pity…… Glancing at the martial artists holding swords and knives, Li Yuan sighed inwardly, they all have a master. He really wanted to touch it, but he could only think about it. None of the martial arts masters who can carry entry-level weapons are easy to deal with. Some of them pose a greater threat to him than Qin Xiong. "Enter the stage, enter the stage..." Li Yuan kept muttering to himself as he shuttled between the stalls like a fish. Suddenly, he stopped and looked towards the stall on the right. The stall was in a very bad location. The owners were an old man and a young boy, who seemed to be from the lower town. They sold all kinds of furs and unknown animal meats. Seeing someone stop, the father and son immediately greeted them warmly. This can also be considered a weapon, right? But why can't I come across a normal weapon? Several thoughts were swirling in his mind, and Li Yuan had already asked: "Old man, how much is your sickle?" (End of this chapter)
