The commotion between the two drew the attention of some people.
"What's happening over there?"
"It looks like they're arm wrestling!"
"What's going on?"
"Look, that guy said he Cultivates Iron Cloth, and this big man doesn't believe him. So they started arguing."
"That guy!? With that thin and frail appearance, if it were me, I wouldn't believe him either!"
"Let's go, let's take a look."
"......"
Five or six people gathered around the stone, watching the lively scene and discussing animatedly.
The two men set up their single arms, and the burly, hairy hand of the bearded man gripped Chen Ping'an's delicate, soft hand.
"Don't blame me if I break your arm."
"You can break it all you want!" Chen Ping'an said.
Seeing the crowd gather, the bearded man chuckled smugly.
"I won't bully you. Come on, you say 'start'!"
"I ask everyone here to be my witness. If I win, this bearded man will buy this Iron Cloth of mine for ten taels of silver. If I lose, I will give this man one tael."
Chen Ping'an looked around at the few people gathered and said.
"One tael of silver for free."
The burly bearded man sneered.
"Come on, that kid, I'm ready."
"Alright, then... start!"
With that, Chen Ping'an's arm suddenly exerted force. Due to the Iron Cloth transaction and the consideration of deterring petty criminals, he held nothing back.
In an instant, the burly bearded man felt a massive force coming from the other's arm. The sneer on his face could no longer be maintained. The muscles on his extremely thick arm bulged, and his veins popped out.
Bang!
The back of the burly bearded man's hand was slammed onto the stone.
"You lost!"
Chen Ping'an's calm voice rang out.
The burly bearded man's face turned red.
At this point, even if he were foolish, he understood that the other party was not as simple as he appeared. He was a true Cultivator who had achieved martial arts initiation!
Moreover, the other party's level was above his!
Is it Qi Blood Level One Perfection!? Or Qi Blood Second Realm!?
The dramatic result caused the onlookers to shout.
"He actually won!"
"This strong man ran into a tough opponent."
"martial arts initiation, he must have achieved martial arts initiation!"
"......"
Chen Ping'an ignored the shouting around him. He stood up and calmly looked at the burly bearded man.
"Ten taels of silver! Iron Cloth, money in one hand, goods in the other."
"Alright, you can win me in strength, so I believe this Iron Cloth Cultivation Technique of yours is real! However..."
The burly bearded man stood up, his powerful physique containing explosive strength, creating a strong sense of oppression.
"Ten taels of silver is too expensive! Six taels! Six taels at most, and I'll buy it!"
The burly bearded man's reply drew a chorus of boos from the crowd.
However, the black market was still the black market, and most people were relatively cautious. So, at this time, there were only six or seven people who had truly gathered to watch the excitement.
The bearded man ignored the boos around him; he just looked at Chen Ping'an.
Ten taels of silver, if one were to buy a copy of Iron Cloth at a Treasure Pavilion in the county city, it wouldn't be expensive!
But for a handwritten copy of unknown authenticity, this price was not cheap!
Six taels! That was a more market-appropriate price.
No one who frequented this black market was a fool. It was impossible to just throw away a few taels of silver because of a gamble.
In fact, even if the bearded man reneged and simply walked away, Chen Ping'an wouldn't have a good way to deal with it in this black market.
After all, the gamble between them was merely a private amusement. It wouldn't count if it were brought to a formal setting.
Chen Ping'an obviously knew this too.
However, ten taels of silver was just a number he casually blurted out. His true goal was to sell this Iron Cloth.
Buying and selling, by nature, involves the seller raising the price and the buyer lowering it.
Chen Ping'an's gaze was deep, like a vast ocean, as he stared at the bearded man for a while, making the bearded man feel a little uneasy.
that kid is a bit strange.
He looked frail, but his strength was much greater than his. To achieve martial arts initiation and Cultivate a hard-body Cultivation Technique while maintaining such a physique, he must have also Cultivated some other superior Cultivation Technique.
"Alright, six taels it is. Consider it making a friend."
Chen Ping'an's voice rang out at just the right moment.
"Good, straightforward!"
Upon hearing this, the bearded man pulled out a cloth pouch from his Pregnant and took out a few small pieces of broken silver.
Money in one hand, goods in the other.
The moment the silver touched his hand, Chen Ping'an's eyes lit up.
"It's done!"
The Family's previous savings, combined with his recently received monthly salary, plus these six taels of silver, were enough to pay off the fourteen taels of debt due tomorrow.
After the transaction was completed, neither the bearded man nor Chen Ping'an lingered there, quickly leaving.
"that kid looks thin, but I didn't expect him to be so strong! He took down such a burly man with just an arm wrestle!"
"You can't judge a book by its cover, nor can you measure the sea with a dipper!"
"......"
Someone among the onlookers sighed.
However, all of this had nothing to do with Chen Ping'an. His goal was achieved, and he felt lighthearted.
When he left the black market, the burly man was still standing expressionlessly.
"Once you're out of the black market, we are not responsible for your safety; you bear the risks yourself."
Chen Ping'an subtly glanced at the large saber strapped to the big man's waist and nodded slightly.
With one person guarding the black market entrance, this big man's martial arts Cultivation was probably extraordinary.
Qi Blood Level One Perfection? Or Qi Blood Second Realm!?
As for Qi Blood Second Stage Perfection, or even Qi Blood Third Stage, that was unlikely!
Those who could Cultivate martial arts to that level would likely not be guarding this place. Martial arts Cultivators of such a level, even if they were guarding a household, would go to a true Family.
Such Family are even looked up to by the Nanquan Lane Garrison Office.
A mere black market in Nanquan Lane wouldn't warrant it!
"I wonder how many rounds I could last against him if we sparred?"
Chen Ping'an secretly pondered in his heart.
After leaving the black market, Chen Ping'an acted extremely cautiously, constantly checking behind him.
He had heard many rumors about the black market. Things like being followed and robbed, or being secretly tracked and having one's entire Family harmed.
Based on this, Chen Ping'an was naturally very careful. This was also why he only came to the black market after his Iron Cloth reached Minor Achievement and he achieved Qi Blood First Realm Perfection.
He deliberately took a long detour before slowly returning home.
It seemed his luck was good today, and no one was targeting him.
The courtyard wall of Chen Ping'an's house was not high, and Chen Er'ya had already closed the courtyard gate.
He thought for a moment and decided to climb over the wall directly.
For Cultivators who had achieved martial arts initiation, a courtyard wall like his was merely a decoration. In fact, even without being a martial arts Cultivator, petty criminals with certain skills could easily climb over it.
He hadn't paid much attention to it on normal days, as it was relatively safe at night within Weishui County.
But thinking about it now, Chen Ping'an had a slight urge to move.
However, it was only a slight urge. And it was quickly dismissed.
Given his current situation, wanting to move to a new place was undoubtedly a pipe dream.
Living in the county city was not easy.
Even in the outer city, a slightly better residence could cost one hundred or two hundred taels. With his meager monthly salary, buying a new residence was simply a dream.
However...
Thinking of that profound Golden Finger, Chen Ping'an's heart was ultimately filled with infinite anticipation.
The monthly salary of an unregistered Yamen Runner was indeed pitifully small. But what if he became a formal Yamen Runner!?
What if he became a Chief Constable or a Squad Leader!?
By learning to befriend time, one day, he would step into a new vista.
A great roc rises with the wind in a single day, soaring ninety thousand miles high!
......
PS: Why is Little Chen soaring ninety thousand miles high while the author is still failing? Is there no justice, no law? Where are the big shots? Where are the votes? Where are the continuous reads? Indeed, the big shots were right, it doesn't matter if you fail, because as long as you work hard, you're just a hard-working failure!