Raising Orphans, Not Assassins

Vol. 1 - Ch. 9 - Signs of an Impending Storm

As the sun sets behind the western mountains, leaving behind a lingering tinge of orange-red in the sky, wisps of smoke rise from the chimneys of Yuhang County. The air carries a faint aroma of cooking, drifting lazily amidst the evening breeze.

"This is called MSG. Adding a bit of it while cooking will enhance the flavour," Chen Ye instructed as he stood by the stove, a pot of vegetables sizzling in front of him.

Xiao Lian stood beside Chen Ye, listening intently.

Next to the stove were various jars and bottles, each containing different seasonings. Chen Ye patiently explained to Xiao Lian, one by one, which seasoning was which.

In the afternoon, Chen Ye granted Xiao Lian the ?Dexterous Hands? skill. He was a bit hesitant, fearing that one day Xiao Lian might run away after receiving the trait.

However, after consulting the system, Chen Ye learned that If any orphan left the orphanage, he could reclaim the traits he had given them.

With the system's assurance, Chen Ye felt relieved and decisively bestowed the ?Dexterous Hands? skill upon Xiao Lian.

By dusk, as smoke rose from every household signalling the start of dinner preparations, Chen Ye began teaching Xiao Lian how to cook, step by step.

Xiao Lian listened attentively, noticing that Chen Ye's cooking methods were somewhat unconventional.

In particular, he used many strange and unique seasonings. Gradually, a dish was prepared, its colour enticing and its aroma delightful.

Chen Ye handed her a pair of chopsticks. Xiao Lian took a bite and was instantly amazed by the extraordinary taste.

"Director, this... this is incredibly delicious!" she exclaimed.

"Why don't you open a restaurant? You'd have so many customers."

Xiao Lian hesitated, unsure how to address Chen Ye. She couldn't very well call him "Dad" like Da Ming did...

Chen Ye noticed her hesitation and told her it was fine to call him "Director"

Hearing her suggestion, Chen Ye chuckles softly. "Opening a restaurant might indeed bring in a lot of money. But running an orphanage, I gain something that money can't buy."

Hearing this, Xiao Lian's bright, watery eyes widened, and she gave Chen Ye a deep look, as if something inside her was touched. {ED: Can't wait for this misunderstanding to never be corrected. But hey, whatever advances the plot, right?}

Chen Ye wasn't lying; he was telling the truth. Running the orphanage meant receiving rewards from the system, rewards money couldn't buy. Moreover, there was a monthly limit on redeeming items from the system's shop.

Chen Ye couldn't trade points for items and then sell those items for silver coins. Points were far more valuable than money.

After cooking a dish, Chen Ye handed the spatula to Xiao Lian and watched her work. She learned quickly, likely due to the influence of the ?Dexterous Hands? skill.

Before long, she had stir-fried a dish that was visually appealing and fragrant.

When dinner was ready, Xiao Lian prepared to eat in the kitchen, but Chen Ye stopped her.

"You and Da Ming are both children in my eyes. Let's eat together," Chen Ye said in a calm tone, making Xiao Lian momentarily lost in thought.

In the Da Wu Dynasty, much like the feudal dynasties in history, men were considered superior to women, and women were not allowed to eat at the table. However, Chen Ye, being a modern man, found these old customs outdated and awkward.

Xiao Lian, at thirteen, was just a child in his eyes.

At the dinner table, Xiao Lian initially ate with the restraint of a proper lady. However, after a few bites, her cheeks turned slightly red, and her bright eyes sparkled as she couldn't resist taking more food.

With the help of modern seasonings, no one could resist such delicious flavours.

By the end of the meal, Xiao Lian's small belly was round from eating, and her pretty face was flushed with embarrassment. Da MIng was even burping contentedly, grinning foolishly.

After dinner, Chen Ye took Da MIng to the study to read "Water Margin" picture books and learn characters.

Xiao Lian, carrying an oil lamp, returned to her own room.

...

Outside Yuhang County.

The sun hung low on the horizon, and the sky was growing dark.

By the roadside, a banner with the words "Tea House" fluttered in the wind, hanging from a tall pole. Next to the pole was a small tea house with four or five long benches and three tables inside.

At this moment, an old man in coarse clothing was tidying up the teacups, using the last light of the setting sun.

Hunched over, with cloudy eyes, he poured the leftover tea onto the ground and stacked the cups together.

Suddenly, a figure appeared on the main road.

This person wasn't on horseback but was running swiftly on foot.

The old man glanced indifferently with the corner of his eye and continued to tremulously carry the cups into the back kitchen.

The figure sprinted forward, leaping several times, and quickly arrived at the tea house.

It was a young man, with an ordinary appearance and simple clothing, but his eyes were sharp and sinister.

Upon reaching the tea house, the man didn't sit down. Instead, he respectfully clasped his fists and called out towards the back kitchen, "Subordinate Shi Shisan greets the Executor."

A slightly hoarse voice responded from within, "Have you gathered another batch of children?"

As he spoke, the old man in coarse clothes emerged from the back kitchen, his back now straight, his entire demeanour changed.

His once-cloudy eyes had turned pitch black, exuding a chilling aura.

Seeing the Executor emerge, Shi Shisan knelt down, "This subordinate has failed the mission. Please punish me, Executor."

The old man glanced at him, his pitch-black eyes cold and penetrating, "What happened?"

"Such a small task, don't tell me you messed it up."

Feeling the coldness in the old man's tone, Shi Shisan couldn't help but tremble.

He gritted his teeth and said, "Executor, I encountered... a highly skilled martial artist."

"He claimed I had abducted his disciple..."

Shi Shisan recounted the events to the old man.

After hearing the story, the old man's sparse brows furrowed deeply.

"You said you struck him square in the chest with your Yu Luo Leg Technique, infused with eighty percent for your internal energy, but it sounded like striking metal?"

"Yes!" Shi Shisan replied, still kneeling on the ground.

Upon hearing this, the steward's expression darkened even further.

"He's a master of Heng Lian cultivation. After taking your blow unscathed, he should be at least second-grade," the old man mused for a moment.

"Don't go to Yuhang County for the time being."

"Yes!"

As if suddenly remembering something, the old man asks, "What about Shi Liu?"

Shi Shisan's face instantly reveals a look of embarrassment as he hesitantly says, "Shi Liu... Shi Liu was captured by the authorities."

Upon hearing this, the old man visibly paused for a moment, then took a deep breath.

'Useless.'

"Enough of this matter. Go back and exchange for the third-level martial art."

Shi Shisan's face lit up with joy as he kowtowed.

"Thank you, Executor!"

The rough-dressed old man remained silent, his gaze fixed on the north, his eyes deep.

On a summer night, a slightly cool breeze blew in, lifting the old man's robe. The trees beside the road swayed, their leaves rustling. The sky quickly darkened, and a distant horizon added a layer of clouds.

Low-pressure clouds gathered together, emitting a deep thunder. Torrential rain poured down in an instant.

Song Cangjie removed his hat and looked at the darkening sky, feeling fortunate.

He stood in front of a residence and knocked on the door.

Knock, knock

The door opened from inside, and a bearded man looked at Song Cangjie, his face showing joy.

"Jie Di, you've finally come."

Seeing the man, Song Cangjie's dark face broke into a smile.

"Elder Brother!"

"Come in quickly. There's no need for formalities between us brothers."

Qi Penglong pulled Song Cangjie into the house.

Song Cangjie sat on a chair, smiling. He took out a bamboo tube from his pocket and placed it on the table.

"Elder Brother, here are the Thousand Mile Incense and Xun Xiang Feng."

Qi Penglong quickly waves his hand, pushing the bamboo tube back. "Jie Di, you know what this is. The Liu Shan Men don't lack these."

"When I borrowed it from you, I didn't intend to take it back. Now that your martial arts have declined, and if there are no other means to handle the case, it might be difficult," Qi Penglong said, with a hint of pity.

A trace of loneliness and unwillingness flickered on Song Cangjie's face, but he quickly covered it up.

Qi Penglong slapped his forehead, realising that he inadvertently touched his brother's emotional scar again. He quickly changed the subject.

"Jie Di, I've just acquired a batch of good wine recently. Tonight, we won't return until we're drunk."

Song Cangjie laughed heartily, "Then I'll have to accompany you, elder brother!"

Qi Penglong went into the inner room, took out two jars of wine, and brought out several plates of appetisers. The two brothers then ate and drank together.

As they ate and drank, Song Cangjie's face showed a difficult expression.

"Here's the thing. The missing children are in the private possession of Liu Magistrate."

"That mansion burned down, and we caught a survivor. He's severely burned, and whether he can survive is uncertain."

"If it's found out to be related to Magistrate Liu, things will be difficult."

Qi Penglong silently picked up his wine bowl, taking small sips as the liquid dripped onto his beard.

After Song Cangjie finished speaking, Qi Penglong narrowed his eyes, a cold light flashing in them.

He sneered, "A petty county magistrate getting involved with the people from Fengyu Tower---he won't even know how he ends up dead."

As he spoke, Qi Penglong looked at Song Cangjie and saw the worried expression on his face, feeling both frustrated and sympathetic.

Nowadays, even a petty county magistrate could trouble Song Cangjie...

"Leave this matter to me. Tomorrow, I'll have someone write up an official document for you to take back."

Song Cangjie filled Qi Penglong's cup with wine, raised his own, and drank it in one go. "Thank you, brother!"

"No need for such formality between us. Now, tell me more about this mysterious master you encountered."

Mentioning the man in black, Song Cangjie immediately became excited, his eyes lighting up. "That senior appeared ordinary, but when the bronze-ranked assassin from Fengyu Tower struck his chest with a kick infused with eighty percent of the internal energy that should be available to him, yet it sounded like metal hitting metal."

After Song Cangjie finished recounting the event, Qi Penglong frowned in disbelief. "Could it be the Thirteen Guardians' Iron Body technique?"

"No, the senior looked normal. I think it might be the Golden Bell Cover or the Iron Shirt." Song Cangjie speculated as he picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks.

"Although the bronze-ranked assassin is only fourth rank, to easily withstand that strike, he must be at least second rank."

"And considering the metallic sound you heard, his external training technique must be at an advanced level!"

Qi Penglong's expression turned to one of surprise. "That senior's strength is probably on par with the three head officers."

The Liu Shan Men organisation had three head officers, all first-rank experts, renowned in the martial world.

"However, it's unlikely he's a grandmaster. There are fewer than five grandmasters in the martial world, and they are elusive."

"A grandmaster hiding in a small place like Yuhang County... seems improbable." Qi Penglong took a sip of wine and shook his head. "Not likely."

Hearing Qi Penglong's analysis, Song Cangjie nodded in agreement.

Thinking about it, a grandmaster was indeed unlikely. Each grandmaster was a legendary figure in the martial world.

As for a grandmaster known for external training, Song Cangjie had never heard of one.

Seeing Song Cangjie deep in thought with his chopsticks in hand, Qi Penglong poured more wine and said, "Drink more with me, brother. In a few days, you might not be able to see me."

Song Cangjie snapped out of his thoughts and asked with a smile, "Why? Is there something happening in the organisation?"

Qi Penglong took a big gulp of his wine.

"Tang Feng, a true disciple of Tang Sect, stole the secret scroll for the Dragon Whisker Needles and fled from Sichuan to Shaoxing Prefecture, committing crimes along the way. He's drawn the ire of many righteous sects."

"Several true disciples from the Jiangnan Thunder Hall plan to join forces to kill him and seize the manual. If Thunder Hall gets their hands on the Dragon Whisker Needles scroll, Tang Sect will be furious."

Hearing this, Song Cangjie was shocked. "Tang Feng? Didn't he just reach second rank earlier this year?"

"The true disciples of Thunder Hall have been in second rank for years, all in the mid-stage. If they join forces, Tang Feng is doomed."

Qi Penglong nodded. "And a few gold-ranked assassins from Fengyu Tower are also eyeing the manual."

"But he's been in Shaoxing Prefecture these past few days. Liu Shan Men wants to prevent large-scale bloodshed, so I'll be busy from tomorrow onwards."

Song Cangjie filled Qi Penglong's cup with wine.

Outside, the rumbling of thunder grew louder, accompanied by the increasing sound of raindrops hitting the ground.

Qi Penglong glanced at the darkening sky outside and said, "Brother, stay here with me tonight."

"Tomorrow, I'll prepare the official document from Liu Shan Men for you, ensuring that the county magistrate won't dare say anything."

"Thank you, brother!"

Song Cangjie raised his cup and clinked it with Qi Penglong's.

Boom~ Boom~

The thunder rolled, and the rain outside grew heavier.