Observing Wanfa from the martial arts school servants

Chapter 22 Scarface

The two fought for a long time in the courtyard.

Sudden wind steps against sudden wind steps, through wind against through wind, willows swaying in the wind against willows.

Every punch lands squarely.

As Lin Mu fought, he retreated, secretly channeling every last drop of his vital energy into the soles of his feet.

When Bai Yungui struck with his palm, Lin Mu did not dodge. He pushed off the ground with his left foot and sprang forward. His right fist flew out from his waist, like a gust of wind, aiming straight for Bai Yungui's chest.

Fist and palm meet.

"Bang—"

Bai Yungui plowed the ground with both feet and took a step back.

Two shallow marks were left on the blue brick.

Bai Yun withdrew his fist and nodded: "Not bad. Your current skills are comparable to those who have just entered the Ming Jin realm."

"It seems we're about to knock on the gate."

"Um."

"It feels like it's just one layer away from being there."

"What are your plans after you've made that request?"

Lin Mu paused for a moment, then said, "I haven't decided yet."

"Tell me when you've thought it through, and I'll give you some advice."

Bai Yungui took a swig of wine and went back to his courtyard.

......

As night deepened, Lin Mu followed the ridges of the fields back to Liuye Village.

Whispers could be heard coming from the direction of the old house in the distance.

He stopped in his tracks, squatted down next to an old locust tree, and held his breath.

At the other end of the ridge, an oil-paper lantern swayed dimly.

Three people surrounded Lin Youfu under the lamp.

Leading the group was the village chief, Lin Tianyou, with two burly men standing behind him.

The man on the left had a horizontal scar across his face, running diagonally from his brow bone to his cheekbone, like a centipede crawling on his face. Under the light, it looked ferocious and terrifying.

On the right is a thin man with a slight smile on his lips and his eyes darting around. He looks like a slick, slippery character, like a lackey.

Lin Youfu lowered his head, bit his lip, and his shoulders trembled slightly.

"Lin Youfu, your nephew hasn't been home for a long time, has he?" Lin Tianyou's voice was full of authority.

"It should be... I haven't seen anyone or any lights on these past few days."

"Think of a way to call him back." Lin Tianyou's tone was like a suggestion, but it brooked no refusal.

"Is there...is there something you need?"

"Two old men from the Jinsha Gang have something to ask him. Could you help them out?"

Lin Tianyou paused for a moment, then said, "Haven't you always wanted that old house? If you're willing to help, I'll step in and change the land deed to your name."

"Won't you have the money for your son's exam to become a candidate for the imperial examination?"

Lin Youfu raised his head, glanced at the scarred man, and then quickly lowered his head again.

"Village chief, he... he's still my nephew. I... I... I..."

"What do you mean, 'what do you mean, 'what do you mean'?" Scarface sneered, as if the temperature had dropped several degrees. "I was just asking him a few questions, I'm not going to eat him."

Lin Youfu kept his head down and remained silent.

"one day."

Lin Tianyou held up one finger.

"I'll give you a day to think about it."

"Hopefully by this time tomorrow, you'll have brought them back."

"Call it that you're lame, or that your old house was taken over, as long as you can come back, that's all that matters."

Scarface drew a short knife from his waist and patted Lin Youfu's face with the flat of the blade.

The sheet metal was cold, and when it touched his skin, Lin Youfu shivered.

"If you don't bring them back, your family will be left with only an orphan and a widow." Scarface's voice was very soft, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

Lin Youfu's legs went weak, and he almost knelt down.

The two men from the Golden Sands Gang sheathed their knives and turned to leave.

Lin Tianyou shook his head, picked up his lantern, and followed.

The dim light gradually faded away, and the ridges of the fields were plunged into darkness once more.

Lin Mu stood up and looked in the direction the three had left.

Under the moonlight, his shadow was stretched long, like a drawn sword.

He pried the silver from the corner of the old house, went back inside to get a sharp wood-chopping knife and an eagle-head mask, and began to use his Wind-Stepping Technique.

With a light touch of the toes and a gentle stomp of the sole, the person was lifted up by the wind like a fallen leaf and floated away silently.

When they landed, there was only the soft rustling sound of their shoes rubbing against the grass, mixed in with the night wind, like mice scurrying across a field ridge.

He would stop every three steps and hide every five steps, always keeping a distance of half a field ridge from the lantern—not too far, not too close, just enough to see the dim yellow light without being discovered.

The three parted ways at the village entrance.

Lin Tianyou went to the house to the east, while Scarface and his henchman carried lanterns and went west.

A night breeze blew by, and the henchman, hunching his shoulders, rubbed his hands together. "Brother Dao, where do we go next?"

"Where do you want to go?"

"Drunken Spring Pavilion, huh..." the henchman chuckled.

Before he could finish speaking, Scarface slapped him on the back of the head, causing him to stumble forward two steps.

"Drunken Spring Pavilion? You don't want to practice martial arts anymore?" Scarface glared at him.

"Martial arts are seven parts innate talent and three parts nutrition."

"I've only just broken through to the Ming Jin realm, and you already expect me to be unable to afford meat?"

The lackey rubbed the back of his head and muttered aggrievedly, "Then...then let's go to Xihe Restaurant? Their beef is authentic."

"Xihe Restaurant?" Scarface glared at him again.

"That place is even more expensive than Zuichunlou."

"It's supposedly run by people from the inner city, and they don't even give you credit."

"Where to?"

"Let's go to Guo's Tavern." Scarface thought for a moment, "Then you can buy a few pounds of braised beef."

The henchman patted his sleeve pocket, his face contorted with distress: "But...but I have no money."

Scarface sighed, pulled out a few coins from his waist, counted them, and then put half of them back. "Then I'll buy peanuts."

"...Alright." The henchman took the copper coin.

"Brother Dao, if I may ask, why are you so concerned about Lin San's matter?"

"He actually killed all those who had a grudge against him..." The henchman made a throat-cutting gesture.

Scarface paused, remaining silent for a moment.

"Siblings from the same mother".

His voice was low, "Lin San's mother, she breastfed me when I was a baby."

The follower opened his mouth but didn't dare to ask any more questions. The two of them lowered their heads and walked towards Guo's Tavern.

Lin Mu continued to follow from a distance, like a ghost.

Guo's Tavern is located beside a dirt road.

Two dilapidated tile-roofed houses, with a dusty wine flag hanging under the eaves. The corner of the flag was gnawed to shreds by the wind, and only half of the two characters "Guo Family" remained.

The door panel was unpainted, and the cracks were wide enough to fit a finger. Dim yellow light leaked out from the cracks, like a few squinting eyes.

Scarface sat down at the crooked wooden table by the roadside.

A hunchbacked old man heard the noise and came out to greet them.

"Wine and peanuts." Scarface sat down and slammed his knife on the table.

"Sir, we don't offer credit." The hunchbacked old man chuckled, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.

"Are you worried that our Golden Sands Gang won't have money for drinks?" The henchman pulled out a few coins from his sleeve pocket and slapped them on the table.

"Please enjoy your meal, sir." The old man placed a jar of liquor and a dish of peanuts on the table.

Scarface gulped down the knife-flavored liquor.

Not far from the tavern, Lin Mu lay prone in the grass, waiting for his chance to strike.

About half an hour later, the follower shuffled to the roadside in his slippers, unbuckled his belt, and a warm, hissing sound came from it.

The hunchbacked old man lay motionless behind the counter, as if he had fallen asleep.

At this moment, only Scarface remained in the tavern.

Lin Mu lay prone in the grass, dew soaking his sleeves, the blades of grass rustling softly against the edge of his mask.

Through the holes in the Hawkeye mask, a pair of eyes stared unblinkingly at Scarface.

Just as he was about to make his move, he heard the rustling sound of belts being fastened in the distance, and his henchman hummed a tune as footsteps drew closer.

Lin Mu's hands, which were supporting her in the mud, slowly softened again.