Ch 177: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

As the onlookers remained in stunned silence, Elder Xu waved his hand, and Zheng Song stepped forward, producing a pair of handcuffs to secure the man’s hands behind his back. The unfamiliar device caught everyone off guard, leaving them speechless.

Elder Chen chuckled and said, “Apologies for the disturbance. This man attempted to deceive the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion by offering a fraudulent martial arts manual in exchange for our treasures. Naturally, we cannot allow him to leave freely. Are there any members of his sect willing to redeem him?”

At the entrance, someone recognized the man and whispered amongst their companions. The first person who had traded an item earlier overheard his sect’s name, his expression shifting. He quickly squeezed through the crowd to verify the situation, then frowned and stepped forward with a cupped fist salute. “This is my junior apprentice brother. He has not been in the sect for long and lacks experience. I will take him back and ensure our master disciplines him strictly. May I ask… what is required to redeem him?”

Elder Chen replied, “Ah, so it’s you. Since you are a patron of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, we will not make things difficult for you. Simply offer a unique item in exchange—whether it be a concealed weapon, a medicinal formula, or a martial arts technique.”

The man felt a pang of regret—if he had such an item, he would have used it for trade earlier. However, with so many eyes on him and uncertainty surrounding the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion’s true strength, leaving his junior apprentice brother behind might bring trouble to his sect. After careful thought, he gritted his teeth and stepped into the private chamber to transcribe a sword technique.

The historian overseeing the transaction spoke up, “We kindly ask the young hero to demonstrate the technique.”

Since he had already transcribed the technique, demonstrating it was no longer a big deal. The man moved aside the chairs and tables in the room and carefully performed the sword technique. Unbeknownst to him, while he assumed the audience was merely observing for accuracy, the experts in the room had subtly adjusted their positions to ensure the tiny cameras hidden in their clothing captured every angle. This footage would later be reconstructed into a 3D model for further study.

Once the demonstration was complete, Zheng Song stepped forward, unlocked the handcuffs, and revealed a key, surprising the onlookers once again. Someone immediately asked, “Are those restraints for sale?”

Elder Chen responded, “These are called ‘handcuffs.’ There are only 25 available. If you wish to acquire them, you must trade for them with unique items. The same applies to all other goods—supplies are limited and will be given on a first-come, first-served basis.”

Another person inquired, “Where is the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion located? If we don’t manage to trade for anything this time, where can we go to try again?”

Elder Chen smiled. “The Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion will only reveal its location once we have collected ten thousand unique treasures worthy of our name. Until then, I cannot disclose our whereabouts. However, with the upcoming Martial Arts Tournament, we may choose to make another appearance. If so, we will distribute invitations just as we did today. Please keep an eye out.”

Zheng Song then administered a reviving drug to wake the unconscious fraudster. Aware of the disgrace he had brought upon himself, the man lowered his head in shame and hurried after his senior brother. Zheng Song returned to his post and gestured for the next person in line to enter. The two guards at the entrance pulled the screen back into place, restoring order. The waiting customers quickly reorganized themselves, eager to continue trading.

“We should go in one at a time. Let’s move quickly.”

“So that was the tranquilizer gun? It really is a weapon that can be used by those without martial arts training. Its power is astonishing. I wonder if the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion will participate in the Martial Arts Tournament.”

“The Martial Arts Tournament is about skill in combat. They can’t just knock everyone unconscious with a tranquilizer gun—surely the city lord wouldn’t allow that.”

“That’s true. This is City Lord Shen’s territory—no one would dare act recklessly. Do you think these people might be from the Demon Sect?”

“Impossible. The Demon Sect has never been known to possess such strange and advanced items.”

“Perhaps they have recently developed these inventions and are baiting us into acquiring them to harm us.”

“If you’re so afraid, then don’t trade. These items are limited in quantity, and I plan to get my hands on them. That sleeping bag is excellent, and the lighter and flashlight are extremely useful. The flashlight alone is as valuable as a luminous pearl—it’s a true treasure. How could it be harmful?”

“You make a good point. Those who already traded their items had them examined by doctors, and no toxins were found. I can’t think of any other way these could be dangerous. Maybe the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion really does intend to establish itself as a unique force in the martial world.”

“In that case, let’s observe them for a few more days before deciding.”

At that moment, someone called out loudly, “Brother ahead of me, I’ll give you fifty taels of silver if you trade places with me. I want to buy a sleeping bag and a flashlight before they sell out.”

The person at the front of the line refused outright. “Apologies, but I’m here for the bulletproof vest. I’m worried they’ll run out, so I can’t give up my spot.”

A bystander interjected, “I’ll trade places with you! I’m not in a rush to buy anything—I don’t mind switching spots.”

After this small exchange, others also began negotiating amongst themselves.

Outside the chamber, the murmurs of conversation never ceased. Unlike the earlier loud discussions, the tone had shifted to hushed exchanges. Many had realized that the two guards at the entrance had purposefully opened the screen without stepping forward—not to intervene, but to allow the gathered crowd to witness the previous scene. It was a deliberate act of intimidation.

Although being cowed by a mysterious faction like the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion left some feeling uneasy, it also made them wary of provoking an unknown force. Without a clear understanding of the pavilion’s background, picking a fight with them would be unwise. For now, their goal was simply to assess the situation, gather information, and trade for useful items. They could afford to wait and watch.

After all, these people didn’t seem to have an escape route—they weren’t going anywhere.

With no one causing trouble, the transactions proceeded smoothly. Elder Xu ordered that Chen Dong be fitted with a black hood, covering his entire head except for his eyes. Even his mouth was sealed with adhesive tape. He was then escorted to the private chamber, where he was instructed to review each transcribed martial arts manual. If a manual was fraudulent, he was to kick Xu Wen’an as a signal; if it was genuine, he would simply nod.

Chen Dong feared for his life. The special forces soldier’s palm knife was pressed against the back of his neck, leaving him with no choice but to comply. Despite his hatred, his mind was still set on feigning cooperation and waiting for the right moment to escape. In his greed, he even entertained the thought of stealing all these valuable goods if given the chance.

Elder Xu and his group had limited time. They couldn’t properly verify the authenticity of martial arts manuals, pills, or weapons, so they had to rely on threatening Chen Dong to identify them. Whether the items were truly valuable would have to be determined after they returned.

After accumulating a fair amount of goods, several experts remained in the inner chamber to focus on studying the acquired martial arts manuals, leaving Xu Wenyu and Xu Wen’an to handle the transactions. Shen Yunxuan and her team had split into two groups, and she was not planning to return anytime soon. Since she couldn’t learn these techniques herself, they would take the opportunity to study them and see if their acquired knowledge would count toward dimensional currency when they returned.

If it did, then next time, they would bring people with exceptional learning and memory abilities to maximize their gains.

Shen Yunxuan knew that in such a short time, they were unlikely to obtain top-tier martial arts manuals or techniques. The truly valuable skills were closely guarded secrets, considered priceless treasures, and wouldn’t be so easily traded. That was why she felt that Elder Xu’s group was handling things well enough on their own—her best course of action was to explore the city with Xie Feng and see if she could find better opportunities.

Xie Feng spent half an hour healing his injuries before waking up and standing. “Miss Shen, let’s head into the city. It’s almost noon—I’ll take you to a restaurant for a meal.”

Shen Yunxuan looked at him in surprise. “You’re already recovered? Is internal energy healing really this miraculous?”

Xie Feng chuckled. “Of course, it’s not a complete recovery—just a partial one. But for a martial artist, as long as the injuries aren’t too severe, they won’t affect movement. A stroll through the city won’t be a problem.”

That was incredible. Shen Yunxuan couldn’t help but feel regret that their time in this world was limited. If she could stay longer, she would absolutely try to cultivate internal energy before returning—this was far more efficient than regular physical training.

She called for their group to set off and introduced the two experts accompanying her. “They’re here to protect me,” she explained.

Xie Feng, assuming they were house stewards from her family due to their age, simply nodded in greeting.

She then said, “If you feel any discomfort, you must tell me—don’t push yourself.”

Xie Feng nodded. “Miss Shen, rest assured, I am truly fine. By the way, I am the leader of Qingyun Sect in this city. Would you like to visit the sect? My junior sister has likely been worried about me since I haven’t returned. I’d like to check in with her first. If you don’t mind, we can dine there.”

“Let’s go find your junior sister first and have a meal together,” Shen Yunxuan replied with a smile. “I also brought some specialty foods from my home that we can share.”

As they chatted and walked toward the city, Shen Yunxuan noticed that Xie Feng had more stamina than she did. Once again, she marveled at the power of internal energy, feeling an even stronger desire to learn martial arts.

Upon entering the city, she discreetly observed the martial artists on the streets and overheard some of them discussing the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. She couldn’t help but smile—it seemed her grandfather’s plan was progressing smoothly. Now, she was eager to visit a real martial arts sect.

Qingyun Sect was not far from the city gates. After taking a side street, they soon arrived at a more open area. Shen Yunxuan estimated that the entire sect grounds were about the size of a soccer field—not very large and quite different from what she had imagined.

Seeing her looking around, Xie Feng seemed a bit embarrassed. “Miss Shen, please excuse the humble size of our sect. We currently have only six members.”

Shen Yunxuan quickly reassured him, “The size of a sect doesn’t matter—what’s important is the chivalrous heart. The fact that you are a kind and righteous person is what truly matters. This is my first time visiting a martial arts sect—I’ve never seen one before. I hope you won’t laugh at my lack of knowledge.”

“Of course not!” Xie Feng visibly relaxed. He gestured toward the entrance, saying, “Miss Shen, please come in. You are all welcome.”

Inside was a spacious courtyard paved with blue bricks. There were neatly arranged plum blossom poles and wooden training dummies, which were presumably used for practice. At the front stood a row of traditional-style buildings, elegantly built with an aged charm, indicating they had been standing for quite some time.

Shen Yunxuan pointed at the plum blossom poles and asked, “Brother Xie, can you demonstrate how these are used for training? Are they for practicing light footwork? Can you do qinggong?”

Xie Feng flicked his sleeves and leapt onto the poles. “These are for refining agility and balance. If you’re not proficient, you could trip yourself up. Miss Shen, if you want to try, be careful not to get hurt. I don’t know any high-level qinggong, only basic leaping techniques. Most experienced martial artists pick up some form of it over the years. I’ll demonstrate.”

The experts and special forces soldiers behind Shen Yunxuan all moved closer, acting as if they were interested. In reality, they positioned themselves at four different angles to film the demonstration with their miniature cameras. Shen Yunxuan also stepped forward, watching intently.

After Xie Feng walked through the sequence twice, Shen Yunxuan immediately stepped onto the poles. “Brother Xie, let me try. Please guide me.”

“Be careful!” Xie Feng instinctively reached out, fearing she might fall. To his surprise, she stood steadily.

Although Shen Yunxuan had only been training for a month, she had made some progress. Once she found her balance, she recalled Xie Feng’s movements and began stepping across the poles. She only remembered the first three steps before losing track, but with Xie Feng’s guidance, she managed to complete the sequence. She memorized the movements as she practiced, and after two attempts, she had committed them to memory. However, she was still unfamiliar with the motions and nearly tripped several times.

At that moment, a young woman ran in from the backyard. “Second Senior Brother! I thought I was hearing things, but it really is you! You’re back!”

She rushed to Xie Feng and, upon seeing his pale face, her expression changed. “Second Senior Brother, you look terrible. Are you hurt?”

Xie Feng reassured her with a smile. “Junior Sister, don’t worry. I was injured and was also drugged by Chen Dong, but Miss Shen happened to pass by and saved me. She even gave me medicine. I’ve used my internal energy to heal myself, and I feel much better now. I just need a few days to recover—it won’t affect my participation in the Martial Arts Tournament.”

The young woman frowned. “I’m not worried about the tournament. It’s fine even if you don’t participate—your health is more important.”

Xie Feng immediately shook his head. “The Martial Arts Tournament only happens once every three years. How could it not be important? Ever since Master passed away, our Qingyun Sect has declined. We must place in this tournament to maintain our standing in the martial world. Otherwise, we will face endless troubles.”

His junior sister sighed and turned to Shen Yunxuan. “You must be Miss Shen, then? Thank you for saving my senior brother. I, Xie Yun’er, am deeply grateful!”

Xie Feng quickly added, “I forgot to introduce you. Junior Sister, this is Miss Shen and her guards. Miss Shen, this is my junior sister, Xie Yun’er. She is also our master’s daughter.”

Following their customs, Shen Yunxuan clasped her hands in greeting. “I apologize for coming uninvited and disturbing you.”

Xie Yun’er invited them to rest and have tea inside. Xie Feng looked at Shen Yunxuan and asked, “Miss Shen, would you still like to continue practicing on the plum blossom poles?”

Shen Yunxuan hadn’t fully memorized the steps yet, so she politely responded, “I’d like to practice two more times. I’d appreciate your guidance, Brother Xie.”

“It’s no trouble at all. Be careful,” Xie Feng said, staying close to her as she stepped onto the plum blossom poles again.

Shen Yunxuan focused intently on her footwork. This time, she made no mistakes. Xie Feng praised, “Miss Shen has an excellent memory—you learned it so quickly.”

Shen Yunxuan was delighted. Memorizing this set of movements would earn her more dimensional currency! For the second round, she deliberately moved faster, hoping that demonstrating skill improvement would yield even more currency. However, at the last step, she misjudged her balance and stumbled backward.

Just as the special forces soldier moved to help, Xie Feng had already grabbed her arm and steadied her. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine! Thank you, Brother Xie. Martial arts truly aren’t easy to learn—it takes real dedication. You all train every day; your perseverance is impressive,” Shen Yunxuan said, instinctively flattering him. After all, making people happy made it easier to get information. But when she turned her head, she caught a glimpse of Xie Yun’er’s slightly hostile gaze.

Though Xie Yun’er quickly masked it with a smile, Shen Yunxuan was certain she hadn’t imagined it. She had seen this look plenty of times in her past life—jealousy. She inwardly groaned. Xie Feng had introduced his junior sister in a completely upright manner, and he didn’t seem to have any ambiguous feelings toward her. If she had known about this dynamic, she would have kept her distance.

Xie Yun’er spoke up. “Second Senior Brother, you’re still injured. Why don’t I accompany Miss Shen in practice? You should go rest. I will make sure Miss Shen is well taken care of.”

Shen Yunxuan said, “I was too impatient—I didn’t consider Brother Xie’s condition. Let’s sit inside instead, and you don’t need to trouble yourself, Miss Xie. I won’t stay long. I rarely get a chance to go out, and I’d like to buy some unique items before nightfall and find a place to stay.”

Xie Feng said, “Why find an inn? If you don’t mind, Miss Shen, you can stay here.” He then turned to Xie Yun’er and added, “Yun’er, set up a meal for us. Miss Shen delayed her journey to save me and hasn’t eaten yet. We’ll dine together, and afterward, I will accompany Miss Shen to the market. Prepare a few rooms for her and her guards.”

Xie Yun’er nodded. “I’ll see to it right away.” She stepped outside to arrange the meal and accommodations. When she returned, she saw Xie Feng reaching for the teapot to pour Shen Yunxuan tea. She quickly stepped in and poured a cup for Shen Yunxuan herself. “Miss Shen, where exactly do you want to shop? If it’s cosmetics and powders, I would be a more suitable companion. Second Senior Brother should stay and rest.”

Xie Feng had promised to protect Shen Yunxuan for three days—there was no way he would shirk his responsibility. He immediately said, “Miss Shen isn’t shopping for those things. I should go with her.”

Xie Yun’er glanced between Shen Yunxuan and Xie Feng before suddenly changing the topic. “I almost forgot to ask. First Senior Brother… what happened to Chen Dong? Did you kill him?”

Xie Feng’s expression turned complicated. “We were both badly injured. I was slightly better off and wanted to finish him off with one strike. But he threw a drug at me and knocked me unconscious. When Miss Shen saved me, she didn’t see him. I assume he either lacked the strength to kill me and barely managed to escape, or he still wants to know where Master’s secret manual is and isn’t planning to kill me just yet.”

Xie Yun’er tensed. “He used a drug on you? Then you—”

Xie Feng reassured her, “Don’t worry. He’s seriously injured. It will take him at least a month to recover. He caused Master’s death—you should stop thinking about him.”

Xie Yun’er froze. “When did I ever think about him? I was only concerned that the drug might still be affecting you and wanted to ask if you needed a physician.”

Xie Feng shook his head. “I’m fine. There’s no need for that. Go check on the meal in the kitchen—we’re in a hurry.”

Xie Yun’er opened her mouth as if to say something, but seeing Xie Feng’s slightly cold expression, she chose to leave for the kitchen instead.

Shen Yunxuan looked at Xie Feng, who adjusted his expression and smiled. “Miss Shen, please don’t mind what you just saw.”

After thinking for a moment, she tentatively asked, “Brother Xie, could there be some misunderstanding? Chen Dong caused Miss Xie’s father’s death—she wouldn’t be worried about his safety, would she? She’s probably just concerned about you.”

Xie Feng shook his head and hesitated before saying, “Miss Shen, you may not know, but my junior sister and Chen Dong had a marriage arrangement since childhood. Master intended for Chen Dong to take over as sect leader and marry my junior sister. When Master met his end, Junior Sister was away. The first thing she said upon returning was, ‘Senior Brother wouldn’t do this. Was it an accident?’ Sigh.”

“Today, when Chen Dong came looking for me, I deliberately led him to the outskirts for a duel because I feared my junior sister would soften and let him go. But in the end, he still managed to escape.”

Shen Yunxuan, however, didn’t think Xie Yun’er had any lingering feelings for Chen Dong. Her hostility earlier was clearly out of affection for Xie Feng. Even if she felt a little jealous, she still treated Shen Yunxuan with courtesy and gratitude for saving Xie Feng. It was likely that Xie Feng, in his straightforward way of thinking, had misunderstood the situation.

Shen Yunxuan began considering whether she could take advantage of this misunderstanding—it might lead to some unexpected benefits.

Just then, Xie Yun’er returned with a smile. “The food will be ready soon, Miss Shen. Please wait a moment.”

Shen Yunxuan stood up and smiled. “I’ve never seen how a martial arts sect looks before. Miss Xie, could you show me around?”

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆