Chapter 78: The Dregs of Society
Shi Hao got dressed, opened the door, and saw Xu Xiaoyan standing there.
He asked, puzzled, “What’s so urgent this early in the morning?”
Xu Xiaoyan grinned, “We’re gathering information, of course. The early bird gets the worm. Don’t be lazy.”
Shi Hao said, “The early worm gets eaten. There’s nothing wrong with being lazy.”
Despite his words, he quickly washed up and left the monastery with Xu Xiaoyan, wandering the streets.
Xu Xiaoyan wore a crimson dress and carried a short sword at her waist. She had also insisted he bring his sword.
As they walked, Shi Hao glanced at her. The curves of her figure, accentuated by the dress, were surprisingly alluring. She was more attractive than he had initially thought.
They spent the morning wandering the streets and alleys, disguised with the Evil Shadow Disguise Technique.
Shi Hao asked, “Where exactly are we going?”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “What’s the most important thing in a new city? Information, of course. In the martial world, without information, you’re like a blind man, stumbling around.”
She looked up and said, “Found it!”
Shi Hao looked. It was just an ordinary-looking building at the end of an alley, a tattered flag hanging by the entrance, its grey surface embroidered with a chaotic, indecipherable pattern, something between a dragon and a snake.
Xu Xiaoyan pulled him along, “Let’s go!” She led him around the building to a back entrance where two large men were chatting.
The two men glanced at them, but Xu Xiaoyan ignored them and pulled Shi Hao inside.
The men didn’t stop them and resumed their conversation.
They entered a courtyard, walked through the building, past a group of men playing mahjong, who also ignored them.
Xu Xiaoyan looked around, “Here!” She pulled him into a side room with a descending passage.
At the bottom, Shi Hao found himself in a hidden tavern, filled with martial artists chatting and drinking.
Shi Hao asked, “What is this place?”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “The Dregs.”
Shi Hao looked at her, “The Dregs?”
Xu Xiaoyan pulled him towards the counter, “The best place in the martial world to gather information.” They sat down on two stools, “Shopkeeper.”
An old man behind the counter, wiping it with a cloth, said casually, “What can I get for you two?”
Xu Xiaoyan placed a piece of broken silver on the counter, “We’re looking for work in Dàxīng City.”
The old man flicked his wrist, and the silver disappeared into his sleeve, a subtle display of skill. He looked at the young man with the hooked nose and menacing aura and the plain-looking girl, “New faces in Dàxīng City. It’s a turbulent time here. Be careful. If you’re looking for fame, this isn’t the place to be.”
Xu Xiaoyan smiled, “We’re not looking for fame, just money.”
The old man pushed a stack of papers towards them, “Money is good! Dàxīng is a good place to make money, plenty of opportunities, as long as you have the skills. But be careful. Your life is more important than money.”
Xu Xiaoyan said wistfully, “In the martial world, we don’t always have a choice.”
The old man said, “Such words from someone so young? You’ll understand what the martial world is truly like when you’re older.”
Xu Xiaoyan pulled Shi Hao to a corner and sat down, dividing the stack of papers between them.
Shi Hao looked through them. They were like news bulletins from the martial world, all printed.
—”One Hundred Poisonous Mysterious Insects,’ one of the Four Dragon Serpent Generals of the Shark Dragon Gang, led an attack on the Grieving Inquiry Sect, wiping them out.”
—”The Heartless Young Master’s cultivation has reached the fifth rank. He challenged the leader of the Mystic Virtue Society, who refused to fight. The Heartless Young Master’s fame in Dàxīng City has grown.”
—”The successor of the Setting Sun Palm attacked the Tiger Warrior Sect to avenge his master’s death, killing seven before being surrounded and killed.”
These were recent events in the martial world, mostly around Dàxīng City. Most entries didn’t mention names, only nicknames or titles.
Those without nicknames were referred to as “the successor of the Setting Sun Palm” or “the Swordsman of Mount Tian Tai.”
Although Shi Hao had entered the martial world, he wasn’t familiar with its affairs. He read through the bulletins with interest.
After the news section, there were various advertisements and job postings.
—”The ‘Burning Blade Hegemon’ has established the Hegemonic Blade Sect and is recruiting skilled martial artists to join him in his grand undertaking.”
—”The Invincible Sect is seeking a new name due to constant challenges from experts. Seeking suggestions from skilled martial artists. Handsome reward offered for the chosen name.”
—”The accountant of the Flood Dragon Branch of the Heaven and Earth Gang was assassinated. Seeking a skilled accountant. Generous salary and excellent protection provided.”
—”Seeking assassin. Target: ninth-rank. Reward: one hundred taels. Serious inquiries only.”
Shi Hao said, impressed, “They really have everything here.” He looked at Xu Xiaoyan, understanding why she seemed so knowledgeable. This was clearly a valuable source of information.
Xu Xiaoyan chuckled, “This place is called ‘The Dregs.’ It’s essentially a martial arts sect operating at the lowest level, dealing in information. Almost every city has a place like this.
“Not everyone knows about it, but those who do understand its importance in the martial world. Information flows downwards, like water.
“It’s like a basin, collecting all sorts of information. It’s up to you to find what you need.”
She giggled and leaned closer, “Like your nickname in the martial world, for example. Hee hee, you probably don’t even know, do you? Everyone here knows it.”
Shi Hao was stunned, “Me? A nickname? I have a nickname in the martial world?”
Xu Xiaoyan showed him one of the bulletins. Shi Hao looked and saw a short paragraph.
—”A new face has appeared in the martial world, background unknown, a seventh-rank expert, who killed both the ‘Nether Iron Bow’ wielder of the Chi Mu family and the ‘Flying Scorpion Blade’ of the Six Gates, as well as the head of the Yuan Dan Huo family and several others. Having just entered the martial world, he’s already on the Blacklist, earning him the nickname ‘Mad Blade Hero’!”
Shi Hao was speechless, “Mad Blade Hero? Who came up with that?” It sounded so generic.
And why both “mad” and “hero”?
Xu Xiaoyan giggled, “It must have been those people from Dark Thunder. The name spread quickly. Hee hee, Mad Blade Hero, Mad Blade Hero…”
She clutched her stomach, laughing, pounding the table with her other hand.
Shi Hao thought for a moment and said, his head aching, “It must be them. Mad Blade… I only used a saber in front of them.”
Xu Xiaoyan chuckled, “It’s not easy to get a nickname that sticks, let alone one that’s recorded in ‘The Dregs’ bulletins, and even fewer with the word ‘hero’ in it.”
“It’s because they respect you that your nickname spread so quickly, and because they consider you a ‘hero’ that your nickname includes that word. Many people in the martial world want a good reputation, but not everyone earns the title of ‘hero.’”
Shi Hao thought about it. She had a point.
But he still felt the name was too generic. He should have chosen one himself and asked them to spread it.
Suddenly, he sensed someone nearby and turned around.
A tall woman in a black dress with red floral embroidery, her face partially concealed by a veil, stood beside them. She was clearly a beauty.
Xu Xiaoyan also turned and sighed softly, “Aunt Ting, I didn’t expect to find you in Dàxīng City.”
The woman, her figure graceful, sat down on a nearby chair, her eyes sparkling.
As she looked at them, Shi Hao and Xu Xiaoyan felt their bodies and minds lock, as if caught in a vise.
Shi Hao instantly knew she was at least mid-rank, a sixth or even fifth-rank expert, and a demonic cultivator.
“You’re in big trouble,” the woman said calmly.
Shi Hao sneered, discreetly circulating the Sacred Heart Clear Mirror Technique, leaning back casually, “What kind of trouble?”
The woman looked at him, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.
Xu Xiaoyan chuckled, “Your soul-snatching technique won’t work on him, Aunt Ting. He probably knows more about the Night Charm Demonic scriptures than you do.”
Shi Hao thought, So that’s a technique from the Night Charm Demonic scriptures as well?
He hadn’t known about it, but although her soul-snatching technique was powerful, with the Sacred Heart Clear Mirror Technique, he could even resist Su Mei’s seductive techniques, so he wasn’t easily affected.
But how could this woman know he also practiced secret techniques of the Taisu Immortal Pavilion?
The Sacred Heart Clear Mirror Technique was invisible, its effects undetectable. She was inwardly shocked, thinking, Could he really know the Night Charm Demonic scriptures so well, even the counter to my soul-snatching technique?
She sighed softly, her voice softening, “You’re in big trouble.”
Xu Xiaoyan said sadly, “Aunt Ting, are you finally going to turn against me? Although my mother betrayed the Moon Lotus Pavilion, she was still your Pavilion Lord once. I thought you might still have some affection for her.”
The woman sighed, “That affection isn’t enough for us to let you keep the Emerald Beauty.”
Xu Xiaoyan chuckled, “So even you think we have the Emerald Beauty? But the Snake Charmer from the Black Lotus Realm already searched us. We don’t have it. We only have that creepy doll that appeared out of nowhere…”
The woman looked at them, “That doll is the Emerald Beauty.”
Leave a Reply