Chapter 37: Chapter Thirty-Three: Fengqing Alley
Translator: 549690339 |
Fengqing Alley starts from the north of Linfu Street and goes straight south to the bank of the Xiling River. It boasts eight alleys that crisscross in all directions, each of different widths, and situated in a particularly complex terrain. Among the eight alleys, one is called Qingqu Lane, and at the end of it lived a craftsman.
The craftsman arrived in Xiling over a decade ago and settled down in
Fengqing Alley, living off his craft.
The craftsman had no legs and relied on a specially designed wheelchair to run his stall, selling a variety of goods that appeared valuable but were incredibly cheap, including jade ornaments and paintings.
“I made these myself, they’re not valuable.” Whenever someone mistook the items on his stall for real masterpieces, the craftsman would respond in this manner.
But in such a poor neighborhood, how many people could afford to buy fake items to please others? As a result, the craftsman led a life of poverty.
Until a group of local hooligans found him.
“Since you’re so skilled, help us make some fakes!”
How could an invalid refuse such a demand from a gang of thugs? So, the craftsman became known as Zhang the Faker.
Zhang the Faker was incredibly skilled, whether it was jade ornaments or paintings, he could replicate them with an uncanny accuracy of ninety percent, often fooling even his customers.
With his extraordinary craftsmanship, he was finally able to improve his living conditions and even managed to win over an old courtesan from the Tianxiang Building, who was experienced in all forms of music.
Zhang the Faker felt quite content with his life.
He had a house with two courtyards, a charming old courtesan, and a caretaker. He had successfully established himself in Fengqing Alley.
Fang Han admired the craftsman and would have become a craftsman like Zhang the Faker if he hadn’t gone to learn martial arts.
Zhang the Faker had even considered taking him as an apprentice and passing on all his skills, but it was a shame that Fang Han had bigger ambitions in sight.
And so, they parted ways and became memories that each other would rather forget.
But today, these two individuals, who had cut ties from each other, reunited once again.
“Master.” Fang Han called out this once familiar title, but without any hint of respect.
Zhang the Faker was now fifty years old, but he looked older than any sixty-year-old, his face lined with wrinkles, and even his hair had turned entirely white.
Fang Han couldn’t understand why, after not meeting for several years, Zhang the Faker had changed so drastically. His once radiant eyes were now filled with a lifeless and hopeless gray.
“Why did you come back here after becoming part of the Tang Family?” Zhang the Faker’s voice was raspy and unpleasant to the ears.
Fang Han had long been accustomed to this voice. After all, he had served him for three straight years in his youth, to learn the craft skills.
“I need you to make an item.”
“What are you planning to do!” Zhang didn’t understand why. After all, Fang Han had already joined the Tang Family, a family that many commoners could only dream of. Why couldn’t he just settle down and live peacefully?
Zhang the Faker’s look of disappointment hurt Fang Han. A common craftsman like him would never understand his ambitions.
So, his gaze hardened, and he retorted curtly, “Can you make it or not?” His attitude was very confrontational, a stark contrast to his respectful demeanor in front of Tang Luo.
Zhang the Faker looked at him for a while and, with a sigh of defeat, replied,
“Yes, I can.”
Fang Han took out a star pendant from his breast pocket and placed it in front of Zhang. “Make a replica of this.”
The surface of the silver-black iron ball was inscribed with exceedingly intricate script, incredibly arcane.
Upon seeing it, Zhang was immediately captivated by the Dao-like inscriptions. He reached out and gently ran his calloused palms over the surface of the star pendant.
After carefully examining it for a while, he placed the star pendant down, and with an air of defeat, said, “I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I’ve never seen such a material.”
Fang Han furrowed his brows, but soon realized that it made sense. Such a mystical object must surely be made of uncommon material.
However, his plan needed an exact replica of the star pendant.
After gritting his teeth for a while, he made up his mind and said, “It just has to look similar.”
“Even if touching it gives away the fake, it doesn’t matter?”
Fang Han thought for a moment, then nodded, “It doesn’t matter.”
“I can do it.”
“How much do you want?”
“I don’t want money.”
“Then what do you want?”
“I want you to kill that bitch Yu Xiang and that bastard Pan Dahai!” Zhang’s eyes were filled with madness, as if he wanted to devour the flesh of the two. Looking at Zhang who seemed like a fierce ghost, Fang Han had a vague idea why he had become so haggard.
He scorned lightly, whispering, “Ungrateful whore, faithless actor.”
Just an old woman and a local thug, he could kill them without breaking a sweat.
Midnight
Tang Luo’s Room
“Brother! Why are you leaving?” The little boy kept pulling at his elder brother’s sleeve, refusing to leave the room.
“Where am I going?” Tang Luo despaired. It turned out having strong family ties could also bring about troubles.
After finishing his practice, the young boy would go find his sister and mother. Unexpectedly, Xu Shuhui directly revealed the news of Tang Luo leaving the Martial Hall to the young boy.
The young boy was in a state of shock. He rushed into Tang Luo’s room, not heeding any explanation, repeating over and over.
“Brother, why are you leaving?”
“Brother, aren’t you going to practice with me anymore?”
“Brother, I want to leave with you.”
Tang Luo covered his face, remaining silent.
“Brother, why don’t you want to stay in the Martial Hall anymore?”
This was already the twentieth time he was being asked the same question. Tang Luo replied mechanically and helplessly, “Because the Martial Hall isn’t much help to my advancement.”
“Then, will it be better outside?” The young boy looked at Tang Luo timidly. He wasn’t unaware of the circumstances, but he really didn’t want to stay alone and practice in that big room.
“Yes, it will be better outside.” Tang Luo nodded. His right sleeve was still being held tightly in the young boy’s hand.
The young boy lowered his head, and after a long silence, he looked up, his eyes watery and on the brink of tears.
“But, I’m scared… wahh!” The young boy suddenly burst into tears.
Who said that a boy practicing martial arts couldn’t be afraid of darkness or ghosts? The young boy felt very aggrieved.
How had it come to this?
“Damn, stop crying, stop crying.” Tang Luo was immediately flustered. He dared not move his right hand. His left hand swiftly took out a handkerchief from his pocket and covered the young boy’s face.
Ever since he had a younger brother, he never lacked such a thing in his pocket.
Having his face covered, the young boy started crying even louder.
Tang Luo used to think there were very few things in the world he couldn’t handle. But now, he was being proven wrong—a slap in the face.
That night, the exhausted young boy fell asleep right away in his elder brother’s room.
And, more than once, the young boy with an ugly sleeping posture tried to kick his elder brother off the bed in his sleep.
If it wasn’t for the fact that this was his own younger brother, he would have slapped his head into his chest, damn it!
Tang Luo, who was grumpy from lack of sleep, was filled with resentment. The teenager who didn’t sleep well naturally didn’t wake up on time for breakfast, and continued to sleep in.
On the other hand, the young boy woke up early in the morning and ran to his mother, Xu Shuhui, to complain. He hugged her and told her he would be scared if his elder brother moved out.
Overwhelmed by motherly love, Xu Shuhui immediately agreed that Tang Luo could leave the Martial Hall and even settle his business, but he didn’t need to move back home. Instead, he should continue to stay in the Martial Hall to accompany his younger brother.
So, in his sleep, the person in charge at home had already made a decision for Tang Luo.
Yet the person concerned knew nothing and continued to sleep soundly..
Updat𝓮d from freew𝒆bnovel(.)com