23. Arrows Cleaving the Air

Xie An remained calm as he knelt to carefully examine the injury on He Chunli's buttocks.

The blow had been brutal; the skin was split open, and parts of the area were a bloody, mangled mess.

"This is a serious wound. Hot water alone won't reduce the swelling, and if left untreated, this backside will be ruined." Xie An took out some silver fragments and handed them to Han Li. "Go to the Chen Martial Arts Hall immediately, find Chen He, and buy some medicinal powder for wounds and gauze. It would be best if you could bring Chen He here as well."

It was New Year's Eve, and the apothecary shops were long closed. But if Chen He knew it was an emergency, he would certainly agree to help.

Han Li took the silver and dashed off in a panic, returning not long after with gauze and medicinal powder. Chen He was in tow.

"Old Chen, I'm truly sorry to trouble you to make this trip when you should be at home keeping watch on New Year's Eve!" Xie An hurried to greet him. In truth, he was not surprised by Chen He's arrival.

Ever since Xie An had saved Chen He's life during a bandit raid, Chen He's attitude toward him had undergone a dramatic shift. Beyond gratitude, there was now a sense of awe. Before, Chen He had always acted like the elder brother in charge, but since that day, the "big brother" had become the "little brother."

"I have no children of my own to keep watch with. Let me take a look at your precious apprentice." Chen He waved a large hand, pulled out his personal medical kit, and began treating He Chunli's wound with the powder and gauze.

Having helped manage the pharmacy at the Chen Martial Arts Hall for years, Chen He was well-versed in treating such injuries, and he had the wound bandaged in no time.

"It's fortunate that no bones or tendons were damaged. A month or so of recovery should see it fully healed. Just remember to change the dressing frequently..."

He Chunli was moved to tears. "Thank you, Shopkeeper Chen."

"Don't mention it. You're family to Brother Xie." Chen He left behind a sufficient supply of gauze and medicine, gave detailed instructions on how to change the dressings and what precautions to take, and then hurried away.

Xie An did not stand on ceremony; he saw Chen He out with his usual politeness, watching him disappear into the distance before returning to the pawnshop.

Perhaps due to the efficacy of the medicine, He Chunli was already able to stand, shakily leaning on a table and chairs. Seeing Xie An, he knelt on the floor, tears streaming down his face. "Thank you, Master, for saving my life! From now on, this life belongs to you. I will be your beast of burden to repay you."

Han Li was moved, and he knelt down as well. In this world, a disciple kneeling to his master was the most natural thing in the world. Moreover, as someone of slave status, He Chunli knew well how humble his life was. Had his master not brought Chen He to treat him today, he would likely have been crippled. To be rendered useless to his master would have meant being discarded or sold. He Chunli dared not even imagine such an end. In these chaotic times, being a lowly slave, it was a great fortune to have a good master.

As for the panic caused by his earlier suspicion that Xie An might have killed the eldest son-in-law and Zhang Bing, it had vanished into thin air. Even if it really had been his master, it didn't matter. After all, his master treated him so well.

"Your backside hasn't even healed yet, so don't worry about these empty formalities. Get up." Xie An helped He Chunli up, feeling a faint stir in his heart. He had once survived such trials himself, so he could deeply understand He Chunli's feelings.

"Neither of you needs to go back to the dormitory tonight. Come with me to the back courtyard to keep watch."

The two apprentices were overjoyed. Both were poor children who had either lost their parents or been sold by them, and they had grown up by Xie An's side. Keeping watch with their master every year made them feel like they had a home; it was the happiest day of the year for them.

Once in the back courtyard, Han Li nimbly closed the doors and windows and lit the stove. Xie An brought out dried fruits and snacks he had prepared in advance, along with a jar of treasured aged wine. The three of them sat around the stove, eating snacks and drinking wine, keeping watch in the warmth of the hearth.

Because He Chunli's backside was shredded, he couldn't sit and had to lie flat on a long bench. The position was uncomfortable, but he enjoyed the special treatment of being occasionally fed by Han Li, giggling continuously.

After three rounds of wine, Xie An asked at an opportune moment, "Little He, you'll be eighteen after the New Year. Do you have any wishes?"

He Chunli popped a peanut into his mouth and said naturally, "I only wish to serve by Master's side in peace."

Xie An knew He Chunli had always been honest, so he didn't press further and turned to Han Li. "And you?"

Han Li replied, "I want to save money, buy my freedom, and then marry a wife and have a child. If I'm lucky, I'll buy a modest house and become a small master."

He Chunli retorted, "You? Wanting to be a master?"

"What? Don't you?"

He Chunli's expression dimmed. "I want to, but I know it's impossible."

Xie An watched his two apprentices, keeping his thoughts to himself. Han Li was two years older than He Chunli, quick-witted, and bold. He Chunli, on the other hand, was steadier and more resilient, never aiming too high. Despite their hard lives, both carried dreams. But realizing them was no easy task. If he hadn't possessed his "golden finger," he would likely be just like them.

At this moment, He Chunli asked Xie An, "Master, what is your wish?"

Xie An smiled with relief. "Me? I just hope you two little cubs can finish your apprenticeship soon and make something of yourselves. That would be enough for me."

Hearing their master's words, the two apprentices felt their eyes grow hot with emotion. Especially Han Li, who felt a twinge of guilt for thinking about marrying a wife while his master was thinking only of them.

Late into the night, the two apprentices could hold on no longer and fell asleep on the bed. Xie An, who had long practiced the Longevity Arts, felt more energetic than the youths. He tucked them in, studied them for a moment, and a look of gratified warmth appeared at the corners of his mouth.

Xie An had no family in this world, but he had lived and depended on these two apprentices for more than a decade. Although there were no blood ties, long association had created deep bonds and concerns. He truly wanted his apprentices to live well, in peace and joy.

After standing in a daze for a moment, Xie An turned, picked up his dagger, slung his heavy bow over his shoulder, and carried his quiver of arrows as he stepped out into the night.

There were many eateries in Wuqiao Town, but only one restaurant of any standing: the Flying Cloud Restaurant.

The ingredients there were precious, and a typical meal cost no less than five or six silver coins, while a slightly better one could cost one or two taels of silver. It was definitely not a place for commoners to dine. Even on New Year's Eve, the restaurant was adorned with lanterns and open for business.

Late into the night, a drunken Li Shaoyun and Zhang Biao walked out of the restaurant with their arms around each other's shoulders, looking as if they hadn't had enough.

"Young Master Li, I leave the matter of Commissioner Zhu to you."

"Rest assured, Brother Zhang. Commissioner Zhu is my mentor from the Jiangwu Hall. It just so happens that a head constable position is vacant. With your strength and track record, taking that position will be no problem. However, regarding my nominal deacon position..."

"Easily done. I don't have the influence to get you a powerful deaconship, but a nominal one is no problem. I've already cleared the path. On the eighth day of the New Year, you can go straight to the Blood Ridge Black Market to take up your post."

"Thank you, Brother Zhang." Li Shaoyun bowed in gratitude. Outsiders only saw his outward glory, but only Li Shaoyun knew that his success in the military scholarship exam had cost the Li family most of their savings to provide generous gifts. To pass the provincial exam in three years, his current strength was far from enough. If he could become a nominal deacon at the Tiger and Wolf Gate, he would gain access to better martial arts resources. Only then would he have a chance to succeed.

The two parted ways at the entrance. Li Shaoyun headed toward the Li residence, while Zhang Biao rode his blue-maned horse toward the Black Blood Ridge outside the town. In high spirits, the drunken Zhang Biao hummed a tune along the way.

"Hmph, Zhang Lin, you old fool, did you really think I saw you as a rival? And you, Wei Dian, you're no good either, always holding me back. Do you really think I care about being a petty deacon? By next year, I'll have transformed into the yamen's head constable. I'll bring men to extort your Blood Ridge Black Market. When that time comes, you, Wei Dian, will have to bow your head and pay up to settle things."

"It's my nephew whose death was a grievance. It was most likely done by someone from your Black Blood Ridge. Once I'm head constable, I'll surely get to the bottom of this."

As Zhang Biao rode his horse along a forest path, he muttered to himself with a ferocious expression.

Just then, he heard a sharp whistling sound coming from behind him...

It was the humming of an arrow tearing through the air!