Chapter 8: First meeting with Constable Xing and becoming his apprentice

As he was thinking about it, Zhang Fan went downstairs and asked the waiter to get two plates of fennel beans.

The street was bustling with people. Fruit and vegetable stalls, candied haws stalls, and stalls selling combs and hairpins were all set up. The breakfast stalls were also steaming hot and the shouts were constant. It was a beautiful picture of the bustling market.

The neighbors also gathered in front of the silk shop, surrounding the shopkeeper Lin. Zhang Fan was not shy and walked into the crowd with fennel beans, distributing some to everyone. These fennel beans are like small melons, and you can't eat melons without melons.

"You all know what happened in Bei Town last night, right?" Shopkeeper Lin asked mysteriously.

"I thought you were going to say something. Everyone knows about this. Captain Xing, who lives next door to me, was woken up last night and taken away with his men," said Qian, the shopkeeper at the north end of the street. "I heard that the noise last night even alarmed the city defense troops, so they sent people over to check it out."

"Would I tell you something that everyone knows?" Shopkeeper Lin glanced at Shopkeeper Qian and said, "I'm telling you that the sergeant of the city defense army who followed me out of the city last night is my brother-in-law, right?"

"Don't stop, eat some beans, Shopkeeper Lin." Shopkeeper Lin took the bowl, and a few black lines seemed to appear on his forehead. There were really only a few beans left in the bowl.

"Don't interrupt me. Can't you see I'm trying to build up my feelings?" Shopkeeper Lin continued, "Mr. Li in Bei Town knows about this, right?"

"Of course we know. Isn't that the victim from last night? The third in command of the Black Wind Village brought a hundred or so people down the mountain to rob him. We all know this. Tell me something we don't know," Zhang Fan interrupted. There was such a big commotion last night, and the news had spread throughout Yuzhou city early this morning. He also had to interrupt and play the role of a spectator.

"Do you know that the third in command of the Black Wind Village died in Bei Town last night?" Shopkeeper Lin took the kettle from his mistress and took a sip.

"Of course, Captain Xing brought a lot of people with him last night. We estimate that there were nearly a hundred of them. Captain Xing is a second-rank master!" Shopkeeper Qian showed off proudly. After all, he felt proud to have Captain Xing as his neighbor.

"That's right. Didn't a captain from the city defense army also lead some men there last night?"

"Hehe! Mr. Li's family has already resolved the issue of Black Wind Village before the constables and the city defense forces arrived," said Shopkeeper Lin.

"The second in command of the Black Wind Village is a second-rank master. I know that there are 30 guards at Mr. Li's house, at most. Could it be that, hiss!" Manager Zhao of the silk shop took a breath. He had dealt with Mr. Li before. Last month, Mr. Li came to him to order a few clothes.

"That's right, Mr. Li's eldest son is actually a fourth-rank master, and his guard commander is also a second-rank master," said Shopkeeper Lin proudly. This news was told to him by his brother-in-law, the sergeant. His brother-in-law was following the city defense captain at the time. The city defense captain was a fourth-rank master and could see the strength of Mr. Li's eldest son at a glance.

"I didn't expect it, I didn't expect it, Mr. Li gave birth to a tiger."

"If I had a son, I'd want him to be like Li Dalang"

"Yes, the Black Wind Village has hit a wall."

"I heard that the leader of the Black Wind Village, Yang Heihu, is also a fourth-rank master. I wonder who is more powerful between him and Li Jia Dalang."

"There are also rankings among the fourth rank officials. Do you know what happened last night?" Shopkeeper Li wanted to say something else but was interrupted.

A man in a dark blue robe, carrying a sword, looked to be in his 40s, walked over, with a young man beside him. The young man raised the standard hunting sword in his hand and said, "What are you all doing together? What nonsense are you talking about? Bandits are coming down the mountain recently. All households should take care of themselves. All shops should pay attention to whether there are any unfamiliar people recently. If there is anything unusual, report it to the authorities in time."

At the end he added, "The city's police will also send more people to patrol today. I will be mainly responsible for Long Street this time. If there is anything important, you can come to me directly."

"Yes, yes, yes, your Excellency is right," Shopkeeper Lin responded hurriedly. Since ancient times, the people have not fought against the officials. In this extraordinary period, even if you are charged with a crime, his brother-in-law can't save him. "Everyone go back, go back. Today's business hasn't opened yet."

Everyone dispersed. It was said that the young man was the younger brother of the concubine of Mr. He Ping, the prefect of Yuzhou. His name was Lin Lin. The prefect loved the concubine the most. No one knew how much trouble he had to put in to get Lin Lin to work for Captain Xing. Lin Lin had no special abilities and was used to taking advantage of other people's power. Although Captain Xing didn't like Lin Lin's character, he didn't cause any trouble for him. He had to give the prefect face.

"Why are you still staying here?" Lin Lin stared at Zhang Fan with a scrutinizing look in his eyes. Everyone he saw now looked like a spy colluding with the bandits. He had missed the chance to show himself while having fun at Zuifeng Tower last night and was feeling depressed with no place to vent.

"Oh, yes, yes, Manager Zhang, your plate," Manager Lin hurriedly returned the plate in his mistress's hand to Zhang Fan. He also handed the plate with only a few fennel seeds left to the mistress while he was drinking tea.

Zhang Fan took the plate from Manager Lin and didn't want to stay any longer. Captain Xing stared at him for a few seconds without saying a word, and no one knew what he was thinking.

"You are the lucky innkeeper Zhang." Captain Xing had also heard people talk about a lucky boy in the city who got some glass cups from somewhere and became a wealthy innkeeper. It was also said that he bought some internal energy techniques from somewhere. Today, he saw that it was indeed true. He was almost at the first-grade level, and his internal energy leaked out with a hint of strength. He was a wild man, and the rumors in the city were indeed true.

Zhang Fan did not show any fear, but just acted like an ordinary person who won the lottery, "It's me, maybe it's the blessing from my ancestors' graves that gave me this luck."

"You are so lucky," Lin Lin said with disdain. This little guy is just a little guy. His sister had already arranged for him. In a few days, he will be able to join the Qingcheng Sect, a famous and upright sect. His natural talent must be like Guo Juxia in the Northern Song Dynasty, a peerless hero who defended a city alone. Even if Zhang Fan learned internal skills, he was still so unattractive. "Take your plate and go back. You are so lucky to get such a great benefit. It is not a skill to get it, but it is a skill to bear it." What kind of future can a small boss who is so fussy about even a plate have?

"Yes, yes, Captain Lin is right. I still need to learn from the shop owners. If you two adults are free, you can come to our shop and sit down. We will not charge you any money."

"Captain Xing and I are short of this little money from you. Let's go."

Zhang Fan listened without stopping, and Captain Xing didn't say anything else, but just frowned.

I walked quickly towards the inn, but I could vaguely hear Lin Lin lowering her voice and saying to the shopkeeper Lin, "Don't be so fond of showing off. Is it a big deal to know these things? You have to know what to say and what not to say. If you say the wrong thing, your brother-in-law won't be able to save you. You know that the mouth can cause trouble."

As if hinting at something, Zhang Fan turned his head as he turned the corner on the stairs and saw that Captain Xing was also staring at Shopkeeper Lin. This seemed to be something unusual.

Thinking about it carefully, there was nothing wrong with what happened last night. Calculating the date, I should be able to meet those two brothers in the abandoned city today. I have to review it carefully. Although I didn't feel there was anything wrong, I always felt that something was wrong, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

When I went up to the second floor, I found that there was a person sitting at the window where I had sat before, eating the big meat bun bought by Zhang Fan. I didn't know when he went upstairs, and there was no sound at all.

"Boy, how come I don't recognize you?" The man was wearing expensive silk clothes, and from his voice it was none other than Zhao Youtian, the elder of the Divine Religion. Yesterday he had an obvious gangster air, but today he looked like a wealthy man.

"Boy, nice to meet you, Elder Zhao," Zhang Fan said and looked out the window. He had never seen this stranger before and he was worried that Captain Xing and Lin Lin would come up and interrogate him.

"Don't worry, the person has already left. With my realm above the ninth rank, it is still possible for a mere second rank person to discover my whereabouts," Zhao Youtian said.

Zhang Fan didn't expect that Zhao Youtian was actually a ninth-rank master. His legs were so thick, and he felt more at ease. A ninth-rank master would not bother to deceive a nobody like him.

"You did a good job last night. There is a reward." After saying that, he threw a bun to Zhang Fan.

"I have been in the martial arts world for decades, but I have never seen anyone as interesting as you. Tell me how you came up with the idea of ​​the plant clothes."

"Today, there is a rumor in Bei Town that the bandits came down the mountain last night and brought out the man-eating mountain ghosts in Jinyun Mountain."

"Some people also say that the mountain ghost has no body, but is made up of leaves and plants. It will disappear when it lies on the ground, hiding in the woods without a trace."

Zhang Fan was a little embarrassed. He didn't expect that Zhao Youtian would follow him all the way. He left in a hurry last night, so it was inevitable that he would be seen by others. But he didn't expect that he would be rumored to be a man-eating mountain ghost.

"Excuse me, Elder, excuse me for making fun of you." Zhang Fan touched his nose, reached into his arms, took out the jade pendant, and presented it with both hands, "Elder, this is what you wanted."

"Good boy, well done," Zhao Youtian said, stroking his beard, then raised his hand and waved a bowl of tea towards Zhang Fan. Zhang Fan hurriedly reached out to catch it, and not a drop spilled. The force was just right. "As an elder of the Divine Religion, a single order from the Divine Religion can attract countless followers, but unfortunately I only have 12 disciples."

"Today I want to gather the Five Poisons and Thirteen Guardians." After saying this, he looked at Zhang Fan. Why did Zhao Youtian need those crooked ways? He always went straight to the point when accepting disciples. Apparently he had forgotten the so-called test of Zhang Fan yesterday.

Zhang Fan knelt down on the ground and said, "Master, have some tea." If he didn't embrace this golden thigh that came to his doorstep now, when would he embrace it again? He couldn't imagine, really couldn't imagine that Zhao Youtian actually wanted to take him in as his apprentice.

"Okay, okay, good disciple, get up quickly," Zhao Youtian said with a smile. Originally, he just came to Yuzhou City for a trivial matter, but he didn't expect that he would be so excited when he saw Zhang Fan. He mastered a skill that was not even third-rate in less than half a month. With such talent at this age, it is not a problem. He must go back and brag about this excellent disciple.
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"You just became my disciple like that. It's so simple to become my disciple, but he is so careless in accepting me as a disciple!" This is Morifan. Come to think of it.

"I thought you were a great killer, but you have such a good sword like Naraku, but it's useless to you. Give me back my happy water!" After saying that, Du Shifan stretched out his hand as if to take back the Coke.

"Don't be anxious, I haven't finished yet. You and I are my apprentices. Think about it, how can there be no inheritance from the master? Haha!" Zongwu Zhang Fan held the happy water tightly, no one could take away his happiness.

"Boss, I still have two bottles of Tianfu, you can try them."

"Boss, I have some chicken legs for you to eat" This is Doomsday Brother.

"Hehe, I've been busy for so long. After taking a nap, my neck and shoulders feel a little sore." Zhang Fan moved his shoulders and twisted his neck.

"Let me do it. I'm the boss's intimate massage machine." Brother Doomsday hurried over, his greasy hands smelling of fried chicken. Zong Wufan quickly dodged. Everyone came in with their real bodies, so they had to take a shower when they returned.

　Come on, work hard on the keyboard today and tomorrow.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)