Chapter 172 – The Lion’s Roar

Heng Yuan paused in his steps and turned back, without speaking, and bowed with folded arms towards Xu Qi’an.

“I want to visit the health center.” Xu Qi’an made her request.

“Could be.”

“Come along.” Xu Qi’an launched an invitation to his two colleagues.

“Did you not bring any money?” Song Tingfeng slanted him a glance.

Xu Qi’an smiled without saying anything, walked two steps, the soles of his feet stepped on hard lumps, naturally picked them up and rested them in his palm: “Look, isn’t the money coming.”

Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao: “???”

The former stared at the dull-colored silver and said in a depressed manner, “I didn’t look at the road when I was walking just now and missed this silver, letting you pick up a bargain for nothing.”

In fact, you missed out on several taels of silver at least …. The corner of Xu Qi’an’s mouth picked up as he put the silver into his arms, explaining, “Master Hengyuan lives in the Sanatorium in the eastern part of the outer city, and I’ve heard that the widows and widowers there aren’t doing very well.”

“The world is full of people who have had a bad life.” Zhu Guangxiao finished in a muffled voice and sighed.

The three of them followed Heng Yuan out of the inner city and headed towards the east of the city towards the Sanatorium. During the process, Song Tingfeng discovered something interesting.

“Look at this monk, as fast as we walk, he walks fast, always keeping a fixed distance, but he never looks back at us the same way.”

This was certainly not Hengyuan growing eyes in the back of his head, Xu Qi’an’s three hearts sighed with a sigh of relief: what a terrifying spiritual sense.

Deliberately speeding up their pace, the four of them soon arrived at the eastern part of the city, a slum area filled with low and dilapidated houses, as well as people wearing sewn and mended old cotton coats.

Their faces are yellow and sunburned, their eyes dull. The children here still had a sprightly light in their eyes, but the withered bodies and dirty faces, and the gaze that always stared into one’s wallet, made one loathe them for no reason.

Xu Qi’an’s heart then developed a great abhorrence, but not against these poor people and children, but against the environment.

He had seen many photos of war-torn areas in his previous life, and poverty, hunger and chaos were the constant tone. Every time he saw similar photos and scenes, he developed a strong hatred for them, because he was powerless to change them as his heart yearned for goodness.

Probably what’s known as impotent rage.

“Keep an eye on your purses, though they wouldn’t dare or be able to steal your silver.” Everest’s voice continued from the front:

“Don’t be patronizing here, because it puts you in an awkward position.”

He didn’t explain how it was an awkward situation.

I understand this, as long as I show my goodwill, I’ll be a big fat sheep for them …. Monk Hengyuan is afraid that we will get angry and hurt the poor people here? Xu Qi’an speculated in his heart and said with his mouth:

“I seldom come to places like this, so why don’t I go and labor?”

“Most of the people who survive in places like this are stragglers who don’t have fields; they may have had them before, but they couldn’t stand the heavy corvée work and chose to give up their fields and come to the city to make a living.

“But there is no room for them in the city, and from time to time there are still trappers who come here looking for someone to grope. However, it is true that there is no lack of treachery among them in order to survive.”

Master Hengyuan explained in a calm tone.

As they spoke, the four of them arrived at the Sanatorium, a very somewhat old courtyard, the plaque on the main door having long since faded in the wash of wind and frost.

“An official came to repair the courtyard a while ago, but I replaced the new plaque back with the old one. Too much glitz and glamor isn’t necessarily good for the Wellness Hall. Three of you, please!”

When they entered the Yangsheng Hall, Hengyuan led them inside and said, “Lord Xu, the poor monk knows that you are in a difficult situation, and I seek your help, not to borrow money. I’ve heard that you are quite friendly with the magicians of the Si Tian Supervisor, and I would like to ask for your help in finding the white-robed magicians to save a child.”

Through the front yard, they entered the cluttered backyard and came to a woodshed.

The woodshed was covered with thick, dead grass and quilts, with a charcoal pot and large bowl in the corner, and a withered black dog curled up on the quilts.

Hearing the commotion, the black dog moved and failed to get up; it strained to raise its head, and seeing a stranger, subconsciously a pleasing, pathetic curtness came into its gray eyes, and broke off:

“Blessed as …. East China Sea, great fortune …. Great Profit.”

Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao, who originally had little expression, suddenly froze.

Xu Qi’an was struck by lightning, remembering certain words he had said when he had saved No. 6 Hengyuan.

“This, this is… that child?” Xu Qi’an muttered.

“He can only say these eight words.” Hengyuan gazed at the black dog, his face compassionate, “I saved him while searching for my senior brother, Heng Hui, because of such tragic treatment, he couldn’t live for long, during this period of time, I used my qi to warm his body, barely allowing him to survive.

“But it can’t last; his health is so bad that he must be saved or he will die in three days at the most. Ordinary doctors can’t save him, only the warlocks of the Si Tian Supervisor can. The poor monk had no choice but to seek Lord Xu’s help.”

Song Tingfeng opened his mouth and said in a deep voice, “Perhaps, death is the best place for him.”

Hengyuan glanced at this gong and whispered, “Every day when the sun rises, his eyes are bright, and I can read the longing in them, for they are pure and unadulterated hopes of just wanting to live.

“In the eyes of a few, he may be as insignificant as a weed in the yard. But even weeds want to live tough.”

Song Tingfeng was silent.

Xu Qi’an looked deeply at the “black dog”, “I know, I’ll ask the magician from the Sitian Supervisor to come and see the patient. Master…if you need silver in the future, feel free to come to me.”

When he finished, he added, “I’ll pay a maximum of three coins of silver per day.”

Three coins per day? Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao slightly moved, to know eight money for one tael, Xu Qi’an’s monthly salary, not counting the rice, can get their hands on real money is only four or five tael.

Even in the inner city, it is possible to live a relatively substantial life.

Three coins a day, that’s one tael in three days. Where did he get so much money? Oh, he has a thousand taels of gold rewarded by His Majesty. That’s all right.

Everest shook his head.

“Don’t worry, the money came right, it’s like picking it up for nothing.” Xu Qi’an said in relief.

Only then did Master Hengyuan nod his head, pacified the Black Dog, led Xu Qi’an and the three of them back to the front yard, and said, “Wait for a moment, I have something to say to Lord Xu.”

Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao nodded, one turned to tease the children who were hiding in the room to peek at the guests, while the other went to talk to the old man who was sitting at the stone table in the courtyard to bask in the sun.

Entering a humble house, Hengyuan closed the door and said with folded arms, “Lord Xu’s breath is deep and divine, is he about to step into the God Refining Realm?”

He sees so accurately? I only know that number six is an eighth grade martial arts monk, and I don’t know how strong he is yet. I still don’t know the strengths and weaknesses of others, but he knows my depths …. Xu Qi’an straightened his face, “What is Master’s instruction?”

“Is there a view map available?”

“Yes.”

Master Hengyuan nodded indistinctly and said, ”Poor monk monk, can’t pay back Lord Xu’s silver, originally wanted to wait for you to reach the peak of the qi practicing realm, gifted Lord with a picture of the visualization.

“Since Your Excellency has this method, then the poor monk will change his mastery.”

“Heaven and Earth One Slash” I’ve already reached the level, the pros and cons of this jutsu are very obvious …. Indeed, it is time to learn other Jedi to make up for one’s shortcomings …. Xu Qi’an’s spirit lifted, “Then thank you, Master.”

Hengyuan nodded, ”I am an eighth grade martial monk, I do not know any of the esoteric spells of the Buddhist Sect, I only know a few offensive means. The most skillful one is the Buddhist Lion’s Roar. This technique is both a kanji and a jutsu.”

Matching ah …… output all rely on roar it …… Xu Qi an heard a moment some disappointment, the lion s roar sounds like a reckless special, lack of some compulsion.

Seeing the disappointment that flashed across Xu Qi’an’s eyes, No. 6 Hengyuan thought for a moment and said, “The poor monk can demonstrate the power of the Lion’s Roar for your lordship.”

Just don’t roar me deaf… Xu Qi’an nodded, uneasily reminding, “It won’t spread to the old people and children in the yard?”

Hengyuan shook his head, “I will keep the power contained in this room.”

After saying that, Xu Qi’an saw the bitter and vengeful Six take a deep breath and throw a punch in his normal stance.

This punch is flat, force and speed double D, no threat at all …. The thoughts in his heart had just flashed, when he heard a deep and majestic high pitched lion roar in his ears.

Owww.

Xu Qi’an’s brain was concussed and he entered an unconscious state of vertigo, and when he found himself, he saw a casserole-sized fist against the tip of his nose.

Monk Hengyuan closed his fist and said in a deep voice, “This method shakes the Yuan Shen and deters the enemy, and when practiced to a high level, even the most Taoist Yin Spirit will find it difficult to be immune.”

This move is perfect with my Heaven and Earth Slash …. My biggest concern is an empty move, with the control effect of Lion’s Roar, I’m not afraid of a big move falling short …. Xu Qi’an said joyfully, “Please teach me, Master.”

At the same time, a question flashed through his mind: is this really just an eighth grade martial arts monk?

Hengyuan turned towards the bedside and dragged out a worn wooden box from under the bed, solemnly taking out an atlas and handing it over to Xu Qi’an:

“This book contains the method of qi lineage, as well as my personal feelings about cultivation.”

Xu Qi’an reached out to take it, and Master Hengyuan pressed the cover and said in a deep voice, “It has to be returned.”

Why did you add that? Ning has also heard of my Xu Baijun’s reputation? Xu Qi’an nodded, “Alright, master.”

After leaving the room, he went to the front yard and met up with his two fellow officers, and the three of them discussed the matter and put together one or two pieces of silver to donate to the Sanatorium.

Bidding farewell to Heng Yuan and walking to the front door, Song Tingfeng suddenly said, “Wait a moment.”

He turned and ran back, staring at the old mandarin without a word, gritting his teeth and grimacing.

“Da, my lord?” The old mandarin was a bit scared.

Song Tingfeng teeth clenched his heart, took off the money bag and threw it over, couldn’t bear to look at it anymore, turned his head and left.

That was five taels of silver he intended to go to the Ministry of Education tonight, a month’s salary.

“Thousand-dagger Xu Ningyan, if I come to a place like this with you again in the future, I’ll take your surname.” Song Tingfeng kicked Xu Qi’an.

Xu Qi’an avoided it and laughed coldly, “I don’t care if you take my surname either, in the future, your son will just take my surname.”

Song Tingfeng took off his sheath and chased after him.

……

Returning to the inner city, Xu Qi’an dumped his street patrols on his two colleagues and went to the Stargazer’s Mansion on his own.

“Mr. Xu.” The white-clothed warlocks greeted him warmly, and no one stopped him from going upstairs.

Xu Qi’an searched around, not finding Chu Caiwei or Song Qing, and caught an alchemist and asked:

“Where’s Miss Caiwei?”

“The Rapunzel is here, and Senior Sister Caiwei accompanied her to meet Teacher Supervisor Zheng at the Bagua Terrace.” The alchemist said.

My first and second wives are both here ah …. Xu Qi’an turned to ask, “Where is Senior Brother Song?”

“Asked the government office for a death row inmate and is studying it in a secret room.”

“….”

Xu Qi’an dismissed the idea of seeing Song Qing and asked, “Where is the cookhouse?”