Three days later, in the morning, Song Cheng glanced at the panel.

[Add Points: 26 points]

A 6.4% probability of deriving the Superior Technique of Xuanwu True Force.

He decided to wait.

Because a 6.4% probability was already not low, it reached a level where he could wait patiently.

In fact, it hadn't taken much time before and after, at least relative to his 'Longevity,' this bit of time couldn't even be considered a drop in the ocean.

Too short.

'Living a peaceful life in a safe environment, it would be best if nothing happens for decades.'

'Conceal six or seven parts of one's strength to manage risks; display three or four parts of one's power to gain authority.'

Song Cheng silently admonished himself.

In his previous life and this one, he was already over forty years old; he had passed the age of 'being hot-blooded, impulsive, reckless, and regardless of consequences.'

After having breakfast with his wife in the dining hall, he coached Young Mrs. Tong in knife practice for a while, and then took a large basin, soap nuts, and dirty clothes, scooped some water, and began to wash the clothes in the courtyard.

If you don't have maids or servants, these chores must be done by yourself.

Young Mrs. Tong was originally going to do the laundry, but Song Cheng took over the task from her.

Song Cheng really couldn't bear to see his wife practicing the knife until she was almost dead from exhaustion and then having her do these miscellaneous chores too.

He had plenty of strength anyway, besides, back in Rejuvenation Hall, laundry and chopping firewood were his tasks.

The dirty clothing wasn't much, two sets of fabric clothes, pants, socks, Madam Tong's delicates, and his own undergarments.

Song Cheng scrubbedly vigorously, carefully washing away the stains in the clothes in the soapy water, and then rinsed them in clean water; when he touched those delicate garments, he could still sense a lingering exotic scent on them.

After the couple both became martial artists, their entanglements naturally became much fiercer.

He caressed them with his hand, and felt the fabric was getting crumpled, clearly, it had been used for a long time...

He knew that Madam Tong only had this one piece of delicate garment.

She hadn't been willing to buy another afterwards.

Because silk products were truly expensive.

Unaffordable.

With this thought, he really wanted to marry the young miss.

He would provide the young miss with "strength support", "risk contingency plans", and take up a "son-in-law living with his wife's family" spot, sparing the young miss the trouble of worrying about marriage.

The young miss would provide him with a "safe environment", "network support", and "financial support".

Each taking what they needed, even if it was just a "marriage in name."

Previously, his chances were pretty slim, but now, with Miss Ling's help, there was still hope.

If it really didn't work out, then he and his wife would open a medical clinic and look for another way to make a living.

But first, he would need to leave the county and go to a bigger city.

As Song Cheng pondered, his movements didn't slow down; he quickly hung the clothes and socks to dry, then stretched his arms a bit and said, "Madam, I am going to fetch some water."

The house had a well, and water had to be drawn by oneself.

Although the Song family consisted of only two people, they used a lot of water.

Martial artists often took baths, and he needed even more water for sharpening knives.

Incidentally, his knife was nearly sharp now; it was different not only in material but also had a strange groove at the handle, unlike the Fine Blade from Tang River Village, and he didn't know what it was used for.

Seeing Song Cheng pick up the shoulder pole, Madam Tong stopped practicing with her knife and said, "Let me go."

"Keep practicing." Song Cheng especially wanted his wife to practice martial arts every minute to advance her realm sooner.

Madam Tong curiously asked, "Why don't you practice?"

Song Cheng replied, "How have I not practiced? I just practiced when you weren't watching."

In the unknown Time Fragments, he had practiced endlessly, sweating profusely, and that's how he achieved his current level.

How had he not practiced?

Let's not unjustly tarnish someone's reputation, okay?

Madam Tong glanced at him and said, "Alright, alright, you're a freak, not a mortal like us."

Song Cheng said, "I really practiced."

"When?"

"When you weren't watching."

"Get out..."

Song Cheng carried the shoulder pole with two empty buckets and left the house.

Madam Tong sighed softly and thought to herself, 'My husband must be getting proud, right? After all, the wandering spirit he merged with must have been someone significant, and he's slowly assimilating their power.'

But that person's power will eventually be fully assimilated, and you still need to work hard on your own.

Madam Tong felt that her man was clearly being lazy.

As the thought crossed her mind, she took a deep breath.

She needed to catch up with her husband's progress quickly, and if her husband faltered later, she, Tong Jia, would become strong and then protect her husband.

When Song Cheng reached the well, there were other household guards and servants from the neighborhood.

"Little Song is here to draw water again." An older family member said, "Your wife sure is lazy."

Others who knew the situation said, "It's not laziness. It's Little Song who insists on doing it. He's pampering his wife."

Another family member gossiped with a smile, "You don't know, right? Little Song went to Biliu Courtyard last time. One of the courtesans was about to give him a red packet while sitting on his lap, but it didn't happen."

"Why?"

"They say Little Song is afraid of his wife. He spent the money but didn't enjoy the courtesans. My son said it became a joke at Biliu Courtyard."

Those gathering water were mostly elderly women or wives who enjoyed gossip. For such a "person of interest" like Song Cheng, they had gossiped about him endlessly behind his back.

Song Cheng didn't mind and smiled, "Auntie, a wife is there to be pampered, right? Besides, I also relax when I come out to draw water."

He quite liked this peaceful atmosphere.

The atmosphere here was much better than in the village.

If possible, he felt that the first hundred years of his "longevity" should be spent in such a peaceful and ordinary atmosphere, after accumulating strength and completing his development, then he could move to other places.

But first, he needed to find a "safe environment."

The reason he hadn't stayed in the deep mountains was that they were not a "safe environment."

And honestly, Shanghe County was not safe either.

Compared to Tang River Village, it was just a matter of sooner or later.

No doubt, this world held visions of "Endless Hell," but there were more uncertainties and unknowns...

As Song Cheng was contemplating this, a noisy clamor suddenly arose from the courtyard passage outside, buzzing with the sounds of many people's footsteps and voices mingled together.

Song Cheng set down the bucket and went to see, only to see Steward Wang, Miss Ling, and several guards and servants walking together, engaged in a hurried conversation.

"What's the matter, Steward Wang?" Song Cheng asked politely.

The steward waved his hand and said, "Young man, focus on your cultivation; these matters are not yet your concern."

In his eyes, Song Cheng was just a small martial artist in the Power Realm, who, although potential, had not yet burst forth.

The other guards also casually glanced at Song Cheng. Although they had drank together, there hadn't been much interaction afterward. They shared the same view as the steward.

But to them, Miss Ling was different.

Miss Ling called out, "Song... cough, Song Cheng, why don't you come too?"

Song Cheng glanced over and saw urgency and a hint of panic hidden in Miss Ling's eyes.

The steward said, "What would Little Song do here? One more or less doesn't make a difference."

Song Cheng shook his head and said, "Miss Ling, I'm fetching water, just finished. I need to go back and continue my training, I won't join."

Miss Ling nodded, and the group hurried away into the distance.

Song Cheng squinted as he watched their retreating figures.

He had a feeling... as if a storm was brewing.

...

...

Chopping wood, sharpening blades, going to the dining hall for meals...

In the afternoon, Miss Ling rushed over and directly said, "Mr. Song, the two guards who were supposed to come back for their shift are missing; they were stationed outside Tang River Village...

They were supposed to return to the manor last night, but no one has seen them until now.

Everyone discussed it and decided to send someone to check."

Song Cheng wanted to say "don't send anyone," but held back, because what right did he have to stop others from investigating? It might not be as he feared.

Miss Ling suddenly exclaimed in fear, "Could it possibly be that the ghost calamity has spread?"

Song Cheng said, "It might be, or it might not be. But since there's a delay, something certainly happened; it could either be thieves or a ghost calamity... Miss Ling, you should talk to them and warn them to retreat immediately if the situation turns bad."

Miss Ling said, "Steward has already said so, but we definitely need to check. Those two guards have families living here; no matter what, we have to provide their families with an explanation."

...

...

In the blink of an eye, two more days passed.

The entire Ruyi Commerce Chamber was enveloped by an ominous atmosphere.

The death of Guard Captain Shi hadn't found any clues yet, and his body still lay in the Government Office's charnel house.

And now, those sent to investigate the missing guards hadn't returned as expected either.

It was as if they had vanished into thin air, anyone sent out just disappeared.

In the Commerce Chamber, the atmosphere was extremely tense, and the young lady of the house was unfortunately absent.

At this moment, four key figures of the Commerce Chamber were sitting together—Steward, Chief Accountant, Miss Ling, and one Force Realm martial artist staying behind to guard.

The four sat there, immersed in heavy silence...

...

...

In the east of the city.

The sunshine was bright but seemed to carry a shadow, holding an inexplicably chilling coldness.

A group of gorgeously dressed young ladies were joyously heading out; they were the girls from Biliu Courtyard.

They were invited by Young Master Zhao to a manor in the outskirts.

Now in early spring, the flowers were in full bloom, a perfect time for a spring outing.

"Bringing courtesans on an outing" has always been a delightfully trendy idea among the literati.

Young Master Zhao, the youngest son of the owner of Water Bird Martial Arts Hall.

While his brother pursued martial arts, he studied literature, and now he had invited some friends to go play in the countryside.

The courtesans walked out of the city gate and met up with Young Master Zhao, then all of them continued on their way, laughing and chatting as they went.

Not far away, a wooden sign stuck on the ground read "Fur."

The man grabbing the sign was laughing and hawking, "Come take a look, check out the newly made fur."

Young Master Zhao and his group were initially heading south, where there were green mountains and clear waters, but upon seeing the northern man grabbing the sign and hawking, they suddenly stopped and turned towards him.

Walking up to him, Young Master Zhao suddenly felt his senses blurring, a strange thought completely occupied his mind unconsciously, making him forget he was supposed to be on a spring outing.

He lowered his voice and said, "We are going to Extreme Joy World."

The man with sign laughed and said, "Alright, everything's been prepared for you gentlemen. Just stay here for a while, and follow me into the mountains shortly."

The courtesans and Young Master Zhao's friends were all thrilled.

They came here, originally tired of the mundane life, and wanted to experience something thrilling and exciting.

Thus, the group waited patiently.

By evening, a few more people had gathered behind the sign holder.

The group turned and walked away, gradually disappearing into the fog that had arisen unknowingly, vanishing from sight.

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