We're practicing all martial arts, so why did you switch to easy mode?

Chapter 23 If my benefactor does not abandon me, I am willing to become his godfather.
The night is as cold as water.

Not long after Su Chen entered Lin Family Fortress, he sensed someone following him.

So he quickened his pace and headed toward a secluded alley, while the other person continued to follow at a leisurely pace.

Soon, Su Chen stopped and looked back. The person who had been following him was Zhu Yan.

"Benefactor?"

Upon seeing Su Chen, Zhu Yan called out uncertainly.

Although Su Chen was still dressed as a one-armed man, his disguise skills had improved by a great deal compared to before.

If Zhu Yan hadn't seen Su Chen dressed like this before, he really wouldn't have recognized him.

Su Chen nodded and said, "You should have already received the news, right?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yan's expression turned serious, and he immediately knelt down in front of Su Chen and kowtowed to express his gratitude: "Thank you for avenging me, my benefactor. I have no way to repay you in this life. If you do not mind, I am willing to take you as my godfather and serve you by my side for the rest of my life."

Su Chen: "..."

The already quiet atmosphere became even quieter after Zhu Yan said those words.

Su Chen never expected that Zhu Yan would say such things when they met again.

I felt ashamed and speechless.

He's only around twenty years old, and he's already having a child this big?

Although he is an adopted son, it still seems strange no matter how you look at it.

After clearing his throat, Su Chen refused Zhu Yan without hesitation: "No need. We each get what we need, there's no need for such a grand gesture."

“My benefactor, you killed my enemy and avenged my Zhu family. This kindness is higher than the heavens. To me, you are like my second parents. Such a gesture cannot even begin to express my gratitude to you…”

"Shut up and get up!"

Hearing Zhu Yan's pedantic words, Su Chen interrupted him with a cold face.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yan's face showed a hint of surprise, but he ultimately had no choice but to get up.

"Yes, benefactor."

Seeing Su Chen's expression, he dared not say anything more and could only get up, behaving obediently like a child.

"What about the medical manuals?" Su Chen asked.

"Here it is." Zhu Yan quickly took out a thick book and handed it to Su Chen.

Su Chen took it, glanced at it a few times, and then put it into his pocket.

Just as he was about to leave, Zhu Yan spoke up, "My benefactor, please wait."

"What else happened?"

"My benefactor, please accept this money!"

Zhu Yan took out a stack of silver notes from his pocket and presented them with both hands.

"Ok?"

Su Chen was taken aback when he saw this. Didn't this guy say he had no money before?
Zhu Yan seemed to know what Su Chen was thinking and chuckled, "This money is all thanks to my benefactor."

"What do you mean?"

"After my benefactor killed Zhao Kuo, I received the news. Knowing that my benefactor was short of money, I took advantage of the chaos at Zhao Kuo's house, sneaked in, and took some silver..."

At this point, Zhu Yan scratched his head, looking somewhat embarrassed.

This amount of money was far from enough to express his gratitude to Su Chen.

Su Chen paused for a moment, gave Zhu Yan a deep look, and then nodded, saying, "Okay, I'll accept this money."

He paused for a moment, then asked, "Now that you have avenged your great enemy, what are your plans for the future?"

"Me? I think I'll leave Whitestone City," Zhu Yan pondered.

The original plan was to become Su Chen's son and serve him for life, but Su Chen refused.

For a moment, he hadn't fully figured out his next move.

This idea was something he had decided on beforehand; it was the path he would take after avenging his great grudge.

"Oh, by the way, my benefactor, you no longer need to go to the Misty Rain Pavilion. The Lin Family Fortress has already closed the Misty Rain Pavilion."

Suddenly, Zhu Yan slapped his forehead and said to Su Chen.

"Is Yanyu Tower closed?" Su Chen asked in confusion.

Zhu Yan nodded: "It's off. I only discovered it today. I don't know the specific reason either."

Seeing Su Chen remain silent, Zhu Yan spoke again: "My benefactor, Baishi City has become increasingly chaotic recently. I have heard that bandits have started to appear outside the city. If you continue to stay in Baishi City, you need to be extremely careful."

"I understand. Be careful too."

Su Chen nodded, still pondering the matter of the closure of Yanyu Tower.

"Alright, I'll be going now." After a moment, Su Chen said to Zhu Yan and turned to leave.

“My benefactor, after I leave White Stone City, I will go to Great Feng City…”

Watching Su Chen's departing figure, Zhu Yan seemed to remember something and quickly called out.

Then he knelt on the ground and kowtowed three more times. After a long while, he got up and left.

After bidding farewell to Zhu Yan, Su Chen passed by the Misty Rain Pavilion and, as expected, found that the pavilion's doors were locked.

As dusk fell, Su Chen found an inn in Lin Family Fortress and settled in for the night.

inside the room.

Looking at the nine silver notes Zhu Yan gave him, he felt a little helpless.

Nine silver notes, each worth ten taels, totaling ninety taels. Even adding the money he had on him, it was still less than one hundred taels.

"Looks like I'll need to find a way to make money if I want to upgrade my Iron Wire Fist!"

After putting away the silver notes, Su Chen lay down on the bed and fell asleep.

Silent all night.

As dawn breaks in the east, a new day begins.

After getting up, washing up, and having breakfast, Su Chen set off to return to the city.

On his way back, Su Chen passed through a grove of trees. Looking at the thick trees along the way, an idea came to him.

He struck out with his palm, and the tree, as thick as a bowl, shook violently. When he withdrew his hand, a five-centimeter-deep handprint was left on the tree trunk.

"I wonder how strong I am now? I should be able to take on ten Zhao Kuo now!"

Su Chen looked at his masterpiece with great satisfaction, pondering his own abilities.

But then he thought again that Zhao Kuo's Tortoise Shell Kung Fu seemed to be more advanced than his own, and with his current level of Tortoise Shell Kung Fu, he probably couldn't overwhelm him.

Thinking this, the smile on his face disappeared, and he flicked his sleeve and left without looking back.

Half an hour later, Su Chen returned to White Stone City, paid the entrance fee, and entered the city.

As usual, I found a secluded place to change my clothes and then returned home.

Not long after he returned, Su Chen heard a knock on the door.

Squeak.

"You are?"

Looking at the two people standing at the door, they clearly looked like gang members, but Su Chen didn't recognize them.

“We are members of the Changhe Gang. Starting today, every household will pay a fee of twenty copper coins.”

"Didn't the Blood Robe Gang take it before?" Su Chen asked, frowning.

He had never heard of the Changhe Gang.

"Stop talking nonsense. The Blood-Clad Gang was wiped out by our Long River Gang long ago. Their territory will naturally be taken over by us. Hurry up and don't waste time!"

The man said impatiently, urging Su Chen to hurry up.

"What are you doing?"

Just as Su Chen was about to teach the two a lesson, a soft shout rang out, and Li Mo walked towards him.

"Hong Family Martial Arts School!"

Upon seeing the clothes Li Mo was wearing, the two gang members' expressions changed slightly.

"You have some nerve, charging our Hong Family Martial Arts School disciples extortion money! You really don't know what's good for you!"

Li Mo approached the two men and angrily rebuked them.

Upon hearing this, the two men were not angry at all. Instead, they chuckled and said, "Brother, please calm down. We were being presumptuous."

"get out!"

Li Mo snorted coldly after hearing this.

"Yes Yes Yes!"

The two hurriedly fled, fearing that Li Mo would change his mind.

After the two left, Li Mo looked at Su Chen, and the seriousness on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a hint of resentment.

"Um, Senior Brother Li Mo."

Su Chen touched his cheek and greeted her somewhat awkwardly. He suddenly remembered the time he stood Li Mo up.

“Junior Brother Su, in the future, if you encounter this situation, just reveal your identity as a disciple of the martial arts school, and they will not dare to accept protection money from the Hong family martial arts school.”

Li Mo waved his hand, offering a reminder, then said seriously,
"I came to see you today to tell you that your master wants to see you."

(End of this chapter)