Water elemental became a god, ultimately becoming the master of heaven, earth, mountains, and rivers

Chapter 42 Golden Snake Entwining Silk Hand

Jin She Li Family.

Chen Shunan parked the waterwheel at the side gate.

The two gatekeepers greeted Chen Shunan familiarly.

"Old Chen, you're a bit late today."

"Old Chen, you've been slacking off, haven't you? My brother and I have been waiting for you."

After spending this time together, Chen Shunan had come to know the two men quite well.

They were all orphans that Master Li had taken from the orphanage years ago. He taught them to read and write, as well as martial arts skills, and trained them to be servants and guards.

He also doesn't have a famous name.

The one with the sword is called Ah Da; the one with the spear is called Ah Er. Both of them have the strength of a perfect third-rate fighter.

The two were grateful to Master Li for raising and nurturing them.

So even though the Li family was on its last legs and living hand to mouth, the two still cherished their old friendship and were unwilling to leave, willingly becoming gatekeepers and guards.

"We were delayed on the way..."

Chen Shunan chuckled and took out two crisp, sweet, variegated melons from behind the waterwheel, giving one to each of them.

"These are local melons from Baozhou, newly harvested. You two brothers must try them."

The maintenance of relationships is reflected in these small, everyday favors.

Ah Da and Ah Er were just joking when they took the flower-skinned melon and casually pushed open the side door.

Ah Xiao whispered something.
"Master Li should be teaching martial arts in the front yard. There is a young man surnamed Yi who spent four hundred taels of silver to obtain the real skills and became Master Li's instructor, who taught him the 'Golden Snake Entwining Silk Hand'."

Ah Er muttered something else.
"The young man surnamed Yi has excellent potential. Master Li may not have said it on his face, but he was probably overjoyed. He even made an exception and allowed the mother and son to eat and live in his mansion."

Chen Shunan was carrying wooden buckets into the courtyard when he heard this and looked surprised.

Is the surname 'Yi'?

This surname is not common in Wuqing County.

Especially those families who could afford four hundred taels of silver were few and far between; they seemed to be mostly concentrated in the northern part of the city, such as Xinlianzi Hutong and Dashamao Hutong.

Chen Shunan remembered that Ma Xiucai's amateur singer, the one who was one of the "Five Eccentrics, Four Wonders, and Three Top Scholars" and was skilled in spear fighting, was named Yi Wenzuo.

and……

The Li family actually managed to sell faxed products?!
A glint of light flashed in Chen Shunan's eyes.

He noticed that Ah Da said "become a coach" rather than "become a disciple".

Becoming an apprentice is about inheriting the mantle, following the proper order of father and son, and receiving the true teachings. You also inherit the karma and grudges of your teachers.

The coach, however, wasn't so particular; he just wanted to spend money.

It is quite obvious that the relationship between Master Li and this young man surnamed Yi is simply a monetary employment relationship.

that……

Selling a family's secret technique once counts as selling, and selling it twice is still selling, right?

This seems to be my opportunity, Mr. Chen.

After all, this "Golden Snake Entwining Silk Hand" is a superior martial art, combining the strengths of palm techniques and footwork. It is cunning, unpredictable, and agile, and its reputation is in no way inferior to "Flesh Flying Immortal" or "Dacheng Fist".

Chen Shunan had also been envious for a long time.

Stepping into the Li Mansion, the previously dilapidated and unrepaired gate tower and red-lacquered pillars have been completely renovated.

Beyond the front yard, there were more wooden stakes, stone locks, and weapon racks such as knives, spears, and clubs on the open space.

A powerful shout rang out.

Chen Shunan then saw a fair-skinned, resolute-looking young man, shirtless and wearing a faded short jacket, working out under the scorching sun.

Steward Zhao and Master Li both hid in the shade under the eaves, fanning themselves and enjoying the cool breeze, while eating plums and melons.

Suddenly, Butler Zhao's gaze turned cold.

Whoosh!
A plum pit shot out of his mouth like a spark, hitting the boy's wrist and leaving a purplish-blue bloodstain.

"You've forgotten everything I taught you?! Your palm technique is in a binding motion!"

"Don't be so stiff! Be more lively, be more lively!"

"Learn to use your White Linked Finger! It's such a waste to have such good natural talent on you!"

Butler Zhao shouted sternly.

It is said that Master Li taught him martial arts.

In fact, most of the time, it was Steward Zhao who gave the instructions.

Master Li sat in the armchair, his hands resting on a peach wood cane, his eyes slightly narrowed as if he were taking a nap, only speaking at the crucial moment.

The boy practiced some kind of complex palm technique, gritting his teeth and staring at the blazing sun, not daring to utter a single word of suffering.

Chen Shunan noticed that the boy's hands had an unusual appearance; they were like duck feet, with a thin layer of skin connecting them.

It is extremely resilient, like a spring, and quickly rebounds after being stretched.

"White Finger?"

Chen Shunan exclaimed in surprise, "This is indeed excellent aptitude for practicing palm and finger techniques."

"Old Chen's here?" Butler Zhao noticed Chen Shun'an. Master Li slowly opened his eyes, saw Chen Shun'an, and also cupped his hands in a respectful greeting with a smile.

"Brother Shun'an."

After exchanging a few pleasantries with the two men, Chen Shunan picked up his load and went to the kitchen to fill the water vat.

The boy curiously looked at Chen Shunan's back, only to be met with another plum pit.

"Brother Shicheng, it seems there is some joyous occasion at your residence?"

Wiping the sweat from his face with a handkerchief, Chen Shunan walked back to the front yard.

"Hahaha... all thanks to your good news, Brother Shun'an."

Master Li's voice was louder than last time as he laughed.
"We have reconnected with our old acquaintances in the canal gang and have already assembled a fleet that has headed to Nanhai Prefecture. It is estimated that we will return to Wuqing County soon."

The customs were strict, levying ship taxes on foreigners and goods taxes on their own people. They could detect smuggled goods like salt and iron, and even tea and silk carried on board... Dealing with those officials was a real headache..."

At this point, Master Li slapped his forehead and said,
"Ah! I'm getting old, and I tend to talk too much... so I'm a bit short on cash, so I'm selling my ancestors' skills. I hope you'll forgive my foolishness, Brother Shun'an."

Chen Shunan nodded knowingly.

Mr. Li is also a man of great courage.

They acted swiftly, taking immediate action once they obtained the intelligence.

But what Master Li said stirred something in Chen Shun'an's heart.

You can criticize the Holy Dynasty, but when it comes to things where there's profit to be made, you can't say the Holy Dynasty is bad!

The Customs and Tax Bureau is rife with bribery and corruption, smuggling and tax evasion, and the various taxes and fees levied under different pretexts are staggering.

They devised all sorts of schemes, including port entry fees, port departure fees, berthing fees, grain transport taxes, separate taxes, fire loss fees, cabin inspection fees, and affixing of documents, and all the proceeds were privately divided among officials at all levels.

The South Customs had numerous checkpoints under its jurisdiction, with a checkpoint every ten miles and a lock every fifty miles. Merchant ships arriving from overseas were thoroughly inspected.

They just hope to find some contraband so they can extort a hefty sum from the suspects!
that……

How did the hibiscus oil lamp reach Wuqing County via sea transport, across the South China Sea?
No matter how powerful and influential the millers and the Twelve Trades of the South China Sea may be, they are still just merchants.

How could they possibly compete with the Customs and Taxation Service?

Chen Shunan's heart stirred slightly, but his expression remained unchanged.

Standing there, feeling the icy wind, she silently watched the boy practice martial arts without leaving.

Master Li understood his meaning and gave Steward Zhao a wink.

"Yi Yan, come with me. I'll massage your muscles and relieve the bruising, and give you an ice water medicinal bath!"

Manager Zhao gave some instructions to the young man Yi Yan, then walked into the bathhouse with his hands behind his back.

Seeing this, Yi Yan obediently followed behind with his head down.

Master Li picked up his teacup, took a sip of tea, and looked at Chen Shunan: "Brother Shunan, is there anything else?"

Chen Shunan then walked to the opposite side of Master Li, clasped his hands in greeting, and said...

"Brother Shicheng, I have a favor to ask. In my cultivation of 'Flesh Immortal,' I focus on tempering my lower limbs, which is somewhat lacking in my upper limbs. My qi and blood are not flowing freely, and there is a risk of imbalance. In addition, I push carts to deliver water, move buckets and unload boards, and over time, my hands have developed hidden injuries..."

Therefore, I would like to ask for credit and request that Brother Laoshicheng teach me the "Golden Snake Entangling Silk Hand" technique!

By practicing various techniques, one can achieve overall balance in the body.

As people age and their bodies weaken, it is a good thing to care for their hands.

Chen Shunan reasoned with him and appealed to his emotions.

"This……"

Upon hearing this, Master Li's face showed displeasure.

Family traditions should not be passed on lightly. Now that they have been passed on to Yi Yan, even with various reasons, it is still a very disgraceful thing.

In Master Li's view, Chen Shunan's current actions are somewhat like taking advantage of a favor.

Master Li said in a deep voice,
“Brother Shun’an, I won’t hide it from you. That Yi Yan is the illegitimate son of Yi Wen Zuo Ling. He was born to a mulberry picker and was left to wander outside since childhood. He was even fostered in an orphanage for many years and made a living in a magic trick shop.”

As he grew older, he began to show his talent, revealing his extraordinary martial arts skills, which led to him being recognized as a member of the Ivenzo clan...

However, the Yi family is a distinguished family with many descendants, making the competition fierce. Furthermore, the Yi family's true skill is the "Subduing Poisonous Spear," which is incompatible with Yi Wen's temperament. That's why Madam Yi introduced me to the Li family..."

Chen Shunan immediately understood.

Even if Yi Yan is not well-liked, he is still the descendant of a Zuo Ling (a military officer).

If word gets out, the Li family won't lose face.

Chen Shunan paused for a moment before speaking.

"I am willing to offer two hundred taels of silver, and I will only listen in and try not to bother Brother Shicheng."

“This isn’t about money… Brother Shun’an, you’re getting on in years and have been stuck at the second-rate level for many years. I’m worried that you’re trying to do too much at once and will only end up hurting yourself…” Master Li frowned.

"That was before."

Suddenly, Chen Shunan stepped into a standing stance, his toes neither pointing outwards nor outwards, his blood and qi surging wildly, and his muscles tumbling and twisting all over his body.

As his blood and qi circulated, a cracking sound was heard, and his spinal dragon seemed to come alive, the bone joints vibrating and trembling, exploding with a series of thunderous sounds.

Second-rate Yushu?

Master Li looked surprised.

(End of this chapter)