Martial Arts: Start by Obtaining the Wild World

Chapter 83 0082: Inquiry; Meet Second Uncle!
Li Lu was somewhat puzzled by Cheng Zongyang's arrival. The latter said:

"I came to Uncle Li today to ask him something. Uncle Li also knows that we are martial artists, and martial arts techniques and skills are indispensable. I just don't know where we can buy real martial arts techniques and skills?"

Li Lu could understand Cheng Zongyang's idea. Who would complain about having too many skills?
Even if you don't practice this thing, you can just keep it and pass it down through the family.

Even with all the gray income he had accumulated and the connections he made and more than a hundred taels of silver he spent, he was only able to buy a genuine, error-free, and annotated copy of the lower third grade basic martial arts technique.

He thought for a while and said:
"Things like martial arts techniques are forbidden by the government to be circulated among the people. They are usually only spread among the court, martial arts schools, gangs, and families, and are not easily leaked. It is precisely because of this that many fake techniques and martial arts have appeared among the people. Of course, there are also real ones for sale, but there may be some mistakes. The price is about a few dozen taels.

Therefore, to buy real skills and martial arts, you need not only money, but also connections and introductions. Most people really don’t know where to buy them.”

"Unless you know someone from a martial arts school, family, or gang, and buy it from them."

Cheng Zongyang frowned: "Is there no other place to buy besides these places?"

"Yes!" Li Lu said, "Black market!"

Cheng Zongyang was stunned and asked in confusion: "I have been to the black market to sell things many times, but I have never seen anyone selling martial arts techniques."

Li Lu smiled and said, "Who would just casually put this thing on the ground and sell it like a street vendor? Those who sell it like this are all fake. We need to find someone to sell it properly.

If you really want, I can tell you someone. As for whether they have the martial arts skills you need, I don't know."

"Please give me some advice, Uncle Li." Cheng Zongyang bowed.

Li Lu smiled and said, "Since you've been to the black market, you know there are two black markets, the East Market and the West Market. But this kind of stuff is usually only found in the East Market. Have you been there?"

Cheng Zongyang nodded: "I went there once. But it cost ten copper coins to get in, so I went there out of curiosity. But the things there were more expensive than those in the West Market. I never went there again."

Li Lu said: "Yes, the East Market is mostly visited by wealthy people or warriors. The things sold there are also relatively expensive. This is also to prevent all kinds of idle people from mixing into the East Market."

Cheng Zongyang thought for a moment and asked, "I heard that the black market is backed by gangs. Could it be that these martial arts techniques and skills came from them?"

Li Lu nodded and said, "I guess so. When some wealthy family members or martial artists in martial arts schools are short of money, they don't mind selling a copy of the martial arts to make some money. After all, you only need to copy one copy. As for whether it will be wrong, it depends on your luck and vision. And whether they are willing to make more money."

Cheng Zongyang understood and continued to ask: "Who should I look for then?"

Li Lu said, "If you want a technique, go to the East Market and tell the person at the door 'I want to spend some money'. Then they will know what you want and that you were introduced by someone. At the same time, you have to pay five taels of silver as a deposit. This money is not refundable. If you buy it, it will be offset. If you don't buy it, it will not be refunded. Later, you will be taken to a house to trade. So, you have to bring good money. It can be trusted."

Cheng Zongyang nodded as he listened and took note of Li Lu's instructions.

At the same time, he also learned the approximate price of the martial arts from Li Lu.

A normal copy of the lower three grades of skills costs about fifty or sixty taels. If there are annotations, the price is about one hundred taels. The price of the middle three grades is between one hundred and two hundred taels. There is no such thing as the upper three grades.

Martial arts are divided into basic (entry-level), elementary, intermediate, advanced and several levels later.

The ones sold in the East Market are only of the entry-level, primary, intermediate, and advanced grades, with prices ranging from thirty to one hundred taels.

After Cheng Zongyang learned the details from Li Lu, he thanked him and responded by giving him some advice on martial arts.

They said goodbye and left with both parties feeling satisfied and happy.

In the following period of time, Cheng Zongyang bought a large amount of medicinal materials from all the pharmacies that were still open in the county.

What I bought were the first and second stage medicinal bath body-building herbs, as well as the foundation-building herbs.

At this time, he no longer cared whether he would be targeted or not!
Last night, he had asked his second uncle's medicinal herbs to be packed according to the recipe. He didn't plan to take the rest away.

There are many medicinal herbs in the mountains, and you can collect them by spending some time.

Slowly, the time came to noon.

After Cheng Zongyang had lunch at the clinic, he borrowed a horse-drawn carriage to transfer some of the things in the clinic to his house. These items were basically some medicinal materials, clothes, etc. He would come back to collect them later.

After things were settled and there was nothing else to do, Cheng Zongyang took his second aunt to the county government office.

On the way, Cheng Zongyang also explained some things to his second aunt.

Arriving at the gate of the county government office, Cheng Zongyang politely bowed to the gatekeeper and said:

"Brother, my last name is Cheng, I'm looking for Captain Zheng, please go in and report."

As a result, the yamen official asked: "Your name is Cheng Zongyang?"

Hearing this, Cheng Zongyang was stunned, and then thought that it must be Zheng Tianhai who spoke. He immediately nodded: "It is me."

"Come with me."

The clerk glanced at Cheng Zongyang and the woman beside him, said something expressionlessly, and walked inside.

"Thank you." Cheng Chen responded excitedly and followed her nephew.

Following the yamen official inside, they arrived at the backyard of the county government office after a while. At this time, there were many yamen officials guarding some exits in the backyard, and it looked like they were heavily guarding it.

Seeing this, Cheng Zongyang's heart sank. He didn't expect that the county government would keep such a close eye on these doctors, just like they were serious criminals, fearing that they might escape.

Walking all the way inside, I arrived at the yard and saw Zheng Tianhai resting and drinking tea by the yard.

Seeing Zheng Tianhai, the clerk stepped forward respectfully and bowed:

"Captain Zheng, the person you asked for is here."

Zheng Tianhai put down the cup in his hand, glanced at the two people behind him, nodded slightly and said: "You go and get busy."

The clerk bowed and said, "Yes, I will take my leave."

As the yamen official left, Cheng Zongyang took his second aunt a few steps forward and bowed to Zheng Tianhai, saying, "I'm honored to meet Captain Zheng. Thank you for your concern."

"I, Cheng Chen, greet you, sir." Cheng Chen also bowed a little nervously.

Captain Zheng nodded, "We only have one stick of incense. Don't disturb them from treating the patient. Otherwise, the Lord will blame us. No one can bear the consequences."

"Yes!"

"Enough is enough."

Cheng Zongyang and his second aunt responded at the same time.

Cheng Zongyang had no choice but to accept the time Zheng Yan had bought him with the jade pendant. At least he could meet his second uncle and inform him.

Afterwards, under the arrangement of Captain Zheng, the somewhat haggard Cheng Guangshan came to another small courtyard.

Apart from the yamen officials at the entrance and exit, it is relatively private and quiet.

Cheng Guangshan chatted with his wife for a while. After learning about the situation over the past two days, he felt relieved and comforted her:
"You did a good job. It's right to send the child to his eldest brother. We can't keep him in the city and take risks."

As he spoke, he walked towards his nephew and said, "Yang'er, thank you for your hard work. Alas, you are right. You should have left earlier."

Cheng Zongyang smiled and said, "It's okay, nephew knows what's going on."

As he spoke, he did not waste time chatting about family matters and said with a smile:

"Uncle, I will make arrangements for you. Eat more, drink more water, and take care of yourself. I heard from my aunt that you always go to the toilet at 3 p.m. It's not like home here. You need to be careful on the road and don't fall. Only if you take good care of yourself can you serve the county master."

Cheng Guangshan was stunned when he heard this and looked at his wife in confusion.

Do you have this problem?
I'm in good health, why are you talking so nonsense... huh?

Suddenly, he paused, looked at Cheng Zongyang, and then looked at his wife who looked normal. He immediately understood what was going on. He immediately laughed and scolded:

"Alright, alright, I've had this problem for a long time. I'll take care of myself. The toilet isn't far away. Besides, there are yamen officials patrolling at night, and they can take me back to my room even if I fall."

"Hehe, then Second Aunt and I are relieved. Second Uncle, please talk to my aunt again. I'm going to the toilet for a while."

Cheng Zongyang smiled and went to a yamen official to ask for directions.

Watching Cheng Zongyang's departing figure, the couple looked at each other and smiled knowingly.

In the outhouse in the backyard, Cheng Zongyang pretended to hold his stomach and went to the outhouse.

He quickly looked around. Perhaps to blend in with the flavor, there were many flowers and plants planted here.

He had an idea in his mind, and while no one was around, he immediately threw a black pebble that he had prepared in his hand out of the wall next to the toilet and into the toilet.

After a while, Cheng Zongyang returned to the courtyard as usual, and Cheng Guangshan also said at the right time:
"Okay, you guys should go back earlier too. I still have to discuss the condition with other doctors, so there's no time to waste."

"Okay." Cheng Zongyang agreed.

So, Cheng Zongyang and Cheng Chen left the courtyard.

Before leaving, he also said goodbye to Captain Zheng.

Outside the government office, Cheng Zongyang said to Cheng Chen:

"Second Aunt, I'll take care of the rest. Please go back to Nantang Lane first."

He still has a lot of things to do next, and he has to arrange people first.

"Okay." Cheng Chen agreed immediately.

(End of this chapter)