#19 - Chapter 19 Plan

The outer martial hall offers considerable freedom. It doesn't matter if you don't come; you can arrive and leave at any time within the deadline.

However, most people don't do that, as there are free meals to be had.

Another benefit is a bowl of tonic soup at the end of each month to nourish the body. It doesn't require extra money. If you want more, you can pay in advance and tell them beforehand. A bowl costs five large coins and you can drink it with the inner disciples.

The quantity isn't much, and it's first-come, first-served, limited to three bowls per person per month, which is considered a small benefit for those with extra resources at home.

Old Niu cautioned Cheng Feng that the outer martial hall is filled with many people and gossiping tongues, so it's best not to start conflicts recklessly.

Everyone has a different background.

Some come from wealthy families,

while others are just locals in the city with some savings.

Still others have stirred up trouble and entered to seek three months of protection.

Once the deadline arrives, they take off the outer disciple robes and have no further connection with the martial hall.

Furthermore, the martial hall generally suppresses internal conflicts among fellow disciples. But once outside the hall, there may be revenge from fellow disciples.

The martial hall's bottom line is that fellow disciples cannot be maimed.

Saying it's a sparring session to find flaws in techniques is something no one would find strange. It's passable on the surface, but it can also invite a beating.

Apart from this, the martial hall doesn't care about matters outside the hall.

The martial hall can't possibly follow behind everyone, looking after them every day.

Cheng Feng sighed, realizing that the fifty-plus outer disciples were a small society.

They were chaotic, intertwined, and quite fascinating.

But Cheng Feng didn't care. Having entered the 'university of society' in his previous life, Cheng Feng understood a few principles.

Don't look for trouble, but don't be afraid of trouble.

You can't avoid it, and you can't run away from it.

What's meant to come will always come.

Don't get involved, and just do your duty.

As long as you don't actively cause trouble, you can have a clear conscience if something happens.

Especially in this era without cameras.

Revenge can also be done without any repercussions.

Cheng Feng always prioritized self-preservation. He didn't have many means of revenge, but he could have some.

Following Old Niu, he walked around the martial hall's courtyard, figuring out where to eat and where to rest.

As it neared afternoon, Cheng Feng said he had something to do and took his leave.

No one said anything; they were used to it.

Wearing the martial hall's robe, Cheng Feng walked towards his second target: the brokerage in the south of the city.

That's right, with the money, Cheng Feng planned to buy a house first.

If he wanted to practice martial arts, he couldn't possibly walk back and forth every day!

That would waste all his time on the road.

Of course, he would also buy a person by the way to test his talent.

Yes, it was really just by the way.

The buying and selling of houses and people were both done at the same brokerage.

Wearing the Iron Mountain Martial Hall's attire, passersby on the street subconsciously didn't get too close to Cheng Feng, lest there be any misunderstandings.

Reaching the brokerage he had scouted out before, Cheng Feng stepped inside.

The light inside was slightly dim. A clerk came over to greet him: "What kind of goods does the guest need?"

He sized up Cheng Feng, noting the brand-new Iron Mountain Martial Hall robe, indicating a newly entered disciple. His face and demeanor were calm, suggesting he had some foundation.

Cheng Feng actually just wanted to buy a house. How could he have thought about other goods? Buying a house and a person was indeed his first time.

Cheng Feng wouldn't criticize anything as humane or inhumane.

He was still struggling to live.

Seeing Cheng Feng's curious expression, the clerk continued to introduce: "Red flowers, black flowers, coarse branches, fine leaves. The shop has recently acquired a new batch of goods. Does the guest have any requirements?"

Cheng Feng was still confused. The clerk secretly sighed, realizing he had misjudged. This wasn't some young master from a wealthy family.

He explained to Cheng Feng: "The guest is probably here for the first time. Red flowers refer to women, black flowers refer to men, coarse branches are laborers, and fine leaves are house servants."

Cheng Feng blushed slightly, after all, it was his first time. Maybe he would have the opportunity to come often in the future, hehe.

Cheng Feng comforted himself and asked the clerk: "Do you have any maids for warming the bed?"

The clerk instantly understood the customer's needs. "Of course, we do. Please, guest, this way."

Passing through the dim front hall, they came to a bright courtyard at the back. All around were rooms. The clerk introduced: "Young virgins are in these few rooms, and married women are in the back. If you want old women or nannies, the shop doesn't have any in stock at the moment."

Cheng Feng suppressed his heartbeat and said: "Can I go in and take a look?"

The clerk didn't reply, but directly pushed open a door, giving Cheng Feng a gesture to enter.

Cheng Feng understood and stepped inside.

Inside the room, there was no table or bed. Some dry grass was spread against the wall for sleeping.

They were originally prepared to be sold, to make money.

How could they be treated like masters?

Only the best goods might be taken care of a little.

Cheng Feng thought it would be like the T-stage auditions in the videos from his previous life.

But this was it?

A group of girls who looked like they were thirteen or fourteen years old, dressed in drab gray clothes, with ropes on their feet. There weren't any particularly pretty faces, just ordinary ones!

Not interested. Cheng Feng needed someone who could take care of him, not someone he would spend money to take care of.

Cheng Feng looked displeased and came out after taking a quick look. He was going to spend money to choose his future companion.

The clerk asked: "Does the guest not like inexperienced young girls?"

Cheng Feng said honestly: "Inexperience is a good thing, but this batch is too skinny and doesn't feel good."

As soon as these words came out, the clerk knew he had misjudged.

A big customer!

To have such insightful preferences and feelings, how much must he have experienced?

"I understand, please follow me, guest." The clerk knew Cheng Feng's preferences and could more accurately promote the products.

This time, the clerk brought Cheng Feng to the middle and back of the house.

Cheng Feng pushed the door open and entered. This batch was older, about seventeen or eighteen years old, and their eyes were quite clear.

But their skin and temperament showed at a glance that they were probably children from the countryside, sold by their parents.

Nothing surprising. Cheng Feng wasn't a savior.

He just wanted to buy a virgin, a good-looking one. Was it really that difficult?

Cheng Feng was expressionless. "Are there any good-looking ones?"

The clerk understood and once again confirmed that this was a big customer.

But this one seemed difficult to serve, with many requirements.

In order not to make a mistake, he could only respectfully say: "The range of what the guest needs is basically all here. You can take your time to choose."

Cheng Feng had no choice but to slowly go through each room one by one.

After roughly walking around, there were only two or three who met Cheng Feng's aesthetic standards.

One was tall and slender, with a pretty face, but without much allure.

One was slightly shorter, but her face was fairer. Cheng Feng didn't like short people, fearing that their genes would affect his future children.

There was also one whose face wasn't particularly outstanding, but she was curvaceous, with an exceptional figure.

Cheng Feng was troubled and couldn't decide for a moment.

But then he thought, he wasn't marrying a wife, at most he was just keeping a mistress. Why think so much?

Thank goodness for the ancient system, which allowed for multiple wives and concubines.

Originally, he wanted to test his talent, but he was too concerned about appearances.

Cheng Feng never denied that he was relatively utilitarian, but he just needed to treat her a little better.

He had heard that the upper-class literati had the elegant hobby of giving away concubines.

Cheng Feng respectfully declined.

The worldview he had developed in his previous life couldn't get used to it.

And Cheng Feng didn't plan to get used to it.

Cheng Feng had a scale in his heart, and as long as he was clear about it, that was enough.

Changing other people's ideas was very difficult.

Cheng Feng wouldn't do such a thankless thing.