With the plan settled, the master’s wife had also prepared dinner, and the master and his disciples all ate together.

The master’s wife learned during the meal that Qin Fang had to leave True Martial for the market, and a look of worry instantly clouded her features.

But after his senior brother explained the reason for his departure, she could only sigh. There was nothing to be done.

Then she went back into her room, returning a moment later with a bundle that she handed to Qin Fang.

Qin Fang looked bewildered. "These are the clothes, shoes, and socks I’ve been making for you," the master’s wife said. "I was planning to give them to you when the weather warmed up, but who knows when you’ll be back from this trip. You might as well take them now... Good thing they’re more or less finished."

Qin Fang was stunned. "Master’s wife..."

"You’ll be all alone out there. You have to be careful. If you run into any trouble you can’t handle, don’t try to tough it out. Your safety comes first. If the worst happens, just come back... With your master and senior brother here, we can always figure something else out."

Tears streamed down her face as she spoke, her eyes filled with heartache for Qin Fang. "You poor child. You’ve only just settled down for a few days..."

Her words struck a deep chord in Qin Fang’s heart, leaving him momentarily speechless.

After a long moment, he finally managed to say, his voice a little hoarse, "Yes, I understand, Master’s wife... You and Master must take care of yourselves, too. I’ll come back as soon as this is all over."

"Good boy, good boy..."

The master’s wife clutched Qin Fang’s hand, unwilling to let go.

...

"That’s enough," the master interjected. "It’s not as if he’s leaving forever. He’s just going to live elsewhere for a while. He’ll be back once things have cooled down... Qin Fang, go home and pack."

The master said with a wave of his hand.

Qin Fang agreed. After a few more words of comfort from him, the master’s wife reluctantly released his hand.

His senior brother sighed softly. "Once you’ve finished packing," he told Qin Fang, "come back to Master’s. I’ll come here to get you later... I have to go make the arrangements."

Qin Fang took a deep breath and bowed. "Yes. Thank you, Senior Brother."

"Enough of that. There’s no need for such politeness between us martial brothers... Master, I’ll go and get things ready."

"Mm."

His senior brother departed. Qin Fang took another deep breath and left the bundle there—he’d be coming back for it later anyway. Bidding farewell to his master and master’s wife, he returned to his courtyard in Yangjiao Alley.

Standing in the courtyard, he looked at this place that had been dilapidated and ruined when he first arrived, but now showed faint signs of life. He let out a long sigh...

’I’d only just settled down, and now I have to leave already.’

’But that’s just how this World is. He was like a piece of driftwood, forced to go wherever the current took him.’

’In the face of greater forces, he couldn’t even control something as simple as where he lived.’

After zoning out for a moment, he went inside and began to pack.

There wasn’t much to pack, really. He just secured all his Darts on his person, followed by the Silver Notes and gold items.

’I don’t know how long it will be before I can return... I should exchange all these Silver Notes for Qi Blood Pills,’ Qin Fang thought.

The Qi Blood Pills were crucial for his training progress, so they were a must-have.

As for the rest... twenty taels of silver for expenses should be more than enough.

Since his departure was set in stone, Qin Fang began to consider his next steps.

After some thought, he let out a soft breath, a new light glinting in his eyes.

’Leaving was forced, yes.’

’But when he really thought about it...’

’...it might actually be a better choice for him now than staying in the county town.’

’If he insisted on staying in True Martial, his identity issue would force him into a confrontation with the Government Office. No matter how overconfident he might be, he knew that a direct clash with the authorities was a one-way ticket to death.’

’By leaving, he could at least avoid a direct conflict.’

’In fact, he’d be freer.’

’For instance, while inside True Martial County, even leaving the county was a hassle. The city gates were guarded by officials who checked your Identity.’

But once he was outside the county seat, the controls weren’t as strict. The area he could operate in would actually become much larger.

’Besides, he’d been racking his brain about how to make money lately.’

’In a relatively stable environment like the county town, the social hierarchy was rigid. Everything had to follow the Rules, and his hands were tied at every turn, making it nearly impossible to earn a fortune.’

’But outside the town...’

’...that was a different story.’

’Wasn’t there a saying? The best ways to make a fortune are all illegal.’

’This World was no different.’

’Just from listening to his master and senior brother’s conversation today, he could tell how chaotic it was out there, with frequent gang conflicts...’

’This was danger.’

’But it was also an opportunity.’

’For Ordinary People, such chaos could be fatal.’

’But the Qin Fang of today... could hardly be considered one of the Ordinary People anymore.’

’Mingjin was still a distant goal... but he had mastered Darts to the level of Great Success!’

’With his current skill in Darts, combined with his physical condition...’

’He might not be able to take on an Anjin master, but if it was just someone at the Mingjin level...’

’...he was quite confident he could deal with them!’

’Darts with the force of a large-caliber handgun—Qin Fang refused to believe a Mingjin Martial Artist could withstand that.’

’So, leaving the relative stability of True Martial for the chaotic markets might just be his big break.’

’After all... it’s easier to fish in troubled waters.’

’As for chaos?’

’...Could it be any more chaotic than his time on the run, living among refugees?’

’Would those gang members also slit your throat while you slept and drink your blood?’

...

After packing, he returned to his master’s house. Qin Fang took the Silver Notes he had, kept twenty taels for himself, and gave the rest to his master.

His master looked at him in confusion. "Master," Qin Fang said, "I’ve run out of Qi Blood Pills. Huichun Hall sells them, right? With my current status, it’s not a good idea for me to go there directly... Could I trouble you to buy some for me?"

Understanding dawned on the master’s face. After a moment’s thought, he took the Silver Notes and headed out the door.

He returned about an hour later and handed Qin Fang a Porcelain Bottle.

Qin Fang opened it and froze...

The bottle was full of Qi Blood Pills...

There were at least thirty of them!

"Master, this..."

"The rest is a gift from me. But this is a year’s supply, so use it according to your progress. Any more... and I wouldn’t be able to afford it," the master said, waving his hand dismissively.

Qin Fang’s heart trembled. He clutched the Qi Blood Pills, and after a long moment, he said respectfully, "Thank you, Master."

"Mm." The master waved his hand.

He ate dinner there as well. Worried that she wouldn’t see Qin Fang again for a long time, the master’s wife had prepared a huge, sumptuous feast.

Qin Fang took it all in, a warm feeling surging through his heart.

As night fell, his senior brother arrived. He saw Qin Fang and got straight to the point. "Are you ready?"

Qin Fang picked up the bundle at his side—the one containing the clothes, shoes, and socks his master’s wife had made for him—and took a deep breath. "Ready."

"Let’s go, then," he said.

Qin Fang nodded. But after taking just two steps, he seemed to remember something and turned back. Looking at the two elders watching from the doorway, he stepped forward, knelt to the ground, and kowtowed three times with a series of heavy thuds.

The master’s expression remained unchanged, but his features softened considerably.

The master’s wife, however, covered her mouth and began to sob.

Only then did Qin Fang rise and follow his senior brother out the door.