Chapter 14: Evaluation

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Gao Runshan had never met Chen Tiansheng before. On the way here, he heard some commotion in the inn, and his rich experience told him that the young servant before him was indeed Chen Tiansheng. That was why he did not oppose Chen coming forward to serve. As for inquiring about Fang Chenghu, it was naturally for Fang Chenghu’s sake.

“What are you standing there for? The steward is asking you a question—why aren’t you answering quickly?” Li Dongshan urged Chen Tiansheng impatiently.

Chen Tiansheng had not expected Gao Runshan to ask him about Fang Chenghu, but he was already prepared on how to handle it. After all, many people had seen him being taken away by Fang Chenghu that day. He deliberately feigned surprise and only answered when Li Dongshan pressed him: “Replying to the steward, since that day Fang Chenghu led me away from Zhang Chengnan’s residence, he went to an unknown place. Yesterday, he suddenly had something to attend to and sent me back to Lower Second Village. Where he went exactly now, I truly do not know.”

Gao Runshan watched him speak throughout. With his years of experience in reading people and knowledge of deception and tricks, he did not believe that a mere low-level servant with less than three years’ experience in the streets could fool him.

When Chen Tiansheng finished speaking, Gao Runshan believed what he said was true, then asked, “Where exactly is that unknown place? What features does the surrounding environment have?”

Chen Tiansheng thought carefully before apologetically replying, “I’m sorry. Master Fang specifically instructed that the martial world is dangerous, and no one must discover his whereabouts. I swore an oath to him, so I cannot tell you this. I beg your forgiveness.”

Upon hearing this, Li Dongshan kicked him and scolded, “It’s an honor that the steward is asking you questions! Don’t forget you belong to the Common Path Society. Why are you turning your elbow outward? You ignorant fool!”

“Enough!” Seeing Li Dongshan about to slap Chen Tiansheng’s face, Gao Runshan frowned and sharply reprimanded him. Li Dongshan quickly lowered his hand and smiled apologetically.

Gao Runshan trusted his judgment and told Chen Tiansheng, “Since you have sworn an oath, I won’t ask further. But if Fang Chenghu comes looking for you again, I hope you will notify me.”

Chen Tiansheng bowed and nodded, “Yes.”

“Go downstairs.”

Gao Runshan waved his hand, then coldly looked at Li Dongshan, “You too.”

Chen Tiansheng and Gao Runshan left the private room.

Inside the private room.

Gao Runshan’s stern expression softened as he spoke to the man in the green robe opposite him, “Young Master, it seems Fang Chenghu knows we came for him and has already left Qingzhou Prefecture. To chase him down, we’ll probably have to wait until he reappears. Otherwise, we could post a martial world bounty so he has nowhere to hide!”

The man in the green robe pondered for a moment before suddenly asking, “Do you think that young servant spoke the truth just now?”

Gao Runshan hesitated briefly, then said, “Though I am not a practitioner of deception or illusion arts, I firmly believe that young servant spoke honestly.”

The man in green said, “I don’t see signs of deception either, but it’s strange—Fang Chenghu is a ruthless killer; it’s surprising he let him go.”

Since entering the inn, he had been discreetly observing Chen Tiansheng. Having experience with the Eight Gates techniques, he detected no signs of magical deception from the young servant. Yet, for some reason, he felt this young servant was not simple.

After a moment’s thought, the man in green issued a command, “Hold off on posting the bounty for now. Don’t provoke Fang Chenghu into desperate measures. Once we find his trail, we’ll send martial envoys to capture him.”

...

Gao Runshan and the man in green did not stay long at the inn. Half an hour later, they left.

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Before leaving, Gao Runshan instructed Li Dongshan regarding the upcoming Common Path Society examination. Li Dongshan had two notices written—one posted at the inn’s entrance, the other in the main hall.

The Five Lakes and Four Seas Inn was a gathering place for martial travelers, an excellent spot for publicity. If outsiders could pass the local exam, it would bring prestige to the Common Path Society branch here.

Midnight.

After cleaning the inn, Chen Tiansheng glanced at the notice on the wall, then returned to his dormitory.

It was a single-occupancy room.

Each month, the servant with the best guest evaluations earned a single room.

In the past, besides the single room, there was an additional monetary reward. Since Chen Tiansheng became the monthly top servant, Li Dongshan found him easy to bully and removed the cash reward, only providing the single room.

The room was less than five square meters, furnished with a bed and a cabinet, leaving no extra space.

For Chen Tiansheng, it was enough.

As long as no one disturbed him!

Closing the door behind him, he recalled Gao Runshan and the man in green.

Although Gao Runshan hid it well, Chen saw cracks. The man in green was definitely no ordinary figure—likely a high-ranking member of the Common Path Society.

They came for Fang Chenghu. Whatever their purpose, Chen realized he must sever ties with Fang Chenghu.

Collecting his thoughts, he took out several large bags of poison from under the bed and began boiling them in a pot.

These medicines were not for drinking but to improve his proficiency in the Street Arts technique "Poison through Medicine"!

Each poisonous herb boiled granted one point of proficiency. These bags contained over thirty common herbs, enabling him to gain more than thirty proficiency points once finished.

He had spent a lot to buy these poisons.

If money were no object, he would have purchased hundreds of herbs at once to boost proficiency greatly.

Of course, boiling multiple batches would achieve the same effect, but conditions did not allow it now.

While boiling the medicine, he made strange faces and muttered nonsense to himself. Holding a chicken bone in his left hand, he stroked it continuously. His other hand grabbed a stone from the bed and pounded it hard against his chest repeatedly, then placed it back, grabbing again. His feet were wrapped in cords, which he struggled to break free from, only to bind again, cycling continuously.

These odd actions were all to improve his proficiency in various street arts.

Making faces was “A Thousand Faces”; muttering nonsense was “Endless Lies”; touching the chicken bone was “Bone Reading and Fate Divination”; grabbing stones was “Empty Handed Cloud”; pounding the chest with stones was “Chest Stone Beating”; wrapping and breaking cords was “Lock Picking and Barrier Breaking.”

Each point of proficiency required performing the action one hundred times!

He had already done each of these techniques at least one million times!

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And now, he needed to perform each ten million times more!

Of course, improving proficiency wasn’t limited to these methods—any related activity worked. For example, “Empty Handed Cloud” could be practiced by any act involving theft.

These behaviors were Chen Tiansheng’s own devised, simple methods he could combine while alone.

At first, it was difficult, but over time he became proficient.

Thanks to this training, he had developed a strong body. Though he looked as thin as a bamboo pole, beneath his clothes was lean muscle!

Among the six street arts, “Endless Lies” and “A Thousand Faces” were the hardest. The others could be trained through muscle memory, but speaking and changing expressions needed mental effort. Plus, he was already exhausted from serving in the inn, so these two were the last he had taken up.

As for “House Mastery,” the yin energy was elusive and subtle, difficult to grasp. Previously, he could only gain proficiency by staying close to women. Within ten meters, one woman could only provide one to three points per day. So in his spare time, he washed clothes for the women in the red-light district to be near more of them.

Now, with the "Soul Devouring Yin Technique," he could absorb yin energy directly, gaining proficiency much faster.

Yesterday, he had studied the technique several times and roughly understood the precautions. He could begin practice soon.

But not now.

This was an inn, a place frequented by martial travelers. If he practiced yin techniques here and was discovered, who knew what trouble would arise?

Therefore, he decided to first take the Common Path Society’s “Disciple” exam. After shedding his lowly servant status, he would rent or buy a secluded residence outside to practice, avoiding suspicion.

The exam registration had just opened!

With his skills, becoming a disciple would be easy. The real challenge was deciding which school to join!

Early the next morning.

Chen Tiansheng asked Li Dongshan for a leave of absence, citing the reason that he was going to take the Disciple exam.

Li Dongshan thought he misheard and asked twice before realizing Chen was serious.

Then, Li Dongshan approached the counter and loudly announced to all the diners:

“Our little servant is going to take the Disciple exam!”

Everyone turned to look at Chen Tiansheng and burst into laughter!