Starting as a dockworker

Chapter 13 Guiyuan Martial Arts School, Staying Once Again!

The next morning, as dawn was breaking.

"Sir, something really strange has happened. Another one of the warehouse guards who were on night watch has disappeared."

Manager Zhang inquired about the news from the rice warehouse and rushed to the main house to knock on the door.

The door remained closed; he was simply passing messages from outside through the door.

This was something Huang Shoucai specifically instructed him to do.

"Understood... You may leave."

The door was tightly closed, and Huang Shoucai's haggard voice could be heard from inside.

Outside the door, Manager Zhang bowed and left.

In fact, he knew that there was something dirty in the Huang family, and even had a vague feeling that it was related to the master.

But as a servant, one cannot inquire about things indiscriminately.

"That's enough, ten people are enough..."

Upon hearing this news, Huang Shoucai went to the altar, took out three incense sticks, and lit them with red candles.

Bow three times toward the incense burner and insert three incense sticks into the burner with your left hand.

He clasped his hands together and chanted, "God of the Granary, you have protected my Huang family for twenty years. The Huang family no longer needs your protection. Please return to the mountain to enjoy your blessings..."

Suddenly, the incense on the incense burner burst into flames and burned down to more than half in the blink of an eye.

"The God of War has given instructions..."

Huang Shoucai was overjoyed and hurriedly took out the white paper he had prepared beforehand.

Place the paper next to the three incense sticks to catch the falling ash.

In the blink of an eye, the three sticks of incense, each about the thickness of a little finger, burned out completely, and the ash fell onto the white paper.

Huang Shoucai placed the white paper flat on the table, took a deep breath, and blew hard.

The pile of incense ash was blown away, and the white paper was not entirely empty.

Some of the incense ash remained on the white paper, forming distorted characters...

After reading the words above, Huang Shoucai turned pale and took three steps back.

He already looked unwell, and now he seems to have aged several years; a gust of wind could blow him over.

The contents of the paper roughly stated that he should prepare ten women as human sacrifices.

Last time, Cang Shen gave the order that it would be the last time.

But it doesn't keep its promises at all, and it never stops.

If things continue like this, the Huang family will be wiped out sooner or later.

It really proves that old saying true...

Inviting a god is easy, but sending him away is difficult!

"Since you are ruthless, don't blame me for being unjust!"

Huang Shouchai felt a surge of anger and thought viciously, "I already know you're not some kind of granary god at all, just a mountain rat spirit. Kill you, and everything will be over..."

With murderous intent already formed, he decided to kill the rat spirit that had guarded the Huang family for twenty years.

But Huang Shoucai was a businessman after all, and very clever, so he didn't reveal it at all.

He bowed respectfully to the altar without showing any outward emotion.

"Lord Cangshen, Shoucai understands, he will go and prepare immediately..."

........

Lunch at the rice granary shade.

"The work is finally finished..."

Seven laborers sat around a table to eat, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Four days ago, this table was crowded when they ate, and Li Xiao could only stand and wait for the food.

Four days passed in the blink of an eye, and only seven of the ten people remained.

With three fewer people, it's naturally less crowded.

Life is truly unpredictable.

Who could have imagined that someone so familiar would disappear from this world in the blink of an eye?

After finishing their work in the morning, they told Manager Zhang that they wanted to leave.

The Huang family rice shop is considered to be trustworthy.

Everyone received a silver note, totaling one hundred silver dollars, and were told they could leave once the work was finished.

However, Manager Zhang said that since it was already noon, they should eat before leaving.

After thinking about it, everyone decided that a little more time wouldn't make a difference, so they finished their meal....

Once they left Huang's Rice Shop, they wouldn't be willing to eat like this outside.

A table of such good food at a restaurant would cost at least two dollars.

After the meal, everyone left Huang's Rice Shop without any trouble or obstruction.

To be precise, there was no one there; the usual staff and guards were not there.

As I walked to the main gate, I saw Manager Huang, the same man I had met for the first time, dressed in a suit.

"Gentlemen, please wait."

Clearly, Manager Huang had come to wait for him on purpose, and he walked over with a smile.

Old Gang asked, "What's wrong? Can't we leave?"

Manager Huang chuckled, "Of course not. You are welcome to leave anytime. However, there's a lucrative opportunity here, so please proceed..."

As he spoke, Manager Huang led the group along the main street for quite a distance before finally stopping at a certain spot.

He continued, "I'm sure everyone has noticed something strange about my Huang's Rice Shop these past few days."

My employer has already hired a team of people to work together to capture the evil spirit tonight.

If any of you are willing to contribute... one hundred silver dollars each...

He pulled out a stack of silver notes from his person and said with a smile, "Besides, I'm short-staffed. After we eliminate that evil spirit, you'll be given priority when the boss hires more workers..."

hiss!

Everyone present gasped.

One hundred silver dollars, that's really eye-catching!

If it works out, there will be a chance to become a shop assistant at Huang's Rice Shop.

This is much better than working at the docks!

Several people were immediately interested and decided to take on the task.

However, Lao Gang immediately gave everyone a look, signaling them to be quiet.

He then looked at Li Xiao, indicating that Li Xiao should make the decision.

Lao Gang always felt that Li Xiao was lucky and that he was the best person to make the decisions.

Li Xiao understood the implication and asked, "May I ask, Manager Huang, which factions are involved?"

He has already earned 100 dollars, so it would be best for him to stop now.

But who wouldn't be envious if there's money to be made?

If I could get another hundred dollars, the tuition for the martial arts school would be covered!

Moreover, Li Xiao had personally experienced these past few days. Although the evil spirits of the Huang family were strange, their strength was definitely not strong. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to harm only one person each time, while the others could escape unscathed.

Seeing their interest, Manager Huang said, "We have the local militia from my Wuling County trading company. Commander Zhang will lead ten men with ten spears, three martial arts instructors from Guiyuan Martial Arts School, and thirty of our own staff and guards..."

In the final years of the previous dynasty, the court was basically out of control, and the situation was extremely chaotic.

Therefore, merchants from various regions banded together for mutual support, forming trading companies, establishing local militias, and equipping themselves with armed forces.

Although the previous dynasty has fallen, these local militia organizations have been preserved, though their costs have been reduced due to their high cost.

Liu Kai asked excitedly, "Are there any martial arts instructors from Guiyuan Martial Arts School, like Zhao Liqun?"

Manager Huang smiled and said, "You know Zhao Liqun? Yes, he's inside."

Upon hearing this, Liu Kai hurriedly looked at Li Xiao and whispered, "A-Si, it's possible. Zhao Liqun is the third senior brother of Guiyuan Martial Arts School. I personally witnessed him break a rock with one palm. He's incredibly powerful! It's a pity that their school's tuition is too expensive, which is why I didn't go..."

Old Gang next to him whispered, "Ah Si, ten spears, dozens of men, and a skilled martial artist. Seven more of us won't make a difference. It's a fool not to make this money..."

As for the others, they were also quite tempted.

Even if Li Xiao doesn't go, they definitely will.

Li Xiao nodded in agreement: "Okay, let's go!"

This suggests that the Huang family likely didn't want more people to know that their home had been haunted by evil spirits.

Otherwise, why bother inviting these people who know the inside story?

This kind of good deal is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity...

And even if something happens, you can just run away.

Having equipped himself with the [Ragged Shoes] for the past two days, Li Xiao clearly felt that his leg strength had increased, and he could run incredibly fast!

You don't need to run faster than the evil spirits, just faster than everyone else.

"Alright, everyone, please get on the carriage..."

Therefore, Manager Huang had Li Xiao and his six companions taken elsewhere to discuss their actions for the evening.

After all, the evil spirits were in the rice shop, and if their plans were overheard while they were discussing something in the rice shop, the whole thing would fall apart.

About an hour later, the group arrived at a huge, empty warehouse.

The warehouse wasn't filled with goods; instead, it resembled a drill ground with targets.

The rice shop's employees and thirty guards sat waiting beside the drill ground, led by Manager Zhang.

When Manager Zhang saw Li Xiao and the others arrive, he went over to greet them and told them to find a place to sit.

Once everyone was gathered, they discussed how to deal with the evil spirits that night.

Bang bang bang!!

Gunshots echoed continuously from the warehouse.

On the firing range, there were ten soldiers wearing white uniforms made by the merchant group.

The captain was probably the burly, bearded man at the very front, leading his men in target practice...

Two of the three groups have arrived; only the martial arts instructors from Guiyuan Martial Arts School are missing.

Everyone had been waiting here for a long time, and even the burly man with the thick beard was getting impatient.

After waiting for a long time, no one showed up.

As the bearded man removed his sweat-soaked uniform, he cursed:

"Damn it, those few lousy boxers, acting all high and mighty, making me wait!"

"In my opinion, there's absolutely no need for those few people."

"What evil spirits? I fired a few shots, and they're all riddled with holes!"

Before he could finish speaking, four figures appeared at the door.

Speak of the devil, and he appears!

One of them was Manager Huang, who had obviously gone to invite the person himself.

The remaining three were all dressed in black short-sleeved shirts, clearly skilled martial artists, and were naturally martial arts instructors from Guiyuan Martial Arts School.

The person in the lead was Zhao Liqun, the second senior brother of the martial arts school.

Zhao Liqun was in his early thirties, with a tall and straight figure, sharp eyes, and slightly bulging temples.

He walked steadily on the concrete, his footsteps barely audible.

"You think you can defeat evil spirits with just a few green onions?"

As luck would have it, Zhao Liqun overheard the insults and responded with disdain.

"Who do you think you are?! You think I won't kill you?!"

Enraged, the bearded man immediately picked up his gun and aimed it at Zhao Liqun.

However, Zhao Liqun remained calm and composed, continuing to walk forward at a leisurely pace.

Who would have thought that the people they gathered would clash before they even discussed any plans...?

As for Li Xiao, his eyes lit up instantly.

What a show...

Let's see if guns are faster or martial arts masters are faster in this world!