Chapter 13: Shocking! Dumbfounded!
Buzz!
A red light appeared!
The same scene unfolded once more before Chen Jie’s eyes.
Chen Jie stepped into the glowing portal, feeling a sudden dizziness and disorientation.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself back in the dilapidated house he had left last time.
He glanced up at the sky; it was nighttime.
He had no idea how much time had passed, or if his guess was correct—that time here ran ten times faster than in his world.
Chen Jie squeezed the silver coin in his pocket, feeling somewhat reassured.
He headed toward the large house that served as the West Gate Carriage Service headquarters.
In truth, rather than calling it the West Gate Carriage Service headquarters, it was more the residence of the “Ghost Foot Seven” siblings and Aunt Thirteen.
Chen Jie gently pushed the large door and found it unlocked.
He couldn’t help but note how incredibly simple and modest the grand house of the West Gate Carriage Service was.
Peering inside, he saw Ghost Foot Seven and Liu Bamei training in martial arts.
Although it was late, a full moon shone brightly overhead, illuminating the surroundings clearly.
Thud, thud, thud—!
A heavy sound echoed repeatedly.
By the wall in the courtyard, Liu Qi stood shirtless, vigorously practicing his kicks against a wooden post.
The post was soaked in tung oil, making it as hard as iron. Its surface was wrapped in cotton padding to serve as a cushion.
Under Liu Qi’s powerful kicks, the post emitted a deep, resonant thud that sent chills down one’s spine.
His explosive force was overwhelming.
Side kicks, front kicks, splits, sweeps, and stomps—!
The movements appeared simple, without any flashy flourishes.
Yet every kick carried immense power and weight, fierce and domineering.
Though the techniques were straightforward and brutal, when linked together, they formed the “Nine-Turn Linked Mandarin Duck Kicks,” a relentless barrage that was impossible to defend against.
For someone so young to earn the title “Ghost Foot Seven,” his talent in leg techniques was evidently extraordinary.
In another corner of the courtyard, Aunt Thirteen was instructing Liu Bamei in her training.
She wore a patched coarse cloth martial outfit.
Her waist was cinched tight, her legs long and graceful, and her upper body exuded poise—her figure was near perfect.
Truly befitting a martial artist of the Bronze Skin Realm with mastery over refined energy; her aura was indescribably imposing.
Under the moonlight, Chen Jie watched Aunt Thirteen’s focused expression as she trained, utterly captivated.
Meanwhile, Liu Bamei was practicing footwork with remarkable speed.
Though petite and delicate in appearance, each step she took left no trace.
As the three trained diligently, Chen Jie pushed open the door and entered.
Immediately,
They all stopped and turned to look at Chen Jie.
Upon seeing Chen Jie, Liu Bamei’s eyes flashed fiercely. She stamped her foot and charged forward several steps.
Whoosh!
Swiftly reaching Chen Jie, she grabbed the collar of his shirt with her clawed hand and hissed,
“You actually came back? You said you’d go home to get the money—I waited for you all day, do you know that?”
“Where’s the money? If you dare trick me, Liu Bamei, do you believe I’ll crush you with a kick?”
Chen Jie was momentarily stunned but replied calmly, “Let go. Didn’t I come back? How long have you been waiting for me?”
He patted Liu Bamei’s claw and pulled out a silver coin from his clothes.
Seeing the silver coin, Liu Bamei released him and snatched the coin, examining it carefully.
“It’s a real silver coin? It really is? I thought you tricked me last night!”
“Do you know, I waited the entire day since this morning, thinking you’d run off and never return.”
“I was so anxious—!”
She blew on the coin, which emitted a continuous buzzing sound.
A genuine silver coin!
Martial artists had an acute sensitivity to detail; by blowing on the coin and listening to its vibrations, they could clearly determine its purity.
Chen Jie smiled and took out nine more silver coins, handing them all to Liu Bamei.
Ten silver coins in total!
At that moment, Liu Bamei blew on each coin repeatedly.
Listening to the pleasant buzzing, her heart finally eased.
“Chen Gongzi, actually, I lied to you!”
“In the best martial arts schools in the capital, even a year’s tuition is only one silver coin, and three years would be just three silver coins!”
“I charged you two silver coins a year just to bluff; Aunt Thirteen found out and scolded me!”
“Take back the extra silver coins!”
Liu Bamei clutched the ten silver coins, reluctant and deeply conflicted inside.
But in the end, she gritted her teeth and returned seven silver coins to Chen Jie.
Chen Jie saw her expression and couldn’t help but laugh.
He didn’t take the returned coins, smiling as he said, “Keep them. Since you say a year’s tuition is one silver coin, I’ll pay for ten years at once. Is that alright?”
Liu Bamei was stunned by his words.
Ten years’ tuition paid at once!?
She had already thought demanding three years’ tuition upfront was a steep ask.
But Chen Jie’s offer of ten years in one go left her speechless.
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she soon smiled brightly and said, “No problem, no problem, of course it’s no problem!”
“Chen Gongzi, you just came back from home and must be thirsty. Let me make you some tea!”
Chen Jie shook his head with a smile. “I’m not thirsty! You told me yesterday that the entire West Gate Carriage Service’s total assets are only ten silver coins. Now I’m giving you ten more—that’s like buying shares in the business!”
With that, Chen Jie handed her another ten silver coins.
Twenty silver coins in total, shining so brightly in the moonlight they nearly blinded Liu Bamei.
A wealthy young master!
This was truly a top-tier affluent heir.
At this moment,
Liu Bamei felt her head buzz and was so excited she nearly lost her words.
It was the first time she had seen so much money.
Twenty silver coins!
She examined each one carefully, blowing on them and listening to the soothing buzz, thinking she must be dreaming.
“They’re all real—haha—they’re all real! So many silver coins, oh my—wealthy at last! No more worries about money!”
Only those who have experienced poverty could truly understand the value of money!
Chen Jie then took out another ten silver coins and handed them to the equally stunned Liu Qi, smiling as he said,
“These ten silver coins are for you. Tomorrow, find a bigger house. This place is too run-down—I’m worried it will leak when it rains.”
He had already learned from before that housing prices here were ridiculously cheap.
It could be said they were dirt cheap.
A large mansion could be bought for no more than ten silver coins.
Not rented—bought outright!
Chen Jie genuinely wanted a stable place to settle in this otherworld.
Liu Qi and Liu Bamei, holding the silver coins, were utterly amazed!
Silence fell around them, as still as a pin dropping—!