"But it's your first time seeing someone killed. Just let it out. It's normal to react this way when you first see something like this."
Seeing Fang Yue's state, Fang Hu knew at once that this was his first time seeing death, especially a scene this gruesome.
The shock was immense.
This was a normal reaction. Many people acted this way the first time they saw someone killed. In fact, some handled it even worse than Fang Yue.
"Mr. Fang Hu, why do those people kill so casually?"
After a while, Fang Yue slowly recovered. He looked at the headless corpse nearby and asked.
"They're the Official Army, and those men are Bandits. This is how the Official Army has always dealt with them," Fang Hu said with a slight sigh.
Fang Yue's heart shuddered when he heard this.
The experiences of the past few months, along with certain memories, surged through his mind.
'So this world wasn't at all like what I've seen or remembered. Crisis and chaos are the main themes.'
'Just now, for example, if not for Mr. Fang Hu's status as a Martial Artist, we probably would have lost our whole cart of goods.'
'That's why I have to learn martial arts.'
'That's the only way I'll have the power to protect myself when danger comes.'
At this thought, his gaze hardened with resolve.
"Sigh... let's go. Just remember to keep what you saw today to yourself. These people, this business... it has nothing to do with us."
Fang Hu didn't answer Fang Yue's question. Instead, he led the two of them, pulling the ox-cart, past the corpses and on toward the county town.
~~~~~~
About another hour later, Fang Yue and the others paid the entrance fee and entered Xiahe County Town.
This was Fang Yue's first time in one of this world's county towns.
The county town was more prosperous than he had imagined. There were no thatched huts or adobe walls, only courtyards of grey brick and tile.
The roads were paved with large flagstones, and the streets were lined with hawkers crying out their wares.
They sold a dazzling array of goods: candied haws, dough figurines, sugar sculptures, and more.
"Dad, I want some candied haws and a sugar sculpture."
Fang Ergou pointed at a street vendor selling the treats and tugged on Fang Hu's sleeve.
"You're too old for that! Why would you eat candied haws and sugar sculptures?" Fang Hu snorted. Ergou immediately deflated, his head drooping.
"Go buy some sesame seed cakes. Make sure you get them from Zhou's. Theirs are the crispiest, richest, and most fragrant in all of Xiahe County Town."
Fang Hu took out ten copper coins and stuffed them into Fang Ergou's hand.
Fang Ergou took the coins and, grinning, trotted over to a nearby shop. He returned a moment later with an oil-paper package.
"Zhi, try this." Fang Ergou took out a still-steaming sesame seed cake from the package.
"Thanks."
Fang Yue took it and had a bite. It was just as described—crispy, fragrant, and delicious.
~~~~~~
By the time they sold the furs and animal bones from the cart and purchased the necessary medicinal herbs, it was already afternoon.
Since things had gone smoothly, they finished their business well before dark.
Afterward, Fang Hu led Fang Ergou and Fang Yue to a mansion in the western part of town.
It was an old-looking residence, with walls nearly ten feet high that made it stand out from the surrounding courtyards.
As they approached, Fang Yue could hear faint shouts and yells coming from within the courtyard.
Flanking the black-lacquered gate were two stone sculptures of fierce tigers. The one on the left depicted a Hungry Tiger Descending the Mountain, while the one on the right showed a tiger's roar shaking the land.
Above the black gate, two powerful words were written. Coincidentally, Fang Yue recognized them: Zhang Mansion.
"Ergou, knock on the door."
At Fang Hu's command,
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK. A series of knocks rang out.
A moment later, the shouting from within the courtyard faded, and the black-lacquered gate swung open.
A strong, middle-aged man in martial arts attire stepped out.
Upon seeing Fang Hu, he immediately greeted him with enthusiasm:
"Haha, I was wondering why a magpie was chirping under the eaves today! So it was you, Junior Brother Fang. Quick, come in."
"Zhang, I'll have to impose on you again," Fang Hu said with a chuckle.
This middle-aged man was none other than Fang Hu's senior brother, Zhang Baiyang. The two of them had been closest back when they were studying White Tiger Fist.
Unlike Zhang, Fang Hu had come from a better-off family, while Zhang Baiyang was from a common farming household. They had joined the White Tiger Fist school one after the other.
Zhang Baiyang and Fang Hu were equal in Talent, and their progress on the Martial Dao was always neck and neck, each one pushing the other.
Later, they took the Military Examination together. Zhang Baiyang barely scraped by and passed, obtaining an official post. He slowly built up his assets in Xiahe County Town.
Fang Hu, however, failed. He tried several more times, but his results only worsened. His family fortune was gradually exhausted, and eventually, he had no choice but to move back to his hometown, Da Liushu Village.
But even though their statuses had diverged, the bond between them had actually grown stronger.
They had kept in close contact over the years.
"You're here early this time, Junior Brother Fang. Is something wrong? If you need my help, just say the word. Don't be a stranger," Zhang Baiyang said with a hearty laugh.
Fang Hu replied, "Nothing's wrong. I just haven't seen Master in a while, so I came to pay my respects. It's also a chance for Master to meet this unworthy apprentice of mine."
He then introduced Fang Yue, who was standing beside him.
"Fang Yue, what are you waiting for? Greet him. This is Mr. Zhang."
The reason he didn't have Fang Yue address him as Master Zhang, like Ergou did, was because Fang Yue had not yet been formally accepted as his disciple.
"Greetings, Mr. Zhang!" Fang Yue said, giving a respectful bow befitting a junior greeting an elder.
"Haha, so Junior Brother Fang is finally taking a disciple! To have caught your eye, he must be a rare talent. Since this is his first visit, I wasn't prepared. Here, take some silver coins as a welcoming gift."
Zhang Baiyang laughed, grabbed a handful from his money pouch, and handed it to Fang Yue.
Since it was their first meeting, Zhang Baiyang was only treating Fang Yue so well out of respect for Fang Hu.
Therefore, Fang Yue didn't dare to accept the gift and looked to Fang Hu for guidance.
"Haha, Mr. Zhang gave them to you, so go on and take them."
"Thank you, Mr. Zhang."
With Fang Hu's permission, Fang Yue accepted the silver coins and bowed to Zhang Baiyang once more.
"Alright, Junior Brother Fang, it's good you're here. There's something I'd like to discuss with you. Come, let's go to the inner hall."
"Don't worry, it's not Ergou's first time here. We'll let the young ones hang out together..."
As Zhang Baiyang spoke, he pulled Fang Hu through the main hall and into the inner hall.
After they left, a small door next to the courtyard that led to the backyard opened.
A dashing young woman walked in. She wore light-cyan martial arts attire and had her hair tied up in a masculine style.
"Heh, I was wondering who it was. So it's you again, my defeated opponent, come to freeload off my family!"