Although his intentions were revealed, Chen Xuan wasn't embarrassed but instead chuckled.
"Well, you did call me uncle. Kid, if you trust me, tell uncle what's on your mind. Maybe I can help you."
Chen Xuan looked at him,
his gaze somewhat complicated.
What did this old man mean?
"Help him? So kind?"
He muttered softly in his heart.
Is there really such a kind person in the black market?
But then again, although he didn't know this old man's strength, he had a feeling, it couldn't be weak.
What ill intentions could such a person have towards him?
There really was no need, right?
Besides,
he was just buying a cultivation technique, nothing that needed to be kept secret.
So he shared his purpose for coming to the black market this time, and also mentioned what Chen Jingtian from the Treasure Pavilion said about not being able to buy a good cultivation technique.
"What the kid said wasn't wrong. Even if you buy one in the black market, it's trash. And you, kid, thinking you can buy a technique with so little money, you're really dreaming big!"
However,
facing the old man's mockery, he could only sigh, spreading his hands, feeling helpless, "Uncle, I really don't know. I haven't been to the county town a few times. In the village, there's not even a single martial artist besides me. How much insight do you think I have?"
"Uh... Haha, what you said makes sense!"
The old man was stunned, then continued rowing.
He hadn't considered that point.
For an ordinary villager like him, something like a cultivation technique is only encountered by sheer luck; otherwise, there's hardly any chance in a lifetime to come across one.
Soon,
the boat reached the shore,
after Chen Xuan shouldered the sack and disembarked, he said to the old man, "Uncle, next time I come, I'll bring you some wine. Don't worry, I won't forget."
As for when the next time would be,
he didn't know,
but from their earlier conversation, he felt that this old man was a good person,
and also,
had his own little thoughts.
At this moment,
the old man stroked his beard, his expression a bit unusual.
He had just said it casually,
unexpectedly, the kid remembered it before leaving.
A very interesting kid!
"Let's just try it then!"
He then called out to Chen Xuan, who was about to leave, "Kid, catch this!"
In the blink of an eye,
a blue shadow flew towards him,
and Chen Xuan, quick to react,
swiftly extended his hand and caught it steadily.
Only then did he see clearly.
The "Nine Revolutions Secret Technique"!
This is... a cultivation technique!
In an instant,
Chen Xuan's pupils dilated rapidly,
his breathing became heavy, gazing incredulously at the blue cover of the cultivation technique!
This was the cultivation technique he had longed for!
Suddenly raising his head!
At this moment,
the old man was already some distance away, rowing.
"Uncle... you... this?"
Chen Xuan shouted out.
He really couldn't understand why the cultivation technique was gifted to him.
The two had only met once,
why was that?
Even if he was a good person, this goodness was a bit excessive!
"Consider it a gift for calling me uncle."
The old man's voice slowly reached the shore.
"Also, I give you three months' time to cultivate to the perfect stage and then come find me. Remember, you only have three months..."
The old man's voice grew fainter, and his figure gradually disappeared.
At this moment,
Chen Xuan stood on the shore and bowed respectfully in the direction of his disappearance.
"Rest assured, uncle!"
Sigh...
He then
headed towards home with the sack.
....
Nightfall.
Inside the Chen family's main hall.
The familiar kerosene lamp, its tiny flame flickering.
At this moment,
two women sat on small stools, absentmindedly doing needlework.
Suddenly,
Su Yun cried out, "Ouch!"
Blood appeared on her forefinger.
Su Wanqiu saw this and understood it was a slip due to her worry about Chen Xuan, so she comforted, "It's okay, don't worry."
But it might have been better if she hadn't said that,
for after she did, Su Yun's face showed even more worry, her voice tinged with a sob, "Sister, I've never been hurt doing needlework even when I first started learning. Getting pricked by a needle now, could it be, like the elders say, a bad omen?"
Logically, the county town isn't far, he left early in the morning.
But now it's dark, and he's still not back,
even if he went shopping, it shouldn't take this long.
Moreover,
the whole day, she felt her sister wasn't the same as before, even though she didn't show it outwardly.
However, several times her sister didn't seem to hear her calls.
She was uneasy.
She wasn't stupid,
something must have happened to Brother Xuan, otherwise, her sister wouldn't be like this, and she seemed to know but was keeping it from her.
"Nonsense, what are you talking about? That's just superstition, how can you believe it! Speak without thinking!"
Su Wanqiu suddenly flared up like an angry cat upon hearing this, scolding her. In the past, she might have just laughed it off.
It's superstition, after all,
but her mind was too chaotic today, her temper growing irritable.
She sighed.
Putting down the needlework, she sat next to Su Yun, pulling her into a comforting embrace, "Don't worry, Brother Xuan is a martial artist, he'll be fine. Maybe he got delayed by something, he should be back soon."
"Mm... I know, sister, I won't say silly things. Brother Xuan will definitely come back safely."
Su Yun leaned against her sister, her voice still sobbing but very firm.
"Mm!"
Su Wanqiu patted her hair, nodding.
But her heart was full of worry,
her earlier words were just to comfort Su Yun.
Deep down, she was even more worried.
That was the black market.
Full of danger.
Even for martial artists...
there's always a risk of being targeted by villains.
"I hope... no! There's definitely nothing wrong!"
All worry faded, replaced by determination.
She couldn't imagine something happening to Chen Xuan, it meant the end of the family!
"Knock knock knock..."
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
Both women nearly jumped simultaneously.
Su Yun was about to get up, but was held down by Su Wanqiu, who then cautiously asked, "Who is it?"
"Sister-in-law, open up, it's me, Brother Xuan!"
Upon hearing the familiar voice,
Su Yun immediately broke free from her sister's hand on her shoulder, dashed to the door, moved the table blocking it, and opened the door.
At the moment she saw Chen Xuan,
she threw herself into his arms, sobbing loudly.
Chen Xuan was initially puzzled,
having obtained the technique, unearthed a fortune, and bought so many provisions, his mood was exceptionally good.
But,
seeing the expression on his sister-in-law's face,
he instantly understood that the two women at home had been worried sick about him.
Moreover,
more so than the crying Su Yun in his arms, she might have been worried the moment he left home,
immediately feeling guilt.
"It's okay, it's okay, I'm back, right? It's my fault, my fault. I'll be more careful in the future. I got delayed this time, I'll come back earlier next time, okay?"
Chen Xuan gently patting Su Yun in his arms, comforting her,
while nodding towards Su Wanqiu who stood not far away.
She also nodded slightly, but her eyes were red.