Chapter Three: Procuring Arms and Secretly Plotting Rebellion
After settling the women in the small courtyard, Chen Xuan stepped out to buy clothes suitable for them and took the opportunity to sell off all the family’s assets, converting everything into silver to carry with him.
Most pawnshops in the capital were owned by the Chen family, and the shopkeepers almost all knew Chen Xuan.
Upon hearing about Chen Xuan’s exchange of his house for seven convicted women, they said little, only sighing softly before quickly converting his assets at market value.
Besides handing over three Chen family mansions and a commercial shop, Chen Xuan still had two remote courtyards and a collection of gold and silver jewelry left by his parents who had gone to war.
Altogether, he sold them for six thousand taels of silver.
For convenience, Chen Xuan converted all the silver into small gold pieces at a rate of ten taels of silver for one tael of gold, ending up with six hundred taels of gold.
The weight of the gold in his hands gave him a fleeting feeling of sudden wealth.
However, Chen Xuan knew well that this money would soon be spent.
The borderlands of the Great Qian Dynasty were unlike other war-torn nations where civilians suffered endlessly. Here, it was difficult to live a stable life, let alone raise a family.
Moreover, Chen Tian would undoubtedly send men to ambush him along the way, perhaps even revealing Li Xiuning’s identity and location to the Tang Emperor.
This journey was bound to be fraught with danger.
Chen Xuan glanced toward a blacksmith’s shop down the street and, after some thought, quickened his pace toward it.
...
Inside the smithy, he scanned the iron racks.
He found only ordinary iron knives, swords, and spears—nothing particularly remarkable. Such weapons would barely suffice for self-defense.
The Great Qian Dynasty was a nation founded on martial prowess, where martial cultivation flourished and weapons were not prohibited.
Chen Xuan’s body was blocked in its meridians, making martial arts practice impossible; he could only select weapons for protection.
“Boss, do you have weapons forged from refined iron?” Chen Xuan asked, looking toward the middle-aged man hammering iron in the back.
The man looked up with a “huh,” hesitating. “Our Great Qian doesn’t forbid weapons, but refined iron is strictly controlled, especially weapons made from it that could seriously harm martial artists. What do you want them for, young man?”
Chen Xuan produced his family badge. “I’m Chen Xuan of the Chen family. I want to buy several weapons made from refined iron for self-defense. Money is no object.”
The three great families had the privilege to circumvent certain rules, a tacit acknowledgment by the emperor. Chen Xuan showed the badge to dispel the man’s doubts.
The smith’s face grew more puzzled as he glanced at the badge. “You’re the Chen family’s illegitimate son exiled to the borderlands? The young master who lost everything trading his entire fortune for seven convicted women?”
Chen Xuan’s pupils contracted sharply.
How had this trivial matter of his spread here already?
The smith seemed to read his thoughts, scratching his head. “Haha, Chen Young Master, don’t blame me for talking too much. Ever since this morning, people have been spreading the story everywhere. Now the whole capital knows.”
Lowering his voice and glancing cautiously around, the smith continued, “Young Master Chen, I heard that a few months ago, Princess Pingyang of the Tang Dynasty, Li Xiuning, and An Ruoxue, the senior sister of the Snow Sword Sect, were among those convicted women? Is that true?”
...
Chen Xuan’s expression darkened.
The situation had developed far beyond his expectations.
He hadn’t anticipated Chen Tian would so quickly spread this news everywhere, trying to force him to hand over someone.
Such impatience was thoughtless.
He mentally resolved to finish his purchases and leave the city quickly. If Tang spies confirmed this news, it would spell serious trouble.
His rapport with Li Xiuning had not yet improved.
If caught, even with his fifth-rank martial cultivation, he would not escape beheading.
Of course, if he could raise their favor, becoming the father-in-law to the Tang Emperor himself and with Li Xiuning’s protection, his adversaries would not dare speak against him.
“Are you going to sell the weapons or not?” Chen Xuan took a piece of broken gold from his pocket and slammed it on the table.
The smith’s eyes widened, nodding hastily. “Yes! Yes!”
...
He spent a total of two taels of gold to buy fifteen steel knives forged from refined iron.
He then paid ten taels for the prized possession of the smithy—a long spear forged from meteorite iron.
At first, the owner was reluctant.
But when Chen Xuan produced ten gleaming taels of gold, the man’s attitude changed instantly, as if he had seen his own father, and he agreed at once.
Through some indirect questioning, Chen Xuan learned that the smith privately kept a batch of crossbows reserved for several great families.
Crossbows were excellent weapons.
While the Great Qian Dynasty did not prohibit bladed weapons, private crossbow trade was strictly forbidden!
Below the martial artist rank, crossbows reigned supreme. One arrow piercing two targets was no exaggeration.
After much negotiation, Chen Xuan spent eight taels of gold to purchase two crossbows.
Fifteen steel knives, a meteorite iron spear, and two crossbows—twenty taels of gold in total—was a bargain for Chen Xuan’s current situation.
He instructed the smith to deliver all the weapons to the remote courtyard.
Only then did Chen Xuan begin purchasing other necessities.
...
After buying daily supplies, Chen Xuan’s gaze drifted to a majestic, towering gateway not far away.
The golden plaque above the gate bore four upright characters: Chang’an Escort Agency.
The road to the border was fraught with peril.
With ample funds on hand, hiring an escort agency was a wise choice.
With this in mind, Chen Xuan strode toward the Chang’an Escort Agency.
Before entering, he was stopped by a spirited young woman wielding a red-tasselled spear.
“This is the Chang’an Escort Agency’s restricted area. No unauthorized persons allowed!” she declared.
“I’m here to hire an escort,” Chen Xuan said calmly.
The girl wore a sleek red outfit with a brown leather belt around her waist. Her delicate, youthful face created an odd contrast with her fierce demeanor.
She looked like a snarling little kitten.
Especially prominent were the two firm, rounded mounds on her chest—astonishingly large.
[Beep!]
[Detected potential affinity target—Yang Ying’er]
[Yang Ying’er: Affinity 0]
Chen Xuan was taken aback. The system could still detect potential affinity targets. It seemed the targets changed with chance encounters.
He considered this a blessing, preventing all hopes from hanging on a single person.
Yang Ying’er blushed deeply as Chen Xuan’s gaze lingered on her chest, then swung her spear at him in embarrassment and anger.
“Pervert!”
[Yang Ying’er: Affinity -1]
“Misunderstanding, I just...” Chen Xuan dodged to the side, realizing the girl was also a martial artist.
Her rank was unknown, but judging by her youth, it was unlikely very high.
He took two steps back and started to explain, but Yang Ying’er quickened her pace, closing in with three steps in two, shouting, “Scoundrel, don’t run!”
Chen Xuan’s heart sank. He decisively countered, lunging forward to grab the spear shaft.
In their struggle, he slipped and accidentally knocked her down.
Their lips met—sweet and fragrant.
Chen Xuan was momentarily stunned.
Yang Ying’er quickly got up, eyes reddened, wiping her lips with a mixture of anger and embarrassment, almost on the verge of tears.
“You—you actually dared to kiss me!?”
She picked up her spear, radiating the terrifying aura unique to martial artists, ready to strike again.