Martial Arts: I Have a Wilderness World

Chapter 580: Chapter 304: Butcher Zhang

"Hahahahaha..."

Leaving the Commerce Association, Butcher Zhang was so overcome with excitement he could hardly contain himself. His face beaming with joy, he planted a kiss on his son’s cheek.

His son looked disgusted, but he paid it no mind, laughing boisterously as his heart swelled with emotion, "That’s my boy! A Spirit Root means you can cultivate! A Single Spirit Root is great! The storyteller said a Single Spirit Root means fast Cultivation and doesn’t consume many resources. Sure, it’s not as well-rounded as the Five Spirit Roots, and it’ll have more weaknesses later on, making it easy to counter. But who cares! As long as you can cultivate and you’re fast, that’s all that matters. The Five Spirit Roots are for rich people to cultivate."

Zhang Qijing, full of doubt, asked, "Dad, the storyteller said that Cultivators spend Spirit Stones. Cultivation Techniques have to be bought, and Magic Techniques can be rented, but we don’t have any Spirit Stones. The storyteller also said Spirit Stones are very valuable. One Spirit Crystal costs ten taels of silver, and one Spirit Stone costs a hundred taels of gold! And you might not even be able to exchange for them."

At these words, Butcher Zhang’s laughter died in his throat. His initial excitement instantly turned to deep worry.

’He’s right. To be a Cultivator, you need Spirit Stones for everything. Buying Cultivation Techniques, Magic Techniques, Elixirs... none of it is possible without Spirit Stones.’

’Where could he earn enough money to support his son’s Cultivation?’

But then he remembered the storyteller saying he could borrow Spirit Stones from Cheng’s Bank. His next thought, however, was that he’d have to be able to repay the loan, or he would only bring endless trouble upon himself and his family. He could earn silver by selling meat, so he needed to find a way to earn Spirit Stones before he could even think about borrowing them.

"Let’s go home first. This is a father’s business. You just focus on preparing to be a Cultivator. Once you become a Cultivator, our family’s fortunes will truly turn around." Butcher Zhang didn’t say much more to his son. He felt this was something for him to handle alone. A father’s duty was to pave the way for his children’s growth.

"Okay," Zhang Qijing replied, nodding solemnly.

After taking his son home, Butcher Zhang told the boy to go play, then pulled his wife, who was just about to ask what had happened, into their room.

Seeing this, Mrs. Dou of the Zhang Family thought her husband wanted *that* again and muttered irritably, "It’s broad daylight. Can’t it wait until tonight?"

Butcher Zhang stopped in his tracks. Instantly understanding what she meant, he quickly said, "No, it’s not that. I need to talk to you about our son."

Hearing this, Mrs. Dou of the Zhang Family immediately quickened her pace, pulling her husband into the room instead. Butcher Zhang hurried after her, and then explained their son’s aptitude in detail. When Mrs. Dou of the Zhang Family heard that her son actually had the aptitude for Cultivation with a Single Spirit Root, she was filled with an endless, irrepressible joy!

For them, a Single Spirit Root was the most suitable for a poor family like theirs.

The Five Spirit Roots were something only those from great, powerful, and wealthy families could afford to cultivate. Without money, it was truly worse than a Single or Dual Spirit Roots.

At that moment, Mrs. Dou of the Zhang Family was so moved she clasped her hands together and began to mutter, "The ancestors of the Zhang Family are watching over us! The Zhang Family has finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel. Starting with Jing’Er, the Zhang Family will no longer be a line of butchers. Thank you, Mr. Cheng."

Butcher Zhang nodded. In his heart, he agreed they really should thank Cheng Zongyang.

But his family had repeatedly warned him not to tell outsiders that they knew Cheng Zongyang. They were to act like ordinary people who didn’t know him, to avoid bringing disaster upon themselves. Therefore, anything involving Cheng Zongyang was either whispered about at home or spoken of vaguely in low voices.

Then, Butcher Zhang asked, "How many silver taels do we have available at home?"

Mrs. Dou of the Zhang Family was full of suspicion. "What for?"

"I need it. How much is there?" Butcher Zhang asked with a frown.

"Well... there are seven taels of silver left. That’s all of our savings. What are you going to do?" Mrs. Dou of the Zhang Family asked worriedly.

Butcher Zhang didn’t answer right away. After a moment of thought, he said, "Even though Jing’Er can cultivate, he’ll still need Spirit Stones to buy all sorts of cultivation supplies. I have to figure out a way to earn Spirit Stones. Wife, get me two taels of silver. I’m going to find the storyteller and ask him about a few things."

Now that it concerned their son’s Cultivation, Mrs. Dou of the Zhang Family stopped asking questions and no longer felt the sting of spending the money. She immediately turned, went to a battered, paint-chipped cabinet, and fished out her hidden money pouch. After taking out two taels of broken silver for her husband, she clutched the pouch tightly and asked, "Is this enough?"

Butcher Zhang nodded. "It should be enough. The storyteller knows all about the Immortal City, so it shouldn’t cost too much just to ask a few questions. Alright, you watch Jing’Er. I’ll be right back."

"Okay. Be careful on your way." Mrs. Dou of the Zhang Family took out a large, well-preserved sheet of folded red paper from the cabinet. She carefully cut a piece off with a pair of old iron scissors, then refolded the remaining paper and put it back.

She then placed the silver taels on the cut piece of red paper, wrapped it carefully, and handed it to her husband. "It looks better to present it this way," she said. "And if anyone else is around, it won’t be so conspicuous."

Butcher Zhang grinned, his eyes full of delight. "You always think of everything. This family would truly fall apart without you."

"Oh, hush." Mrs. Dou of the Zhang Family shot her husband a look, but her eyes held a trace of tenderness. She walked him to the door again and urged him worriedly, "Watch your tone, and don’t get on the storyteller’s bad side. If you mess things up for Jing’Er, I’ll have your hide."

"Haha, don’t worry." Butcher Zhang waved his hand, his heart filled with resolve. He knew how important this visit to the storyteller was. For his son’s future, he had to find out a way to earn Spirit Stones from him. With that, he stepped out the door and hurried toward South City.