Doomsday: Grinding EXP Through Hunting

Shopkeeper Zhang's aura was restrained, making it difficult to gauge his true strength. However, judging by his appearance, which suggested he was around thirty-five years old, and his deep understanding of Meditation Martial Art, it was certain that he was at least a seasoned Martial Master, if not a Transcendent.

Tang Wen's curiosity was gnawing at him like a hundred claws, eager to know the answer, but he dared not act rashly. After sipping his tea and setting a meeting time three days later, he stood up and left the inn's tea room.

It was already mealtime. As he passed through the inn's main hall, the aroma of wine, meat, and dishes wafted through the air. Deciding to sit down with his stomach full of questions, Tang Wen was promptly attended to by the Waiter.

Tang Wen tossed a piece of broken silver to the Waiter and asked, "Do you have any older, well-informed maidservants?"

"Understood, young master. Please wait a moment," the Waiter replied, smiling broadly as he felt the silver in his hand. After pouring tea, he turned to call someone.

The Waiter thought to himself: People have all sorts of preferences. This young master looks to be in his early twenties, yet he seems to favor mature women and wives. Who should I send over?

Two cold dishes were served, and Tang Wen ate slowly. With so little information, he couldn't figure out why the Dark Night Divine Fist was considered the most difficult martial art to master. What exactly made it so challenging?

"Young master, Yun Niang greets you," a warm, subtle fragrance accompanied the words. A beautiful woman with black hair, dressed in a black gown, her skin as white as snow, and her hair styled in a married woman's bun, gracefully sat down.

A grilled fish was brought to the table. The woman skillfully picked out the large and small bones from the fish, placing the tender white meat on a plate in front of Tang Wen without any intimate gestures.

After a few bites and some casual conversation, Tang Wen took out a piece of silver and handed it to her. The woman's beautiful eyes narrowed.

Yun Niang was a woman of extensive experience and also a "seafood" merchant. She understood the principle that "taking money means providing service." Once she accepted the money, she would have to comply with the other party's requests, no matter what they were.

In her youth, Yun Niang had high standards and was selective about her clients, often ignoring the more boorish ones. After getting married and growing older, her opportunities to go out decreased, and she lowered her standards. However, this didn't mean she was a woman without principles.

Looking around, the hall was bustling with people. Could this young master be planning to do something here? Although they were seated in a relatively secluded corner, it was still a public place. Wasn't this too bold?

Although the young master wasn't unpleasant, the piece of silver was clearly less than two taels. Wasn't that a bit too little?

Seeing her hesitate, Tang Wen was also surprised. Was there really a woman who didn't love money? He softly said, "You've been here for a long time. I want to ask you a few things."

Yun Niang's fair cheeks turned crimson as she realized her misunderstanding. She quickly took the silver and moved closer to Tang Wen, her ample hips shifting. "Young master, please ask. If Yun Niang knows, she will tell you everything."

Tang Wen carefully chose his words, "I need to ask a favor from your shopkeeper. I want to give a gift to a shopkeeper, but I don't know his preferences."

He knew that if he directly inquired about a specific shopkeeper, this beautiful woman would likely not dare to say a word. Even if he pressed her, she would probably just make up some stories to deceive him.

The Four Seas Inn had several shopkeepers, and Yun Niang didn't ask which one he was referring to. She picked up a piece of flatbread, eating as she spoke, "Shopkeeper Li is fond of beauty, loves fine clothes, and is into cosmetics."

Huh? Tang Wen couldn't keep a straight face, "Is this Shopkeeper Li a she?"

Yunniang blinked: "She's a woman."

"Mm, go on," he said, lowering his head to pick up some food, inwardly exclaiming, "What a character!"

"Shopkeeper Lin loves fine wine; wherever he goes, he never forgets his wine gourd."

"Shopkeeper Liu smokes pipe tobacco, the taste is both pungent and spicy. Especially when gambling, he smokes heavily!"

"Shopkeeper Zhou loves food, enjoys horseback riding and hunting..."

Hearing this, Tang Wen was at a loss for words.

Watching Yunniang reminisce and speak, it didn't seem like she was lying.

So, in other words, she introduced four shopkeepers, and their combined hobbies were "eating, drinking, whoring, gambling, and smoking!"

The most impressive was Shopkeeper Liu.

He alone occupied gambling and smoking.

As she spoke, there was still one shopkeeper Tang Wen was concerned about—Shopkeeper Zhang.

Yunniang paused, brought the tea to her lips, raised the lid of the tea bowl to cover her mouth and nose, and quickly whispered five words: "Shopkeeper Zhang loves money."

Loves money!

Tang Wen gave her a deep look.

Yunniang lowered her head and didn't speak further.

Clearly, she had guessed that Tang Wen was looking for Shopkeeper Zhang.

The reason was simple: Shopkeeper Zhang was on duty today.

Earlier, she had asked the waiter on the road and knew that the young master she was serving had just met the shopkeeper.

Understanding the guest as much as possible before meeting them was part of her professional etiquette.

"Are all the shopkeepers Transcendent?"

Yunniang's hands, which were peeling shrimp, stopped, and she nodded gently.

Tang Wen ignored her subtle thoughts, slipped two pieces of broken silver into her waist, and his hand accidentally brushed against her flat stomach.

Hmm, this woman has no excess fat; she keeps her figure well.

He asked more directly: "Which shopkeeper practices the Dark Night Divine Fist?"

Yunniang wrote the character "Liu" with her hand, then immediately erased it.

Shopkeeper Liu?

Loves gambling and smoking pipe tobacco?

A gambling addict?

His character isn't reliable.

Moreover, leaving Shopkeeper Zhang to seek out another one was risky in itself.

Tang Wen casually asked: "To persuade Shopkeeper Zhang to give me some pointers, how much silver do you think it would take? Hmm, I'm a Martial Practitioner, looking to practice Meditation Martial Art."

Yunniang shook her head, helplessly saying:

"Young master, you're asking the wrong person. I'm just a maid, only a Martial Apprentice. How would I know such important matters?"

Tang Wen didn't ask further.

After that, Yunniang kept busy serving food and pouring wine, her mouth never stopping.

Knowing Tang Wen was from out of town, she kept talking about things she knew.

One speaking, one listening, they soon finished their meal.

Tang Wen returned to his residence, took out the hidden gold and silver, weighed it in his hand, and shook his head secretly.

As the saying goes, "Poor scholars, rich martial artists," and indeed it is so.

Hmm, I got my name wrong!

How could I be called Tang Wen?

If I were called Tang Wu, maybe I'd already be rich.

He counted out two hundred taels and, by evening, went to see Shopkeeper Zhang again.

"What is it?"

Shopkeeper Zhang was eating, with three young maidens attending to him.

Tang Wen smiled and handed over the sealed silver, saying respectfully: "I still want to ask you a question. What exactly is the difficulty with the Dark Night Divine Fist? Is there a solution?"

Shopkeeper Zhang's eyes flashed with impatience: "Not enough money, I can only tell you where the difficulty lies!"

Tang Wen held his breath, focusing intently to listen.

"Meditation Martial Art focuses on meditation. Have you seen the night?"

The night?

Tang Wen's pupils narrowed to a slit.

"The more extreme the night, the better!"

Extreme night?

Tang Wen was about to ask more, but Shopkeeper Zhang's gaze swept past him, looking toward the door.

Two hundred taels of silver were worth these two sentences, nothing more.

Tang Wen deliberately gritted his teeth and took out a stack of gold leaves from his pocket, gently placing them on the table.

Shopkeeper Zhang glanced at them and said, "Let me put it this way: the power of the Dark Night Divine Fist comes from the night, from darkness.

The purer and more extreme the night you visualize, the greater the power of the fist technique.

Bring another five thousand taels of silver. I'll take you through an experience."

Hearing the price, Tang Wen was first startled, but then delighted upon hearing the latter part.

"Thank you, Shopkeeper Zhang."

"No need for thanks. Go and gather the money! There are many places where money is needed if you want to practice the Dark Night Divine Fist!"

"Thank you."

Tang Wen cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, took two steps back, and turned to leave.

The maid closed the door behind him.

Shopkeeper Zhang took a sip of his drink, smiling as he instructed the maid to put the money away.

As he walked down the road, Tang Wen felt both troubled and puzzled:

Consider Shopkeeper Zhang, a Transcendent being, the manager of the Four Seas Inn.

His strength is formidable, his salary exceedingly high.

He's guaranteed income, rain or shine, working from ten to four.

Even his indulgences in food, drink, and entertainment are reimbursed.

With no real need to spend money, what does he need so much of it for?

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