After a while, Wen Xiaoqiao returned.

The plump woman moved like a tank in the wind and snow, followed by four sword-bearing workers, striking an imposing figure.

"Miss Wen, how is the situation?" Li Yuan asked.

Wen Xiaoqiao paused and said, "Young Master Li, instead of going to see for yourself, you're asking me?"

Then, she sweetly smiled and said, "Very normal, this is what a live goods market should look like. Most of the goods are either numb or shivering, only a small part are crying.

But once they cry, the nearby merchants will punish them, so the noise quickly becomes quiet..."

Li Yuan's heart skipped a beat.

This time, he wasn't lamenting the state of the world but was reminded of horror film scenes from his past life...

Heavy resentment and dampness make it easy for ghosts to appear.

The black market, these two conditions...are met.

Wen Xiaoqiao said, "Tonight, I'll have all the workers keep watch here, Young Master Li, do you want to join?"

"Keep watch?"

"If we can solve this case, that would be a great merit. Young Master Li might not know, but the Blood Saber Sect can shorten the assessment period based on merit.

With such merit, maybe in a few months, we can be promoted to outer disciples." Wen Xiaoqiao spoke eagerly, continuing to persuade her partner.

"This is the black market, right in the heart of the lake, with a wide view all around. If there are external enemies, we can see them in advance.

If there are internal traitors, Master Li is here, what is there to fear?"

After speaking, she glanced at Li Yuan, smiling and asked, "Young Master Li, are you scared by a missing trash story?"

"Young Master Li is an Entry Grade Martial Artist, how could he be scared? If this gets out..."

Wen Xiaoqiao's words continued, trying to pressure Li Yuan to join in, as having another Entry Grade Martial Artist for the night watch would make her feel more at ease.

Suddenly, Li Yuan turned his head slightly, lowered it, and lightly coughed, as a small bag the size of a fingernail slipped out of his sleeve.

The bag contained pig blood he had prepared in advance.

Of course, besides pig blood, he had also prepared lime powder, nails, and other items in his pocket.

With a flick of his finger, the pig blood bag landed in his mouth.

Soon, Li Yuan bit through the bag, then coughed violently, expelling the blood...

The blood was shocking, blooming like red plum blossoms on his palm, and even some dirt was stained red.

Wen Xiaoqiao beside him didn't notice his small actions and was momentarily stunned when she saw the blood on the ground.

The tank-like woman suddenly looked up, surprised at Li Yuan.

The nearby workers also looked over in shock.

The air was momentarily silent.

Li Yuan went into another long bout of "coughing," then breathed heavily.

He was out of breath as if he might die at any moment.

Wen Xiaoqiao instinctively asked, "Are you okay?"

After a long time, Li Yuan calmed down and weakly said, "Old injury...left from Xiao Mo Mountain.

You can ask the people from Little Ink Workshop about it; everyone knows...

Cough, cough, even the doctors at Huichun Hall in the county know..."

Wen Xiaoqiao was stunned; she thought Young Master Li was cowardly, but it turned out he was actually injured.

"Then..."

"I'll go talk to Master Li, take a few days off, and make some adjustments." Li Yuan sighed as if reluctantly, "Ah, such a great merit...Miss Wen, maybe...cough, cough...wait until I'm healed, then we can watch the night together."

"You rest well." Wen Xiaoqiao regained her composure, her small eyes shining with insight, thinking to herself: It's better this way. I thought I had to respect this Young Master Li here, but he turns out to be unreliable. Sixty workers, so many people, and Master Li overseeing. Haha... what a gain for me!

...

A moment later, Li Yuan clutched his chest and arrived at the black market gate.

On the nameless pavilion, Master Li lay in a rocking chair, drowsy.

"Master Li, old injury relapsed, need to take a few days...cough, cough..." Li Yuan said.

Along the way, he had already prepared many reasons.

But before he could say anything, Master Li's voice came from inside the pavilion.

"In that case, go back and rest for half a month. You'll be due for the next watch in half a month; you must come then."

"Yes...cough, cough...thank you, Master Li...cough, cough..."

With that, he clutched his chest, pretending to be weak, and turned to leave.

Inside the pavilion, Master Li continued rocking in his chair.

The creaking of the wicker chair was rather piercing in the heavy snow.

...

Sheltered area.

The Li Yuan family.

Lady Yan and Aunt Wang were stewing meat and cooking rice when they suddenly heard a knock on the door.

Aunt Wang leaned over and peeped through the door crack, hurriedly opened it, and addressed the young man in a profound robe at the door, "Master."

Lady Yan also ran over and asked concernedly, "Husband, how come you're back so soon?"

"I'll tell you inside...cough, cough..." Li Yuan said.

Lady Yan looked at him worriedly but didn't say much for the moment, instead saying, "Aunt Wang, set another place."

Aunt Wang respectfully responded and hurried to get new tableware.

Once the millet was cooked and the meat stewed, she didn't sit at the table but continued working outside with the two children.

Aunt Wang was cleaning the house, which had been hastily moved into and naturally not all set up.

The two children, with their cold red faces, grasped rags, wiping everywhere.

Li Yuan sat at the table and called out, "Aunt Wang, join us for a meal."

Outside, Aunt Wang said, "Master, we're not hungry, you eat first..."

Li Yuan was silent for a moment, and Lady Yan said, "Husband, just let her be, don't make it hard for her.

Aunt Wang told me that since she's here as a servant, she should behave like one and not as before.

She's brought here to Silver Creek by us, which has been a great kindness, and if we're sitting at the same table for meals, she'd feel uncomfortable in her heart."

Li Yuan glanced outside, seeing the little ones with red faces working outside.

He said, "Then set up another table and let their family of three have a meal too."

"Really?"

"Really."

Only then did Lady Yan stand up, pulling Aunt Wang aside to have a long talk.

Only after that did Aunt Wang lead the two children over to express thanks, then moved a table to the side room, and set the food and meat, eating with the two kids.

The main room quieted down.

The young couple sat facing each other, silently eating.

Li Yuan suddenly said, "From today, pretend my old injury has relapsed, the one from Xiao Mo Mountain."

Lady Yan looked up in surprise.

Li Yuan said, "I'll stay home a few days to recuperate, then we'll see."

"Husband, did...did something happen?" Lady Yan was a little nervous.

Li Yuan said, "It's about the black market, I hope I'm overthinking."

To his own wife, he didn't bother to hide anything and told her about the disappearance case.

Lady Yan listened, becoming frightened herself, and said, "Then stay home first, wait until the situation clears before going back."

...

After the meal.

Li Yuan took a nap and suddenly turned his gaze to the saber distributed by the Blood Saber Sect.

Previously, he was busy with various tasks and didn't have a fixed time or tools to try out some things.

But now, since he was on sick leave at home, he had this saber in hand.

So... maybe he could try wielding the saber.

Since communicating with tigers could lead to "Beast Taming Skill," could wielding a saber lead to "Sword Skill"?

This sheltered house was small but had all essential parts.

Main room, side room, front and back courtyard, all present.

Snowflakes drifted down, and the space Aunt Wang had cleared in the backyard was once again covered in new white.

Li Yuan, holding the saber, went to the open space, drew the saber, sheathed it, and randomly swung it for a while but gained nothing.

He sat under the eaves for a break, recalling his past life as a butcher, deciding to try the "Sword Skill" he learned from slaughtering pigs.

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