Chapter 283 - 147: Breaking Off the Engagement, Part 3

[Five Workshops Techniques: Taming Fierce Birds Chapter]: Entry Level (0/300)

The Vertical Eye Mark granted him perfect mastery of the entry level, and in an instant, Chen Cheng thoroughly understood the contents he had only partially grasped moments before.

It turned out to be a Beast Taming Skill from the Nanli Ancient Country, which had existed eight hundred years ago.

Legend had it that the Emperor of Great Li was fond of rare birds and Exotic Beasts, so he established the Beast Workshop, Fierce Bird Workshop, Fish Workshop, Gu Workshop, and Dragon Workshop in his palace, collectively known as the Five Workshops.

And the Five Workshops Techniques, as the name suggested, were the techniques and studies for raising these five categories of rare birds and Exotic Beasts.

The Taming Fierce Birds Chapter was the section dedicated to raising birds of prey.

Furthermore, in the blank margins of some of the book’s pages, there were annotations left by an ancestor of the Bai Family.

However, these annotations were also written in the script of the Nanli Ancient Country, so it was no wonder that Zhuang Zhen and Yu Feng couldn’t understand them.

This small detail also suggested that the Bai Family’s ancestor had likely made their fortune in the Nanli Ancient Country.

However, the Nanli Ancient Country had been destroyed centuries ago, and many things could no longer be verified—for example, the ’Dragon Taming Chapter’ mentioned in the book, which supposedly allowed one to raise and ride dragons after mastering it.

If the Dragon Taming Chapter were real, Chen Cheng found it hard to imagine how one would even go about it.

But if it were fake, then the Taming Fierce Birds Chapter in his hands couldn’t possibly be as real as it felt.

According to the annotations, the Bai Family had followed the techniques in the Taming Fierce Birds Chapter and successfully tamed a type of Treasure Bird called the ’Xuan Sun’.

This bird could easily recognize people and find its way, possessed a natural Night Eye, and had astonishing stamina.

Crucially, its flight speed was more than ten times faster than an ordinary carrier pigeon; it could even chase down and retrieve an Arrow that had already been fired.

Even eight hundred years ago, a single adult Xuan Sun was a priceless treasure!

’This Skill is pretty good. Too bad I can’t meet the basic requirements to use and practice it yet... I have to get my hands on an intact Treasure Bird Egg first...’

Chen Cheng casually tossed the book onto his pillow.

Then he blew out the oil lamp.

He lay down and was instantly asleep.

...

「Several days passed in a flash.」

This morning, just before dawn, three large ships belonging to the Zhou Family were already heading toward a specific area of water.

All three ships had been specially reinforced. According to Zhou Yonglu, they could withstand a direct impact from the Iron-Bone Crocodile Eel.

However, no matter how sturdy the ships were, they were merely for support.

The ones who would actually deal with the Iron-Bone Crocodile Eel were several great masters, skilled in both Martial Arts and swimming, whom Zhou Yonglu had hired at great expense.

Since the Iron-Bone Crocodile Eel’s presence also affected Wu’s Fishing Village, Wu Ziyu had come along today as well.

Chen Cheng accompanied her in his capacity as a Martial Artist affiliated with Wu’s Fishing Village.

Zhou An had come too, of course, but his swimming skills were mediocre. He was only responsible for keeping Chen Cheng company on the rear ship and would not be participating in the underwater operation.

"Senior Brother Zhou, have you been back to the Hall these past few days?" Chen Cheng asked.

"I went back once."

Zhou An stood at the edge of the deck, gazing into the distance with a somber expression.

"The Hall Master still hasn’t woken up... I have no idea what benefits Master Zhang had to concede to get protection from the authorities. Now there are Evil Slayer Guards stationed at the Hall day and night, and the Red Moon Demon People haven’t shown up since."

"But this isn’t a permanent solution... As long as the crisis with the Red Moon Demon People isn’t resolved, Dragon Mountain Hall will continue to be held over a fire..."

Zhou An heaved a long sigh and continued,

"The Lower Courtyard has run out of food. All those disciples who signed the Death Oath Contract have scattered to the winds. The Hall doesn’t have the manpower to stop them, and the gangs we control are no longer helping us round people up..."

"The Middle Courtyard is just as bad... Seven or eight out of every ten disciples have left, and more than half of those have already joined other Martial Arts Halls."

He paused, his voice growing heavier.

"The Upper Courtyard is doing slightly better. Not many have left, but most of the senior brothers who stayed have either been dismissed from their affiliated posts or had their funding cut off. Even their daily lives have been severely affected..."

"...Same for me."

Chen Cheng nodded calmly.

"The Changfeng Escort Agency, which has been sponsoring me, sent someone over a couple of days ago with a message. They said my sponsorship is suspended for the time being..."

Hearing that Chen Cheng’s sponsorship had also been cut, the gloom in Zhou An’s eyes finally seemed to lift, just a little.

"It can’t be helped. Everyone’s afraid of getting dragged down with Dragon Mountain Hall right now... I heard..."

Zhou An trailed off, stopping himself abruptly.

He hesitated for a moment, but ultimately couldn’t resist speaking.

"I heard that the Pang Family broke off Senior Brother Cao Zhao’s engagement... Apparently, it was a very ugly scene. Senior Brother Cao lost control and publicly declared that he would make the Pang Family regret it within three years..."

Chen Cheng listened in silence, saying nothing, but his brow gradually furrowed.

On the one hand, he felt some sympathy for Cao Zhao’s plight. On the other, he had to start seriously considering the potential repercussions for himself.

If the Pang Family could break their engagement with Cao Zhao, then the agreement he’d made with Pang Shixun was probably no longer secure either...

An imperceptible glint flashed in Chen Cheng’s eyes.

’Forty days left.’

’I have to prepare for the worst.’

But thankfully, the Martial Selection would be held in forty days, and Yun Shuanglin might also return around that time. Even if Pang Shixun really went back on his word, Chen Cheng wouldn’t be left without options.

"Junior Brother, has your neighborhood been safe recently?" Zhou An asked.

Chen Cheng shook his head. "It’s been fine. No problems."

Zhou An sighed again.

"The Red Moon Demon People have started killing in the Inner City. My neighborhood is still safe for now, but it won’t last..."

"I’m planning to move my brother and our parents into the Fishing Village. If you’re thinking about it too, I can talk to Zhou Yonglu for you."

Zhou An paused, then added,

"But you need to decide quickly. There’s a limit to how many people the Fishing Village can take. Once it’s filled with members of the Zhou Family’s Direct Lineage, even Zhou Yonglu will have a hard time getting you in."

"There’s no need for the Zhou Family to trouble themselves with such matters."

Before Chen Cheng could respond, Wu Ziyu emerged from the cabin and came to stand beside him.

Her voice was not loud, but it was brimming with confidence.

"If Brother Chen is going to move, he’ll be moving into my Wu’s Fishing Village. I can guarantee him the best living conditions and the greatest support I can possibly offer, and it will never be cut off!"