Ren Qing immediately took advantage of the situation and shamelessly begged: "Senior Song, do you have any external medicinal baths?"
"En, let's do it this way. I'll list the herbs, you remember them: two liang of mountain ginseng, half liang of red fruit flower, three liang of golden coin wood..."
Due to the subtle influence of the information stream, Ren Qing's memory had long surpassed ordinary people. He remembered everything after just one hearing.
Song Zongwu couldn't help but think even more highly of Ren Qing's talent. However, he needed to hurry and deal with matters regarding the Disaster Relief Forbidden Zone, so he quickly left.
Ren Qing's mind kept turning over thoughts.
Why did Song Zongwu avoid answering that seemingly ordinary question about internal energy cultivation? Could it involve some unspeakable secret?
Ren Qing suddenly remembered that dying old constable in the Martial Arts Tower. Back then, his lifespan had been nearly exhausted - who knew if he was still alive?
If he was still clinging to life, there was actually a good chance he might be the Hundred-Eyed One himself.
But the trouble was, that old constable seemed to have some connection with Song Zongwu, like family or blood relatives.
Ren Qing shook his head. It would be better to focus on strengthening his abilities as much as possible within these ten days.
Especially regarding the Human Skin Scripture. Because he would be frequently interacting with Song Zongwu going forward, he was afraid of being noticed if anything seemed off, so it wasn't a good time to advance as a Hide Tanner yet.
But he could definitely rely on external training methods to increase the toughness of his skin and flesh.
Ren Qing first returned to the Corpse Burners' Hall and ate some food.
He had originally planned to go to the herbal medicine shop to gather ingredients for body tempering, but unexpectedly learned some good news about Butcher Zhang from Xiao Wu.
Ren Qing hurried to the butcher shop. Along the way, he noticed there were many more beggars in the area than before, and they whispered to each other when they saw him.
Ren Qing smiled coldly, then walked straight into the alley.
At first glance he saw Butcher Zhang, face beaming with joy, organizing the pork in his shop.
After questioning Butcher Zhang, Ren Qing learned that not long ago, after negotiations, their cooperation with the Blood Dog Gang was already set in stone.
The business dealings were handled by Chen Ben, leader of the Jackal Dog Hall. As for Butcher Zhang's demands, they had all been agreed to, and they had even given him an extra sum of silver on top.
Butcher Zhang unhesitatingly gave most of the silver to Ren Qing, though what remained was still enough to purchase property within Sanxiang City.
Noticing figures moving at the alley entrance, Ren Qing asked curiously: "When you were talking with Chen Ben, did you mention me?"
Butcher Zhang suddenly seemed apprehensive: "At first the negotiations weren't going well. Later I brought you up, and then Hall Leader Chen agreed. There shouldn't be any problem, right?"
"No problem. At most there might be some minor trouble."
Ren Qing immediately understood - it seemed Chen Ben was preparing to test him. This wild dog was more greedy than expected.
If this had been Ren Qing from two days ago, he would have chosen to avoid direct confrontation, trying to use his status as a constable to secure benefits and guarantee the supply of pig eyes.
But now that he had this connection with Song Zongwu, many troubles would resolve themselves.
Butcher Zhang sighed in relief and said: "Ah Qing, don't take any risks. If it really doesn't work out, we can just not do this business."
"It's fine."
Ren Qing said with a smile: "But we'll need to handle all the pig offal in the western district, so we'll inevitably have to hire workers. Brother Zhang, remember to find people you can trust."
"After so many years in Sanxiang City, I can still come up with some candidates."
Butcher Zhang agreed repeatedly. Though he didn't have a head for business, at least he knew his own limitations and wouldn't attempt things beyond his abilities.
After giving a few more instructions, Ren Qing headed out of the alley.
Not long after reaching the street, seven or eight people quickly approached him.
The man leading them wore gray clothes, and his walking posture was astonishingly imposing, as if each step concealed mysteries.
But in Ren Qing's eyes, the man's complexion seemed somewhat dull, his qi and blood unstable, and he could smell the strong stench of alcohol from the previous night.
The common people on the street all moved aside, not daring to provoke the Blood Dog Gang's ill temper.
Only Ren Qing stopped walking, waiting with an indifferent expression.
"I am Chen Ben. Constable Ren, meeting you in person is better than just hearing your reputation."
Chen Ben clasped his hands in greeting, but couldn't stop his eyes from sizing up Ren Qing, and he took several intimidating steps forward.
"Hall Leader Chen, I've long heard of you."
Ren Qing had already anticipated Chen Ben. His narrowed eyes showed no trace of hostility.
On the surface, the two were polite to each other, but in truth both were probing.
After all, when interests were involved, deception was inevitable.
Even if Chen Ben had agreed to Butcher Zhang's profit-sharing terms, he could still go back on his word. The silver could be taken back - all common underhanded tactics.
"Constable Ren, why don't we change locations? Let's go to a teahouse and have a proper chat."
"Hall Leader Chen, let's talk another day."
Ignoring Ren Qing's refusal, Chen Ben familiarly threw an arm around his shoulders and forcefully pulled him forward.
[Chen Ben]
[Age: Thirty-one]
[Lifespan: Three years]
[Technique: Divine Leg Sutra (False)]
Ren Qing understood immediately - the Blood Dog Gang indeed had quite a few cultivators.
They probably relied on controlling beggars to collect large amounts of Divine Leg Sutra Supernatural Remnants, to the extent that even a district hall leader like this could reach the Martial Practitioner Realm.
Ren Qing didn't retreat in the slightest. He stood firm in the street like an immovable boulder, not budging an inch no matter how red-faced Chen Ben became.
Chen Ben couldn't help looking terrified, immediately restraining his actions.
Wiping sweat from his brow, he said respectfully: "Constable Ren, my deepest apologies. I'll definitely come apologize properly another day."
Ren Qing leaned close to Chen Ben's ear and said softly: "Let me give Hall Leader Chen some advice - if you don't want to ruin your health, don't drink so heavily."
When dealing with people who think themselves shrewd, the key is to keep them guessing. Sometimes wariness arises from suspicion itself.
Chen Ben watched Ren Qing walk away, his brow tightly furrowed.
A subordinate fawned: "Hall Leader, that guy made you lose face. Why don't we..."
Chen Ben said coldly: "Zhao Ji, where do you get the nerve? You dare offend someone from the yamen whose depths you can't fathom?"
"Hall Leader, don't be angry. It's almost noon, why don't we go drink..."
Chen Ben suddenly remembered Ren Qing's words and grew irritated, slapping Zhao Ji across the face.
"Drink drink drink, is that all you think about?"
"Take the deed for the shop at the east corner of Tan Street to Butcher Zhang Big Mouth. Tell him it's specially for storing pig offal."
Only after Chen Ben left did Zhao Ji dare start cursing under his breath.
The east corner shop wasn't Blood Dog Gang property, so he'd have to pay for it himself.
With no outlet for his resentment, Zhao Ji couldn't help grabbing things from a nearby stall and smashing them. No one around dared say a word.
At that moment, an old man wearing a bamboo hat brushed past him, hunched over.
Zhao Ji felt himself being bumped and, having already lost his last shred of reason, dragged the old man to a nearby corner.
Just as he raised his fist to vent his anger, the old man slowly looked up.
His wrinkled face was covered with eyes that seemed capable of draining souls.
A short while later, Zhao Ji knelt on the ground with vacant eyes, soon lifeless.
The old man walked toward the city gates, muttering to himself: "Trying to find clues from hundreds of records is truly not easy."
"Disaster Relief, I'm coming."