Chapter 43: Flying Locust Stone (Please keep reading)

Chapter 43: Flying Locust Stones (Please keep reading~)

"Brother, you're back~"

Not long after Chen Pingan climbed over the courtyard wall, Chen Erya emerged from the house.

Clearly, the little girl had been observing the courtyard the whole time.

"Nannuan, you're not asleep yet?" Chen Pingan bent down to take off his shoes. "Help me get a pair of shoes."

"Ah, Brother, you..."

Chen Erya covered her mouth; only then did she notice the bloodstains on Chen Pingan's shoes.

"Are you alright?"

Instead of getting the shoes, the little girl ran up to inspect Chen Pingan thoroughly.

"I'm fine!" Chen Pingan patted his chest. "Brother is strong! You know how much strength I have."

"Then these bloodstains are..." The little girl was still somewhat uneasy.

"Just a small hiccup, but it's fine. Brother already took care of it." Chen Pingan patted Chen Erya's small head and said with a smile, "Go get the shoes, quickly."

"Mm." Chen Erya nodded and quickly brought a pair of shoes out from the room.

Chen Pingan took the shoes and changed, then carried the bloodstained ones into the kitchen.

He tossed the shoes under the stove and skillfully struck a spark with a flint. Gradually, the embers beneath the stove grew into flames.

"Go to sleep, it's late," Chen Pingan said, turning to Chen Erya.

From a moment ago until now, the little girl had been watching him. She was curious about what had happened to her brother, but since he wouldn't say, she didn't ask.

"I'll wait for Brother."

"You little girl..." A doting smile appeared on Chen Pingan's face.

Without hiding anything from Chen Erya, he took a black cloth bag and a dagger from his bosom. Meeting her puzzled gaze, Chen Pingan explained with a smile, "This is Brother's spoils of war! I was targeted by an idiot on the way back, and I just dealt with him casually."

A complex look flashed through Chen Erya's eyes as she nodded gently.

Chen Pingan did not mention the details, and the little girl did not ask. This was the tacit understanding between the siblings.

Chen Pingan opened the black bag, revealing some scattered silver and small coins. He took them out to count and found a total of one and a half taels plus fifty-two small coins.

A hint of joy appeared in Chen Pingan's eyes.

This was nearly two months' worth of his monthly stipend. With this amount of money, he wouldn't have to worry about meat for a while.

Next, he turned his attention to the dagger.

The dagger was seven or eight inches long and shaped somewhat like a sword. As Chen Pingan drew it from its sheath, a cold glint emerged. The dagger was double-edged and sharpened; though it looked somewhat worn and had weathered the passage of time, its luster suggested it remained incredibly sharp.

"An unexpected windfall!"

Chen Pingan played with the dagger, unable to put it down, becoming more satisfied the more he looked at it.

Although the style was ordinary and it looked a bit old, it was still sharp and functional. Having such a tool gave him a bit more confidence when traveling.

By this time, the shoes under the stove had burned down significantly, and the flames gradually weakened until they died out.

Once he confirmed everything was fine, Chen Pingan walked into the courtyard, fetched a basin of water, stripped off his clothes, and wiped his body.

"Brother, let me help you." Chen Erya volunteered.

Chen Pingan didn't discourage her enthusiasm and readily agreed with a smile.

With Chen Erya's help, Chen Pingan quickly finished cleaning himself. The two then entered the room and crawled into their respective beds to sleep.

Clearly, the little girl was exhausted. With Chen Pingan by her side, she felt secure; after only a few words, she fell into a deep sleep.

"This girl!" Chen Pingan smiled.

The night was deep, but he was not sleepy. Although this wasn't the first time he had killed someone, his heart was still somewhat unsettled.

The wretched state of the man in the bamboo hat occasionally flashed through his mind.

Such is the world; if your skills are inferior, do not complain or blame!

Chen Pingan let out a long sigh.

If there were a choice, who wouldn't want to live a peaceful and stable life in this world!?

He had no choice!

To live well and live with dignity, one must make sacrifices. This was the rule of this world! No one could break it!

Since he couldn't sleep anyway, and having just acquired the *Flying Locust Throwing Method*, Chen Pingan thought he would flip through it to gain some insight.

Having a "cheat" was indeed convenient. This technique had already been recorded, so to read it, Chen Pingan only needed to shift his gaze, and the entire content of the technique would unfold before his eyes. Even with his eyes closed, it would manifest in his mind.

"It certainly saves a lot of lamp oil," Chen Pingan mocked himself with a smile.

The opening was an introduction to the Flying Locust Stones.

*The Flying Locust Stone is one of the most convenient and economical types of concealed weapons. It is something that can be picked up anywhere; it requires no money to purchase and no time to devise. It is inexhaustible, can be picked up at will, and thrown at will...*

*In the mountains and fields, one seeks out hard stones. Bluestone is best, granite is second, and yellow stone is the lowest. The stones taken should be slender and long, sharp at the top and thick at the bottom. Regarding the shape of its four sides, it somewhat resembles a locust, hence the name Flying Locust Stone...*

*When traveling, one uses a pouch worn at the waist. The method of carrying the bag depends on the person's dominant hand for throwing. For those accustomed to throwing with the right hand, the bag should hang below the left waist...*

Chen Pingan read through it carefully, feeling quite impressed.

"Although the Flying Locust Throwing Method is ordinary, there is much wisdom within it. Once this technique is mastered, there are three ways to use it. The first is as a concealed weapon, striking suddenly when the enemy is unprepared. The second is for scouting, using the stones to probe downwards or forwards to check for danger. The third is to feint; using long-distance throwing to create a sound in the distance, thereby drawing nearby people to investigate.*

*The so-called Flying Locust Stone is indeed profound!"*

*The convenience of the Flying Locust Stone is as described above. Its training method is also not overly difficult, being roughly similar to throwing darts, except it uses specialized flicking force rather than pushing force.*

*Regarding the setup of targets...*

*The hand technique used when throwing the stone often employs the 'yin hand' (inverted hand). First, flick the hand upward, then flip the wrist downward, using force to whip it forward; this is the 'direct hit.' If hitting a side target with the right hand, one should stand sideways with the left shoulder toward the target, hold the stone in the right hand, flick it upward to the right, and then rotate the wrist to flick it forcefully toward the left. These two methods are the core techniques of the Flying Locust Stone, both utilizing the yin hand.*

*When using the Flying Locust Stone to strike an enemy, one should first aim for the various parts of the face, as they are uncovered and the eyes and nose are extremely fragile and easily injured. Second, one should aim for the wrist and ankle joints; these two joints are the most sensitive to pain. Striking the wrist will cause the person's weapon to drop, and striking the ankle will make it difficult for them to walk momentarily...*

As he continued reading, the training method of the Flying Locust Stone was gradually mastered by Chen Pingan. Although he had not officially begun practicing, with this foundation, he would only need to try a few times tomorrow to practice it smoothly.

"Good, I'll start practicing the Flying Locust Stone tomorrow!"

With the training method clear in his mind, Chen Pingan felt reassured and gradually drifted into sleep.

PS: It's a critical moment on Wednesday, please keep reading. This small struggling author thanks all the big shots~

(End of Chapter)