Sweeping Through Demons with the System Chapter 007: The Vicissitudes of Human Relationships

"Let me go call the shopkeeper; he's here," said the attendant, turning to enter the inner room.

Shortly after, an old man emerged, wearing a round hat and sporting a goatee.

"Shopkeeper Qiu," greeted Lu Shaolin with a smile.

Shopkeeper Qiu was known for his fair dealings and never underpaying, which is why Lu Zhong had always chosen to do business with this particular store.

"Young Lu, you've grown quite a bit since I last saw you! Why are you here alone today?" Shopkeeper Qiu asked, smiling. Usually, the father and son would visit together.

"My father passed away a few days ago," replied Lu Shaolin calmly.

"Your father, Lu Zhong, is gone?" exclaimed Shopkeeper Qiu, visibly shocked.

"Yes," nodded Lu Shaolin.

"Ah... you've certainly had a tough time, young man," sighed Shopkeeper Qiu, his gaze softening considerably as he looked at Lu Shaolin.

As for how Lu Zhong had died, there was no need to ask. In a profession like hunting, where years are spent wandering the mountains, it was commonly understood that most met their end in the wilderness.

"Shopkeeper Qiu, please give me an estimate for this wolf skin," said Lu Shaolin, handing it over.

"Let me take a look," responded Shopkeeper Qiu, accepting the wolf skin.

"The fur is thick and the skin is quite large. Eight silver coins should do," quoted Shopkeeper Qiu.

"Many thanks, Shopkeeper!" Lu Shaolin responded, cupping his hands in a gesture of gratitude.

From past experience, Lu Shaolin knew that the wolf skin, given its fur damage, was actually worth only five silver coins.

It was clear that Shopkeeper Qiu had given him a generous offer.

"Young Lu, no need for thanks! Hunting alone in the mountains is perilous. How about working as an attendant in my fur shop? It's certainly a safer option," said Shopkeeper Qiu, waving his hand dismissively but wearing a serious expression as he asked.

"Thank you for the generous offer, Shopkeeper, but the mountains are where I'm accustomed to life," said Lu Shaolin, cupping his hands politely as he declined. Working as an attendant in a fur shop wasn't the path he sought for himself.

"Understood! Be careful out there, Young Lu. Whenever you have furs to sell, bring them here. I'll ensure you get a fair price," nodded Shopkeeper Qiu.

His gaze held a hint of admiration as he looked at Lu Shaolin.

"Attendant, fetch eight silver coins," Shopkeeper Qiu said, turning to the attendant.

Promptly, the attendant took eight silver coins from the cash box and handed them over.

"If you ever find yourself in a difficult situation, Young Lu, don't hesitate to come to me. Your father and I were well-acquainted," Shopkeeper Qiu said softly, handing the silver coins to Lu Shaolin.

"Many thanks, Shopkeeper!" Lu Shaolin said, accepting the silver coins.

"Return home early, and take care on the road!" Shopkeeper Qiu advised, smiling.

Nodding, Lu Shaolin pocketed the silver coins and stepped out of the fur shop.

"Ah... such a pitiable, yet stubborn young man," sighed Shopkeeper Qiu, watching Lu Shaolin's retreating figure.

After leaving the fur shop, Lu Shaolin made his way directly to the coffin store.

He planned to consult with Li Cai regarding the territories controlled by the Black River Gang and the Dagger Society, hoping to evaluate the possibility of infiltrating one of these gangs.

In the time it would take to brew a cup of tea, Lu Shaolin found himself at the entrance of the coffin shop.

Li Cai was inside, holding a cloth as he tidied up the space, while also occasionally casting glances outside.

Seeing Lu Shaolin approach, his face lit up with delight. Casting aside the cloth, he stepped out to greet him.

"Brother Lu, what's the occasion?" Li Cai chuckled as he slapped Lu Shaolin's shoulder.

"Stopped by to see Brother Li and to ask about some matters," Lu Shaolin replied, smiling.

"Come in, come in! The boss is still sleeping. Have a seat!" Li Cai ushered Lu Shaolin into the shop.

"I'll go get you some tea." After ensuring Lu Shaolin was comfortably seated, Li Cai quickly went to prepare the tea.

"Here you go. It's not the best tea, but it'll have to do," Li Cai said, setting the teacup down on the table.

"As long as it quenches thirst, it's fine by me," Lu Shaolin said, unfazed.

With that, he picked up the teacup and downed the tea in one gulp. The journey had left him somewhat parched.

"So, what brings Brother Lu here to inquire?" Li Cai asked, taking a seat across the table.

"I want to know the primary territories of the Black River Gang and the Dagger Society," Lu Shaolin said, getting straight to the point.

"The Black River Gang primarily focuses their operations around the Black River Dock—that's their main turf. Within the city, they're involved in running inns and transportation services," Li Cai explained.

"As for the Dagger Society, they're big on casinos, brothels, and taverns, with their main activities centered in the county town," he added after a moment's thought.

"Understood," Lu Shaolin nodded in acknowledgment.

"If Brother Lu is looking to find members of the Black River Gang, you can head directly to the Black River Dock. For the Dagger Society, their people usually emerge after dark," Li Cai further explained.

He had already surmised that Lu Shaolin was considering joining one of these gangs in advance.

"Thank you for the information, Brother Li. I won't take up any more of your time. I'll make my way to the Black River Dock first to take a look," said Lu Shaolin, standing up and cupping his hands in gratitude.

"Safe travels, Brother Lu!" Li Cai said as he escorted Lu Shaolin to the door.

With a wave of his hand, Lu Shaolin made his way directly to the city gate, since the dock was naturally situated outside the city.

Armed with his long spear, Lu Shaolin walked for roughly half an hour before finally arriving at the Black River Dock.

The dock was a hub of activity, brimming with a lively crowd—people were everywhere!

Merchants were engaged in loud haggling, and laborers, sweaty from their exertions, added to the ceaseless noise.

Surveying the scene, Lu Shaolin made his way to a tea shop situated on the periphery of the dock.

Inside, numerous laborers were taking a break, using yellowed towels to wipe away sweat as they gulped down warm tea.

As he stepped into the tea shop, an older man with graying hair greeted him enthusiastically. "Little brother, care for some tea? One copper coin a pot, and free refills. Even if you don't wish to drink, feel free to take a seat and rest awhile."

"A pot of tea would be great, uncle," Lu Shaolin responded, smiling as he took a seat at an empty table.

"Very well! Just make yourself comfortable for a moment, little brother," the uncle said, smiling back.

Quickly, the uncle returned, carrying a brown teapot and a black clay bowl.

Filling the bowl with tea, he placed the teapot on the table and said, "Enjoy your tea, little brother."

"Thanks, uncle. Here's the copper coin for the tea," Lu Shaolin said, handing over the money.

"Much appreciated, little brother," the uncle replied, taking the coin with a smile.

"Uncle Zhang, a refill, please!" a laborer from the far left corner shouted out.

"Coming right up!" Uncle Zhang called back. He gave Lu Shaolin a friendly smile before turning to attend to the refill.

The laborers collectively consumed several pots of tea. As soon as they noticed a new ship docking, they departed one by one.

The atmosphere in the tea shop quickly grew much quieter.

Savoring his tea, Lu Shaolin found it to be simple yet pure, free from pollutants—a rare luxury compared to his past life.

Noticing the uncle now had some free time, Lu Shaolin smiled and called out, "Uncle, may I ask you a few questions?"

"Of course, little brother! What would you like to know?" the uncle responded, walking over with a hearty laugh.

"Uncle, are you aware of how to locate members of the Black River Gang?" Lu Shaolin inquired directly.

The uncle's demeanor instantly turned cautious. "What business do you have with the Black River Gang?" he asked.

"No need to worry, Uncle. I'm not here to stir up trouble. I'm just too impatient to wait until next spring to join the gang, so I wanted to inquire a bit," Lu Shaolin softly explained.

"Ah, I see!" The uncle visibly relaxed, his smile returning.

"Yes," Lu Shaolin confirmed, nodding.

"Little brother, follow this road for about a mile and you'll find a river stronghold. That's the Black River Gang's headquarters," said the uncle, pointing toward a left-hand road.

"Thank you, uncle!" Draining his tea in a single gulp, Lu Shaolin rose to express his gratitude and then turned to depart.

"Good luck, little brother!" called out the uncle from behind.

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