Xiang Yunting waved his hand heartily, a trace of amazement in his eyes:
“I've been running errands outside lately. As soon as I got back to the martial arts hall, I heard Second Senior Brother going on about a genius appearing in the inner courtyard, knocking on the door of the Blood Tempering Rank in just sixteen days. Seeing you now, Junior Brother, your blood qi is stable indeed—you truly are a fine young man!”
“You flatter me, Senior Brother...”
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the three of them sat around the stone table.
Xu Chuan poured hot tea, put away his smile, and looked at Shen Xiuhan seriously:
“Junior Brother Shen, Yunting rushed back to the martial arts hall today not just to meet you, but mainly for tomorrow's 'temporary placement' matter. Have you heard about this?”
Shen Xiuhan nodded slightly.
“I know a bit. Is it about taking on temporary placements with the various families in the city to earn resources to support our cultivation?”
“Exactly.”
Xu Chuan took a sip of tea, pointed to himself, and sighed.
“The martial path is incredibly expensive. Blood Tempering is only the beginning. The subsequent Bone Tempering and Tendon Tempering will require massive amounts of meat, blood qi medicinal cuisine, and silver to support.
“Your Third Senior Brother, Fourth Senior Brother, and I are currently registered as escort guards at the Zhendong Escort Agency in the Inner City.
“The three of us take turns escorting caravans. Last month was my turn, and this month is theirs.
“As for your Fifth Senior Sister, she went to work as a bodyguard for the eldest young lady of the Luo family.”
At this point, Xu Chuan leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice.
“The world is perilous, and various factions are constantly vying for power. I'll be completely honest with you today. If you can't find a place you like tomorrow, you might as well join me in taking a temporary placement at the Zhendong Escort Agency.
“Having fellow disciples from the same martial arts hall together means we can band together for warmth and look out for each other if we encounter danger, so we don't get bullied by outsiders!”
Seeing Shen Xiuhan lost in thought, Xiang Yunting smiled and added:
“Of course, we're just worried you'll lose out, so we wanted to offer you a fallback option. If any family offers better terms tomorrow, or if there's a job you fancy, feel free to give it a try!”
Xu Chuan nodded in agreement.
“That's right.”
“...I understand. Thank you, Senior Brothers.”
Shen Xiuhan felt a touch of warmth in his heart. After a moment of thought, he took the opportunity to ask:
“May I ask, Senior Brothers, what are the benefits offered by the Zhendong Escort Agency?”
“Just average.”
Xiang Yunting shook his head and sighed.
“For a Blood Tempering martial artist, the base monthly pay is three taels of silver. Each month, they also provide a fixed ration of five catties of meat, one Blood-Strengthening Pill, and a bowl of Black Ginseng Blood-Replenishing Decoction every half-month. For each escort mission, there's a bonus of one tael. If we run into river pirates or bandits and draw blood, we get additional hazard pay afterward.
“Generally speaking, you'll make at most four or five taels of silver a month, which is barely enough to cover cultivation expenses.”
“Four or five taels of monthly pay! Plus meat, pills, and medicinal decoctions...”
“Such generous benefits are only barely enough for cultivation?”
Shen Xiuhan's heart chilled slightly.
The resources required for a Mingjin martial artist's cultivation were even greater than he had imagined.
Pausing for a moment, Shen Xiuhan suddenly recalled something and asked curiously,
“By the way, Senior Brothers, I heard there is a Zhendong Martial Arts Hall in the Inner City... I wonder what its connection is to the Zhendong Escort Agency?”
Hearing this, Xiang Yunting grinned.
“It's far more than just a connection. Junior Brother, do you know of the Five Great Families of Changyun?”
“Uh... is it the Bai, Ji, Luo, Han, and Wang families?”
“Indeed.”
Xiang Yunting explained patiently:
“The reason the Five Great Families have stood tall in Changyun for so many years is that they either have a Huajin expert backing them or possess immense family power.
“The Bai family goes without saying. Relying on their Huajin ancestor, they act in the most arrogant and domineering manner.
“The Ji Family Chamber of Commerce has spread its shipping business across all of Cangzhou. It's said they have connections in every prefecture and county, and they are filthy rich.
“As for the Luo family... it's the family of the County Magistrate, who himself broke through to the Huajin Rank ten years ago.
“As for the Han family, they seem to be a branch of the prominent Han clan from Xinyi Prefecture. I don't know much about them, but I hear they are also a major family...”
Having said this, Xiang Yunting paused for effect before smiling.
“As for the remaining Wang family, they usually keep a low profile, yet they are an existence the other four families dare not easily provoke. Do you know why, Junior Brother?”
“Please enlighten me, Senior Brother.”
Shen Xiuhan looked serious.
He was born a tenant farmer and had broken through to the Mingjin Rank less than a month ago.
His understanding of the Inner City's situation relied entirely on the street rumors, which were hard to distinguish as true or false. His channels for obtaining information were far too scarce.
For instance, the Five Great Families of Changyun.
He only knew that the Bai family, the Luo family, and the Zhendong Martial Arts Hall had Huajin experts backing them, but he didn't know why the Ji and Han families could stand alongside them.
As for the Wang family, which could make the other four families wary, he had never even heard of them; it was like looking at flowers through a fog.
Xiang Yunting took a sip of tea and said,
“Junior Brother Shen, our Changyun County is located in a remote area. Looking at the nine provinces and thirty-six prefectures of the Qi State, it cannot be considered a prosperous or bustling place.
“Consequently, there are very few notable experts here.
“Yet twenty years ago, an extraordinary figure emerged from this place!”
Meeting Shen Xiuhan's gaze, Xiang Yunting's face showed a trace of fanatical admiration.
“That would be the 'Zhendong General', who holds heavy military power, commands the majestic pass of the Eastern Border, and stands in confrontation with the Yue State!”
The Zhendong General...
Shen Xiuhan's heart jolted.
Hearing this title, the Wang family's background was actually this astonishing?
Xiang Yunting seemed very satisfied with his reaction and continued:
“Although the general is busy with military affairs and has not returned for a long time, Changyun County is, after all, his hometown.
“The Zhendong Martial Arts Hall, the Zhendong Escort Agency, the Wang Family Weaponry, the General's Restaurant, and the Wang Family Chunhe Pharmacy... are all industries under his name!
“Not only that, but the eldest disciple of the Zhendong Martial Arts Hall, Wang Xuanyang, is the general's own son... Although he is a concubine's son, he is still treated as his own by the current head of the Changyun Wang clan, Wang Zhidao!
“With this background, let alone the fact that Wang Zhidao is also a Huajin expert, even if he knew nothing of martial arts, who in Changyun County would dare touch a single blade of grass belonging to the Wang family?”
Hearing this, a tempest raged in Shen Xiuhan's heart.
No wonder the other four families kept silent about the Wang family and kept their distance.
So this was the reason...
A heavy general of the military!
No matter how many gangs stood tall, how divided the clans were, or how outstanding one's personal martial prowess was, how could any of it stand against the blades of thousands of troops?
At this moment, Xu Chuan, who had been drinking tea in silence, set down his teacup. His eyes shone brightly as he spoke:
“Junior Brother Shen, do you know why the benefits of the Zhendong Escort Agency are not that high, yet your Third Senior Brother, Fourth Senior Brother, and I still squeezed our heads to dive right into it?”
“I would like to hear more.”
“It's simply to fight for a future!”
Xu Chuan sighed:
“The general guards the Eastern Border year-round. Although he hasn't returned home in twenty years, every few years, he sends representatives back to the county to select a batch of brave, driven prospects from the local young martial artists to recruit into the army.
“The Wang family's Zhendong Martial Arts Hall and Zhendong Escort Agency naturally have the advantage of being close to the source, belonging to the 'direct line' that gets prioritized during selection.
“For martial artists of humble origins like us, without the backing of powerful clans to support us, how can we go further if we remain trapped to death in this Changyun County?
“Therefore, we must jump out of this well and head into the vast world to see the truly grand stages!
“And the Zhendong General's Longxiang Army is our best destination!”
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