"The Jade Sea Gang is able to act so unscrupulously, largely because martial arts is not prevalent in Citong."
Ouyang Shuyi spoke up at this mont, "Cituogang Port sees a heavy flow of people, it’s a hub, and comrce is huge, the vast majority of people primarily engage in business.
So transfer goods and sell them abroad, others import from abroad and resell dostically. With a bunch of language exchanges and tangled relationships, people profit greatly with just imports and exports.
So, who would still want to lug a stone lock around all day to toil and practice martial arts?"
"There’s so truth to that. Once wealthy, many hire guards or bodyguards skilled in martial arts, that’s the mindset of most families." Fang Wuxue nodded.
"But have you considered, if the master is weak and the servant strong, sothing will happen eventually?"
As soon as these words were said, everyone fell silent, evidently recalling incidents they’ve encountered in their lives.
Zhao Yanzhi stabilized his emotions slightly and sighed, "That’s true. Hence...."
He paused.
"Therefore, I beca apprenticed to learn skills at ten. Now, I’ve been studying martial arts for seventeen years, all to guard against such things."
As soon as he finished speaking, a man at the neighboring table also clapped the table.
"You’re absolutely right, brother.
I too started martial arts at ten, it’s been twenty years now, reaching Fifth Grade is quite the end. From now on, I have to carefully consider plans for my child." He sighed.
"Three years nurturing blood, three years muscle forging, whether one enters a grade relies on luck and determination.
Then, it’s a three-year push per grade upwards. Any slight delay, and by my age, you’re completely set in place."
"Which ans, if a person starts martial arts at seven, it would take until at least thirteen to possibly enter a grade.
Then it’s a three-year grade progression, by thirty, at best, reaching Sixth or Seventh Grade smoothly.
This is still the ideal scenario.
For families who are well-off, it takes twenty-so years of exhausting finances to bring forth this kind of Sixth or Seventh Grade. It’s hard to say if it’s worthwhile.
Moreover, most ordinary martial artists, reaching Fifth Grade by thirty is considered impressive."
"And even then, it requires smooth sailing without delays from wrong teachers, hidden injuries sustained from fights, or unexpected changes affecting martial status.
If luck isn’t good... facing a master, it’s just after a dozen moves, decades of accumulated effort can be annihilated suddenly."
This man was evidently experiencing so strong feelings.
His words successfully drew the attention of people around him.
"Fifth Grade is actually good enough... a Fifth Grade individual, even in governnt, can at least attain an official post." An old man in his fifties couldn’t help but speak up.
"That’s where you’re mistaken." The man shook his head. "With martial skills alone, without family backing, they’re the first pushed forward in any dangerous duty.
Such martial officials end up sustaining countless injuries over the years; when they retire, the treatnt isn’t good. It amounts to re consumables.
Injured retirent is still considered favorable, whereas slightly bad luck could result in being killed by a master...
Like the previous campaign against the White Ten Sect, many high-grade experts were killed suddenly, and behind them were dependents who considered them as the core of their families, which crumbled along with them.
Though that battle seed simple, do you know how many industries were sold off cheaply after, how many hos were seized, how many people’s positions shifted or changed? How many families turned into playthings for others?
Nobody knows."
As those words were spoken, people around were all struck silent again.
Indeed, it’s like this. Looking at it, practicing martial arts truly seems low in cost-effectiveness...
"That’s why many say that if you’re not talented in martial arts, it’s better to learn literature and join an academy." Fang Wuxue agreed with the man’s viewpoint.
"Yes, I’m thinking about enrolling my child in a peace class, wait until later to study at an academy, as long as they can read and do arithtic, they’re good.
The investnt in practicing martial arts is too high, both in money and effort. Ordinary families can’t afford it. It’s just an embellishnt for the wealthy." The man shook his head and sighed.
Zhang Rongfang overheard their conversation and understood.
This was his first ti hearing a close-up analysis of ordinary people’s martial arts planning.
The man’s words were simple yet powerful.
In such a realistic era, most ordinary people truly have fewer paths to choose from.
n like this, are already considered middle-class with a bit of spare money.
But still, they have an imnse gap compared to truly rich families.
Let alone the Ninth Grade, thoroughly controlled by higher-tier forces.
Only the upper-class can have the resource and ti to practice martial arts due to abundant supply, and then generation after generation, gene enhancent makes their descendants more suited for martial arts.
Only in this way can one reach high grades and continue to occupy more resources and power.
This endless interaction will also lead to class solidification...
*
*
*
Cituogang Port outskirts.
Boom!!
A massive fla, like a ground-level firework, suddenly exploded, completely engulfing the villa beyond the hills in the outskirts.
The fire, like countless clouds of smoke, rapidly expanded, swallowing all the buildings in the estate.
The sweeping blaze lasted only a mont before swiftly contracting.
But by this ti, the estate had turned into a sea of fire.
Through gaps in the flas, one could vaguely see corpses lying inside the villa, blood flowing like streams.
"Another one...."
Several dozen ters outside the villa, a group garbed in constable attire was solemnly watching the blaze.
The leader, wearing a black gauze hat and dressed in gray-white gear, with a black-gauze short robe draped, a curved saber on his waist, appeared robust and strong.
This man was the chief captain specially responsible for investigating cases in Citong, Du Chengqing.
"This is already the third case in two months..." Du Chengqing looked grim, the previous two cases still unresolved, yet here ca another.
"The Zhong family had had conflicts with the Jade Sea Gang before, because Zhong Chengxian refused to give up the family heirloom Pine and Autumn Mountains, and later even clashed with the managers of the Jade Sea Gang.
The Jade Sea Gang then openly declared they would settle the score with the Zhong family, and now...."
Beside him, the deputy Kong He shook his head and said nothing further.
"The thod is exactly the sa as before. It’s basically certain that it’s the work of the Jade Sea Gang." Du Chengqing said in a deep voice.
"To resort to exterminating families at the slightest disagreent, it’s truly lawless! I refuse to believe that this is still the Great Spirit’s world!" He gripped the hilt of his saber, a trace of determination flashing in his eyes.
"So, President Du, are we heading straight to the Jade Sea Gang for questioning now? Or...." the deputy Kong He asked with a frown.
"Go directly to the Jade Sea Gang, first bring back the steward who uttered threats, and interrogate him for a few days! Throw him in the dungeon for a few days, cycle him through once — I don’t believe he won’t speak the truth!" Du Chengqing said fiercely.
Buzz...
Suddenly, a faint noise rapidly approached from afar.
The sound was like a tuning fork being struck and vibrating, or a kind of mournful human voice singing loudly, the sound quality extrely bizarre.
"What’s that noise!?" Du Chengqing frowned deeply, searching all around for the source of the sound.
The other constables also looked around, so more tense ones already raising their crossbow arrows and aiming cautiously at the surroundings.
Whish!
In an instant, a gray shadow descended from the sky, passing swiftly over the heads of several constables.
Bam, bam, bam!!
In an instant, three skulls were sunken and shattered, the n falling to the ground dead.
The gray shadow used the force to leap, spreading his arms wide in a fling.
Swish, swish, swish!!
A barrage of flying stones shot out like bullets, hitting the surrounding constables with force.
With imnse strength, the stones pierced through leather armor, hitting the vital spots of five n.
In the blink of an eye, another five constables fell to the ground motionless.
"Fire!!"
The three holding crossbows were masters of the assessed grade, aiming and releasing their arrows.
But unfortunately, the gray shadow dodged the arrows, his figure blurring and almost leaving afterimages.
He dashed in, flicking a silver gleam in his hand, a silver long whip slashing through the throats of the three.
At the sa ti, that sound reappeared.
The source was indeed this silver long whip.
The three crossbow-wielding constables clutched their throats, blood flowing incessantly, collapsing dead.
The silver whip was incredibly sharp, with imnse strength almost severing half of their necks, creating a terrifying scene.
At this mont, Du Chengqing and Kong He finally arrived with their sabers to confront the gray shadow.
"Scoundrel, courting death!!" Du Chengqing was furious, channeling all his strength into a strike.
He slashed diagonally from above.
His veins bulged, face twisted in rage, eyes bloodshot, clearly entering a state of extre limit in an instant.
As an Eighth Grade expert, the Hanwu Saber Skill he practiced, upon reaching perfection, also had its own extre state.
With his innate divine power, unleashing it fully could contend with the Ninth Grade.
But in this instant, Du Chengqing’s once-confident Hanwu Saber Skill’s extre state — Cold Sun Martial Arts —
was aningless before the gray shadow.
The gray shadow’s body moved like a swimming fish, easily bending down to dodge the slash, then raising a hand, flicking the silver whip.
Thud!!
Imnse force accompanied the silver gleam flying out.
The thick leather armor on Du Chengqing was useless, as his face was struck by the sharp whip on his eyes.
With a scream.
The gray shadow flicked the whip again, striking Kong He, who had lunged out from the side, in the chest.
Blood splattered.
The two rolled to the ground, one on each side.
Before they could make a sound, the silver whip lashed again, striking the necks, silencing both Du Chengqing and Kong He instantly.
"It’s a real pity. I didn’t originally intend to target you." The gray shadow landed stably, revealing a face as delicate and fair as a woman’s.
But his muscles were well-defined, his figure agile, entirely a man’s build.
"Too bad.... you didn’t appreciate kindness."
Putting away the silver whip, he turned and walked away. In a flash, he disappeared without a trace.
*
*
*
Outside the Cotton Cloud Residence.
Zhang Rongfang finished his boasting, ate, and drank to his fill, leisurely walking out of the teahouse alone.
He was in a very good mood, having successfully overpowered a few bragging companions in an intense debate, also dispelling the frustration from being rebutted in past days.
That’s the joy of life.
Nowadays, he had long handed over the affairs of the Agarwood Temple to a deputy in the yan.
Using the techniques from the Golden Wing Pavilion, he crudely crafted a leather mask of his own face for the deputy to wear, letting him disguise as Zhang during daily ditation and training.
Thus, by donning a little makeup, he could wander and roam anywhere freely.
Anyway, there was nothing happening at the religious yan, as it involved either going out for invited sermons or entertaining visiting officials and dignitaries at Citong.
He was unwilling to do these, so he tossed everything to the deputy.
Now in a pleasant mood, he strolled along the harbor shore.
Zhang Rongfang gazed into the distance.
A forest of sails, thousands of oars like grass. White sails, red sails, black sails, adorned with various designs and patterns, all forming part of the scenery.
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