The snow was thick, but the thought of soon being able to practice martial arts—to change their fate and make a na for themselves just like Xu Yang—fueled the group of youths. Coupled with their ample preparations, every single one of them persevered and made it to the city. No one was left behind.
Xu Yang only led them to the vicinity of the Huang Family estate before heading to the Liu Family’s. Whether they could change their fates was now up to them.
He soon learned from Zhang Bo that the Liu Family had concluded Bao Gang had t with a fatal accident and had given his family so money as compensation.
This act imdiately won over the people, who all praised the Liu Family for their righteousness.
Even Xu Yang developed a slightly better impression of the Liu Family. After all, he knew how Bao Gang had died, and it had absolutely nothing to do with them.
The fact that the Liu Family was willing to give money to Bao Gang’s family—whether it was to buy loyalty or not—ant they had actually paid up.
In any case, the matter couldn’t be traced back to him.
When he arrived at Weiyuan Hall that afternoon, he saw the people the Huang Family had selected this ti. There weren’t as many as before—only five.
The Huang Family had raised their standards, rejecting anyone with a D-class Root Bone.
Their luck wasn’t as good as last ti, either. There were no geniuses like Lu Ren, not even a single person with a B-class Root Bone.
All five had a C-class Root Bone: one C-class and four Lower C-class.
It was said that the Huang Family’s Second Master, Huang Ping, was furious but could only grit his teeth and increase the intensity of their training.
Of the dozen or so people from Bai Shi Workshop, one had actually been chosen: his distant cousin, Xu Zheng, one of the four with a Lower C-class Root Bone.
"Brother Ah Yang!"
Seeing Xu Yang appear, Xu Zheng waved at him excitedly, his face flushed.
Xu Yang just gave a faint nod. Although they were cousins from the sa clan, their kinship was so distant they were practically strangers. Before Xu Yang beca a Martial Artist, Xu Zheng wouldn’t have even greeted him.
Xu Yang paid no more attention to the Huang Family’s affairs. What he had been worried about never ca to pass.
Three days later, the thick snow began to lt, and he returned to his training routine.
Mornings with the Liu Family, afternoons at Weiyuan Hall.
...
SPLASH... SPLASH...
Qiu Yongqiang ran with a panicked look on his face, splashing through the slushy snow.
When he finally reached ho and pushed open the door, he saw his older brother, Qiu Yongjian, lying pale-faced on the bed. A blood-soaked garnt was piled on the floor beside it.
"Brother, are you okay?"
His eyes were filled with fury, but his first concern was for Qiu Yongjian’s injuries.
A pained smile appeared on Qiu Yongjian’s face. "Second Brother, your idea of hiring a Tributor was the right one. Without a Martial Artist as a Tributor, forget business—anyone can take your life whenever they please."
Qiu Yongqiang could no longer control his anger and roared, "Hong Xu has gone too far! He resorts to violence just because he can’t compete in business! Does he think the Hong Family is the only one with a Martial Artist? I’ve already sent soone to inform Wenjie."
The Hong Family and the Qiu Family were both in the tea business. However, the Qiu Family had better supply channels, allowing them to sell higher quality tea at a lower price. Though they had competed for years, things had never turned violent.
Unexpectedly, after the heavy snow prevented new shipnts from arriving, the Hong Family started raising their prices. Since the Qiu Family had a large stock and worried they wouldn’t be able to sell it, they didn’t raise their prices. This caused the Hong Family’s price hike to fail, and so the conflict flared up again.
After several rounds of negotiations, the Hong Family’s demand evolved. They initially just wanted the Qiu Family to raise prices with them, but then they insisted the Qiu Family share their supply channels.
The Qiu brothers, of course, refused to share such a vital secret with a competitor. When their coercion failed, the Hong Family resorted to violence today.
Qiu Yongjian’s expression changed at his words. "This is bad. I only learned today that the reason Hong Xu’s demands kept escalating is that his eldest son, Hong Feng, broke through to Qi Gathering Minor Achievent in his Martial Arts Cultivation. That’s why he dared to resort to force.
Go stop Wenjie! Don’t let him go to the Hong Family! He’s only just reached Qi Gathering; he’s no match for Hong Feng. If they fight, Hong Feng won’t show any rcy.
Have him find a Senior Brother from Weiyuan Hall, soone with enough influence to diate.
Hurry! Hong Xu only gave us one day to consider. If we don’t hand over our channels after a day, he’s going to have Hong Feng make his move."
Hearing that Hong Xu’s eldest son, Hong Feng, had reached Qi Gathering Minor Achievent, Qiu Yongqiang’s face fell. He wasted no ti and rushed out the door to intercept his son, Qiu Wenjie.
Thankfully, he managed to stop him. Qiu Wenjie hadn’t reached the Hong Family’s estate yet. Qiu Yongqiang quickly explained about Hong Feng’s Qi Gathering Minor Achievent and relayed his brother Qiu Yongjian’s plan.
"Father, don’t worry. I’ll go to Weiyuan Hall right now and ask an influential Senior Brother to step in."
Qiu Wenjie gave Qiu Yongqiang a reassuring look and turned to leave. However, once he stepped into the Inner Courtyard of Weiyuan Hall, he looked around in a daze, suddenly unsure of who to ask.
Among the many Senior Brothers in the Inner Courtyard, plenty could resolve this matter with a single sentence. But he had almost no relationship with them, having barely even spoken to them.
Even if he shalessly went and asked, they wouldn’t help him.
In all his ti in the Inner Courtyard, he had only ever associated with Xu Yang and his small group. The influential disciples with powerful backgrounds looked down on him.
’That’s right, Senior Brother Zhang Yong.’
He suddenly rembered that Zhang Yong was also at Qi Gathering Minor Achievent, and they were on friendly terms. Zhang Yong should be willing to help.
Qiu Wenjie quickly walked up to Zhang Yong and cupped his fists. "Senior Brother Zhang Yong, my family has provoked a master at Qi Gathering Minor Achievent. I was hoping you could help diate with the other party..."
Zhang Yong stopped his Pile Skill practice. He didn’t refuse imdiately, instead asking for the details about the person the Qiu Family had provoked.
"His na is Hong Feng, from the Tiger Roar Boxing Hall. His talent is average; it probably took him three or four years to reach Qi Gathering Minor Achievent. They’re bullying us. My Qiu Family and their Hong Family are both in the tea business..."
Qiu Wenjie held nothing back, explaining in detail how the feud between the Hong Family and the Qiu Family had started and why it had escalated to this point.
Finally, he added, "If Senior Brother Zhang can help us diate, my uncle and father will certainly prepare a generous gift to thank you."
He didn’t expect Zhang Yong to help for free; he understood how the world worked.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Yong’s attitude changed, and he shook his head. "Sorry, I can’t help with this."
Qiu Wenjie’s face turned pale. "Senior Brother Zhang, you also have a Qi Gathering Minor Achievent Cultivation. If you just step in and say a few words, Hong Feng wouldn’t dare to disrespect you. If you think the gift is too small, you can na your price."
Zhang Yong sighed before replying, "It’s not about the gift. If it were just a matter of a few words, what would it matter if I helped you out, for the sake of our bond as martial brothers?
But based on what you’ve said, the Hong Family is after your supply channels. They want to swallow the Qiu Family whole to strengthen their own. This isn’t so spur-of-the-mont decision.
If I diate, it won’t end with just a few words. We will inevitably have to fight it out.
Right now, before the Martial Arts Ascension Dragon, I still have no confidence I can reach Qi Gathering Great Success. If I get injured and delayed, then I’ll truly have no hope left..."
Hearing this, Qiu Wenjie understood that Zhang Yong would not change his mind. Nothing more he could say would make a difference.
When two people of the sa cultivation level fought, how could they not be injured? Mutual destruction was even a possibility.
Zhang Yong’s heart was set on the Martial Dao; he would never risk delaying his progress for soone with whom he had only a casual friendship.
"I understand, Senior Brother Zhang. I’ll go ask the other Senior Brothers."
Qiu Wenjie bowed to Zhang Yong and turned to leave. But as he looked around the vast Inner Courtyard, he once again felt lost, not knowing who to ask.
If Zhang Yong has these concerns, the other Senior Brothers surely will too.
Unless he found soone with such a powerful background that their na alone would make Hong Feng back down, he would be rejected by everyone he asked.
’Sun Tao, Jiang Ping, Gu Fang, Zhao Zhifei!’
The nas of the most influential disciples in the Inner Courtyard flashed through his mind. In the end, he decided to swallow his pride and ask Jiang Ping.
Sun Tao represented Weiyuan Hall itself and couldn’t easily intervene in personal matters.
Gu Fang was a woman and wouldn’t get involved in public negotiations.
Zhao Zhifei was arrogant and only associated with those from powerful backgrounds. He looked down on disciples from the Lower Class, even scorning Lu Ren. Only Jiang Ping was relatively approachable; there might be a chance with him.
Lost in thought, he quickly walked up to Jiang Ping and cupped his fists. "Greetings, Senior Brother Jiang."
Jiang Ping looked at the junior brother he barely recognized and raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
Qiu Wenjie took a deep breath and said quickly, "It’s like this, Senior Brother Jiang. Soone is trying to seize my family’s business, and I’d like to ask you, Senior Brother..."
Jiang Ping cut him off. "Get lost!"
Qiu Wenjie’s face flushed crimson. Humiliated, he mumbled an apology to Jiang Ping, his mind a tangled ss, with no idea who he could ask to save the Qiu Family.
Suddenly, soone blocked his path. He looked up instinctively and saw Xu Yang looking at him with a stern expression, Wu Yongfeng standing beside him.
"Why didn’t you co to if you were in trouble?" Xu Yang asked with a frown.
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