Chapter 50: Offering Coal in Winter

Chapter 50: Offering Coal in Winter

Canglang Martial Academy.

The front courtyard was now filled with numerous disciples, including the five true disciples who were Wang Jin's actual apprentices.

These true disciples of the martial academy had a genuine master-apprentice relationship with Wang Jin.

In the Kingdom of Daxia, the bond between master and apprentice was no less profound than that of a father and son.

As the saying goes, "Once a master, always a father."

Today was also a grand occasion for the Canglang Martial Academy in recent days.

The tiger, which Wang Jin had captured from the mountains and kept caged for several days, was about to be unleashed.

This was an opportunity for all the disciples to witness their senior brothers fighting the tiger up close and observe the majestic might of the king of beasts.

The Tiger Form Fist within the Five Animal Fist originated from the tiger, so observing the tiger's combat up close was an opportunity for any disciple practicing the Tiger Form Fist to gain insights into the tiger's movements and shape.

If they could seize this opportunity and comprehend the tiger's essence, their fist technique would achieve a breakthrough.

Mastery of any one of the Five Animal Fists would earn them the status of Wang Jin's true disciple.

For many disciples who had joined the academy, becoming Wang Jin's disciple meant a chance to change their destiny.

If their fist technique could advance further and reach perfection, grasping the explosive power of the Tiger Strength, their combat prowess would undergo a qualitative transformation, providing significant assistance in their martial apprenticeship.

Even among Rank 9 martial artists, only half could master the lower-tier martial arts at the perfection level.

In the Kingdom of Daxia, where martial arts flourished, wealth and status were maintained through force.

Ordinary wealthy young masters held little status meant little before Rank 9 martial artists.

By becoming Wang Jin's disciples, they had a fifty percent chance of achieving the rank of Martial Apprentice.

This would bring a change in status, even for the wealthy and influential.

If they could further their cultivation and reach the eighth rank, they would become renowned throughout Luoshui County.

The status of an eighth-rank martial artist far surpassed that of the ordinary wealthy and influential.

This was why, despite the Canglang Martial Academy's recent establishment and high fees, many wealthy and influential individuals came to seek apprenticeship.

However, most of them couldn't endure the hardships of martial training.

Even now, every once in a while, some outer disciples from the academy quit, unable to withstand the rigors of martial practice.

Perseverance in martial training at the academy was rare, let alone meeting Wang Jin's demanding requirements for mastery in any one of the Five Animal Fists.

At this moment, Liu Zhixiang, with his goatee, entered the academy's main gate with a follower.

He had just received Wang Jin's permission to enter the main gate.

As he stepped through, he scanned the crowd in the front courtyard and instantly locked eyes with Zhou Xing.

"Zhou Xing, my dear nephew, how are you?" Liu Zhixiang's lips moved slightly, and a warm smile appeared on his face as he exchanged glances with Zhou Xing.

Although his voice was not loud, Zhou Xing was no ordinary person. As the nominal senior disciple of Canglang Martial Academy, he had already entered the rank of Martial Apprentice, with minor success in skin tempering, possessing a stone-like skin.

Furthermore, he had mastered four of the Five Animal Fists, and his understanding of the Tiger Form Fist had reached perfection, allowing him to grasp the Tiger Strength.

Such a figure was a standout among the younger generation in Luoshui County.

With his exceptional martial prowess and heightened senses, he could naturally hear Liu Zhixiang's words.

At that moment, upon hearing Liu Zhixiang's words, Zhou Xing's initially smiling face turned solemn.

"Such arrogance! It seems that the matter wasn't just hearsay, and the Sihe Merchant Guild's business must have truly involved the Liu Family of the three great families!"

Then, he suppressed the surging emotions within him.

After patting Xiao Peng on the shoulder in front of him and offering a few words of encouragement, Zhou Xing prepared to head to the back courtyard to pay his respects to Wang Jin.

Zhou Xing understood that for the Zhou family to rise, they needed to rely on Wang Jin.

Wang Jin was his master, a father-like figure.

And behind Wang Jin was a powerful figure, a high-ranking official in the Luoshui County military, who was backed by the Daxia court.

This was the reason why, despite having better options, he chose to join the Canglang Martial Academy.

Secondly, he also knew that he needed to rely on himself.

In his eyes, the Inspection Bureau was an opportunity, a chance to stir up a storm and potentially change the current situation in Luoshui County.

While martial power was important, influence and authority were even more crucial.

By joining the Inspection Bureau, he could leverage its influence and gain authority.

As the saying goes, "The common people do not contend with officials." No matter how prosperous the Zhou family became, they were still commoners.

Only by aligning with the Daxia court and relying on this towering tree could they gain authority.

It was this thought that led Zhou Xing to consider investing in those around him, recruiting talents, and establishing a foothold within the Inspection Bureau.

Only then would the Zhou family have the chance to rise again under his leadership, becoming a prominent family equal to the three great families of Luoshui County, and even surpassing them.

With these thoughts in mind, Zhou Xing strode confidently towards the back courtyard of the martial arts academy.

He knew that at this moment, he did not have the qualifications to offend Liu Zhixiang, as Liu Zhixiang represented the Sihe Merchant Guild and possibly some interests of the Liu family, one of the three great families.

On the other side.

Liu Zhixiang, with his goatee, watched Zhou Xing's departing figure with a hint of regret, which quickly turned into wariness. His gaze towards Zhou Xing became extremely sharp.

"I've underestimated this young man! Despite my blatant provocation, he can ignore it as if nothing happened. He's not going to be easy to deal with!"

Thinking of this, he recalled the information he had about Zhou Xing.

Zhou Xing was known as the Zhou family's Qilin Child.

He possessed exceptional martial talent and was only twenty-one years old.

Having entered the Ninth Stage of Martial Dao, he had achieved Minor Success in Skin Forging.

With exceptional talent in fist techniques, he had reached the Perfection Stage, mastering the Tiger Power.

Liu Zhixiang secretly regretted his actions.

"I shouldn't have offended Zhou Xing too deeply. I need to find an opportunity to ease the tension!"

"But I must also carry out the task assigned to me from above!"

"The Inspection Bureau is crucial to the future of Daxia. It's a significant investment made by His Majesty from the High Above and the Martial Sage who Overwhelms the World."

"The establishment of the Inspection Bureau will undoubtedly stir up the world. Those eligible to join the Bureau must be given due importance!"

"As the saying goes, 'Heroes are born of the times.' We must establish good relations with these talented individuals!"

"Offering coal in winter is the way to gain favors!"

"This is the way of doing business."

Liu Zhixiang's thoughts raced as his gaze quickly scanned the front yard of the martial arts academy.

Before arriving, the guild leader had given him intelligence on the Canglang Martial Academy, including a list of disciples who had the potential to join the Inspection Bureau.

His task was to personally represent the Sihe Merchant Guild and invest in the individuals listed, demonstrating the guild's support.

It was a strategic investment.

With their current strength, a small investment could earn them favors and build connections.

If any of these individuals grew to become influential figures in Luoshui County in the future, those favors would be worth a thousand gold.

This was the way of the Sihe Merchant Guild.

To expand in business, one needed the backing of high-ranking and powerful figures, as well as several Martial Dao Masters, to truly thrive.

Otherwise, it would be like fighting against wolves that devour people without spitting out the bones.

The level of danger was no less than that of a battlefield, where killing could happen without a trace.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end