Chapter 50: Timely Assistance in the Snow

Canglang Martial Arts Hall.

At this moment, the front courtyard was already crowded with numerous disciples.

Among them were the five true disciples who shared a master-disciple bond with Wang Jin.

The true disciples of the martial arts hall held a relationship with Wang Jin that was meaningful in the truest sense.

In Great Xia, the bond between master and disciple was no less profound than that between father and son.

As the saying goes, "A teacher for a day is a father for a lifetime."

Today was also a grand event for the Canglang Martial Arts Hall.

The fierce tiger, which had been captured from the mountains by Wang Jin some time ago and kept in captivity for several days, was about to be released from its cage.

This was an opportunity for all disciples to observe their senior brothers fighting the tiger at close range and to witness the divine might of the King of Beasts.

The Tiger Form within the Five Animals Fist was derived from the tiger; therefore, observing a tiger's combat up close was an invaluable opportunity for any disciple practicing the Tiger Form.

If one could seize this opportunity and comprehend even a fraction of the tiger's spirit and form, their fist technique would achieve a breakthrough.

Mastering any single form within the Five Animals Fist was the requirement to become a true disciple of Wang Jin.

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

If their fist technique could advance further to reach perfection and master a highly explosive force like the Tiger Strength, their combat power would undergo a qualitative change, providing immense help in ranking up in the martial arts.

Even among the ranks of Ninth-Grade martial artists, only half could master a lower-tier martial art at the level of perfection.

In the prosperous Great Xia, wealth and status had to be maintained through martial force.

Ordinary children of wealthy families held no real status before a Ninth-Grade martial artist.

By simply becoming Wang Jin's disciple, they had a hundred percent chance of ranking up in the martial arts.

Even for children of the wealthy, this would result in a shift in social standing.

If they could advance further in life and become Eighth-Grade martial artists, they would be figures worthy of praise throughout the entire Luoshui County.

Even the families of the common nobility were far inferior in status to an Eighth-Grade martial artist.

This was why, despite the Canglang Martial Arts Hall being newly established and charging extremely high fees, many people of status still came to seek apprenticeship.

However, most people could not persevere.

Even now, every so often, outer disciples would quit because they could not endure the hardships of martial training.

Of those studying at the hall, fewer than half could last six months.

To say nothing of meeting Wang Jin's requirement of mastering any single fist technique.

At this moment.

In the front courtyard of the hall.

Liu Zhixiang, sporting a goatee, entered the gates accompanied by an attendant.

He had just received permission from Wang Jin to enter the hall.

As he stepped through the gates, his gaze swept across the crowd in the front courtyard, and his eyes instantly locked with Zhou Xing's.

"Nephew Zhou, I trust you have been well!"

Liu Zhixiang's lips moved slightly, and as he met Zhou Xing's gaze, a kind and friendly smile appeared on his face.

Though his voice was not loud, who was Zhou Xing?

Nominally the eldest senior brother of the Canglang Martial Arts Hall, he was already a ranked martial artist—a Ninth-Grade practitioner who had achieved minor success in Skin Refining, possessing skin as tough as stone.

Furthermore, he had mastered four of the five forms of the Five Animals Fist, and had even comprehended the true intent of the Tiger Form, reaching the stage of perfection and mastering the Tiger Strength.

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

With such martial prowess and exceptional senses, he naturally heard Liu Zhixiang's words.

Upon hearing them, the smile on Zhou Xing's face abruptly vanished.

"Such arrogance... it seems that matter was not mere rumor. The Sihe Chamber of Commerce's business must truly be involved with the Liu family, one of the three great families!"

He immediately suppressed the rising emotions in his heart.

After patting the shoulder of Xiao Peng in front of him and offering a word of encouragement, he prepared to head to the back courtyard to pay his respects to Wang Jin.

Zhou Xing knew that for the Zhou family to rise, they first had to rely on Wang Jin.

Wang Jin was his master, a master equivalent to a father.

And behind Wang Jin stood the influential figure, Captain Wang, of the Luoshui County garrison.

This was the real reason he had chosen to join the Canglang Martial Arts Hall despite having better options.

Secondly, he knew he had to rely on himself.

In his view, the Inspectorate was an opportunity—a chance to stir the winds and clouds and change the current situation in Luoshui County.

While martial force was important, momentum and power were more vital.

By joining the Inspectorate, he could leverage its momentum and hold power in his hands.

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

Only by leaning against the Great Xia Imperial Court, against this towering tree, could one wield true power.

It was precisely because of this thought that he intended to invest in those around him, recruiting talent to build a career within the Inspectorate.

Only in this way could the Zhou family have a chance to rise again under his leadership, becoming a prestigious family equal to the three great families of Luoshui County, or even becoming the sole Zhou family of the county.

With these thoughts flashing through his mind, Zhou Xing walked steadily toward the back courtyard.

He knew that at this moment, he was not yet in a position to fall out with Liu Zhixiang, because Liu Zhixiang represented the Sihe Chamber of Commerce and potentially the interests of the Liu family.

On the other side.

Watching Zhou Xing's departing back, the goatee-wearing Liu Zhixiang felt a momentary sense of regret, which quickly turned into wariness. His gaze toward Zhou Xing became extremely sharp.

"I underestimated this boy! I provoked him so blatantly, yet he acted as if he saw nothing. He will be difficult to deal with!"

Thinking of this, he recalled the information regarding Zhou Xing.

Zhou Xing was known as the "Kirin Son" of the Zhou family.

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

He had reached the Ninth Grade with minor success in Skin Refining.

His talent in fist techniques was exceptionally high, reaching the stage of perfection and mastering the Tiger Strength.

Liu Zhixiang felt a secret pang of regret.

"I shouldn't offend this boy too deeply; I must find an opportunity to smooth things over!"

"However, the mission assigned from above must still be executed!"

"The Inspectorate concerns the future of Great Xia. It is a heavy bet placed by His Majesty above the high throne and the Martial Saint who suppresses the world—a heavy bet to save a collapsing empire!"

"Once the Inspectorate is established, it will inevitably stir the world. For those qualified to join, they must be given importance!"

"As they say, 'circumstances create heroes.' For such talents, one must cultivate good relations!"

"Providing help when it is most needed is the only way to reap gratitude!"

"Such an investment is the way of business."

As these thoughts raced through his mind, Liu Zhixiang's gaze quickly swept across the front courtyard.

Before coming, the Chairman had given him intelligence on the Canglang Martial Arts Hall, which listed disciples who had the potential to join the Inspectorate.

His task was to act as a supervisor for the Sihe Chamber of Commerce and personally invest in the individuals on that list.

To provide "charcoal in the snow."

With their current strength, even a small investment could buy gratitude and close relationships.

If any of them grew to become great figures in Luoshui County in the future, that gratitude would be worth a thousand pieces of gold.

This was the business philosophy of the Sihe Chamber of Commerce.

If one wishes to expand the way of business, one must stand behind powerful figures and martial masters; otherwise, how can one grow strong?

Without them, one is merely fighting against a pack of wolves that devours people without leaving a bone.

The danger of such a struggle was no less than the clash of blades and swords on a battlefield.

It was a danger that killed invisibly.

(End of Chapter)