Chapter 48: Martial Arts Resources

The front courtyard of the martial arts hall.

Seeing Zhou Xing and the iron-tower-like Zhang Tiesheng stepping into the courtyard, everyone began to offer greetings.

Hearing the voices behind him, Zhao Hu turned around and immediately saw the figures of Zhou Xing and Zhang Tiesheng.

At this moment, Zhou Xing also looked toward Cheng Ran and Zhao Hu. With a smile on his face, he walked straight in their direction.

"All my junior brothers are here! It seems I am the one who is late! What is happening? I thought I heard Junior Brother Zhao wanted to spar with Junior Brother Cheng?"

He then looked toward Li Qing, who stood out like a single red flower amidst a sea of green: "Junior Sister Li is here as well! Has Junior Sister Li officially entered the ranks of the ninth grade of martial arts?"

"Senior Brother Zhou!" Zhao Hu spoke up.

Li Qing also replied, "It went quite smoothly. I officially entered the ninth grade of martial arts yesterday."

"Congratulations!" Zhou Xing said with a smile.

His gaze then drifted between Cheng Ran and Zhao Hu.

"Just as I stepped through the gates of the hall, I caught a faint hint of the conversation between you two. Is Junior Brother Zhao looking to exchange martial arts with Junior Brother Cheng?"

Zhao Hu snapped, "Hmph! I think Cheng Ran has been looking down on me for a long time! I just wonder if he actually dares to accept the challenge."

Cheng Ran's face immediately showed a look of helplessness as he turned his gaze toward Zhou Xing.

Zhou Xing gave an understanding smile and said, "Junior Brother Zhao, asking Junior Brother Cheng to spar with you is a bit much!"

"Junior Brother Cheng has been in the martial arts hall for less than half a year, while Junior Brother Zhao is already at the minor success stage of the ninth grade. Furthermore, your Tiger Style Fist is perfected, and you have long mastered the Tiger Strength. How can you expect Junior Brother Cheng to respond to such a challenge?"

Li Qing also realized the situation. She was no fool; she knew perfectly well that Zhao Hu had long harbored feelings for her.

She looked at Zhao Hu with a hint of disdain.

"Senior Brother Zhao, you are going a bit too far!"

"I am going too far?" Zhao Hu's eyes burned like fire as he glared fiercely at Cheng Ran. "Fine! Cheng Ran, I'll remember you!"

Seeing this, Cheng Ran could only look helpless.

Jiang Ning, watching from the side, was inwardly clicking his tongue.

"A beautiful woman is a harbinger of trouble; the ancients did not lie!"

"It's a good thing it's Senior Brother Cheng being targeted, and not me!"

At this moment, Jiang Ning made a silent resolution: he had to keep his distance from women. Especially women with looks as striking as Li Qing's.

As Zhao Hu departed, Zhou Xing smiled at Cheng Ran.

"Alright, Junior Brother Cheng, it's over now."

Cheng Ran cupped his fists. "Thank you, Senior Brother Zhou, for bailing me out."

"It's a small matter," Zhou Xing said with a smile. "Zhao Hu is stubborn and set in his ways. You will have to be more careful in the future, Junior Brother Cheng!"

"I understand," Cheng Ran replied, cupping his fists.

Zhou Xing smiled in response.

Regarding Zhao Hu, he had already attempted to recruit him privately. Having failed, Zhou Xing naturally chose to stand on Cheng Ran's side today.

In his view, Cheng Ran came from a good background and possessed decent martial talent. His chances of competing with Xiao Peng for a spot in the Inspectorate were not low—it was roughly a fifty-fifty split.

Thus, he had no intention of giving up on recruiting Cheng Ran.

To him, the most important thing about entering the Inspectorate was power. The power of the Inspectorate was immense. They could inspect the masses and oversee the world; from nobles to commoners, they could execute first and report later.

How could he not understand the magnitude of such power?

If the Zhou family wanted to prosper, to become a clan power like the Cao, Liu, or Xie families—or even surpass them to become the local emperors of Luoshui County—the key lay within the Inspectorate.

The Great Xia dynasty, in its unique era, had created unique imperial institutions. Therefore, he intended to cultivate good relations with anyone who had the potential to enter the Inspectorate.

However, he truly had no way to recruit Zhao Hu. Zhao Hu came from the bottom of society and possessed a natural hostility toward children of wealthy families like himself and Cheng Ran.

Zhou Xing then pulled several invitations from his robe.

"Junior Brother Cheng, in three days, I wonder if you would be willing to visit the Fenghua Pavilion?"

"This is...?" Cheng Ran looked hesitant.

Zhou Xing smiled. "The Inspectorate will be established in three months. I think highly of you and wish to become colleagues. There are terms included in the invitation; you might as well take a look!"

Cheng Ran smiled understandingly. "Please allow me some time to consider it, Senior Brother Zhou."

"No rush, no rush!" Zhou Xing shook his head with a smile. "You have three days to think it over."

He then turned to Li Qing and pulled out an invitation. "Junior Sister Li comes from a wealthy family, so you likely won't care for the terms I offer, but I still wish to stand together with you."

Li Qing took the invitation, glanced at it, and closed it.

"I appreciate your kindness, Senior Brother Zhou. As fellow disciples, we should naturally stand together."

Hearing this, Zhou Xing understood her meaning and smiled.

"In that case, your words are enough!"

Then, Zhou Xing spoke up, "Junior brothers and sisters, I have matters to attend to. I shall take my leave."

"Safe travels, Senior Brother!" Cheng Ran called out.

Li Qing nodded as well.

Jiang Ning stepped forward and cupped his fists. "Senior Brother Zhou, please stay a moment."

"What is it?" Zhou Xing stopped.

Jiang Ning said, "I would like to purchase several wild ginseng roots from you to replenish my physical exhaustion."

"So that's what it is!" Zhou Xing smiled. "Usually, I sell ten-year-old roots to other junior brothers for ten taels of silver each. What is your budget, Junior Brother Jiang?"

Jiang Ning pulled out the banknotes from his robe along with two twenty-tael silver ingots sent by Jiang Li's messenger. "Senior Brother Zhou, this is fifty taels in banknotes and twenty taels in silver. I intend to exchange it all for wild ginseng."

Zhou Xing took the banknotes and, without even checking them, tucked them directly into his pocket, appearing quite straightforward.

"Since it is Junior Brother Jiang asking, I certainly cannot sell them to you at ten taels a piece. I will have my servant bring ten wild ginseng roots later; the extra three are a small token from your Senior Brother."

"Then, thank you, Senior Brother Zhou!" Jiang Ning bowed in thanks.

Zhou Xing smiled warmly. "Since we are fellow disciples and I am your senior, it is only natural that I look after you. Saying thanks makes us feel like strangers."

After speaking, he glanced at Jiang Ning. After a moment of thought, he abandoned the idea of investing in him.

He had an impression of Jiang Ning; the first time they met, Jiang Ning had caused him a moderate amount of surprise. Thus, he had remembered him and his name.

However, to him, that was merely surprise. At the time, Jiang Ning's performance was seen only as having an outstanding memory.

Now, in his eyes, Jiang Ning had practiced martial arts for too short a time and his strength was limited. He had no connection to the upcoming establishment of the Inspectorate. He had missed the chance to leap through the dragon gate and grasp great power.

Even if Jiang Ning's talent was decent, his future achievements would be limited.

So, while he held him in some regard, a simple acquaintance would suffice. The current Jiang Ning was not worth such a heavy investment.

After all, while his family was wealthy, his expenses were high, and recruiting those he valued required immense wealth and resources. If he did not place heavy bets, how could he earn significant favors?

If an investment succeeded and the person seized the opportunity of the Inspectorate to rise to prominence, the Zhou family would rise with them. The favors of martial experts and those in power could not be measured by mere gold and silver.

Investing when someone is weak and not yet developed yields massive rewards if successful. Even if they do not reach the heights of power, having them as a member of the Inspectorate means having a trusted person to call upon when one is promoted.

Therefore, he was unwilling to waste wealth and resources on someone with no chance. In his eyes, a person's opportunities in life are limited; once missed, they are truly gone, and their future destiny will be entirely different.

Luck and opportunity are also parts of one's strength; Zhou Xing strongly believed in this.

Having made his decision, he waved his hand and turned to leave.

Seeing this, Li Qing also spoke up. "You two junior brothers continue your chat. I am going to pay my respects to Master."

"Safe travels, Senior Sister!" Cheng Ran said.

Jiang Ning also added, "Safe travels, Senior Sister Li!"