Chapter 45: Elder Xue Du (Please add to favorites and keep reading)

The next day.

Wei Fei came knocking on the door.

Bringing his own "Letter of Appointment," he sought out Wei Tu to vent his grievances.

After reading Wei Fei's "Letter of Appointment," Wei Tu felt that Wei Fei had it even worse, having only obtained the rank of "Assistant Instructor."

As an Assistant Instructor, one had to lead the local troops in martial drills and exercises once every three days. It was not only troublesome and exhausting, but the status was also considered low among the military officers within the prefecture.

"I am now just waiting for my Fourth Brother to be promoted so he can pull me up with him."

"I only hope he doesn't forget the words we spoke when we became sworn brothers."

Wei Fei gave a self-deprecating laugh.

In contrast to Wei Tu's easygoing nature, he found it difficult to let go of the fact that Prefect He was suppressing him.

After all, his family was not lacking in money.

With his prospects looking bleak, the position of Assistant Instructor was clearly unlikely to significantly elevate his social standing.

"Fourth Brother is a man of integrity; he surely won't forget you and me, his brothers," Wei Tu comforted him.

He knew clearly that Fu Zhizhou was the key to the alliance of the four brothers of their Righteous Society. If Fu Zhizhou broke his word, this alliance would eventually become nothing more than a "joke" in their hearts as time passed.

"Let's wait a year or two and see."

"Time will reveal a person's true character."

Wei Fei brushed off his dejection and smiled.

Compared to Fu Zhizhou, Wei Fei placed significantly more trust in Wei Tu, his fellow townsman.

...

Two days later.

Wei Tu and Wei Fei took up their posts, serving as "Commandant" and "Assistant Instructor" respectively within the prefecture's local militia.

Everything went smoothly within the militia; neither man faced ostracization from colleagues or hostility from the soldiers under their command.

This was not due to good military discipline, but rather due to the decay of military readiness. Every time the roll was called, less than half—sometimes even less than a third—of the officers and soldiers showed up.

"The world is falling into chaos."

Seeing this scene, Wei Tu thought back to what his father, Wei Bao, had told him about Baiyang County when he returned to Changming Village three years ago.

Seventy percent of the grain in the charity granaries had been embezzled by the officials of Baiyang County, and the remaining thirty percent was mostly stale, not the new grain from last year.

A glimpse through a keyhole.

If civil unrest broke out in Qingshan County, Wei Tu did not believe these local militias could withstand a siege by rebel forces.

Civil unrest in Qingshan County.

It only required one natural disaster.

"This has nothing to do with me."

"The local systemic rot of the Zheng Kingdom is not something I can change alone. Acting rashly might just hand Prefect He the evidence for my own 'crimes'..."

Wei Tu shook his head and began to turn a blind eye to the "decay of military readiness" in the Qingshan County militia.

He was well-versed in history and knew the fates that had befallen those officials in his previous life who had strived for reform.

...

Five days after taking up his post in the militia.

Wei Tu finally met the Elder of the "Martial Destiny Pavilion" that Fu Zhizhou had mentioned in his letter many days ago.

"Are you Martial Master Wei?" In a narrow alley, an elderly man in his sixties blocked Wei Tu's path, asking with a chuckle.

His hair and beard were completely white, and his temples were slightly prominent. He appeared aged, yet his every movement exuded extreme vigor.

"And you are?" Although Wei Tu had some suspicions regarding this man's origins, he could not be certain.

—If such an "extraordinary person" existed in the county town, they would certainly not be unknown.

"I am Xue Du, an Elder of the Martial Destiny Pavilion!" The elderly man smiled slightly and did not hide his identity.

"The reason I, Xue, have come to Qingshan County is to invite Martial Master Wei to join our Martial Destiny Pavilion."

"If Martial Master Wei agrees, our Pavilion is willing to devote all resources to your cultivation..."

"I dare to guarantee that if Martial Master Wei joins us, there is hope to become a Xiantian Martial Master before the age of fifty."

"A Xiantian Martial Master enjoys a lifespan of two hundred years."

Word by word, Xue Du laid out the conditions of the Martial Destiny Pavilion.

As the words fell, Wei Tu's heart stirred intensely.

At this moment, he finally understood why Fu Zhizhou had repeatedly urged him not to agree to the Martial Destiny Pavilion for the sake of profit.

There was no other reason; the conditions offered by the Martial Destiny Pavilion were simply too generous.

A Xiantian Martial Master, with a lifespan of two hundred years.

Joining the Pavilion meant the hope of extending one's life by an entire generation.

Who could resist such a condition?

Especially for Wei Tu.

With his "Late Bloomer" destiny, the longer his lifespan, the greater the impact he could exert.

After achieving the rank of Xiantian Martial Master, perhaps he might even have the chance to pursue the Immortal Path that might exist in this world.

"I am already an official of the Imperial Court. Since I have entered government service, as for this Martial Destiny Pavilion... I must decline..."

After a few seconds of hesitation, Wei Tu finally suppressed the desires in his heart. He took a deep breath and spoke.

"This is about becoming a Xiantian Martial Master?" Xue Du frowned and pressed further with a few more questions.

—To achieve such success after only three years of training. He did not want to let go of a talent like Wei Tu.

"I thank Elder Xue for your appreciation, but I am not passionate about the martial arts. Martial arts are merely a tool for me to pursue fame and fortune."

Wei Tu shook his head and continued to refuse.

Hearing this, Xue Du could only give up. He sighed and casually tossed a token to Wei Tu, saying, "If Martial Master Wei changes his mind, you may take this token to Mount Tonghu. There, you will find our sect's reception envoy."

Having finished speaking, Xue Du flicked his heavy robes and stepped onto the alley wall. Like a cloud crane, he leaped onto a roof two zhang high, and after a few steps, he vanished without a trace.

"Lightness skill?" Seeing this, Wei Tu's eyebrows twitched, and he immediately formed a certain estimation of Xue Du's strength.

While External Martial Masters often possessed greater raw strength than Internal Martial Masters, in certain aspects, they were far inferior.

Such as the lightness skill Xue Du had just displayed.

Though Wei Tu could use momentum to leap onto a roof two zhang high, his posture was nowhere near as graceful and effortless as Xue Du's.

Furthermore, from what Wei Tu observed, Xue Du was not only an Internal Martial Master but had also practiced a certain degree of External Stance Training...

"However, there must be some falsehood in what he said. He is already quite old and has yet to enter the Xiantian realm... how could he allow us, the later disciples, to easily reach the Xiantian Martial Master realm?"

"Moreover, the government is already watching the Martial Destiny Pavilion. The Pavilion is not a safe place to be right now..."

Wei Tu shook his head and pushed the matter of the Martial Destiny Pavilion deep into his heart.

However, before leaving, Wei Tu thought for a moment and hid the token Xue Du had thrown at him under a large spring tree in the alley.

The next day.

Wei Wei told Wei Tu that Xue Du of the Martial Destiny Pavilion had also come to find him, but he had flatly refused.

Wei Fei's reason for refusing the Martial Destiny Pavilion was the same as Wei Tu's. Aside from their agreement at the prefectural office... there was another point: both of them could see that the Martial Destiny Pavilion was a sinking ship.

To board such a ship now would be nothing short of seeking death.

No matter how great a martial sect the Martial Destiny Pavilion was, it could not compare to the Zheng Kingdom Imperial Court. This was the consensus of the two men, and indeed, of all martial artists.

Otherwise, why would the Martial Destiny Pavilion recruit people like them, the Martial Scholars? Wouldn't it be better to establish their own "Imperial Court" and cultivate their own disciples?

Their recruitment of Martial Scholars was precisely proof that they were inferior to the Zheng Kingdom Imperial Court and could only resort to such a low tactic.

After rejecting the invitation from the Martial Destiny Pavilion, Wei Tu's life returned to its day-to-day tranquility.

Until—

The results of this year's provincial martial examinations were released, and the list was delivered to the Qingshan County government office.

"Fu Zhizhou actually passed the provincial exam this year, ranking ninth..."

After reading the list, Wei Tu and Wei Fei felt a mix of joy and growing anxiety.

Originally, Fu Zhizhou's background was already better than the other three brothers in their sworn brotherhood.

Now, having passed the provincial exam and become a Martial Licentiate, his status had leaped far ahead of theirs. He would be commissioned as an eighth-rank military officer...

Whether he would still remember their old pact and be willing to abide by it was difficult to predict.