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"Did you see it a while back?"

"Yeah, I saw it. I was oiling the carriage at the time, and saw it by the roadside. That group had over twenty riders, all looking fierce."

Old Huang replied.

"Before, at the city gate, I saw a notice saying there were rampaging beasts outside the city, and the Seven Families Alliance from the Inner City was leading a hunting party. Each of the seven families sent their experts to form a team."

Old Huang took a swig from his water pouch and continued, "Looking at it today, I'm afraid there's no hope."

Wei He remained silent and didn't ask further.

The carriage slowly moved forward in the night, heading towards the Wei family's small courtyard.

The wheels kicked up sprays of rainwater as they passed by pedestrians holding umbrellas, and also passed a person in blue by the roadside.

The man in blue held a white paper umbrella, on which a delicate red plum blossom was painted. He walked leisurely.

Wei He caught a fleeting glimpse through a crack in the window. He vaguely saw a small, exquisite character 'Hong' embroidered on the sleeve of the blue-clothed man's hand holding the umbrella.

His heart tightened. He quickly opened the car window and leaned out to look back, but the man in blue was nowhere to be seen.

The street was deserted, with only a few people hurrying by with umbrellas.

The extinguished lanterns in front of the shops swayed in the wind, looking particularly desolate.

Wei He pulled his head back, sat up straight, and suddenly felt a heavy sensation in his heart.

He didn't know why he felt this way, but instinctively, it felt as if dark clouds were pressing down, and a storm could erupt at any moment.

"Maybe I should ask Old Zheng. He might know something."

Wei He made up his mind. He would ask Old Zheng tomorrow.

As a renowned Grandmaster in Shiqiao Town, Old Zheng's network and information were far beyond his reach.

And that man in blue, from the Hong family...

Wei He suppressed the clutter in his mind, closed his eyes, cleared everything, and took a deep breath.

Upon returning home, Wei Ying had hot water ready for him. After a bath, Wei He quickly fell asleep.

Before dawn the next day, he headed straight for the inner room where his teacher, Old Zheng, lived.

He knew that Old Zheng usually got up very early, but he also knew that Old Zheng secretly tallied his accounts every morning.

"The horse troop last night? That was the Seven Families Alliance's troop..."

Putting down the abacus he was holding, Zheng Fugui stroked his long beard.

"Do you know, I just learned from an old brother that Hong Daoyuan of Hong Family Fort went on an outing yesterday, taking his beloved wife and young son to Mingde Temple to burn incense.

He also said that Hong Daoyuan's party encountered a sudden beast attack, but he personally killed over ten fierce beasts, emerging completely unharmed."

"This!" Wei He's heart tightened. Connecting the dots, he felt a sense of foreboding.

Zheng Fugui chuckled.

"The Seven Families Alliance and Hong Family Fort have clashed openly and secretly more than a few times, with more losses than victories. Now that Hong Daoyuan's wings are fully grown, he's just waiting for the right time. What can the Seven Families Alliance use to compete with him?"

He stood up, put the abacus back into a compartment in the bookshelf, and took out a thin ledger from another place.

"Do you know what kind of place Mingde Temple is?"

"Disciple doesn't know... Isn't it a place for burning incense and worshipping Buddha?" Wei He shook his head.

"Little He, your teacher will tell you a principle today," Zheng Fugui smiled. "In this world, any place built outside the city, any place daring to be outside the city, whether it's a martial arts dojo or a Buddhist temple, there are no simple characters."

"...Could it be that Mingde Temple also has another identity?!" Wei He's heart immediately tightened. He had actually killed people to silence them at Mingde Temple back then...

"Exactly. Mingde Temple is a branch altar of the Incense Gathering Cult. Hong Family Fort going to Mingde Temple to burn incense, does that make the meaning any clearer?" Zheng Fugui sneered. "The Seven Families Alliance is also in a panic."

"Then Teacher, if a real fight breaks out, what should we do?" Wei He asked worriedly.

"What's there to be afraid of? Even if a fight really breaks out, they fight their fight, what does it have to do with us? The Seven Families Alliance aside, Hong Family Fort has always had a good reputation and wouldn't harm ordinary citizens for no reason."

Zheng Fugui said leisurely.

"Moreover, our Huishan Fist has people on both sides. Hong Family Fort has people from Huishan Fist, and the Seven Families Alliance also has people. No need to rush."

Wei He thought for a moment and then asked, "What about the Incense Gathering Cult?"

"Incense Gathering Cult? A scattered sect, they can't achieve much. At most, they can incite the poor," Zheng Fugui said dismissively.

Wei He wanted to say something more, but Zheng Fugui stopped him with a wave of his hand.

"Alright, since you're worried about something happening, I'll publicly announce your cultivation level later. That way, you can choose which side to join, how about it?"

"Teacher, you mean...?" Wei He asked doubtfully.

"A few days ago, someone from Hong Family Fort came to contact us martial artists," Zheng Fugui explained. "We have many disciples and a significant influence, making us a hurdle they cannot bypass. No matter what they do, they have to consider our stance."

"You mean...?" Wei He's heart tightened slightly.

It was clear that this was a time to choose sides.

"What do I mean?" Zheng Fugui grinned, revealing his large yellow teeth, and said with a smile, "You all have your own encounters. Your backgrounds are different, your choices are different. Which path you take is entirely up to yourselves."

"Alright, don't overthink this. It's still early. Just focus on your training honestly."

In a moment, I'll call a few of the core people over and leak some news about you. Otherwise, relying solely on the snake meat from Cheng Shaojiu's family, do you think you can advance further? How long will that take?"

Wei He nodded, having been pointed out.

At his current stage, the Silver-Kiss Black Snake Meat was indeed no longer enough for him to accumulate Blood Essence.

The speed was too slow.

The amount of snake meat supplied each month wasn't even enough for him to accumulate Blood Essence, let alone accumulate Boundary-Breaking Pearls.

"Stone Hide is also an elite expert at secondary Blood Essence accumulation. He could be a minor leader in Hong Family Fort, and a mid-level figure in the Seven Families Alliance. In ordinary wealthy families, he would be treated as an honored guest. Among the Three Gangs and Two Sects, he's considered a pillar of the middle tier. So, you need to choose carefully."

Wei He nodded heavily.

He knew that Master Zheng was pointing all this out to help him avoid making mistakes.

Soon, Zheng Fugui called a sturdy woman from outside the door to summon the few people in the courtyard.

Before long, the sky gradually brightened.

The first to enter was Jiang Su.

This girl was wearing a form-fitting white outfit, revealing her fair arms. Her upper body was full and seemed ready to spill out, making her quite eye-catching.

It was unclear how she trained, but her chest seemed to have grown larger since she first arrived.

Her face was also rosy, showing a natural apple-red glow from long-term physical training. As she walked in, she brought with her a strong aura of female hormones.

As soon as Jiang Su entered, she saw Wei He standing to the side and was slightly taken aback.

This was Master Zheng's private inner chamber, his bedroom. Unless one was a close disciple, they wouldn't be allowed in.

And now...

Confusion flashed in Jiang Su's eyes, but she didn't speak. She walked to the side and stood quietly.

Soon, Cheng Shaojiu, Jiang Yan, and Zhao Hong also arrived one by one.

Including Wei He, and the absent but injured Xiao Ran, that made a total of six people. They were the most core disciples of Huishan Fist at present.

The five stood in a line before Zheng Fugui, quietly awaiting his instructions.

Zheng Fugui coughed a few times, picked up his teacup, and took a sip of water.

His two old eyes, etched with crow's feet, swept over the five people. After a moment, he slowly began to speak.

"Today, I've called you here to give you an instruction..."

He paused, deliberately put down his teacup, and exhaled.

"Oh, right."

He suddenly looked at Jiang Su, as if remembering something.

"Jiang Su, how old are you this year?"

"Reporting to Teacher, I am nineteen."

"Nineteen, you're not young anymore." Zheng Fugui stroked his beard. "How about this, your junior brother Wei He is also eighteen. He is honest and upright, has good potential, and decent strength. He's a good match. Why don't you two get together? You can support each other, what do you say?"

His words instantly stunned everyone present.

Jiang Yan had always had feelings for Jiang Su. Hearing this, he almost forgot to hold his fan, and it dropped to the floor behind him with a snap.

Cheng Shaojiu was swallowing his saliva and almost choked upon hearing this. He lowered his head and took several breaths.

Zhao Hong was the most composed. He was only stunned for a moment before returning to his normal, still posture.

The two involved, Jiang Su's face quickly turned red. Not from shyness, but from anger.

"Teacher, you want me and Wei He to...?! You... Junior Brother Wei's personality and disposition are not my type, and I vowed long ago that I would only marry a man stronger than me. He, is not suitable!"

Wei He was also startled and quickly spoke up.

"Thank you for your kind intentions, Teacher, but this disciple truly has no romantic thoughts towards Senior Sister Jiang, only respect. Please forgive me, Teacher."

To be honest, if someone like Jiang Su, who was so arrogant, were given to him, he would find it too troublesome.

His ideal partner would be at least like Second Sister, gentle, virtuous, and a good woman to settle down with.

Jiang Su, this woman, was too utilitarian and too strong-willed. Perhaps those effeminate pretty boys would be more suited for her.

Jiang Su on the side glanced at him, thinking, 'This kid at least has some self-awareness, refusing proactively.'

Both of them were startled by Zheng Fugui's sudden arrangement and quickly refused.

Zheng Fugui waved his hand.

"Aren't you quite suitable? Wei He broke through to Stone Hide today, his potential is good. Jiang Su is also not bad, with good looks and family background. Isn't this what they call... a match?"

"A match made in heaven," Cheng Shaojiu whispered from the side, bending slightly to remind him.

"Oh, a match made in heaven."

"..." Cheng Shaojiu smiled, straightened up again, and continued to look at Wei He.

Suddenly, his expression froze. What did the teacher just say?

Little He broke through to Stone Hide?

Wei He's smile faltered, feeling as if he'd misheard, and he quickly replayed the conversation in his mind.

"No, Teacher, did you just say Wei He broke through? A second Blood Essence breakthrough?" Cheng Shaojiu quickly asked.

"Didn't I just say that?" Zheng Fugui glanced at him. "That's right, he's now on the same level as all of you."

This statement, which the others had initially thought they'd misheard, was now being repeated.

Instantly, Jiang Yan and Jiang Su were stunned.

Wei He, this guy who had always been Cheng Shaojiu's little follower, could actually reach Stone Hide?

Jiang Yan frowned, carefully observing Wei He, who stood calmly beside them, but soon, his brow unfurrowed.

The formerly unremarkable follower of Cheng Shaojiu had suddenly gotten lucky? That was quite good.

Wei He came from a humble background, and his family even had a burden to care for. Now that the Cheng family was weakening, it was a good opportunity. He could try to win Wei He over with a little effort, and perhaps gain a loyal servant.

Jiang Yan quickly made up his mind.

On the other side, Jiang Su suppressed her emotions, biting her lip and remaining silent.

'So what if he broke through to Second Blood Essence? Why are they arranging a marriage for me directly? Based on Wei He's previous aptitude, Stone Hide is probably his limit. He just got lucky and passed. Do they really think he's a genius?'

She felt indignant. She also harbored dissatisfaction towards Teacher Zheng.

To have her marry Wei He, wouldn't that place her on the same level as Cheng Shaojiu's follower?

She didn't think much of Cheng Shaojiu himself, and now she was supposed to be paired with his follower? Had Teacher Zheng lost his mind?!