Snow in Winter, Timely Aid

Canglang Martial Hall.

By this time, the front yard had already gathered a great many disciples.

Among them were the five Direct Disciples who had a teacher-and-disciple relationship with Wang Jin in all but name.

The Direct Disciples of the Martial Arts Hall were those who had a true teacher-and-disciple relationship with Wang Jin.

In Great Xia, the bond between master and disciple was in no way inferior to the affection between father and son.

As the saying went, "Once one's master, one's father for life."

Today was also a grand event for Canglang Martial Hall in recent days.

The Ferocious Tiger that Wang Jin had captured from the mountains some time ago and kept in captivity for many days was about to be released.

This was an opportunity for all the disciples to watch their Senior Brothers fight the Ferocious Tiger up close and observe firsthand the Divine Might of the king of beasts.

The Tiger Form Fist among the Five Animal Frolics Fist had evolved from the Ferocious Tiger. Thus, for any disciple practicing the Tiger Form Fist, observing a tiger hunt up close was an opportunity in itself.

If they could seize this opportunity and comprehend some of the Ferocious Tiger's form and spirit, their fist technique would break through.

Perfecting any one of the fist techniques in the Five Animal Frolics Fist was enough to become Wang Jin's Direct Disciple.

For many disciples who had joined the Martial Arts Hall, becoming Wang Jin's disciple was an opportunity to change their fate.

If their fist technique advanced another step and reached the Perfected Realm, allowing them to master a Jin Force as explosively powerful as the Fierce Tiger Force,

their combat strength would undergo a qualitative transformation, and it would also provide extremely powerful assistance in achieving Martial Dao Entry Rank.

Even among Ninth Rank Martial Artists, only half could master a Lower Grade Martial Art at the Perfected Realm.

In Great Xia, where the Martial Path flourished, wealth and status had to be defended with martial force.

Ordinary wealthy young masters held little standing before a Ninth Rank Martial Artist.

As long as they became Wang Jin's disciples, they had a complete certainty of achieving Martial Dao Entry Rank.

Even for wealthy young masters, this would bring a change in status.

If they could advance another step in this life and become an Eighth Rank Martial Artist, they would be renowned figures throughout Luoshui County.

The status of an ordinary family that was either rich or noble was still far inferior to that of an Eighth Rank Martial Artist.

This was why, although Canglang Martial Hall had only opened recently and charged extremely high fees, so many rich and noble people still came to the Martial Arts Hall to take discipleship.

It was just that most people could not persevere.

Even now, at regular intervals, Outer Sect disciples of the Martial Arts Hall still withdrew because they could not endure the hardships of martial training.

Of those who studied martial arts at the Martial Arts Hall, fewer than half could persevere for six months.

Not to mention meeting Wang Jin's requirement of reaching the Great Success Realm in any one fist technique.

At this moment.

In the front yard of the Martial Arts Hall.

Liu Zhixiang, sporting a Goatee, entered the Martial Arts Hall's gate with an attendant.

Just moments ago, he had already received Wang Jin's permission to enter the Martial Arts Hall.

After stepping through the Martial Arts Hall's gate, he swept his gaze across everyone in the front yard and instantly met Zhou Xing's eyes.

"Nephew Zhou, I trust you've been well!"

Liu Zhixiang's lips moved slightly. As he met Zhou Xing's gaze, his face revealed a smile brimming with goodwill.

Although his voice was not loud, what sort of person was Zhou Xing?

He was nominally the Senior Brother of Canglang Martial Hall, a Ninth Rank Martial Artist who had long since achieved Martial Dao Entry Rank, attained Skin Refining Small Accomplishment, and had skin membranes as hard as stone.

Moreover, he had achieved Great Success Realm in four of the Five Animal Frolics Fist's stances. He had even comprehended the True Intent of the Tiger Form Fist, reaching the Perfected Realm and mastering the Fierce Tiger Force.

A figure like him was a leader among the younger generation throughout Luoshui County.

With such martial strength and exceptional senses, he could naturally hear Liu Zhixiang's words.

At this moment, upon hearing Liu Zhixiang's words,

the smile on Zhou Xing's face suddenly sank.

So arrogant. It seems that matter wasn't mere baseless rumor after all. The Sihe Trading Company's business really was entangled with the Liu Family of the Three Great Families!

He immediately suppressed the emotions surging in his heart.

Then he patted Xiao Peng in front of him and offered a word of encouragement before preparing to go to the Backyard to pay his respects to Wang Jin.

Zhou Xing knew that if the Zhou Family wanted to rise again, first, it had to rely on Wang Jin.

Wang Jin was his master—a master whose relationship with him was equivalent to that between father and son.

Behind Wang Jin also stood that Important Figure, Wang Dutou, among the troops stationed in Luoshui County.

This was why, despite having better options, he had chosen to become a disciple of Canglang Martial Hall.

Second, he also knew that he had to rely on himself.

The Patrol Office was an opportunity in his eyes—an opportunity to stir up the winds and clouds and perhaps change the current situation in Luoshui County.

Martial force was important, but Momentum and power were even more important.

By joining the Patrol Office, he could borrow its Momentum and hold power in his own hands.

As the saying went, commoners did not fight officials. No matter how prosperous the Zhou Family became, it was still a family of commoners.

Only by relying on the Imperial Court of Great Xia, on that Towering Tree, could he hold power.

It was precisely because of this idea that he wanted to begin investing in the people around him, recruit talented individuals, and make a name for himself in the Patrol Office.

Only then would the Zhou Family have a chance to rise again under his hands, become an Aristocratic Family equal to the Three Great Families of Luoshui County, and even become the only Zhou Family in Luoshui County.

These thoughts flashed through his mind as Zhou Xing strode steadily toward the Backyard of the Martial Arts Hall.

He knew that he did not yet have the qualifications to fall out with Liu Zhixiang, because Liu Zhixiang represented the Sihe Trading Company and might even represent part of the interests of the Liu Family of the Three Great Families.

On the other side.

Watching Zhou Xing's departing back, Liu Zhixiang, his Goatee in place, felt a pang of regret. Then he grew somewhat wary, and his gaze toward Zhou Xing became extremely sharp.

I truly underestimated this boy! I provoked him so brazenly, yet he could remain completely unmoved. It seems he won't be easy to deal with!

At this thought, he also recalled the information about Zhou Xing.

Zhou Xing was known as the Qilin Child of the Zhou Family.

He possessed outstanding Martial Talent and was only twenty-one years old.

He had achieved Martial Dao Entry Rank and attained Skin Refining Small Accomplishment.

His Fist Technique Talent was quite high. He had reached the Perfected Realm and mastered the Fierce Tiger Force.

Liu Zhixiang secretly felt somewhat regretful.

It would be unwise to offend Zhou Xing too deeply. I have to find an opportunity to ease things over.

However, the task assigned from above must also be carried out!

The Patrol Office concerns the future of Great Xia. It is the huge wager placed jointly by Your Majesty Above the High Hall and the World-Dominating Martial Saint—a wager meant to save the Collapsing Mansion!

Once the Patrol Office is established, it will inevitably stir the winds and clouds of the world. Those qualified to join the Patrol Office must be taken seriously!

As the saying goes, circumstances make heroes. We must befriend those talented individuals!

Only by offering timely aid in the snow can we earn their goodwill!

That is the way of commerce.

With these thoughts in mind, Liu Zhixiang's gaze rapidly swept across the Martial Arts Hall's front yard.

Before coming, the Chairman had handed him intelligence on Canglang Martial Hall. The intelligence recorded the Martial Arts Hall disciples who had a chance of joining the Patrol Office.

His task was to personally come forward as the Sihe Trading Company's supervisor and invest in the people listed there.

To offer timely aid in the snow.

Given their current strength, even a small investment could earn them goodwill and draw them closer.

Once one of them grew powerful and became an Important Figure in Luoshui County in the future, that goodwill would be worth a fortune.

This was the true way of doing business for the Sihe Trading Company.

If a merchant wanted to grow stronger, yet had no Important Figure of high rank and power behind him, nor several Martial Path experts standing behind him, how could he make his business large and strong?

It would be like fighting a pack of jackals that devoured people without leaving even the bones.

The danger was no less than the clash of blades and shadows on a battlefield.

It was danger that killed people without a trace!