Incense Master Wei

The next morning, at dawn.

Li Manor.

Li Ru and Madam Li had risen early and stood at the main gate, waiting for Li Shaoyun to return.

Yesterday had been Li Shaoyun's first day reporting to the Blood Ridge Black Market. Because of Zhang Biao's death, a new steward had been appointed. Li Ru and his wife were deeply worried about whether Li Shaoyun could get along with the new steward, whether he would earn the new steward's favor, and whether the steward would then provide him with resources for practicing martial arts.

It could be said that Li Shaoyun's future would be decided with a single word from this new steward.

The Blood Ridge Black Market opened at night and closed at dawn.

At this hour, Li Shaoyun should have been returning soon.

Before long, the couple saw Li Shaoyun return, his face full of exhaustion. His clothes were filthy, his face covered in dust, and he looked as though he had been abused.

Madam Li's heart ached at the sight. She hurriedly pulled Li Shaoyun back to the inner courtyard to wash up, then had the kitchen prepare some pastries. Only after his mood had eased somewhat did she ask what had happened.

"What happened to you?"

Li Shaoyun wolfed down meat buns and said indignantly, "Don't ask. The new steward has a huge appetite. He accepted a hundred and eighty taels of silver from me and still wasn't satisfied. Not only did he refuse to provide me with martial arts resources, he also snubbed me. He implied that I should keep sending him money... What a lion opening its jaws!"

Eh!

Madam Li sighed helplessly.

Li Ru, meanwhile, angrily berated the new steward for his despicable character and lack of scruples. In the end, Madam Li shot him a glare, and only then did he stop.

The Tiger Wolf Gate was a major martial-world sect spanning the regions inside and outside Qingwu County. It was absolutely not a small Li Manor's place to criticize. If someone with ulterior motives spread Li Ru's angry words from today, Li Manor might well face annihilation.

At last, Li Ru let out a long sigh. "The Tiger Wolf Gate is powerful. We can't afford to offend them. I'll prepare another two hundred taels for you. Go smooth things over with this new steward again. Remember, keep your attitude low-key and humble. Don't offend him, and you should make every effort to curry favor with him."

"Got it, Dad."

Though he said that, Li Shaoyun remained indignant inside. He had not even met the new steward's face, so how could he have offended him? And how was he supposed to curry favor with him?

Three days later.

Li Shaoyun once again entrusted Liang Zhi with delivering two hundred taels of silver to the new steward.

According to the Tiger Wolf Gate's rules, deputy stewards also had the opportunity to receive medicinal supplements, secret manuals, and the like free of charge. However, they needed a handwritten note from their superior steward.

What puzzled Li Shaoyun was that the new steward still refused to meet him. Instead, he had Liang Zhi tell him to work hard; nothing that should be his would be withheld.

Li Shaoyun cursed inwardly, but did not dare show it. He could only promptly go do some menial labor.

A whole month passed in a flash. Gradually, Li Shaoyun lost the spirit he had possessed at first. He began treating his work with numb indifference, and his mood sank until he looked like a walking corpse...

As for Xie An, he had spent the entire month at the Blood Ridge Black Market.

Aside from patrolling the black market, learning the business, and familiarizing himself with the shopkeepers of the various stores, he spent the rest of his time in the courtyard grinding away at the Health Cultivation Technique.

During that time, Chief Steward Lin Yun visited twice. The first time, he came to check on Xie An on behalf of the Incense Master.

The second time, he came to inspect the accounts. After discovering that the surplus had increased, he praised Xie An for being capable and efficient.

With four hundred taels of silver in hand, Xie An no longer found it difficult to compound Tang Qingfeng's Unique Medicinal Prescription.

With the prescription's support, Xie An's Health Cultivation Technique progressed slowly.

Although the progress was not great, it improved every few days. Xie An found himself thoroughly enjoying the feeling.

In the early hours of that day, after the Blood Ridge Black Market closed, Xie An returned to the courtyard to rest and began planning for the future:

"After a month of careful management, nothing unexpected has happened at the Blood Ridge Black Market. Business is even better than when Zhang Biao was here. I've also received Chief Steward Lin Yun's approval. Moreover, I now understand every major and minor detail of the black market. I can go to the hall to choose a martial art to practice, and pay a visit to Incense Master Wei, whom I've never met."

"What's more, after a month of bitter cultivation, my Health Cultivation Technique has improved considerably, and my strength has taken another step forward."

Although the Health Cultivation Technique was not skilled in killing and combat, with his strength and speed constantly increasing, crushing a minor-achievement Bronze Skin Realm martial artist would be no problem.

Overall, Xie An felt that he had already established himself in the black market and could begin making plans for what came next.

Zhang Biao's backer was still watching like a tiger eyeing its prey, and there was also the Giant Whale Gang... All of this made Xie An realize that he needed to practice martial arts as soon as possible in order to deal with unexpected incidents.

After a simple breakfast, Xie An found Zhang Lin. When he explained his intentions, Zhang Lin readily agreed. "What a coincidence. I was planning to go to the hall today to collect medicinal supplements. Let's go together."

"Sorry for the trouble, Brother Zhang."

"Why be so polite? Recently, Chief Steward Lin Yun rewarded me with two additional portions of medicinal supplements and also allowed me to practice the Red Tiger Saber Technique. On one hand, it's recognition of my merit in recommending talent; on the other, it's recognition that the black market's business is steadily improving. This was all thanks to you, old brother."

Zhang Lin did not take credit for himself. Instead, he frankly said that it was all thanks to Xie An.

Xie An took note of this.

When they arrived at the White Feather Hall branch at Water-Lantern Wharf, Xie An discovered that he was not an oddity after all. Many disciples and stewards coming and going wore masks or had their faces covered.

Sharp-eyed Zhang Lin noticed Xie An's confusion and explained, "The White Feather Hall is located in the six towns near the Great Yin Mountain. Aside from the black market being chaotic, many disciples and stewards also infiltrate bandit strongholds in the Great Yin Mountain as spies. Others represent the branch in carrying out things that cannot be exposed to the light. Except for the higher-ups who know their identities, they all wear masks whenever they come to the branch. This sort of situation isn't unusual."

Xie An understood.

They passed through the bustling Water-Lantern Wharf and entered the White Feather Hall.

It was an extremely sturdy estate. Though it could not compare with the grandeur of Tang Family Fort in the county seat, it still possessed three or four parts of its magnificence.

The estate contained an imposing martial arena, where many disciples practiced and sparred. From time to time, waves of cheers rose from the crowds gathered to watch.

Besides that, there were a medicine-compounding room, the Library Pavilion, a teaching hall, an armory... All kinds of facilities dazzled the eye.

Disciples and stewards practicing martial arts and sweating could be seen everywhere.

The place brimmed with fervent energy. It truly lived up to being a branch of a prestigious sect.

As this was Xie An's first visit, he was deeply inspired. An atmosphere of urging people to strive forward filled him.

Zhang Lin led Xie An along with great familiarity and explained, "Now you should understand, old brother, why so many people rack their brains trying to join the White Feather Hall, right? Across these six towns, if my White Feather Hall says it's second, no one dares claim to be first."

Xie An deeply agreed.

Compared with ordinary people properly going to the county's Martial Arts Hall or various martial arts schools to study, the threshold for joining the Tiger Wolf Gate was clearly much lower, and it cost less silver as well. It was just that the Tiger Wolf Gate's path was rather wild: one had to work for the sect and accept a certain degree of risk. It was not like a martial arts school, where one could simply pay money and focus on practicing martial arts.

No wonder Chief Steward Lin Yun and Incense Master Wei Dian stayed here year-round and rarely visited the Blood Ridge Black Market. They were both devoting themselves to martial arts and improving their strength.

Suddenly, Xie An saw many elderly gentlemen dressed as wealthy gentry and merchants, accompanied by servants carrying boxes inside.

"Brother Zhang, what are they doing?"

Zhang Lin smiled and explained, "They're wealthy gentry and merchants from these six towns. They often encounter bandits raiding villages and towns, so they ask our White Feather Hall to suppress the bandits. These are their tokens of respect."

Xie An clicked his tongue inwardly.

It was no wonder. When bandits raided villages and towns, the wealthy gentry and merchants were certainly the first to bear the brunt. To protect their wealth, they inevitably had to spend heavily to show respect to the White Feather Hall and build a good relationship.

No wonder the White Feather Hall branch was so prosperous. Just these tokens of respect were already worth no small sum.

As for whether these bandits were truly bandits or people hired by the White Feather Hall to impersonate them... that was impossible to know.

"Old brother, I'll take you to the Library Pavilion. With a steward's identity token, you can choose one martial art free of charge."

Xie An instead said, "I've just arrived, so I should first pay my respects to Incense Master Wei and Chief Steward Lin Yun. Please lead the way, Brother Zhang."

Zhang Lin froze for a moment, then smiled. "Old brother, you've thought things through after all. That's how it should be. I'll take you to the secluded courtyard where Incense Master Wei practices."

Under Zhang Lin's guidance, they crossed the bustling plaza and arrived at a quiet secluded courtyard.

Zhang Lin gently knocked on the courtyard gate and cupped his hands. "Incense Master Wei, Zhang Lin has brought the new steward to pay his respects."

After a short while, an aged voice came from inside. "Come in."