"What about the other two martial arts schools? Town Mountain Martial Arts School and Cloud Sea Martial Arts School couldn't possibly make their living from shipyards too, right?" Chen Yuan pressed on, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the rim of his teacup as he tried to fully map out the martial world of this county town.
Sun Yun lightly tapped her fingers against the tabletop. Her voice was heavier than before. "Let's start with Town Mountain Martial Arts School."
She glanced around, and only after confirming that the doors and windows were tightly shut did she continue. "The Martial Hall Master of Town Mountain Martial Arts School, Shi Poshan, came from an escort background in his youth. His Solid Rock Skill has already reached the pinnacle of perfection. Even when he was in the Skin Grinding Realm, he could hold up an overturning grain cart with one arm."
"Their most fundamental source of income is the county town's Hengtong Escort Agency and several security agencies. Along the trade route from the county town to the prefectural city, seven out of every ten merchant caravans hire people from their escort agency."
"It's not just escort work." Wang Meng cut in, his tone carrying a hint of admiration. "The banks in town and the mansions of wealthy merchants are almost entirely guarded by disciples of Town Mountain Martial Arts School. They place great importance on the word 'steadiness.' When accepting disciples, they first examine their temperament, and their techniques emphasize defense. But when trouble truly comes, they're absolutely first-rate in reliability."
Sun Yun nodded and added, "There's also their relationship with the authorities. Town Mountain Martial Arts School maintains close ties with the county yamen. Quite a few disciples fill constable vacancies after graduating, and several have even become head constables."
"Their Zhenyuan Security Agency has practically monopolized the security work for wealthy households in the city. Think about it: they can both secure their disciples a good future and use this opportunity to draw closer to wealthy merchants and local gentry. Such connections can't be exchanged for any amount of money."
"As for Cloud Sea Martial Arts School..." Sun Yun changed direction, lifted her teacup, and took a sip. "They've taken a different path. Their Martial Hall Master, Liu Qingyun, is a smiling Buddha and is exceptionally skilled at business."
"The city's largest Drunken Immortal Restaurant, Clear Wind Teahouse, and Cloud Brocade Manor, which sells silk and satin, are all industries owned by Cloud Sea Martial Arts School."
Wang Meng smacked his lips, his tone tinged with envy. "What they're best at is merchant caravans.
"Cloud Sea Martial Arts School established the Xingyun Merchant Team, which travels year-round between this county, the neighboring counties, and the prefectural city. They not only transport local seafood, but also bring back silk, porcelain, and other sought-after goods from the prefectural city. The profits are substantial."
"The guards in their merchant team—even the workers—are all skilled fighters from the martial arts school. Ordinary bandits don't dare approach them at all."
"There's something even more hidden," Sun Yun whispered. "They privately lend money, euphemistically calling it a 'Mutual Aid Fund.' It mainly targets small merchants struggling with cash flow. The interest... isn't low."
"Although it has helped some people in urgent need of money, it has also caused no shortage of disputes. Fortunately, Cloud Sea Martial Arts School is smooth and tactful in its methods, so it rarely gives anyone grounds for criticism."
At this point, Sun Yun sighed softly. "The three martial arts schools appear harmonious on the surface, jointly preserving the dignity of the county's martial world, but their secret struggle has never stopped—competing for promising disciples, the recommended slots for the County Examination, and highly profitable industries... After all, there are only so many resources, and everyone wants a bigger share of the feast."
"Our Blackwater Martial Arts School cooperates with them in many areas, but competition is unavoidable as well. Judging where to draw the line is the greatest test of the abilities of the Martial Hall Masters and shopkeepers."
"I see..." Chen Yuan slowly exhaled. He could only feel that the waters of this little county town ran astonishingly deep.
Martial arts schools were far more than simple places to practice martial arts. They were also tangled webs of vested interests.
If he wanted to establish himself here, martial prowess alone was nowhere near enough.
"Thank you, Senior Disciple Brother and Senior Disciple Sister, for clearing things up." Chen Yuan raised his cup and toasted the two of them, firmly committing all this complicated information to memory before asking, "Earlier, I heard Master and Second Senior Disciple Brother mention the County Examination and Prefecture Examination. What exactly are the regulations for the County Examination? Is the competition fierce?"
At the mention of the County Examination, Wang Meng and Sun Yun both put down their chopsticks, their expressions turning serious.
"The County Examination? It's one of the most important opportunities for us Skin Grinding Realm martial artists to rise above the crowd!" Wang Meng said. "It's hosted by the county yamen and held once each in spring and autumn. The next one is in three months."
"Not only disciples of martial arts schools, but anyone registered as a resident of Lin Hai County who has reached the Skin Grinding Realm may register. However, their bone age must also be tested during registration. The younger they are, the higher their evaluations in the later assessments. And each time, the number of successful candidates is extremely limited, so the competition is ferocious."
Sun Yun explained in detail, "The County Examination is strict. It mainly tests three things: cultivation, martial techniques, and actual combat. The first is the cultivation examination, which requires passing the official Strength Testing Stone and Skin Drum tests."
"The Strength Testing Stone requires a punch delivering more than a thousand jin of pure force. The Skin Drum requires you to withstand drumstick blows of a specific force without your skin breaking or your strength scattering. There's no way to fake it. It directly weeds out those who barely broke through with medicine and have unstable foundations."
"The second round is martial technique practice." Wang Meng picked up the explanation. "You must perform a signature martial technique that has reached at least the 'Minor Accomplishment' stage. The county lieutenant, patrol inspector, and several invited Martial Hall Masters or merchant leaders will jointly evaluate your proficiency, power, and use of strength. This round tests a martial artist's foundation and comprehension."
"The most crucial is the third round—actual combat." Sun Yun's tone grew solemn.
"It's usually a drawn match. The loser is eliminated immediately. Sometimes, to test adaptability, they even arrange death matches against captured low-level Demonic Beasts or prisoners sentenced to death! Every year, the County Examination inevitably results in injuries and disabilities, and occasionally even deaths. So cultivation alone isn't enough. You must possess sufficient actual combat ability and ruthlessness."
"As long as you pass all three rounds of the County Examination, you'll receive the Martial Scholar qualification. Your name will be entered into the records of the county yamen and even the provincial government. It's a genuine qualification earned through official honors!" Wang Meng's tone was proud.
"With this qualification, your status will be different. Official posts with rank, such as head constable, tax officer, and prison warden, will first be selected from among Martial Scholars! Even if you don't want to enter government service, major merchants like Sihai Shipping Company and Zhangji Fish Market will offer higher prices and better treatment when recruiting guard leaders and managers!"
Sun Yun added, "Moreover, only after obtaining the Martial Scholar qualification will you be eligible to participate in next year's Prefecture Examination, which will be held by the prefectural city. The Prefecture Examination requires at least the Tendon Changing Realm. Those who pass become Martial Heroes, and their status is entirely different. They can serve as patrol inspectors, county vice-magistrates, and other important officials. It could be said that the Martial Scholar qualification is the crucial threshold for truly entering the Great Han Dynasty's promotion system and shedding one's commoner status!"
Three months later! The Martial Scholar qualification! Fierce competition, and even danger!
A sharp light flickered in Chen Yuan's eyes. Not only was he unafraid, but an even stronger fighting spirit blazed within him.
With his current foundation of Skin Grinding - Minor Accomplishment and the initial ringing of his skin and flesh, passing the examination should not be difficult. His goal was to fight for a better ranking!
"It seems I'll have to make proper preparations for the County Examination," Chen Yuan said heavily.
"With Junior Disciple Brother's foundation, passing the County Examination will certainly not be difficult. Besides, you're still young. The younger you are, the more easily you'll win their favor."
Wang Meng had great confidence in Chen Yuan. "However, you can't slack off during these three months. The Scripture Pavilion of the martial arts school has several battle techniques suitable for Skin Grinding Realm cultivation. You'd best choose one or two and practice them until they're thoroughly mastered. You'll be able to use them more smoothly in actual combat."
"If there's anything you don't understand, just come ask Junior Disciple Sister Sun and me. We both passed last year's County Examination and have experience. Or you can ask Second Senior Disciple Brother for guidance. Oh, right..." He remembered something. "Before the County Examination, the martial arts school usually holds an internal selection round to determine the recommended candidates. Those who perform exceptionally can even receive additional rewards from the school."
"That's right." Sun Yun nodded. "The actual combat round of the County Examination is dangerous. Every extra bit of strength means an extra measure of protection."
"Moreover, if you perform exceptionally and rank near the top in the County Examination, not only will the rewards be more generous, you'll also come directly to the attention of the county lieutenant or even the county magistrate, which will greatly benefit your future. The major families behind Sihai Shipping Company and Zhangji Fish Market will also compete to recruit talented poor scholars with good results."
The three of them ate and talked for a long while. Wang Meng and Sun Yun told Chen Yuan without reservation about the details of previous County Examinations, the examiners' preferences, the formidable opponents who might appear from other martial arts schools, and even the dirty tricks he needed to watch out for in actual combat.
This welcome banquet had been worth its weight in gold, giving Chen Yuan an exceptionally clear and profound understanding of Lin Hai County's balance of power and his future path of advancement.
With their appetites and thirst satisfied, the three left Hundred Flavors Tower. The cool night breeze brushed against their faces, carrying the lingering taste of seafood and the scent of wine.
Wang Meng and Sun Yun each said their farewells and returned home. Chen Yuan walked alone along the road back to the martial arts school, gazing at the county town's glittering lights and the pitch-black sea in the distance. His mind was clear, yet he was filled with urgency.
The County Examination was his next goal—not only for the Martial Scholar qualification, but also to test his own strength and carve out a solid foothold for himself and his family amid this tangled web of powers.
He would seize the Martial Scholar qualification and seek an official post in the county yamen. That would provide stable resources to support his and his family's cultivation, raise his social status, and lay a solid foundation for participating in higher-level Prefecture and Province Examinations in the future.
And the prerequisite for all of this was still strength.
He sensed the slowly increasing Tide Luck Points in his Sea of Consciousness, and his steps grew firmer.
Before you continue