Forces of the Martial World

After breakfast, Meng Qingshan told Li Qingzhu the good news that his injuries had fully healed and that he had attained Lesser Accomplishment in the Long Wind Heart Method.

The Maiden looked astonished upon hearing this. "Father once said that it took him half a year of training in the Long Wind Heart Method before he barely achieved Lesser Accomplishment.

Yet Cousin has made such progress in only a few days. You truly are a rare martial arts prodigy."

Though he knew the little girl was merely flattering him to please him, Meng Qingshan was still delighted. He laughed and said, "Of course! Take a good look at who your Cousin is.

One day, I will make a name for myself and become one of the greatest figures under heaven. By then, all you need to do is mention my name, and everyone will show you respect. Impressive, right?"

Seeing how boastful he sounded, Li Qingzhu frowned slightly and shot him a reproachful look. Then she suddenly pointed behind him and asked playfully, "Eh, Cousin, what's that behind you?"

Meng Qingshan turned around in confusion, only to see empty space. "There's nothing there!"

Li Qingzhu covered her mouth and giggled. "What do you mean, nothing? A few compliments, and your tail is already sticking up into the sky!"

This was the first time Meng Qingshan had seen her smile so happily in recent days, and he immediately laughed along with her.

After informing his cousin, he selected a sturdy Ox Horn Bow and a bag of arrows from the escort agency's storeroom before leaving Jade Mountain City.

Within the County Office residence in Jade Mountain City.

A man dressed as a Secretary entered at an unhurried pace, holding a dossier in his hands. He set it gently on the desk.

He slowly opened the dossier and respectfully said to the young official seated behind the desk, "My lord, the dossier on the man who killed the tiger, whom the entire city was discussing yesterday, has been fully recorded here."

The young official's gaze followed the Secretary's finger to the first line of the white paper, where the three characters "Meng Qingshan" were clearly written.

This young official was none other than the county magistrate of Jade Mountain City.

Rather than immediately reading the dossier, he pondered for a moment before asking, "I heard this man is the Young Escort Leader of the Changfeng Escort Agency?"

The Secretary nodded. "That is correct. Several months ago, the Changfeng Escort Agency accepted a major escort job from the Changlong Merchant Association. The agency's elites all set out, only to suffer a devastating disaster. Meng Qingshan is now the sole survivor of the Changfeng Escort Agency."

"As the ancients said, 'Poor lands and treacherous waters breed unruly people!'"

After hearing this, the county magistrate slammed his hand on the desk and rose to his feet indignantly. "Since I took office, these martial world forces in Jade Mountain City have held more power than my own authority. This is outrageous!"

Seeing this, the Secretary hurriedly tried to calm him. "Please quell your anger, my lord. The mountains are high and the emperor is far away; imperial power cannot reach this place. Besides, you have only just arrived and have yet to establish yourself. It would be best to avoid clashing with these martial world forces for now."

The county magistrate was still furious. "Are you saying that I, a court-appointed official, must be controlled by these country folk?"

The Secretary pondered briefly before saying, "Not necessarily. If my lord can find someone to stir up the balance of power in Jade Mountain City, establishing a foothold here will be as easy as turning one's hand over."

The county magistrate immediately perked up. "Oh! Are you saying Meng Qingshan is the key person?"

The Secretary smiled faintly and took out another dossier.

Inside was a map of Jade Mountain City, with the martial world forces in each area carefully marked.

Instead of answering the county magistrate directly, the Secretary said, "Please look, my lord. The martial world forces of Jade Mountain City are controlled by no more than a few people!"

The county magistrate said, "Please explain in detail."

"They are one leopard, one tiger, one bear, and two dragons."

"One leopard, one tiger, one bear, and two dragons?" Curiosity flashed through the county magistrate's eyes.

The Secretary gave a light cough and began explaining. "The 'leopard' is Zhao Zhicheng, the Chief Escort of the Fuwei Escort Agency. He values money more than life itself and is greedy by nature, hence his nickname, 'Money Leopard.'

The 'tiger' is Li Yuanzhen of the Changfeng Escort Agency. His Tiger-Head Gold-Engraved Spear technique had reached perfection and was truly astonishing. Those of the martial world called him the 'Tiger Head Spear.' Unfortunately, fate toyed with him, and he is no longer among the living.

The 'bear' was Xiong Batian, the chief of Black Wind Stronghold. Rumor had it that he had mastered a Body Tempering Skill, making his body as hard as iron and impervious to blades and spears. Those of the martial world called him the 'Iron Back Bear.'

As for the 'dragons,' they are the Yang Family Brothers. The two occupy a strategic and dangerous location upstream along the Jin River outside Jade Mountain City, where they built Twin Dragon Fort and recruited talent far and wide, including many Bandits wanted by the authorities.

They have now become a force not to be underestimated even within Qinghe Prefecture. Everyone on the road praises the two for their loyalty and righteousness, calling them the Righteous Sea Twin Dragons."

The county magistrate frowned after hearing this. After a moment, he said, "These men all sound like figures who have been famous in Jade Mountain City for years. Even the Tiger Head Spear fell victim to Black Wind Stronghold. What ability does Meng Qingshan have to help me break this deadlock?"

The Secretary shook his head. "My lord, not to break the deadlock, but to enter the game! My lord is a student of the Son of Heaven and carries the righteous cause of the common people in your heart. Now that the bandit menace of Black Wind Stronghold is rampant, the people of Jade Mountain City have suffered for far too long.

As the parental official of Jade Mountain City, my lord faces this great evil every day, unable to find peace of mind or sleep and eat in comfort. You are determined to remove this cancer and return a bright and clear world to the people.