Resolution

At night, the candles in the room burned bright.

Liu Wensheng and the other two came over with wine and dishes. Around the small wooden table, the four of them drank and talked about life.

When they learned that Jiang Ping had also begun practicing the Stance Technique, they were quite envious.

"Sadly, I don't have brother Jiang's talent. If I want to practice the Stance Technique later, I'll have to save up the silver myself." Sun Qi was slightly drunk, his voice carrying both envy and unwillingness.

"You're younger than I am, so there's no need to rush. Before thirty is the Golden Age, when you can improve by leaps and bounds," Jiang Ping consoled him.

"That's right. Don't lose heart now. The Golden Age is the best training time. We must work harder, or once we pass thirty, improvement will become difficult." Liu Wensheng nodded as well.

"Don't talk about such disappointing things. Come, let's drink. Today, we're celebrating brother Jiang—he's become an escort and gained a Stance Technique." Qian Dele raised his cup. He had come to recognize his own limits and knew he was ordinary. Now he was much more optimistic; if he could become an escort, he would already be burning incense in gratitude.

"By the way, I heard you've grown somewhat distant from an old friend. What happened?" Liu Wensheng suddenly asked with a smile, unable to keep himself from glancing sideways at Jiang Ping.

"Him..." Qian Dele sighed and glanced at Jiang Ping as well. "That fellow really has gone too far. He's too childish and holds grudges too fiercely. Ever since brother Jiang moved out of the dormitory, he's relied on his close relationship with Fang Yong to give Luo Da Niu and the others trouble at every turn. They're furious but dare not speak out."

Jiang Ping raised his brows. "Luo Tiegen didn't stop him?"

Luo Tiegen and Luo Da Niu were fellow villagers, and their relationship was fairly good.

"No. He and Sun Zheng are as close as two people wearing the same pair of trousers. Why would he stop him? Sometimes he even throws his weight around himself. Once, I couldn't stand it and said a few words, but Sun Zheng turned hostile toward even me and berated me. Truly a wolf-hearted dog-lunged man." Qian Dele shook his head, his gaze complicated.

Luo Tiegen was one thing, but Sun Zheng had been Qian Dele's old friend. They had known each other for years, yet only today did he seem to see what kind of person Sun Zheng truly was.

"They're merely petty people. Why bring them up? Come, let's drink." Sun Qi had no interest in such matters and was more focused on looking ahead.

"Drink." Jiang Ping said no more. What had happened between him and Sun Zheng was already in the past, and he would not pursue it. As for the rest, he did not wish to concern himself with it either. He had yet to recover his own silver, and that already troubled him enough.

After that, they drank and chatted merrily, keeping the mood from turning sour as they spoke freely of the future.

Before long, Jiang Ping was slightly drunk and went out to see his friends off.

After returning, Jiang Ping's drunkenness gradually faded, and clarity returned to his eyes. While he still had some energy, he continued practicing his stance.

Even a genius should cherish the Golden Age for martial training. He did not want to die young, nor did he want to lack the strength to carry on later in life.

In the blink of an eye, the day of his appointment with Escort Huang arrived.

Just as Jiang Ping had expected, the two jin of Lingxi Meat had not been delivered. Wang Shengzhu must have believed he had Jiang Ping firmly in his grasp.

But Jiang Ping was not someone who simply endured and yielded. He had remembered all along how Jidao Martial Academy had cheated him and was preparing to "repay" them someday. How could he be afraid of this person?

He was not afraid of being given the cold shoulder. What he feared more was his path of Martial Dao becoming obstructed.

What was more, Jiang Ping had made tremendous progress in the past few days after practicing the Stance Technique. His cultivation progress had already passed forty percent, and he was very close to perfection.

Thus, he had confidence and was unafraid of trouble.

After finding Escort Huang, Jiang Ping immediately explained the situation and mentioned how Wang Shengzhu had reported his name.

Huang Youren frowned at once after listening, anger rising in his chest. "He really is a blockhead. He even dares to embezzle two jin of meat meant for an ordinary escort, and so brazenly at that. Just how badly does he lack silver?"

"Don't worry. I'll report this matter to Head Escort Liang and make sure you receive justice." Escort Huang reassured Jiang Ping.

"Must this younger generation still wait?" Jiang Ping asked.

"There will definitely be a result within two days," Escort Huang said with complete certainty.

"Then I'll have to trouble Master Huang." Jiang Ping nodded. He then informed Escort Huang that he had broken through to the Fifth Layer.

Since Escort Huang had shown such care for this younger generation, Jiang Ping naturally had to reveal some of his strength and not disappoint him.

At the same time, it would put Escort Huang's mind at ease. Jiang Ping still had talent, and he did not fear Wang Shengzhu.

"Good, good, good!" After Huang Youren confirmed Jiang Ping's Fist Force, he said "good" three times in a row, grinning from ear to ear.

"Your talent is far stronger than I imagined. Before you turn thirty, reaching Eighth Rank is as certain as a nail driven into a board. You may even have hope of reaching Seventh Rank."

One's early cultivation speed could roughly reveal what their future would be like.

Jiang Ping had broken through to the Fifth Layer in less than two months. That was already an outstanding performance, not much worse than Fang Yong's.

"Wife, go stir-fry one jin of Lingxi Meat. And bring out the good wine I've been saving. Today, Little Jiang and I won't return until we're drunk."

Escort Huang immediately instructed his wife to prepare food. Jiang Ping merely shrugged; he truly had not come to mooch a meal.

Of course, he knew that after revealing his strength this time, his importance in Escort Huang's eyes would only grow.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

Jiang Ping's cultivation progress was so fast it made others ashamed. It had already passed the halfway mark and was nearing seventy percent.

In another three or four days, he would surely reach perfection.

"The Stance Technique really is something else. If I had practiced this technique from the very beginning, I wouldn't even dare imagine how fast my progress would have been."

Jiang Ping praised it aloud, delight filling his heart. The stronger he became, the greater his sense of security.

Moreover, the resources that belonged to him were returned.

Escort Huang personally came to the small room and took out silver. "If you want Lingxi Meat, go buy it from the dining hall yourself. Buy as much as you want to eat."

Jiang Ping looked at the silver in the other man's hand. Instead of accepting it immediately, he asked in confusion, "Why is it twenty taels?"

"This is the punishment the Head Escort imposed on Wang Shengzhu. If this person were not Head Escort Wang's son, the punishment would have been even harsher. Take it without worry. Wang Shengzhu won't dare cause you trouble. If anything happens, you can come to me."

Escort Huang explained that after he had informed the Head Escort of Jiang Ping's breakthrough, the man had immediately dealt with the matter. It was also a sign that he thought highly of Jiang Ping.

"Then I must thank Master Huang and Head Escort Liang." After taking the silver, Jiang Ping cupped his fists in gratitude.

Yet Escort Huang sighed. "The one who returned justice to you was not Head Escort Liang, but another Head Escort."

"Huh?" Jiang Ping froze slightly.

Soon, after hearing Escort Huang's explanation, he learned that Huang Youren had told Head Escort Liang about the matter that day and had also mentioned Jiang Ping's breakthrough.

Yet by that afternoon, there had been no outcome at all. Clearly, Head Escort Liang had not chosen to stand up for Jiang Ping, likely because he did not wish to offend Head Escort Wang.

It was only after Escort Huang sought out another Head Escort that the matter was swiftly resolved.

"Master Huang has truly been put to great trouble." Jiang Ping's expression was complicated.

He had not expected that the Head Escort who had taught him would be unwilling to step forward, while another Head Escort he did not even know would choose to help him.

"He thinks too highly of Fang Yong. On top of that, he suffered serious injuries himself, so he inevitably has more reservations in his actions. He wishes to focus on nurturing Fang Yong alone," Escort Huang added.

"I understand." Jiang Ping nodded. He held no resentment. Helping was a matter of goodwill; not helping was only human nature. He would not blame anyone for it.

"The Head Escort who helped you is surnamed Zhu. You needn't deliberately pay him a visit. Just thank him when you meet him in the future. He dislikes all that flattery and forced familiarity," Escort Huang added.

Not long afterward, Huang Youren left. Jiang Ping looked at the silver in his hand, his eyes flickering slightly.

It was time to obtain an Eighth Rank cultivation technique.