Settling It

At night, the candles in the room burned bright.

Liu Wensheng and the other two arrived with wine and food. The four of them sat around the small wooden table, drinking and talking 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 in the future, I'll have to save up the silver myself." Slightly drunk, Sun Qi sounded both envious and somewhat unwilling to accept it.

"You're younger than I am, so there's no need to rush. The Golden Age lasts until thirty; during that time, you can improve by leaps and bounds," Jiang Ping comforted 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 is to celebrate Brother Jiang—he's become an escort and obtained a Stance Technique." Qian Dele raised his cup. He had come to recognize his own mediocrity and had become rather optimistic. As long as he could become an escort, he would already be thanking heaven and earth.

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

"Him..." Qian Dele sighed and also glanced at Jiang Ping. "That guy 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 make trouble for Luo Da Niu and the others in every possible way. They're angry but dare not speak out."

Jiang Ping raised a brow. "Luo Tiegen didn't stop him?"

Luo Tiegen and Luo Da Niu were fellow townsmen, and their relationship was fairly close.

"No. He and Sun Zheng are as close as two men wearing the same pair of trousers. Why would he stop him? Sometimes, he even puts on airs himself. Once, I couldn't stand it and said a few words, but Sun Zheng even turned hostile toward me and scolded me. He's truly heartless as a wolf and savage as a dog." Qian Dele shook his head, his gaze complicated.

He did not care about Luo Tiegen, but Sun Zheng was an old friend he had known for many years. It seemed that only today had he truly seen what kind of person Sun Zheng was.

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

"Drink." Jiang Ping said nothing 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 not even recovered his own silver yet, which irritated him enough.

After that, they drank and chatted merrily, without letting the mood be spoiled as they spoke freely of the future.

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

After returning, Jiang Ping's drunkenness gradually faded, and clarity returned to his eyes. Taking advantage of the energy he still had, he continued practicing his stance and cultivation.

Even a genius should cherish the Golden Age. He did not want to die young or find himself powerless to advance 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 decided that Jiang Ping would simply endure it.

But Jiang Ping was not one to yield. He still remembered how the Jidao Martial Academy had cheated him and was preparing to "repay" them someday. How could he possibly fear this person?

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

Moreover, after practicing the Stance Technique these past few days, Jiang Ping had made tremendous progress. His cultivation progress had already passed Forty percent and was close to completion.

Thus, he had sufficient confidence and was unafraid of trouble.

Jiang Ping found Escort Huang and immediately explained the situation, mentioning that Wang Shengzhu had reported his name.

Upon hearing it, Huang Youren immediately frowned, anger rising in his chest. "He really is a blockhead. He even dares to pocket the Two jin of meat belonging to an ordinary escort, and so openly 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 comforted Jiang Ping.

"Does this younger generation still need to wait?" Jiang Ping asked.

"There will definitely be a result within two days." Escort Huang spoke with absolute 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 him, this younger generation, he naturally ought to display some of his strength and not disappoint him.

Likewise, it was to give Escort Huang reassurance: he still had talent and did not fear Wang Shengzhu.

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

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

One's initial cultivation speed could roughly reveal how far one would go in the future.

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

"Wife, go fry one jin of Lingxi Meat. And bring out my treasured good wine while you're at it. Today, Little Jiang and I won't return until we're drunk."

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

Of course, he knew that after displaying his ability this time, his standing in Escort Huang's heart would only grow more important.

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 halfway and was nearing Seventy Percent.

In another three or four days, it would surely reach completion.

"The Stance Technique really is something else. If I had cultivated this technique from the start, I wouldn't even dare imagine how fast it would've been."

Jiang Ping sighed in admiration, delight blooming in his heart. The stronger he became, the greater his sense of security.

Furthermore, the resources that belonged to him had been returned.

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

Looking at the silver in his hand, Jiang Ping did not immediately accept it. Instead, he asked in confusion, "Why is it twenty taels?"

"This is the Head Escort's punishment for Wang Shengzhu. If he were not Head Escort Wang's son, his punishment would have been harsher. Accept it without worry. Wang Shengzhu won't dare trouble you. If anything happens, you can come to me."

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

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

Yet Escort Huang sighed. "The one who gave you justice 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 informed Head Escort Liang of the situation that very day, mentioning Jiang Ping's breakthrough as well.

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

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

"I've truly caused Master Huang trouble." Jiang Ping's gaze was complicated.

He had never expected that the Head Escort who had taught him would be unwilling to step forward, while another Head Escort he did not know chose to help him instead.

"He thinks too highly of Fang Yong. On top of that, he suffered serious injuries himself, so he naturally has more concerns in his actions. He wants to focus on cultivating Fang Yong alone," Escort Huang added.

"I understand." Jiang Ping nodded. He held no resentment. Helping was a matter of goodwill, while refusing to help was only human nature. He would not blame anyone.

"The Head Escort who helped you is surnamed Zhu. You don't need to pay him a special visit. Just thank him when you encounter him in the future. He dislikes flattering behavior and forced familiarity, all that unnecessary nonsense." Escort Huang added.

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

It was time to obtain an Eighth Rank cultivation technique.