"Master, County Magistrate Liu... and this senior."
When Zhou Yun heard Master Liang call his name, he had no choice but to step from the doorway into the center of the Martial Hall and bow to the three of them in turn.
Though he had already developed five-finger Bright Force and could break through to Bright Force mastery at any time, that still clearly wasn't enough to measure up to the three men before him.
County Magistrate Liu looked like an ordinary man, but the elderly man at his side was a genuine Transformation Force Grandmaster.
He might well have been the personal bodyguard the authorities assigned to every county magistrate.
"Today, I'm not County Magistrate Liu. I'm just a father seeking justice for my son."
Liu Bomin's face was dark. Each word carried the weight of a thousand pounds of fury. "I've never placed any restrictions on your three martial halls. I've also served diligently as county magistrate these past years. If your halls have any complaints about me, you could have brought them up. But now..."
"County Magistrate Liu, your son's death had nothing to do with Black Stone Martial Hall or Senior Sister Shen Qingxue."
Zhou Yun spoke up. "We were ambushed on the road by a Dark Force expert. It was an escort mission that even a Bright Force fighter could take. Young Master Liu should know that..."
"A Dark Force expert?"
Liu Bomin furrowed his brow, forcing down his anger as he thought it over.
According to the intelligence he'd received, the goods had only been entrusted to Bright Force fighters for transport.
As for his son's death, it was because he'd wanted to use his father's name as county magistrate to pay the escorts less and make the bandits let them pass. That was what had gotten him killed.
The information had seemed suspicious from the start, but consumed by grief, Liu Bomin hadn't cared to investigate. He'd finished his official duties and gone straight to Black Stone Martial Hall to demand answers.
He'd even brought along the only Transformation Force Grandmaster in the Black Stone County government to back him up.
"If those goods really needed a Dark Force expert to escort them, why would my son have gone to his death?"
Liu Bomin was unconvinced. He continued, "Since it was a Dark Force expert, how did you and Shen Qingxue escape? At White Phoenix Martial Hall just now, I saw with my own eyes that you were at most at Bright Force mastery. Could it be that you..."
"County Magistrate Liu, I've already mastered the two martial arts of our hall. I have the strength to kill a Dark Force fighter."
Zhou Yun's expression remained calm, but inwardly he lamented that he could no longer hide his strength.
When he finished speaking, Liang Wanshan fixed his gaze on Zhou Yun, disbelief flashing in his eyes.
Mastery in two martial arts? As far as he remembered, he'd taught Zhou Yun only Black Ape Fist and Black Ape Movement Technique.
That meant Zhou Yun had mastered at least one of them, perhaps the movement technique. But how many years of steady cultivation did it usually take to master even one martial art?
And the Black Ape Movement Technique had only been taught at the Outer Courtyard Martial Arts Arena twice before... How long ago had that been?
"Mastery in two martial arts? No wonder you could defeat Lei Wanjun..."
Liu Bomin didn't know Zhou Yun well and wasn't as shocked as Liang Wanshan, but he understood what that meant.
At Zhou Yun's age, mastering two martial arts was proof of exceptional talent.
As for why he'd never heard Zhou Yun's name before, Liang Wanshan must have kept this talented youngster hidden away as a seed for the Three Halls Martial Tournament.
For a genius like him, once he reached Bright Force mastery, breaking through to Dark Force would come naturally.
Of course, Liu Bomin had no idea Zhou Yun had only First Form Bone. Otherwise, he would have been driven mad with shock.
"But since you claim a Dark Force fighter killed my son, do you have any proof?"
Liu Bomin stood and pressed him, his gaze razor-sharp.
"I have no proof. But if you have a Dark Force expert at your disposal, he can spar with me and verify it."
Zhou Yun remained neither servile nor overbearing.
It had been a long time since he'd killed the Dark Force Old Woman. What evidence could possibly remain?
The only witness was Shen Qingxue, but County Magistrate Liu would surely think the two of them were in cahoots. Her testimony wouldn't be worth a thing to him.
So the best proof was strength.
"Such an arrogant brat."
Liu Bomin let out an angry laugh, but quickly calmed his expression. "I'll investigate what you've said. But your three martial halls have indeed crossed the line too often in recent years... I've come under orders from the main city to cancel all funding for the three halls."
"Starting today, each martial hall will have to support itself. The court will no longer provide any subsidies."
With that, Liu Bomin left with the Grey-Robed Elder, leaving behind a final remark as he went.
"I hope you know your place, Hall Master Liang, and don't cross the line again..."
Zhou Yun muttered to himself. He hadn't known that part of the martial halls' income came from court subsidies. No wonder the cafeteria meat had been so cheap.
Only then did he realize that Liu Bomin's use of his son's death as an excuse to seek revenge was only half the story. His real aim—to intimidate Black Stone Martial Hall and cut off the court's subsidies—was beyond doubt.
After Liu Bomin left, the atmosphere suddenly grew much heavier.
Standing in the Martial Hall, Zhou Yun watched Liang Wanshan stare at his teacup without saying a word for a long time.
"You've mastered two martial arts? One of them the Black Ape Movement Technique?"
At last, Liang Wanshan spoke.
"Yes, Master. I've mastered the Black Ape Movement Technique."
Zhou Yun replied.
"To master two movement techniques at your age is no easy feat... I heard you helped Jingping win the fist match at White Phoenix Martial Hall. Have you reached Bright Force mastery?"
Liang Wanshan continued.
"The force in my dantian is already about as thick as five fingers. I should reach it in the next day or two..."
Zhou Yun answered. He didn't mention that he was actually preparing to break through to Dark Force within the next couple of days. Otherwise, Liang Wanshan wouldn't have looked so calm.
"Not bad. Though your cultivation isn't among the best of the younger generation in the hall, you do have a gift for martial arts..."
Liang Wanshan thought for a moment, then said slowly, "Would you be willing to take part in this year's Three Halls Martial Tournament and win a spot to settle in the main city?"
"The Three Halls Martial Tournament..."
Zhou Yun had expected this. He'd planned to bring it up with Master Liang once he reached Dark Force, but it seemed the matter had come sooner than expected.
"This disciple is willing to fight for the hall."
Liang Wanshan gave a slight nod. "Good. That's all I need to hear."
"But don't worry. Wang Lan, Chen Jingping, and my adopted son, Liang Chengshi, will be the ones to fight in the main matches. You only need to step in if one of them makes a mistake or during the final martial bout."
"If the three of them get through without a hitch, you'll naturally be able to go with them and earn a spot in the main city."
Zhou Yun considered this. He hadn't known there was such an arrangement—that he could enter the main city alongside his senior brothers.
Liang Wanshan seemed to see what he was thinking and said calmly, "Your two senior brothers are both from the main city, while Chengshi has me, a Transformation Force Grandmaster, vouching for him... The number of spots to enter the main city actually exceeds demand. All you need is the title."
Being born into a martial family sure had its perks...
Zhou Yun sighed inwardly, but still cupped his hands. "Thank you, Master Liang."
"All right, if there's nothing else, go back to the Inner Courtyard and practice your fists... As for County Magistrate Liu, I'll take care of it."
Liang Wanshan gave him one final assurance, then continued, "You can eat at the second-floor cafeteria in the Inner Courtyard from now on. I've hired people to catch rare and exotic beasts especially for it. They're of tremendous benefit to martial artists."
"Since you'll be doing your part for the hall, you don't need to worry about food."
Hearing this, Zhou Yun's eyes lit up.
He hadn't even used Chen Jingping's cafeteria discount yet, and now all his meals would be free. It seemed he'd really hitched himself to a big ship.
"Thank you, Master Liang!"
This time, Zhou Yun's bow was much more heartfelt. He decided then and there to head up to the Inner Courtyard cafeteria and feast.
Just then, a familiar figure walked in through the Martial Hall's entrance.
"Master Liang, I'm back."
It was Wang Lan, who had gone out to investigate the Shen Family.
He hurried in, looking as though he had something urgent to report.
Before you continue