Li Beichen looked at Meng Juxiang.
"Master, do the other thirty-six martial halls in Jinglong District have backgrounds like this too?"
Meng Juxiang looked somewhat surprised, then smiled.
"Everyone in my sect, from Zhang Meng to Yuan Dazong and then Fang Meiqin, has their head full of thoughts about how to make their muscles bigger and stronger."
"Li Beichen, the fact that you can ask me this question shows you have some breadth of mind."
He pondered for a moment, then let Li Beichen in on a little.
"My Giant Elephant Sect is a major sect in Jiangnan, with influence in most of its cities."
"Of course, the other major sects are no exception."
"In Ram City, the two martial halls you need to pay attention to are Thunderbolt and Cloud Crane. Thunderbolt Martial Hall answers to the Five-Thunder Thunderbolt Sect, while Cloud Crane Martial Hall answers to the Fuling Sword Sect."
"Both sects are among the major powers in Jiangnan, on par with our Giant Elephant Sect."
"I see."
Li Beichen looked at Meng Juxiang. His master's status was probably no ordinary thing. Though Meng Juxiang hadn't said so outright, he seemed to be something like the Giant Elephant Sect's representative in Ram City.
He had put down roots in Ram City as an extension of the Giant Elephant Sect, while also helping the sect select and recommend new blood.
For the days that followed, Li Beichen devoted himself to training in the Inner Courtyard.
His treatment had changed beyond recognition.
For starters, meat was served every day, like the special meals in the Outer Courtyard, except there was no limit.
And every five days, he received half a catty of Exotic Beast Meat. The higher his cultivation, the larger his allotment.
Li Beichen soon discovered, however, that this meat wasn't as potent as the Strange Pig meat at home.
After asking around, he learned why.
The meat came from specially bred Exotic Beasts. Their yield was low, but the supply was steady, thanks to Meng Juxiang's connections.
Of course, if he really ate as much of that half catty of Exotic Beast Meat as he wanted, it would only last a day—far from enough for a Grade Entry martial artist's training needs.
As for lodging, the martial hall provided Inner Courtyard disciples with shared dormitories, four to a room, but hardly anyone lived there.
Everyone had a home near Jinglong District.
Zhang Meng had once clapped Li Beichen on the shoulder with a grin and said,
"Old Seven, once you enter the ranks and become a true martial artist, these worldly possessions will come looking for you on their own. You'll have to choose carefully. If you're unsure about anything, come ask me."
At first, Li Beichen hadn't understood what he meant. A few days later, though, invitations began arriving one after another.
The first to seek him out was his Second Senior Brother, Yuan Dazong.
"Seventh Junior Brother, I'm hosting tonight. Rouge House, Hundred Flowers Pavilion—be sure to do me the honor of coming."
Li Beichen raised an eyebrow, curious to see what Yuan Dazong was up to.
He accepted the invitation.
"My Second Senior Brother has invited me. Beichen will certainly attend."
Li Beichen's easy agreement made Yuan Dazong's narrow eyes widen a little.
"Excellent, excellent! I'll have fine wine and beauties ready for you!"
That night, dressed in brocade, Li Beichen strode toward Rouge House.
It was his first time there.
The weather was growing warmer, and the streets of Rouge House were lined with pleasure houses.
Many of them had balconies jutting out over the street.
Within, beautiful women in sheer gauze sang and danced, their movements alluring.
They were there to entice the pleasure-seekers passing by.
Every establishment had women clustered at the entrance, coaxing men inside.
Li Beichen wore brocade and clearly looked like a wealthy young master. With his star-bright brows, sword-sharp eyes, and tall, sturdy build, he drew even more attention.
A courtesan wearing a revealing bandeau approached him, her voice soft and sweet.
"My lord..."
"Sorry, I already have plans."
Ignoring the enticing glances of the singers and dancing girls, Li Beichen continued along Rouge House until he finally reached Hundred Flowers Pavilion.
He took out the invitation and handed it to a servant. Someone then led him to the private room reserved for him.
When he pushed open the door, he found Yuan Dazong, with his narrow eyes and thin lips, and another middle-aged man.
The man was richly dressed and portly, with a jade thumb ring on his thumb.
Each of them had a songstress attending to him.
When Li Beichen entered, Yuan Dazong rose with a broad smile and introduced him.
"Beichen, let me introduce you."
"This is President Yan Fu of the Ram City Tea Guild. He was once a Grade Entry martial artist himself."
"All the tea in Ram City is brought here by merchants like President Yan, who carry it over mountains and across the Tea Horse Road."
President Yan greeted him with a smile as well.
"Attendant Yuan has told me for ages that his junior brother is exceptionally gifted and handsome. Having met you today, I can see he was right. A pleasure, a pleasure!"
Faced with their warm welcome, Li Beichen cupped his hands and took his seat.
A beautiful songstress in a bandeau and translucent silk robe immediately came over to pour his wine and peel fruit for him.
"Second Senior Brother, President Yan, may I ask why you invited me here?"
"Hahaha, you're quite direct, Brother Li. I, Yan Fu, won't beat around the bush."
"I asked Attendant Yuan to bring us together today because I'd like to invite you to serve as an attendant for my Tea Guild!"
"An attendant?"
Li Beichen's gaze sharpened as he looked at Yuan Dazong.
"Second Senior Brother, are you an attendant for the Tea Guild too?"
"Of course. Of the Thirty-Six Trades of Ram City, I chose the Tea Guild."
"It's a fine position. I was the one who recommended you to President Yan."
Yuan Dazong spoke with great warmth, as though he truly had Li Beichen's best interests at heart and was going out of his way to look after his Seventh Junior Brother.
But when Li Beichen looked at him, he couldn't bring himself to like the man. It was like facing a giant python with powerful muscles and a heart of ice.
He considered this for a moment.
"May I ask, Second Senior Brother, President Yan, what would I have to do as an attendant?"
Yan Fu forced a smile.
"For now, you wouldn't have to do anything, Brother Li. You'd just be affiliated with my Tea Guild. I can provide you with thirty taels of silver each month to support your martial training!"
Yuan Dazong chimed in from the side.
"Seventh Junior Brother, look at how sincere President Yan is. Thirty taels of silver would be enough to buy you a two-courtyard residence in Jinglong District after just three months. Then you could add a few lovely wives and concubines. What could be more delightful?"
The songstress beside Li Beichen caught Yan Fu's signal and pressed her curvaceous body against him.
"My lord... You're so strong..."
"Hahaha, if Brother Li agrees, I can redeem this beauty for you. She can go home with you today and serve you well!"
Yan Fu had just fired a sugar-coated cannonball straight at him.
An ordinary seventeen-year-old, brimming with youthful vigor, would have been won over by this sweet talk and agreed on the spot.
But Li Beichen had lived two lives. In this one, he had endured a turbulent existence and suffered all manner of hardships.
He knew that behind any seemingly effortless, sweet reward, there was sure to be a price ten times as high.
Li Beichen let his hand wander over the beauty's delicate curves, putting on an uneasy expression.
"To be honest, Second Senior Brother, Eldest Senior Brother told me that if anyone approached me to discuss becoming an affiliated attendant, I had to consult him first."
"A man cannot stand without keeping his word. I'm truly tempted by your kind offer, Second Senior Brother, and President Yan. Let me speak to Eldest Senior Brother first, then I'll give you my answer!"
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