Integration

Upon arriving at the martial arts hall, Meng Juxiang was practicing while facing the morning sun.

Li Beichen stood quietly to the side.

He was also practicing the breathing technique of the Giant Elephant Fist.

When Meng Juxiang finished his session, he handed over the silver.

"Master, this is the compensation from the Meat Trade Association. This disciple thanks you for standing up for me."

"This silver is compensation for you; why are you giving it to me?!"

The scar on Meng Juxiang's face twisted like a centipede. He did not turn around, remaining faced toward the morning glow with a solemn expression.

"Li Beichen, you only need to remember to reach the goal I set for you by next spring."

"However, the fact that you killed Wu Ming in the ring shows that you have been training diligently and haven't slacked off during this time. That is very good."

"As for that braised meat business of yours, transfer the dividends originally allocated to the meat traders over to the martial arts hall. The hall will naturally back you up from now on."

"Do not let these trivial matters delay your cultivation!"

Li Beichen naturally understood Meng Juxiang's intent; this was his way of offering protection.

With the martial arts hall as a shareholder, relying on the prestige of Meng Juxiang as a Rank 6 martial artist, he could hold onto anything in Ram City—let alone a braised meat business, even a brothel or gambling den that raked in gold daily would be secure.

Li Beichen also knew that the only thing Meng Juxiang cared about was his cultivation progress.

The more exceptional his talent appeared, the more importance he would naturally receive.

Li Beichen guessed that if he could recommend a true genius to the Giant Elephant Sect, it would also be of great benefit to Meng Juxiang himself.

He intended to reveal his true progress in cultivation.

"Master, this disciple is now able to strike ten echoes in a row!"

As soon as Li Beichen said this, Meng Juxiang, who had been bathing in the sunlight with a solemn face, suddenly turned around.

"Ten echoes?! Are you certain?!"

Li Beichen demonstrated immediately.

His fists moved like a gale and a rainstorm, striking ten times in succession, each blow exploding with the sound of wind and thunder.

He finished his routine and withdrew his stance.

"Master, in terms of fist technique mastery, my Giant Elephant Fist is only at the entry level, and I am still far from true integration. This disciple feels that ten echoes is not yet my limit at the Flesh Refining stage."

A rare smile appeared on Meng Juxiang's face.

"Your talent exceeds my expectations."

"That's right, ten echoes is merely the minimum standard for a Rank 9 master."

"In reality, true geniuses in the Giant Elephant Sect can achieve fifty, or even a hundred echoes. Legend has it that the Second Ancestor reached a thousand echoes."

"Li Beichen, focus on your training. I believe that if you keep up this momentum, even when you join the Giant Elephant Sect next year, you will not be an unknown figure!"

"Yes, Master!"

Li Beichen swallowed the bait Meng Juxiang had dangled.

With his talent, he truly had the confidence and ambition to reach the highest peaks of this world and take in the view.

However, although Li Beichen was confident inside, his outward demeanor remained calm.

Having lived two lives, he had endured many hardships in this one. Even though he was not yet seventeen, he could already be described as steady and composed.

He was truly capable of controlling himself and remaining unflustered in the face of change.

Watching Li Beichen retreat with a calm and unhurried expression, a thought could not help but surface in Meng Juxiang's mind.

"One who holds thunder in his heart while his face remains as calm as a lake is fit to be a great general!"

Meng Juxiang did not specify how the dry shares of the braised meat business would be handled, but Li Beichen knew that if there were any issues, he should just find the senior apprentice, Zhang Meng.

He had the hall's accountant draft the documents, pressed his thumbprint on them, and then found Zhang Meng.

"Senior Brother, these are the twenty percent dry shares of the braised meat business. From now on, the martial arts hall will hold them."

Zhang Meng didn't even look at them; he pulled out an ordinary, unlocked drawer.

"Just put them inside."

Inside that drawer, there was already a thick stack of similar contracts.

Li Beichen caught a glimpse of the document on top.

It was inscribed with the four characters: Datong Cloth Guild.

This was a major member of the cloth trade in Ram City.

A thought flashed through his mind.

"The martial artists of the Thirty-Six Trades and Jinglong District are truly intertwined with one another. The word 'web' is indeed no exaggeration..."

Zhang Meng closed the drawer, his thick, dark brows twitching.

"Seventh, don't look at these contracts in the drawer; in reality, they're completely useless."

He flexed his biceps, which stood out like small mountain peaks.

"Everything relies on this!"

Li Beichen nodded, then asked another question.

"Senior Brother, among these Thirty-Six Guilds, there must be a hierarchy, right?"

"That goes without saying."

"The Meat Guild, a local trade like this, was formed and evolved by butchers and shopkeepers here in Ram City; in terms of strength and status, it's the lowest."

"Take, for example, the Tea Guild that Second Brother joined; it ranks among the very top of the Thirty-Six Guilds."

"Ram City doesn't produce tea; it's all transported from all over by tea merchants. They even have a dedicated faction in Jiangnan, the Tea Gang, whose influence is far greater than that of the Meat Guild."

At this point, Zhang Meng gave Li Beichen a meaningful look.

"Unlike Zhou Zhongru, if you were to kill Yan Fu, the president of the Ram City Tea Guild, things would become difficult."

"If you leave no flaws, it's fine, but if you're caught red-handed, even Master would find it hard to cover for you; he could only send you away to lay low."

Li Beichen was lost in thought.

"So, given the strength of our Like-Elephant Martial Hall, even if we killed the Tea Guild president, we would only need to hide and wait for the heat to die down?"

"Cough, cough, cough."

"You kid, the pugilistic world isn't just about killing and fighting; it's about human relationships and worldly wisdom."

"If you resort to killing at every turn, who would want to cooperate with you? You'd isolate yourself from everyone—that's not the way!"

"Senior Brother, looking at your face, you seem fierce and invincible; I didn't expect you to be such a cautious and prudent person at heart."

Although Li Beichen understood this way of doing things, he lived in this world as a lone soul, preferring to settle grievances clearly and follow his own heart.

As long as these rules and regulations didn't touch his bottom line, he was usually willing to get along with everyone.

But what Li Beichen wanted wasn't a life of timid compliance, but to be unrestrained and free, wandering the world of martial arts as he pleased.

However, if his reverse scale were touched, he would seek justice at the edge of a blade.

The two words: martial artist.

He only believed in his fists.

Zhang Meng looked at Li Beichen's expression and knew that the kid hadn't listened to a word; he would never follow his way of doing things.

"Go, go, go, get to your morning training."

Meanwhile, at another prestigious martial hall in Jinglong District.

Inside Thunderbolt Martial Hall.

Mo Changkun stood respectfully before a middle-aged man.

He spoke in a low voice.

"Master, Wu Ming was a consultant for the Meat Guild. He had a close relationship with Zhou Zhongru in the past and handled many of his under-the-table affairs."

"This time, he was beaten to death on the martial arts stage by Meng Juxiang's seventh disciple."

"Zhou Zhongru was then killed that very night."

"They claimed it was some unknown powerhouse."

"Although there is no evidence, anyone with a discerning eye can see that they were the ones who did it."

"Killing someone is one thing, but this Meng Juxiang even sent a letter like this. Their Like-Elephant Martial Hall... they are simply unscrupulous."

This middle-aged man was quite imposing, sporting a full, slightly yellowish beard that was meticulously groomed and hung down to his chest.

He looked exactly like a yellow lion.

He was none other than the master of Thunderbolt Martial Hall, Huang Baitao.

He flicked his long beard, his words laced with a hint of mockery.

"Just wait. He won't be able to act so arrogantly for much longer."