Big Brother

Zhang Shun greeted a chore boy guarding the back door.

"A newcomer is here."

With that, he handed over a black iron token.

Lin Qing saw clearly that the token was engraved with the number nine.

This seemed to imply that Zhang Shun's rank within the Ge Pao Society was not low at all.

The boy glanced at the token and silently stepped aside.

Zhang Shun led Lin Qing down a narrow, steep staircase.

At the end of the stairs was not a warehouse, but a heavy wooden door.

Pushing it open, a scent mixed with tobacco smoke and sweat rushed to meet them.

Inside, the space opened up into a surprisingly spacious underground hall.

Several large lanterns hung on the walls, casting bright light throughout the room.

A dozen masked men were sitting or standing inside, drinking and gambling, most dressed in ordinary clothes.

However, their eyes were sharp and their breathing steady; they were clearly not people to be trifled with.

Upon seeing Zhang Shun bring someone in, some whispered to each other while others wiped down their weapons.

Yet, their gazes kept sweeping over Zhang Shun and Lin Qing.

Zhang Shun ignored the others and led Lin Qing straight to a private room at the far end of the hall, knocking on the door.

"Big Brother, the person has been brought."

"Come in," a languid voice replied.

Zhang Shun and Lin Qing pushed the door open and entered.

The door was then closed by two black-clad attendants.

It was a spacious inner chamber containing a large grand armchair, upon which sat a man puffing away on a long pipe.

He showed his true face; he was about forty years old, short and stocky, with dark skin and a large mole on the left side of his chin.

He wore a slightly worn silk shirt and looked less like a gang boss and more like a shrewd shopkeeper.

It seemed this was the man Zhang Shun had spoken of.

Luo Tiancheng, the Big Brother of the Ge Pao Society's branch in Qingping County.

"Big Brother, I've brought him."

Zhang Shun stepped forward and said respectfully.

He stepped aside to reveal Lin Qing: "This is Brother Lin Qing."

Luo Tiancheng set down his pipe, his eyes scanning Lin Qing up and down as a seemingly kind smile appeared on his face.

"Oh? So this is the Young Master Lin who managed to make the Farmer Twin Fists stumble?"

"Truly, a hero emerges from the youth."

His voice was resonant, carrying a unique sense of approachability.

It made one unconsciously lower their guard.

Lin Qing did not dare to be negligent; he stepped forward, cupped his hands in a salute, and maintained a posture that was neither servile nor overbearing.

"Junior Lin Qing greets Big Brother Luo. It was merely a few minor tricks and a stroke of luck; I am unworthy of such high praise."

"Heh heh, no need for such modesty."

Luo Tiancheng waved his hand, signaling that Lin Qing need not stand on ceremony.

"It wasn't luck that allowed you to take care of the Sun Brothers."

"I know a thing or two about your affairs. The Young Master of Benevolent World Hall, the newly accepted disciple of Iron Wire Fist Hong Yuan, good comprehension, broke through to Skin Refining in just over two months, and now you even show signs of another breakthrough."

"Hmm, you can also concoct medicine. With Benevolent World Hall in your hands, business is booming; even some families in the inner city only recognize your shop's medicinal herbs."

He recounted Lin Qing's background as if it were common knowledge, his tone relaxed, as if he were merely chatting about daily life.

Lin Qing felt a chill in his heart.

Luo Tiancheng's understanding of his situation was far more detailed than he had imagined.

Even relatively private matters, such as his impending breakthrough to the second stage and his ability to concoct medicine, were crystal clear to him.

This intelligence-gathering capability was truly terrifying.

Luo Tiancheng seemed satisfied with the surprise in Lin Qing's eyes; he took a puff of his pipe, leisurely exhaled a ring of smoke, and looked quite pleased with himself.

"Kid, don't be surprised. In this Qingping County, there is very little that can be hidden from me if I want to know it."

"Never mind your little affairs; even the magistrate's favorite concubine—I know exactly which head of the guards she snuck into bed with last night."

In the room, the two other masked men who appeared to be guarding the door also revealed knowing smiles at these words.

Clearly, he was also quite interested in such gossip.

Lin Qing's mouth twitched slightly; he was rendered speechless by the bluntness and explosive nature of this Big Brother's words.

But he also fully understood that this seemingly ordinary, short, and sturdy middle-aged man—

The underground intelligence network he controlled had likely infiltrated every aspect of Qingping County.

This was a true local tyrant, one who, in certain respects, was even more formidable than the White Horse Gang.

Joining such an organization meant that risks and opportunities coexisted.

Afterward, Lin Qing received his own token, number ninety-four.

Beyond that, there were task assignments that could only be obtained from one's direct superior; others had no right to know them.

This meant that within the Ge Pao Society, members did not know each other's identities, with only the Big Brother and one's respective superior being privy to such information.

The confidentiality measures could be considered quite thorough.

Several days passed.

Ever since he had paid his respects to the Big Brother, Luo Tiancheng, in the underground hall that day—

And had officially entered the fold of the Ge Pao Society—

Zhang Shun's attitude toward Lin Qing had become noticeably warmer and more intimate.

It was no longer merely the appreciation of an inner-sect senior brother for a promising outer-sect disciple.

It now carried the care one shows for their own kind.

In his spare time, Lin Qing continued to process the medicinal ingredients needed for the Tendon Strengthening Powder at the apothecary.

However, because the deer tendons required a period of time to be cured with other herbs, he still had to wait a few more days before he could truly begin refining.

One day, during a break from training at the martial arts hall, Zhang Shun draped an arm over Lin Qing's shoulder, winked, and chuckled in a low voice:

"Junior Brother Lin, now that we are comrades, I must keep you in mind when good things come along."

"Seeing as you aren't so young anymore, are you married? Is there any young lady you fancy?"

Lin Qing was stunned by this sudden question, then shook his head with a wry smile.

"Senior Brother Zhang is joking. This humble one has yet to establish a stable household or achieve success in the martial path. Between managing the apothecary and burying myself in training every day, how could I have the heart to consider such things?"

"Ah, that's where you're wrong!"

Zhang Shun wore an expression that said he didn't understand, patting his shoulder hard: "Establishing a family and a career go hand in hand. You don't know this, but in our circles, there are wealthy young ladies with deep family roots who just love young martial artists like you—full of potential and with a decent appearance."

"If you could latch onto a wealthy woman, you'd ascend to the heavens in one step. You'd never have to worry about food or drink for the rest of your life, and your cultivation resources would be endless. Why live so bitterly as you do now?"

Zhang Shun leaned in closer, his voice filled with encouragement: "As it happens, I've invited a few senior brothers and sisters from the martial hall tomorrow, along with that new junior sister from the Liu family, Liu Ying, for a small gathering at the River Gazing Pavilion in the inner city."

"They are all direct disciples under the Master, the core circle of our martial hall. I'll take you to see the world, hehe. If you can strike up a good relationship with Junior Sister Liu, that would be a tremendous stroke of fortune."

In his words, Zhang Shun even faintly hinted at playing matchmaker.

"Liu Ying? That young lady from the Liu family with excellent bone structure, whom Hong Yuan personally took into the inner sect?"

Lin Qing recalled the exceptionally talented young girl.

"That's her. She has already publicly rejected Senior Brother Feng's affections, and now, fearing his pestering, she has said she is looking to scout out some outstanding talents." Zhang Shun revealed a knowing smile.

Lin Qing's heart stirred.

He had no particular thoughts on romance, nor any desire to climb the social ladder through others.

But he knew deeply that in this Qingping County, Connections and information were of vital importance.

Being able to use this opportunity to come into contact with the true core circle of the martial hall and understand the temperaments and backgrounds of these inner-sect disciples—

And perhaps even glean some information that would otherwise be difficult to obtain—

The benefits outweighed the risks for him.

As for Zhang Shun's matchmaking intentions, he would handle them with his own discretion.

After a brief moment of thought, he nodded and accepted: "In that case, many thanks to Senior Brother for the guidance."