Essence

Early the next morning, Lin Xuan got up early, intending to head to Qiyun Sect and figure out how to get his hands on that dual-cultivation technique.

Zhang Xiu went with him.

But the moment they stepped outside, he heard people talking:

"Did you hear? Yesterday, a young military officer beat a vicious beggar who was blocking the road with a stick. He even said, 'You're strong and healthy, with all your limbs intact. Go earn your own living.'"

"Really? I don't believe it. There's actually a kind-hearted soldier like that?"

Listening to the chatter rising and falling around him, Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.

What he'd considered a minor matter—a casual punishment for a vicious beggar—had spread through half of Wuqu City overnight.

"Uncle Zhang, do you know what kind of place Qiyun Sect is?"

Zhang Xiu had seen a lot. He often drove around and regularly accompanied Thousand-Household Commander Su, who always brought him along when he visited Wuqu Province. Naturally, Zhang Xiu knew quite a bit about the place.

"Qiyun Sect basically controls the entertainment business in Wuqu Province. Brothels, pleasure houses, theaters—almost all of them belong to Qiyun Sect.

"Every gang has some kind of business, and they all have to pay the government without complaint.

"Take the Beggar Sect. They're under the government's control, and they have to hand over the money they collect from begging, one layer at a time. The leader of the Wuqu Beggar Sect may call himself a beggar, but in truth he lives no differently from a wealthy merchant. He just wears ragged clothes to put on an act."

"If they already have the government's backing, why do they need to control violence? I've heard every gang has its own secret techniques and the like. Why is that?"

"Flag Commander, there's something you don't know. The gangs and sects that hold sway over a city or region today all rose through the law of the jungle.

"In the early days, Wuqu wasn't dominated by just a few powers like it is now.

"Back then, the city's gangs were divided by trade: small sects that specialized in song and dance, others that put on operas, and still others that practiced music. There were countless more gangs of street vagrants.

"Every trade and every faction fought to seize territory, monopolize customers, and take over streets and businesses. The fighting went on year after year.

"Small sects couldn't beat large ones, and weak gangs were swallowed by strong ones. They merged year after year.

"Those that survived and established themselves did so by trampling over the bones of countless rivals.

"You need force to conquer new territory, and you need force to keep it and crush your opponents.

"The government only cares about collecting taxes and keeping the peace. It never helps gangs fight over territory or wipe out the competition.

"The court once tried to stop certain gangs from growing too powerful, but as sects found powerful patrons and officials were bribed with lavish sums, the balance was broken. It was only natural.

"To avoid being swallowed up and to monopolize a city's profits for generations, they had to keep secret martial arts in their hands and raise armed fighters.

"That's the fundamental reason why every sect or gang that holds sway over a region today has inherited martial arts and experts to keep it in check."

Hearing this, Lin Xuan suddenly understood. In an instant, many things fell into place. These weren't "jianghu sects" at all—they were industry monopolies with licenses to use violence!

And if they all followed this model, then, with ancient transportation so inconvenient, they couldn't form large "cross-provincial conglomerates."

That was why jianghu sects had sprung up everywhere, each with different businesses.

There were too many street vagrants and idle martial artists for the court to manage. If they tried to enlist them, the military budget wouldn't be enough.

Letting gangs monopolize industries and raise enforcers, then allowing the underworld to fight among itself and gangs to wipe one another out, meant fewer idle martial artists would survive.

Otherwise, what were they supposed to do—sit around drinking and discussing state affairs?

It seemed like a cost-effective way to govern local areas and keep the streets peaceful.

He still knew far too little about this world. Zhang Xiu might have been a Squad Leader who'd spent his whole life stuck at the peak of Bone Binding, but he knew far more about the jianghu and the government than Lin Xuan did.

"Among three people walking together, one is bound to be my teacher"—it was no empty saying.

"Flag Commander Lin, we're here." Zhang Xiu led Lin Xuan to a pleasure pavilion.

From the name alone, it was hard to tell what a pleasure pavilion did.

In truth, it was a mid-range brothel.

It occupied a courtyard along the street—not as grand as an elaborate brothel in a tower, but not as rundown as a narrow-lane whorehouse, either.

The main hall had private rooms with elegant seats. Flowers and trees grew in the courtyard, where tables and writing desks had been set out, while side rooms served as places to rest and stay the night.

Some were even attached to private rooms on the second floor of restaurants. Their façades were tasteful and understated, hung with flower lanterns and tavern flags, without any lavish ornamentation.

The people who came and went were mostly small and mid-sized merchants and minor officials, so the place was fresh and refined.

When the madam saw two military officers arrive, her eyes lit up. She hurried over to welcome them. "This way, gentlemen.

"You've come at just the right time. The pavilion is running a promotion: deposit fifty taels and get ten taels extra to spend anywhere inside."

Lin Xuan paused. A top-up bonus? Even this sort of place had learned that kind of marketing?

He immediately replied, "I'm here to ask about buying a dual-cultivation technique from your sect."

The madam's eager smile abruptly froze, and the lively expression she'd worn to entice customers vanished.

She looked Lin Xuan and Zhang Xiu up and down. Seeing their Garrison uniforms and the standard-issue badges at their waists, she quickly weighed her options, then lowered her voice and glanced toward the tower at the back of the courtyard.

"Sir, you must be joking. This is a respectable pleasure pavilion. Where would we get a sect technique?" She took half a step back, her tone polite but guarded.

"Qiyun Sect has many businesses, but the pleasure trade is managed by stewards. The sect's martial arts are all kept in the hands of its martial masters. Ordinary businesses can't even get their hands on scraps of those techniques. You've come to the wrong place."

Lin Xuan didn't look disappointed. He simply smiled.

"You misunderstand."

He reached into his robe, took out a badge, and set it on the table.

"If I dared come here and ask directly, I already knew a dual-cultivation technique wouldn't be sitting on a counter for sale."

The madam's gaze fell on the badge.

Liangcheng Thousand-Household Office, Flag Commander.

He was only a junior officer, but anyone so young who had already risen to Flag Commander must have some ability.

The wariness on her face eased a little.

"If you understand that, sir, why make things difficult for me?"

Lin Xuan picked up the teapot on the table and poured himself a cup. He blew gently on the hot tea.

"Because I know that even if you can't sell certain things, you must know whom I should ask."

The purpose of their visit was precisely to get her to introduce them.

The madam fell silent for a moment, then sighed softly.

"Since you've put it that way, I won't pretend not to understand."

"But this is no longer something I can decide."

"Qiyun Sect does have techniques like that, but not many people can get access to them."

"How can I meet someone who has the authority to decide?"

The madam looked toward the back of the courtyard, where a three-story tower stood with upturned eaves and several red lanterns hanging from it.

Unlike the refinement of the front courtyard, it carried a faint air of mystery.

"By chance, one of Qiyun Sect's stewards is upstairs today.

"If you're truly sincere, sir, I can go inform them."

Just as she finished speaking...