Intimidation

Although the snow lay thick, the group of young people were all determined to learn martial arts and change their fates, just like Xu Yang, rising above their station. They'd come well prepared, and every one of them managed to make it to the city without anyone falling behind.

Xu Yang only escorted them to the area near the Huang Family before heading to the Liu Family. Whether they could change their fates would depend on their own fortunes.

Soon, he learned from Zhang Bo that the Liu Family had concluded Bao Gang had met with an accident and given his family some money as compensation.

That gesture immediately won people over, and everyone praised the Liu Family for their loyalty.

Even Xu Yang felt some goodwill toward them. After all, he knew how Bao Gang had died, and the Liu Family had nothing to do with it.

The Liu Family had given Bao Gang's family money, regardless of whether it was to win people's favor. At least they'd actually paid up.

Either way, no one would trace this matter back to him.

That afternoon, he went to Wei Yuan Hall and saw the candidates the Huang Family had selected this time. There were far fewer than last time—only five.

The Huang Family had raised its standards this time. They wouldn't take anyone with a Grade D Bone Root.

They'd also had worse luck than last time. There was no prodigy like Lu Ren, and not a single candidate had a Grade B Bone Root.

All five had Grade C Bone Roots: one Grade C Superior and four Grade C Inferior.

They said Second Master Huang, Huang Ping, was furious and had no choice but to grit his teeth and invest more in their training.

More than ten people had come from White Stone Ward, but only one had been selected. It was his cousin, Xu Zheng, one of the four with a Grade C Inferior Bone Root.

"Brother Yang!"

Seeing Xu Yang appear, Xu Zheng waved at him excitedly, his face flushed.

Xu Yang merely gave him a slight nod. Though Xu Zheng was his cousin, they were more than five generations removed. Before Xu Yang had become a martial artist, Xu Zheng wouldn't even greet him.

Xu Yang paid no further attention to the Huang Family's affairs. The thing he'd been worried about hadn't happened either.

Three days later, the heavy snow gradually melted, and he continued his cultivation as usual.

In the mornings, he went to the Liu Family; in the afternoons, to Wei Yuan Hall.

"Thud, thud..."

Qiu Yongqiang looked panicked as he ran, splashing slush with every step.

At last, he reached home and pushed open the door. His elder brother, Qiu Yongjian, lay pale on the bed, and a bloodstained shirt was piled on the floor beside him.

"Big Brother, are you all right?"

His eyes blazed with fury, but he first asked about Qiu Yongjian's injuries.

A bitter smile crossed Qiu Yongjian's face. "Second Brother, you were right to think about hiring an Attendant. Without a martial artist to protect us, it's not just our business—even our lives can be taken whenever someone pleases."

Qiu Yongqiang could no longer hold back. He roared, "Hong Xu has gone too far! He couldn't beat us in business, so he resorted to force. Does he think the Hong Family is the only one with martial artists? I've already sent someone to notify Wenjie."

The Hong Family and the Qiu Family both dealt in tea. But the Qiu Family had better suppliers, so the tea they sold was not only higher quality, but cheaper too. They'd competed for years, but neither side had ever resorted to violence.

They hadn't expected that, with the heavy snow preventing deliveries from coming in, the Hong Family would raise its prices. The Qiu Family had plenty of stock and feared it wouldn't sell, so they held their prices steady. That ruined the Hong Family's price hike, and the dispute flared up again.

After several rounds of negotiations, the Hong Family had shifted from demanding that the Qiu Family raise its prices too, to demanding that they share their supply channels.

The Qiu brothers naturally wouldn't share such a closely guarded secret with a competitor. When threats failed, the Hong Family had resorted to violence today.

Qiu Yongjian's expression changed when he heard that. "This is bad. I only just found out that Hong Xu kept changing his demands because his eldest son, Hong Feng, broke through to Minor Success in Qi Gathering. That's why he resorted to force.

"Hurry and stop Wenjie. Don't let him go to the Hong Family. He's only at the Qi Gathering stage; he's no match for Hong Feng. If they fight, Hong Feng won't hold back.

"Tell him to find one of the senior brothers at Wei Yuan Hall and ask someone influential to come mediate.

"Quickly! Hong Xu gave us only one day to decide. If we don't hand over the supply channels by then, he'll have Hong Feng deal with us."

Hearing that Hong Feng had reached Minor Success in Qi Gathering, Qiu Yongqiang's expression changed as well. He didn't waste another moment, rushing out to intercept his son, Qiu Wenjie.

Fortunately, he caught up with him before he reached the Hong Family. He quickly explained Hong Feng's breakthrough and Qiu Yongjian's plan.

"Don't worry, Father. I'll go to Wei Yuan Hall and ask an influential senior brother to step in."

Qiu Wenjie gave Qiu Yongqiang a reassuring look, then turned to leave. But once he stepped into Wei Yuan Hall's Inner Courtyard, he looked around blankly, unsure whom to ask.

There were plenty of senior brothers in the Inner Courtyard who could settle the matter with a single word. But he had little connection with any of them; some he'd never even spoken to.

Even if he swallowed his pride and asked, they wouldn't help him.

He'd been in the Inner Courtyard for so long, but only spent time with Xu Yang and a few others. Those with influential backgrounds looked down on him.

"Right, Senior Brother Zhang Yong."

He suddenly remembered that Zhang Yong had also reached Minor Success in Qi Gathering, and that they knew each other. Zhang Yong ought to be willing to help.

Qiu Wenjie hurried over and cupped his hands. "Senior Brother Zhang Yong, my family has offended an expert at Minor Success in Qi Gathering. I'd like to ask you to help mediate..."

Zhang Yong stopped his stance training. He didn't refuse outright, instead asking in detail about the person the Qiu Family had offended.

"His name is Hong Feng. He's from Tiger Roar Martial Hall, and his talent is average. It probably took him three or four years to reach Minor Success in Qi Gathering. They've gone too far. My family and the Hong Family both deal in tea..."

Qiu Wenjie didn't hide anything. He told Zhang Yong, in detail, how the Hong and Qiu Families had fallen out and how matters had come to this.

At the end, he added, "If you could help mediate, my uncle and father would certainly prepare a generous gift to thank you."

He wasn't expecting Zhang Yong to help for free. He understood how favors worked.

To his surprise, Zhang Yong's attitude changed. He shook his head. "Sorry. I can't help with this."

Qiu Wenjie's face went pale. "Senior Brother Zhang, you've also reached Minor Success in Qi Gathering. If you came forward to say a few words, Hong Feng wouldn't dare ignore you. If you think the gift isn't enough, just say so."

Zhang Yong sighed before replying, "It's not that I think the gift is too small. If it were just a matter of exchanging a few words, we're fellow disciples—I'd be glad to help you mediate.

"But from what you've told me, the Hong Family covets your supply channels. They want to swallow the Qiu Family and make the Hong Family stronger. This wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision.

"If I step in, it won't be a matter of exchanging a few words. We'll have to settle it with our fists.

"I still haven't reached Major Success in Qi Gathering, and the Martial Exam Dragon Ascent is coming up. I'm not confident I can break through in time. If I get injured and lose time, I'll have no hope at all..."

At that point, Qiu Wenjie understood that Zhang Yong wouldn't change his mind. There was no point in saying more.

When two people with the same cultivation level fought, how could they avoid injuries? They might even end up killing each other.

Zhang Yong was determined to pursue martial arts. He wouldn't jeopardize his future for someone he barely knew.

"I understand, Senior Brother Zhang. I'll ask some of the other senior brothers."

Qiu Wenjie bowed to Zhang Yong, then turned to leave. But as he looked around the vast Inner Courtyard, he still had no idea whom to ask.

If Zhang Yong had such reservations, the other senior brothers surely did too.

Unless he could find someone with a powerful background, someone who could make Hong Feng back down with a single word, anyone he asked would refuse.

Sun Tao, Jiang Ping, Gu Fang, Zhao Zhifei!

The names of the most influential people in the Inner Courtyard flashed through his mind one by one. In the end, he decided to swallow his pride and ask Jiang Ping.

He hurried over to Jiang Ping and cupped his hands. "Greetings, Senior Brother Jiang."

Jiang Ping looked at the junior brother, whose face he barely recognized, and raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

Qiu Wenjie took a deep breath and spoke quickly. "It's like this, Senior Brother Jiang. Someone wants to take my family's business. I'd like to ask you..."

Jiang Ping cut him off. "Get lost!"

Qiu Wenjie's face flushed. He awkwardly apologized to Jiang Ping, his mind in turmoil as he wondered who could save the Qiu Family.

Suddenly, someone stepped in front of him. He looked up instinctively and saw Xu Yang watching him with a stern expression, Wu Yongfeng standing beside him.

"Why didn't you come to me?" Xu Yang asked with a frown.