News of the Black River Gang Leader

The next morning.

Li Chengfeng walked out of his room feeling clear and open all through his body. He looked up at the morning sun overhead and unconsciously stretched.

A light, unburdened feeling of clarity rose from deep within him.

He immediately swept his gaze over the courtyard bathed in dawn light, and only felt as though the world before his eyes had become much clearer. He could not help letting out a long breath.

"Whew~"

As that long breath left him, the sound of Liu Yuniang bringing the meal to a boil came from behind him.

"Time to eat, Chengfeng."

"Coming."

Li Chengfeng smiled and turned back into the house to move the table and stools into the courtyard. Then he turned around to help Liu Yuniang carry out the dishes and rice, while Liu Yuniang came out carrying a steamer basket of mantou.

The two of them sat in the little courtyard, eating mantou with the dishes in the morning light. When they were done, each drank a bowl of thin porridge and ate an egg.

That feeling made the sense of peace and steadiness in Li Chengfeng's heart grow even stronger.

After they finished eating, Liu Yuniang hung the washed clothes on the clothesline, while Li Chengfeng had already practiced the Taiji Spear once through in the courtyard.

"Yo, Brother Chengfeng, up this early?"

Li Chengfeng was in the middle of practicing when a burst of footsteps and a light call came from outside the courtyard gate. He turned his head for a look and saw Zhao Lie, the leader of the Black River Gang, standing at the courtyard gate, peering in through the fence and speaking to him with a beaming smile.

"Oh? Gang Leader Zhao, what brings you here so early?"

Li Chengfeng raised his brows and glanced at Yuniang beside him, but did not have her avoid him and return to the house. Instead, he directly raised his brows at Zhao Lie outside the courtyard and asked.

"Ah, I'm just the leader of a tiny little Black River Gang. How could anything about me be called important?"

Zhao Lie gently shook his head, then looked at Li Chengfeng with puzzlement on his face. "It's just that ever since I came to congratulate you last time, I still haven't heard any news of Brother Chengfeng joyfully entering the Martial Path Register, so I felt rather perplexed."

"I happened to pass by here today, and couldn't help coming to ask Brother Chengfeng this one thing. Could it be that you don't know about entering the Martial Path Register?"

As Zhao Lie spoke, he smiled in a friendly manner at Liu Yuniang inside the courtyard, his expression natural. Very soon, he looked back at Li Chengfeng again, still puzzled. "Otherwise, news of Brother Chengfeng entering the Martial Path Register should have spread through the whole city by now. How is it that I still haven't heard anything?"

"Mm? Entering the Martial Path Register?"

Li Chengfeng froze. In his heart, it was as if a spark flashed like lightning. His eyes flickered despite himself, and he put away his spear and walked to the center of the courtyard, looking at Zhao Lie as he cupped his fists. "Gang Leader Zhao, please explain clearly. What is entering the Martial Path Register?"

"Ah? This... I guessed Brother Chengfeng had no master lineage, and was likely not very familiar with these things. Heh, today I really did come at the right time. Being able to help Brother Chengfeng with something means this trip wasn't wasted."

When Zhao Lie heard this, he raised his brows and smiled, then said with a grin, "This so-called entering the Martial Path Register is a law of the dynasty created by the Great Qing Dynasty's Founding Ancestor. That is, all martial practitioners under heaven, after cultivating blood-qi and stepping into the level of a martial artist, may register their names in the local Martial Hall."

"The Great Qing Founding Ancestor decreed that all things under heaven related to cultivation are to enter the Martial Hall. Aside from the Martial Hall, no force may operate or sell any item needed for martial cultivation."

"And after martial artists under heaven are registered in the Martial Hall, they may receive five Martial Tablets. Hang them outside the home, and they can protect one household from taxes. They may also take gold, silver, and other such items to the Martial Hall to purchase cultivation resources. Apart from that, cultivation resources are sealed silent to the people under heaven."

Zhao Lie spoke while shaking his head. After he finished, he smiled at Li Chengfeng. "Why doesn't Brother Chengfeng go to the Martial Hall to register and enter the rolls, so that everyone in Green Mountain City will know of it? Then you can also affiliate yourself with a force and obtain some cultivation provisions."

Registering at the Martial Hall, cultivation resources sealed silent, the Great Qing Founding Ancestor.

Li Chengfeng listened to Zhao Lie's many words, and his heart was stunned. All his doubts were naturally resolved.

No wonder he had never heard of anywhere selling cultivation materials like Blood-Qi Pills, or anywhere selling cultivation techniques. So the crux was here...

This Great Qing Dynasty court is truly overbearing. But perhaps only like this can long-lasting rule be maintained in a world like this.

Thoughts surged in Li Chengfeng's heart. Then he asked Zhao Lie in puzzlement, "May I ask Brother Zhao, where is this Martial Hall located? Why have I never seen this Martial Hall in the county?"

"Hahahaha, Brother Chengfeng used to be a short-term laborer of the Zheng family, with a poor household. How would you dare step into the county yamen? Naturally, this Martial Hall is inside the county yamen."

When Zhao Lie heard Li Chengfeng's words, he laughed heartily without minding it, then spoke frankly to him. "This Zhao was once from a ruined household as well, and deeply understands how difficult it is for someone of such status to become a martial artist. But now that one has become a martial artist, all past matters scatter like smoke and clouds. Brother Chengfeng need not take it to heart."

"Brother Chengfeng, when you and I were poor wretches, that county yamen was like a dragon's pool and tiger's den. Going in once meant having your bones drawn and marrow sucked dry. Where would we dare go? Naturally, we wouldn't know."

"But now you and I are martial artists. How would those yamen runners dare show you or me disrespect? What harm is there in going?"

As Zhao Lie spoke, a trace of pride appeared on his face. Then he smiled again, turned back, and said to Li Chengfeng, "Thinking back, I also hovered outside for a long while and only dared go to the county yamen after my strength was steady. Brother Chengfeng, now that your strength is already stable, you should have no worries!"

So this Zhao Lie had once also come from among the poor commoners?

Then how was it that after making something of himself, he extorted the poor commoners with such practiced ease?

Damn it, the first thing he did after making it... was forget his roots?

"So that is how it is. I, Li Chengfeng, have lived in this world for more than ten years, yet I never knew there was such a secret matter!"

Li Chengfeng heard Zhao Lie's words, and waves surged in his heart, his eyes vivid. He rapidly digested the information Zhao Lie had given him. Then, unable to stop himself, he cupped his fists to Zhao Lie and said gratefully, "Chengfeng has been instructed. Many thanks to Gang Leader Zhao for clearing up my confusion!"

"Hahahaha, Brother Chengfeng need not be like this. I have already set a banquet at Lin-Feng Pavilion, prepared fine delicacies and good wine, and am only waiting for Brother Chengfeng to register and enter the Martial Path Register. Then I shall celebrate Brother Chengfeng at Lin-Feng Pavilion!"

Zhao Lie laughed loudly, then stood outside the fenced courtyard and spoke to Li Chengfeng with his fists cupped.

Lin-Feng Pavilion?

Li Chengfeng's heart paused. He had originally not wanted to interact with such underworld figures, but thinking of everything the other party had done after he had stepped into the martial path, and then thinking of the favor of this information just now, he could not help sighing inwardly. Silently, he cupped his fists and said, "Many thanks for Gang Leader Zhao's kind intentions. It is only that I have some rather unspeakable matters now, and I fear I cannot attend the banquet for the time being."

"Oh? What sort of unspeakable matters? Matters that would make you unable to bear celebrating even such a joyous occasion as registering and entering the Martial Path Register?"

Zhao Lie raised his brows and could not help asking Li Chengfeng in puzzlement, "Could it be that you are mindful of my humble origins and do not wish to associate with me?"

"Gang Leader Zhao is overthinking it. Li Chengfeng is merely from a short-term laborer background. How would I dare look down on a gang leader like Gang Leader Zhao?"

Li Chengfeng waved his hands repeatedly. Then, cupping his fists, he sighed. "It is only that I have a slight entanglement with Master Zheng in the city. I fear that he may come looking for trouble in the future, so I do not dare stop cultivating for even a moment, nor dare waste half a day in delay."

"Hmm? Master Zheng from the city?"

Zhao Ji froze at that, then frowned and could not help asking, "Do you mean Zheng Pandao, who owns ten thousand mu of clear waters on East Lake?"

"Chengfeng doesn't know his name, but he is indeed that Master Zheng who owns ten thousand mu of clear waters."

Li Chengfeng raised an eyebrow at that, shook his head, and sighed. "He has yet to return to his estate, and I do not know whether he will come looking to make trouble for me once he does."

"Might I ask how Brother Chengfeng offended that Master Zheng?"

Zhao Lie's frown deepened, and he could not help asking, "Forgive Zhao for speaking bluntly, but that Zheng Pandao is a late-stage Pulse-Opening Realm martial artist. Brother Chengfeng was once nothing more than a lowly short-term laborer. How could you have managed to offend Master Zheng?"