Holding a Post

Meng Xu was gravely injured. That backward fall from Wang Sheng's Iron Mountain Lean might even leave him paralyzed.

This could not be concealed.

Thus, when Zhao Jie learned of it, he flew into a thunderous rage.

However, when he found out that Wang Sheng, a disciple who had only just entered the school, had beaten Meng Xu into this state in a one-on-one fight before a large crowd, without the slightest embellishment—

After his shock, Zhao Jie became somewhat hesitant.

He had originally intended to severely punish the one who had struck first.

After all, he disliked infighting.

But Wang Sheng's performance had simply been too outstanding, and Meng Xu had deliberately stirred up trouble by dumping his chores onto Wang Sheng.

After weighing the matter again and again, Zhao Jie gave Wang Sheng a warning.

If it happened again, if he fought with fellow disciples, he would be expelled.

When Lin Shu learned that Wang Sheng had basically received no serious punishment, his anger deepened.

All the senior and junior brothers knew that he and Wang Sheng were at odds. If he could not suppress Wang Sheng, even he himself would be looked down upon by the other disciples.

"Damn it. Those old disciples are all useless. I'll have to make a move myself in secret. Another half year—no, at most four months—and I'll probably be able to develop force! Then I'll personally crush his throat!"

Having made up his mind, Lin Shu trained with even greater diligence and desperation.

The next day.

Wang Sheng was training in the courtyard.

At that moment, a large group of people suddenly barged into the outer courtyard.

Every one of them wore silk and satin, with tall, beautiful maidservants following behind them. They were clearly either wealthy or noble.

"Stand on both sides."

Zhao Feipeng, Master Zhao's legitimate son, shouted loudly.

Wang Sheng, Wei Yu, and the other formal disciples immediately stood with their hands behind their backs, lining up on both sides.

"Ha ha ha, Shopkeeper Qian, Escort Leader Lu, Steward Qi, and all you young talents—long time no see!"

Zhao Jie emerged from the inner courtyard and greeted them with cupped hands and a smile.

"Master Zhao, I trust you have been well!"

"Master Zhao, we heard you accepted a genius disciple. We've been looking forward to seeing him for quite some time."

"Master Zhao, you look younger again. Your cultivation must have reached the peak of perfection!"

The wealthy guests returned the greeting with cupped hands, laughing as they spoke.

"You flatter me. Please, come in! My Thousand Leaf Red Tea has long been prepared, waiting only for you all to enjoy it."

Zhao Jie extended a hand.

"Then we shall not stand on ceremony."

A rather gaunt man dressed in silk nodded.

The group then followed Zhao Jie into the inner courtyard.

"Do not disperse. If there is anything you do not understand, ask your senior brothers and sisters. Put on a good showing later."

After saying that, Zhao Feipeng immediately entered the inner courtyard as well.

"Senior Brother Luo, what is going on?"

Wang Sheng asked in confusion.

This Senior Brother Luo, Luo Zhengwen, was the man in the garishly patterned robe from yesterday.

He seemed to think highly of Wang Sheng. The moment he came calling, he had given him ten taels of silver, making clear his desire to befriend Wang Sheng.

Aside from Luo Zhengwen, although several other disciples who had developed force had not tried to recruit Wang Sheng, they treated him with noticeably more courtesy.

"Oh, Junior Brother, you have only been here a short while. It is only natural that you would not understand this."

"You can tell that these people are no ordinary folk. Every one of them comes from a famous wealthy household in Ershui City."

"These great households all possess fortunes beyond measure and many family businesses, so they have many places requiring protection. They have already built ties with the various martial academies. Every so often, they come to recruit newly advanced Martial Artists and Martial Artists with hidden force for nominal or part-time posts."

"If they encounter disciples with high talent, even if they have not yet developed force, they will consider funding them in order to win the favor of talented disciples and forge a bond."

"Ah, the more money one has for martial training, the better. Though Master has some businesses under his name, they cannot support so many fellow disciples. Besides, these are merely nominal or part-time posts with wealthy families. You only need to act when something happens, and it does not interfere with your usual training."

Luo Zhengwen explained the relationship between these wealthy households and the martial academy to Wang Sheng, telling him that if he had the chance, he must seize it.

"Thank you for telling me, Senior Brother!"

Wang Sheng nodded, deep in thought.

He needed money even more now.

The reward he had received from Fourth Madam was, for martial training, nothing more than a drop in the ocean.

A Blood Replenishing Pill cost five taels each, and Wang Sheng could digest one every two days on average.

Five taels of silver every two days meant seventy-five taels of silver a month. Even for a wealthy household in the city, that was no small expense, let alone for Wang Sheng, who had no stable source of income at all.

Without pills, Wang Sheng could still improve steadily, but his training speed would be cut in half. That gave him little sense of security.

After a while,

Zhao Jie led the group out from the inner courtyard. Their discussions were presumably about finished.

"Lin Shu, come! Show the elders a set!"

Zhao Jie called out to Lin Shu.

"Yes!"

"Lin Shu greets Master and all the elders!"

Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Lin Shu strode forward at an easy pace. After cupping his hands in salute, he performed a set of Great Tablet Shattering Hand moves with the force of a tiger and the wind at his back.

His fists and palms were powerful and fierce, carrying considerable killing force. His proficiency nearly rivaled that of disciples who had trained for several years.

Yet Lin Shu had only been in the school for a little over a month.

"Excellent! A famous master truly produces brilliant disciples! My Jiangling Escort Agency is willing to offer ten taels of silver and three Blood Replenishing Pills each month, inviting him to take a nominal post!"

Escort Leader Lu, the rather gaunt man, cupped his hands toward Zhao Jie.

Delight appeared on Lin Shu's face.

That was resources worth twenty-five taels every month, almost enough to cover an entire month's pill expenses. He would not need to work every day; merely holding a nominal post would bring it to him.

Ordinary people would not treat pills like food the way Wang Sheng did. Apart from pill toxins, the main issue was that taking too many pills left one's foundation unstable, making it difficult to break through into subsequent realms.

Thus, resources worth twenty-five taels, together with the stipend provided by the martial academy, would be enough to cover Lin Shu's entire monthly expenses.

"My Spring Autumn Pharmacy is willing to provide five Blood Replenishing Pills each month in exchange for a nominal post. We will also include a finely forged weapon."

Shopkeeper Qian, a middle-aged man with a small goatee, said with a faint smile.

Though he had not offered silver, five Blood Replenishing Pills were worth the same amount. Moreover, the finely forged weapon gifted by Spring Autumn Pharmacy was of considerable value, capable of slicing through iron like mud when compared to ordinary weapons.

"My Liu family is willing to offer thirty taels of silver and two Blood Replenishing Pills each month, inviting young friend Lin Shu to take a nominal post!"

The moment Steward Qi said this, many disciples cried out in surprise.

Resources worth forty taels!

These days, even hiring a Martial Artist who had developed force for a nominal post cost only around thirty or forty taels of silver a month.

Li Hu and the other disciples who had developed force wore complicated expressions. This was the benefit of high talent.

Zhao Jie nodded in satisfaction.

Afterward, he called out several more disciples who had developed force to demonstrate their skills.

A Martial Artist who had developed force could be considered a leader wherever he went.

Thus, all those disciples who had developed force found nominal posts, though some of their stipends were not even as high as Lin Shu's.

Many disciples who had yet to develop force watched with envy.

As long as one became a Martial Artist who had developed force, one could receive dozens of taels of silver every month. If one did not buy pills, even eating meat and drinking wine every day would not exhaust it.

But these wealthy households clearly had no intention of taking any more disciples who had not developed force. Even though Zhao Jie intended to help introduce Wang Sheng and several other unusual disciples, they showed little interest. After chatting with Zhao Jie for a while longer, they took their leave.

"Talents like Junior Brother Lin Shu are too rare. Those who practice martial arts must still develop force and become Martial Artists who have developed force before they can be said to have turned their lives around and earned a place in Ershui City."

Luo Zhengwen sighed.

"Yes."

Wang Sheng nodded.

"Then, Senior Brother, what if one never develops force?"

A disciple who had entered the school this year asked hesitantly.

"Then you can only become a guard or watch a gate."

Luo Zhengwen answered casually.

Quite a few older disciples who had trained for more than a year without developing force lowered their heads in shame, threads of fear creeping into their hearts.

A Martial Artist who had developed force could earn dozens of taels a month.

But guards and gatekeepers would be fortunate to earn three or four taels a month. The difference was heaven and earth.

Moreover, guards occupied a lowly position. Many were cursed as watchdogs and lackeys. How could they compare with Martial Artists who had developed force?

Wang Sheng also understood the situation clearly. Only by becoming a Martial Artist who had developed force could he solve many of his problems.

"With money power and Lin Shu's talent combined, he might really become a threat to me. Looks like I'll have to give it everything I have."

Wang Sheng sensed the intense disgust and malice in Lin Shu's gaze toward him, and frowned slightly.

He too had to find a way to make money as soon as possible.

As long as he had money, he could develop force in a little over a month. Then he would strike first and quietly kill Lin Shu, putting an end to the matter.