Hanging Office

Meng Xu was severely injured. Wang Sheng's Iron Mountain Lean attack had sent him flying, possibly even causing paralysis.

This couldn't be hidden.

Therefore, when Zhao Jie found out, he was furious and flew into a rage.

However, upon learning that it was Wang Sheng, a newly initiated disciple, who had beaten Meng Xu this badly, and that it was a one-on-one fight in broad daylight with no trickery involved, Zhao Jie was shocked.

Zhao Jie was shocked, and then became hesitant.

He had originally intended to severely punish the one who had attacked.

After all, he disliked internal strife.

But Wang Sheng's performance was truly outstanding, and since Meng Xu had deliberately caused trouble, he assigned Meng Xu's miscellaneous duties to Wang Sheng.

After much consideration, Zhao Jie gave Wang Sheng a warning.

If he committed internal strife again, he would be expelled.

When Lin Shu learned that Wang Sheng had basically not received any significant punishment, he became even more enraged.

All the senior brothers knew that he and Wang Sheng were at odds. If he couldn't suppress Wang Sheng, he himself would be looked down upon by the senior brothers.

"Damn it. All these old disciples are useless. I have to take action myself in private. In another six months, no, in at most four months, I should be able to generate internal energy! By then, I will personally crush his throat!"

After making up his mind, Lin Shu became even more diligent and desperate in his cultivation.

The next day.

Wang Sheng was cultivating in the courtyard.

Just then, a large group of people suddenly burst into the outer courtyard.

These people were all dressed in fine silks and satins, followed by tall and beautiful maids. They were clearly wealthy and influential.

"Stand on both sides."

Zhao Feipeng, the legitimate son of Master Zhao, shouted loudly.

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

"Hahaha, Shopkeeper Qian, Escort Leader Lu, Steward Qi, and all you young talents, it's been a long time!"

Zhao Jie walked out from the inner courtyard, cupped his hands, and said with a smile.

"Master Zhao, I hope you've been well!"

"Master Zhao, we heard you've taken in a genius disciple. We've been wanting to meet him for a long time."

"Master Zhao looks even younger, your cultivation must have reached its peak!"

The group of wealthy individuals also cupped their hands in return, smiling and saying.

"You are too kind, please come in! My Thousand Leaf Black Tea has long been prepared, waiting for you all to enjoy."

Zhao Jie gestured.

"Then we won't be polite."

A rather thin man, dressed in silk, nodded.

Then the group followed Zhao Jie into the inner courtyard.

"Don't disperse. If you don't understand something, you can ask your senior brothers or sisters. Everyone perform well later."

After Zhao Feipeng finished speaking, he also immediately walked into the inner courtyard.

"Senior Brother Luo, what's going on?"

Wang Sheng asked, confused.

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

He seemed to think highly of Wang Sheng, and upon arriving, he had given Wang Sheng ten taels of silver, expressing his desire to befriend him.

Besides Luo Zhengwen, some other Bright Energy disciples, although they didn't try to recruit Wang Sheng, showed him more respect.

"Oh, Junior Brother, you haven't been here long, so it's understandable that you don't know this."

"As you can see, these people all have extraordinary statuses. They are all famous prominent families from Ershui City."

"These prominent families are all wealthy and have many businesses to protect. They have already established good relationships with the various martial academies. From time to time, they will visit the martial academies to recruit new Bright Energy and Dark Energy martial artists for part-time positions."

"If they encounter disciples with high talent, even if they haven't reached the Bright Energy stage, they will consider providing financial assistance to win the favor of these talented disciples and build a connection."

"Alas, to practice martial arts, the more money one has, the better. Although Master has some businesses, they cannot accommodate so many fellow disciples. Besides, these are just part-time positions in these prominent families; they only work when needed and do not interfere with their cultivation."

Luo Zhengwen explained to Wang Sheng the relationship between these prominent families and the martial academies, and told Wang Sheng that he must seize any opportunity that arises.

"Thank you for telling me, Senior Brother!"

Wang Sheng nodded, lost in thought.

He needed money more than ever now.

The rewards he received from the Fourth Madam were, in terms of martial arts, like a drop in the bucket.

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

Two taels of silver a day means seventy-five taels of silver a month. This is a considerable expense even for wealthy families in the city, let alone for Wang Sheng who has no stable source of income.

Without pills, Wang Sheng could still progress steadily, but his cultivation speed would be halved. This made Wang Sheng feel very insecure.

After a while, Zhao Jie led a group of people out from the inner courtyard. It seemed their discussions were nearly concluded.

"Lin Shu, come! Perform a set for all the seniors!"

Zhao Jie called out to Lin Shu.

"Yes!"

"Lin Shu greets Master, and all the seniors!"

Lin Shu suppressed his excitement and walked out confidently. After cupping his fists in a salute, he performed a set of the Great Tablet Shattering Hand with powerful movements.

His punches and palms were strong and vigorous, possessing considerable lethality. His proficiency was almost on par with disciples who had refined it for several years.

And Lin Shu had only been initiated for a little over a month.

"Good, as expected of a renowned master producing a talented disciple! Our Jiangling Escort Agency is willing to offer ten taels of silver and three Blood Replenishing Pills per month for him to take on a nominal position!"

The rather gaunt man, Escort Leader Lu, cupped his fists towards Zhao Jie.

Lin Shu's face showed a hint of joy.

This was a monthly resource worth twenty-five taels, almost enough to cover the entire month's pill expenses. He wouldn't have to work every day, just hold a nominal position to receive it.

Ordinary people wouldn't consume pills like Wang Sheng. Besides the pill toxicity, taking too many pills could destabilize one's foundation, making it difficult to break through to subsequent realms.

Therefore, the twenty-five taels of resources, plus the stipend from the Martial Academy, were enough to cover Lin Shu's entire month's expenses.

"Our Spring Autumn Pharmacy is willing to offer five Blood Replenishing Pills per month to invite him to take on a nominal position. We will also include a finely forged weapon as a gift."

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

Although no silver was offered, five Blood Replenishing Pills were of equivalent value. Moreover, the finely forged weapon from Spring Autumn Pharmacy was priceless, capable of easily slicing through iron, far superior to ordinary weapons.

"Our Liu Family is willing to offer thirty taels of silver and two Blood Replenishing Pills per month for young friend Lin Shu to take on a nominal position!"

Steward Qi's words immediately caused many disciples to exclaim in surprise.

A resource worth forty taels!

Nowadays, inviting a Bright Energy Martial Artist to take on a nominal position would only fetch around thirty to forty taels of silver.

Disciples at the Bright Energy level, like Li Hu, looked on with complex emotions. This was the benefit of high talent.

Zhao Jie nodded with satisfaction.

He then called out several more Bright Energy disciples to demonstrate.

Bright Energy Martial Artists could be considered leaders anywhere.

Therefore, these Bright Energy disciples all found nominal positions, though the stipends for some were not as high as Lin Shu's.

Many disciples who had not yet generated internal energy looked on with envy.

As long as one was a Bright Energy Martial Artist, they could receive dozens of taels of silver each month. If they didn't buy pills, they wouldn't even be able to spend it all on meat and wine every day.

However, these wealthy families clearly had no intention of recruiting disciples who had not yet generated internal energy. Even though Zhao Jie intended to help Wang Sheng and a few other promising disciples find connections, they showed little interest. After chatting with Zhao Jie for a while longer, they took their leave.

"There are too few talents like Junior Brother Lin Shu. For martial artists, one must generate internal energy and become a Bright Energy Martial Artist to truly turn their fortunes around and secure a place in Ershui City."

Luo Zhengwen sighed.

"Indeed!"

Wang Sheng nodded.

"Then, Senior Brother, what if one never generates internal energy?"

A disciple who had joined this year asked hesitantly.

"Then you can only become a guard, or a gatekeeper,"

Luo Zhengwen replied casually.

Many older disciples who had not generated internal energy for over a year lowered their heads in shame, a hint of fear creeping into their hearts.

Bright Energy Martial Artists earned dozens of taels a month.

But guards and gatekeepers could consider themselves lucky to earn three to four taels a month. It was like the difference between heaven and earth.

Furthermore, guards had low status, and many were cursed as watchdogs or lackeys. How could they compare to Bright Energy Martial Artists?

Wang Sheng also understood that only by becoming a Bright Energy Martial Artist could he solve many of his problems.

"With 'money power' and Lin Shu's talent, he might truly pose a threat to me. It seems I have to take a gamble."

Wang Sheng felt Lin Shu's gaze on him, carrying a strong sense of disgust and malice, and frowned slightly.

He also had to find money quickly.

As long as he had money, he could generate internal energy in just over a month. At that time, he would strike first and secretly kill Lin Shu to settle the matter.

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