Commandant Lu Chuan

Ning Yun's gaze shifted slightly, settling on another group of people in Listening Wind Tower.

Xu Qing followed his line of sight and swept his eyes over them. He recognized nearly all of them.

When they had gone upstairs, half of them had greeted Ning Yun. The other half had either tossed out a few barbed remarks or simply pretended not to see him.

"You met all of them earlier," Ning Yun said unhurriedly. "Behind them stand the four great families of the county seat: the Li, Meng, Wu, and Shen Families. Each has its own foundation and its own trade. Qinghe's docks are divided into four, with each family holding one section."

"The Li Family deals in medicinal herbs. Eight out of every ten pharmacies in all of Qinghe County belong to them. Benevolent Aid Hall, Returning Spring Hall, and Harmony Preservation Hall are all Li Family establishments."

"The Meng Family deals in timber. Seven out of every ten lumberyards, coffin shops, and furniture workshops in the city bear the Meng name."

"The Wu Clan deals in cloth. Silk shops, fabric stores, dyehouses—half the cloth in the county seat comes out of Wu Clan warehouses. Rui Fu Xiang in the east of the city and Qian Xiang Yi in the north are both Wu Clan properties."

When he mentioned the Shen Family, Ning Yun's voice suddenly dropped much lower. "The Shen Family deals in grain. Rice shops, flour stores, granaries—half the grain the people of the city eat comes from Shen Family mills. Guangyuan Grain Store in the city and Yongfeng Granary in the north are both theirs."

"All four families have cargo depots at the docks, and originally they kept to their own waters. But over the past two years, they have clashed several times over dock boundaries, with dozens injured. The lawsuits reached the county yamen, but the county magistrate and county deputy each favored one side. There has been no resolution to this day."

Ning Yun lowered his voice until only Xu Qing could hear. "The Meng and Li Families are close to the Lin Family. The Shen Family and Wu Clan are close to the Su Clan."

He paused, shook his head with a bitter smile, and added in a low voice, "The six martial academies are the same. Our academy and the Shi Family, along with Raging Tide Martial Academy, support the Su Clan. The other three stand with the Lin Family."

Xu Qing nodded. He understood the meaning behind Ning Yun's bitter smile.

Where there were benefits, there was strife. Where there was strife, there were factions. Once one stepped into the game, one had to choose a side, or be squeezed from both directions.

After all, resources were limited. There was not even enough to go around among their own people, so how could they tolerate outsiders dipping their fingers into the pot?

But there were exceptions. If from the very beginning you possessed the capital to stand above both factions, then naturally you did not need to choose a side. Not only would you not need to choose, both factions would have to curry favor with you.

Commandant Lu Chuan was that exception.

Clop! Clop! Clop!

A burst of hoofbeats came from outside the county yamen. They were neither hurried nor slow, yet the sound struck every heart like pounding war drums, one beat after another, until ears buzzed.

The townsfolk watching the spectacle scattered like a receding tide. The buzzing chatter that had filled the air moments ago seemed to have had its throat seized, falling silent in an instant—so silent that they could hear hooves crunching through the snow.

Three chestnut-red steeds stopped before the yamen gates.

The leading horse was tall and magnificent, scarlet from head to tail, its mane like flames. A string of bronze bells hung around its neck, jingling brightly. The rider swung down in one clean, crisp motion, without the slightest hint of hesitation. The instant his boots touched the ground, he settled firmly in place, as though nailed to the earth.

Commandant Lu Chuan.

He was just past thirty, broad-shouldered and powerfully built. His square face was sharply chiseled, his brows cut like blades, his eyes cold as stars.

Today, he wore no armor, only a black, close-sleeved fighting outfit. A leather belt threaded with silver circled his waist, and cowhide boots covered his feet. Yet merely standing there, his bearing was harder than armor. Like a drawn blade, its edge fully revealed, yet held perfectly in check.

The two attendants behind him dismounted as well, one on each side. Their steps matched, their eyes keen as hawks.

They wore somewhat worn leather armor and carried long sabers at their waists. Their faces were expressionless, but the light in their eyes was so cold it sent chills crawling down people's spines. As their gazes swept over the crowd, those they passed over unconsciously drew in their necks.

Lu Chuan strode into the yamen.

Everyone in the courtyard made way. Those who had been chatting, arguing, or exchanging pleasantries all shut their mouths, even softening their breaths.

On the martial arts ground, the martial academy disciples and guests unconsciously straightened their backs. None dared even whisper among themselves.

In Listening Wind Tower, County Magistrate Lin Hanshan and County Deputy Su Zhengyuan rose at the same time.

The two exchanged a glance, then set down their teacups in unspoken accord and hurried downstairs to greet him. The heads of the four great families and the masters of the six martial academies also rose and filed out behind them.

When Lu Chuan reached the staircase, Lin Hanshan had already come down to meet him. Smiling broadly, he cupped his hands. "Commandant Lu. Please, upstairs." Su Zhengyuan stood to one side and cupped his hands as well, his smile carrying several more degrees of courtesy than usual.

Lu Chuan gave a slight nod without speaking and strode upstairs.

Lin Hanshan and Su Zhengyuan walked on either side of him, yet they had unconsciously fallen half a step behind.

A county magistrate and a county deputy, before this commandant barely past thirty, had somehow made themselves seem a head shorter.

Xu Qing stood on the martial arts ground, watching Lu Chuan's back vanish from sight. His pupils contracted slightly.

That man's presence was even more imposing than his master Zhao Yan's. It was not merely a matter of martial skill, but a pressure that seeped from his very bones—the authority of someone accustomed to life and death, someone who held power in his hands.

"Commandant Lu is from the Lu Family of the prefectural city," Ning Yun said quietly beside him. "The Lu Family is a great clan even in the prefectural city. They have people in the imperial court and in the sects. He came down here to gild his résumé. He'll leave after three years, and this year is his last."

"Commandant Lu does not take part in factional struggles. He does not concern himself with matters in the yamen, nor does he meddle in disputes on the streets. So long as no major trouble breaks out, he asks nothing. His duties are training troops, taking roll call, drawing his salary, and safely enduring these three years."

Ning Yun paused, then added in an even lower voice, "Master once said that Commandant Lu had long since reached the completion of Transformed Force. He has already begun preparing to break through the pass and is close to entering Internal Training."

At the words "Internal Training," Xu Qing's brows lifted.

Ning Yun saw what he was thinking, but only shook his head with a bitter smile. "I don't know much about Internal Training either. Once you reach Transformed Force, you can ask Master."

Xu Qing nodded and did not press further.

He saw the second-floor windows of Listening Wind Tower open.

The main table stood directly before the windows.

Lu Chuan was invited to the seat of honor. He sat down naturally, neither declining nor standing on ceremony, as though that chair had been made for him from the start.

Lin Hanshan sat at his left, Su Zhengyuan at his right. The heads of the four great families and the masters of the six martial academies took their seats in order, everything arranged with perfect precision.

Several side tables stood on either side of the main table. The heads of the major families' second branches, the heads of smaller families, and young masters and promising youths of prominent clans took their seats according to rank. Three seats at one table had been left empty, reserved for the top three in the competition.

Lu Chuan had arrived, and everyone was present. The Golden Scale Gathering officially began.

At the north end of the martial arts ground, a yamen runner raised a drumstick and struck the drum three times.

Boom—boom—boom—

The drumbeats were deep and heavy, making everyone's chests feel stifled. The martial arts ground instantly fell silent, so silent that people could hear their own heartbeats, as though even the wind had stopped.

Constable Qi stepped onto the platform in a brand-new blue robe. He cleared his throat, his voice ringing out. "The auspicious hour has arrived! The Golden Scale Gathering competition begins now!"

"The rules are as follows: whoever falls from the platform or admits defeat loses. Only fists and kicks may be used; weapons are forbidden. Stop at the point of contact—taking a life is prohibited!"

The Golden Scale Gathering bouts were somewhat like challenge matches. One person would take the stage and wait for another to come up and challenge them. The winner could continue fighting or step down to catch their breath. Once no one else was willing to take the stage, the three officials would judge everyone's performance and select the top three.

Constable Qi paused, then raised his voice several notches. "The prizes remain as before. First place receives one hundred taels of silver, second place fifty taels, and third place thirty taels! Fine silk and meat will also be awarded!"

Low murmurs rose from below the platform.

One hundred taels of silver meant little to the rich and powerful—no more than the cost of a meal or a garment. But it was enough for an ordinary family to eat and drink for ten years, enough to buy ten fishing boats in Blackwater Bay, enough to buy ten, twenty children from fishing families as servants.

But everyone knew this contest was not about silver. It was about face.

The face of the six martial academies, and the face of the county magistrate and county deputy behind them.

Silver was merely a garnish. Face was the main course.