A Timely Gift in the Snow

A Timely Gift in the Snow

Blue-Wave Martial Academy.

The front courtyard had already gathered many disciples.

Among them were the five true disciples who had a genuine master-disciple relationship with Wang Jin.

The academy's true disciples were those who had a true master-disciple relationship with Wang Jin in every meaningful sense.

In Great Xia, the bond between master and disciple was in no way inferior to that between father and son.

As the saying went, a master for one day was a father for life.

Today was also a major event for Blue-Wave Martial Academy in recent days.

The fierce tiger Wang Jin had captured from the mountains some time ago and kept penned for many days was about to be released from its cage.

This was an opportunity for all the disciples to watch their senior brothers fight the fierce tiger at close range, to witness up close the majestic might of the tiger, king of all beasts.

The Tiger Form Fist within the Five Animals Fist had been derived from fierce tigers. Thus, observing a tiger fight at close range was an opportunity for any disciple who practiced the Tiger Form Fist.

If they could seize this opportunity and gain some insight into the tiger's form and spirit, their fist techniques would break through.

Mastering any one form of the Five Animals Fist qualified one to become Wang Jin's true disciple.

For many disciples who had entered the academy, becoming Wang Jin's disciple was an opportunity to change their fate.

If their fist technique could advance another step and reach perfection, allowing them to grasp explosive force as powerful as Fierce Tiger Force—

Then their combat strength would undergo a qualitative transformation, and it would be immensely helpful for entering the ranks of martial artists.

Even among ninth-rank martial artists, only half could master a low-grade martial art to the level of perfection.

In martial-flourishing Great Xia, wealth and status had to be defended by force.

Ordinary children of wealthy families held no real standing before a ninth-rank martial artist.

As long as they became Wang Jin's disciples, they had a guaranteed chance of entering the ranks of martial artists.

Even for children of wealthy families, that would bring a change in status.

If they could go further in this life and become an eighth-rank martial artist, they would be a figure of note throughout Luoshui County.

Even ordinary families of wealth and rank could not compare to the status of an eighth-rank martial artist.

That was why, although Blue-Wave Martial Academy had only been open for a short time and charged exorbitant fees, so many people from wealthy and influential families still came to study under its master.

It was simply that most people could not endure it.

Even now, outer disciples of the academy still quit every so often, unable to bear the hardships of martial training.

Fewer than half of those who studied martial arts at the academy could persist for six months.

Let alone meet Wang Jin's requirement of mastering any one fist form.

At this moment.

In the academy's front courtyard.

Liu Zhixiang, sporting a goatee, entered through the academy gates with an attendant.

Just moments ago, he had received Wang Jin's permission to enter.

The moment he crossed the gates, his gaze swept across the people in the front courtyard and met Zhou Xing's eyes.

"Virtuous nephew Zhou, I trust you've been well!"

Liu Zhixiang's lips moved slightly. As he met Zhou Xing's gaze, a kindly smile spread across his face.

Though his voice was not loud, who was Zhou Xing?

Nominally the senior disciple of Blue-Wave Martial Academy, he had long since entered the ranks of martial artists. He was a ninth-rank martial artist who had achieved minor success in skin tempering, his skin membranes hard as stone.

Moreover, he had mastered four forms of the Five Animals Fist. His Tiger Form Fist had even grasped its true essence and reached perfection, allowing him to wield Fierce Tiger Force.

A person like that was one of the younger generation's foremost talents even across Luoshui County.

With such martial strength, his five senses were exceptional. Naturally, he could hear Liu Zhixiang's words.

At this moment, upon hearing what Liu Zhixiang had said.

The smile on Zhou Xing's face abruptly vanished.

So arrogant. It seems that matter was not merely hearsay after all. The Fourfold Merchants Association's business really is entangled with the Liu Family, one of the three great families!

He immediately suppressed the emotions rising within him.

After patting Xiao Peng in front of him and offering a word of encouragement, he prepared to head to the rear courtyard to pay his respects to Wang Jin.

Zhou Xing knew that if the Zhou Family wanted to rise, first, it had to rely on Wang Jin.

Wang Jin was his master—a master equivalent to a father.

And behind Wang Jin stood Constable Wang, that great figure among Luoshui County's garrison troops.

That was why, despite having better choices, he had chosen to enter Blue-Wave Martial Academy.

Second, he knew that he also had to rely on himself.

To him, the Inspection Office was an opportunity—an opportunity to stir the winds and clouds, and perhaps alter Luoshui County's current situation.

Martial force was important, but influence and power were even more important.

By joining the Inspection Office, he could borrow its influence and hold power in his own hands.

As the saying went, commoners did not fight officials. No matter how prosperous the Zhou Family became, they were still commoners.

Only by leaning against the Great Xia court, against that towering tree, could one hold power.

It was precisely because of this idea that he intended to begin by investing in those around him, recruiting talented people and making something of himself within the Inspection Office.

Only then would the Zhou Family have a chance to rise again under his leadership, becoming a great family on equal footing with Luoshui County's three great families—or even the one and only Zhou Family in Luoshui County.

With these thoughts flashing through his mind, Zhou Xing strode steadily toward the academy's rear courtyard.

He knew that he was not yet qualified to fall out with Liu Zhixiang, because Liu Zhixiang represented the Fourfold Merchants Association and possibly a portion of the Liu Family's interests among the three great families.

Elsewhere.

As Liu Zhixiang watched Zhou Xing's departing back, he first felt regret, then became somewhat wary. The look he gave Zhou Xing turned exceedingly sharp.

I underestimated this boy! I provoked him so openly, yet he could treat it as though he had seen nothing. He will not be easy to deal with!

Thinking of this, and then of the information he had received on Zhou Xing.

Zhou Xing was known as the Zhou Family's qilin child.

His martial talent was outstanding, and he was only twenty-one years old.

He had entered the ninth rank and achieved minor success in skin tempering.

He possessed considerable talent in fist techniques, having reached perfection and grasped Fierce Tiger Force.

Liu Zhixiang secretly felt a little regret.

It would not be wise to offend Zhou Xing too deeply. I must find an opportunity to ease matters somewhat!

But the task assigned from above must also be carried out!

The Inspection Office concerns Great Xia's future. It is a heavy wager jointly placed by the Emperor seated high in his hall and the Martial Saint whose might overawed the realm—a wager to prop up the great edifice as it teeters on the brink of collapse!

Once the Inspection Office is established, it will surely stir the winds and clouds across the land. Those qualified to join it must be taken seriously!

As the saying goes, the times make heroes. We must befriend those talented people!

A gift of charcoal in the snow is how one earns a favor!

That is the way of investment in commerce.

As these thoughts ran through Liu Zhixiang's mind, his gaze swiftly swept over the academy's front courtyard.

Before coming here, the association president had given him intelligence on Blue-Wave Martial Academy. It recorded the academy disciples who had a chance of joining the Inspection Office.

His task was to personally appear as a manager of the Fourfold Merchants Association and invest in those listed in the dossier.

To offer charcoal in the snow.

At their current level of strength, a small investment could earn them a favor and bring their relationship closer.

If one of them grew up and became a great figure in Luoshui County in the future, that favor would be worth a thousand pieces of gold.

That was the Fourfold Merchants Association's way of doing business.

If one wished to grow a business, without powerful and high-ranking figures standing behind it, without several martial masters standing behind it, how could one possibly grow bigger and stronger?

It was like fighting jackals that devoured people without even spitting out their bones.

Its dangers were no less than the flashing blades and shadows of swords upon a battlefield.

It was danger that killed without leaving a trace!