In the main hall.
Jiang Ning's gaze fell upon the once-brawny man. He immediately saw that Jiang Li's face had turned blue, his body trembling faintly, droplets of blood falling from the long sleeve covering his left hand.
The entire main hall fell into dead silence.
After a long while.
"Big Brother!" Jiang Ning could not help calling out.
At this moment, Jiang Li gradually regained his calm.
"I'm fine. Don't worry about me!"
"Big Brother, then what have you decided to do?" Jiang Ning asked.
Jiang Li spoke calmly, "Such a chilling act—I refuse to believe the County Magistrate will let Cao Bin run rampant and ride roughshod over everything."
Hearing this, Jiang Ning secretly shook his head. Whether he would or would not—who could possibly see through another person's heart?
But judging from Xu Yunfeng's remarks just now, the County Magistrate, that dragon crossing the river, and the local major Lineages, those native snakes, had clearly entered a fierce, white-hot struggle.
If his elder brother refused, the local major Lineages might very well use him to kill a chicken and warn the monkeys.
After all, his elder brother had worked in the yamen for many years and possessed some prestige, yet he had always followed the County Magistrate's orders like the horse's head leading the way.
Such a person was perfect for killing a chicken and warning the monkeys.
Under the pressure of those native snakes, the County Magistrate might not necessarily refuse to compromise.
Even if he did not compromise, caught between two great powers, how could there possibly be a way to survive? What good end could await them?
Thinking of this, the sense of crisis in Jiang Ning's heart grew even stronger.
He had not forgotten the look in Xu Yunfeng's eyes or his words when he left. Xu Yunfeng had clearly been using Jiang Ning and his two nephews and niece to threaten his elder brother.
One day, in order to force his elder brother into submission, Xu Yunfeng might well do something that harmed him or the children.
I still have to rely on myself! Learning martial arts cannot be delayed any longer! Jiang Ning thought inwardly. Then he recalled Wang Jin of the Blue-Wave Martial Academy.
Based on what he knew and guessed, Wang Jin of the Blue-Wave Martial Academy might be related by blood to Constable Wang of the Luoshui County garrison.
Moreover, Wang Jin held an extremely lofty status. He was undoubtedly a Martial Dao expert who had entered the ranks, and he had gone very far on the path of Martial Dao.
In a world where a single Martial Dao expert could form an army, Wang Jin's fists were his authority.
If Jiang Ning joined the Blue-Wave Martial Academy, then at the very least, Xu Yunfeng would show some restraint on the surface.
More importantly, if he could pass the Blue-Wave Martial Academy's assessment and become a true disciple of the academy—
In this world, Heaven, Earth, ruler, parents, and teacher: the relationship between master and disciple was akin to that between father and son.
If he could become a personal disciple of the academy, then with Wang Jin's reputation behind him, Xu Yunfeng would not dare touch him, much less make a move against him.
The personal disciple of such an expert was in no way comparable to an ordinary constable with a clerk's registration.
Thinking this, Jiang Ning secretly nodded. Looking at it now, the Blue-Wave Martial Academy truly is a fine destination! If the panel can grind out experience for Martial Dao techniques, then given some time, I will definitely be able to pass the Blue-Wave Martial Academy's test and become Wang Jin's true disciple. Reaching that point would be no less than crossing a class divide, just as a commoner's status differs from Big Brother's clerk's registration.
While his thoughts swirled.
"Little Brother, what are you thinking about?"
Jiang Li's voice suddenly interrupted Jiang Ning's thoughts.
Seeing this, Jiang Ning said, "I was thinking about Xu Yunfeng's words before he left. He was clearly using me and your children to force you into submission!"
Jiang Li immediately nodded. "I saw that as well! He is clever. All of you are my weak spots!"
As he spoke, Jiang Ning saw that Jiang Li's left fist was clenched tightly, blood already staining the gaps between his fingers red.
Then Jiang Li continued, "I believe in the County Magistrate. He will not simply stand by and do nothing!"
Jiang Ning shook his head. "Big Brother, it is exceptionally unwise to place the lives of the whole family on a single thought from the County Magistrate!"
Hearing this, Jiang Li gave a faintly bitter smile. "Those are the Cao Family, the Liu Family, and the Xie Family—three Lineages that can be called colossal giants. Other than placing my hopes on the County Magistrate, Big Brother has no other way at all!"
"I have a way," Jiang Ning said.
"What way?" Jiang Li's eyes immediately lit up as he looked at Jiang Ning with hope.
Jiang Ning slowly said, "Wang Jin of the Blue-Wave Martial Academy is related by blood to Constable Wang of the Luoshui County garrison. As long as I can become a true disciple of the Blue-Wave Martial Academy, I will have a bond of master and disciple with Wang Jin. The bond between master and disciple stands shoulder to shoulder with that of father and son. That should allow me to receive Wang Jin's protection. And Wang Jin is related by blood to Constable Wang, who holds military power. Whether it is the County Magistrate or the four great Lineages, no one would want to provoke Constable Wang, who commands troops."
"Constable Wang?" Jiang Li murmured, deep in thought.
He had stayed in Luoshui County for so long that he naturally knew quite a lot.
After pondering for a moment, he nodded. "If we can establish a connection with Constable Wang, the Cao Family probably truly would not dare move against us! In Great Xia, a hundred men formed a company. Even the weakest among them would not be inferior to me at my peak, and elite squads formed of ranked martial artists were by no means few!"
"But." He looked at Jiang Ning and continued, "But how will Little Brother become a true disciple of the Blue-Wave Martial Academy? Wang Jin's requirements are extraordinarily high. To become a true disciple of the Blue-Wave Martial Academy and receive its true teachings, one must certainly become a ranked martial artist!"
Jiang Ning said, "Big Brother need not worry about that. I naturally have the confidence!"
"Fine, then!" Jiang Li nodded. "It is a good thing for Little Brother to have confidence. There is no harm in trying! It just so happens that Little Brother is going to join the Blue-Wave Martial Academy as well!"
"If it does not work, then even if I have to stake my life on it, I will beg Constable Feng to step forward and have the County Magistrate protect you all!" Jiang Li said with firm eyes.
Seeing the sincere emotion in Jiang Li's eyes, Jiang Ning's feelings became incomparably complicated.
Man was not grass or wood; how could he be without feeling?
Over these past few months since crossing over, he had long since accepted his elder brother and sister-in-law in this life.
Although his sister-in-law had quite a few complaints about him, over the past two months, she had washed all his clothes, mended his torn garments, and never shorted him even the slightest bit of good food or drink.
As for his elder brother, there was even less to say. The phrase "an elder brother is like a father" was perfectly embodied in him.
Just yesterday, merely because Jiang Ning had said he wanted to practice martial arts, his elder brother had borrowed a large sum of silver to let him join the Blue-Wave Martial Academy and train.
Born human, how could he not be deeply moved by such family affection?
Now that such a sudden change had occurred, how could he possibly stand aside and remain uninvolved?
It is time for me to repay Big Brother and Sister-in-law! Jiang Ning silently said to himself.
After returning to his room.
[Name]: Jiang Ning [Source Energy]: 3.6 [Skill]: Literacy (First Limit-Breaking 47/2000) (Trait: Photographic Memory)
Looking at his panel, Jiang Ning could not help but be filled with countless thoughts.
He had never expected such a sudden upheaval to occur.
Given what he knew, how could he fail to understand the crushing pressure of being targeted by the Cao, Liu, and Xie Families?
They were half the sky of Luoshui County!
Let alone the Cao, Liu, and Xie Families, the three foremost Lineages of Luoshui County—even Xu Yunfeng, a constable who had achieved success in martial arts, imposed tremendous pressure on ordinary people.
Having achieved success in martial arts, his qi and blood were powerful. Barehanded, he could deal with more than ten ordinary strong men, let alone when armed with a blade.
Jiang Ning had not forgotten the look in Xu Yunfeng's eyes when he left. If Xu Yunfeng truly intended to force his elder brother into submission, he would not simply do nothing.
Xu Yunfeng was an enormous potential threat to him!
And this was merely someone who had achieved success in martial arts but had not entered the ranks.
If it were someone who had entered the Martial Dao ranks, like Cao Bin, Constable Cao—
According to what his elder brother had said before, after entering the Martial Dao ranks and completing skin tempering, one's skin would be as hard as copper. Blades and spears would find it difficult to harm them. They were already existences beyond the reach of ordinary people.
Thus, Jiang Ning understood very clearly that in such a world where Martial Dao flourished and great power belonged to the individual—
Every so-called crisis stemmed from his own lack of strength.
If he entered the Martial Dao ranks and possessed sufficient strength, what would Xu Yunfeng count for?
What would Cao Bin count for?
And beyond that, someone like Great Xia's State-Protecting Martial Saint—then even the whole world would count for nothing.
Everything depends on what happens after my trip to the Blue-Wave Martial Academy!
After noon.
After lunch, Jiang Ning left the house together with his elder brother.
As they walked down the street, the road on both sides was already filled with every sort of hawking cry and the lively atmosphere of everyday life.
"Flatbread~ Flatbread~ Freshly baked flatbread~ Fifteen copper coins each~~"
"Come take a look! Finest sesame oil~"
"Candied hawthorns for sale~"
Fifteen copper coins for one flatbread?
Jiang Ning could not help clicking his tongue slightly.
He remembered from the original owner's memories that flatbread had cost only eight copper coins each. Now, the price had nearly doubled.
From a glimpse of one spot, one can see the whole leopard. Grain prices must have soared as well. These times truly are growing more and more chaotic!!
Before you continue