Trade Fair

At this moment, Xie Jia added, "As long as Fourth Young Master can help me avenge this wrong, no matter what it is, I am willing to do it for you!"

Liang Bo was taken aback. When Xie Jia said this, boundless hatred showed in his eyes, as though he carried some blood-deep vendetta. Yet his expression remained calm throughout, without the slightest ripple.

It was precisely this calmness that showed he was being utterly serious when he said those words, rather than speaking casually. A promise made this way was all the more worthy of belief.

Liang Bo immediately understood. This Xie Jia seemed to bear a blood feud, the kind of man who would pay any price for revenge.

"Enough, Xie Jia. You may leave first!" Liang Wen waved his hand, signaling for Xie Jia to depart.

After Xie Jia left, Liang Wen smiled. "Liang Bo, Xie Jia was originally a descendant of a minor aristocratic family in Jiangling Prefecture. He had been clad in brocade and fed on fine food since childhood, never suffering much hardship. But two years ago, his family suddenly met with catastrophe. No one knew whom they had offended, but overnight, their entire clan was wiped out. Only he survived because he happened to be away from home. From then on, he drifted from place to place, eventually falling so low as to become a beggar. Seeing him in such a pitiful state, I took him in."

Liang Bo frowned. "Patriarch, you mean for me to avenge him in exchange for his loyalty?"

"Precisely. Even I have found it difficult to uncover who his enemies are. But you are different. You are a direct disciple of the True Martial Sect and can draw upon its power. It should not be difficult for you to investigate his enemies' origins and avenge him. Moreover, from my observations, he is a man who knows gratitude and righteousness. Even after falling into beggary, he never forgot to repay those who had once helped him. If you can avenge him, he will surely become the sharpest blade in your hand!"

Liang Bo nodded. If he could truly win over someone utterly loyal to him, he naturally would not refuse. Just as Liang Wen had said, of the two attendants he had taken in, Zhao Wu was his friend, while Xiao Qing had limited abilities and might not be able to handle difficult matters. If he could have a capable and trustworthy aide now, things would become much easier.

But did this Xie Jia have the potential to be worth cultivating?

Liang Wen smiled. "Liang Bo, I know you are worried about this man's potential, but you need not concern yourself over that. Though he claims his abilities are mediocre and that he has nothing remarkable about him, his internal force cultivation has actually reached the Sixth Rank."

"Sixth Rank?" Liang Bo said in surprise. "If he truly has Sixth Rank cultivation, why did he end up as a beggar?"

Sixth Rank internal force cultivation already made one a skilled fighter among ordinary people. Whether he joined any family faction or entered the army, he could make a good living. How could such a man have fallen so low as to become a beggar?

Liang Wen explained, "He had been clad in brocade and fed on fine food since childhood, and his parents spoiled him greatly, so he never worked particularly hard at cultivation. When catastrophe struck, his internal force cultivation had only reached the Subordinate Ninth Rank. Furthermore, he knew nothing of the ways of the world and possessed no practical skill, which was why he became a beggar.

"However, after I took him in and taught him martial arts, I discovered that although his internal force cultivation had been poor, his aptitude was exceptionally strong. In just two short years, he broke through from the Subordinate Ninth Rank to the Sixth Rank. Moreover, his comprehension is quite good. He has now cultivated his family's inherited swordsmanship to the realm of Great Mastery. If properly nurtured, he will certainly become one of your most important right-hand men in the future."

Liang Bo's eyes lit up. To break through from the Subordinate Ninth Rank to the Sixth Rank in two years—such talent was far greater than his own. Furthermore, Xie Jia had cultivated his family's inherited swordsmanship to Great Mastery. That should be roughly equivalent to an ordinary martial skill reaching around 7 proficiency points. Such comprehension was indeed formidable, far stronger than Liang Bo had been back then.

If that was the case, this man was indeed worth cultivating properly.

With that thought, Liang Bo nodded. "Since Patriarch thinks so highly of him, then let him be the third choice."

Liang Wen smiled and pointed at the two invitation cards on the table. "Very well, handle that matter as you see fit. Now, this is the real reason I summoned you today. Liang Bo, have you heard of the underground trade fair?"

"An underground trade fair? What is that?"

Liang Wen smiled. "It seems you do not know. Let me put it this way: every year, during the Martial Academy Grand Competition, forces from all across Nanyang Prefecture send people to Wan City to participate, and quite a few experts are among them. It is rare for so many experts to gather in one place, so naturally they exchange goods and information. This year is no exception. As the head of the Liang Clan and a Human Origin Realm martial artist, I received two invitations as well. Would you like to come with me and broaden your horizons?"

"I see. Thank you for thinking so highly of me, Patriarch!" Liang Bo quickly said gratefully.

Liang Wen shook his head and laughed. "There is no need to be so polite. Besides, I am your uncle, after all. Do not call me Patriarch from now on. Just call me 'Uncle.'"

"Yes, Uncle!"

Liang Wen checked the time, then rose to his feet. "Let us go. It is getting late, and now is just the right time to set out."

The two left the room at once without bringing any other attendants, then rode straight toward the north gate.

Along the way, Liang Wen quietly advised him, "Liang Bo, although you joined the True Martial Sect and can obtain more resources than ordinary people, I know a little about the sect's rules. In that sect, whether you want resources, treasures, cultivation methods, or martial skills, you need points. Aside from the gift of points one receives upon entering the sect, points can only be earned by completing missions. So even after entering the True Martial Sect, obtaining treasures is not so easy."

Liang Bo nodded lightly. Ma Wen had told him of these rules as well. Although he had received a gift of three thousand points upon entering the sect, according to Ma Wen, those three thousand points could at most be exchanged for two or three decent Human Rank martial skills. As for Earth Rank and Heaven Rank martial skills, they could only exchange for the first few layers at most.

Liang Wen continued, "Though the items that usually appear at the underground trade fair are fairly ordinary, good things occasionally turn up, and they can be bought with silver. The Human Rank martial skill you cultivate, Purple Lightning Blade, as well as the Human Rank treasured saber of the same name that I gave you, were both purchased at previous trade fairs. When we arrive, if you see anything good, buy it as long as it costs no more than three hundred thousand taels of silver. I will pay for it."

Liang Bo was instantly tongue-tied. Three hundred thousand taels of silver was no small sum. Even for the Liang Clan, one of Wan City's three great aristocratic families, it was a huge amount of money. Aside from Liang Wen, the clan head, no one else could spend so freely.

Still, this was a good thing. At the very least, it showed that the Patriarch valued him greatly, filling him with anticipation for this trade fair.

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