Deep Partnership (Please Follow Along)

Hidden Dragon Martial Hall.

After Shi Hao had dazzled everyone at the Gathering of Heroes, consecutively defeating two top fighters from Thousand Crane Martial Hall and Mighty Far Hall, the martial hall's reputation soared.

The very next day after the Gathering of Heroes ended, countless youths came knocking, seeking to join the martial hall and learn fist techniques.

There were sons of wealthy families from the county town, as well as children who had rushed over from nearby villages and towns.

The outer courtyard disciples handling registration were run off their feet.

"One at a time!"

"State your name, age, and place of origin clearly!"

In the Martial Practice Yard, Qin Wuhe stood with his hands behind his back. Watching the bustling crowds in the outer courtyard, he was briefly lost in thought.

It had been a long time since Hidden Dragon Martial Hall had been this lively.

When he had received this inheritance from his master, Qin Wuhe had once been high-spirited as well.

He had sworn to his master that he would revive Hidden Dragon Martial Hall.

He had wanted Hidden Dragon Martial Hall to once again rank among the foremost martial forces in Scarlet Cloud County.

But only after truly taking it over did he learn just how difficult it was for a martial hall to prosper.

Without fame, it could not recruit good disciples.

Without good disciples, it could not build a reputation.

Without a reputation, no power was willing to place its bets on it. Without silver or pills, the disciples' progress naturally slowed.

Such a cycle was like an invisible net, strangling Hidden Dragon Martial Hall tighter and tighter.

Over the years, Mighty Far Hall and Thousand Crane Martial Hall had grown ever more powerful. Thunderclap and Bedrock each had their own patrons as well. Only Hidden Dragon Martial Hall had declined year after year.

The hall's disciples were failing to carry on from one generation to the next.

Though true disciples such as Song Tieshan and Liu Qingping were there to uphold its reputation, the younger generation had always lacked someone capable of fighting their way to fame.

In his desperation, Qin Wuhe had grasped at every straw. He turned his eyes toward the depths of the mountains and launched the Lucky Plan, which the other martial halls secretly mocked.

He recruited forty mountain youths for free, providing them with food and lodging while teaching them the martial path.

Many people thought he had gone mad.

But Qin Wuhe had no other choice.

Hidden Dragon Martial Hall no longer had the qualifications to wait for promising seedlings to come to its door on their own.

He could only go out and find them himself.

Yet he had never expected that someone like Shi Hao, a true genius, would emerge from among them.

Now, Shi Hao had become famous throughout Scarlet Cloud County at the Gathering of Heroes. While fighting for his own worth, he had also elevated Hidden Dragon Martial Hall's prestige, bringing it a massive surge of attention.

With a steady stream of new disciples joining the hall, Hidden Dragon Martial Hall's standing in Scarlet Cloud County would naturally rise with the tide!

Just then, a burst of laughter and chatter came from the entrance.

Qin Wuhe looked up and saw Shi Hao walking in from outside.

Today, the youth had changed into a brand-new set of fitted green clothes. A jade pendant gifted by the Huang Family hung at his waist, and his brows and eyes brimmed with irrepressible high spirits. With spring breeze on his face, his steps were light, and the post-banquet flush still lingered on his cheeks.

At his side was the Huang Family's second young master, Huang Jue.

Huang Jue wore a brocade robe and held a folding fan, his bearing calm and composed. Two Huang Family servants followed behind him, carrying gift boxes. It seemed he had deliberately escorted Shi Hao back to the martial hall.

As soon as they drew close, Qin Wuhe caught a faint scent of alcohol.

His brows furrowed slightly, and his gaze settled on Shi Hao.

"Hao."

Qin Wuhe's tone was not harsh, but it carried the authority of a master.

"Your master has warned you before: alcohol harms the body. At your age, this is the time to lay your foundations. Your qi and blood have yet to reach completion; you must not indulge in drink and women."

Shi Hao paused, and the smile on his face faded slightly.

"Master."

He cupped his hands in salute. "This disciple knows his mistake."

He had just returned from the celebratory banquet the Huang Family had arranged for him, where he had drunk two cups. He listened to Qin Wuhe's reprimand, but did not truly take it to heart.

Seeing this, Huang Jue immediately stepped forward and willingly took the blame with a smile. "Hall Master Qin, this matter is my fault."

"A banquet was held at Fragrance Gathering Tower today. The shopkeepers from several businesses all wished to meet Brother Shi Hao. Seeing how he had brought glory to Hidden Dragon Martial Hall at the Gathering of Heroes, I thought I should celebrate him."

"But please rest assured, it was only two cups of light wine. It certainly will not delay Brother Shi Hao's cultivation."

Qin Wuhe's expression softened somewhat, and he nodded at Huang Jue.

"Young Master Huang is most considerate."

"Shi Hao's performance at the Gathering of Heroes was also due in no small part to the Huang Family's wholehearted support."

Ever since Shi Hao had received the Huang Family's sponsorship, Qin Wuhe had not been able to offer Shi Hao much in the way of cultivation resources. After all, Hidden Dragon Martial Hall had declined for so many years that it truly had little left in reserve.

The Huang Family, on the other hand, provided Shi Hao not only with the monthly stipend on the surface, but also additional pill subsidies for his cultivation in everyday life.

Although Shi Hao had not yet married into the family, the Huang Family already regarded him as half a son-in-law.

Looking at the thriving atmosphere in Hidden Dragon Martial Hall's outer courtyard, Huang Jue narrowed his eyes, gently flicked open his folding fan, and congratulated Qin Wuhe. "Hall Master Qin, your Hidden Dragon Martial Hall is truly flourishing now!"

"Not at all. Only a batch of new disciples has arrived."

"Whether they can become accomplished still depends on their future fortunes."

Though he said so, Qin Wuhe could not suppress the smile that rose to his lips.

At that moment, Huang Jue closed his fan and spoke solemnly. "Hall Master Qin, I came to your esteemed hall today not only to celebrate Brother Shi Hao. I also have an important matter to discuss."

Qin Wuhe's gaze shifted slightly.

"Please speak, Young Master Huang."

Huang Jue slowly said, "Today, I came as a representative of the Huang Family."

"We wish to enter into a deeper partnership with Hidden Dragon Martial Hall."

Qin Wuhe raised his brows. "A deeper partnership?"

Huang Jue nodded. "That is correct."

Qin Wuhe gestured with one hand. "I am all ears."

Huang Jue smiled. "Hall Master Qin knows that my Huang Family has operated in Scarlet Cloud County for many years. We have businesses in medicine shops, grain stores, and carriage companies. In particular, when it comes to medicinal herbs, we can be considered among the best in Scarlet Cloud County."

"What does a martial hall lack most when training disciples?"

He answered his own question. "Medicinal herbs."

"And my Huang Family happens to be able to provide them!"

Qin Wuhe neither agreed nor disagreed, listening quietly.

Huang Jue continued, "My Huang Family is willing to provide Hidden Dragon Martial Hall with a batch of medicinal herbs every month, to be used in training inner courtyard disciples."

"Especially geniuses like Brother Shi Hao. Their advancement must not be delayed due to insufficient resources."

But Qin Wuhe did not immediately state his position.

He knew there was no such thing as a free benefit in this world.

Since the Huang Family had taken the initiative to show goodwill, they naturally wanted something in return.

"Qin has seen the Huang Family's sincerity."

Qin Wuhe slowly said, "But what does the Huang Family seek?"

Huang Jue smiled lightly. "Hall Master Qin is straightforward, so I shall not beat around the bush."

"First, if disciples of Hidden Dragon Martial Hall seek appointments in the future, my Huang Family hopes to have priority in choosing them."

"Second, if the Huang Family sends any of its younger members here to learn martial arts, we hope Hall Master Qin will show them extra care."

"Third..."

Of the several conditions Huang Jue listed, the most important in Qin Wuhe's eyes was undoubtedly the first.

Priority in choosing.

In other words, the Huang Family would have first pick of the martial artists Hidden Dragon Martial Hall trained in the future. Only after they had made their selections would other powers get their turn.

Qin Wuhe hesitated somewhat.

"If that is the case, then Hidden Dragon Martial Hall will be completely tied to the Huang Family."

After all, the other powers were not fools. When selecting martial artists for important positions, they could not possibly settle for those the Huang Family had passed over.

That meant that once he agreed to the Huang Family's terms, Hidden Dragon Martial Hall's disciples would basically have only one promising path in the future: taking appointments with the Huang Family. It would be difficult for them to obtain any important posts elsewhere.