Appointment Blocked

"Please, no need for such formalities."

A faint smile lingered at the corners of Mo Ming's mouth, though there was a trace of arrogance beneath it.

"We have come this time at Master Jie's earnest invitation, specifically to select affiliated courtyard guards."

Courtyard guards? Weren't they supposed to be stewards?

Lin Nan instinctively turned to look at Master Jie. This was somewhat different from what he had been told.

Master Jie's expression stiffened as well.

"Xiao Ming, this... hadn't we agreed before that we would be selecting affiliated stewards..."

Before he could finish, Mo Ming directly raised a hand and cut him off.

"Uncle Jie, you should understand that if not for the old friendship between you and my father, we would never have come to a place like this."

The implication was clear: my coming here was already doing you a great favor.

The smile on Master Jie's face vanished in an instant, and his expression abruptly darkened.

"Begin, then." He slowly withdrew and shut the door from the outside.

At Mo Ming's words, the many martial artists present revealed barely perceptible changes in expression. Quite a few were already beginning to lose heart.

"...A bunch of country bumpkins."

"You needn't be discouraged, everyone. The affiliated courtyard guard positions offered by the Mo, Fu, and Li Families are not the same as being guards in the Outer City."

Mo Ming sneered inwardly and continued.

"You only need to report for duty ten days each month and help the Mo Family complete designated tasks. Aside from that, your monthly pay will be thirty taels, with no shortage of fine meat or nourishing qi soup. If anyone is unwilling, you may leave at any time."

Thirty taels of silver, plus fine meat and nourishing qi soup...

For a moment, the crowd that had been faintly restless just moments ago fell completely silent, followed by several sharp intakes of breath.

In no time at all, everyone's expressions changed, their eyes brimming with eagerness and desire.

"Those whose names are called, come stand before me."

The inner disciples' eyes lit up at once. They lined up one after another, waiting for Mo Ming to call them.

"Xia Tao."

"Here!"

"Come demonstrate your stance work and fist technique."

A middle-aged man of around thirty stepped forward with an excited expression. Circulating his blood qi, he began to demonstrate the White Snake Stance in the hall, move by move.

"Third level Blood-Qi. Not bad, not bad."

Mo Ming immediately clapped in praise.

"Next."

The smile that had just appeared on the man's face froze there instantly.

Then, one martial artist after another stepped forward in turn, continuously demonstrating their fists and stances.

"This one is young, but unfortunately his sinews and bones are damaged, and his internal organs are incomplete. No good."

"First level Skin-and-Flesh Realm, somewhat old. Barely acceptable..."

With a booklet in hand, Mo Ming crossed out names one by one.

More than a dozen disciples were rejected in a row. Only one thirty-eight-year-old martial artist at the first level of the Skin-and-Flesh Realm was reluctantly chosen by the Fu Family.

Everyone was rather dejected now.

Soon, it was Zhong Jing's turn.

He took a deep breath and raised his hands, displaying the White Snake Stance. His muscles swelled slightly, and as he moved through the White Snake Fist, he seemed like a twisting white snake, stirring up vigorous blood qi.

"Not bad. How old are you?"

"In reply to my lord, I am fourteen by nominal age this year."

"At such a young age, you have already reached the completion of the third level of Blood-Qi. You may yet have hopes of reaching the Sinews-and-Bones Realm in the future. Are you willing to join my Mo Family as a courtyard guard martial artist?"

A rare look of satisfaction surfaced on Mo Ming's face.

Completion of the third level of Blood-Qi at fourteen was considered decent talent even in the Inner City.

"Brother Mo, you've already chosen several people from martial academies. This boy is young and strong—could you let your little sister have him?"

Fu Wangqing of the Fu Family had also taken a liking to him. She could not help batting her charming eyes as she leaned close to Mo Ming's ear and coquettishly pleaded in a soft voice.

"Sister Fu, it is rare enough to find a good seedling in the Outer City. You've already picked one today—surely you can't make Brother Mo come all this way for nothing? Sister Nianru, wouldn't you agree?"

Mo Ming smiled and turned his gaze toward Li Nianru, who had stood silently to one side the entire time.

"You two can pick as you please. Why drag me into it?"

Li Nianru smiled faintly. Standing off to one side, her tone remained indifferent.

That uncaring attitude made a flicker of gloom flash through Mo Ming's heart.

This bitch... sooner or later, I'll have you.

Fu Wangqing gave a soft snort at the sight, but did not argue further. After all, he was merely an Outer City martial artist.

At this moment, Zhong Jing's face was already wearing an irrepressible smile. He clasped his fists and hurriedly bowed.

"Thank you for your favor, Lord Mo. This disciple is deeply grateful."

As his words fell, he cast a somewhat smug glance toward Lin Nan.

"Next."

"Finally, it's my turn."

Lin Nan ignored Zhong Jing's gaze and stepped forward.

Though an affiliated courtyard guard position was not quite the same as the steward position Master Jie had mentioned before, it was still a post within an Inner City family. It could help him deal with Tu Kui's threat.

He arrived before the three of them, immediately forming circles with his hands. His blood qi and sinews bulged as he performed move after move of the White Snake Fist through the air. His blood qi sliced through the air with crackling sounds.

"Robust blood qi. Around twenty years old. Third level Blood-Qi."

Mo Ming's brow twitched, and a hint of delight appeared on his face.

"Though you are somewhat older, you are still within a reasonable range. Are you willing to join my Mo Family as a courtyard guard martial artist?"

Joy rose in Lin Nan's heart just as he was about to speak.

"Wait!"

Zhong Jing's voice rang through the hall.

Mo Ming frowned, a trace of displeasure in his voice. "What do you want to say?"

A hint of mockery flashed through Zhong Jing's eyes as he immediately knelt on the ground.

"Reporting to my lord, though Lin Nan and this disciple are both at the third level of the Blood-Qi Realm, this disciple has heard that Lin Nan has offended Tu Kui, Hall Master of the Execution Hall of the Blood Blade Sect. He may very well die violently in the streets before long. This disciple only wishes to remind my lord not to be deceived!"

"The Blood Blade Sect?" The warmth in Mo Ming's eyes cooled as though doused with water.

He turned to Fu Wangqing.

"Is that the Blood Blade Sect belonging to Brother Qin Yue?"

"There seems to be only one Blood Blade Sect in the Outer City. It's Brother Qin Yue's."

Having received Fu Wangqing's confirmation, Mo Ming's expression gradually turned cold.

This meant that recruiting Lin Nan would mean taking on his karmic entanglement with the Blood Blade Sect.

Whether they feared it was one matter. Whether it was worth it for an Outer City martial artist was another.

For a time, aside from Li Nianru of the Li Family, who stood silently at the side, both Mo Ming and Fu Wangqing looked at Lin Nan with faint pity, as if they were looking at a dead man.

"In that case, forget it."

Before Lin Nan could defend himself, he heard Mo Ming's verdict-like words. He instantly sighed softly and said nothing more.

By the time everyone left the hall, it was already noon.

Master Jie strode forward. "How did it go?"

"I did not disgrace my mission."

A light smile curved Zhong Jing's lips. "Unlike some people, who schemed every last detail only to fall short at the final hurdle."

Lin Nan narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at him expressionlessly, offering no reply.

"Lin Nan, you weren't selected? That's impossible." Master Jie's brow furrowed slightly.

At twenty years old, with completion of the third level of Blood-Qi, even the slowest outcome would surely see him reach the third level of the Skin-and-Flesh Realm before thirty. Being a courtyard guard would be more than easy for him.

Master Jie truly could not understand why Lin Nan had failed to be selected.

"It's fine. I'll think of a way myself."

Lin Nan clasped his fists in salute, then quickly returned to his room without looking back.

Night fell, and Zhong Jing walked out through the martial academy gates with delight written all over his face.

"Brother Jing, your move was truly brilliant. You knew long ago about his grudge with the Blood Blade Sect, yet kept it hidden until the crucial moment, when you dealt him a fatal blow."

Beside Zhong Jing, a teenage youth spoke fawningly.

His name was Zhao Tieniu. He had entered the martial academy in the same year as Lin Nan and Zhong Jing, and had always followed Zhong Jing's lead.

"Without the protection of those Inner City lords, let's see how he faces the pressure of the Blood Blade Sect on his own."

The corners of Zhong Jing's mouth lifted slightly, bearing an unrestrained smile.

"Hmph, he dared fight me, and even wanted to find himself a patron and pledge allegiance? Wishful thinking!"

"Brother Jing is brilliant!"

Tap...

Just as the two turned into an alley they often passed through, a crisp footstep sounded behind them.

Zhong Jing instinctively turned around, only for a huge cloud of white powder to rush straight at his face, instantly shrouding his entire vision.

"Damn it, which bastard was that?!"

Zhong Jing covered his eyes and instinctively circulated Tongue-Thrust Baleful Intent, throwing a punch toward the front.

Serpent-Transforming Force!

The hidden force of Tongue-Thrust Baleful Intent seemed to strike a yielding force as soft as a sponge, instantly being dismantled and dissolved.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Punch after punch came raining down like a pear blossom caught in a storm. Blood splashed, accompanied by the sound of bones cracking.

The screams of Zhong Jing and Zhao Tieniu rang through the entire alley.