Qingbei Town

Great Zhou Martial Kingdom.

Southern Domain borderlands.

Qingbei Town.

A mile outside the town stood a mountain called White Dwarf Mountain. At its summit was a dilapidated, abandoned Mountain God Temple.

Morning.

The weather was clear and bright, the sun shining beneath a cloudless sky that stretched ten thousand miles.

Xu Qing wore tattered clothes, and his hair had grown long. It had not been washed for a very long time and gave off a sour stink. He was plainly a little beggar.

He could only find an open patch of ground near the Mountain God Temple and bury Grandpa Nine Fingers's body there. The corpse was wrapped in nothing more than a worn straw mat, with a wooden grave marker erected at its head. The words upon it had been carved with a stone.

Grave of Grandpa Nine Fingers.

"Grandpa."

Xu Qing rose to his feet and gazed at the grave marker. A trace of sorrow appeared on his face, but he quickly roused himself. "I should go now. I'll come see you again next time, and then I'll replace this with a coffin made of golden-thread nanmu."

His words fell.

Xu Qing faced the rising sun. Sunlight spilled over him, drawing his shadow long and casting a faint golden gleam over his hair.

Xu Qing descended the mountain.

A mile was not far, and he soon arrived at Qingbei Town's gates. Twenty or thirty meters from the entrance, Young Miss Jiang of the Jiang Family, Jiang Feiying, was distributing porridge.

"Young Miss Jiang truly is a good person!"

"Yeah!"

"She's been handing out porridge here for three days already. Who knew how many refugees and beggars had survived because of Young Miss Jiang's kindhearted charity?"

"..."

Xu Qing heard much discussion around him. Looking up, he indeed saw a lovely, delicate young lady wiping sweat from her face as she ladled porridge out to the beggars.

For the past sixteen years, Xu Qing had wandered from place to place with Grandpa Nine Fingers, never having a fixed home. It had been difficult for them to remain anywhere for even a single year.

Born mentally deficient, he had been cruelly abandoned by his parents. Grandpa Nine Fingers had fortunately saved him and raised him. Only yesterday, after Grandpa Nine Fingers had died of illness, did Xu Qing suddenly awaken the wisdom of a past life.

In his previous life.

Xu Qing had been a self-made tycoon on Earth, only to suffer the torment of illness in his old age. He had passed away in a hospital, lamenting from his sickbed that life was bitter and short, and that a mortal's hundred years came to nothing in the end.

Who would have thought that he would be reborn into this world with the memories of his past life?

At the moment Xu Qing awakened his past-life wisdom, a special silver codex had appeared in his mind. It resembled a silver token, with the words "Omni" engraved on its front and "Codex" engraved on its back.

Its name was: Omni-Codex.

It could contain all things under heaven for upgrading and enhancement.

As for exactly how it worked, Xu Qing did not yet know.

He had studied it somewhat, but there had been no response so far. Perhaps the time had not yet come?

At this moment.

Xu Qing had reached Qingbei Town's gates and was waiting in line to enter.

Three months earlier.

Xu Qing had come to Qingbei Town with Grandpa Nine Fingers and lived in the decrepit, abandoned Mountain God Temple. Gradually, he had come to understand Qingbei Town somewhat.

The Jiang Family.

One of Qingbei Town's Three Great Families, it mainly controlled the town's leather and cloth trade. It could be said that the family had begun as cloth merchants and climbed step by step to its present position.

The other two great families were the He Family and the Nangong Family.

The He Family primarily controlled Qingbei Town's rice and meat trade, while the Nangong Family had an even greater background. It seemed to have some connection to the authorities, and it was Qingbei Town's sole salt merchant.

It could be said.

The Three Great Families were Qingbei Town's three great pillars.

Lastly.

There were Qingbei Town's Town Mayor and the yamen.

All the remaining forces, great and small, survived by attaching themselves to these pillars.

"Stop."

At the town gates.

It was already Xu Qing's turn.

According to the rules.

Bandits, rebels, and the like were not permitted to enter town. Beggars and refugees had to pay an entry fee, and they were not allowed to remain in town overnight unless they had somewhere to stay.

"A beggar, huh? Pay up."

The guard looked Xu Qing over. His clothes were ragged, his hair disheveled, and a sour stink clung to him. The guard gestured toward a wooden box beside him. "Beggar entry fee: three copper coins."

"Alright."

Xu Qing nodded. He took three copper coins from his bosom and placed them into the wooden box. Only then did the guard hand him a wooden token.

"This is your entry token. Keep it safe and don't lose it. It'll be checked when you leave town. If it's gone, you'll have to pay another three copper coins."

The guard kindly reminded him.

"Thank you, sir."

Xu Qing lowered his head.

"Go in."

The guard waved him through.

"..."

Xu Qing entered the town with his head lowered.

"Next."

The guard's voice sounded behind him.

Inside the town.

It was mainly divided into the outer town and the inner town.

The inner town was home mostly to nobles, wealthy merchants, and martial artists. After entering town, Xu Qing could only move about in the outer town. He had no qualifications to enter the inner town.

The outer town was naturally inhabited by ordinary merchants, as well as some gangs and martial arts schools. Most were simply common folk.

This time.

Xu Qing's purpose in entering town was simple.

First.

Xu Qing wanted to make money.

Second.

Xu Qing wanted to join a martial arts school.

In troubled times.

If one wanted to live well, to rise above others, to earn the respect of others, then in this world, the only path for ordinary people was "practicing martial arts."

As long as one mastered martial arts, one had a chance to become someone above others.

As for "studying"?

That was even harder than practicing martial arts. Studying was a privilege reserved for nobles and the wealthy. For ordinary commoners, in such troubled times, studying was an unimaginable luxury.

"There are quite a few martial arts schools in the outer town, but only three are truly renowned: Crimson Eagle Martial Arts School, Crushing Stone Martial Arts School, and Azure Hawk Martial Arts School."

"Crimson Eagle Martial Arts School generally only accepts women, and the martial arts it teaches are more suited to women. Crushing Stone Martial Arts School has certain requirements regarding one's background and talent."

"Only Azure Hawk Martial Arts School is different. It asks neither about one's origins nor background. As long as you pay, you can enter Azure Hawk Martial Arts School and study martial arts there."

"It's just that the price..."

As he pondered.

Xu Qing arrived before Azure Hawk Martial Arts School.

"Where did this beggar come from? You dare beg outside Azure Hawk Martial Arts School?"

At the entrance.

Two burly young men stood ramrod straight, giving off a fierce air. The moment they saw Xu Qing, their faces darkened, and they even seemed ready to strike.

Creak!

Just then.

Azure Hawk Martial Arts School's gates were pushed open. A young man with a square face walked out, his stride like a dragon's and tiger's, his bearing lofty and imposing. He was indeed extraordinary.

"Senior Disciple Brother."

"Greetings, Senior Disciple Brother."

The two burly young men immediately reined in their expressions and bowed respectfully to the square-faced young man.

"Mhm."

Senior Disciple Brother with the Square Face merely nodded lightly, his gaze involuntarily falling upon Xu Qing.

"Where did this beggar come from?"

Senior Disciple Brother with the Square Face spoke unhurriedly.

"Ah! Senior Disciple Brother! I'll drive him away right now!"

One of the burly young men jolted alertly.

"No need."

Senior Disciple Brother with the Square Face raised a hand to stop him instead. He looked Xu Qing over with interest. "What have you come to Azure Hawk Martial Arts School for?"

"I want to join Azure Hawk Martial Arts School."

Xu Qing said, "May I ask how much silver it costs?"

"Hahaha..."

Unable to help himself.

The other burly young man laughed aloud, his tone brimming with mockery. "This is killing me. A beggar like you actually dares say you want to join Azure Hawk Martial Arts School."

"Pfft..."

The other burly young man could not hold back his laughter either.

"Shut up."

Senior Disciple Brother with the Square Face snorted coldly. "Although Azure Hawk Martial Arts School has no rigid requirements, even if you are missing an arm or a leg, you may still join as long as you can afford the tuition."

"However."

"Azure Hawk Martial Arts School charges ten taels of silver per month, and we do not guarantee that we can truly teach you anything. What you ultimately achieve depends solely on yourself."

"So."

"Do you have ten taels of silver?"

"N-no..."

Xu Qing lowered his head.

"..."

The two burly young men were still holding back their laughter.

A penniless little beggar actually dreamed of joining Azure Hawk Martial Arts School. It was nothing but an idiot's dream, the biggest joke they had seen all year.

"You can't enter Azure Hawk Martial Arts School without money."

Senior Disciple Brother with the Square Face smiled. "But I can recommend a place to you. There, you may have a chance to earn ten taels of silver in the shortest possible time."

"Where?"

Xu Qing asked.

"Underground black boxing."

Senior Disciple Brother with the Square Face said, "In this world, if you want to make money, you must stake your life. Yet some people do not even have the chance to stake their lives."

"So, are you going or not?"

Senior Disciple Brother with the Square Face asked.

"I'll go."

After pondering for a moment.

Xu Qing nodded solemnly.

"Then follow me."

Senior Disciple Brother with the Square Face walked off directly, passing Xu Qing. Xu Qing quickly followed after him.

"This..."

Thus.

Only the two Azure Hawk Martial Arts School disciples were left staring at each other.

"You must be wondering why I'm helping you, aren't you?"

Along the way.

Senior Disciple Brother with the Square Face said this.

"Honored sir, for you to help me is the greatest honor of my life."

Xu Qing lowered his head.

"Hahaha..."

Senior Disciple Brother with the Square Face laughed aloud. "You speak quite interestingly. You don't sound like an ordinary little beggar."

"..."

Xu Qing remained silent.

"I wouldn't exactly say I'm helping you."

Senior Disciple Brother with the Square Face said, "You look a little like my younger brother, who has already passed away. If he were still alive, he would probably be about your age."

"That underground black boxing venue belongs to me. Something happened there recently, and quite a few fighters at the venue I run died. It lacks fresh blood to replenish its ranks."

"Your conditions are passable enough."

"So, do you understand now?"

"Thank you for your patronage, sir. To be noticed by you is my good fortune."

Xu Qing said.

"Interesting."

Senior Disciple Brother with the Square Face laughed again. "Now I rather hope you don't get beaten to death. Also, my name is Huo Yi."

"Xu Qing pays his respects to Lord Huo Yi."

Xu Qing bowed again.

"I hope you'll get the chance to call me Senior Disciple Brother."

Huo Yi said.

"I certainly won't disappoint your expectations," Xu Qing said.