Ling Xiangshan

Blatantly talking nonsense. The idle onlookers gathered around could not help but think this exact phrase in their hearts.

How dare he? How dare he speak to the master of the Zhicheng Martial Arts Academy, a man renowned far and wide across Jinning Commandery, in such a manner?

Even if that young man was addressed as Director Chen, no one believed that a youth so young could possess any formidable strength.

Word had it that in certain remote regions, one only needed to learn a single in-rank martial art to become an academy director, their actual prowess hardly superior to that of any ordinary martial arts hall instructor.

Martial arts academies and martial arts halls—anyone with even a slight understanding knew just how vast the gap between them truly was.

Director Xu's gaze drifted back and forth over Chen Xu, his tense face relaxing slightly as he chuckled. "Director Chen truly has a poor memory for trivial matters. Very well, let us consider this item a congratulatory gift from me to the newly appointed director of the Chen Martial Arts Academy.

Only, when walking the night paths outside, one inevitably encounters loose stones tripping the feet, so I hope Director Chen will exercise the utmost caution."

This was the domain of the Jinning Commandery Martial Pavilion, and as a mere martial arts hall master, he dared not stir up trouble here.

"Then I won't trouble Director Xu to concern himself. They are merely stones—one simply kicks them aside!" Chen Xu turned and strode into the VIP passageway, not sparing him another glance.

The security guard stationed at the entrance barely raised a hand before Chen Xu gave him a gentle shove, sending him stumbling backward.

"Sir, please present your VIP identification card."

Chen Xu pulled a dust-covered card from his pocket and blew on it lightly.

The woman seated at the counter furrowed her brows slightly, though professional ethics compelled her to reach out and take it.

"I am sorry, sir, but your card was discontinued two years ago. You will need to upgrade to a new card to continue enjoying VIP privileges."

"How much for a card transfer?" Chen Xu had no desire to waste time; he only wanted to secure the portion of Refining Liquid that rightfully belonged to the Chen Martial Arts Academy as swiftly as possible.

"If we go through the complete procedure, it will take about a month."

"There is no need for that." A deep, resonant male voice rang out from the corridor, its echoes vibrating loudly.

The woman at the counter hastily stood up and said respectfully, "Deputy Pavilion Master Ling."

Chen Xu followed the sound and looked over. The newcomer stood at least two meters tall, a veritable little giant.

"For Director Chen to grace this place truly brings immense luster to the Martial Pavilion." Deputy Pavilion Master Ling let out a hearty laugh and offered a slight cupped-fist salute.

"Deputy Pavilion Master Ling." Chen Xu returned the salute. From this deputy pavilion master, he felt a faint sense of oppression. True to his position as the number two figure in the commandery's martial world, his strength was not to be underestimated.

"In three days at most, I will personally have a brand-new VIP card delivered into Director Chen's hands. I, Ling Xiangshan, take the greatest pleasure in making friends with talented experts.

I wonder if Director Chen would be willing to come to my office for a chat?"

"Lead the way."

The Deputy Pavilion Master's Office.

Seeing this name, along with the young secretary bowing to the two of them not far away, Chen Xu felt the overall style carried a rather discordant vibe.

Ling Xiangshan poured tea for the two of them. Sniffing the rich aroma, his expression held a trace of intoxication. "This is prime tea supplied to the imperial court every year. Countless people desire it yet never get a taste. If not for Director Chen, I would not have brought it out to share."

Taking a small sip, he cast his gaze toward Chen Xu, who was seated on the sofa. "Why has Director Chen come to the Martial Pavilion today?"

"Ever since the year before last, the Refining Liquid subsidies that should have gone to the Chen Martial Arts Academy have failed to arrive. I have come here today precisely to claim the share of Refining Liquid that is rightfully mine." Chen Xu put down his teacup. His expression was devoid of sorrow or joy, yet carried the formidable momentum of a gathering storm.

The Refining Liquid concerned his future. If he wished to step onto the fast track of improving his strength, he could not do without such auxiliary items.

"There is such a thing?" Ling Xiangshan slammed a palm onto the desk. "Secretary Wu!"

"Is something the matter, Deputy Pavilion Master?" Looking rather shrewd and capable, a short-haired woman trotted all the way over and knocked lightly on the door, entering only after receiving permission.

"Secretary Wu, this is Director Chen of the Chen Martial Arts Academy."

Secretary Wu hurriedly bowed and greeted Chen Xu.

"Ever since the year before last, the Chen Martial Arts Academy has not received a single bottle of Refining Liquid. Do you know anything about this matter?"

Ah... This matter has always been managed by the logistics department, so this subordinate is unaware. Secretary Wu lowered her gaze to sweep across the soles of Chen Xu's shoes. How could she possibly not know? Her husband's family also ran a martial arts hall, and they had conveniently swallowed several batches themselves.

Originally, since no one from the Chen Martial Arts Academy ever came to pursue the matter, it didn't matter. Who could have expected them to suddenly come knocking today? If someone genuinely intended to investigate, they would never be able to cover it up.

Of course, this was also because the Chen family had failed to come and press the issue for two years running, causing them to grow increasingly careless.

"Deputy Pavilion Master Ling, your little secretary's heartbeat is a bit fast. Is she hiding something?" Chen Xu had reinforced his Tiger Howl Fist to level five and his Bronze Body Technique to level one, granting him a marked enhancement in hearing.

How could Ling Xiangshan, whose strength was perhaps even a fraction greater than Chen Xu's, fail to notice the abnormalities of a secretary who had followed him for several years?

Sigh, Secretary Wu, why must you be this way?

Ling Xiangshan's majesty had long since penetrated the heart of everyone in the Martial Pavilion. Hearing him speak, Secretary Wu's legs turned to jelly, and she collapsed limply onto the floor.

"Deputy Pavilion Master Ling, I don't know. I really don't know anything about this."

Secretary Wu wore a panicked expression, retaining none of her previous shrewd and capable demeanor.

A branch deputy pavilion master possessed the authority to execute capital punishment if he determined that a subordinate had committed an unforgivable crime. He held the power of life and death over those beneath him—who in the Martial Pavilion dared not tremble in fear before him?

"As for this matter, it can be as big as you make it, or as small as nothing at all. Am I right, Director Chen?" Ling Xiangshan's icy voice drilled into Secretary Wu's ears.

"It can be classified as stealing classified items from the Dayuan Martial Pavilion, or it can be treated as ordinary theft. It all depends on how you choose to handle it, Secretary Wu."

With a single sentence, her final psychological defenses crumbled instantly. When all was said and done, she was merely an ordinary person.

To be able to hold out for so long under the imposing pressure of two martial arts hall masters—though partly because the two had not exerted their full might—her own psychological fortitude already surpassed that of many ordinary people.

"As the Chen Martial Arts Academy declined and rarely came to the Martial Pavilion to collect the Refining Liquid, the four of us martial arts halls developed some improper thoughts..."

After uttering those first words, Secretary Wu abandoned all caution and spilled everything like beans tumbling from a bamboo tube. Naturally, she did not forget to trim her own actions, striving to distance herself as much as possible.

"The Iron Stele Martial Hall, the Blood Blade Martial Hall, the Clearwind Martial Hall, and, of course, the Zhicheng Martial Arts Academy." Chen Xu's gaze grew deep and profound. The Refining Liquid that rightfully belonged to the Chen Martial Arts Academy had been carved up by those four. It seemed he would simply have to go make the rounds.

Right, aside from the Refining Liquid, would it really be too much for him, Chen Xu, to extract a bit of travel expenses, emotional distress compensation, and the like?

If not for them, his predecessor might have mastered the Tiger Howl Fist long ago. The cause of his predecessor's death could entirely be pinned on their heads; his predecessor's losses were his losses. Chen Xu declared that he would certainly seek justice on his predecessor's behalf!

"Lord Deputy Pavilion Master, I've followed you for so many years—don't you know what kind of person I am? They forced me into this, otherwise I would never have dared to do such a thing. You must believe me!" Secretary Wu wept bitterly, kneeling to one side to beg for forgiveness.

Ling Xiangshan's face remained mild, yet his eyes were ice-cold. "I believe you, Secretary Wu."

Secretary Wu had only just raised her head in joy when she heard the next sentence. "Men, drag Secretary Wu down to the Martial Pavilion's heavenly prison!"