County Town

At dawn, two horses left the village one after the other.

Zhou Yan carried a travel pack. Aside from the valuables in the cloth bundle, he had brought only a few changes of clothes.

The horses did not travel quickly.

The morning mist gradually dispersed, and light spilled over the eastern mountains.

Zhao Shan tugged the reins ahead of him and rode alongside Zhou Yan. "Your eldest sister nagged me the whole way before she went back last night."

"She told me to take good care of you. If you come back any thinner, she'll settle the score with me." Zhao Shan smiled.

"I still have to thank Brother-in-law for this opportunity and for getting me into the Sun Family," Zhou Yan said, turning back and cupping his fists.

"We're family. No need to talk like strangers. Your eldest sister has a fiery temper, but she's kind-hearted," Zhao Shan said heartily. "I saw it long ago. In your Zhou Family, she's the only one who truly cares about you. She's mentioned you plenty of times around me."

"I grew up without parents, so I see these things more clearly than most." As Zhao Shan spoke, he casually tugged the reins.

"An old hunter in the mountains found me. The old man could barely feed himself, yet he took in another mouth."

"When I was seven or eight, I started following him into the mountains. Everything I know was taught by that old man."

"Later, the old man died of illness, and I lived on my own."

Zhao Shan spoke evenly, but Zhou Yan could still sense the sorrow in his voice.

"Hunting skills are honed in the mountains. They aren't any proper martial arts, and you trade your life for them."

He patted the short knife at his waist.

"Later, when I got older and wanted a family, I asked a matchmaker to arrange a marriage."

"The matchmaker introduced me to your eldest sister."

At that, he paused and gave a soft laugh. A faint flush appeared on his dark face. "Back then, your father and mother thought I was too poor. A hunter had no fields or house and relied on the heavens. Catch prey, and you got a good meal. Catch nothing, and you drank the northwest wind."

"Your eldest sister was the one who agreed." Zhao Shan grinned.

"She said I was an honest man." He patted the horse's neck, and it shook out its mane.

"Later, we got married. Life was tight, but now that I'm a guard for the Sun Family, we at least have some security."

Zhao Shan pointed toward the roadside.

"Once we pass that poplar grove ahead and turn the bend, we'll reach the main road."

Once they reached the main road, it became much wider.

The occasional donkey cart passed by, its wheels creaking over the stone pavement.

Zhao Shan cleared his throat.

"The county town isn't like the village. There are many affairs and all sorts of people. Let me tell you what I know."

He counted on his fingers. "In the county town, three families call the shots."

"I told you about the Sun Family yesterday. They made their fortune in medicinal herbs."

Zhou Yan nodded. He had bought his Body-Tempering Decoction from one of the Sun Family's shops.

He had heard that Sun Family members even got discounts!

"The Black Tiger Hall controls the north of town. They're at odds with the Sun Family and have a blood feud. I heard that during an assessment some time ago, the Sun Family's eldest young master accidentally beat the Black Tiger Hall master's son to death. Whether it was truly an accident or intentional, no one knows. Once you join the Guard Corps, be careful around Black Tiger Hall people."

"Then there's the Azure Cloud Gang in the east of town. They control the docks and some of the shops. Their gang leader is said to be a Martial Adept already, with more than a hundred men under him. Those two are the largest gangs in the county town. They keep each other in check and have some business dealings with the Sun Family."

The Azure Cloud Gang!

Zhou Yan's fingers tightened around the reins.

Just as expected!

The Azure Cloud Gang had considerable influence!

"Besides those two, there are another seven or eight small gangs scraping out a living in the cracks. Every few days, they fight until heads are split and blood flows."

Zhao Shan sighed. "The lives of people in small gangs are worthless. When they die, they're tossed into the mass graves outside town, and by the next day, no one remembers them."

"Besides the Sun Family, there's also the Qian family. They run restaurants and inns. The county town's largest Cloud-Stacking Tower belongs to them."

"They also deal in tea and specialties from north and south. They're close to the authorities. Whenever officials hold banquets, they do so on Qian family turf."

"The He Family runs banks and pawnshops. Half the county town's silver flows through their hands." Zhao Shan paused. "They also deal in antiques and jade. Master He keeps a very low profile and rarely shows himself, but..."

He drew his thumb across his throat.

"Dogs that bite don't bark."

"I understand." Zhou Yan nodded.

"As for the authorities..." Zhao Shan nodded toward the farmland by the road. "Magistrate Meng nominally governs the whole county, but he doesn't meddle in Martial Adept affairs. All those families have people backing them above. Usually, he just handles taxes. As long as nothing major happens, he can't be bothered to provoke anyone."

"What if something major happens?"

"Even if it does, he may not be able to handle it."

Zhao Shan laughed after saying that. "By then, someone specialized will come to handle it!"

"There are also four or five martial halls in the county town. You know White Cloud Martial Hall—it was the one that led the way last time."

White Cloud Martial Hall!

Zhou Yan's eyelid twitched.

Others did not know, but he knew very well that Zheng Tong had died by his hand.

Instructor Zhou had failed to find the body and hurriedly left.

Zhao Shan did not notice and continued, "White Cloud Martial Hall, Mountain-Suppressing Martial Hall, and Iron Eagle Martial Hall are the three most renowned martial halls. Each has its own signature skill. Some specialize in fist arts, some excel at blade techniques, and some focus solely on toughening arts. Their hall masters are Martial Adepts and do not easily take action."

Zhao Shan turned to glance at Zhou Yan.

"Oh, right. There are a few rules you need to remember."

"Don't casually ask about the origins of other people's martial arts in the county town. Martial Adepts consider that taboo. Ask too much, and you'll easily invite trouble."

"And don't flaunt your wealth or abilities. Keep a low profile."

That reminded Zhou Yan of the Mountain-Breaking Fist.

It was the Azure Cloud Gang young master's martial art.

Lei Bao had recognized it before, causing him no small amount of trouble!

He could not use it in the Sun Family Guard Corps this time.

If he used it and someone recognized it, he would be walking straight into death!

"Your eldest sister asked me to look after you. I don't want you getting into trouble the moment you enter town." As Zhao Shan spoke, he wiped the sweat from his face with his sleeve again.

"The Sun Family has been urgently recruiting guards lately. I don't know why, but the Guard Corps really is short on people. More than a dozen died last month, and they still haven't filled the positions. Still, I reckon the Sun Family wants to expand its own power!"

"Once you're there, be sharp. Talk less and work more. Don't compete with others over every little thing. Learn carefully when the instructors train you. Once you truly join the Sun Family Guard Corps and break through Body Tempering, you may even get the chance to study martial arts at one of the Sun Family's martial halls."

Martial arts!

Zhou Yan's expression shifted. What he lacked most right now was martial arts.

He only had one Mountain-Breaking Fist, and he could not even use it.

He could practice the Basic Stance Art, but that was merely foundational and could not support real combat.

"Martial arts are something you might never encounter in a lifetime in the village. Even in the county town, not everyone can afford to learn them. You're a lucky kid."

The horses continued onward.

In the distance, the familiar blue-gray city walls stretched across the horizon.

After entering town, Zhao Shan pointed with his riding whip. "We're here."

Zhou Yan's eyes swept over the streets on both sides.

The Sun Family's shops were easy to recognize.

The people behind the counters all wore matching dark blue clothes.

Cloth shops, medicine shops, general stores—one appeared every few storefronts.

The Qian family's Cloud-Stacking Tower stood at the intersection.

It was three stories tall, with upturned eaves, and several sedan chairs were parked outside.

Zhao Shan looked back at him.

"Stop staring. You'll have plenty of time to look later."

The two headed west along the street.

As they passed a side alley, several burly men squatted at its entrance.

Blue cloth strips were tied around their arms. One of them was cleaning his nails with a dagger. He looked up at Zhou Yan on horseback, then lowered his gaze again.

They were Azure Cloud Gang members!

Azure Cloud Gang members were easy to recognize. They all had blue cloth strips wrapped around their arms.

Without revealing anything, he shifted his gaze away and looked down the road ahead.

Zhao Shan lowered his voice. "Don't stare at them."

The two arrived at an inn and ordered several small dishes.

"Dress neatly when you meet the steward tomorrow, and speak less," Zhao Shan said as he ate. "Answer whatever they ask. Don't say anything they don't ask about."

"Got it," Zhou Yan said.

"Your bone assessment was Inferior Middle Grade. It isn't good, but it isn't the worst either. Once you join the Guard Corps, train hard and you can still rise."

"In this world, children from poor families have only two paths if they want to make something of themselves."

"Either take the martial imperial examinations, or sell your life to someone."

"The threshold for the martial imperial examinations is too high. Martial arts, medicinal baths, money to grease palms—what part of that doesn't burn silver?"

"Selling your life is dangerous, but at least it gives you a chance."

He stood and patted Zhou Yan on the shoulder. "Don't pressure yourself. Sleep early."

It was late at night.

Dogs barked occasionally in the alley, while the distant clack of a night watchman's wooden clapper drifted over.

Zhou Yan lay on the hard plank bed, unable to sleep.

He slipped a hand into his cloth bundle and touched the broken silver and pills beneath his clothes.

Azure Cloud Gang members were everywhere in the county town.

He would put the Mountain-Breaking Fist aside for now.

He could continue practicing the Basic Stance Art. It left no trace, was commonplace, and could be bought for a few taels of silver.

Once he joined the Sun Family, he would see whether he could learn some proper martial arts.