Sun Family

After swallowing a Qi-Condensing Pill and advancing, Zhou Yan went to the martial hall.

The inner qi in his dantian had nearly doubled from before.

The door to the rear courtyard, which was usually kept shut year-round, stood open. From within came the dull thuds of fist wind striking wooden posts.

Xue Zhenshan led him inside. The training room was twice the size of Class B's, and a complete meridian chart hung on the wall.

The four people inside stopped punching and looked over.

They had heard that morning from the hall master that a newcomer would be joining Class A. They had expected someone with decent natural talent, but it turned out to be Zhou Yan, who had taken first place at the Martial Meet just days ago!

Han Zongyuan stood at the front. His shoulders were a full circle broader than Zhou Yan's, and his aura was as deep and heavy as a well.

He sized Zhou Yan up and said in an even tone, "Stake Stance Perfection. Not bad."

Shen Qingshan was wiping away sweat nearby. He nodded at Zhou Yan; he had previously delivered a message from the hall master at the tea stall, so they were half-acquainted.

Gu Changsong practiced hard-body techniques, and his arms were frighteningly thick. He came over and patted Zhou Yan on the shoulder, his manner quite mild.

Feng Jiping was the thinnest. Standing behind Han Zongyuan, he clasped his hands in greeting, his gaze lingering on Zhou Yan for an extra moment.

Zhou Yan returned their greetings one by one. The people in Class A did not seem inclined to put on airs.

That atmosphere instead made him feel at ease.

Xue Zhenshan had Han Zongyuan show Zhou Yan the rules, then left.

Han Zongyuan led him around and pointed out the Stake Stance area, the fist technique area, and the medicinal bath room. Beneath every bluestone brick in the Stake Stance area lay a three-inch-thick stone slab. When inner qi was poured down during stance training, the bricks would not crack. Han Zongyuan said the hall master had specially added them.

Just as Zhou Yan was about to head for the Stake Stance area, Feng Jiping called out to him.

"Junior Brother Zhou, may I have a word?"

The two walked beneath the corridor. Feng Jiping leaned against a pillar and spoke unhurriedly. "Before the Martial Meet, I was supposed to lead the team. But half a year ago, when I reached Qi Gathering Perfection, I held myself back for two months but couldn't contain it and broke through to Meridian Opening. After I transferred to Class A, you took my place and even won first place."

Zhou Yan glanced at him. He had done his homework before coming. "No need for courtesy, Senior Brother Feng. I heard you are from the Sun Family?"

"My mother was a Sun, from the second branch. Third Master Sun Wenli is my third maternal uncle. He heard that you won first place at the Martial Meet and entered Class A, so he asked me to invite you to the residence for a talk. You used to serve in the Sun Family Guard Corps, so you can be considered half a member of the Sun Family."

Zhou Yan fell silent for a moment. His relationship with the Sun Family had always been somewhat delicate. Zhao Shan worked as a guard for the Sun Family, he himself had entered the martial hall through a transfer from the Sun Family Guard Corps, and he still carried the token of a Qin Residence Guest Elder.

The Sun Family had shown him kindness, but he had saved Sun Wenyao and preserved the precious medicine. Both the Sun Family and the Qin Family had also rewarded him.

Now that Third Master had specifically asked to see him after he won first place, the nature of things was different.

"When?" Zhou Yan asked.

"This afternoon. I'll go with you."

Feng Jiping led Zhou Yan out of the martial hall.

The Sun Family occupied half a street in the eastern part of the city. Their grand residence had blue brick walls and dark-tiled roofs, with two stone lions at the entrance.

Zhou Yan had passed by this residence several times before. He crossed two courtyards.

Medicinal herbs were drying in the front courtyard. Several workers were spreading angelica roots across bamboo trays, and the herbal fragrance mingled with the cold air as it entered his nose.

Upon reaching the main hall entrance, Feng Jiping gave a servant a meaningful look.

Sun Wenli stood waiting at the hall entrance.

He was in his early thirties, dressed in a moon-white long robe. Clean-shaven and fair-skinned, he possessed none of the air of a man of the martial world. There was an indescribable scholarly quality about him, refined and easygoing. When he saw Zhou Yan, he smiled first and gestured inside. "Little Brother Zhou, please sit."

A maid served tea. Sun Wenli did not beat around the bush, first praising Zhou Yan's performance at the Martial Meet.

After the pleasantries, Sun Wenli set down his teacup.

"Little Brother Zhou, I invited you here today because I wish to discuss something."

"Please speak, Third Master," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

"You have spent less than two years at Mountain-Suppressing Martial Hall, yet you have trained all the way from Body Tempering to Qi Gathering Greater Achievement. The Sun Family needs people now. Not guards, but people truly capable of standing on their own, even Martial Adepts. The Sun Family needs many of them," Sun Wenli said.

Zhou Yan held his tea and listened to the terms Sun Wenli offered.

Thirty taels of silver each month. The Sun Family operated medicine shops, so they could supply all the Qi Gathering Pills he needed. The Sun Family would also provide the Barrier-Breaking Pill needed to attempt Meridian Opening.

They could also offer some support for next year's Martial Examination. All he had to do was take the title of Guest Elder.

"I know the hall master promised you a place in Class A." Sun Wenli smiled. "Class A is good, and Xue Zhenshan is a good hall master. But Mountain-Suppressing Martial Hall's annual income is what it is. He can afford Qi Gathering Pills, but not Barrier-Breaking Pills. You can ask Jiping how difficult the step from Qi Gathering Perfection to Meridian Opening is."

Feng Jiping nodded from the side. "I was stuck at Qi Gathering Perfection for nearly seven years!"

Zhou Yan nodded. When he heard the words "Barrier-Breaking Pill," his fingers paused on the rim of his cup.

"There is one more matter." Sun Wenli paused, smiling faintly. "If you are willing, the Sun Family can introduce you to the eldest young master. Eldest Young Master Sun Wenyuan cultivates under the Azure Mountain Sect. If he puts in a word for you, the sect may open a side door for you. No matter how glorious Qingyun County's Martial Examination may be, it is only a County Examination. Beyond Qingyun County, there are prefectural examinations and provincial examinations. Without a major sect to back you, this path will end with you as an independent cultivator."

He lifted his teacup again, his tone softening. "Of course, the Sun Family will not help for nothing. If you are willing to marry a young lady of the Sun Family, we will be family from then on, and your resources will double. If not, that is fine as well. A Guest Elder is still a Guest Elder. You only need to answer the Sun Family's call when needed. We will not force you."

Zhou Yan considered for a moment, then set his teacup on the table.

"Third Master, your offer is not a small one. But I want to ask one thing. What does the Sun Family ultimately seek by having me do all this?"

It was not that he did not understand. He simply wanted to hear Sun Wenli say it himself.

The Sun Family was not running a charity. A family that had operated in the county for decades without falling had done so by keeping careful account of every debt of favor.

Moreover, this Third Master of the Sun Family was exceedingly shrewd. Every word was carefully chosen, with many traps hidden in his speech, waiting for others to step into them.

"The Sun Family is betting that you will reach the Meridian-Opening Realm someday." Sun Wenli did not beat around the bush. "Qingyun County is a tiny place. One Meridian-Opening Realm expert can serve as the foundation of an entire family. But Eldest Young Master is in the sect and will not return to manage affairs in the county. The Sun Family needs someone who can establish himself here. Qi Gathering Perfection is only one step away from Meridian Opening. Whether that step takes a few years or even ten, the Sun Family can push you across it."

Zhou Yan nodded and remained silent for two breaths.

"Third Master thinks highly of me, and I appreciate the gesture. But there are some things I must make clear first. I was able to enter Mountain-Suppressing Martial Hall and reach this point today because the hall master put in considerable effort. The rules of Class A were also bent for me. I, Zhou Yan, am no great man, but I remember everyone who lent me a hand when I was at my lowest," Zhou Yan said calmly.

Hearing this, Sun Wenli seemed to have guessed something. The smile on his face faded somewhat, but he said nothing.

"Not just the hall master. The first place I found footing after coming to Qingyun County was the Sun Family Guard Corps. My brother-in-law is also a man of the Sun Family. I remember that kindness too. That is why I saved Miss Wenyao and preserved the precious medicine for Old Master Qin," Zhou Yan said, rising to his feet. "But I have never been used to being controlled. Last time, Miss Wenyao asked me to become a Guest Elder of the Sun Family, and I declined. In the future, if the Sun Family has need of me, Third Master can send word. So long as it does not put me in a difficult position, I can help. For no other reason than that the opportunity for me to enter the martial hall and learn martial arts was given to me by the Sun Family."

The hall was very quiet. The sound of wind in the courtyard filtered through the doors, along with the faint noises of workers turning medicinal herbs in the front courtyard.

Sun Wenli was silent for several breaths.

"Brother Zhou is a sensible man." He also rose to his feet, smiling as he extended his hand. "Your ability to study martial arts at the martial hall was also earned through your own strength. Very well, the Sun Family will remember these words and will not put you in a difficult position. But the Sun Family's doors will always be open to you. If you change your mind someday, come find me directly."

"Thank you, Third Master." Zhou Yan reached out, shook his hand, and smiled.

Sun Wenli escorted him out of the main hall. As they reached the side gate, the wind rustled the leaves of the old ginkgo tree in the courtyard.

He stopped at the threshold.

Watching Zhou Yan's receding figure, he said to Feng Jiping beside him, "Jiping, this boy speaks with caution and acts without leaving a crack to exploit. Petty gains will never entice him. Given time, he will surely become someone great. Make friends with him at the martial hall. Also, seek the family head's approval to raise the wages for his brother-in-law, Zhao Shan. His treatment can be improved as well."