Inner City

"Master, you're still awake this late?"

Lu Li asked with a smile, "Out for some cool air?"

Shen Gangfu wore a light gray straight robe with wide sleeves, his black hair loose over his shoulders. In a low voice, he said, "Things aren't as simple as you think. Tomorrow, come with me to the Inner City. Once your family is settled, return to the academy. Don't go out for the next few days."

Lu Li raised a brow, then nodded. That was precisely what he had in mind: keeping a low profile and training for a while.

It seemed his master had guessed what he had gone out to do, yet had not exposed him. That meant the matter was not too serious, though there was a note of warning in his words.

"Yes, Master."

With his hands behind his back, Shen Gangfu paced a few steps before heading toward the training room. Lu Li steadied his mind and followed.

Once they reached the training room, Shen Gangfu's expression turned grave. "Ironwood Hall is the Black Wolf Gang's branch in the Outer City. In the Inner City, the Black Wolf Gang is also one of the great powers among the Three Gangs and Four Families. Three days ago, Ironwood Hall swept aside the Outer City's two major local gangs, consolidated its twelve streets and thirty-eight districts, and now stands alone above all others."

"Master, what are the Three Gangs and Four Families?" Lu Li blurted out.

"The Inner City is different from the Outer City. Its hierarchy is far stricter. The Three Gangs refer to the Canal Gang, the Salt Gang, and the Black Wolf Gang. The Four Families refer to the Inner City's four great Lineages. Beyond them, the Inner City also has its one tyrant, Pang Shilang, Master Pang..."

Although our Heji Escort Agency is no weaker than those great powers, we do legitimate business and bear no grudges against any side. You didn't leave behind any loose ends tonight, did you?"

"Reporting to Master, they probably won't be able to trace it back to me."

Lu Li recounted, from beginning to end, how he had destroyed the corpses and erased the evidence, naturally concealing the fact that he had searched the bodies.

As he spoke, Lu Li watched Shen Gangfu's expression, trying to judge the consequences of his killing and corpse disposal.

Shen Gangfu remained calm. After hearing Lu Li's account, he discovered another side of this personal disciple of his: ruthless and decisive when he struck, never dragging his feet through mud and water, and even knowing how to clean up afterward.

Lu Li described his own killing in an unhurried manner, not realizing there was anything improper about it. He considered his master someone with whom he could now speak from the heart.

After finishing, Lu Li asked, "Master, there shouldn't be any future trouble, right?"

Shen Gangfu showed a thoughtful expression. "Your hands and feet were clean. On the surface, nothing can be seen. But the Black Wolf Gang has always acted outside common sense. Even with the slightest possibility, they may suspect you. Once they suspect you, they won't need any evidence. Still, this matter can be either great or small..."

"Master, what does it mean for it to be either great or small?" Lu Li smiled faintly. "I presume Master already has a plan. This disciple will heed your instruction."

"As long as you enter the Martial Lecture Hall, none of the various powers will dare touch you openly again."

Shen Gangfu resumed his habitual pacing with his hands clasped behind his back.

"The Martial Lecture Hall again?" Lu Li was somewhat surprised. Just what kind of place was the Martial Lecture Hall?

Shen Gangfu suddenly smiled kindly. "Simply put, the Martial Lecture Hall is a place established by the Great Yong Dynasty to select talented and outstanding individuals for office. Once you become a Martial Student of the Martial Lecture Hall, you may rise to study at the True Martial Palace. From then on, your martial fortunes will flourish, and your road will be as smooth as a galloping horse on level ground.

In the middle path, you may enter the court as an official, with glory and wealth within easy reach.

Below that, you may join the border army as a deputy general, lead troops into battle, and bring honor to your ancestors.

At worst, you may enter Nine Doors as a saber-bearing constable, cutting an imposing figure in every direction.

Blackwater City only has nine slots in a year, and every single one is the focus of fierce competition among all the families...

And among the three martial academies in the Outer City, only our Golden Gate Martial Academy has one chance each year to send someone into the Martial Lecture Hall."

Isn't this just taking the civil service exam...

Sure enough, in any era, taking the civil service exam was the life path for those who prioritized stability, a ladder for climbing upward.

After a pause, Shen Gangfu continued, "As long as you enter the Martial Lecture Hall and become a Martial Student, your future martial path will naturally be as smooth as a galloping horse on level ground. The many martial arts secret manuals within the Martial Lecture Hall are also of vital importance to you."

Thoughts flashed through Lu Li's mind. With such a good opportunity, why would he need to think? It definitely would not be that simple. He asked, "Master, how does one enter the Martial Lecture Hall?"

"Originally, I intended to give the slot directly to you. But now there has been a change. Three days ago, Lin Lanyi came and said that the Su family of the Inner City wanted to borrow our Golden Gate Martial Academy's opportunity this year. Only after I fought hard for it did we arrive at a compromise..."

Shen Gangfu suddenly stopped pacing and stared at Lu Li.

"What compromise?" Lu Li asked.

Shen Gangfu observed Lu Li for a long while. Only after confirming that he showed no emotion did he say, "Su Meiyi will come to the academy tomorrow. Four months from now, before the year-end, the two of you will have a fist match. The winner enters the Martial Lecture Hall. The loser can only wait another year."

"Master, this disciple will definitely secure the slot." Lu Li quietly let out a breath, his eyes shifting slightly. Four months meant he could attain enlightenment four times. So what if Su Meiyi had Upper-Grade Bone Aptitude?

The advantage is mine.

Shen Gangfu sighed softly. Seeing that Lu Li had not the slightest sense of crisis, he added, "Su Meiyi is about your age. He began training in martial arts a month ago, yet he has already opened the First Gate. He also has Upper-Grade Bone Aptitude. Your chances of winning are not great."

Lu Li pressed his lips together and said, "Master, please do not worry too much. I will train twice as hard and will not disappoint your expectations."

Shen Gangfu nodded faintly, then turned to gaze at the night outside, unable to hide the worry on his face.

The next day.

The martial academy's front courtyard.

Lu Li stood bare-chested, his back taut like a horizontal saber drawn from its sheath, giving off a cold, biting chill. Beads of sweat the size of soybeans seeped from his shoulders, running through the grooves of his back and over his rugged joints. His skin, flesh, and muscles resembled tough iron repeatedly tempered in icy water, gleaming with a deep, cold luster in the morning mist.

He lowered his head slightly, breathing heavily yet evenly.

With the rise and fall of his chest, the Primordial Unity Force within him moved slowly beneath his skin like great dragons...

Cough!

He suddenly expelled a mouthful of turbid air. It instantly formed a thick cloud of mist before him, shooting more than a foot away like a sharp blade before dispersing without a trace.

Lu Li rose and gathered his stance. After performing two sets of Form-Intent Fist, his thoughts stirred, and he entered his Sea of Consciousness.

"Form-Intent Blade Secret Art" Beginner (121/1500)

"Form-Intent Secret Stance" Beginner (121/1500)

"Eight Trigrams Saber Technique" Mastery (568/1200)

"Eight Trigrams Fist Technique" Perfected (800/800)

"Eight Trigrams Moving Stake" Perfected (800/800)

"Eight Trigrams Embracing-Circle Stake Art" Perfected (500/500)

[Realm]: First-Gate Martial Artist, Skin Tempering once (Primordial Unity Force, first layer)

Next, he had to grind away at the Form-Intent Secret Stance and accumulate Primordial Unity Force. He had realized that Skin Tempering progressed faster when the Primordial Unity Force was perfected.

He considered his progress. This cultivation speed should far surpass that of most martial artists who had undergone Skin Tempering once.

By the time the sun stood three poles high.

Shen Gangfu strolled leisurely out of his bedroom, called for Lu Li and the other two, and prepared to set off for the Inner City.

They left North Gate Avenue, passed through Willow Alley and Oil Mill Street, then crossed Paper Horse Street and Grain Market before arriving at Blackwater Bridge.

This bridge connecting the Inner and Outer Cities spanned a tributary of the Black Flood Dragon River. From afar, it looked like a dark azure giant fish-serpent, gently biting together the two shores it linked.

Shen Gangfu led the way. Lu Li carried Little Chen Xuan in his arms and held Ma Xiaoling's hand as they followed behind.

The moment they crossed the bridge and arrived beneath the Inner City walls of Blackwater City, Lu Li felt a cold, murderous aura wash over him.

Looking up, he saw that Blackwater City's Inner City was towering, majestic, and desolate. Massive rocks weighing a thousand jun were stacked layer upon layer, carrying an ancient, icy hue. At a single glance, he felt its defenses were impregnable and unshakable, like an ancient ferocious beast lying dormant here, coiled between heaven and earth. Its vast pressure bore down from afar, its presence gripping the soul.

"What a Blackwater City..." Lu Li's eyes shifted, revealing a trace of barely perceptible excitement.

Even in his previous life, he had never seen such a magnificent city. Only now did his understanding of Blackwater City refresh itself completely.

Such a strange city left Little Chen Xuan in his arms suddenly dazed.

But before Lu Li could look more closely, the city guards made a slight gesture and shouted, "Who goes there?"