Reaching an Agreement

"Second Young Master Xu, Third Young Master Xu."

The bearded man cupped his fists in greeting, then gave his name. "I am Gu Yiping."

"Second Young Master Xu, you have a keen eye. You saw through my intentions, so I won't deceive you. Carrying on the Dragon Elephant Sect is indeed my life's ambition.

"I'll go to the Xu household with you. If you can offer suitable terms, even this original copy isn't out of the question."

Once they had reached an understanding,

Xu Mingyuan and the others saw that it was late and stayed the night at the White Poplar Inn.

They returned to the Xu household in Dongxi Village the next day.

Their horses' hooves clattered over the bluestone road. On either side, rice seedlings spread like green carpets, rising in wave upon wave with the wind as far as the eye could see.

Seeing children chase egrets along the field ridges, Gu Yiping sighed inwardly. Such a peaceful scene is rare.

After settling Gu Yiping in, Xu Mingyuan made a special trip to the bamboo cottage at Jade-Cold Pool.

"You want to use this to establish a martial arts school for the Xu household? And train capable people for us at the same time?"

"Father, you really are something. You saw through my plan at a glance."

Xu Chuan smiled faintly. "Then you'll have to strike the right balance with what Gu Yiping wants."

"I know what I'm doing." Xu Mingyuan added, "I also want to expand our wine workshops, restaurants, clothing shops, and fruit shops into other counties."

"That's no small matter. It touches on every aspect of the business, and most important of all, you need loyal people you can rely on. You can start looking for suitable candidates or training them. There's no harm in waiting a few years."

"Qingjiang County is our home ground and our highest priority. If we can't keep it secure, everything else is out of the question."

Xu Chuan seemed to have opened the floodgates. He glanced at Xu Mingyuan and continued, "The Xu household's commercial foundation lies in food, clothing, housing, and transport. We can expand it a little now.

"Carpenter's shops, blacksmith's shops, pharmacies, and other businesses that would benefit the Lineage can all be put on the agenda."

"We could also establish a Xu household school, where the children of servants and guards can learn to read and write for free. That would foster their loyalty to us from an early age."

Xu Mingyuan nodded repeatedly, his admiration for Xu Chuan climbing without limit.

"If you managed it yourself, Father, you'd surely multiply our wealth several times over."

Xu Chuan laughed. "One man's strength has its limits. How could I handle every aspect of it alone? Enough flattery. I can offer you advice now and then, that's all."

"I understand."

"And one last thing..."

"Go ahead, Father. I'm listening carefully."

"If there's a woman you fancy, bring her home soon so we can meet her. Your elder brother is already married and has a child. You're next." The corner of Xu Chuan's mouth lifted. "If you don't hurry, I expect your mother will start pairing you off herself."

"Don't blame me if I don't speak up for you then."

"I'm quite open-minded. I hope you find a woman whose feelings match yours and spend your life together."

Xu Mingyuan was suddenly embarrassed.

He had known the day would come when someone urged him to marry, but he had never expected his father to raise it while discussing the Lineage's plans for the next hundred years.

It had caught him utterly off guard.

"I know, Father. I'll try."

Xu Mingyuan fled Jade-Cold Pool and returned to the Xu Residence.

Xu Chuan resumed practicing the breathing method of the Little Dragon Elephant Art, sensing the power of heaven and earth around him.

The reason he practiced there

was that Jade-Cold Pool struck him as unusual. Perhaps the power of heaven and earth gathered there was denser.

Xu Mingwei had visited and confirmed Xu Chuan's suspicion.

After returning, Xu Mingyuan told Xu Mingwei what Xu Chuan had said.

The brothers discussed it for a long time and drew up a detailed plan.

By now, many of the Xu household's affairs had gradually been handed over to Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingyuan.

Xu Chuan was slowly stepping back.

In the Xu household's main hall,

Gu Yiping sat behind a rosewood screen, gazing at the Lone Angler on a Cold River hanging on the wall. His fingertips tapped absently on the armrest of his grand chair.

The hall's beams and pillars were painted vermilion, the wooden brackets carved with winding lotus patterns. From the copper bells beneath the eaves came a faint music-like chime on the wind.

Gu Yiping had spent more than a day with the Xu household.

He had gained a preliminary understanding of it.

The residence was stately and traditional, covering more than a hundred mu. Its colors were restrained and dignified. In Qingjiang County, it was unquestionably a household of some standing.

Its servants, maids, and guards were well trained, gentle in their dealings with others, and never spoke out of turn.

He had even seen a White Tiger with red-gold eyes stride through a moon gate, nearly prompting him to strike it with his palm.

Seeing the Xu household's deep resources, he was now seven parts convinced that it could help him establish the Dragon Elephant Martial Hall and carry on the Dragon Elephant Sect.

A moment later,

Xu Mingwei emerged from the rear hall. The clasp of his jade belt rang softly as he took the seat of honor.

Xu Mingyuan followed close behind and sat in the first seat on the left below him.

Gu Yiping studied Xu Mingwei and thought, This Xu household head has an impressive bearing, but he's awfully young.

"Elder Brother, this is Gu Yiping, heir to the Dragon Elephant Sect," Xu Mingyuan said first.

Xu Mingwei looked at Gu Yiping, smiled, and nodded in greeting.

Gu Yiping returned the courtesy.

"This is my elder brother, Xu Mingwei, acting head of the Xu household."

Gu Yiping had no interest in asking why the household head was absent. Xu Mingwei's presence meant he could decide everything.

"Brother Gu, what is your current cultivation level?"

"Late-stage Xiantian."

Xu Mingyuan was slightly startled, but his face remained as still as water. He gave nothing away and merely said, "Then you're strong enough to preside over the martial arts school."

"Otherwise, things would be rather troublesome."

"How so?" Gu Yiping frowned.

"Right now, the Black Wind Martial Hall, Black Tiger Martial Arts School, and Heavenly Dragon Martial Arts School hold Qingjiang County in a three-way balance. They clash occasionally, but a new school appearing out of nowhere would certainly be suppressed."

"That's almost inevitable when you threaten other people's interests."

Gu Yiping nodded. It made sense.

"So the Xu household is taking a risk by working with the Dragon Elephant Sect."

Xu Mingyuan continued, "We'll handle publicity and recruitment, and provide the money and provisions the school needs for three to five years. In return, you'll let us copy the Dragon Elephant Sect's martial arts manuals, combat techniques, secret medicinal-diet recipes, and anything else you know."

Gu Yiping began weighing the advantages and disadvantages.

Building and running a martial arts school was complicated. If he did it alone, establishing one of any scale would probably take more than a decade.

He was already past forty, and he also wanted to keep devoting time to the Martial Way in hopes of breaking through to Grandmaster.

He could not do both.

The martial arts manuals, combat techniques, and recipes were precious, but they were inanimate things.

If he failed to pass them on, he could not take them with him when he died.

His greatest wish in life was to carry on the Dragon Elephant Sect, so the Xu household's terms were within what he could accept.

"Agreed."

After a long while, Gu Yiping nodded.

"Then let's discuss the details. I intend to divide the Dragon Elephant Martial Hall into an inner and an outer school."

"The inner school will teach Dragon Elephant Orthodox Martial Arts. Admission will be strict, with you personally selecting and assessing its disciples. The hall's successors will be chosen from among them, and the Xu household won't interfere."

"After five years, you'll need to arrange the medicinal diets for the inner disciples yourself."

"The Xu household will manage the outer school. We'll handle recruitment and provide the martial arts instruction, while you'll need to advise its disciples once a month."

"The Xu household will take seventy percent of the entire school's proceeds, and you'll take thirty."

Gu Yiping fell silent again, carefully considering the details Xu Mingyuan had laid out.

By that arrangement, only the Dragon Elephant Martial Hall's inner school would truly carry on the Dragon Elephant Sect. The outer school could essentially be considered the Xu household's private property.

It seems the Xu household has long wanted to enter the martial arts school business. They simply lacked someone suitable to preside over one.

Running a martial arts school was complicated. Results would be hard to see in less than ten or twenty years.

The Xu household's investment would certainly be substantial.

Yet he would only have to manage his own inner school. With the two sides clearly separated, he would have plenty of time to devote himself to the Martial Way.

"I agree."

"Then here's to a pleasant partnership between us."