One Alliance, Two Gangs, Three Families

One Alliance, Two Gangs, Three Families

"Taxes are collected once in summer and once in autumn each year. Though you have no land for now, you must still pay the tax. Considering that you are already seventy and have no children at home, you may be exempted from corvée labor."

"From now on, you must come report every year. If you fail to report for a year, your registration will be considered canceled."

The clerk emphasized this point.

Li Rui was already seventy and could die at any moment.

That was why he had to come report regularly. If he failed to show up in any given year, the Household Office would assume that Li Rui had died.

Otherwise, given the technology of ancient times, there was simply no way to keep track of the population.

"Many thanks, young sir."

Li Rui bowed deeply.

If not for Registrar Ma's favor, the clerk would never have given him so many pointers.

After leaving the County Office,

Li Rui made another trip to the broker's office.

For one tael of silver a year, he rented a tiny room in the eastern district, barely one zhang square.

From that day onward, he finally had a home in Clear River.

After redeeming himself, he actually had more things to worry about.

Back when he had been a servant in the Zhu Family, he never needed to think about paying taxes or anything else. He only had to keep his head down and work. Now, there was much more to consider.

"First, settle down in the city."

"Fortunately, I still have thirty taels of silver. It will last me half a year, but I still need to find some way to earn money."

He was now a martial artist who had Entered Rank, and money flowed from his hands like water.

No matter how thick one's family fortune, it could not withstand sitting atop a mountain and eating it away.

The days passed one by one.

Without a blade, Li Rui could only use a wooden stick as a blade to practice the White Ape Mantle Blade Art.

With the boost from his martial bones and breathing technique, his progress was frighteningly fast.

In just half a month,

he had reached mid-training in Stone Skin. Perhaps within a year, he would break through to the eighth rank.

If those gifted prodigies learned of such speed, they would probably vomit three cups of blood.

No matter how monstrous a genius was, they would pale into insignificance before Li Rui.

Though he was already seventy.

During that time, Wang Zhao and Yang Yong came by several times as well.

Ever since Li Rui had left the Zhu Family, Master Zhu of the Zhu Family had seemingly changed completely. When Zhu Lie once threatened Wang Zhao for a horse loan, he spoke up and rebuked him.

With Zhu Family Head Zhu Ping stepping in, Wang Zhao's life became much easier.

Li Rui was finally able to set his mind at ease.

On this day.

Li Rui was practicing his blade arts at home as usual.

Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door.

When he opened it, he had thought it would be Wang Zhao or Yang Yong again. Instead, it was Wu Tu.

An uninvited guest!

Wu Tu still wore that hearty smile. "Old brother, you're still as sturdy as ever. You redeemed yourself without even telling me, making your little brother search high and low for you."

Li Rui said, "It was just a small matter. No need for Ba-Tou Wu to trouble himself over it."

A trace of surprise flashed through Wu Tu's eyes.

"Stronger again?!"

They had not met for barely a month, yet this old man before him felt much stronger than before. He even made Wu Tu feel wary.

"Does Ba-Tou Wu need something?"

Wu Tu chuckled. "The moment I heard old brother had redeemed himself, I immediately brought you some good news."

"Good news?"

"Has old brother ever heard of the Heaven and Earth Alliance?"

The Heaven and Earth Alliance!

Li Rui's pupils contracted slightly at those three words.

Seeing Li Rui react, Wu Tu continued, "In the Clear River martial world, there has always been a saying: one alliance, two gangs, three families. Some time ago, several bosses from the Dark Eight Gates joined the Heaven and Earth Alliance. I thought, how could such a good thing leave out old brother? That's why I came to tell you."

Of course Li Rui knew what Wu Tu meant by one alliance, two gangs, and three families.

They were the strongest forces across several nearby counties.

Even the county magistrate had to avoid them when he saw them.

The one alliance was the Heaven and Earth Alliance. The two gangs were the Blood Tiger Gang and the Broken Sabre Gang, while the three families were the Zhang, Wang and Zhao Families.

Yes, the Zhu Family was not among them. Compared with those three families, the Zhu Family simply did not qualify.

The very word "alliance" in Heaven and Earth Alliance already revealed its nature.

It was said that three martial arts masters had founded it together. Then, by recruiting skilled figures from the martial world across several counties south of Anning Prefecture, it had rapidly expanded and was now riding a powerful tide. Previously, Li Rui had only heard of it in neighboring counties.

He had not expected the Heaven and Earth Alliance to reach into Clear River so quickly.

Since they were recruiting,

where could they find more fierce, battle-loving martial artists than in martial academies, escort agencies, and the Dark Eight Gates?

And by coincidence, one of the three founders of the Heaven and Earth Alliance had come from the Dark Eight Gates. Thus, so long as one was willing to wash one's hands in a golden basin, the Heaven and Earth Alliance would accept them.

It was only natural for Wu Tu to join the Heaven and Earth Alliance.

Unlike the Dark Eight Gates, which could not stand in the light, the Heaven and Earth Alliance was a legitimate sect registered with the Imperial Court.

The Yu Kingdom had been founded on martial strength, that was true.

But its territory was simply too vast—tens of thousands of li of mountains and rivers. The Imperial Court alone could not possibly govern it all.

With no other choice,

local governments often relied on local forces to help maintain order.

Once someone like Wu Tu joined the Heaven and Earth Alliance, it was equivalent to washing himself clean. From then on, he could walk openly through the gates of the County Office without anyone bothering him.

At Wu Tu's words, Li Rui was somewhat tempted.

Originally, he had planned to take the Martial Examination and earn an official degree.

But the provincial examination came only once every three years. It had ended just last year, and he would have to wait another three years for the next one. Naturally, he could not spend those three years sitting atop a mountain and eating it away. Joining the Heaven and Earth Alliance was a fine path.

The Heaven and Earth Alliance had only just infiltrated Clear River and was precisely in need of people.

If he joined now, perhaps he could even secure a good position.

Moreover, not just anyone could join the Heaven and Earth Alliance. Either one had to have already gained some reputation locally, or one needed a recommendation.

Wu Tu belonged to the former.

As someone who had only just redeemed himself, Li Rui needed someone to recommend him if he wanted to enter the Heaven and Earth Alliance.

Li Rui had already made his decision. He clasped his fists and said,

"I can't have Brother Wu making three visits to my humble cottage. This old brother will respectfully accept your offer."

Hearing Li Rui agree,

Wu Tu was overjoyed.

Just as Li Rui had thought, the Heaven and Earth Alliance had only just arrived in Clear River and was desperately short of people.

Li Rui was an Entering Rank expert.

If Wu Tu brought Li Rui into the Heaven and Earth Alliance, not only would he earn a merit, he would also receive a reward. Otherwise, why would he be so enthusiastic?

"Rest assured, old brother. I'll definitely secure you a good position."

Wu Tu thumped his chest so hard it boomed like thunder.

The Qinghe Branch of the Heaven and Earth Alliance had only just been established. The other bosses of the Dark Eight Gates were all secretly exerting themselves, desperately stuffing people into the Heaven and Earth Alliance.

The principle that strength lay in numbers worked everywhere.

The more of their own people they had, the greater their say in the Heaven and Earth Alliance.

The Imperial Court's examinations spoke of a teacher's favor and bonds of shared years. The martial world was much the same.

Those he introduced were, at least halfway, his own people.

If his people could hold important posts, things would become far more convenient for him in the future.

Wu Tu had truly worked himself to the bone to find Li Rui an important position. That way, he could use it to vie for a rise in status as well.

Then he gave a sly chuckle. "This little brother practices the Eagle Claw Skill, so my eyesight is decent. I happened to notice that old brother has already Entered Rank. If I report this to the Heaven and Earth Alliance, you can at least become a steward. The salary alone is ten taels a month, while ordinary disciples get only one tael."

Li Rui raised an eyebrow.

Wu Tu actually possessed such an ability.

He pondered briefly, then nodded. "Then I'll have to trouble Brother Wu."

He had already reached mid-training in Stone Skin, and with the White Ape Mantle Blade Art in hand, his strength far surpassed that of ordinary Entering Rank martial artists. Even if exposed, he could protect himself. Besides, the gap between a steward and an ordinary disciple was simply too great.

He would certainly encounter sharp-eyed martial artists like Wu Tu again in the future. He could not hide it for long.

He might as well use this opportunity to reveal forty percent of his strength.