Departure

On April 14, with only one day left before the County Examination, the three-day feast celebrating the Wu Family Martial Arts School's new disciples was drawing to a close. Wu Deshui gathered his disciples and apprentices on the Martial Arts Ground.

"The County Examination is merely the first step in the Martial Examination. There's nothing to be nervous about. Go and come straight back."

"Yes!"

The disciples answered in unison in the courtyard.

Six disciples from the Martial Arts School would be taking part in this County Examination.

Qian Tao and Lin Hao had both attained proficiency in bright force. Once they had their abilities verified and registered, they would receive the title of "Martial Talent." It was just a formality.

The other four were going to take the actual test for "Martial Student."

They were willing to make the journey because the Martial Arts School had already assessed their abilities and confirmed that all of them met the requirements. Unless someone suddenly came down with diarrhea or something, there should be no trouble.

Judging solely by the examination standards, Zhao Xiaowen and Nie Yi could have qualified as "Martial Students" too. Although women practicing martial arts was normal in this era, there were still many restrictions on their earning official titles.

Even Wu Xin held no such title!

"Qian Tao, you know the county town best, so you'll lead the group this time. Make sure you look after your junior brothers."

"Yes!"

Qian Tao usually joked around, but he was reasonably dependable when it mattered. His answer now was entirely serious.

The canal route from Dam Market to Wei'an County was only a little over a hundred li, a journey of half a day.

With a bright force expert who knew the route leading them, there was little to worry about.

"Good luck, Brother Lin."

Leaning on his crutch, Yi Feng winked at Lin Hao. Lin Hao knew he meant the investigation into supplies for their evacuation.

"Safety first."

Zhao Xiaowen brought over the bundle she had packed for Lin Hao. She also knew he would be staying there a few extra days.

She had wanted to go with him, but Lin Hao had told her she was too weak and should stay behind to train hard.

"Mm. You all need to work hard too. Don't skimp on the medicine."

Lin Hao stroked Zhao Xiaowen's smooth cheek, then patted the little head of Nie Yi, who stood silently beside her.

The little shorty should be close to completing her Whole-Body Force.

"Take good care of them."

Nie Yi nodded firmly at his words. Since taking up martial arts, she seemed to have finally discovered something she could shine at. Not only was she talented, but she also worked genuinely hard at her training.

Lin Hao felt he already pushed himself quite hard, yet even he did not seem able to endure as much hardship as she could.

Then the six of them left the Martial Arts School, each carrying a bundle.

Nearly half a month had passed since the Beggar Gang's destruction. The fiercest clashes between the gangs had ended, and new gangs had seized the opportunity to rise. Though the sounds of fighting could still occasionally be heard, the streets had become bustling again.

Hawkers calling out their wares, shops lining both sides, and pedestrians hurrying to and fro filled the streets with the bustle of everyday life.

"We've booked passage on a merchant ship in advance, so there's no need to worry. People taking the examination usually arrive in the county town early in case anything goes wrong along the way. Here in Dam Market, we usually go by boat."

Qian Tao had taken last year's County Examination and earned the title of "Martial Student." He casually explained a few things as they walked.

"It's only a hundred li. We could walk if we had to. Haven't the mountain bandits been dealt with?"

Lin Hao spoke offhandedly, then bought a bowl of lamb offal from a stall and began slurping it down.

The offal had a satisfying chew, and the chili oil topping packed plenty of flavor.

Martial arts training had given Lin Hao an enormous appetite, and he had no intention of letting himself go hungry.

"Some always slip through the net. Anyone who managed to escape would have to be formidable."

Qian Tao shook his head, though he did not seem particularly concerned. That was simply how the world worked. It was normal.

The aroma of the piping-hot, spicy lamb offal soup tempted Qian Tao too. He stopped to order a bowl, and the other four junior brothers joined them, leaving the stallholder beaming.

"Master Lin, I thought you had an impressive bearing right from the start. Now you're Master Wu's personal disciple-you've risen straight to the top! Heading to the County Examination, are you? May all of you pass with flying colors and see your names on the honors list."

The feast a few days earlier had already spread Lin Hao's name throughout Dam Market. This stallholder had met him before, and now he showered him with flattering words.

"Thanks for the good wishes."

Lin Hao did not particularly care what the man said. Everyone liked hearing something pleasant, after all.

And so, after passing through the northern market and the central district, they reached the southern market, the busiest and most densely populated area.

The whole southern market felt chaotic and noisy. Shouts filled their ears, while the air reeked of stale sweat mixed with excrement.

Vegetable leaves littered the ground, and filthy water flowed everywhere.

Numerous boats were moored along the sections of the docks extending out over the water. One dock stood entirely apart, its style utterly different. There was not even a road connecting it to the ordinary docks.

Exquisite flower boats and pleasure boats were moored there. Many of the girls aboard stood on deck holding fans, laughing and playing, seemingly commenting on the people ashore. Here and there, a rakish young gentleman lounged aboard a pleasure boat with a woman in each arm, as though they inhabited an entirely different world from the docks.

The cargo junks were sizeable too. Most were over thirty meters long, rising two or three stories above the water.

Many men were busy loading cargo at the docks, carrying everything by hand.

Much of the dock's wooden planking looked old, shuddering and creaking beneath the passing workers.

Most of the impatient shouts came from here. Like ants moving their nest, people sorted and carried goods to different warehouses or hauled various loads aboard the ships.

"The Fishermen's Gang's main territory is actually that stretch of water. Last time, they tried to push into the docks and get their hands on the Vegetable Gang's turf, which started the fighting. Both sides have settled down for now, though."

Qian Tao pointed toward the waters below the dam, then swung his hand back toward a cargo junk at the dock flying a flag bearing the character "Qin."

"That's the ship we're taking today. Senior Brother Qin's family runs it. It sails between Jinkou and Qingkou year-round-a real goose that lays golden eggs."

A trace of envy crossed Qian Tao's face as he spoke. His family could not be considered poor, since they had supported his martial arts training and its expenses until he achieved bright force. Compared with this, however, their resources amounted to nothing.

"Qian Tao!"

Just then, someone called to Qian Tao from behind. Turning around, they saw five people, also dressed for martial arts practice, stepping onto the dock. Their leader wore a short tunic that exposed his powerful muscles.

"Senior Brother Hou? Why are you leading the group today?"

Qian Tao seemed a little sur-

prised. He went over and embraced the newcomer firmly. The two appeared to be on good terms.

"My youngest junior brother is going this time too. I have to come along to look after him."

Hou Lecheng grinned, then turned his gaze toward Lin Hao.

"Junior Brother Lin, we meet again."

"Senior Brother Hou, Junior Brother Yang."

Lin Hao nodded to Hou Lecheng and the sixteen- or seventeen-year-old youth behind him.

He had met both of them at the disciple initiation feast. They were disciples of the Evergreen Martial Arts School.

Disciples from Martial Arts Schools within the same county often addressed one another as senior and junior brothers according to age. Many also ended up with the same examining master when they sought official titles.

They might compete among themselves at home, but once they left the county, they were all fellow townsmen.

Dam Market had only three martial arts schools. With Wu Deshui a transforming force master and its eldest senior brother at great achievement in hidden force, the Wu Family Martial Arts School was unquestionably the leader.

The Evergreen Martial Arts School and the Dingyuan Martial Arts School might occasionally vie with each other, but both maintained decent relations with the Wu Family Martial Arts School.

Hou Lecheng was the Evergreen Martial Arts School's second senior brother and had reached Bright Force Great Achievement.

The Evergreen Martial Arts School's eldest senior brother had suffered a mishap during organ tempering at the hidden force stage, leaving him with a lingering ailment. As a result, Hou Lecheng handled most of the school's affairs.

Although Yang Xing looked unremarkable, he was a prodigy the Evergreen Martial Arts School had discovered the previous year. He had attained bright force in one month and had now entered hidden force. Barring any mishaps, reaching great achievement in hidden force was all but assured, and even transforming force was within reach.

With enough hard work, he might even have a chance to contend for the title of Martial Presented Scholar before thirty.

Yes, without a sufficiently strong foundation of Organ Tempering Secret Arts, even someone with that talent could only be said to have a chance at transforming force!

Take their eldest senior brother, Liu Tong. Even with the school's accumulated knowledge and the help of an experienced transforming force master, he had spent ten years slowly grinding away at hidden force.

Just as most farmers' sons would spend their entire lives unable to reach bright force, this disparity in accumulated resources and knowledge was another vast gulf.

If anything went wrong during organ tempering, it could even cause a decline in strength, irreversible internal injuries, or death...