After the family split up, I achieved martial arts sainthood.

When Gu Xin returned to Tianxiazhen Restaurant, he was no longer as reserved as he had been the first time.

With over a hundred taels of silver still in his hands, Gu Xin remained calm and composed.

He helped Yang Wei to a seat in the lobby, took the menu from the waiter, and ordered without any hesitation.

His carefree attitude was completely different from his previous embarrassment.

Taking the drinks and glasses from the waiter, Gu Xin personally poured wine for Yang Wei and told his master to make himself at home.

Of course, Gu Xin didn't forget to drink with his master to express his gratitude for his protection and care.

In an instant, the scene became harmonious, and the bond between the master and apprentice grew stronger without them even realizing it.

"By the way, Master, do you know any Qi Creation Realm experts in Qingyuan County?"

After a few rounds of drinks, Gu Xin suddenly remembered that effeminate guy and couldn't help but ask Yang Wei about him.

"We've never met, but I've heard of him."

Yang Wei didn't hide anything. He took a sip of wine and then introduced, "Qingyuan County is located in the southwest of Shengguo. It is a remote area with barren land, so the martial spirit is not strong there."

"Therefore, the number of martial arts practitioners in Qingyuan County is not large. In addition, the powerful clans and local magnates here deliberately suppress them, resulting in a small number of Qi Creation Realm experts."

Infertile land means insufficient grain production, making it difficult for people to have enough to eat and wear.

If people can't even get enough to eat, naturally few will be willing to commit to learning martial arts.

Gu Xin nodded frequently, familiar with Yang Wei's introduction, but even more so.

Given limited resources, powerful clans and wealthy families will certainly exercise strict control and will not allow others to compete for them.

Therefore, even if someone with high martial arts talent emerges, they will be quickly suppressed by powerful clans and gentry.

Even worse, they might just delete it entirely.

The fact that the four major clans, together with the Zhou Clan Martial Arts School, came to challenge the school makes it easy to see the domineering nature of these powerful clans.

"Currently, there are only about ten people in the Qi Creation Realm in Qingyuan County. The four major clans of Hu, Qian, Sun, and Tao each have two. Besides them, there is Zhou Feng, the head of the Zhou Family Martial Arts School, and Ma Biao, the head of the Biao Ma Martial Arts School."

As Yang Wei drank, he recounted: "And Tang Yuan, the leader of the Qinglin Gang, and Chen Tong, the county magistrate."

Gu Xin counted on his fingers, twelve?

"Is that all?"

That's all.

Yang Wei shook his head; that was all he knew.

"Master hasn't calculated it yet."

"Yes, I'll count as one too."

"That makes thirteen."

Gu Xin pondered for a moment, then asked, "So, how old are these Qi Creation Realm cultivators?"

"In Qingyuan County, advancing to the Qi Creation Realm is no easy feat. So far, all those who have reached the Qi Creation Realm are over forty years old."

Yang Wei replied while pouring the wine.

Are they all over forty?

really!

That effeminate guy isn't a local.

Gu Xin breathed a sigh of relief, feeling the pressure in his heart ease slightly.

He had previously suspected that the person came from one of the four major clans, and that he was destined to be on the opposite side of the four major clans.

If you were facing a young Qi Creation Realm expert, the pressure would undoubtedly be immense.

Entering the Qi Creation Realm in one's early twenties means there is still a lot of room for improvement in the future.

Without considering the impact of premature death or lack of resources, such a person would certainly be qualified to enter the Cleansing Realm.

Even those in the Heart Tribulation Realm might not be without a chance.

With his own weak foundation, the thought of provoking such an enemy filled Gu Xin with immense pressure.

Fortunately, I overestimated the four major clans.

Even the powerful clans and wealthy families of Qingyuan County could not cultivate such a promising individual.

However, why would such a young and promising person come to such a remote town as Qingyuan County?

After feeling relieved, Gu Xin couldn't help but become curious again.

Forget it, I won't ask! I won't get involved!

But as soon as curiosity arose, Gu Xin quickly shook his head, banishing the thought.

He had heard the saying that curiosity killed the cat.

"By the way, Master, since the powerful clans and wealthy families are so oppressive, how did Tang Yuan, the leader of the Qinglin Gang, and Zhou Feng, the head of the Zhou Family Martial Arts School, manage to stand up?"

Gu Xin shook off his distracting thoughts and continued to ask his master for guidance.

All he knew was that County Lieutenant Chen Tong was a martial arts scholar who had been transferred from another region.

He didn't know much about Tang Yuan, the leader of the Qinglin Gang.

Zhou Feng, the owner of the Zhou Family Martial Arts School, is a native of the area.

Faced with Gu Xin's questioning, Yang Wei drank a glass of wine and then smiled faintly: "Tang Yuan is no big deal. He's just a dog kept by the four major clans, who bites people specifically because of them."

"Zhou Feng is no ordinary person. In his early years, he was chosen by a martial arts sect and taken as a disciple. Only after mastering the martial arts did he return to Qingyuan County to participate in the martial arts imperial examination."

"While the four major clans certainly wanted to suppress him, they also considered the reputation of the martial arts sects and dared not go too far. Zhou Feng had good talent and was also ambitious enough, so he managed to break through."

I see……

Gu Xin suddenly realized that the reason why the wealthy gentry of the four major clans were so polite to Zhou Feng was probably related to Zhou Feng's background.

"As for Ma Biao, he used to be the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) of Hengyuan镖局 (escort agency), traveling all over the country with an unpredictable whereabouts. In addition, the镖局 itself had some foundation, so the four major clans did not dare to go too far in suppressing him, which is why they gave him the opportunity."

At this point, Yang Wei put down his wine glass, looked at Gu Xin, and warned, "So, you see? In this world, if you want to get ahead, besides your own efforts, you also need connections."

Gu Xinwen's silence was not unexpected.

This phenomenon is not unique to this world.

"Eat your food, or it'll get cold."

After giving the warning, Yang Wei didn't say anything more and urged Gu Xin to start eating.

While the master and apprentice were drinking and exchanging toasts, the effeminate fellow also signed a contract with the broker.

However, this contract is not a house sale contract, but a lease.

The transaction was completed, and the contract was tucked into his pocket. Then, the man's clear voice rang out: "Were those two people also here to rent a room?"

As he spoke, the man took out a silver ingot and casually tossed it in his hand.

"Oh, young master, please wait a moment, let me go and inquire for you."

Upon seeing this, the broker's eyes lit up. He quickly reassured the man and ran off to inquire about the situation.

A short while later, he returned and, with a fawning smile, said to the man, "Young master, I've found out. The two people you asked about are here to buy a house. The address is 128 Fuwang Street."

"The buyer is a young gentleman named Gu Xin, a local from Qingyuan County, and he is eighteen years old."

"Tsk tsk tsk, at such a young age, to be able to buy a house on his own, this young master Gu must be quite an extraordinary person."

Gu Xin?

128 Fuwang Street?

He does have some skill...

The man raised an eyebrow, then smiled and tossed the silver ingot in his hand to the broker.

Thank you!

"Young master, you're too kind. If there's anything else you'd like to know, please feel free to ask. I'll answer to the best of my knowledge."

The broker accepted the silver ingot, his face beaming with delight as he showered the ingot with compliments.

"I'll come back to you if I need anything later."

The man smiled, said nothing more, picked up his sword, and turned to leave.

"Please take your time, young master. You are welcome to visit often!"

The broker respectfully saw him out the door.