The Heavenly Court is gone, I don't want to be a True Lord.

Zhang Ming and his group were surrounded by a large crowd, with compliments pouring in.

After finishing his training, Zuo Qi saw Zhang Chunfang's back and, after thinking for a moment, chased after her.

"Aunt Zhang, please wait."

At a corner of a corridor, Zhang Chunfang heard a sound and stopped in her tracks.

"What's up?"

"May I ask Aunt Zhang, you previously said that once we broke through to the second level of cultivation, you would grant us brothers our freedom. Is that promise still valid?"

Zhang Chunfang was taken aback at first, then realized what Zuo Qi had said, and her eyes widened immediately.

"You said you've broken through to the second level of training?"

Zuo Qi remained calm. "I managed to break through last night by sheer luck."

Zhang Chunfang's breathing quickened as she looked Zuo Qi up and down, somewhat incredulous.

"What I say will definitely be effective, but you should go back first today, and I'll come find you tomorrow."

Zuo Qi frowned.

Zuo Qi has a somewhat fierce appearance. Zhang Chunfang used to be unafraid of him, but perhaps because she knew that Zuo Qi had made a breakthrough, she felt a little nervous.

There's no other reason than starting from scratch and breaking through to the second level in just one and a half months. This is no ordinary genius.

The Lin family's main branch has seven branches, each with a talented individual supported by others, but none have ever been heard of with the aptitude of Zuo Qi.

This is no small matter and must be reported to Miss.

"I will definitely change your household registration. You are such a genius, and you were discovered by my Lin family. I plan to inform Miss about this matter, and I will definitely give you satisfactory support."

Zuo Qi breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhang Chunfang didn't care about anything else and turned to walk deeper into the manor. Fortunately, her young lady had time to come today.

……

"Did Zuo Qi break through?"

Lin Yuchan's usually cool expression showed surprise. "Are you sure?"

"I've had quite a bit of contact with Zuo Qi these past few days, and he's not one to boast."

Zhang Chunfang said this.

Lin Yuchan stood there, silent.

"What do you think about betrothing Yujun to him?"

Zhang Chunfang was stunned for a moment, opened her mouth, but remained silent for a long time.

The biggest concern when funding geniuses is not their early death, but that they might turn their backs on you after achieving success.

This requires the host family to continuously strengthen the connection between the two, and marriage is always the best way.

Especially after marriage, when children are born, it becomes the most primal and stable alliance, starting from blood ties.

Lin Yujun is the youngest of the Yu generation in the sixth branch. She is only sixteen years old this year. Due to her congenital physical condition, she cannot practice martial arts, but because of her outstanding appearance, she is quite favored in the Lin family.

"I think with Miss Yujun's looks, he will definitely agree."

Zhang Chunfang said this.

"Bring him over here."

……

Zuo Qi was somewhat surprised when he first saw Lin Yuchan's true appearance.

What impressed him most was Lin Yuchan's appearance and skin, which were crystal clear and delicate, with a pale complexion unlike anything seen in this era.

He didn't look at her much, keeping his head down. "Zuo Qi greets Miss."

"I heard from Afang that you've broken through to the second level of training?"

"A lucky breakthrough yesterday."

"There's no room for luck in martial arts training; once you've succeeded, you've succeeded."

Lin Yuchan speaks very directly.

"I understand that people like you are unwilling to be inferior to others. Don't worry about the household registration. I will transfer the three of you brothers to military status tomorrow."

Zuo Qi was overjoyed.

This young lady was truly generous. He had originally planned to become a free man first and then slowly earn money to redeem Ni Heng and the others.

His expression turned serious, and he clasped his hands in a fist salute. "I will never forget the kindness of the Lin family and Miss Lin. I will be ready to serve you without hesitation in the future."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yuchan's cold expression softened slightly, and a hint of gentleness appeared in her eyes.

What are your plans for the future?

"Demons are harmful, but they are also full of treasures. I have heard that people with ambition in the world all aim to hunt demons. I also want to follow suit and make a living this way."

After listening, Lin Yuchan smiled and said, "I'm interested in sponsoring you. What do you think?"

"I am unworthy of such praise. The care I have received during this period has been more than enough for me to give my life for."

"You have the ambition to hunt demons, and although I am just a woman, I admire you very much. So, I will sponsor you with a secret Xuanmen technique and a Xuanmen martial art, for a thousand taels of silver, and thirty taels of silver per month thereafter."

Zuo Qi suddenly looked up, his eyes slightly dazed. The amount of funding he received was... too much.

She gave so much.

What does a thousand taels of silver mean? According to the purchasing power of this world, one wen (a unit of currency) is roughly equivalent to one yuan in the previous life. One tael of silver is about 1,200 wen, which is equivalent to 1.2 million yuan in the previous life...

"The fundamental internal energy cultivation method is too precious. The Golden Ease Technique is the best I can offer, but I can give you all six levels of the technique."

Zuo Qi finally spoke, his voice strained, and he said softly.

"Does Miss have any pressing matters at the moment? I am willing to do my utmost to assist you."

Lin Yuchan chuckled.

Just as Zhang Chunfang said, Zuo Qi is loyal and righteous. With just this little bit of skill, he seems willing to risk his life for you.

"I'll tell you when you're stronger. But Zuo Qi, there's something I have to say. People often say that it's good to settle down and start a family. You have exceptional talent, but being all alone isn't a good thing, especially since your current household registration is in the martial arts field."

This is not unfounded; the level of supervision exerted by local governments on married martial artists and single martial artists is vastly different.

Having a family to support makes one more hesitant and less likely to cause trouble.

Zuo Qi realized that Lin Yuchan must have had a reason for saying so much.

really.

"I have a younger sister who is stunningly beautiful. There are many suitors in the city, but I want to keep her for you."

Lin Yuchan is quick-witted and outspoken.

Zuo Qi was momentarily at a loss for words.

"You don't have to agree now, and I don't like this way of getting married either. Feelings need to be cultivated. So, you want to do things for me, right? Next month, you can meet her, and that will count as doing something for me, how about it?"

"It's not a marriage agreement. If Yu Jun doesn't like you, I won't force my sister."

Having said all that, what could Zuo Qi say?

"I'll do as you say, Miss."

Lin Yuchan nodded in satisfaction; she had basically achieved her goal of meeting Zuo Qi today.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Zuo Qi should be one of our own in the future.

"Don't neglect the secret techniques of the Xuanmen sect that I'm giving you. Although they won't increase your qi and blood or your combat power, they can conceal your life force..."

Zuo Qi suddenly looked up.

How did Lin Yuchan know he had a life bone?

The other person just looked at him with a half-smile.

He neither admitted nor denied it, but simply nodded and thanked him again.

Before leaving, Lin Yuchan reminded her again, "When it comes to the winter patrol, you should also take your two brothers with you. Establish your merits and join the Six Doors. When you're out in the world, others will look at you with more respect. In addition, as the henchmen of the imperial court, the Six Doors have destroyed many sects and clans over the years, and they have a lot of high-grade martial arts fundamental techniques hidden in their possession."

……

Ni Heng and He Xiao were excited; they had never seen so much money before.

What does a thousand taels of silver mean? It can buy a large courtyard in Fushan City. They can drink a thousand bowls of ginseng soup that costs one tael of silver!

Zuo Qi looked at the two of them and said softly.

"I plan to buy a shop near Chunniang's pier and do some business, firstly to solve our livelihood, and secondly to cover up our frequent visits to the river."

Upon hearing this, He Xiao pondered for a moment and said, "We can open a fish market and collect fish at the dock. We have some connections in the Lin family manor, so we won't have to worry about selling our catch. We can also get some treasure fish along the way. If we manage to get one, we can make a fortune."

Ni Heng chimed in, "I'll buy a few dogs, and then I can train them to catch fish."

He was simple-minded and only felt excited about working with Zuo Qi and the others.

Moreover, he and Zuo Qi came from similar backgrounds and both valued their careers highly.

Buying a few dogs from the Lin family manor was a small matter, so Zhang Chunfang naturally gave face and symbolically gave five taels of silver, allowing Ni Heng to take away three Fushan Red Mastiffs.

"By the way, Brother Xiao, this time when I went to the dock, I was able to see Chunniang every day."

He Xiao merely glared at Ni Heng's teasing.

He then took out two more books containing a secret technique called "The End of a Thousand Mountains," which, once mastered, allows one to conceal their presence.

The martial art is called the "Ice Sea Fist Seal". After mastering it, the fist carries an icy aura. When it clashes with an opponent, it can cause the opponent's blood and qi to stagnate and their movements to slow down.

However, the conditions for cultivation are somewhat demanding.

It turns out that one needs to use the spiritual items dropped by ice-attribute demons after they die to temper the fist peak, and after starting to cultivate, one also needs to consume qi and blood to temper the fist and palm a second time.

Water ghost...

I don't know if it's an ice-attribute demon.