A Long River Myth

A few days later.

Outside the vermilion gate of the patrol office.

A plain-covered carriage slowly pulled up; this was Jiang Tao's ride.

Horses were already rare in the outer city, let alone carriages.

Before long, Jiang Tao, dressed in a fine cloth robe and impeccably groomed, emerged.

Behind him followed Li Hong, who was also dressed in plain clothes.

In the past few days, the entire background of Li Hong has been thoroughly investigated.

The results are obvious.

With the strong capabilities of the Inspection Division.

It can be said that everything he experienced in the year since he started practicing martial arts was re-examined.

Even the slightest clues from the Huang Lin gang case were re-examined.

However, given Li Hong's current position in the Patrol and Inspection Division, it's more than just suspicion.

The final conclusion can only be that Li Hong has a clean background and is indeed from a respectable family.

Inside the spacious carriage, Jiang Tao smiled calmly:

"You haven't been to the inner city yet, have you?"

Li Hong, who was sitting cross-legged beside him, nodded and chuckled in a deep voice: "Reporting to the Chief Envoy, not yet."

Not to mention the inner city, even this carriage was a first for him, like a young woman riding in a sedan chair.

These days, while staying at the patrol office, Li Hong naturally knew the purpose of Jiang Tao taking him to the inner city.

It means that my talent has been recognized.

Originally, he only wanted to ask for a spot in the autumn exam, but he didn't expect to go to such lengths.

However, it's all good. During this time, Li Hong considered himself to have reached the middle level in the outer city, and he had seen and heard a lot.

This gradually made him realize that if he stayed in the outer city, he would inevitably miss out on higher-level resources and training.

It should be noted that his goal has always been the martial arts exam.

Only by participating in the martial arts examination can one truly achieve a complete leap in both martial arts and social status.

Across from him, Jiang Tao wore a relieved smile.

He really liked Li Hong's personality and his calm demeanor.

"When you're out and about, you don't need to call me General Manager... You know that dragons feed on heavenly thunder and earthly fire, but this little outer city only produces fodder."

He lifted the curtain and looked at the not-so-bustling street, and sighed with a touch of melancholy:

"With your future potential, neither my patrol division nor those outer city families... will be able to support you in the future."

These were Jiang Tao's heartfelt words.

Li Hong's martial arts talent is astonishing, and in his eyes, he is already considered to be someone of extraordinary ability.

In recent days, besides secretly conducting a thorough investigation into Li Hong's background,

Inside the patrol station, Jiang Tao personally tested Li Hong's martial arts skills.

It was quite unexpected; his physical condition was only of average to below-average.

However, his progress was exceptionally rapid after he started practicing martial arts.

Martial arts geniuses possess innate extraordinary bloodlines and superior physical constitutions, allowing them to achieve twice the results with half the effort in martial arts training. These are all categorized as physical gifts.

Someone like Li Hong must be a genius in the art of comprehension.

In Jiang Tao's judgment, Li Hong was already out of trouble in the martial arts exam; he would simply be able to advance through the ranks to become a first-class martial arts student.

The difficult part for Li Hong was this martial arts exam...

But what he was certain of was that the young man opposite him, in terms of talent alone, was definitely stronger than he had been back then.

If one can receive assistance and training from a powerful force within the inner city, there might be a slight chance of entering a top sect in the future.

Whether out of a love for talent or otherwise, since Yu Long was young, Jiang Tao naturally wanted to help him get started and give him a boost.

How far Li Hong can go in the future depends on his own destiny.

............

Muyang County, inner city.

We crossed the long bridge over the Jade Belt River.

Behind the towering city walls.

The streets are lined with vermilion-lacquered beams and pavilions with upturned eaves, standing side by side like a forest.

After the driver handed over the travel permit, Li Hong couldn't help but lift the curtain on his side of the carriage and stare intently.

It was indeed a city within a prefecture, and its prosperity far exceeded his expectations!

As the carriage moved forward, the streets deeper into the inner city teemed with people.

Horses were everywhere, and every window of the seven-story restaurant was lined with elegant and refined scholars.

On the street, there were young men in brocade robes and jade belts, swords at their sides, and elderly men with distinguished bearing, their robes embroidered with insignia...

Li Hong was overwhelmed by the scene unfolding before his eyes.

Almost all martial arts practitioners who can be perceived possess internal strength.

In the inner city, the ratio of ordinary people to martial artists is much higher than in the outer city.

"I've heard that the inner city of Muyang County has a population of nearly 700,000."

"With its well-developed water network, this place is naturally more prosperous than most county towns."

"If I could settle my family in the inner city... I could repay my grandfather and mother for all the hardships they endured for me!"

He couldn't help but think to himself.

"Young man, there's no need to be overly envious. With your talent, moving into the inner city won't be difficult for you in the future. It'll be within your grasp."

Across from him, Jiang Tao had a smile on his lips. He owned a house in the inner city and was used to it.

Looking at Li Hong's expression, I couldn't help but think of myself more than ten years ago.

Li Hong realized he had slightly lost his composure and quickly closed the curtain.

After the carriage had traveled for about half an incense stick's time, Jiang Tao smiled, knowing they were almost there, and revealed their destination:

"Young man, you come from a poor background. If you don't receive support and training from a powerful force in the inner city, even with your high talent and potential, you are destined not to go far in the martial arts exam."

"External strength and internal strength are only the first two thresholds on the path of martial arts. Only those martial artists who can break through the first level of the Innate Realm can be considered to have entered the inner sanctum, which is also the minimum requirement for participating in the martial arts examination."

Across from him, Li Hong sat upright and nodded.

"The Lei Clan Trading Company I'm taking you to is a rising force in the inner city. They have always been open to heroes and talents, regardless of their background, only looking at their strength and talent."

Jiang Tao paused for a moment, then continued:

"The third disciple of the Grand Steward Lei Long is a good friend of mine. He is planning ahead for you, in preparation for the future."

Li Hong nodded without saying anything, but based on Jiang Tao's words, the Lei Family Trading Company was exactly what he wanted.

He had long heard that the major martial arts families and government offices in the inner city had deep-rooted and profound influence.

The intricate web of interests between them has been intertwined for decades or even centuries; how could outsiders easily intrude?

Even if they do gain favor, being too deeply bound to a relationship will inevitably lead to the same fate as becoming a household slave.

In the outer city, both the Martial Arts Hall and the Patrol Office are government-appointed agencies with limited capabilities.

It is not an institution specifically established to cultivate true martial arts talents.

For example, the Martial Arts Hall was originally only for training reserve soldiers for the imperial court, and the Patrol and Inspection Office was just an office for maintaining the security of the outer city.

Therefore, cultivation resources cannot be supplied in sufficient quantities, and everything needs to be reviewed.

If one only wants to be like an ordinary martial artist, hoping to find a way to turn one's life around through the identity of a martial arts student, and only seeks an ordinary official position, then that's another story.

However, if one wants to compete in the martial arts examination, relying solely on the Martial Arts Academy and the Outer City Patrol Office is not enough.

There is no compulsory education here, and martial arts is not a profession that can be popularized.

He was just a commoner from the outer city, his family was in dire straits, and he didn't have a lot of money. How could he compete with the young masters from the inner city in the martial arts exam?

Lei Long brought him to this inner city trading company because he wanted to help him choose a place to live in the inner city in advance.

To acquire some high-quality resources as soon as possible and lay a solid foundation for one's martial arts journey.

And this business empire sounds like it must be rich.

..........

Before long, the carriage stopped in front of a building.

This wooden building has four floors and occupies a spacious area. The huge plaque has four large, gilded characters that read "Lei's Trading Company" in a vigorous and elegant style.

The area is bustling with carriages and people, and the mounting stones and hitching posts in front of the gate can accommodate more than a dozen horses at the same time.

Whether they were apprentices, guards, or shop assistants, they were all dressed in short, tight-fitting clothes with a large "雷" (thunder) character embroidered on the back of their shirts.

After getting off the carriage, Li Hong followed Jiang Tao into the lobby of the trading company.

Inside the lobby of the business.

Having made an appointment, Jiang Tao informed the station attendant, who then went to find the person.

Taking advantage of this break, Jiang Tao gave him some instructions:

"Li Hong, if there is an assessment later, you must do your best to show your talent. Although Lei's Trading Company is very wealthy and has a large territory, it is not a place to support idle people."

"Only when they see your potential will they receive a continuous stream of funding and training."

"Your Excellency, I understand!"

Li Hong clasped his hands in a deep fist salute to express his gratitude.

Without someone to act as a go-between, someone with his current strength probably wouldn't even be able to find a door to such a large business.

The advantage of being a middleman is that you have influence.

It is estimated that Jiang Tao has already told Lei Long's third disciple about his past in detail and obtained his approval before bringing him here.

In the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.

"Third Master!"

"Good morning, Third Master!"

Accompanied by greetings coming from afar in the lobby, a young man dressed in black, who looked much younger than Jiang Tao, strode in.

"General Jiang, you've taken time out of your busy schedule to come in person?"

He clasped his hands in a fist salute, then glanced at Li Hong: "This is the young man you mentioned, hmm... he certainly has a certain air about him."

Jiang Tao said with a forced smile, "Brother, I've stumbled upon a gem in the sand, but I know I'm powerless to guide or nurture it. I hope Brother Ye can take a look."

The young man in black, dressed in a close-fitting outfit, was Ye Qingsong, the third apprentice of Lei Long of the Lei Family Trading Company. He was known as Third Master within the company.

His eyes swept over Li Hong from head to toe, and he could tell from Li Hong’s posture that he was in good shape and his breathing was even.

Judging from his Xingyi martial arts alone, this young man's training is extremely advanced, indicating he must have some talent.

Ye Qingsong smiled slightly and said, "The person you recommended must be impeccable. Manager Chen, take this young man to register and record him in the business according to the treatment of a fifth-rank official."

After saying that, he started chatting and laughing with Jiang Tao.

Clearly, Jiang Tao still had some influence here, as he didn't assess Li Hong and directly gave him the treatment of a fifth-rank official.

The slightly overweight shopkeeper next to him agreed, and Li Hong then clasped his hands in a salute and followed him away.

The registration process was completed in just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

With Ye Qingsong's approval, it was as if he had connections, so things naturally went smoothly.

Manager Chen gave him a pass that allowed him to pass through the inner city, then explained the benefits and treatment of a fifth-rank official, and then let him leave.

"A fifth-rank official is considered the lowest rank within the business."

"Even so, I can receive fifty taels of silver every month, as well as some fixed martial arts support resources."

Li Hong was deeply moved as he accepted the silver notes and the spy.

Is this what the ambassador's face is all about?

As for the top-ranking officials in the business, they can even receive dividends from the Chamber of Commerce.

However, according to the shopkeeper, there are only a handful of first-rank retainers in the entire business.

According to the shopkeeper, the lowest-ranking retainers of the Lei Family Trading Company are all experts at the Innate Realm.

Those who can become fifth-rank retainers at the inner level are basically people with connections like him.

It should be noted that offerings are not free.

In this world, anything involving money is not so easy to get along with.

Lei's Trading Company trades far and wide, dealing in tea, silk, miscellaneous goods, and goods transported by boat, waterway, and land. The interests involved are vast, and the patrons within the trading company are there to settle disputes.

Given Li Hong's strength at the mid-stage of the Inner Strength realm, let him remain idle for now. Once he grows up, he will naturally have to pay back in the future.

Manager Chen then gave a few more instructions on the dates of the monthly guest gathering, and then let Li Hong leave with the inner city gate spy and fifty taels of silver.

Jiang Tao was still waiting for him in the lobby, and Li Hong followed him out of the trading company.

............

On the way back to the outer city.

Jiang Tao's face was beaming with joy, clearly overjoyed.

Although he and Ye Qingsong were good friends, he never expected to give him so much face today.

In the inner city, everyone makes their living through martial arts. Lei Long, the head of the Lei Clan Trading Company, is a well-known expert in Muyang County.

It is said that fifteen years ago, he was just one step away from winning the top prize in the martial arts exam. He was so badly injured that he decided to go into business.

Their strength goes without saying.

He only took on three disciples in his lifetime, and Ye Qingsong can be considered his last disciple.

Whether in the trading company or in the inner city, he was certainly a figure of importance.

Jiang Tao looked at Li Hong and smiled:

"You're lucky, kid. You've probably caught Ye Qingsong's eye."

"With this great help, your talent will be realized even faster in the future, and you will be able to become a patron of their business. You won't have to worry too much about martial arts resources in the future."

Li Hong bowed and said with a smile, "I will always remember your kindness in guiding me."

Jiang Tao waved his hand and sighed:

"Alright, I'm just appreciating your talent. Your future depends on your own efforts. Since you're preparing to participate in the autumn examination, you don't need to come to the patrol office every day without being summoned."

"Thank you, General!"

...........

In the days that followed, Li Hong's life became simpler, and he spent most of his time at home.

Jiang Tao has already given his word, so Liu Ming naturally wouldn't summon him unless it's something important.

He does visit the Martial Arts Hall when he has time, since the inner disciples in the West Courtyard have the responsibility to teach the outer disciples.

Moreover, Shen Hezhi treated him well, and Li Hong would occasionally take half a day to visit him.

As for training resources...

That day, he received fifty taels of silver from Lei's Trading Company, along with three Blood Nourishing Pills, plus one hundred taels of silver notes in his possession.

That's enough to support his cultivation this month.

Next month, with the monthly allowances from the patrol office and the Garais Trading Company added together, there will be nearly one hundred taels. Although there is still a shortfall, it will only be one-third short in total.

Li Hong knew that windfall gains depended on luck and also carried the risk of backfiring.

Now that he has two stable sources of income each month, he naturally doesn't need to resort to crooked ideas anymore.

At worst, we can go slower, just a little slower.

If you just focus on practicing martial arts, the days will pass quickly.

In the blink of an eye, there is only a month and a half left until the autumn exams.

That day, Li Hong was in his courtyard at home, and after finishing a set of boxing techniques, sweat kept pouring down his face.

【Iron Wall Skill - Elephant Mountain Strength (460/1000)】

[Mastery of Hundred Refinements of Stance Training (710/1000)]

【Mastery of the Hundred Refinements Fist Technique (505/1000)】

[Minor Mastery of the Shuofeng Spear Technique (186/1000)]

[Minor Mastery of the Finger Flicking Technique (325/1000)]

"Phew... At this rate, I might be able to break through to the Innate Realm before the Autumn Examination!"

Li Hong stopped what he was doing and rested for a short while.

Despite working tirelessly for days, my martial arts progress has continued to improve steadily and rapidly.

He has now passed the mid-stage of internal strength and is approaching the late stage.

I couldn't help but recall the information Shen Hezhi had given me a few days ago when I went to the martial arts hall about the future realm of martial arts.

The first three stages of martial arts are external strength, internal strength, and innate strength.

This final hurdle, the Innate Gate, is the most important hurdle concerning a martial artist's future prospects.

Strengthening the body internally and concentrating vital energy, it nourishes the true qi from birth.

In this martial arts examination, if one only wants to achieve a second-class martial arts degree, one needs a solid foundation and good luck.

It can be tried in the middle stage of internal strengthening.

However, to obtain the status of a first-class martial arts student, it is not something that can be coveted by those who are only at the mid-stage of the Inner Strength realm.

As for the innate level... it can be said to be the watershed for martial artists.

"But even so, I still only need a little over three months?"

Li Hong was starting to worry about his progress in martial arts. Would this kind of intense training have any side effects?

That's too fast...

Just as I was thinking... Yao's voice suddenly came.

"Hong'er, someone from our family is looking for you..."

Li Hong paused for a moment to catch his breath, then replied, "Here I am."

...........