Gou Zai Wudao Shi Lian Shen

At noon, the students from the Foreign Languages ​​Department gathered in the dining hall.

The canteen was steaming hot, with freshly scooped rice from wooden buckets, and the aroma of meat broth mixed with the smell of sweat and voices, making the whole room noisy and crowded.

"Have you heard? Several groups of people came this morning, all of them here for Shi Hao."

"Of course I've heard! The security escort agency, the pharmacy, Juxianglou, and even the Huang family in the east of the city have all sent people here."

"Tsk tsk, he's only just broken through to the next level, and already so many people are targeting him. Shi Hao has really made something of himself."

"From now on, you should call him Senior Brother Shi. He's now the master's true disciple!"

Several outer disciples gathered together, bowls in hand, talking animatedly.

Lu Chen and Ma Sanjin, who were sitting not far away, could hear it clearly.

With his mouth full of rice, Ma Sanjin asked indistinctly, "What do they want with Shi Hao? Didn't the Han family already send him meat?"

Guo Sheng, who was standing next to him, heard this and moved closer with a smile.

"Delivering meat is delivering meat, and holding a temporary post is holding a temporary post."

"Shi Hao has now cultivated his Qi and blood, becoming a true martial artist. Many forces have taken a liking to him and invited him to take up positions here."

"From now on, I'll have plenty of money to make!"

Ma Sanjin's eyes lit up: "More silver?"

Guo Sheng said, "Ordinary martial artists at the initial stage of Blood Transmission can earn one or two taels of silver a month by registering their names at small shops or small families. They don't need to work every day; they just need to step in and lend a hand when trouble comes up, and that's considered fulfilling their responsibilities."

"However, Shi Hao is the master's true disciple. He broke through to the Blood Transformation Realm at the age of fifteen and became a martial artist. Hiring him will definitely cost a fortune!"

"Although the Han family offered two taels of silver a month before, that was when Shi Hao was not yet a martial artist. Now, the price has risen, and two taels of silver is not enough to win Shi Hao over."

Someone immediately chimed in: "I heard from the inner courtyard that Manager Han of Juxianglou has raised the monthly salary to five taels of silver and is still supplying fine meat."

"Five taels?" Ma Sanjin was taken aback.

"Five taels of silver a month is already a very high price for a martial artist at the initial stage of the Blood Transformation Realm!"

Guo Sheng continued, "However, Shi Hao is the master's true disciple, which greatly increases his value!"

Ma Sanjin, still confused, asked, "Why is that?"

Guo Sheng glanced at Ma Sanjin and patiently explained, "Being able to invite Shi Hao is equivalent to establishing a connection with the Master. If we encounter any trouble that Shi Hao can't solve in the future, we can ask him to help us!"

Ma Sanjin suddenly realized, "Oh, I see!"

Someone nearby said, "The Han family only runs one restaurant; they definitely can't compete with others. This time, people from the Wangyuan Escort Agency are all here, as are the Huang family from the east of the city."

Someone couldn't help but ask, "Are the Wangyuan Escort Agency and the Huang family very powerful?"

The senior disciple from the outer courtyard scoffed, "You guys from the mountains, how would you know the ways of the county town?"

"Wangyuan Escort Agency travels along trade routes year-round and employs many martial artists. They rely on their fists and knives to escort goods, protect cargo, and traverse mountain paths."

"The Huang family in the east of the city is even more prominent. They run the largest pharmacy in the county, and also have rice and meat shops. They have even produced a martial artist who has mastered the Blood Transformation Technique. They are quite influential in Chixia County."

"The Han family only owns one restaurant, how can they compare?"

One of them immediately chimed in, "That's right. I heard that Wangyuan Escort Agency is offering a pretty good price, ten taels of silver per month, plus a free Blood Qi Powder."

"Ten taels! That's a lot of money!"

Ma Sanjin was eating when he heard this number and almost choked on his rice.

He suddenly raised his head, his eyes wide open.

"And ten taels a month? That's one hundred and twenty taels a year?"

Lu Yuan was stunned and muttered, "My family has never seen so much silver in a year, let alone in a lifetime."

"Would Shi Hao choose Wangyuan Escort Agency?"

A boy from Shi Hao's village spoke up: "It's hard to say. The Han family was the first to place their bet, sending meat and money; they have a good relationship with us. Brother Shi Hao is mindful of past favors, so he probably won't easily abandon the Han family."

Guo Sheng shook his head and said, "You are all too young to understand."

"What Shi Hao really needs to consider is the owner's wishes."

Several people glanced at Guo Sheng.

Guo Sheng continued, "He's now a member of the Hidden Dragon Martial Arts Academy, and the academy master has promised him his true teachings. Which academy he chooses to work for isn't just his own decision."

"If we choose well, it can help build connections for the martial arts school."

"If a bad choice is made and the martial arts school's reputation is ruined, will the school owner be happy?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Chen gained a better understanding of the relationship between the martial arts school and the local power structure.

Guo Sheng's tone was tinged with envy and a hint of bitterness as he said, "A fifteen-year-old Blood Refining Realm cultivator."

"Maybe I'll actually pass the martial arts exam and become a martial arts scholar someday."

"In the hands of the museum owner, such a person is a cash cow."

"These forces want to win him over this time, but they won't do it without paying a hefty price."

In the afternoon, everyone received the news that Shi Hao had not considered past relationships and had chosen Juxianglou, but instead chose the Huang family in the east of the city.

The Huang family offered Shi Hao a monthly stipend of 10 taels of silver.

In addition, the Huang family also betrothed their youngest daughter to Shi Hao, and the engagement was finalized. They were just waiting for Shi Hao to pass the imperial examination at the county-level martial arts school before the wedding.

Lu Yuan's eyes widened in astonishment: "This little stone has truly soared to new heights!"

"Just a month ago, he was a poor boy like us, and now he's the son-in-law of a prominent family in the county!"

Lu Chen couldn't help but exclaim, "Practicing martial arts really can change one's fate! I must practice like crazy!"

Then, Lu Chen walked towards the training ground without looking back.

Several days have passed in the blink of an eye.

Lu Chen was practicing the Azure Dragon Tongbi Fist at the training ground.

With a movement of his feet, he generated power from his waist and hips, transmitting force along his spine to his shoulders and arms, and then swinging his arms out in a long arc.

The first move, Azure Dragon Probing the Sea, involves the arm slashing down like a long whip; the next move, Dragon Tail Sweeping, involves the arms sweeping out horizontally with the rotation of the waist and hips, the force of the wind sweeping by is fierce and domineering.

Then, following the Azure Dragon Shakes Scales technique, he suddenly jerked his wrist, delivering a short, sharp burst of force, and slammed it into the wooden stake with a loud crack.

The wooden stake immediately began to shake violently.

After finishing the routine, Lu Chen withdrew his fists, his chest heaving, and a layer of fine sweat appeared on his forehead.

He glanced at the transparent light screen that had appeared in front of him.

[Azure Dragon Tongbei Fist: Beginner]

[Progress: 148/300]

"The sparring with Senior Brother Chen Chong these past few days has greatly accelerated my progress in the Azure Dragon Tongbei Fist. In another half month, I should be able to break through to the minor completion stage!"

Lu Chen thought to himself, a satisfied look appearing on his face.

Even some martial artists at the initial stage of Blood Refining might not master a fist technique at the minor completion level, while Lu Chen might be able to master the Azure Dragon Tongbei Fist to the minor completion level before becoming a martial artist.

Once the body's vital energy and blood are generated, the power of the fist technique will surely increase to a higher level.

At that moment, Lu Yuan rushed over.

"Brother Lu Chen, something terrible has happened!"

"Uncle Lu Shan is in trouble!"

Lu Chen's eyes narrowed, his expression turning solemn: "What did you say?"

"What happened to my dad?"

Lu Yuan, breathless from running, stood in front of Lu Chen, catching his breath before replying, "It's the patrol team!"

"The patrol team is here again to collect patrol fees!"

"It hasn't even been a month yet, why are they here again?" Lu Chen asked in detail.

Lu Yuandao said, "They said the Black Wind Stronghold bandits came down the mountain to rob grain. They took action and drove the bandits away, but one of their brothers was injured and needed money for treatment."

Lu Chen, of course, didn't believe it; he thought it was just a pretext used by the patrol team to extort money from him.

"What happened to my dad?" Lu Chen pressed for the key question.

"Uncle Lu Shan can't come up with the money and was injured by the patrol team. You should go back and check on him quickly," Lu Yuan said anxiously.

Upon hearing this, Lu Chen flew into a rage.

"Damn it!"