The Martial Saint, starting with daily intelligence.

Li's Pawnshop.

"You got the information on the Extraordinary Club so quickly?"

Li Weimin didn't even look up, brewing tea and reading the newspaper, looking quite content.

"How is that possible?"

"We look down on foreigners, but they discriminate against us in the same way. Getting intelligence on them is much more difficult than it is at the Zhenyuan Martial Arts School."

Zhong Ming looked troubled and directly complained about how difficult it had been to collect information about the Extraordinary Club during this period.

"Stationmaster, you don't know, the concession is not like other places, it is extremely hostile and wary of us Chu people."

"Let alone going to sensitive places to collect intelligence, you might be questioned and harassed by the police in the foreign concession even if you are just walking down the street."

"You'll get used to it. It's not easy for foreigners to gather intelligence, and the organization doesn't necessarily require you to achieve anything. Just let things take their course."

Station manager Li Weimin comforted him.

Zhong Ming's complaints to Li Weimin were nothing more than a typical office worker deliberately complaining to his superiors about how difficult his work was and how hard he had been working lately.

In his previous life, Zhong Ming had suffered from this kind of loss, having done a lot of hard and tiring work for the company.

Instead of seeing your hard work, your superiors relentlessly suppress and exploit you.

If you are always very capable, you will always have endless work to do.

In this life, Zhong Ming has learned his lesson and completely lets himself go.

Tasks assigned from above should be postponed or delayed as much as possible.

Even for something very easy, they would exaggerate how much hard work they put in to accomplish it.

Of course, they may push it away or delay it.

You can be lazy, but you can't be truly incompetent. Otherwise, with Li Weimin's shrewdness, he would have marginalized Zhong Ming long ago and used him as cannon fodder.

Make daily intelligence reports neat and organized, using tables so that everything is clear at a glance.

Occasionally, they would release a few pieces of valuable intelligence.

That's why Li Weimin decided to take Zhong Ming into his inner circle, and he turned a blind eye to Zhong Ming's daily slacking off.

For Li Weimin, Zhong Ming respected him enough, did a great job with the tasks he was given, and occasionally brought him some good intelligence.

How can we not cherish such talent?

Everyone here works for Tingfeng Tower, how much money do we earn in a month?

  

Why bother?

As long as Zhong Ming can consistently provide useful intelligence, Li Weimin doesn't care what Zhong Ming does; he only cares about the results.

The process doesn't matter!

Li Weimin was well aware of Zhong Ming's personality. Every time he gave a report, he would first complain about his hardships, letting people know how difficult things were for him.

Then they will compile recent intelligence or gather new and useful information.

"This is the intelligence I've gathered at the Steelbone Club over the past few days."

Li Weimin simply nodded at this kind of routine intelligence gathering, showing no interest in it.

This kind of intelligence may never be used, but it is absolutely essential; you never know when it might come in handy.

"There's another piece of information, but I'm not sure about it either."

Upon hearing that Zhong Ming had more intelligence, Li Weimin immediately sat up straight.

Zhong Ming's intelligence, which was always inaccurate, was terrifyingly accurate every time, and it often contained a certain value.

"explain."

"The day before yesterday, I overheard a few villagers chatting at a food stall. One of them had gone hunting and gathering herbs at the foot of Yunshan Mountain but accidentally wandered into the depths of the mountain."

"Of course, what he meant by the depths of Yunshan was actually just the outer perimeter of Yunshan."

"Generally, only martial artists or extraordinary individuals seek out opportunities."

Zhong Ming continued.

"After the mountain dweller stumbled upon the place, he smelled a fragrant aroma. Following the scent, he discovered a plant he had never seen before, which emitted a faint glow."

"Just as the mountain people were about to get close, they found a giant tiger several meters tall lying next to them, and they thought it was a boulder."

Zhong Ming explained, "I thought this intelligence might be of some value, so I bought it for twenty copper coins."

"According to the mountain people, he was so frightened that he collapsed on the spot. After he recovered, he ran away. The giant tiger had five or six black stripes on its body, and it was emitting wisps of black mist."

"Later, I spent another hundred copper coins to have the mountain people roughly draw out the route."

"It's a bit hasty."

Zhong Ming handed a very simple sketch to Li Weimin.

Li Weimin frowned as he looked at the sketch above; it was too simple and sloppy.

The map only shows simple reference points, without indicating the exact distances. It only provides a rough estimate, and it would take at least several days or even more than ten days to find the object based on this sketch.

"Couldn't you have him draw a more detailed map?"

Li Weimin asked with a frown.

"The other party couldn't even read many words, and he was almost scared out of his wits by the giant tiger that day. Luckily, the giant tiger was asleep, otherwise he would have died long ago."

Zhong Ming explained helplessly.

Li Weimin sighed and had no choice but to give up.

"The giant tiger and the glowing plant are probably a strange beast guarding a spiritual herb or something."

"I will report this matter. If the situation is true, you will definitely be rewarded with a great achievement."

"By the way, did that giant tiger and the plant have any other distinguishing features?"

Zhong Ming shook his head.

"Given the circumstances, how much could the mountain people possibly remember?"

"I remember it was a glowing plant with a faint, pleasant fragrance."

"The giant tiger was like a boulder. He said it was several zhang tall, but he couldn't say exactly how tall it was. Moreover, he was terrified, so he might have exaggerated."

"The giant tiger also had five or six black stripes on its body, with what looked like black smoke rising from them."

"I questioned them repeatedly, but I could only get these details out of them."

Li Weimin asked again.

"What's the name of that mountain dweller? Is it still possible to find him?"

Zhong Ming replied, "I don't know his specific name, but he says he's 'Zhao Lao Er' and lives in a small village at the foot of Yunshan Mountain. The whole village only has about a dozen households."

"With a lifestyle of both farming and hunting, finding one shouldn't be difficult."

"It may take some time."

"Forget it, let the higher-ups worry about these things."

"Yunshan is a very strange place, I don't want to go there. Maybe that giant tiger beast is stronger than me."

Li Weimin said calmly.

After Zhong Ming left, Li Weimin went to the pawnshop in the outer courtyard, picked up the phone, and dialed a number.

"Help me take over the Liu family mansion."

After the call is connected.

Li Weimin said solicitously, "Are you Patriarch Liu? This is Li's Pawnshop. The item you asked me to inquire about some time ago has been found."

"When are you free? I'll deliver it to you personally."

"I'm free right now."

"Oh, okay, okay, I'll send it to you right away."

After hanging up the phone, Li Weimin regained his previous expression, gave some instructions to the shopkeeper and servant, and then, carrying the bag, hailed a rickshaw and headed straight for the Liu family mansion.

This world also has telephones and radios, and its overall technological level is similar to that of the previous world during World War I.

If it's something that's not very important, you can explain it over the phone.

But some important things can never be said over the phone.

Most of the telephone lines in the city were being monitored by the government, and you never knew when you were exchanging intelligence.

Therefore, important information is generally presented in person.

It's both safe and easy to explain.

Telephones were mainly used in major cities and were only suitable for short-distance real-time calls.

Radio, on the other hand, is the primary means of communication for all major powers.

Telephones require laying lines, which is extremely costly and makes them difficult to popularize in small towns or rural areas.

Radio stations are different; as long as there's a signal, they can transmit information over hundreds of miles.

Zhong Ming's current residence is equipped with a radio.

As a "quasi-ace intelligence agent" of Tingfenglou, she has the authority to transmit intelligence to the headquarters of Ditingtang at any time.

In fact, Zhong Ming could have easily transmitted the intelligence via radio.

However, reporting to a higher-level superior in the workplace is always a big deal.

Zhong Ming's cooperation with Li Weimin was relatively pleasant, without any major conflicts, and Li Weimin was quite considerate of him.

Li Weimin was simply transferred, not killed.

We might even have to rely on each other, so why let the relationship between us become so strained?

Another reason is equal rights and equal responsibilities!

Intelligence sent directly to headquarters via radio allows them to reap all the benefits, but they also bear full responsibility if problems arise!

Through normal reporting, it's true that Li Weimin took the lion's share of the profits, but the other party also bore the majority of the responsibility.

···

"Brother, who is that person? He looks familiar."

"The head of one of my intelligence stations will be transferred to your Fengyutang in about a month."

Liu Mu responded calmly.

"Oh, it's him."

"It's that Iron Fist Club from last time~"

"Silence!"

Liu Mu interrupted him directly.

"Brother, it's just the two of us here, is it really necessary to be so careful?"

Liu Yuxiu frowned slightly, somewhat dissatisfied.

"Better safe than sorry. Foreigners are not to be trifled with. If they find out that we were the ones who did this, they will definitely retaliate after the war in the Western Continent ends."

"Moreover, Miss has repeatedly forbidden us from mentioning this matter again, so we should obey her orders."

"Yes, elder brother is right."

Liu Yu sighed inwardly, but still chose to go along with her elder brother.

Liu Mu nodded, stroking his two tufts of goatee.

"By the way, what information did that station chief have? He even made a special trip."

Liu Yu didn't want to listen to her older brother Liu Mu's lecture anymore, so she took the initiative to change the subject.

"He'll be your direct subordinate from now on. Don't use that 'that' or 'that' kind of thing, it doesn't sound nice."

"The other party has a name and surname. His surname is Li, his given name is Weimin, and his name is Li Weimin."

Seeing that her elder brother Liu Mu was about to lecture her again, Liu Yu quickly said something.

"I see, brother. He also has an uncle who is a steward at the Listening Hall, right?"

"I know."

Liu Mu sighed inwardly as well.

There was nothing that could be done about his youngest sister, who had the highest aptitude for martial arts.

I've said it countless times: don't be hasty.

But she only outwardly complied; she never changed her ways and continued to do things her own way.

"An unverified intelligence report involves a spiritual herb and a strange beast, which is likely a Blood-Striped Tiger at the fifth or sixth level of the Extraordinary Realm."

"I'm planning to send a deacon at the late stage of Qi Refining to investigate."

"Forget about finding a butler, I'm free anyway, let me go."

Liu Yu didn't care whether her elder brother Liu Mutong agreed or not, and directly took the intelligence in her hand.

"Sigh~"

"Fine, go if you want. It'll save me some peace and quiet."

"The destination is the outer edge of Yunshan Mountain. Remember, you can only explore the outer edge of Yunshan Mountain. You absolutely cannot go deep into Yunshan Mountain, there..."

Just as he was about to give some instructions, Liu Mu was interrupted by his younger sister, Liu Yu, before he could finish speaking.

"I know, big brother. I just think there's no need to be so tense like you are sometimes. It's not like I'm really stupid."

"It's no secret in Tianjin and even the entire Jizhou region that there are powerful demons deep in the mountains. How could I possibly provoke something even more terrifying than a Grandmaster?"

Liu Yu looked at Liu Mu with a helpless expression.

Liu Mu was also feeling frustrated, and in the end, he could only say: Be careful on the road and come back soon!

···

Several days later, on the outskirts of Yunshan.

Liu Yu was dressed in a smart outfit, looking neat and capable.

Even when surrounded by forests and mountains, they remain clean and tidy.

As a master of spirit cultivation, as long as she doesn't venture deep into the core area of ​​Yunshan, her strength is enough to dominate the entire outer perimeter of Yunshan.

However, the days of searching and running around still left a trace of fatigue and annoyance on her face.

"I wonder which bastard drew this piece of crap map."

"If I find out who it was, I'll spank your ass!"

As Liu Yu searched for directions, she cursed under her breath.

Suddenly, a figure rushed over. Liu Yu didn't even lift her eyelids, but instead thrust her red-tasseled spear behind her.

Before a strange beast could even get close, its body was pierced by the true energy transmitted through the gun, and after a few whimpers, it was completely lifeless.

"A mere second-tier beast dares to launch a sneak attack."

"What a brainless beast."

Liu Yu was furious and showed no mercy in her attack; the beast had truly met its match.

After several more hours of searching, Liu Yu's eyes lit up.

"here it is?"

"It's nearby!"

According to intelligence, the area where the elixir is located is surrounded by a lot of tiger tail grass, and there is also a very conspicuous boulder shaped like a stone bench.

Liu Yu roused herself and carefully searched the vicinity.

Before long, they found the sixth-order blood-striped tiger, which was two zhang tall and nearly five zhang long from head to tail.

Liu Yu looked so small standing in front of the Blood-Striped Tiger.

However, it was the giant tiger that was now growling and trembling.

"Cultivation is not easy. You are already a sixth-tier beast, and your intelligence is no different from that of an ordinary person. Heaven has the virtue of cherishing life, and I am not a bloodthirsty person."

"There's a medicinal herb nearby. Take me there, and I'll spare your life."

Liu Yu said softly.

A sixth-tier beast may not be able to speak human language, but it can certainly understand human speech.

Liu Yu could clearly see the struggle and shock in the Blood-Striped Tiger's eyes.

"What are you still thinking about?"

"You beast, do you really want to die that badly?!"

Startled by Liu Yu's roar, the Blood-Striped Tiger trembled and, without further hesitation, let out a low growl of submission.

He then led Liu Yu towards the direction of the spiritual herbs.

Arrived at the place where the medicinal herbs grow.

A look of joy appeared in Liu Yu's eyes.

"Spiritual ginseng, or rather, six-leaf ginseng."

"What a pity. If it were seven leaves, it would be perfect. Seven-leaf ginseng is a hundred-year-old ginseng. With the right ritual, it would definitely be able to break through to the mid-stage of the Refinement of Spirit Realm."

"With the help of a ritual, it is possible for the Six-Leaf Spirit Ginseng to break through, but it still lacks some sensitivity."

"Well, it's already incredibly lucky to have achieved this much."

Just as Liu Yu approached the ginseng to pick it, her eyes suddenly narrowed.

"Is this a spore?"

"The six-leaf ginseng has sprouted buds, doesn't that mean it's about to transform into a seven-leaf, hundred-year-old ginseng!"