Daily News: You promised yourself to be a fisherman, but you've become a martial arts god?

"To take a temporary post at Zhenwei Escort Agency?"

Li Nian's eyes showed hesitation.

"Yes."

Xia Qingwei nodded.

"Your third and fourth senior brothers and I are all employed as bodyguards at Zhenwei Escort Agency."

"As for your fifth senior sister, she went to work as a bodyguard for the eldest daughter of the Ruan family."

"The world is a dangerous place, and there are undercurrents between various forces in the county. If you are not careful, you will become a pawn to be discarded by the other side."

"If you go to Zhenwei Escort Agency to work as a bodyguard, we can look out for you and prevent you from being bullied."

Li Nian frowned and remained silent.

While sticking together for mutual support is a good option, a lack of a sense of crisis can actually hinder growth.

"Of course, if other companies offer better terms, you can give it a try."

"Your senior sister and I are just giving you a suggestion."

Seeing Li Nian hesitate, Gu Jinsong spoke up.

Xia Qingwei nodded in agreement.

"The poor study literature, the rich study martial arts; a martial artist's energy expenditure increases with their cultivation level."

"Pills, cultivation techniques, weapons, and so on are all extremely expensive."

Li Nian nodded knowingly.

"Thank you for your advice, senior brothers and sisters."

Then, Li Nian asked curiously, "There's a Zhenwei Martial Arts School in the city. Is there any connection between the Zhenwei Escort Agency and that martial arts school?"

"Also, what specific forces exist within the county, and what are their strengths and resources?"

"I'd like to use this as a reference for my temporary assignment."

Although he had learned about some of the forces in the county through the intelligence system, it was ultimately limited, and he wanted to know more.

"Junior brother, do you know the Five Families of Thousand Lakes?"

"The five families: Zhang, Yi, Ji, Hua, and Ruan?"

"Yes."

Gu Jingsong patiently explained:

"These five families have stood in Qianhu County for many years, either because they have a master of internal energy or because they have a profound family heritage."

"The Zhang family is the most powerful of the five major families. They have the first master of the Transformation Realm in the county and are a prominent local clan. They are the most arrogant in the county."

"The Yi family is the county magistrate's family. Although they do not have a master of the Transformation Realm, they have the imperial court as their backer and are an absolute power in the county, with many channels under their control."

"The Ruan family runs most of the mining business in the county, and their patriarch broke through to the Transformation Realm eight years ago."

"The Hua family is a branch of a prominent family in Yunmeng Prefecture. They have connections in many industries within the county and operate very discreetly. I don't know much about them in detail."

"As for the Ji family..."

When the Ji family was mentioned, Gu Jingsong raised his eyebrows, his eyes sparkling with admiration.

"Junior brother, do you know who's behind the Ji family?"

"Please enlighten me, senior brother."

Li Nian knew very little about the Ji family, only that they owned the largest martial arts school in the county, and their Ming Jin martial arts practitioners were far ahead of other schools.

I've heard rumors that the Ji family is connected to the Zhenxi Army, but it's just hearsay, and I don't know if it's true or not.

"Junior brother, our Qianhu County is located in Zening Prefecture on the western border of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Looking at the nine provinces and thirty-six prefectures of the whole country, it is just a wild and insignificant place."

"In the six hundred years since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, there has never been a nationally renowned master."

"But twenty years ago, a very famous figure emerged in our Qianhu County!"

Gu Jingsong looked excited and proud.

"That lord is none other than the General Who Guards the West, a rising star in the court who commands a large army, commands a strategic pass on the western border, and has prevented the Yue Kingdom from taking a single step into the Great Zhou for twenty years—"

"Ji Zhenyue!"

Li Nian was utterly shocked.

He had heard of the name of General Zhenxi, but he never expected that he was a native of Qianhu County.

It's truly remarkable that a nationally renowned general could emerge from a small border county!

Seeing his shocked expression, Gu Jingsong was very satisfied.

"The Ji family owns many businesses in the county, the most well-known of which is Zhenwei Martial Arts School."

"Although Zhenwei Escort Agency is not as famous as Zhenwei Martial Arts School, it is the number one escort agency in the county."

"Ji Cangshan, the eldest elder of the Ji family, is one of the three great masters of the Transformation Realm in Qianhu County. Although he is over seventy years old and has developed his Transformation Realm through medicine, he is still a true master of the Transformation Realm."

"Furthermore, the guest master of Zhenwei Martial Arts School, Ji Zheng, is actually the illegitimate son of the General of the West."

"Although he is an illegitimate son, the fact that General Zhenxi allowed him to return to Qianhu County shows his concern for the clan's territory. Who in Qianhu County would dare to harm the Ji family?"

"Therefore, the local martial artists unanimously agree that taking a position with the Ji family is the safest option!"

Upon hearing this, Li Nian suddenly understood.

No wonder Ji Zheng dared to mess with Zhang Jinghu, the eldest son of the Zhang family; it turns out there was this connection.

A national general with thousands of troops under his command—how could a local bully in a county possibly stand against him!

"Junior brother, your senior brother and I invited you to join Zhenwei Escort Agency for two reasons: firstly, for your safety, and secondly, do you know why?"

Xia Qingwei put down her teacup and looked at Li Nian with a serious expression.

"Please explain in detail, senior sister."

"Strive for a future!"

Xia Qingwei took a deep breath, her eyes filled with anticipation.

"The Ji family has the backing of the General of the Western Garrison. Every three years, they send people back to their hometown to select promising young men to join the army."

"We martial artists from the bottom rungs of society don't have powerful families to support us. If we want to go further, we can only choose the country."

"Military training is the best place to hone a martial artist. If one achieves military merit, one can be granted a fiefdom and enjoy abundant resources for martial arts cultivation."

"And the spearhead of the Zhenxi Army, the Hanshan Battalion, is the best place for them!"

Although Xia Qingwei is a woman, she possesses a fighting spirit and drive that are no less than that of men!

Shaking Mountain Camp!

Li Nian's heart tightened.

Then, it dawned on me.

The backing of Haoran Martial Arts School is the Zhenwei Martial Arts School of the Ji family. Presumably, Zhou Hu's elder brother, Zhou Long, got into the Hanshan Camp through the Ji family's connections. He specially sent Zhou Hu to Haoran Martial Arts School to study, hoping that one day the two brothers could reunite in the military camp.

Normally speaking, the Shaking Mountain Camp is indeed a good place for martial artists.

He could fight and earn military merits, change his social standing, and be ennobled and appointed as a general.

Xia Qingwei and Gu Jingsong's suggestions were perfectly valid.

But for Li Nian...

But that's not entirely true!

He had served in the military and was well-versed in its ins and outs.

With his access to intelligence systems and experience rising from a common soldier to a general, joining the army seemed like a perfect fit for him.

but.

This is a world where martial prowess reigns supreme, and the military environment is even more complex.

In order to improve their cultivation, some people will do anything. If the higher-ups want to kill you, you can't even reason with them. In a huge army, it's like a big cage, and you can't even run away.

There's no need to put yourself in danger!

Moreover, those with intelligence networks have far more opportunities and fewer restrictions outside the military than those in the military!

Furthermore, if he kills Zhou Hu and goes to Zhou Long's territory, wouldn't that be like a lamb entering a tiger's den?

In chaotic times, the right path comes first.

The focus should not be on what suits you best, but on what is safest!

And the most important point.

He has a sister-in-law and niece to take care of.

Once you join the army, it's hard to return home year after year.

He didn't want his sister-in-law and niece to be bullied while he was away from home!

"Thank you for your concern, senior brothers and sisters. I also think joining the army is a good choice, but I have a sister-in-law and a young niece, and I can't give them up."

Li Nian declined.

Upon hearing this, a look of disappointment flashed in the eyes of Xia Qingwei and Gu Jingsong.

In their view, martial artists should prioritize martial arts, strive for fame and fortune so that they can bring honor to their ancestors and take care of their families in the future.

I feel that Li Nian is too sentimental.

However, everyone has their own ambitions, and they don't force anyone to do so.

Suddenly, Li Nian thought of something and tentatively asked:

"Recently, I heard in the city that there is a sect called Tianhai Sect that allows people to bring their families and has a lot of freedom in their cultivation."

"I've heard that the martial artists of this sect possess extraordinary abilities, capable of containing all things with a single ornament."

"Senior brothers and sisters, you've traveled far and wide, have you ever heard of this sect?"