From Under One Person: Sincere Journey Through the Heavens

Besides that.

Throughout history, all kinds of mineral resources have been controlled by the imperial court. What could Tiangongtang do?

"Therefore, our new generation needs to make a change and move Tiangongtang to a city like Yuhang to open up more avenues and establish factories."

Zhao Pingshan laughed, "Now that a sage has been born, we should establish our own sect and meet with young talents from other sects who are skilled in weapon crafting and mechanism making. By learning from each other, we might be able to advance our skills even further..."

# Chapter 1078 "Thick Barrier"

Compared to Zhao Pingshan's naiveté, Zhao Tianhai was not so optimistic.

Each sect cherishes its own methods. Apart from Taoism and Buddhism, which sects occasionally pass on their methods to laypeople who have not joined the sect, which other sect would dare to truly pass on its methods to outsiders?

Don't even mention spreading rumors.

If they discover that an outsider's methods are similar to their own, they have to arrest that person and question them to find out if they have stolen their methods.

Even if it is confirmed that the method is only similar to one's own and not the same in essence, one still has to use coercion and inducement on that person.

“But this is Yuhang, this is the Cultural Street, this is the Confucian Association, with a sage presiding over it. What kind of villain would dare to cause trouble?” Zhao Pingshan naturally knew the wickedness of people’s hearts.

But in this place.

Who would dare to be presumptuous before a sage?

Perhaps the river was not as old, solemn, and serious as the sage they imagined, nor did it define itself as a sage, but the emergence of literary talent and the appearance of extraordinary phenomena were significant to these spiritual practitioners.

That is a saint!

Zhao Tianhai was speechless, only feeling a headache coming on. He realized that his brain was a little unable to keep up with his younger brother's train of thought... They used to be able to talk to each other so easily!

What now?

If it weren't for their similar appearances, people might not be able to tell that they are brothers!

Just then, the performance on stage ended. The girl in red smiled slightly, bowed to the audience, and then stepped off the stage.

Many extraordinary people who have come to Yuhang in recent days have gone to communicate with him, wanting to see the appearance of the "sage".

But Hong Guniang laughed and said, "Our president is not a saint. It's not difficult to see him. Just stroll around Cultural Street."

If you happen to run into him, just say hello and he will respond.

To be honest, you don't need to go to such lengths to come and pay your respects based on some records from your ancestors about the extraordinary phenomena of the birth of a sage.

However, if you wish to stay in Yuhang for a longer period of time, or even settle down here, that's fine; our Confucian Association is willing to assist you.

If the Confucian Society were merely a martial arts sect or family, Jiang Liu's cultivation would reach a sacred state, and he would naturally send out invitations to invite various sects to witness it together.

However, the Confucian Association continued to work, live, and practice as usual, without actively inviting any other organizations, just as if the enormous strange phenomenon of a few days ago was not caused by Jiang Liu.

Even if the Confucian Association doesn't invite them, other sects and families will take the initiative to send people over to find out what's going on.

In the past, due to the Confucian Association's involvement in internal strife within the country, individual families were generally unwilling to get involved. However, now that Jiang Liu has become a saint, and extraordinary phenomena are appearing all over the country, it has attracted a large number of family members and sect disciples, making Yuhang even more lively recently.

Hearing that it was so easy to see Jiang Liu, these outsiders were either skeptical or doubtful. However, they couldn't keep surrounding Hong Guniang, a mere woman, so they had no choice but to make way for her for the time being.

Lin Shirong was about to catch up when Liu Wei stopped him and asked, "Brother Lin, what are you doing?"

“Go with her to the Confucian Association! Jiang Liu said at Jishetang that I can go directly to the Confucian Association to find him!” Lin Shirong didn’t understand why Liu Wei wanted to drag him along. Did he want him to make an introduction?

Hearing this, Liu Wei was both amused and exasperated, and could only say, "Miss Hong has already made things clear. I am going to visit Jiang Liu, so there is no need for an introduction."

If you see each other on the street, just say hello.

I'm stopping you now to prevent malicious people from slandering Jiang Liu's reputation!

We're on the street right now, surrounded by people. In this situation, Miss Hong has already refused others, but if she takes you along later, won't people gossip about her behind her back?

"Oh no! Oh no!"

Lin Shirong suddenly realized, slapped his forehead, and said, "Thank you for reminding me, brother. I will definitely take you with me to see Jiang Liu later."

Upon hearing this...

Liu Wei was both amused and exasperated, saying, "I appreciate Brother Lin's kindness, but I also have some connections with Jiang Liu. Back when his adoptive father, Ghost Hand King, withdrew from Quanxing, I gave him three opportunities to provide information for free as a witness, and he has already used two of them."

“Gentlemen, we actually need an introduction,” Zhao Pingshan said, having overheard most of their conversation. He quickly pulled Zhao Tianhai aside to join him.

"That's no problem."

Liu Wei and Lin Shirong exchanged a glance and agreed, heading together towards the Ghost Hand Wang Cai Opera Troupe.

Located on the shore of West Lake, and with springtime here, the trees are fresh and the flowers are tender. Walking on the cobblestone path offers a unique experience.

Besides the opera troupe, there are also circuses, theaters, and existing water play and performance facilities along the West Lake.

As the Confucian Association gained fame, many street performers and small theatrical troupes who could no longer survive in other provinces came to Yuhang and joined the Ghost Hand Wang Cai Opera Troupe. They felled trees and built houses around West Lake, and then, according to their respective associations' methods, established small opera houses and painted theaters...

As it has developed to this point, the Caixi Troupe is showing a trend toward becoming a Caixi Park. Perhaps it will become a real cultural theme park in less than three years, or even be considered a Caixi Park now.

"Liu Wei".

Liu Wei, who was standing outside the opera troupe and pondering whether to knock on the door, suddenly heard a voice that was both familiar and unfamiliar behind him and immediately turned around.

Indeed, the river flowed.

The last time we met was at the ceremony where Ghost Hand King withdrew from the Quanxing Sect. He was dressed in coarse linen clothes and had short hair...

This time, on the shores of West Lake, in front of the opera troupe's door, the other person's coarse linen clothes were gone, replaced by a simple outfit that resembled both a Western suit and a traditional Chinese jacket. Their hair was styled in a topknot, though three thousand strands of black hair still hung loosely down the back of their head…

The only thing that remained unchanged was his pair of bright, star-like eyes, confident, gentle, and passionate, so bright that they reflected his image!

"President Jiang..."

Liu Wei opened his mouth, bowed, clasped his hands, and lowered his posture considerably.

Lin Shirong, Zhao Pingshan, and Zhao Tianhai also bowed in greeting.

Jiang Liu chuckled, strode forward, put his arm around Liu Wei's shoulder, and teased, "Brother Liu, although we've only met once, we hit it off immediately. There's no need for such formality."

Moreover.

I certainly don't want our relationship to have an extra, pitifully thick barrier, like the one described by Lu Xun in "My Old Home."

Liu Wei was stunned for a moment, then came to his senses and laughed, "That's right! I even gave you three chances to provide intelligence for free!"

Jiang Liu smiled and looked at Lin Shirong, asking, "Have you made up your mind? Are you really going to come to my Confucian Association?"

"Yes!"

Lin Shirong closed his eyes, then suddenly opened them, his expression resolute. "I cannot fail my master's trust. I want to create a completely new style of boxing based on what I've learned before! I want to go even further! To reach the heavens with my fists!"

"That's ambitious!"

Jiang Liu praised him and then said, "Then let's go to Cultural Street and find a job first."

"what?"

He was full of enthusiasm and looking forward to Jiang Liu's guidance. He was even prepared to stay in the Confucian Society for two or three years... But Lin Shirong never expected that Jiang Liu would ask him to find a job first.

# Chapter 1079 He's More Like a Shady Merchant Than a Saint

"Brother Jiang, what's wrong with you?"

Not only Lin Shirong, but also Liu Wei, Zhao Pingshan, and Zhao Tianhai were stunned on the spot, not understanding what Jiang Liu's move meant.

“Brother Shirong, do you think you’re new to Yuhang and don’t know anyone? That’s okay. You can stay here for a few days to get familiar with the area before you start looking. If you still can’t find one, I’ll have the Confucian Society help you find one. That’s what we do.” Jiang Liu said to Lin Shirong, who was still in a daze, as if he hadn’t heard Liu Wei’s words.

"No...no! That's not it!"

Lin Shirong's eyes widened in disbelief. "I not only want to join the Confucian Society, but I also want to become your disciple and receive your guidance."

"Well, I guess I should go find a job first."

Jiang Liu nodded like a broken record and brought up the matter again.

"..."

After a long silence, Lin Shirong tentatively asked, "Is this a test?"

"No."

Seeing this, Jiang Liu was worried that Lin Shirong might be overthinking things, so he made his point clear and held up four fingers, saying, "I have led many people in cultivation, but I have also taken in four disciples."

"Appreciate further details."

Lin Shirong is modest.

Liu Wei, Zhao Pingshan, and Zhao Tianhai were also curious and couldn't help but prick up their ears, wanting to know which four disciples Jiang Liu had taken in... and which four guys were so lucky to be able to become Jiang Liu's disciples.

"The first one is related to these two, also surnamed Zhao, and named Zhao Yingkong."

Jiang Liu looked at Zhao Pingshan and Zhao Tianhai, and nodded slightly. "Perhaps because her name contains the character 'Kong' (空), she's truly insightful. I once tapped her on the head three times, and she really did come to me in the middle of the night, just like Sun Wukong (the Monkey King). I taught her a technique called Five Elements Elixir Formation..."

Zhao Pingshan and Zhao Tianhai, however, were filled with doubt and uncertainty.

It wasn't that Jiang Liu was familiar with the "Five Aggregates to Form Elixir" method, but rather that he actually recognized their surname as Zhao!

It should be noted that the disciples of Tiangong Hall are different from other sects. Their focus on mechanisms and magical artifacts is on the five categories of clothing, food, housing, transportation, and daily necessities. Apart from Zhao Pingshan, who went abroad to study and learn Western knowledge, the others rarely travel far and are even rarely seen in the martial arts world.

Could it be that he has the ability to foresee the future?

"That truly makes him worthy of being called a saint!"

Ignoring the shock in the hearts of the two men, Jiang Liu continued to Lin Shirong, "The second disciple is named Feng Shayan, the daughter of a wealthy merchant. She has committed murder, arson, and smuggling..."

Seeing the four people's eyes widen, Jiang Liu added, "They killed the Quanxing sect, and burned the heretical sects..."

The four of them then lifted their chins.

"But the smuggling is real."

Jiang Liu added, then spoke of the remaining two disciples, "The third disciple is the granddaughter of a fool, nameless and surnameless, but she has a title, called 'King Nasen'."

On an island overseas, inhabited entirely by supernatural beings, they live like wild beasts, governed by the law of the jungle...

The fourth disciple, named Chen Xiaoyu, was probably the only one who seemed somewhat normal. She was temperamental and quite mischievous, but also responsible and capable of handling any trouble she caused on her own…

Do you know what they have in common?