Villain? No, I'll catch up with the protagonist after passing the civil service exam.

The headquarters of the Provincial Martial Arts Association is located on the tranquil shore of Cuihu Lake in the provincial capital. On ordinary days, incense is burned and tea is brewed here, and the people who come and go are all martial arts masters dressed in traditional Chinese robes, exuding an air of otherworldly elegance. But today, in this mahogany conference room adorned with plaques praising the virtues of martial arts, the atmosphere is so oppressive that even the tea is almost frozen.

Lu Jingyan, dressed in a crisp suit, sat imposingly in the main seat. His long, slender fingers tapped lightly on the mahogany table, producing a rhythmic tapping sound. Opposite him, Wei Zhenhua, the president of the provincial martial arts association, was frantically wiping the cold sweat from his forehead with a clean white handkerchief. This renowned Baguazhang master, whose hands were trembling so badly he could barely hold a teacup lid.

Just now, Lu Yanwang, the man who parachuted into the provincial capital and swiftly sent the two grandmasters of the Lin and Xiao families to jail to work as sewing machines, slammed a thick, fifty-page official document in front of him.

"Team Leader Lu, your guidelines for the compliance rectification of ancient martial arts sects across the province..." Wei Zhenhua swallowed hard, his voice dry as if he had swallowed a handful of sand, "Isn't that taking a bit too big a step? Abolishing the sect structure and reorganizing them all into corporate entities? This is shaking the very foundation left by our ancestors!"

Lu Jingyan stopped tapping his fingers on the table, picked up the purple clay teacup in front of him, and took a sip.

"President Wei, this is a society governed by the rule of law, not a time of banditry where people live like outlaws." Lu Jingyan's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable air of authority. "What is a sect? It's not subject to business regulations, doesn't register for taxes, recruits apprentices privately, and even resorts to vigilante justice to resolve disputes. Under modern law, this kind of organization is easily classified as a criminal gang. I'm saving you, understand?"

Wei Zhenhua's old face turned red with embarrassment; he wanted to refute but dared not. He knew, of course, that what Lu Jingyan said was true, but what martial arts practitioners valued most was face and the inheritance of tradition.

"But Team Leader Lu, you're asking us, martial arts masters with exceptional skills, to register a security service company and take some kind of security guard exam. If word gets out, won't the whole world laugh at us for being high-ranking security guards who just guard the gate?" Wei Zhenhua said with a bitter face, trying to make a last-ditch effort.

"What's wrong with being a high-ranking security guard? You earn your living through your work and pay taxes legally. Aren't you much more noble than those of you who fight and vandalize public facilities on the streets every day?" Lu Jingyan leaned forward slightly, and his eyes, hidden behind his gold-rimmed glasses, instantly became sharp as knives.

He stared at Wei Zhenhua, his voice carrying a penetrating power: "Chairman Wei, you people are armed with weapons, and your murderous intent is self-evident. As the environment changes, there will only be more and more people like you in the future. If you don't actively integrate into the modern social system and still cling to those outdated rules of the underworld, the fate of Lin Zhentian and Xiao Wanli will serve as a warning to all of you."

Mentioning his two old buddies still reciting prison rules in the detention center, Wei Zhenhua shuddered. He had personally witnessed the aerial footage of the machine gun fire by the Armed Police Mobile Brigade that day; the sense of despair brought by that modern war machine had completely shattered his proud martial arts dignity.

"Of course, we police aren't heartless either." Seeing that the time was right, Lu Jingyan offered a carrot, "As long as you cooperate with the rectification, register all inner disciples with their real names, and obtain legal professional qualification certificates, the police will provide you with the most lucrative and respectable way out."

Wei Zhenhua's eyes lit up, as if he had grasped a lifeline: "What way out?"

"The high-end security market." Lu Jingyan leaned back in his chair, a smile that would make even capitalists weep. "Think about it, which of those billionaires wouldn't want a few bodyguards who can scale walls and unleash their inner strength? As long as you establish a legitimate security company, the government can act as a go-between, allowing you to secure security contracts from multinational corporations and top conglomerates. Escorting valuables, protecting important figures—aren't those things far more lucrative than the meager apprenticeship fees you collect?"

Wei Zhenhua was stunned. Instantly, an image flashed through his mind of his disciples and their followers dressed in black suits and sunglasses, being treated like ancestors by a group of big bosses, with piles of money being thrown at them.

It certainly seems much better than toiling away in the mountains every day!

"Not only that," Lu Jingyan continued, "For those sects that aren't good at fighting but only know how to cultivate their character, they can register as traditional martial arts culture training schools and take the education route. Those who know traditional Chinese medicine massage can get a medical license and open high-end physiotherapy clubs. In short, turn all your supernatural abilities into legitimate commercial productivity."

"From today onward, there will be no more feuds, only business competition. No more factional battles, only legal mergers and acquisitions." Lu Jingyan stood up, straightened his police uniform cuffs, and said, "Chairman Wei, the wheels of time are rolling forward. If you go with the flow, you will be major taxpayers and outstanding entrepreneurs. If you go against the tide, you will be terrorists who endanger public safety. The choice is yours."

This seemingly devastating career plan completely fooled the president of the martial arts association.

Wei Zhenhua suddenly stood up, slapped his thigh, and exclaimed excitedly, his face flushed, "Team Leader Lu! You've truly awakened me from my dream! You're not suppressing us at all; you're guiding the ancient martial arts world, leading us to wealth!"

The next morning, a notice jointly issued by the Provincial Public Security Department and the Provincial Wushu Association, entitled "Notice on Regulating the Commercial Operation of Ancient Martial Arts Organizations in the Province," suddenly appeared on the trending topics list, instantly causing a huge uproar in the entire martial arts community and even the entire internet.

The notice clearly stipulates that, effective immediately, all organizations in the province containing the words "school," "faction," or "clan" must complete corporate registration within one month. All martial arts practitioners must pass a political review, physical examination, and legal knowledge test to obtain the corresponding professional qualification certificate before they can practice.

The announcement caused an uproar among the old monsters who were still in seclusion deep in the mountains and forests.

"A humiliating disgrace! They want us to take a security guard certification exam? And memorize some criminal law? I'd rather die than submit!"

"Are they trying to make a fool of us?! We must resolutely resist! We protest!"

However, before the protests could even gain traction, Lu Jingyan casually unleashed his trump card.

The special investigation team's official account then released a supplementary detailed rule: the police will work with relevant departments to conduct a star rating assessment of all established ancient martial arts security companies. The highest level is a five-star security service company.

Only companies that obtain five-star certification are qualified to undertake security work for large-scale government events, receive recommendations for top-tier security needs from the police's internal network, and can even enjoy high corporate tax exemption policies.

The criteria for rating stars are not based on how skilled you are in martial arts, but on your company's employees' pass rate in legal exams, the amount of taxes paid, and the points earned for acts of bravery in assisting the police to apprehend ordinary criminals.

The moment this detailed rule was released, the atmosphere in the ancient martial arts world changed instantly.

Dignity proved utterly vulnerable in the face of real money and government support. Those sect leaders who had previously vowed to die rather than submit ended up chopping up their sect's plaques and burning them for firewood overnight, lining up to register companies with the Bureau of Industry and Commerce.

Companies like Iron Palm Security Co., Ltd., Wudang Tai Chi High-end Physiotherapy Group, and Emei Women's Special Security Service Center sprang up like mushrooms after rain.

In order to compete for the few available five-star security company slots, these rough men who once only knew how to practice martial arts have started an unprecedented and frenzied competition.

"Quickly! Notify all outer disciples that no one is allowed to sleep tonight! Copy the Public Security Administration Punishment Law ten times! Anyone who scores below 90 on tomorrow's mock exam will be expelled from the company's board of directors!"

"Sect Leader! Something terrible has happened! The thief who stole the electric bike in the south of the city has been caught by the Xingyiquan security company and taken to the police station to earn points!"

"What?! This is outrageous! Immediately gather all the inner disciples with excellent lightness skills and send them to patrol the streets! They can't even let the points earned from helping old ladies cross the street go to waste! We must reach five stars this month!"