A Martial Saint in Chaotic Times: Starting with Grinding Proficiency

Black Wind Mountain, Green Wood Cliff.

This is the highest point in Luochuan County, offering a panoramic view of the entire city.

The night wind howled, and two figures stood seemingly out of thin air.

Ahead stood a man draped in a dark cloak, his imposing figure standing with his hands behind his back. Even just his back view exuded an aura of profound composure and unyielding strength.

Behind him stood a handsome young man dressed in white, holding a sheathed sword, his face filled with reluctance.

"I really don't know what the Commander was thinking," the white-robed youth complained, pursing his lips. "Knowing that the Prince of Yan sent an envoy, why didn't he send more men? What can the two of us do?"

"Dong Mo".

The man in the black cloak spoke, his voice flat and emotionless.

"With the Prince of Yan's rebel army outside and the Black Lotus Sect causing trouble inside, and all the major sects eager to make their move, the Commander is also in a state of chaos. Where do you find so many people to command?"

The young man in white, Dong Mo, wanted to say something more.

The man in the black cloak waved his hand, interrupting him.

"How's the situation in Luochuan City that I asked you to investigate?"

Upon hearing this, Dong Mo's reluctant expression instantly vanished, replaced by a serious one.

"Reporting to the commander, there are currently three main forces in Luochuan County. The first is the government patrol battalion led by County Magistrate Liu Wenju; the second is the merchant alliance led by the five major families in the inner city; and the last is the twelve bandit gangs on Black Wind Mountain."

"According to investigation, the highest known combat strength in Luochuan County is only at the Marrow Cleansing Realm, and there are no experts above the Body Tempering Realm."

The man in the black cloak remained silent for a long time.

"It's normal for a mixed bag of people to exist."

He turned around, revealing an ordinary middle-aged face, except for his eyes, which were as deep as a cold pool.

"I can sense that the Prince of Yan's men have arrived."

After saying that, he started walking down the mountain.

……

The North City Patrol Office, in front of the main hall.

Zhou Yuan lowered his waist and stood at attention, circulating the Six Harmonies Stance Technique. His body's Qi and blood were like a furnace, and his joints emitted subtle crackling sounds.

Just as he was absorbed in his meditation, a series of footsteps approached from afar, interrupting his practice.

"Officer Zhou." A garrison soldier led in two travel-worn men, clasped his hands in a respectful greeting, and said, "These two are not from Qingzhou. According to regulations, you must personally investigate them."

Zhou Yuan slowly opened his eyes and looked at the person who had just arrived.

The middle-aged man at the head of the group wore a black cloak and had a calm and composed demeanor; behind him was a young man in white, whose handsome face revealed a hint of arrogance between his brows.

Just by looking at his demeanor, one can tell he's no ordinary江湖客 (jianghu ke, a person of the martial arts

"Greetings, Officer Zhou." The middle-aged man in the black cloak smiled and cupped his hands in greeting. "We are fur merchants from Liangzhou. We have heard that Luochuan County is backed by Black Wind Mountain and has many rare furs, so we have come to purchase a batch."

As he spoke, he handed over the travel permit.

Zhou Yuan did not immediately go to receive it, but instead slowly and deliberately ended his stance training.

The blood and qi gradually returned to calm, and the heat in the body dissipated.

Zhou Yuanzhi stood up, took the travel permit, and glanced at the names "Shen Xuantong" and "Dong Mo." He began to question them in a calm tone: "Having come all the way from Liangzhou, where do you plan to stay? Do you have a shop?"

"We don't have a shop yet, so we'll stay at an inn in the city for now and make further plans after we've secured a supplier."

The middle-aged man named Shen Xuantong answered fluently and flawlessly.

Zhou Yuan glanced at him indifferently and continued, "How long do you plan to stay in Luochuan City? Do you know anyone here?"

"It could take anywhere from a month to half a year. We are newcomers and don't know anyone here."

"As merchants from out of town, according to the rules, they must come to the government office to report their situation every five days."

Zhou Yuan handed the travel permit back, his expression unchanged as he proceeded with the official business.

"Of course, thank you for the tip, sir."

Shen Xuantong cupped his hands in greeting again, then turned and left the patrol office with the white-robed youth.

Zhou Yuan watched their figures disappear around the street corner before turning his gaze away.

The two men's words and actions were flawless, but he always felt that they were not as simple as they claimed.

After a moment, he remembered what Li Tong had said and slowly shook his head.

Since I'm new to this inspection office, it's best to do more and talk less. I then continued to practice my Liuhe Zhuang Gong (a type of internal martial arts).

The inner city, Wangjiang Tower.

In a superior room, Shen Xuantong and Dong Mo had just finished checking in.

"Why did you take the travel permit from Liangzhou? Are you afraid that others won't suspect anything?" Shen Xuantong looked at the street scene outside the window and spoke calmly.

Dong Mo looked aggrieved: "Commander, you don't know, the division has been going on missions too frequently lately, and the travel permits the brothers use to deal with inspections are being used up too quickly. Now the warehouse only has Liangzhou's permits left."

Upon hearing this, Shen Xuantong couldn't help but roll his eyes at him.

He turned to Dong Mo and instructed him, "Immediately utilize the intelligence network of the Jingye Division to find the whereabouts of the Prince of Yan's envoy. Also, compile a complete list of all the major and minor events that have occurred in Luochuan County over the past three years."

"yes!"

Dong Mo's expression hardened, and he cupped his hands in agreement.

……

The next five days passed slowly.

Zhou Yuan worked at the checkpoint during the day and practiced the Six Harmonies Stance Technique diligently in the inspection office at night.

In his spare time, he would look through the accumulated official gazettes in the government office.

The official gazette is similar to the newspapers of the previous life. It circulates only within the government and records strange and unusual events from all over the Great Zhou Dynasty as well as the dynamics of the court.

"In the twenty-seventh year of the Xiande reign of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Emperor Shenzong passed away without an heir. His will passed the throne to Princess Ji Ningshuang."

"The eldest princess ascended the throne, changed the era name to Yongxi, and became the Empress."

"In the first year of Yongxi, the Empress ordered the reduction of the power of the vassal states, which shocked the entire country."

"In the second year of Yongxi, Ji Wuji, the Prince of Yan of Youzhou, raised an army of 100,000 under the pretext of 'purging the court of treacherous officials and eliminating corrupt ministers,' and his army marched straight towards the capital!"

Zhou Yuan closed the official gazette after reading this.

When the King of Yan marches south, he will first have to capture Xuanhuang Pass in the northern part of Qingzhou.

Luochuan County is only a hundred miles away from Xuanhuang Pass.

More importantly, Luochuan County is adjacent to the Caohe River, with convenient waterways, making it an ideal place for transporting grain and supplies.

Once the great war begins, this place will inevitably become a battleground!

Zhou Yuan let out a long breath.

The world was more chaotic than he had imagined.

The threat from Goldman Sachs still looms large, but an even bigger storm is brewing.

In chaotic times, human life is as worthless as grass.

Only strength can provide a secure livelihood.

A thought suddenly occurred to him.

[Realm: Body Tempering Stage 1 - Skin Refinement]

[Exercise Method: Six Harmonies Stance Exercise (Beginner)]

[Progress: 400/500]

[Martial Arts Skill: Mountain-Shaking Fist (Second Level)]

[Progress: 480/500]

We're getting closer and closer to the Bone Forging Realm.

Just then, a garrison soldier came to report that Inspector Zhao Dacheng had arrived.

Just as Zhou Yuan was about to get up to greet him, Zhao Dacheng's obese figure walked in.

"Brother Zhou Yuan, you've worked hard these past few days." Zhao Dacheng said kindly. "I can see you're quite exhausted too. Here's what we'll do: you take a rest for the next two days, and I'll take over for you."

Zhou Yuan was puzzled.

I had heard Li Tong say before that Zhao Dacheng was not a diligent or considerate person to his subordinates.

However, he still clasped his hands in thanks on the surface, then agreed and left the patrol office.

However, he did not go straight home.

After walking a distance, Zhou Yuan's figure quietly disappeared into a street corner.

He left and then returned.

Because Zhao Dacheng always gave him a strange feeling today.

Sure enough, not long after, a rather luxurious-looking carriage came from the direction of the inner city and stopped directly in front of the patrol office.

A man who looked like a steward got off the carriage, glanced around, and then quickly walked into the office of the patrol inspector.

......