A Martial Saint in Chaotic Times: Starting with Grinding Proficiency

"So you're a top student from Qingyang Martial Arts School. My apologies for not recognizing you."

Xu Yan simply made a perfunctory remark and then said nothing more.

He turned around and started chatting with the other taxi inspectors next to him, as if Zhou Yuan didn't exist at all.

This sudden change not only stunned Zhou Yuan, but also left Lü Chong, who was standing to the side, somewhat bewildered.

Zhou Yuan frowned slightly.

He was certain that he had never seen this person before, and that there was nothing wrong with his words and actions just now.

Where does this unprovoked hostility come from?

Li Tong, who was standing to the side, pondered for a moment, then leaned over and sighed softly.

"Brother Zhou, this matter is probably caused by your sect, Qingyang Martial Arts School."

Zhou Yuan looked puzzled.

Seeing his expression, Li Tong knew he knew nothing about the inside story, so he lowered his voice and began to explain.

"I've heard people say that Zhu Xiaowen, the master of Qingyang Martial Arts School, came to the inner city to challenge other martial arts schools when he first came to Luochuan County twenty years ago in order to make a name for himself."

"One of them is Changsong Martial Arts School."

Li Tong paused, seemingly organizing his thoughts.

"At that time, Changsong Martial Arts School was extremely famous in the inner city, and its former master, Du Xianzong, was also a master of the Marrow Cleansing Realm."

"Unfortunately, he was defeated by Master Zhu, who was at the same cultivation level."

Lu Chong, who was listening nearby, chimed in curiously, "Isn't challenging other martial arts schools normal? When schools spar, there are winners and losers. Didn't Changsong Martial Arts School establish itself by challenging other schools back in the day?"

"Inspector Lü, you may not know this," Li Tong said, cupping his fists to Lü Chong. "If it were just an ordinary challenge, that would be one thing."

"But Master Zhu was really... young and impetuous back then."

"In order to make a name for himself as soon as possible, he even proposed in public that he wanted to give Master Du Xianzong one of his hands."

"Master Du was nearly sixty years old at the time, and he was considered a towering figure in the martial arts world of Luochuan County. How could he tolerate such provocation from a young junior? He immediately signed a life-or-death agreement and fought with Master Zhu."

"And the result?" Zhou Yuan pressed.

He thought to himself with a sigh that Li Tong, who usually seemed quiet and unassuming in the patrol office, actually knew all about these old stories.

Li Tong cleared his throat and continued, "In the end, Master Zhu was indeed exceptionally strong. He defeated Du Xianzong within ten moves using only one hand, and then left triumphantly."

"Later, Master Du couldn't swallow his anger and died of it."

"Master Zhu seemed to realize that he had gone too far, so he did not open a school in the inner city, but instead went to the outer city."

"Currently, Changsong Martial Arts School is run by Du Xianzong's son, Du Chong. It is said that Du Chong is always thinking about avenging his father, and his disciples naturally harbor hostility towards the people of your Qingyang Martial Arts School."

Li Tong finally pointed to Xu Yan, who was not far away.

"As far as I know, this Inspector Xu happens to be a core disciple of Changsong Martial Arts School."

After hearing this story, Zhou Yuan and Lü Chong both fell silent.

Zhou Yuan's heart was filled with turmoil. He never imagined that his usually stern and unsmiling master had such an arrogant and unruly side when he was young.

Just then, the previously noisy front courtyard of the lobby suddenly fell silent.

Everyone turned to look at the entrance of the lobby.

Zhou Yuan and the other two turned to look, and saw two people slowly walking out of the hall.

The leader was dressed in plain clothes, with a handsome face and a long beard. He exuded an air of authority as he walked, and was presumably Liu Wenju, the magistrate of Luochuan County.

Beside him was a burly middle-aged man, dressed in the official robes of the chief inspector of the patrol office; it was Xie Hongwu.

Xie Hongwu walked to the front of the stage, glanced around, and said in a deep voice, "Silence!"

Everyone immediately fell silent, trembling with fear.

Zhou Yuan's heart stirred slightly. He could clearly sense that the aura emanating from Chief Inspector Xie Hongwu was as powerful as a mountain.

It even gave him the illusion of facing his master, Zhu Xiaowen.

He is most likely a top expert at the Marrow Cleansing Realm.

County Magistrate Liu Wenju stepped forward. He appeared quite refined and scholarly, unlike a military man.

But the authority he exudes in his every gesture reveals the aura of someone who has long held a high position.

"I'm sure you've all heard about the bandits who infiltrated the inner city a few days ago."

Liu Wenju spoke, his voice not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"In broad daylight, under the clear sky! How dare these bandits brazenly infiltrate the city! What do they take the laws of Luochuan County for, and all of you here?"

Liu Wenju's question was forceful and resounding.

The people below the hall all lowered their heads, not daring to meet his gaze.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan sneered inwardly.

With his superior, Zhao Dacheng, already secretly colluding with bandits, how could the city's defenses possibly hold him back?

Next, Liu Wenju delivered a passionate speech.

It was simply a matter of urging everyone to be on high alert, thoroughly investigate the bandits, and not disappoint the expectations of the imperial court and the high hopes of the people of Luochuan.

It was all just empty official platitudes.

The lecture lasted for a full hour, until Liu Wenju's throat was dry from talking, before it finally ended.

After finishing his speech, Liu Wenju, accompanied by Xie Hongwu, returned to the inner hall.

The people in front of the hall were as if they had been granted a pardon, and they left in twos and threes.

Zhou Yuan, along with Li Tong and Lü Chong, left the Patrol Inspectorate.

Reaching a fork in the road, Lü Chong clasped his hands in farewell.

"Brother Zhou Yuan, Officer Li, I have some things to attend to, so I'll be leaving now."

After saying that, he turned and walked toward another bustling street in the inner city.

Looking at Lü Chong's retreating figure, Zhou Yuan sighed with some emotion. This Brother Lü actually lived in the inner city, where land was incredibly valuable.

As far as he knew, housing prices in the inner city were shockingly high, far beyond what a patrolman's monthly salary could afford.

Li Tong seemed to have seen through his thoughts and came over with a chuckle.

"Brother Zhou, you may not know this, but our Inspector Lü is not only very capable, but his wife is also quite remarkable."

"His wife, Li Xiuyun, is not only incredibly beautiful, ranking among the most beautiful in the entire Luochuan County, but her family is also extremely wealthy. They own several houses just within this inner city."

Li Tong's face was filled with envy.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan sighed inwardly.

No wonder Brother Lü is so carefree and has no interest in an official career; he has already achieved financial freedom and is living a life of leisure.

He and Li Tong left the inner city and headed towards the outer city.

Not far from the outer city gate, Li Tong stopped in front of a rather exquisitely decorated pavilion.

At the entrance of the pavilion, several women dressed in flamboyant attire were soliciting customers. The plaque above the door bore three large characters written in a flamboyant style: "Drunken Spring Pavilion".

Li Tong winked and asked Zhou Yuan with a smile, "Brother Zhou, you've never been to a place like this before, have you? Want to go in and have some fun?"

He pointed to the attic: "Tonight, Zhang Lian'er, the most beautiful courtesan at the Drunken Spring Pavilion, will be performing a dance!"

Zhou Yuan was taken aback, then shook his head and clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"Thank you for your kindness, Brother Li, but I have something to attend to at home, so I won't be able to go."

If you sit in such a den of iniquity for just an hour, you'll probably run out of money. I'll wait until I have more money to experience it.

"Haha, alright then." Li Tong didn't insist, shook his head with a laugh, and went in alone, lifting the curtain.

Zhou Yuan glanced at the bustling attic, then turned to go home.

However, just as he turned around, another group of people suddenly appeared at the entrance of Zuichunlou.

The man at the head, dressed in fine clothes and with an arrogant demeanor, was none other than Wang Tengfei.

......