Breaking Limits in Martial Arts: Grinding Your Way to Becoming a Martial Saint in a Chaotic Era

Ning Yun's gaze shifted slightly, landing on another group of people on Tingfeng Tower.

Xu Qing followed his gaze and recognized almost all of them.

When they went upstairs, half of them greeted Ning Yun, while the other half either made sarcastic remarks or simply pretended not to see her.

"You've already met these people," Ning Yun said calmly. "Behind them are the four major families of the county: the Li, Meng, Wu, and Shen families. Each family has its own foundation and its own business. Qinghe Wharf is divided into four parts, with each family occupying one end."

"The Li family runs a medicinal herb business. Eight out of ten pharmacies in Qinghe County belong to the Li family. Jirentang, Huichuntang, and Baohetang are all Li family brands."

"The Meng family is in the timber business. In the city, seven out of ten timber shops, coffin shops, and furniture workshops are owned by the Meng family."

"The Wu family is in the cloth business. They have silk shops, cloth stores, and dye houses. Half of the county's cloth comes from the Wu family's warehouses. Ruifuxiang in the east of the city and Qianxiangyi in the north are both Wu family businesses."

When the Shen family was mentioned, Ning Yun's voice suddenly softened: "The Shen family runs a grain business. Rice shops, noodle shops, granaries—half of the grain that city dwellers eat comes from the Shen family's mills. Guangyuan Grain Store in the city and Yongfeng Granary in the north of the city both belong to the Shen family."

"These four companies all have warehouses at the dock, and they originally kept to themselves. But in the past two years, they have fought several times over the dock's boundaries, resulting in dozens of injuries. The case went all the way to the county government, but the county magistrate and the county assistant magistrate each took sides, and there is still no resolution."

Ning Yun lowered her voice, so low that only Xu Qing could hear it: "The Meng family, the Li family, and the Lin family are close to each other, while the Shen family and the Wu family are close to the Su family."

He paused, shook his head with a wry smile, and said in a low voice, "The same goes for the six martial arts schools. Our school, along with the Shi family and the Jingtao Martial Arts School, supports the Su family, while the other three are on the side of the Lin family."

Xu Qing nodded; he understood the meaning behind Ning Yun's bitter laugh.

Where there are interests, there is conflict; where there is conflict, there are factions. Once you get involved, you have to choose sides, or you'll be squeezed by both sides.

After all, resources are limited, and there aren't enough for our own people to use. How could we tolerate outsiders getting their hands on them?

However, there are exceptions. If you have the power to dominate both factions from the beginning, you don't need to take sides. In fact, both factions have to fawn over you.

Commandant Lu Chuan was the exception.

"Tap! Tap! Tap!"

A series of hoofbeats came from outside the county government office. The sound was neither hurried nor slow, but it was like a drumbeat that struck everyone's heart, one beat after another, making their ears ring.

The onlookers quickly dispersed, like the receding tide. The buzzing chatter that had been there moments before seemed to have been choked, instantly falling silent—so silent that the crunch of horses' hooves on the snow could be heard.

Three chestnut-colored horses stopped at the entrance of the government office.

Leading the way was a tall, magnificent horse, its coat a deep crimson, its mane like flames, a string of copper bells jingling around its neck. The rider dismounted with clean, swift movements, without the slightest hesitation. The instant his boots touched the ground, he was perfectly still, as if nailed to the earth.

Commandant Lu Chuan.

He was in his early thirties, with a broad back and thick waist, a square face with distinct angles, eyebrows like those of a knife, and eyes like cold stars.

Today he wasn't wearing armor, only a dark, narrow-sleeved, close-fitting outfit, a silver-embroidered leather belt around his waist, and leather boots. Yet, the aura he exuded was even more imposing than the armor itself. Like a drawn sword, its sharpness fully revealed, yet controlled with effortless precision.

Two attendants followed him off his horse, one on the left and one on the right, their steps synchronized, their eyes like those of an eagle.

They wore worn-out leather armor, long swords hung at their waists, and had expressionless faces. But the light in their eyes was so cold it sent chills down one's spine. As they swept across the crowd, those whose eyes were swept in instinctively shrank back.

Lu Chuan strode into the yamen.

People in the courtyard quickly made way for each other. Those who had been laughing, arguing, and exchanging pleasantries all fell silent, even their breathing became soft.

On the training ground, the martial arts disciples and guests unconsciously straightened their backs, not daring to even whisper to each other.

On the upper floor of Tingfeng Tower, County Magistrate Lin Hanshan and County Assistant Su Zhengyuan stood up at the same time.

The two exchanged a glance, put down their teacups simultaneously, and hurried downstairs to greet them. The heads of the four major families and the owners of the six martial arts schools also rose and filed out.

As Lu Chuan reached the top of the stairs, Lin Hanshan came down to greet him with a smile and cupped his hands in greeting: "Commander Lu. Please come upstairs." Su Zhengyuan stood to the side and also cupped his hands in greeting, his smile more polite than usual.

Lu Chuan nodded slightly, said nothing, and strode upstairs.

Lin Hanshan and Su Zhengyuan stood on his left and right, respectively, seemingly half a step behind him, as if they were leading the way or following him.

A county magistrate and a county assistant magistrate, in front of this captain in his early thirties, unconsciously felt half a head shorter.

Xu Qing stood on the training ground, watching Lu Chuan's figure disappear, and his gaze narrowed.

That person's aura was even stronger than his master Zhao Yan's. It wasn't just a matter of martial arts skill; there was also a kind of imposing presence that emanated from his very bones—a presence born of someone accustomed to life and death and wielding power.

"Commander Lu is from the Lu family of the prefectural city," Ning Yun's voice came from the side, very low. "The Lu family is a prominent clan in the prefectural city, with connections in the court and various sects. He's here to gain experience, and will leave after three years; this is his last year."

"Commander Lu doesn't get involved in factional struggles, doesn't concern himself with matters in the government office, and doesn't concern himself with disputes on the streets. As long as there's no major trouble, he doesn't ask about anything. His job is simply to train troops, take attendance, and collect his salary, peacefully getting through the three years."

Ning Yun paused, then added in an even lower voice: "Master said that Commander Lu has already reached the peak of the Transformation Realm and has begun preparing to break through the barrier, and is about to enter the Inner Cultivation Realm."

Xu Qing raised his eyelids upon hearing the words "internal training".

Ning Yun saw through his thoughts, but just shook his head with a wry smile: "I don't know anything about internal cultivation either. You can ask your master when you reach the Transformation Realm."

Xu Qing nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

He saw that the window on the second floor of Tingfeng Tower was open.

The main table faces the window.

Lu Chuan was offered the head seat. He sat down naturally, without refusing or being polite, as if that chair was meant for him.

Lin Hanshan sat to his left, and Su Zhengyuan to his right. The heads of the four major families and the masters of the six martial arts schools took their seats in an orderly fashion.

Several side tables were set up on either side of the main table, where the second-in-commands of the major families, the heads of smaller families, and the young masters and talents of prominent families took their seats. Three empty seats were reserved at one of the tables for the top three finishers in the competition.

Lu Chuan arrived, and everyone was present; the Golden Scale Gathering officially began.

North of the drill ground, a yamen runner raised a drumstick and struck it three times heavily.

"Thump—thump—thump—"

The drumbeats were deep and muffled, making one's chest feel heavy. The training ground fell silent instantly, so quiet that one could hear their own heartbeat, as if even the wind had stopped.

Officer Qi, dressed in a brand-new blue robe, stepped onto the stage. He cleared his throat and announced in a booming voice, "The auspicious hour has arrived! The Golden Carp Competition shall now begin!"

"The rules of the contest are as follows: Anyone who steps onto the stage loses if they step off or concede defeat. The contest is limited to hand-to-hand combat; weapons are prohibited. The contest ends when the opponent has made a move; death is not permitted!"

The Golden Scale Gathering's competitions are somewhat like a tournament. One person goes up on stage, and another person comes up to challenge them. The winner can either continue fighting or step down to rest. Once no one else is willing to go up, the three adults will determine the top three based on each person's performance.

Constable Qi paused, then raised his voice a few decibels: "The prizes for the competition remain the same. First place: one hundred taels of silver; second place: fifty taels; third place: thirty taels! In addition, brocade and meat will be awarded!"

A low murmur arose from the audience.

A hundred taels of silver is nothing to high-ranking officials and nobles; it's just the price of a meal or a piece of clothing. But it's enough for an ordinary family to eat and drink for ten years, enough to buy ten fishing boats in Blackwater Bay, and enough to buy a dozen or twenty fishermen's children as servants.

But everyone knows that this competition isn't about money, it's about saving face.

It represents the face of the six martial arts schools, and the face of the county magistrate and county assistant behind them.

Money is just an add-on; face is the main course.