The low-key prince summons trainees from the Imperial Household Department at the start of the game.

After everyone broke through.

The conversation then turned to how to expand the boxing gym.

At this moment, Zhang Songxi spread out the hand-drawn map of Runzhou on the stone table and drew circles in several places with a charcoal pencil.

He pointed his finger at the Iron Sword Sect in the east of the city, speaking slowly and deliberately, clearly having given it much thought: "To expand the boxing gym, we must first make a name for ourselves, and the most direct way is to challenge other gyms."

"The Iron Sword Sect has controlled the Runzhou Escort Agency business for many years. The sect leader, Zhao Tieyi, is at the peak of the sixth rank. He has four Vajra under his command, all of whom are at the fourth or fifth rank. And Luo Lie, the leader of the four Vajra, is said to have already stepped into the sixth rank."

"If we go to challenge them and win, the whole city will know about it overnight; if we lose, the reputation of the Wudang Boxing School will be completely ruined."

"This battle is one we can only win, and we must win it spectacularly."

Yu Lianzhou crossed his arms, his tone calm and resolute. His gaze swept across the sand table, and he uttered a few words briefly: "I'll handle it. I don't need my senior brother to help. He'll hold the fort. I'll take down the Four Vajras by myself and then defeat Zhao Tieyi."

Song Yuanqiao nodded slightly.

Lian Zhou has just broken through to the seventh rank and needs real combat experience to hone his skills. He is more than capable of fighting Zhao Tieyi.

He pondered for a moment, then added, "Challenging other martial arts schools can only make a name for yourself and let people know that Wudang martial arts schools are capable. To truly establish yourself in Runzhou, you need both official and public prestige. Songxi, you continue."

Zhang Songxi used charcoal to mark another location on the map: Zhenyuan Escort Agency.

He pushed a secret report he had received that morning in front of everyone, which clearly stated the contents of the report.

A shipment of goods belonging to the Zhenyuan Escort Agency was robbed by river bandits on the canal. The chief escort went to chase after them personally. Although he returned, he only recovered half of the goods and was also stabbed in the arm.

Several major businesses in Runzhou are watching closely. If someone can retrieve this batch of goods intact, the reputation of Zhenyuan Escort Agency will be further enhanced.

"Which band of pirates?" Yu Lianzhou asked.

"The group of people in the reed marshes south of the city are led by Liu Heng, the River Dragon, a sixth-rank official. If we take action, Lian Zhou will deal with Liu Heng, while Dai Yan, Li Ting, and I will clear out the outer perimeter of the water stronghold."

Upon hearing that the task involved sweeping the water fortress, Yin Liting immediately perked up and was about to volunteer when Yu Daiyan waved his hand.

He looked down at his crippled legs, his voice calm and still, without a trace of self-pity: "I can't go into the water, but I can help you from the shore."

"However, Songxi, there is an even more pressing matter at hand: the elderly mother of the Prefect of Runzhou has suffered from headaches for many years, and all the doctors are at a loss."

"I once learned a set of Tai Chi massage techniques from my master, which are specifically for treating headaches."

Zhang Songxi, ever quick-witted, immediately replied, "The prefect's mother suffers from headaches, and all the doctors in the city are at a loss."

"If Third Brother can be cured, then we'll have a legitimate connection with the Runzhou government. With the government's backing, it will be perfectly legal for us to open a martial arts school, recruit disciples, and take on business with security escort agencies."

Yin Liting felt that doing things one by one was too slow. He drew his longsword and gently vibrated it in the moonlight, the sword ringing out clearly: "In my opinion, it would be better to mix all these things together. We can challenge the dojo during the day, rescue people at night, sweep the water fortress on the same day, and then deliver the medicine to the prefectural government office."

"The whole city will be buzzing with the news: the Wudang Boxing School defeated the Iron Sword Sect, wiped out the River Dragon, and subdued the Prefect's mother in a single day. That reputation will be more valuable than anything else!"

Everyone was taken aback at first, then shook their heads and laughed.

After laughing, Song Yuanqiao felt that there was some truth to what he said. If these things could really be accomplished in one day, it would be a good way to make Runzhou City remember the Wudang Boxing School overnight.

He pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "If we want to make a name for ourselves, we might as well add fuel to the fire."

"Songxi, you have the widest network of connections in the martial arts world. Spread the word that the Wudang Boxing Hall will soon set up a fighting arena in the west of the city for three days to welcome heroes from all walks of life."

"Lianzhou, go and deliver an invitation to the Iron Sword Sect. Just write 'Let's make friends through martial arts,' and don't mention 'challenge.'"

"Daiyan, go and make arrangements at the prefectural government office. Just say that the Wudang Boxing School has an ancestral massage technique that can cure headaches, and ask the prefect to take a look."

"Liting, keep a close eye on the water fortress these next few days and find out their shift change schedule."

Everyone responded in unison.

Yu Lianzhou immediately went to the study to write a letter.

Zhang Songxi rolled up the map and went to arrange the release of the information.

Yu Daiyan pushed the wheelchair back to the room to prepare the medicine box and medicinal wine for massage.

Yin Liting went straight back to his room to change into his night clothes, preparing to sneak out to the reed marshes south of the city to investigate the strength of the water fortress.

In a short while, only Song Yuanqiao remained in the backyard.

He turned to look in the direction of the capital, the moonlight shining on his thin face. His junior brothers were all capable of standing on their own, just as they were in his previous life.

The restoration of Wudang Boxing School's prestige begins with this battle.

……

The next day!

Willow Leaf Lane in the west of Runzhou City has never been as lively as it is today.

Before dawn, the old man selling wontons at the alley entrance had just set up his stall.

Then I saw a group of young people dressed in shorts walking in twos and threes toward the Wudang Boxing Hall.

Some had wooden swords at their waists, some carried teapots, and one naive young man was carrying a bronze gong that was half a person's height.

The old man had been running his stall in this alley for decades, and this was the first time he'd seen such a scene. He even forgot to scoop up the wontons with his spoon, and turned to shout to his wife, "The Wudang martial arts school looks like they're up to something big today!"

At the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), the faded paint on the door of the Wudang Boxing Hall was pushed open from the inside.

Song Yuanqiao stepped across the threshold first, wearing a clean gray cloth robe.

He wore a black cloth belt around his waist, his gray hair was tied back with a bamboo hairpin, and he walked with composure and had a peaceful expression.

He was followed by four junior disciples.

Yu Lianzhou's face was as cold and stern as a knife. Zhang Songxi carried a stack of documents, while Yin Liting followed at the back with a sword on his back and a smile unique to young people on his lips.

Only Yu Daiyan remained at the boxing gym, his wheelchair parked under the old ginkgo tree in the courtyard.

With the yellowed boxing manual spread out on his lap, he was carefully proofreading the incantations of Tai Chi massage techniques by word in the morning light.

The alleyway was already crowded with people.

There were neighbors living nearby, and the few remaining old students of the boxing gym.

Among the crowd were wandering martial artists who had rushed over after Zhang Songxi released the news yesterday, as well as several young disciples from the Iron Sword Sect who had come to investigate.

Song Yuanqiao walked to the steps and stood still. He clasped his hands in a salute to the crowd and spoke in a clear voice that carried throughout half of Willow Leaf Alley: "Fellow villagers and friends of the martial arts world, the Wudang Martial Arts School is setting up a martial arts tournament in the west of the city today for three days to make friends through martial arts."

"Thank you all for your support. Today's arena will have three rounds: the first round will be a single challenge, the second round will be a gauntlet, and the third round will be defended by my younger brother, Yu Lianzhou."

"Anyone who can withstand thirty moves from my younger brother will be offered fifty taels of silver by the Wudang Boxing School."

"Whoever survives fifty moves will receive one hundred taels of silver."

"If I can defeat my younger brother, the Wudang Boxing School will close down from now on, and its signboard will be taken down and chopped up for firewood."

The crowd erupted in chaos.

Fifty taels of silver is enough for a family of five to eat for a year.

One hundred taels of silver could buy half a shop in Runzhou City.

What's even more astonishing is his last sentence.

They took down the signboard, chopped it up, and used it as firewood.

This is a gamble with the entire gym's future.

Some of the old neighbors who knew Song Yuanqiao whispered among themselves, saying that Master Song was usually very steady, so why was he being so reckless today?

A young man carrying a gong chimed in, saying, "You just don't understand."

Wudang Boxing School was once a dominant force in Jiangnan, with branches all over the prefectures and cities.

Now only this main branch is still standing. Master Song is going all in, either to make a name for himself in one battle or to close down completely.

A disciple of the Iron Sword Sect, who had his arms crossed, sneered from the crowd.

He was sent by the sect leader Zhao Tieyi to investigate the true strength of the Wudang Boxing School.

Yu Lianzhou's invitation was delivered to the sect leader's desk early in the morning. It contained the four words "Making friends through martial arts" and was extremely polite, but everyone knew that this was a challenge to the sect.

He squeezed through the crowd and ran towards the east of the city, his steps quick and hurried, his boots making a thumping sound on the bluestone slabs.