Gou Zai Xianwu Wenjing Search for Opportunities

The next day, before dawn.

Old Man Lin cooked another big pot of fresh carp, and his sister-in-law stuck a ring of thin flour pancakes on the iron pot. The family of five hid in the kitchen, eating fish and drinking milky white fish soup.

Lin Yuan enjoyed a delicious meal of fish soup with noodles before taking a boat to town. His elder brother, unwilling to spend the ten or so copper coins for the boat, insisted on carrying firewood on foot to the Hu family's house.

Lin Yuan returned to the Hu family's courtyard alone, drank the medicinal meal with Hu Cai, and then had the clever waiter deliver a message to Zhao Sheng and Li Shi: do not report for duty in the morning, and if anything happens in the pavilion, inform him at the Li residence.

Now he must focus all his efforts on breaking through to the Martial Master realm!

He could just coast along as a clerk; the village head wouldn't dare dismiss him anyway, and he wasn't interested in promotion.

The two men arrived at the small peach grove with knives. Wu Yong hadn't come to become an apprentice today, so they helped him ask for leave.

Coach Hong didn't care; that's always been her attitude. If you want to learn, come; if you don't, so be it.

Lin Yuan felt that her indifferent attitude lacked human warmth and seemed somewhat out of place in this mundane world.

However, Lin Yuan didn't mind, as long as he could be taught.

"Snapped!"

The whip lashed out, sending a tingling, numb pain through Lin Yuan's mind. All the random thoughts in his head vanished instantly, and he entered a state of complete absorption. He immediately began to temper his body, practicing the barricades, the Eight Directions Step, and the Taizu Long Fist.

Now he has mastered the Taizu Long Fist to a high level, and the Red Instructor's whip is used less and less. Only when he occasionally breaks out of his state of absorption is he whipped once to give him a break and allow him to enter that state of absorption again.

For some reason, the longer he trained with Coach Hong, the easier it was for him to enter a state of selflessness, and the longer he could maintain that state.

An hour later, after he finished refining the medicinal power, he began practicing the Seven Steps of the Snake. Suddenly, the whip came down like a storm, lashing him so hard that his body trembled like a snake. He quickly found the essence of the snake, and the whip stopped. Instead, he turned to lash Hu Cai.

In the morning, Coach Hong finished drawing his sword against Lin Yuan and then against Hu Cai, going back and forth between the two.

When it was over, she turned and left without saying a word, without exchanging any more words with the two of them, and without any intention of chatting.

Lin Yuan bowed to her back before walking out of the small peach grove with Hu Cai, only to find Wu Yong standing outside the grove.

Hu Cai stepped forward with a smile and asked, "Senior Brother Wu, have you successfully become a disciple?"

Wu Yong nodded, and Lin Yuan immediately clasped his hands in congratulations: "Congratulations, Senior Brother Wu, on finding such a good teacher!"

Wu Yong sighed and said, "Master Wei won't let me come here anymore. I can't come here anymore. I can only follow him and focus on practicing swordsmanship."

"That's a pity. If you could follow Instructor Hong, you might be able to break through to the Martial Master realm sooner," Lin Yuan reminded him.

Upon hearing this, Wu Yong smiled, raised his chin, and said with considerable pride, "I broke through last night; I'm now at the entry level of the Bone Forging Realm!"

Hu Cai quickly pinched and kneaded him all over, overjoyed: "Senior Brother Wu has reached the rank of Master? Quickly show me a couple of moves!"

Lin Yuan immediately stepped aside.

Wu Yong had no choice but to satisfy the two curious children, so he casually performed five moves of Taizu Changquan, causing the surrounding peach leaves to sway gently in the breeze.

A true expert can tell a lot from a single move. Lin Yuan saw that his qi and blood were incredibly strong, and his moves and strength far surpassed his own, so he was indeed powerful.

After finishing his practice, Wu Yong explained, "I am only at the entry level of the Bone Forging Realm now, not a true Rank Martial Master."

"Aren't they the same?" the two asked in unison, somewhat puzzled.

Wu Yong was happy to play the role of a teacher and put on the airs of a senior brother: "My two junior brothers are unaware of this. There are six realms of martial arts, namely three external realms and three internal realms. The three external realms are the Body Tempering Realm, the Bone Forging Realm, and the Tendon Changing Realm."

The Bone Forging Realm simply refers to the strength of our physical body, meaning strong blood and qi, and strong muscles and bones.

Martial arts masters ranked from first to ninth were assessed by the government. The assessment criteria did not consider qi and blood or physical strength, but only practical combat skills, such as strength, agility, weaponry, hidden weapons, and combat prowess.

Once a candidate passes the evaluation and assessment, the government will issue a martial arts certificate, which will be recorded in the yamen.

Therefore, some people who have reached the peak of the Body Tempering Realm and are skilled in actual combat can meet the evaluation standards for Martial Masters and become Rank Martial Masters. However, others who are in the early stages of the Bone Forging Realm, are not skilled in actual combat, and may not pass the Martial Master assessment.

"I see. Realm refers to one's physical strength, while Martial Master refers to one's overall combat ability." Lin Yuan nodded. "Even if two people are at the same realm, without honing their combat skills, they cannot unleash the full potential of their realm, resulting in varying strengths against opponents."

"Exactly! Even an unknown person can obtain the status of a martial arts master through actual combat, and powerful families must recruit them." Wu Yong patted the two of them and encouraged them, "Junior brothers, you don't need to worry about the future. As long as you become martial arts masters, our four great families of Linyuan, Zhang, Liang, Zheng and Li, will be eager to recruit you as their retainers."

"We must recruit them?" Hu Cai wondered.

Lin Yuan pondered this and wanted to hear Wu Yong's explanation: "Is there a written rule?"

"It's a tacit agreement, firstly, to recruit martial arts masters to serve as a facade; the more retainers one has, the stronger one is considered. Have you ever heard of the Crown Prince of Li having three thousand retainers?"

Seeing the two nod, Wu Yong added, "Secondly, we'll recruit them to manage some businesses; and thirdly?"

He hesitated at the end, but Hu Cai urged him, "Brother Wu, please speak quickly."

"Martial arts masters break the law with their skills. There is no way out for low-level martial arts masters, so most of them will take risks. Therefore, we have to recruit them and support them, or offer them official positions to appease them," Wu Yong said frankly.

This coincided with Lin Yuan's thoughts. Sure enough, the squeaky wheel gets the grease: "Today, Senior Brother Wu has made a breakthrough and gained a good teacher. Let's have a small gathering at Chunfeng Tower at noon to celebrate Senior Brother Wu's success."

"That's good. I'll prepare a small gift when I get home," Hu Cai said, turning to leave.

"No need! I'm treating today, as long as everyone can come."

Wu Yong then invited Li Shi and Zhao Sheng. Li Shi originally had other engagements, but upon hearing that Wu Yong had broken through to the Bone Forging Realm, he immediately canceled them and came to Chunfeng Tower instead.

As everyone was drinking and chatting, the topic of martial arts master examinations came up. Lin Yuan then learned that the county and prefecture held martial arts master autumn examinations every year, first the county examination and then the prefecture examination. The prefecture examination could only determine the lower-ranked martial arts masters, such as the ninth, eighth, and seventh ranks.

If a martial artist is a mid-grade martial artist of the sixth, fifth, fourth or third grade, they must take the state examination again. If they are a high-grade martial artist, they must take the capital examination. However, the state examination and the capital examination are only held once every three years.

When discussing mid-grade martial arts masters, Lin Yuan learned from Li Shi that although Instructor Hong possessed the strength of a mid-grade martial arts master, he had never participated in the martial arts master assessment.

This news immediately attracted everyone's attention, and everyone was curious about Coach Hong's past.

Li Shi then whispered, "Back then, the caravan in the manor encountered a mountain demon and almost lost their lives. Fortunately, a woman in red passed by and saved everyone."

She saved the person and turned to leave, but the caravan stopped her. Seeing that she didn't like to talk, they all called her Hong Gu.

The household went to great lengths to coax her over, and they'll probably just observe her for a while before giving her a more important role.

It means that other prominent families were unaware of her; otherwise, someone would definitely have spent a fortune to recruit her.

I heard that she had been practicing martial arts in the deep mountains with her master since she was a child. She was born after her master passed away, so she is not familiar with human relationships and doesn't understand the ways of the world.

You lot better stick close to her. If she gets promoted, you guys might benefit too.

After listening, Lin Yuan was somewhat skeptical: "I think that Instructor Hong is just indifferent to fame and fortune, not that she doesn't know anything. She may not be able to handle things."

Hu Cai nodded in agreement.

Li Shi put down his chopsticks, tilted his head, and said, "Hey, you two just don't understand. Even if she doesn't do any work and is just a pretty face, she can still put on a good show!"

Wu Yong nodded: "Young masters and ladies from aristocratic families, whether they want to serve as officials or be selected as immortal talents, all need to recruit followers and create a reputation. Without any reputation, it is difficult to stand out..."

"Even scions of prominent families are getting involved? Is it just about keeping up with the Joneses?" Lin Yuan asked in surprise.

"Of course." Wu Yong nodded, then suddenly said solemnly to everyone, "I wonder if my three junior brothers would be willing to become my retainers in the future? To bolster my reputation."

Li Shi was overjoyed and quickly signaled Zhao Sheng to pour wine for Wu Yong. He then cautiously asked, "Junior Brother Wu, do you intend to enter officialdom or be selected as a promising immortal?"

Lin Yuan and Hu Cai exchanged a glance, both surprised. They were originally martial arts brothers, but now they were about to become lord and retainer.

Wu Yong stated frankly, "My family secured me a spot in the autumn competition for a nominal discipleship at Lin Yuan Immortal Temple. I intend to enter the temple to cultivate Taoism, but the path of cultivation is likely difficult. If I fail in cultivation, I will enter officialdom. At that time, my three junior brothers will have to help me maintain appearances!"