Gou Zai Xianwu Wenjing Search for Opportunities

"Is that so? Tell me in detail." Lin Yuan was eager to know.

"The Martial Arts Dragon Ranking is for those who have reached adulthood, as they compete for a ranking and entry into officialdom. The Tiger Ranking, on the other hand, is for those who have not yet reached adulthood. Whether it's recruiting disciples or selecting promising young immortals, the Immortal Temple requires those who are not yet of adulthood to be of legal age. Therefore, those who want to enter the Immortal Temple can aim for the Tiger Ranking."

In the Great Liang Dynasty, the coming-of-age ceremony was held at the age of twenty. Only those who had reached the age of twenty could enter officialdom, while those under the age of twenty could enter the Taoist temple.

Lin Yuan nodded slightly: "I see. Are there any martial arts realm requirements for making it onto the Tiger Ranking?"

"It depends on whether you made it onto the list based on your strength or through manipulation. If you made it based on strength, even someone at the beginner level of the Bone Forging Realm has a chance to win a fight and reach the bottom of the list. If you manipulated it, someone at the beginner level of the Body Tempering Realm can make it."

Lin Yuan nodded: "So, even if I break through to the entry level of the Bone Forging Realm, there's no guarantee I'll win the competition and make it onto the list. What about the fame you mentioned earlier regarding competitions?"

"What I mentioned before was manipulating the rankings. There's a group of young disciples from other prefectures who travel around, compete with others, and make a name for themselves. So they're all Tiger Ranking disciples and have quite a reputation. But they can't enter the Immortal Temple, so they use this to make a profit."

Wu Yong chuckled and explained, "He helps you get on the list and become famous, and you pay him some money. He can do it even if you're only at the beginner level of Body Tempering, it's just a bit pricey."

Good heavens, these people really have no shame when it comes to making money.

"You can do it like that? That's amazing!" Lin Yuan exclaimed. "I wonder how much it would cost?"

"It depends on what ranking you want and your martial arts level. The bigger the difference, the higher the price; the smaller the difference, the lower the price. It can range from six or seven hundred taels of silver to several thousand taels."

"So expensive?" Lin Yuan suddenly lost interest, but finally gritted his teeth and said, "I'll figure out how to raise some money."

Wu Yong pondered for a moment: "If you want to get on the list, I'll lend you some money, and I'll arrange to meet you to discuss it later."

"Brother Wu is kind and righteous, I thank you." Lin Yuan clasped his hands in thanks, and then spoke the truth, "I plan to ask Brother Li again. If he doesn't have a good solution either, then we'll do it this way."

"That's it."

As the two were chatting, Hu Cai returned, sweating profusely. He grabbed a watermelon and devoured it in three bites, exclaiming, "Awesome! Why didn't you two practice your swordsmanship today?"

"Senior Brother Hu, I..." Lin Yuan immediately explained the matter simply, but omitted the matter of selling his name, only saying that Master Xu had caught the eye of the Third Master Li and recommended him to the Immortal Temple.

Hu Cai jumped up in disbelief: "Really? That stingy Xu would give you such a good thing?"

"My teacher is frugal by nature and has always been good to me. He even lent me money this time." Lin Yuan had to say a few words in defense of his teacher.

Hu Cai was both happy and bittersweet upon seeing that it was true. They had been classmates and fellow disciples, and suddenly they had all joined the Immortal Temple: "From now on, Junior Brother Lin and Senior Brother Wu are both disciples of the Immortal Temple. Does that mean I have to address you as Daoist Master?"

He was both afraid that his brothers would suffer and afraid that they would abandon him.

"Why should we, as fellow disciples, care about such things? Just call me whatever you like." Lin Yuan didn't care about the form of address.

Seeing that he was still approachable, Hu Cai felt a little better: "Junior brother, don't worry about the money. I'll ask my parents later."

"Brother Hu is so kind!" Lin Yuan said sincerely, and then said generously, "Tonight I'll host a banquet at Chunfeng Tower."

"good!"

So Lin Yuan personally went to invite Li Shi and Zhao Sheng, Hu Cai went to his parents to plead for them, and Wu Yong insisted on going home to take a shower and change into clean clothes before attending the banquet.

Lin Yuan sensed that these scions of wealthy families had come from privileged backgrounds and were very particular about etiquette and lifestyle.

It is true that when the granaries are full, people know etiquette; when they are well-fed and clothed, they know honor and shame.

Hu Caixian went to the inner courtyard to see his mother and immediately told her about Lin Yuan's situation, and also mentioned that he was short of money.

Old Mrs. Hu doted on her youngest son and naturally trusted him, saying happily, "Young Lin is truly a promising child. How happy his parents would be if they knew..."

Hu Cai listened helplessly as his mother kept talking about how great Lin Yuan was, and muttered under his breath, "His father doesn't want him to learn martial arts; he just wants him to be a bookkeeper."

"What are you saying?" Old Mrs. Hu glared at him.

"I didn't say that, Mother, you're right!" Hu Cai chuckled and said cautiously, "Junior Brother Lin is a role model for us all. Look at me, I've been practicing martial arts with him, and I've already reached the Bone Forging Realm. After the August assessment, I'll be a Martial Master!"

Old Mrs. Hu nodded in satisfaction: "Such a good boy, we shouldn't let good things go to outsiders. Marry your cousin to him, you go and talk to him, if it works out, the dowry will be no less than a thousand taels."

Hu Cai said helplessly, "Mother, you know perfectly well that disciples who enter the Immortal Temple are not allowed to marry beforehand. If a disciple of the Immortal Temple wants to marry, the Immortal Temple must give permission. Even if you and your father can't interfere, it's still a marriage."

"But he still wants to leave the temple, right? Well, that won't do either. He can only leave the temple in ten years. What girl can wait for him for ten years?" Old Mrs. Hu sighed in the end and had no choice but to give up. "Fine, since he wants to enter the temple, I'll talk to your father. Who knows, we might need their help someday. Let's leave some goodwill for him."

"Alright." Hu Cai's plan succeeded. With his mother acting as a mediator, persuading his father was easy.

……

Lin Yuan arrived at Li Shi's residence. Li Shi had just boarded his carriage and was about to leave. A medicine merchant had invited him to a banquet that evening, but upon hearing about Lin Yuan's visit, he immediately became excited and his heart swelled with pride: "Such a joyous occasion! We should celebrate! Junior brother, you go ahead first, I'll be there shortly."

After saying this, Li Shi casually instructed his servant to deliver a message to the pharmacist, and then hurriedly returned to the inner quarters to find his wife, Zhao.

At this moment, Zhao was teasing her son, tilting her head and saying sarcastically, "Not going to the social engagements in Hongliu Lane?"

"My wife, I have some great news." Li Shi chuckled, ignoring his wife's veiled sarcasm. "My junior brother Lin is rising in power now, and I have to attend his banquet..."

Zhao was born into a merchant family. She invested in Li Shi when he was poor and married him, bringing a large dowry with her. Because she had been infertile for many years, she chose a younger sister from the same clan, Xiao Zhao, to be Li Shi's concubine. Xiao Zhao gave birth to a son named Hu Zi, but Hu Zi was raised by Zhao, the legal wife, and she also managed the family's property and money.

Zhao asked with a smile, "Has young Lin risen to prominence?"

After recounting his story, Li Shi exclaimed, "Back then, I couldn't even get a spot at the Immortal Temple, but I never imagined he'd have such good fortune. He's much better than Gou'er!"

"He wants to go to the Immortal Temple?" Zhao was greatly surprised. She immediately waved her hand, signaling her sister to take Hu Zi away, before asking seriously, "How much silver should we prepare?"

Li Shi chuckled: "It'll have to be at least three to five hundred taels; anything less wouldn't be presentable!"

"So many? Are you trying to kill your life?" His wife glared at him.

"What did my third aunt's husband say? 'He's just wasting time cooking and playing chess...'"

"Deep waters nurture big fish." His wife recited it after him, then chuckled and nodded in agreement, though she was still somewhat reluctant. "Can he really become a big fish?"

"Hey, my eyes, your husband's eyes!" Li Shi pointed to his eyes, making an exaggerated expression, "They're like eagle eyes! The moment he opens his mouth, I know what he's eating. The moment he bends over, I know what he's pooping..."

"Go away, go away, stop using such vulgar language." Zhao glared at him, took a stack of silver notes from the house and handed them to him. "Go on, hurry up."

Li Shi counted the silver notes and left satisfied.

……

Lin Yuan went to the Zhao family but couldn't find Zhao Sheng. He figured Zhao Sheng had gone to find prostitutes, so he didn't look for him anymore.

……

Spring Breeze Pavilion, second floor private room.

When Li Shi discovered that Zhao Sheng was missing, he immediately became angry and sent the restaurant staff to look for him in Yaozi Lane.

After a while, Zhao Sheng came running over, panting. Li Shi glared at him but didn't scold him in front of everyone.

The four people present were all fellow disciples, and they quickly became acquainted.

Lin Yuan then recounted in detail his search for martial arts masters to critique and his journey to fame through competition. He also mentioned Wu Yong's suggestion, laying out the current problems and hoping everyone could offer suggestions and provide support.

Zhao Sheng was quite surprised and flustered. His gaze towards Lin Yuan changed, and he couldn't quite describe the feeling. In the end, he drank three cups of wine and flattered him, saying, "I knew it long ago, Uncle, you're a dragon among men!"

"Haha..." Everyone laughed.

After a few rounds of drinks and several dishes, the atmosphere was quite set.

Li Shi spoke frankly: "I've only been to the martial arts hall in the Earl's mansion a few times, so I wouldn't say I'm very familiar with it. How about this, I'll ask the third steward for you."

"The third steward asked me to ask you to make arrangements? Is he trying to get me to do something for him?" Lin Yuan gestured with the amount of silver.

"That's not it. He has a grudge against the steward of the Earl's mansion, so he's not very willing to go there on business." Li Shi left it at that, without going into details.

Lin Yuan nodded in understanding. Every family has its quarrels and infighting, let alone a large family with vested interests. It seems that the path of becoming the third steward is not easy.

Wu Yong, dressed in a cool and breathable silk robe, exuding the air of a young master, immediately decided, "It's all about spending some money anyway, so let's compete for fame and recognition! We'll ask how much money is needed later and make some extra money for you."

"It's all up to Senior Brother Wu to decide!" Lin Yuan clasped his hands in a salute, his gaze filled with affection as he silently looked at everyone. Let's invest.

It's definitely worth it!