Chapter 49

Fortunately, it wasn't that something had happened, nor were they here to borrow money or grain, but a group of young people from Baishi Square had heard about the Huang family’s selection and came to him for verification.

He hadn't expected the Huang family to make such a big move this time, sending people to Baishi Square to promote it despite the heavy snow.

In the crowd, he saw Zhang Daniu and He Laosan; the two people who hated martial arts practice also came.

"Brother A-Yang, is this true?"

The speaker was a cousin from Xu Yang’s own clan, named Xu Zheng.

Xu Yang nodded: "The news is true. As long as you meet the standard after bone-touching, the Huang family will send you to a martial arts school to practice. That’s how I was selected back then."

Hearing that Xu Yang had become a martial artist this way, the group of young people were so excited that their faces turned red.

If Xu Yang could get ahead this way, why couldn't they?

"A-Yang, then please take them to the Huang family."

Cousin Xu Daxin said excitedly; he was Xu Zheng’s father.

Xu Yang thought for a moment and said: "I happen to be going to the city, so I can guide them to the Huang family. However, the snow is thick and walking is difficult. If you can't walk on the way, I won't care."

"If they can't even walk to the city, what kind of trash wants to practice martial arts?" Xu Daxin said.

It was a small favor, and Xu Yang didn't mind helping these peers get a chance to change their fate, so he immediately led the group toward the city.

Although the snow was thick, the group of young people, thinking they could practice martial arts and change their fate like Xu Yang, and being well-prepared, actually all persisted to the city without anyone falling behind.

Xu Yang only took them near the Huang family before going to the Liu family. Whether they could change their fate depended on their own fortune.

Soon, he learned from Zhang Bo that the Liu family had concluded that something had happened to Bao Gang and had given his family some money as a pension.

This move immediately won over people’s hearts, and everyone praised the Liu family for being righteous.

Even Xu Yang had some good feelings toward the Liu family. After all, he knew how Bao Gang had died, and it could be said to have absolutely nothing to do with the Liu family.

The Liu family could give money to Bao Gang’s family; regardless of whether it was to win hearts, they had truly given it.

In any case, this matter couldn't be traced back to him.

In the afternoon, when he arrived at the Weiyuan Hall, he saw the people selected by the Huang family this time. There weren't as many as last time; there were only five.

The Huang family had raised the standards this time, and they didn't want anyone with D-grade bones.

Their luck wasn't as good as last time either; there were no geniuses like Lu Ren, and not a single person with B-grade bones.

All five people had C-grade bones—one C-plus and four C-minus.

It was said that the Huang family’s Second Master, Huang Ping, was so angry he nearly died, and had to grit his teeth and increase the cultivation intensity.

Of the dozen or so people from Baishi Square, one was actually selected—his cousin Xu Zheng, one of the four with C-minus grade bones.

"Brother A-Yang!"

Seeing Xu Yang appear, Xu Zheng waved at him excitedly, his face flushed.

Xu Yang just nodded faintly. Although they were cousins, they were already outside the five degrees of mourning. Before he became a martial artist, Xu Zheng wouldn't even greet him when they met.

Xu Yang didn't pay any more attention to the Huang family’s affairs, and the things he was worried about didn't happen.

Three days later, the heavy snow gradually melted, and he continued his cultivation as usual.

Morning at the Liu family, afternoon at the Weiyuan Hall.

"Tap, tap..."

Qiu Yongqiang looked flustered, running all the way, snow water splashing under his feet.

Finally arriving home, he pushed open the door to see his elder brother, Qiu Yongjian, lying on the bed with a pale face, a blood-stained garment piled on the floor beside him.

"Brother, are you okay?"

His eyes were full of anger, but he first asked about Qiu Yongjian’s injuries.

Qiu Yongjian showed a miserable smile: "Second brother, your idea of hiring an offering was right. Without a martial artist offering, let alone business, even your life can be taken by others whenever they want."

Qiu Yongqiang could no longer control himself and roared: "Hong Xu is too much! If he can't compete in business, he uses force, thinking only his Hong family has martial artists? I’ve already sent someone to notify Wenjie."

Both the Hong family and the Qiu family operated tea businesses, but the Qiu family had good channels, and the tea they sold was not only of good quality but also cheaper. For many years, although there was competition, they had never resorted to force.

Unexpectedly, this time the heavy snow meant goods from outside couldn't be brought in. The Hong family started raising prices, while the Qiu family, worried about not being able to sell because they had too much stock, didn't raise prices, causing the Hong family’s price hike to fail, which led to the trouble.

After several negotiations, the Hong family’s demands changed from initially asking the Qiu family to raise prices together to asking the Qiu family to share their supply channels with them.

The Qiu brothers naturally wouldn't share such secrets with their rivals. Unexpectedly, when the Hong family’s intimidation failed, they actually resorted to force today.

Hearing this, Qiu Yongjian’s expression changed: "Bad! I only found out today that Hong Xu’s demands kept changing because his eldest son, Hong Feng, had broken through to Small Success in Qi Refining, which is why he used force to intimidate us."

"You hurry and stop Wenjie; don't let him go to the Hong family. He has only just refined Qi and is far from being Hong Feng’s match. If they fight, Hong Feng won't go easy."

"You tell him to go to the Weiyuan Hall and ask a senior brother who has some influence to come."

"Be quick. Hong Xu only gave us one day to consider. After one day, if we don't hand over the channels, he will have Hong Feng do it."

Hearing about Hong Xu’s eldest son, Hong Feng, reaching Small Success in Qi Refining, Qiu Yongqiang’s face also changed drastically. He didn't care about anything else and hurried out to intercept his son, Qiu Wenjie.

Fortunately, he stopped him. Qiu Wenjie hadn't reached the Hong family yet, and he quickly explained Hong Feng’s Small Success in Qi Refining and his elder brother Qiu Yongjian’s plan.

"Father, don't worry. I’ll go to the Weiyuan Hall right now and invite a senior brother of weight to come forward."

Qiu Wenjie gave Qiu Yongqiang a reassuring look and then turned and left. But when he stepped into the Weiyuan Hall’s inner courtyard, he looked around blankly, not knowing who to invite for a moment.

Among the senior brothers in the inner courtyard, there were many who could solve this matter with a single word, but he had almost no friendship with these people and hadn't even spoken to them.

Even if he swallowed his pride to ask, they wouldn't help him.

Having been in the inner courtyard for so long, he only hung out with Xu Yang and the others; those with backgrounds didn't think much of him at all.

"Right, Senior Brother Zhang Yong."

He suddenly remembered that Zhang Yong was also at Small Success in Qi Refining and they had some friendship; Zhang Yong should be willing to help.

Qiu Wenjie walked quickly to Zhang Yong, cupped his hands, and said: "Senior Brother Zhang Yong, my family has offended a Small Success Qi-refining expert. I would like to ask you to come forward and negotiate with the other party..."

Zhang Yong put away his stance, didn't refuse immediately, but carefully asked about the situation of the person the Qiu family had offended.

"This person is named Hong Feng, from the Tiger-Roaring Fist School. His talent is average; it should have taken him three or four years to reach Small Success in Qi Refining. They are bullying us too much. My Qiu family and the Hong family both operate tea businesses..."

Qiu Wenjie didn't hide anything and told him everything from how the Hong family and the Qiu family had developed a grudge to why it had developed to this point.

Finally, he added: "If Senior Brother Zhang can help come forward to negotiate, my uncle and father will surely prepare a generous gift to thank you."

He didn't intend to let Zhang Yong work for nothing; he understood the ways of the world.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Yong changed his previous attitude, shook his head, and said: "Sorry, I cannot help with this matter."

Qiu Wenjie’s face turned pale: "Senior Brother Zhang, you are also at Small Success in Qi Refining. If you come forward to negotiate a few words, Hong Feng won't refuse to give you face. If you think the gift is too light, you can say so."

Zhang Yong sighed and then said: "It’s not that I think the gift is too light. If it were just a matter of a few words, we are fellow disciples, so helping you negotiate wouldn't be a problem."

"But according to what you said, the Hong family is coveting your family’s supply channels and wants to swallow your Qiu family to strengthen their own. It’s definitely not a spur-of-the-moment decision."

"If I come forward to negotiate, it won't be just a matter of saying a few words; we will definitely have to see who is stronger."

"Now, before the Martial Arts Examination, I have no certainty of reaching Great Success in Qi Refining. If I get injured and delayed, then there will truly be no hope at all..."

At this point, Qiu Wenjie understood that Zhang Yong wouldn't change his mind, and saying more was useless.

How could people with the same cultivation level fight without getting injured? It was even possible they would perish together.

Zhang Yong’s heart was set on martial arts, and he would never delay his path for someone with whom he only had an ordinary friendship.

"I understand, Senior Brother Zhang. I’ll go ask other senior brothers."

Qiu Wenjie bowed to Zhang Yong and then turned to leave. But looking around the large inner courtyard, he didn't know who else to ask.

If Zhang Yong had such concerns, other senior brothers would surely have them too.

Unless it was someone with a strong background who could make Hong Feng afraid to move with a single word, anyone he asked would refuse.

Sun Tao, Jiang Ping, Gu Fang, Zhao Zhifei!

The people with the deepest backgrounds in the inner courtyard flashed through his mind one by one, and finally, he decided to swallow his pride and ask Jiang Ping.

Sun Tao represented the Weiyuan Hall and couldn't come forward casually.

Gu Fang was a woman and wouldn't show her face to negotiate with others either.

Zhao Zhifei was arrogant, only befriending those with backgrounds and looking down on those from humble families. He didn't even think much of Lu Ren. Only Jiang Ping was relatively amiable and had some chance.

While pondering, he walked quickly to Jiang Ping, cupped his hands, and said: "Greetings, Senior Brother Jiang."

Jiang Ping looked at this junior brother he had no impression of and raised an eyebrow: "Something up?"

Qiu Wenjie took a deep breath and said quickly: "It’s like this, Senior Brother Jiang. Someone wants to seize my family’s property, and I would like to ask you..."

Jiang Ping interrupted: "Get lost!"

Qiu Wenjie’s face flushed red. He apologized to Jiang Ping in frustration, feeling his heart in chaos, not knowing who to ask to save the Qiu family.

Suddenly, someone blocked his path. He looked up subconsciously and saw Xu Yang looking at him with a cold expression, with Wu Yongfeng standing beside him.

"Why didn't you come to me if something happened?" Xu Yang frowned.