Chapter 42: Senior Brother Zhao

On the street, bustling and crowded, it was still a lively scene.

Jiang Cheng stood on the street, looking at the three‑story building before him, feeling a bit nervous.

On the rooftop, four large characters were erected.

Feiying Martial Arts Hall.

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Cheng walked in.

As soon as he entered, he heard shouts and the thuds of fists and feet striking sandbags.

He couldn't see because a wall blocked his view.

"Hello."

When someone entered, the receptionist woman immediately smiled, "Who asked you what you want?"

"Hello, I would like to become a member here."

Jiang Cheng looked at the woman.

The woman had shoulder‑length hair and fairly fair skin.

In front of her were a computer and a printer, giving Jiang Cheng a long‑missed sense of familiarity.

"Do you want to apply for a Membership Card?"

Upon hearing that, the woman's attitude instantly became much warmer, using honorifics.

She pointed to the visitor log in front of her and smiled, "If convenient, please register, and fill in your mobile number if you have one."

"Alright."

Jiang Cheng walked over, glanced at it, and filled in his name, gender, and age.

"So you are Mr. Jiang."

The woman took the registration form, glanced at it twice, and smiled, "Mr. Jiang, please wait a moment; I'll go fetch someone to introduce you to our Martial Arts Hall's membership system."

"Please wait a moment," Jiang Cheng looked inside and said, "Is the beautiful lady surnamed Bai here? I only thought of applying for membership after hearing her introduction."

A hint of surprise appeared in the woman's eyes.

"You mean Senior Sister Bai? Sorry, she hasn't arrived today, but Senior Sister Bai usually doesn't handle this kind of matter. If you're worried about being scammed, there's really no need; the other senior brothers in our hall are also very reliable. You can learn about it now, and if you still feel uneasy, you can wait for Senior Sister Bai to come before deciding, that's fine."

Jiang Cheng thought for a moment and nodded.

"Alright, then I'll trouble the lady."

"You're welcome, please sit there for a while; I'll be back shortly."

Jiang Cheng sat down on a chair nearby.

He felt a bit uneasy inside.

Since she wasn't there, the one who would come later—could it be the person who came a few days ago with the woman surnamed Bai?

The one who initially didn't intend to pay, was reminded, and then pretended to pay twenty.

It can't be that unlucky, can it? Just as he was thinking, a footstep sound approached from afar.

Jiang Cheng looked up; leading the group was the receptionist woman.

Behind her was a square‑faced young man about 1.8 m tall, with short hair, looking very dependable.

"Mr. Jiang, this is Senior Brother Zhao of our hall; Senior Brother, this is Mr. Jiang."

The woman walked over and introduced them to each other.

"Hello, Mr. Jiang."

Zhao Xiangyu extended his hand proactively, with a smiling face.

"Hello, Senior Brother Zhao."

Jiang Cheng had already stood up, extended his hand, and shook the other's.

He had to admit, his impression of the man before him was quite good, not the lofty figure he had imagined.

Of course, this is only a first impression and cannot represent anything.

"Mr. Jiang, you said you thought of joining our hall after hearing Senior Sister Bai's introduction, right?" "Yes."

Jiang Cheng nodded.

"It seems you have some understanding of our membership system, so let's find a place to discuss in detail."

"Alright."

Jiang Cheng followed behind him, walked a few steps inside, and discovered a turnstile ahead.

"Hehe."

Zhao Xiangyu chuckled and explained, "This is set up to prevent unrelated people from disturbing members practicing inside; after becoming a member, you can freely enter and exit with a Membership Card."

As he spoke, he took out a Membership Card, placed it on the sensor, and gestured for Jiang Cheng to go first.

After passing, the view opened up; at a glance there were a dozen or two dozen people in training robes, some practicing alone, some sparring in pairs, and some hitting sandbags.

"This is the Ordinary Member area."

Zhao Xiangyu introduced, "People who have Ordinary Membership or have bought a temporary class train here, and we also assign instructors for guidance."

He pointed to two men wearing black training robes.

"That's it."

Jiang Cheng looked upstairs and asked, "So the second floor is the Senior Member training area?"

"Correct."

Zhao Xiangyu smiled and nodded, "The second floor is larger, with fewer people, and the daily training is also overseen by us, of course, including Senior Sister Bai."

"And the third floor?"

"The third floor is where we and the master practice; ordinary people, even Senior Members, are not allowed in," Zhao Xiangyu said seriously.

"I understand."

Jiang Cheng felt a stir in his heart.

If you want to access Secret Martial Arts, you have to go up to the third floor; even a Senior Member doesn't seem qualified enough.

"Hmm, then come with me. We'll find a Conference Room, sit down and talk slowly."

Zhao Xiangyu's face regained a smile.

What they called a Conference Room was actually just a separate small room, with a table and a few chairs inside.

"Mr. Jiang, although Senior Sister Bai has already introduced you to our Martial Arts Hall's membership system, let me explain it in detail again; if you have any questions along the way, you may raise them."

"Alright, then that's all right."

"It's nothing."

Zhao Xiangyu smiled faintly and began the introduction.

The content he said was more or less the same as what Jiang Cheng had heard before.

"Alright, I've basically finished. Mr. Jiang, do you have any questions?"

"I do have one question."

Jiang Cheng said, "I want to know, if I purchase a membership and then get robbed, what should I do?"

Zhao Xiangyu had anticipated this and said with a smile, "The situation you describe, Mr. Jiang, is basically impossible. Whether you encounter petty thugs or members of the Wild Wolf Gang, as long as you show our Martial Arts Hall's Membership Card within its valid period, they won't trouble you."

Of course, one isn't afraid of ten thousand, but fears the unlikely; if those people don't recognize it, or act desperate, or for any other reason, Mr. Jiang should cooperate, not resist, preferably ask for their names or at least remember their facial features, and report the situation to us after returning.

Our Flying Eagle Martial Arts Hall has been operating for twenty to thirty years; locating a person is not difficult. Once found, we will certainly give Mr. Jiang a satisfactory answer, as it also concerns our Hall's reputation.

If in the end we cannot locate the person, our Hall will provide appropriate compensation; if Mr. Jiang is dissatisfied with the outcome, you may choose to leave our Hall, and we will refund the entire membership fee.

Jiang Cheng nodded.

It sounds pretty decent.

Immediately after, he raised another question, "Senior Brother Zhao, what if we had resisted at that time?"

Zhao Xiangyu's smile faded, "Mr. Jiang, you'd better not resist."

(End of chapter)