Chapter 111: The Threshold of a Noble Mansion is Deep

Raozhou Prefecture borders Quzhou Prefecture to the east.

Poyang County is located on the northern side of Raozhou Prefecture.

Two horses departed from the Poyang County city gate, kicking up a cloud of yellow dust, and soon disappeared into the depths of the official road.

From Poyang County to Quzhou Prefecture, even with fast horses whipped day and night, it takes two days.

Lin Chen rode his horse behind Master Tai, galloping all the way.

This was his first time traveling far from home. Along the official road, he saw many merchant caravans. These caravans all had martial artists as guards, and they looked at the two of them with wary expressions.

"Master Tai, do all merchant caravans have to hire martial artist guards?"

Seeing several merchant caravans in a row with martial artist guards, Lin Chen was somewhat curious, because according to what Lord Su and Lord He had said, the Martial Way in the Great Liang Dynasty was prosperous, and logically speaking, there shouldn't be any mountain bandits or robbers.

Master Tai smiled and said, "If there are martial artist guards, naturally no one will intercept the goods. If there were no martial artists, a caravan would be so conspicuous that it's hard to guarantee that some martial artists wouldn't have crooked thoughts."

Lin Chen understood. Raozhou Prefecture probably didn't have any established mountain bandit problems, but it couldn't stop the fact that there were many martial artists. If an adult were holding a piece of gold walking down the street, no one would go to rob them, but if it were a child, the pedestrians on the street who originally had no such thoughts would likely start having them.

For merchants, there was no need to take that risk.

"If a merchant caravan doesn't hire martial artist guards and encounters robbers, as long as no lives are lost, the government office generally won't investigate too much."

Master Tai pointed this out, and Lin Chen's eyes widened; he understood the subtext of Master Tai's words.

This was collusion between officials and bandits...

No, that wasn't right; it couldn't be called collusion between officials and bandits, but rather creating a way for martial artists to make money, and everyone understood it without saying it.

Not every martial artist could eat from the government office's bowl. If one spent a generation's savings learning martial arts and ended up unable to find even a job, these martial artists, although not strong in power, were still powerful existences to ordinary people.

In that case, these martial artists would inevitably become an unstable factor.

Merchant caravans must hire martial artist guards, which gave martial artists a way to make a living.

Lin Chen even guessed in his heart that some martial artists worked as guards during the day and put on masks at night to do the work of robbers, specifically robbing those merchant caravans that hadn't hired martial artist guards.

It wasn't necessarily for the goods, but to ensure that the job of escorting goods always existed.

This was the same principle as raising bandits to ensure one's own importance.

In the Poyang County region, many martial artists from merchant caravans would stop and salute when they saw Master Tai. Lin Chen scanned the physiques of these martial artists and knew they were disciples who had walked out of the Zhenyue Martial Hall.

Zhenyue Martial Hall disciples, known as the most sought-after martial hall for escorting goods, were indeed not just boasting.

However, after leaving the Poyang County region, the merchant caravans were more wary of the two of them. Most of these escorting martial artists were not from Poyang County and did not know Master Tai.

The journey was smooth and safe.

Later on, looking at the repetitive and similar scenery, Lin Chen lost his sense of novelty and just traveled silently.

Two days later, the dusty Lin Chen and Master Tai appeared before the city gate of Quzhou Prefecture.

The Quzhou Prefecture city gate stood towering, like an insurmountable majestic pass.

The huge city gate had sixteen openings, with a constant stream of traffic, and several queues of people snaked out, stretching for a mile.

Master Tai took Lin Chen and walked directly along the middle path, which was also the path with the fewest people queuing.

The exclusive passage for martial artists.

Only Open-Acupuncture martial artists could pass through.

"This is the preferential treatment the Great Liang Dynasty gives to us martial artists. Quzhou Prefecture is like this, and our Raozhou Prefecture is the same, but if you are bringing a merchant caravan, you cannot take this path."

Master Tai explained to Lin Chen, turning a blind eye to the envious gazes cast by the commoners queuing in the other passages on both sides; he had seen such gazes too many times.

The two entered the city, and Master Tai smiled and said, "Let's go bathe first, change into clean clothes, and then go to the Li Prefecture to request an audience with Lord Li."

"Bathe?"

So, after being dusty, we're getting a spa treatment?

Was he going to experience the customs of this world?

But soon Lin Chen knew he had overthought it. Master Tai took him to an inn and booked two rooms.

Lin Chen chuckled; thinking about it, even if Master Tai had come to Quzhou Prefecture dusty in the past and found some entertainment to relieve his fatigue, he couldn't possibly bring him along.

He was, after all, a Master, and he still had to pay attention to his image in front of his student.

The inn waiter boiled hot water, and after taking a hot bath to wash away the fatigue, Lin Chen walked out of the room feeling refreshed. Master Tai was already waiting in the front courtyard.

"The Li Prefecture is some distance from here, let's go."

……

……

Quzhou Li Prefecture.

As a Li Prefecture with a Sixth Rank powerhouse, the mansion was extremely grand.

Even the gatekeeper was an Open-Acupuncture martial artist.

Master Tai reported his identity and was led by the gatekeeper to a side hall to wait.

"Don't be nervous. Lord Li is gentle and kind, especially caring towards the younger generation. When you see Lord Li in a while, just answer whatever Lord Li asks truthfully."

Li Prefecture main hall.

Li Shun'an listened to the gatekeeper's report, his brows slightly furrowed.

He naturally knew of the Zhenyue Martial Hall. When his father was young, he practiced hard-body techniques and heard that the hard-body techniques of the Zhenyue Martial Hall in Poyang County had their own unique features, so he went to study there.

After staying at the Zhenyue Martial Hall for a year, his father returned to Quzhou. However, because of this bond, every year during the year-end, when Master Tai from the Zhenyue Martial Hall came to visit, his father would personally receive him.

"Father is out visiting friends today and will be staying at the villa below. Arrange for them to stay at the mansion first; I won't see them."

Li An thought for a moment. That Master from the Zhenyue Martial Hall had been at the Organ Perfection Stage for so many years and had never broken through to the Ranked Tier; he wasn't worth his time to receive.

His father had a bond with the Zhenyue Martial Hall, but that didn't mean the Li family also had a bond with the Zhenyue Martial Hall.

These people from the Zhenyue Martial Hall were also ignorant. For so many years, they only visited his father, and apart from coming to send gifts for his father's birthday, no one had ever come to send gifts or offer congratulations for other happy events in the Li family.

"Father, do we have guests at home?"

Just as Li An made the arrangements, a young girl walked in.

"How did Qi'er know?"

"When I just returned to the mansion, I saw someone in the side hall."

"Guests from Poyang County."

"Poyang County, is that from Raozhou Prefecture? Do we have relatives in Poyang County?" Li Qi asked with some curiosity.

"They are not relatives of our Li family. The one who came is the Master of a martial hall. Your grandfather studied at the martial hall in Poyang County for a period of time when he was young and came to visit your grandfather. However, your grandfather is out visiting friends today and will probably return very late. Let them stay at the mansion for one night, and we will inform your grandfather tomorrow."

"I see." Li Qi was a bit curious: "I saw a young man about my age; he should be a student of the martial hall. What did that Master of the martial hall bring this young man here for?"

"Either he is a younger relative of his, wanting to show his face in front of your grandfather, or he is a student of the martial hall with good martial arts talent, brought here for your grandfather to see."

Li An smiled slightly. He didn't hide anything from his daughter. Upon learning from the gatekeeper that Master Tai had also brought a young man, he had already guessed what was going on.

This was also why he didn't intend to see them; he would wait until his father returned. If his father gave any rewards, this bond would end there.

"I don't care about these things. Father, I invited several good friends to be guests at the mansion today."

"Fine, I will notify the kitchen to prepare a seven-colored feathered spirit chicken for you all."

……

……

"The one just now should be Lord Li's granddaughter."

In the gatekeeper's side hall, Master Tai watched the girl who had just hopped in, and after the girl left, he whispered to Lin Chen.

"Master Tai, have you never seen Lord Li's younger generation?"

Lin Chen was a bit surprised. Master Tai had already said on the way here that he visited Lord Li at the Li Prefecture every year at the end of the year. Having come for so many years, logically speaking, he should have seen Lord Li's family members.

"Lord Li and the Zhenyue Martial Hall have that bit of a bond. I come to the Li Prefecture because I am the Master of the Zhenyue Martial Hall, representing the Zhenyue Martial Hall to maintain this bond. If I were to see Lord Li's descendants and become close with the Li family's descendants, it would be equivalent to using the martial hall's bond with Lord Li to seek my own connections."

Master Tai looked deeply at Lin Chen. This bond had been maintained by four generations of Masters of the Zhenyue Martial Hall, and no Master had ever used this bond to seek benefits for themselves.

"Except for Lord Li's birthday, my Zhenyue Martial Hall never participates in other happy events of the Li family."

"Over the years, Lord Li has been willing to receive me precisely because of this reason. This bond can only be used once."

Hearing Master Tai's words, Lin Chen understood.

What kind of status did Lord Li have? A Sixth Rank martial arts powerhouse. If he had always been an official in the imperial court, he would have been a level higher than the Director of the Wuzheng Office.

For such a big figure, favors were extremely precious, but there was only one chance.

And if Master Tai and the previous Masters had selfish motives, I'm afraid this Lord Li would have long since severed this bond.

"Thank you, Master, for your great kindness."

Lin Chen was sincerely grateful. For such a precious opportunity, Master Tai had used this favor on him; his kindness to him was no less than that of the Jingshui Martial Hall.

"Your martial arts talent is worth using this favor. In the past, the martial hall has also produced students with potential. Take Junior Brother Gu from your generation, who is already the most promising student in the martial hall in the last five years, but he is still lacking."

For such a precious favor, although Master Tai was the Master, he couldn't make the decision alone.

After leaving the Wuzheng Office, he met with the old Master, who was his teacher, and also met with several seniors of the martial hall. Everyone agreed to use this favor on Lin Chen, and only then did he bring Lin Chen to Quzhou Prefecture to visit Lord Li.

Lin Chen and Master Tai didn't talk for too long. This was the gatekeeper's side hall, and with many people and eyes, some things were not convenient to say.

Soon, footsteps approached, and the gatekeeper returned, followed by a steward.

"Sorry to have kept the two distinguished guests waiting for so long. Kong Guanzhu is out visiting friends today and is not at the mansion. I will arrange for the two distinguished guests to stay at the mansion first. I have already sent someone to send a message to the Master, and when the Master returns, I will notify the two distinguished guests."

Upon hearing the gatekeeper's words, Master Tai knew that Lord Li was not at the mansion today, and the one in charge should be the Li family's eldest young master.

In the past, if Lord Li was not at the mansion, he wouldn't stay at the Li Prefecture, but would find an inn outside to stay for the night and come to visit again tomorrow.

However, this time he brought Lin Chen to request guidance from Lord Li. When Lord Li received the message and returned, he had to be able to see Lin Chen immediately; he couldn't let Lord Li wait at the mansion.

"Thank you, Steward."

The Li Prefecture was extremely large. Lin Chen followed the steward through several courtyards and corridors, and finally arrived at a quiet small courtyard.

The two courtyards were not large, but they were complete with everything needed.

Lin Chen looked at the weapon rack placed in the corner of the courtyard, where various weapons such as sabers, spears, swords, and halberds were all complete.

Guests who could stay at the Li family were basically martial artists, and this courtyard was equivalent to a small training ground.

Master Tai lived next door. Lin Chen entered his own courtyard, and after walking around, he came to the courtyard.

Even when away from home, he didn't intend to stop practicing.

It was inconvenient to practice the Iron Bone Art, but his Water Cloud Palm had not yet reached perfection, so he could continue practicing it.

Water Cloud Palm, like raging waves, the sound of waves crashing echoed continuously in the courtyard. Master Tai in the next courtyard listened to the movement, a look of satisfaction on his face.

To be successful at a young age and still be so diligent, it's rare!

Master Tai didn't continue to stay in the courtyard and walked out. He originally wanted to greet Lin Chen, but thinking that Lin Chen was practicing, he gave up.

He also had several old friends in Quzhou Prefecture. Since it was still early today, he could go out to visit friends.

After giving a few instructions to the servants at the door, he walked towards the entrance of the Li Prefecture.

……

……

"Sister Wang, you will stay in this courtyard today. It's quiet here. I'll come to call Sister Wang later."

In the guest room area, Li Qi led a woman, guided by a servant, into the courtyard next to Lin Chen's.

However, as soon as the two entered the courtyard, they heard the movement next door. Li Qi frowned: "Are there guests next door?"

"Arranged by Steward Zhang, it is said to be a guest from Poyang County."

Hearing the servant's answer, Li Qi remembered her father's words earlier and knew who was staying there.

"Go knock on the door and say that no noise is allowed in the Li Prefecture."

Li Qi didn't take to heart someone who couldn't even see her father's face.

"Sister Qi, no need, just change me to another courtyard." The woman on the side smiled and dissuaded her.

"Sister Wang, daffodils are planted in this courtyard. Sister Wang, you like daffodils the most. I specially chose this courtyard for you."

Seeing the few daffodils planted in the flower bed in the courtyard, the woman finally didn't object anymore.

Next door courtyard.

Hearing the knocking, Lin Chen stopped practicing. Before he could respond, the courtyard gate was pushed open.

"Guest, no noise is allowed in the Li Prefecture. Guest, you'd better not practice martial arts."

Listening to the servant's words, Lin Chen was stunned. The Li Prefecture didn't allow practicing martial arts? Then what were these weapon racks in the courtyard for? Just for show?

"Thank you for the reminder, I understand."

But Lin Chen still nodded and agreed. He was a guest, and since the host had this rule, he would just follow it.

Even if the servant's behavior was completely impolite.

A third-rank official at the prime minister's gate; it seemed the Li Prefecture's servants didn't think much of him, a guest from a county town.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 112 =====