Chapter 289: Things Are Not What They Used To Be

"Manager Zhou, you are too kind. Walk slowly, walk slowly, no need to see me out."

A martial artist at the middle stage of Qi and Blood cupped his hands with a smile, declining Zhou Laodie's offer to see him off.

Zhou Laodie cupped his hands toward him, "In the future, the firm will still have to rely heavily on Liu Shifu."

"."

The two exchanged polite pleasantries and only parted ways once they reached the entrance.

Zhou Laodie watched the other's retreating figure and let out a sigh of relief. The surrounding managers gathered around, "Is it settled?"

"No problem, he agreed, and the terms were all negotiated; he didn't try to raise the price on the spot."

Zhou Laodie remarked with emotion, "Liu Shifu is still quite reasonable."

Manager Xu, standing to the side, shook his head, "Old Zhou, among us old fellows, if it were anyone else, it would be impossible to make him this 'reasonable' like you did."

The situation outside the city is turbulent, and as the times worsen, the transport of merchant caravans becomes increasingly difficult; the mere two Qi and Blood martial artists are no longer enough. Master Shen had no choice but to recruit Qi and Blood martial artists from the market to help.

Fortunately, the market is sluggish, and martial artists are having trouble making a living, so it is not as difficult as it was before.

The problem is that, facing the increasingly harsh environment, those at the initial stage of Qi and Blood like Shen Sijing and Xu Ying are struggling too much.

The firm's upper management gritted their teeth and decided to hire outside martial artists at the middle stage of Qi and Blood to boost their strength.

However, as everyone knows, martial artists value strength above all; the stronger the strength, the greater the arrogance. Although the firm can afford the pay, it cannot necessarily make the other party willing to serve.

After much thought, Master Shen entrusted Zhou Laodie to come forward and extend the invitation.

The result was that this Liu Shifu, an expert at the 5th stage of Qi and Blood, showed no trace of arrogance in front of Zhou Laodie.

After chatting for an hour or two, the conditions for their cooperation were finalized.

Zhou Laodie is a bystander who cannot see the truth, but his colleagues all know that the fundamental reason is that he has a good son.

The young Martial Dao genius at the high stage of Qi and Blood, Winged Tiger Zhou You.

It has spread throughout the martial arts circles that Zhou You fought Qi Er Gongzi to a draw, and not only did he not offend the Qi Family, but he actually built a connection with Qi San Gongzi, becoming an honored guest of the noble family.

After the news spread, martial artists in the city were envious and jealous, all knowing that Zhou You had made it big.

Someone like Liu Shifu, who not only cannot beat Zhou You but also treats noble families as if they were gods, wishes he could treat Zhou Laodie with the respect of a junior; how could he dare to be the least bit arrogant?

It is easy to imagine that as the firm relies more and more on the strength of martial artists, Zhou Laodie's status will become increasingly important.

"Eh!?"

After Master Shen learned of this, his heart was filled with both joy and worry.

The joy is that they successfully hired a middle-stage Qi and Blood martial artist, making the caravan's escort strength stronger, and with Zhou Laocan there to anchor things, this martial artist wouldn't dare to stir up any trouble.

After all, Zhou Laodie's son is at the high stage of Qi and Blood, publicly recognized as the firm's greatest martial backing.

The worry is that the firm's reliance on Zhou You's channels is still too thin, depending solely on this relationship with Zhou Laodie.

If the marriage alliance had succeeded back then, he would be Zhou You's father-in-law; with that status, those unruly martial artists would all have to show some respect.

As it stands now, only Zhou Laodie's negotiations and words are effective; no one else's are, including his own as the firm's boss.

"That girl Si Ying, her heart is higher than the heavens, yet she doesn't know what a great opportunity she missed."

Master Shen has a pragmatic personality and knows that chaotic times are coming; only by relying on powerful martial force can one survive. He had originally set his sights on Zhou You, but his daughter was willful and refused.

Although his son Shen Sijing is outstanding, he has to help with the business and practice his boxing, running back and forth, which is truly exhausting.

Seeing that his family is thin on manpower, his only hope is to use marriage to secure help.

Sigh! Master Shen was worrying when he saw his son enter the room, full of concerns, and call out 'Father' upon seeing him.

"Si Ying, what is it?"

Shen Sijing's brows were tightly locked. He had not intended to tell his father, but since he was asked, he had to speak. "Father, in the future, please do not mention again that our family once intended to marry into the Zhou family?"

What? What happened? Could it be that Zhou You's side raised objections?

"Do you remember the third young master of the Qi Family?"

"I remember, isn't he learning boxing at the martial arts school? In terms of seniority, he is even your Senior Brother!"

"He sent someone to notify me that the Qi Family intends to recruit Zhou You as a son-in-law. For the sake of reputation, they forbid us from mentioning that we once wanted to form a marriage alliance with Zhou You. This is a warning."

How overbearing!

The Qi Family is recruiting Zhou You as a son-in-law; it hasn't even happened yet, and they already want to seal their mouths.

Master Shen was not angry; instead, he felt it was only natural. If a noble family has taken a fancy to Zhou You, what does that represent? He then let out a long sigh, "Child, Zhou You's momentum to soar into the sky is already set; we cannot hold him back."

"Pass the order to everyone in the household: whoever dares to gossip will have their tongue cut out."

Master Shen's tone was murderous, "And your sister, this is no longer a time for her to be willful. If even the slightest wind leaks out from her, I will act as if I never had this daughter."

"Father, it doesn't have to come to that."

Shen Sijing said this, but he knew his father had turned ruthless; this was a major matter concerning the life of the entire family.

He felt inwardly that this Junior Brother Zhou You was no longer someone they could climb up to, and they even had to desperately distance themselves from the past marriage attempt. He couldn't help but wonder, if his little sister had agreed back then, what would the situation be like now? Jian Xiong Martial Arts School...

"Master, this set of White Tiger Seven Kills, after fusing with the Iron Tiger aura, has doubled in power."

"I have already swept through all opponents at the middle stage of Qi and Blood."

Lu Jianqing threw a punch, the gray-iron colored fist wind piercing through a dozen layers of stone slabs, the force still showing no signs of weakening.

Finally, the fist print landed on a target made of seven layers of cowhide, silently melting and piercing through it.

He was filled with ambition; after stepping into the Qi and Blood 4th Stage, his strength increased with each passing day.

Given time, it might not be impossible to challenge Zhou You, who had already taken the lead in stepping into the high stage of Qi and Blood.

Lu Jianqing's talent for boxing was outstanding, but the shadow of Zhou You always hung over him; even if his progress speed was the best in the martial arts school, people would always bring up Zhou You's name.

There were even disciples who were secretly dissatisfied with him, whispering that if Zhou You hadn't been forced away by him, the martial arts school's momentum would have been even greater. He practiced boxing diligently, almost self-torturously, pushing his potential to the limit just to prove himself.

"Not bad, not bad!"

Wang Jianxiong was not in high spirits today; he commented faintly and did not offer him any guidance.

Lu Jianqing sensed that his master was in a bad mood and tried to ask, "Master, is something the matter recently?"

"Hmm, telling you is no harm; news has come from the Qi Family that they may recruit Zhou You as a son-in-law."

Wang Jianxiong could not help but sigh; this brat was better at maneuvering than he had imagined, having actually grown to this extent.

"What?"

Lu Jianqing was struck as if by lightning; the graceful shadow of a girl appeared in his mind, and his heart tightened instantly.

At that time, he had followed his master to visit the Qi Family gate and, having caught a glimpse of a girl by chance, was struck by her beauty; after inquiring, he learned she had a very lovely name... Qi Fengzi.

Although his master had long since made arrangements for him to be betrothed to Wang Yan, Lu Jianqing did not like the headstrong Wang Yan, and was even more taken with the Qi Family daughter whom he had only met once, and who did not even know he existed.

"Master, may I know which, um, noble daughter of the Qi Family is betrothed to Zhou You?"

Wang Jianxiong looked at him a few extra times, making Lu Jianqing nervous, then said, "Qi Fengzhang mentioned a few names to me: they are Qi Wu Guniang, Qi Qingyao, and Qi Fengzi."

What? Lu Jianqing was struck as if by lightning, instantly feeling all hope was lost.

(End of this chapter)