Chapter 409: Setting Sail for the Foundation

A heavy plaque, inscribed with four large characters... Daqian Martial Arts Hall.

Having been hung up for only a few days, passersby cannot help but stop to say a few words, pondering the meaning of this name.

There is a certain pattern to naming martial arts halls in Fucheng; they are either named after a fist technique, such as the Iron Palm Martial Arts Hall, or named after the master's title, such as the original Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall.

Everyone who makes a living in the martial arts circle knows that Zhou You took over this martial arts hall.

Therefore, many people are curious why he chose this name.

Including those around Zhou You...

"It's very simple, because I studied under Ceng Fuzi, and he gave me the title 'Daqian'—Zhou You, Zhou Daqian."

Zhou You gave this answer to the questions from Qi Qingdi, Zuo Shier, Shi Gaofei, and others.

Everyone suddenly realized, so that was it; the hall master is skilled in both literature and martial arts, truly admirable! The four large characters on the plaque are all written in ancient Seal Script, with powerful strokes, and a primitive, rich aura hits one in the face.

Even passersby who are illiterate, upon seeing it, think the new plaque is much more imposing than the original one.

Several days have passed since the challenge, and after the initial busyness, things have gradually settled down.

This martial arts hall, along with the land deed and the building's Property Deed, has been transferred to Zhou You, an act that declares his ownership.

This martial arts hall covers an area of over 5 mu, totaling 4,000 square meters, including a courtyard, covered walkways, halls, guest rooms, a medicine room, a back kitchen, stables, a warehouse, and a cellar.

After Bo Xiaolin was defeated that day, seeing no hope of a comeback, he decisively took down the plaque and left alone, taking nothing with him.

Coupled with the help of the remaining Disciples, taking over the martial arts hall was very smooth; the rice, flour, and cloth in the warehouse, the furniture and valuables in the storage, and even the 2 horses in the stable—all property was inventoried and registered.

Zhou You felt moved; after one challenge, he had finally taken root in Fucheng.

Although he carried a million in family assets, those were liquid assets; at critical moments, they could not buy property. The market for real estate like this martial arts hall is tight and cannot be measured by money alone.

He is not short of gold and silver liquid assets, and besides, there are those who add flowers to the brocade.

"Hall Master Zhou, congratulations, congratulations!"

Jiang Hua arrived to offer his congratulations with a pale face, and without a word, he presented a thick stack of gold notes issued by Tianxia Bank.

His body reeked of a heavy scent of blood; this was a sign that his injuries were still present and that the Blood Qi Gu he practiced was healing itself.

Zhou You had heard from Shi Gaofei and knew that he was loyal and righteous, having fought in underground matches at the Doujichang to raise funds for his own martial arts hall.

The gold notes worth two hundred thousand were won with his own life; they were far more precious and weighty than gold of the same value.

"Senior Brother Jiang, don't go to fight underground matches anymore. You have a share in this martial arts hall; I'll count you as a partner, stay!"

Zhou You held his hands and extended the invitation, an invitation that was truly from the bottom of his heart.

The Doujichang is filled with all sorts of people, and vicious, ruthless thugs emerge one after another; the level of danger in each underground match is impossible to estimate!

One moment, one is an invincible fighter with a hundred victories, and the next, one dies under the fists of an unknown newcomer.

Such reversals are too numerous to count; it can be said that fighters are purely consumables, and none can live for more than ten years.

Even with the Blood Qi Gu to protect him, it is hard to guarantee that he won't encounter a more powerful expert and capsize in the gutter.

By comparison, the business of a martial arts hall is closer to the mainstream.

Jiang Hua revealed a faint smile, "To tell you the truth, for this palm technique of mine to reach Great Completion, I must fight on the edge of life and death; not a single day can be missed. The Blood Qi Gu is inherently extremely dangerous—if you don't succeed, you die. This is the Dao I have chosen!"

This was not a lie; the current Jiang Hua is already at the late stage of Blood Qi, and his progress is undeniably fast.

His Blood Qi Gu is sinister and eerie; the dangerous underground fighting arena is the perfect geomantic treasure land for him, allowing him to advance by leaps and bounds.

Zhou You was silent for a moment and cupped his hands toward him, "Whenever you are tired, come here to rest; the doors are always open for you."

"Certainly, I won't stand on ceremony with you."

After seeing Jiang Hua off, Zhou You handed the stack of gold notes to Shi Gaofei, "I cannot accept this money. You take it and help me inquire about any secret treasures or Secret Medicine that are beneficial to Senior Brother Jiang's palm technique practice. Use this money to purchase them; if it's not enough, come to me to make up the difference."

Shi Gaofei's eyes flickered, and he solemnly cupped his hands toward Zhou You.

He did not ask Zhou You where he would find the money to maintain the martial arts hall's subsequent operations after turning down this sum, because he believed Zhou You could definitely do it.

After the Daqian Martial Arts Hall was established, apart from the original staff, nearly ninety percent of the people in the hall were the Apprentices and Disciples who had stayed behind; the number of those with strength and Blood Qi was more than 5 times that of the former Jian Xiong Martial Arts Hall.

This also shows the deep strength of Fucheng, where even a random martial arts hall has such a scale.

Bo Xiaolin himself was a martial master and had even taught several Disciples at the level of martial warriors and martial masters; two of them are currently lying in the guest rooms in the courtyard, both having been severely injured by Zhou You's heavy hands.

Both were martial masters with bodies of steel; at the time, Zhou You had no time to finish them off, which is why they survived, but even so, they were not lightly injured.

They have been bedridden ever since.

Zuo Shier had already gone to ask the two whether they would stay or leave.

If they chose to stay, they would have to change their allegiance, recognize Zhou You as their master, and join his sect, henceforth parting ways with Bo Xiaolin; choosing to leave was also simple—he could rent a carriage and send someone to escort them to catch up with Bo Xiaolin.

After Bo Xiaolin was defeated, he had no face to remain in Fucheng and had already left the city to find a place to settle down; his whereabouts were not hard to find.

To Zhou You's surprise, both chose to change their allegiance and become Disciples of the Daqian Martial Arts Hall.

"Hall Master Zhou, their choice is human nature."

"They are too severely injured, and the expenses for food, lodging, and medicine for their recovery are enormous. At present, only you can afford it. Bo Xiaolin has lost the family business of the martial arts hall, and it is hard enough for him to feed himself; if they went to him, it would be nothing more than dragging each other down."

Sure enough, in the world of adults, there are not that many tales of deep affection and following one another through life and death!

Zhou You nodded and took the time to pay a visit to put the two martial masters at ease, with Zuo Shier by his side.

He took the opportunity to send out two Heart-Confusing Blood Qi Gus to monitor the two at all times, which could be considered an extra layer of insurance.

Although both martial masters actively expressed their willingness to be loyal to the Daqian Martial Arts Hall from then on, the necessary procedures still had to be followed.

"Don't worry, Hall Master. I will keep a close eye on them in the future. If they have any ulterior motives, they will never be able to hide it from me."

Zuo Shier practices the Two Hearts Fist and has gained an unexpected ability; he is extremely sensitive to the ulterior motives that people intentionally hide deep in their hearts. As long as these two show the slightest sign of something wrong, he will kill them immediately.

"Hmm, that will have to wait for later. Since they are willing to defect, the matter of their medical treatment cannot be delayed any longer."

Zhou You thought for a moment; they wouldn't recover just by staying in the martial arts hall, "Tomorrow, I will send the two of them to Xingren Tang for treatment."

Hearing this, a smile appeared on the corner of Zuo Shier's mouth, and he cupped his hands, "Hall Master can go; tomorrow is the perfect time!"

What do you mean by "perfect time"? Looking at your expression, did you misunderstand something?

Zhou You also thought that since Qi Fengzi had been studying medicine, it wouldn't hurt to bring her along; she could go to Xingren Tang to ask for advice.

"Mm, Feng Zi will go along as well."

Upon hearing this, Zuo Shier's expression turned utterly horrified, and he pleaded bitterly, "That must absolutely not happen."

This is the rhythm of disaster about to strike! (End of chapter)