Chapter 77: Lady Zhushan of Zhushan, Guest Elder Token (Seeking Subscriptions)

That evening, Song Cheng was kept directly at the Mountain River Martial Arts Hall, sitting at the same table as "Iron Arm Pale Bear" Hong Juguang.

They ate.

The timing of Song Cheng's arrival was perfect.

Both the Mountain River Martial Arts Hall and White Camel Manor had opened up slots for their respective factions to recruit martial artists, promising generous rewards; so, for a Martial Artist of the Form Realm who had come to their door in person, would the Mountain River Martial Arts Hall not entrust him with important tasks?

In normal times, this would be fundamentally impossible.

But now, these were not normal times.

This was the entry point Song Cheng had chosen after observing the West City Gate and realizing he could not bypass the government authorities.

The dishes were served, and they were not particularly luxurious.

To some extent, they were only slightly better than what the An Family, who had been "tightening their belts" during this period, had been eating.

This was not because the Mountain River Martial Arts Hall was stingy, but because every faction was actually living while tightening their belts.

War is a bottomless pit for money.

Every extra day, one never knew how much more money would be spent.

"During a siege, we don't drink alcohol; we'll substitute tea for wine." Hong Juguang had a very good impression of this young blind man.

Why?

First, this kid had a great sense of propriety. Throughout his challenges, he hadn't damaged the reputation of the martial arts halls at all; on the contrary, there were people outside spreading rumors like "Song Xiazi doesn't know what's good for him, overestimating his own abilities." However, he had already given orders, saying, "The An Family's son-in-law is a friend of the Hanping Prefecture martial arts halls; no one is allowed to spread such talk anymore."

Second, the city was currently empty, as White Camel Manor and his own boss had all gone off to war. Now that such an expert had suddenly appeared, Hong Juguang was certainly happy and certainly wanted to keep him. This was exactly as Song Cheng had anticipated.

As for Ling'er, she had run home to report the situation. After all, the son-in-law had just said he was going out for a stroll, and he ended up taking this kind of "stroll"... She had to go explain it clearly, lest the Young Miss be unaware of the situation and worry needlessly.

Song Cheng raised his tea, clinked it against the burly man opposite him, and said, "This junior originally had doubts in his heart, and having suddenly gained some insight, I went around seeking to spar with the masters of various halls.

It is thanks to the masters' guidance that I only managed to think through some points I hadn't understood before when I arrived here at External Affairs Envoy Hong's place."

Hong Juguang said, "You fought all day, and then came to me..."

Although the Iron Arm Pale Bear knew this, he still felt a bit uneasy inside.

Song Cheng smiled and said, "For someone who has reached the Completion of the Form Realm, who would care about this kind of external consumption? I was just warming up all day; by the time I reached Brother Hong, my state was just right."

Hong Juguang waved his hand and said, "Fine, this consumption is something one cares about."

Having said that, he asked suspiciously, "Brother Song, where did you learn this Form Realm technique?"

Song Cheng said directly, "It has always been in my memory. Once I had an epiphany, I started practicing, and after practicing for a while, it became like this."

As he spoke, he stood up directly, assumed a stance, and demonstrated the "White Snake Form" derived from the "White Snake Strength."

Currently, he had mastered five forms, with four forms yet to be mastered.

He had only brought out one form now.

However, this had already stunned Hong Juguang.

Damn, why did he start practicing? After watching for a moment, he hurriedly coughed in a muffled voice and said, "Brother Song, techniques must be kept hidden and not passed on to outsiders..."

Song Cheng ignored him, instead finishing the entire set of the "White Snake Form" he had created himself, then said, "I also do not know where this technique came from. Brother Hong is knowledgeable and experienced; do you recognize it?"

Seeing him be so forthright and sincere, Hong Juguang was filled with emotion and sighed repeatedly, thinking only that "Brother Song is truly too simple and honest," and his favorability rating "shot" up, reaching the level of 90.

A good first impression.

Enjoying the meal.

And being treated with such sincerity.

How could he not have a good impression? At this moment, he had already completed his own mental narrative, thinking only that this youth was someone left behind by a major faction, having lost some memories but still remembering the technique, and thus practicing his way up—it truly hadn't been easy.

He sipped his tea, frowned, thought for a moment, and said, "Brother Song, your method's form moves with lightness and agility."

Song Cheng admitted, "It is a snake."

Hong Juguang nodded and said, "In the pugilistic world, the only faction nearby that uses snake forms is White Camel Manor. Brother Song, why not wait until Laoduwu returns, and I will ask our Elder to introduce you."

"Laoduwu?" Song Cheng was stunned for a moment.

Hong Juguang said, "That is the Manor Master of White Camel Manor, Ouyang Sha. Their manor raises demonic snakes, so they are naturally poisonous."

Song Cheng said, "Then many thanks, Brother Hong."

The two ate some dishes.

Hong Juguang suddenly said, "I won't hide it from you, Brother Song, but our Prefecture City's defense is actually empty. From the Thirteen Passes to the depths of the south of the city, seven of the passes connect to mountain roads, and three passes are near a great river; none of these are convenient for the barbarians to drive their demonic beasts to attack. But there are indeed three passes that face the plains directly, and they could encounter an attack at any time.

You see me here, but in fact, I am on standby at all times; wherever a fight breaks out, I have to go there to hold the line.

The Prefecture City is actually fine, but the counties outside are in a terrible state. Our Elder, as well as the two from White Camel Manor, have all gone out and are currently fighting outside."

Song Cheng had finally made contact with the situation.

This was also his goal.

He was unwilling to accept being kept in the dark and waiting for death or life while staying at the An Family. Therefore, after his strength advanced further, he revealed a higher level of strength to participate in the city defense, so as to control the internal and external situation at any time... He thought for a moment and asked, "Brother Hong, what about Zhushan Temple?"

Hong Juguang said, "Their situation is a bit special; it is different from ours and White Camel Manor's. However, they also defend the city, but they guard those ten passes that will not be attacked by the barbarians. Previously, our Elder went to invite them to join the expedition, but was refused."

Song Cheng asked curiously, "Why?"

Hong Juguang said, "Lady Zhushan's partner was killed, and she herself was injured and is currently recuperating, but she should be almost recovered in these few days.

Oh, Brother Song, you don't know.

Let me tell you about it.

This Lady Zhushan is the Temple Master of Zhushan Temple.

Their lineage does not practice martial arts, but rather practices the Soul.

They are extremely skilled at creating illusions, but they have no offensive means themselves, so... they use drugs to forcibly create some 'drug-men' to cooperate with them in fighting the enemy.

These drug-men have their potential exploded by drugs and are forcibly broken through to the level of the Form Realm, but they are not good themselves, their potential is exhausted, and their temperaments are very strange and irritable.

Look, that is the group of people on the first floor of Qianzhen Ge.

You'll know once you've been there; they are all a bunch of bastards."

Song Cheng recalled the owner of that gambling den wanting one hundred taels to keep Ling'er for five nights, and despite the place being deserted, still demanding 300 taels for a single bet, and could not help but cough twice.

Hong Juguang understood at a glance and laughed, "Hey, right? Looks like you've been there, brother, you get it, right?"

"I get it." Song Cheng also laughed along.

The two clinked their cups.

Song Cheng said, "Qianzhen Ge sells some Pills that boost cultivation; are there problems with those Pills?"

Hong Juguang waved his hand and said, "Not at all.

Blood Dew Pill, for Martial Artists in the Jin Realm; Flame Gang Pill, for us Martial Artists in the Form Realm, are both very effective auxiliary resources.

Our martial arts hall is even one of their long-term clients.

Making medicine-men is a different concoction, and that concoction is held in the hands of Lady Zhushan and is not sold to the public."

Song Cheng nodded.

It was clear that these Jin Realm Martial Artists, and even Form Realm Martial Artists, needed quite a lot of resources if they wanted to cultivate normally.

He didn't know much about these, after all, he had never eaten a single one.

At this moment, he thought for a moment and asked again, "Brother Hong, you said Lady Zhushan's medicine-man died, why not just replace it with another?"

Hong Juguang looked at him deeply and said, "That is exactly the problem."

The air suddenly went quiet.

Hong Juguang said, "Lady Zhushan's illusion cultivation is profound and unique. Once unleashed, it does not distinguish between friend and foe, and will drag everyone into it. Except for... the blind.

A blind medicine-man who can be forcibly elevated to the Form Realm by being force-fed medicine must themselves be a Jin Realm expert.

Where are we supposed to find that?"

After he finished speaking, the air became even quieter.

Song Cheng suddenly understood one thing.

He suddenly understood why the shop assistant at Qianzhen Ge named "Hua Wen" had a favorable impression of him.

Thinking of this, he did not hide it and stated the matter directly.

Hong Juguang thought for a moment and laughed, "Zhushan Temple is considered a righteous sect, and medicine-men aren't made by forcibly kidnapping people; that shop assistant likely scouted you out and was waiting to report to Lady Zhushan before finding you to discuss it.

However, they likely never imagined that you, Brother Song, are actually a Form Realm expert. This is interesting."

Song Cheng said, "Brother Hong, please enlighten me."

Hong Juguang said, "Lady Zhushan has always used medicine-men because medicine-men are completely under her control. She has likely never seen, nor even thought of, someone like Brother Song."

The two chatted while drinking tea.

One was urgently wanting to "open their eyes" to see the situation in the surrounding area.

The other had finally waited for an expert who could help defend the Prefecture City.

Plus the fact that they had sparred earlier, they were both talking quite happily.

During this time, Hong Juguang went out under the guise of relieving himself, but in reality, it was to listen to his disciples report on Song Cheng's situation.

Now is a special period, and Song Cheng is powerful, so he wanted to go through an emergency process to appoint Song Cheng with a title from the martial arts hall. In this way, he could let this young man participate in the entire city defense system.

But before the appointment, he had to clarify all information regarding Song Cheng.

The Mountain and River Martial Arts Hall has immense influence; in the time it took to eat and drink tea, the disciples outside had already sent over all the news regarding Song Cheng.

As Hong Juguang read it, he let out a breath, and at the same time, was secretly shocked.

This is a true genius. Afterward, he returned and chatted with Song Cheng until nearly the third watch.

The watchman struck the watch, and the night was silent.

Suddenly, a disciple from the Mountain and River Martial Arts Hall came to report from outside, calling out, "Madam Song has arrived."

The disciples were not stupid; they understood Hong Juguang's temperament. Therefore, after seeing Hong Juguang's actions and arrangements, they basically all understood that in the evening's sparring session, this External Affairs Envoy had actually lost to that Song Family son-in-law.

Now that the two were talking so happily, "a president of an ordinary chamber of commerce" and "a woman who could actually be manipulated by them, and whom they might usually need to curry favor with" suddenly became "Madam Song."

Hong Juguang personally saw Song Cheng to the door, thought for a moment, and then solemnly took out a green wood token engraved with the two characters "Mountain and River" from his bosom, handed it over in front of everyone, and said, "Brother Song, this is the Guest Elder Token of my Mountain and River Martial Arts Hall.

Holding this token, as long as you do not leave the city, you can go anywhere, ask about anything, and listen to anything; even if you run to the prefectural government to ask or mobilize some troops, they will cooperate.

Let me be blunt, brother: in this city, no matter where you go, as long as you slap this token on the table, no one will dare not give you face."

This token was exactly what Song Cheng wanted.

Song Cheng took it with both hands and laughed, "Then, like Brother Hong, I shall wait for orders at home. If any pass is attacked and Brother Hong needs me, just send someone to notify me."

He needed to know when danger would erupt and where it would erupt, and he also needed to gain experience.

And just from the battle with Hong Juguang today, it had actually refreshed his "success rate for deducing the Xuanwu True Form to Yellow Grade Grade A," changing it from "two in ten thousand" to "four in ten thousand."

If there were a few more challenges from Form Realm experts, this success rate would quickly double.

Seeing him so straightforward, Hong Juguang was also pleased in his heart, so he cupped his fists and said, "Then this brother won't stand on ceremony; I'll come to you if there's anything."

Song Cheng also cupped his fists.

Hong Juguang laughed heartily, then took a deep look at An Chenyu, who was approaching wrapped in a white-gold cloak, and said, "Madam Song, you have found a good husband."

The carriage returned.

Inside the carriage, An Chenyu nestled against Song Cheng's side and said, "Has the situation become so bad that you need to reveal your trump card?"

She remembered Song Cheng's strength and knew he was in the Form Realm.

This was the An Family's greatest trump card, and also Song Cheng's own trump card.

But now... she sighed softly.

When the trump card is revealed, there is no room for maneuver, and no way back.

Song Cheng leaned to her ear and whispered, "That was the trump card of the past."

An Chenyu:???

"You"

She looked at her man in astonishment, feeling that this man was full of mystery, would always give you surprises, and would always make you feel safe.

"Don't be so tired," Song Cheng said.

Young Miss leaned on his shoulder, her ink-like long hair draping down from his shoulder, a sense of peace emerging in her heart; she softly replied "Mn," and added, "Little Song, do you wish for me to be a proper Mrs. Song?"

Song Cheng said, "I like An Jie the way she is; that version of An Jie is the most beautiful."

Young Miss said softly, "Thank you, Little Song."

"When one day I am not so busy, I will definitely be your obedient Mrs. Song, wash clothes and cook for you, raise a child for you, and then every day ignore everything else, just waiting for you to come home."

She was different from Tong Niangzi, and even from Ying'er.

The pursuit of the Martial Dao has no end.

But she did not pursue the Martial Dao.

Song Cheng's sudden emergence made all those "who previously mocked that it was a pity and that he had married the wrong person" fall silent, and just after one night, the next day, the front of the An Family became lively; one could say it was as busy as a marketplace.

Many people came to congratulate the An Family's son-in-law on his breakthrough and to congratulate the An Family's son-in-law on becoming a Guest Elder of the martial arts hall.

Congratulatory gifts poured in, as numerous as snowflakes.

The previous few mocking voices all vanished, and what remained were all compliments and kind words.

The Ruyi Chamber of Commerce was also incomparably invigorated.

Song Cheng had only revealed the strength of the Form Realm, yet it was enough to resolve many problems.

The hearts of the people were stabilized.

Information from all directions became accessible.

If there were any dangerous signs of trouble, he, Song Xiazi, would be the first to know, and then he would personally arrive at the scene to judge the level of danger.

He was responsible for support.

The main pillars of the Prefecture City were still shouldered by the three great powers; he was just an "ordinary Form Realm Martial Artist," and he only needed to manage his own small family well.

Of course, if someone truly pushed him too hard, he would have no choice but to reveal the side of an "extraordinary Form Realm Martial Artist."

As long as the city did not fall, everything could be discussed.

If the city were to fall, then only the path of fleeing would remain, and the most he could protect were a few people. Perhaps if another accident occurred, he might lose a certain friend or relative forever; it might be Zhao Hua, it might be Ying'er, it might be Young Miss, or even Tong Jia.

Song Cheng suddenly thought of Shanghe County.

There were still many people he knew there, and people from the Ruyi Chamber of Commerce still remained there.

He still remembered the city gates and city walls there.

He had stood guard on the city walls, had been pleasantly surprised to see Tong Niangzi and Ying'er come to deliver a midnight snack in the midnight after the rain, had watched the stars with An Chenyu while leaning against the cold black brick wall, and had also looked through the holes in the battlements toward the gray, misty forests outside the city.

The memories were vivid, yet he did not know how things were now.

(End of this chapter)