Free Web NovelChapter 21: Chapter 21: Honored Guest Elder
On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Zhang Kui, the Gang Leader of the Sea Snake Gang, paid a personal visit.
He came alone, without any of his men, carrying two boxes of pastries and a cut of cured meat. His smile was warm and friendly as he entered, making him look like an ordinary neighbor paying a holiday call.
Anything more extravagant would have been inappropriate.
Lady Ning was at a loss, so Liang Cheng invited him to have a seat in the main room.
"Young Hero Liang, my apologies for disturbing you during the New Year’s festivities," Zhang Kui said, placing the gifts on the table. "Just a small token of my regard. Something to add to Lady Ning’s table."
"Gang Leader Zhang, you’re too kind."
Zhang Kui surveyed the room: old tables and chairs, flour sacks piled in a corner, and a faded portrait of the Kitchen God pasted on the wall.
He chuckled. "Young Hero Liang, you are now an Honored Guest Elder of the City Lord’s Mansion and the champion of the Three Towns competition. This house is due for some repairs."
"I’m used to it. It’s fine."
"True enough," Zhang Kui nodded. "Whether it’s a mansion or a thatched hut, what truly matters is the person living inside."
Then, Zhang Kui said with a smile, "After the New Year, the docks will be expanding with two new berths. If you’re interested, Young Hero Liang, you could buy a share. It’s not much, just fifty taels, with dividends at the end of the year."
This was both a friendly gesture and a test.
Liang Cheng shook his head. "I’m focused on the Martial Dao. I don’t understand these kinds of things."
"I understand, I understand." Zhang Kui didn’t press the matter. He cupped his fists and took his leave.
At the doorway, he turned back. "By the way, Big Head is your childhood friend. He’s sharp and capable. If you need anything in the future, you can have him pass a message to me."
Only after Zhang Kui had left did Lady Ning emerge from the kitchen. "Cheng’Er..."
"It’s nothing," Liang Cheng reassured his mother. "He was just paying a New Year’s visit."
Zhang Kui’s visit was meant to solidify their relationship, which was why he had specifically mentioned Big Head.
That evening, Big Head invited his three childhood friends—Liang Cheng, Er Gou, and Yaya—for drinks.
As the four of them talked, the conversation gradually fell silent. After a moment, Big Head suddenly grabbed the wine jug and took a long swig.
"Brother Cheng, I know you look down on what I’ve become, but I’m not like you. I don’t have the talent or the opportunities. This is all I’m good for. If I don’t fight to get by in the Sea Snake Gang, where else can I go?"
"I don’t look down on you," Liang Cheng said. "Everyone has their own path. As long as you don’t regret it, that’s what matters."
Big Head clutched the wine jug tightly. "I don’t regret it."
"Good." Liang Cheng stood up. "After the New Year, I’m going back to the Martial Arts Hall for secluded training. I might not be back for a long time. Take care of yourselves."
"Brother Cheng!" Big Head called out from behind him.
Liang Cheng stopped.
"If I fall one day, will you help me?"
Liang Cheng didn’t turn around. "That depends on the situation."
With that, he walked off into the night.
Big Head sat on the edge of the pier, chugged the rest of the wine, and then violently smashed the jug into the sea.
"’That depends on the situation...’" he muttered. "Fine. Fine."
Er Gou wanted to console him but didn’t dare, while Yaya lowered her head, twisting the corner of her clothes.
The gathering ended on a sour note.
...
On the morning of the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, Liang Cheng returned to the Yangwei Martial Arts Hall.
Zhou Hu was practicing his morning exercises in the courtyard. Seeing Liang Cheng’s return, he stopped his form. "Master said to see him in the Main Hall as soon as you got back."
"Yes, Senior Brother."
Yang Wei was drinking tea. When Liang Cheng entered, he gestured for him to sit.
"I heard Zhang Kui came looking for you?" Yang Wei asked.
"Yes. He wanted me to invest in the docks."
Yang Wei nodded. "He was testing your attitude. Remember, the Sea Snake Gang’s waters are murky. Don’t get too close to him."
"This Disciple understands."
"The New Year festivities are over; it’s time to refocus." Yang Wei set down his teacup. "At the end of the third month, Lin Wu City will be organizing a spring hunt. Because our Martial Arts Hall won the grand competition, we can send three participants. Those who perform exceptionally in the hunt will receive rewards from the City Lord’s Mansion and might even earn a place in the Martial Arts Academy."
Liang Cheng’s heart skipped a beat. "The Martial Arts Academy?"
"That is the Martial Dao Holy Land of Lin Wu City. Its resources are far beyond anything in Linhai Town," Yang Wei said, looking at him. "You are now an Honored Guest Elder of the City Lord’s Mansion. If you distinguish yourself in the spring hunt, you might just have a shot at it."
"This Disciple will give it his all."
"Good. You have always been steady and reliable. I have no worries," Yang Wei said with a wave of his hand. "Go on."
Leaving the Main Hall, Liang Cheng saw Zhao Yuan standing under the corridor, his face pale and his expression grim. Their eyes met for a moment, but neither spoke.
Liang Cheng gave a slight nod and turned to leave.
Zhao Yuan stared at his back, his fingers digging into his palm.
One step behind, always behind.
He couldn’t accept it.
...
Liang Cheng’s life returned to its regular rhythm: Pile Skill practice in the morning, honing his Fierce Bull Force during the day, and cultivating the Stone Armor Skill in the reef cave late at night.
His progress with the Stone Bone Style was a bit faster than before, as the Iron Bone Marrow he had asked Yang Wei to purchase from Lin Wu City had arrived.
The ointment he prepared now was searing, the pain boring into his bones. Every cultivation session felt like torture, but the results were remarkable. The hardness of his bones increased visibly, and even his punching power grew by nearly twenty percent.
[Mixed Element Stance: Great Success (255/1000)]
[Fierce Bull Force: Great Success (103/2000)]
[Stone Armor Skill (Fragment): Great Success (72/2000)]
But this progress was built on a mountain of money.
By the time the Iron Bone Marrow was used up, Liang Cheng had less than a hundred silver taels left. He had no choice but to temporarily halt his Stone Bone Style cultivation and return to the slow, grinding work on his Mixed Element Stance and Fierce Bull Force.
Wealth, companionship, technique, and location—wealth came first.
Without resources, even the greatest talent was like gazing at the moon’s reflection in the water.
Just as Liang Cheng was pondering how to acquire more resources, a visitor arrived at the Yangwei Martial Arts Hall.
Fatty Wang arrived with two clerks, who were carrying a mahogany chest. As soon as he entered, he cupped his fists toward Yang Wei. "Martial Arts Hall Master Yang, my apologies for my late congratulations!"
The chest was opened to reveal three hundred taels of silver, neatly arranged.
"I would like to invite Young Hero Liang to be a titular Protective Martial Master for my Wang’s Trading Company," Fatty Wang said with a broad smile. "The annual salary is three hundred taels, and we’ll also gift you a two-courtyard residence in the eastern part of town. You would only need to make an appearance twice a month. It absolutely won’t interfere with your cultivation, Young Hero Liang."
Before Yang Wei could reply, a voice came from outside the door. "Shopkeeper Wang certainly moves quickly."
It was Chen Bainian, the great merchant of the Three Towns, who entered alone, carrying only a blue cloth bundle.
Fatty Wang’s expression changed slightly. He rose, cupped his fists, and bowed. "Elder Chen."
Chen Bainian gave a slight nod and pushed the bundle toward Yang Wei. "A small token of my esteem, hardly worth mentioning."
Yang Wei opened it and saw five stalks of Dark Gold Iron Bone Marrow inside. They were of exceptional quality, with a market price of over a thousand taels.
Seeing this, Fatty Wang gave a bitter smile. "Since Elder Chen is interested, I won’t make a fool of myself."
He tactfully took his leave. Before he left, he said to Yang Wei, "If Young Hero Liang has a change of heart in the future, my trading company’s doors are always open."
Once Fatty Wang was gone, Chen Bainian finally spoke. "An annual salary of five hundred taels, plus an additional five hundred taels’ worth of herbs supplied each year. All we require is for Young Hero Liang to be a titular Honored Guest Elder. You would only need to intervene three times, should the trading company ever face a life-or-death crisis."
Hearing this, Yang Wei didn’t accept on Liang Cheng’s behalf. Instead, he called Liang Cheng over to let him decide for himself.
Liang Cheng stared at the box of superior-grade Iron Bone Marrow, momentarily stunned. ’Chen Bainian is a thoughtful man,’ he mused.
"Landlord Chen, why go to such an expense?" Liang Cheng asked.
"You achieved Dark Force at sixteen, reached Great Success in your Pile Skill, and even brought a Hard Skill to the Great Success Realm. That shows your perseverance," Chen Bainian said, looking directly at Liang Cheng. "What I value is your potential. Furthermore—"
He lowered his voice. "After the spring hunt, Lin Wu City will recommend outstanding participants for the Commandery’s Martial Arts Academy selection. I have some connections in the city. If you need it, Young Hero Liang, I might be able to lend a hand. This is an investment, but it is also a partnership."
Liang Cheng looked at Yang Wei, who gave a slight nod.
"Alright."
A smile spread across Chen Bainian’s face. He handed over a smooth, warm Jade Pendant. "With this token, you can withdraw silver taels and requisition resources from any branch of the Chen’s Trading Company."
The two of them went immediately to the Town Protection Station. With them as witnesses, Liang Cheng signed the contract and officially became an Honored Guest Elder of Chen’s Trading Company.
