Chapter 52: Chapter 52: A Turning Point
Liu the Monk entered the house and immediately stepped between Xie Yuan and Zhang Yufeng. Frowning, he glared at Zhang Yufeng.
"Who are you?"
Seeing this, Zhang Yufeng raised his saber and cupped his hands.
"I am Zhang Yufeng of the Yunzhao County yamen. Greetings, Sect Leader Liu. A disciple from your esteemed sect beat up a fellow villager and extorted a merchant. The aggrieved party reported it to the yamen, so I have come to make an arrest!"
He took out his waist token and showed it to Liu the Monk.
Liu the Monk glanced at it, raised his eyebrows, and said bluntly,
"Where’s the arrest warrant? Where’s the yamen’s red seal?"
Zhang Yufeng paused, then said slowly,
"I left in a hurry and didn’t have time to bring it."
Liu the Monk sneered, rolling his eyes.
"No warrant? So you think you can just flash a token and arrest anyone you want? If you decide there’s something wrong with me, Liu the Monk, are you going to arrest me too?
"If you want to take someone away, bring me a warrant from the yamen!"
He was a veteran of the martial world and knew all the tricks of the trade. With just a few words, he had backed Zhang Yufeng into a corner.
Zhang Yufeng pursed his lips, then suddenly let out a sinister laugh.
"Getting a warrant is easy enough. I just need to go back and have the County Captain sign it."
Liu the Monk continued to sneer.
"Is the County Captain your godfather or something? Does he just do whatever you say?"
Zhang Yufeng’s expression turned a little ugly, but it wasn’t convenient for him to lose his temper.
"Of course not. It’s just that the County Captain specifically named this brat as the one he wants taken in."
"The County Captain named him personally?"
Liu the Monk’s brow furrowed deeply, and his tone softened slightly.
"Lord Zhang, could you perhaps offer an explanation?"
"Sect Leader Liu doesn’t need to know the specifics. I would only advise you not to oppose the County Captain for the sake of a mere probationary disciple."
Liu the Monk shook his head.
"Xie Yuan is a Core Disciple of my Iron Garment Sect. If you don’t give me a proper reason, I can’t let you take him."
’A Core Disciple?’
Zhang Yufeng was somewhat surprised and glanced at Xie Yuan.
’This kid managed to become a Core Disciple?’
But he didn’t pay it much mind, saying coldly,
"Is Sect Leader Liu planning to defy the Captain’s order? Fine. I hear that Panlong Town has a thriving martial arts scene and intense competition. The County Captain has been meaning to come for an inspection. Perhaps we should just let him speak with you personally."
Liu the Monk’s expression changed. He said,
"That won’t be necessary... Lord Zhang, is this truly the County Captain’s intention?"
"It is."
Liu the Monk’s expression shifted through several emotions before he finally sighed and nodded reluctantly.
"I understand. Please, Lord Zhang, return for now. I will... have a word with my disciple."
"My apologies for the trouble, Sect Leader Liu."
Zhang Yufeng was displeased that he couldn’t take Xie Yuan away immediately. However, seeing that Liu the Monk was a sensible man, he knew he had to give him some face on his own territory. He would wait for him to tie up loose ends before coming back to collect his man.
He cupped his hands again, shot a glance at Xie Yuan, and let out a soft chuckle before leaving with his hands clasped behind his back.
Xie Yuan had been silent the whole time. Only after Zhang Yufeng left did he speak calmly to Liu the Monk.
"Sect Leader, there’s no need to put yourself in a difficult position. I can just leave on my own."
"Changing your tune already?"
Liu the Monk said something Xie Yuan hadn’t expected.
Liu the Monk vigorously rubbed his stubbly, shaven head. Without any ceremony, he drained the tea Zhang Yufeng had left behind and smacked his lips.
"The moment you arrived, Cao Shan came and found me. I heard your entire conversation from beginning to end.
"Ah, Xie Yuan, I didn’t expect you to be carrying such big trouble on your shoulders. Seems being handsome isn’t always a good thing..."
Xie Yuan was stunned.
"You heard from the start that it was the County Captain’s order? Then why did you..."
"Of course I had to play dumb first to help you get rid of that guy. How can I let some random nobody bully one of my own disciples?"
Only then did Xie Yuan understand. Liu the Monk had been trying to help him, not truly intending to "have a word with him."
A feeling of gratitude swelled in his heart.
"Master Xie! But... that County Captain is incredibly domineering. I’m afraid that offending him for my sake..."
Liu the Monk shook his head.
"Xie Yuan, you are a Core Disciple of the sect, and you’re the great hero who saved the Iron Garment Sect! How could I possibly not look out for you?
"Although those other two families are still watching us like tigers, our prestige has soared since that competition. We’ve had a lot of new disciples wanting to join lately. As for the apothecary, they have no excuse to change our quota, so they can only wait. Now that we’ve had a moment to catch our breath, it won’t be so easy for them to make a move.
"You’ve done the Iron Garment Sect a great service, kid. I, Liu the Monk, have always been clear about debts of gratitude and enmity. I will definitely protect you!
"It’s just..."
Liu the Monk paused, a bitter smile on his face.
"If I could protect you by putting my old life on the line, that would be one thing. But the County Captain is at the Fourth Training. In Yunzhao County, you could say his power is absolute. If he really comes in person, I can’t protect you even if I hide you within the sect. Ai, the only thing I can do is buy you some time.
"Xie Yuan, what’s your plan now?"
Xie Yuan clenched his fists.
"Master, if I become a Martial Artist as quickly as possible, will he give up on the idea?"
Liu the Monk shook his head.
"If you become a Martial Artist, that fellow Zhang might not be able to touch you so easily. But to a Fourth Training expert with a powerful background, there’s no difference between someone at the First Training and an ordinary person. I’m not sure what he’ll do, but I’ve heard this County Captain is a petty man."
Seeing Xie Yuan’s brows furrowed in silence, Liu the Monk offered a suggestion.
"I have an idea.
"The four great martial halls in the county seat are the four great powers. If you can join any one of them—besides the Vajra Sect—even as a probationary disciple, they won’t let you be taken away so easily. Even the County Captain would have to think twice."
"Go to the county seat to become an apprentice?"
Xie Yuan asked subconsciously.
Liu the Monk nodded.
"Xie Yuan, with your talent, you were bound to go make a name for yourself in Yunzhao County sooner or later anyway. You might as well take this opportunity to study at a major martial hall. Once you’ve learned real skills, you won’t have to be afraid of him.
"Of course, there’s another option: just flee to a distant land. But the reach of the Vajra Sect and the County Captain extends throughout all of Yunzhao County. For that fellow Zhang to so brazenly track you down here... I fear it would be very difficult for you to escape...
"Joining a major martial hall has its downsides, too. The competition is fierce. If you don’t train well, you could get kicked out, and then you’d be right back under his nose. But if you have what it takes, a major hall will treat you like a hot commodity and will definitely protect you. You’ll also be able to learn real skills and establish yourself. Let’s be honest, their techniques are definitely a bit stronger than our sect’s Iron Cloth Shirt, and you’ll have more options."
’More options... more powerful Cultivation Techniques...’
’Isn’t that perfect for me?’
As for competition, Xie Yuan wasn’t afraid.
’To put it bluntly, it’s about finding a bigger backer.’
’The County Captain can do as he pleases with a disciple of the Iron Garment Sect, and Liu the Monk isn’t powerful enough to say anything about it.’
’But if I join a major martial hall, their leaders are all at the Fourth Training with numerous disciples. Why would they be afraid of him?’
"I just don’t know how many silver taels it costs to be accepted as a disciple at those major martial halls. Are there other requirements?"
Xie Yuan was already tempted; after all, he’d had this idea for a while.
"I can ask around for you. Sword Monarch Hall, Piaoyu Sect, and, hmm, One Saber Martial Hall... I have old acquaintances in all of them."
Liu the Monk hesitated when he mentioned One Saber Martial Hall, but his resolve firmed up in an instant. He waved his hand and said,
"Any of these three will do. Which one do you want to choose?"
’Please select your sect...’
It was as if three options had popped up in Xie Yuan’s mind.
But after a moment of hesitation, he asked,
"Master, what about the Longteng Escort Agency? After all, they’re strong enough to suppress the Vajra Sect, and the two organizations already have bad blood between them."
"The Longteng Escort Agency... hmm, they’re a bit different. It’s not a pure martial hall. Although they pass down Cultivation Techniques and teach martial arts, they require immediate combat prowess even for their lowest-level escorts.
"It would certainly be better if you could get into the Longteng Escort Agency, but their entrance examination is much stricter. You want to join them... I don’t know anyone there personally, but I can ask someone to inquire for you."
Liu the Monk’s tone was hesitant, but he was still willing to ask on Xie Yuan’s behalf.
Xie Yuan’s heart was filled with gratitude. He straightened his back and gave a serious, cupped-hand salute.
"Master Xie! If I, Xie Yuan, achieve success in my studies in the future, I will never forget the Iron Garment Sect!"
"Hehe, hearing you say that is a great comfort to me."
Liu the Monk laughed heartily and clapped Xie Yuan on the shoulder.
"Ah, Xie Yuan, this is all I can do to help. The rest is up to you."
Xie Yuan nodded in understanding. The fact that Liu the Monk was willing to go against the Top Layer of power in Yunzhao County to help him find a way out was already a welcome surprise.
After Liu the Monk hurried off to write the letters, Xie Yuan stood still for a moment before heading directly to the apothecary.
No matter what, he had to become a Martial Artist as quickly as possible.
He would never allow Zhang Yufeng to threaten him like that a second time.
