Why do I have so many masters?

Chapter 7 Method (1/2)

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In the Great Qin Fufeng County, there are five county cities.

Among them, North Martial State City is adjacent to the hidden and prestigious Qingfeng Edge sect, and the nearby Jianghu is dominated by the Giant Whale Gang. Xi Dingzhou City is closer to the county city and has no significant sects, but there are many martial arts schools. The people are martial-minded, and every day at Chen hour, one can hear the shouts of practice.

This morning, when the Hu Xiao Martial Arts School opened, there was a stir in the neighboring courtyard that had been empty for over a year.

Wang Anfeng, carrying a long zither on his back, walked slowly through this courtyard.

A year ago, following Mister Ying's intent, he had the Giant Whale Gang's Gongsun Jing send out men to purchase a set of courtyards in each of the ten major cities within Fufeng County, for his future use in wandering the Jianghu. Considering Gongsun Jing's temperament, he would certainly not harbor any suspicions or pry into the arrangements.

Before the year had ended, Anfeng had also met with Gongsun Jing under this identity, claiming only to be the direct descendant of the "Hall Master", and with Mister Ying vouching for him, Jing never harbored the slightest doubt.

However, Wang Anfeng never expected Gongsun Jing to handle matters with such grandeur.

Looking around, the courtyard was entirely paved with green stones. Although it wasn't very large, it had a tranquil air. A plum tree stood in the corner of the wall, its buds not yet blossomed, next to a leaning pond. In the backyard, there was a place for practicing martial arts and swordsmanship, equipped with copper man statues that had all the meridian points marked, to help martial artists practice the subtle art of channeling their concealed force through their fingers and palms to harm others.

Purchasing such property in this county city would have cost a considerable amount of silver.

Wang Anfeng lifted his hand to rub the center of his forehead, feeling helpless. He didn't know what to think of Gongsun Jing's actions—praising seemed inappropriate, yet he found no fault to criticize. He could only sigh.

He moved leisurely to the door and pushed it open.

For the past two years, he had been in secluded cultivation, restricted in movement by Mister Ying, only returning to Great Liang Village annually to pay respects at Liu Wuqiu's grave. Other than that, he never stepped half a pace out of the village. Plus, his time in Shaolin had passed slower than the outside world.

Though it was said to be two years, the time he spent on cultivation equated to more than three years for an ordinary person.

He had broken through successive levels of Golden Bell Shield and entered the Fifth Level, yet his Internal Strength Martial Body still lingered in the Seventh Rank, unable to cross the threshold of the Middle Third Rank Longmen.

This time, he came out not just because the Jianghu had become too troubled for tranquility, receiving also a message from an old friend, but he also harbored the thought of seeking a breakthrough. Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

Years ago at Qingfeng Edge, the senior Jiu Zizai had said that he would only reveal the matters of White Tiger Hall to Wang Anfeng after he met three requirements:

First, achieve the Seventh Rank in cultivation.

Second, make a name for himself on the Terrestrial Fiend List.

Third, ascend thirty floors straight in the Fu Character Tower in Fufeng County City.

Now that his Internal Strength had reached the caliber of the Seventh Rank, he needed to step into the Fu Character Tower.

He needed to make a name for himself in the Jianghu...

Two and a half years ago, the matter concerning Master Ni had been a thorn in his heart that kept him tossing and turning with a disquieted intent, never forgotten. The affair was of great significance, and being a figure of the Jianghu, it was hard to gain entry to the Imperial Court. The only clue that he could seek now was related to the White Tiger Hall.

After the incident with Master Ni, the White Tiger Hall that hunted him down.

Because of a fragment of Ask the Heavens, the White Tiger Hall that slaughtered the entire family of Mi Xingfa, and who two years prior had set a trap in Pharmacist Valley.

Many major events he had experienced always had this organization's shadow looming behind them. Yet, most people in the Jianghu knew only of their martial prowess and ruthlessness, and nothing more.

This in itself already proved a lot.

Exhaling deeply, Wang Anfeng set the zither on his back down on the table. The strings vibrated, emitting a clear and melodious sound. He then closed his eyes and pondered, murmuring softly:

"White Tiger Hall... Never mind, let's put it aside for now."

"The priority now is to find Miss Meng, then head to Fufeng City and challenge the Fu Character Tower."

"According to what that person said, Meng Yuexue was last seen in Xi Dingzhou City."

"It's just that I'm not sure whether Brother Chuan is traveling with her..."

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Meng Yuexue was from Pharmacist Valley. Her martial arts skills were not particularly profound, especially not two years ago when they were far inferior to those of her senior brother, Chuan Lian. After the destruction of Pharmacist Valley, she had no means to practice the advanced martial arts manuals from within her sect. To survive in the Jianghu, she necessarily relied on her knowledge of pharmacology.

According to the Red Lian Gang woman, she had been reduced to a point where she could be bullied by ordinary martial artists.

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She was far keener than Chuan Lian; presumably, it was because she was worried about exposing her identity and refused to use the legitimate heir martial arts of Pharmacist Valley. Thus, her current life was certainly not what it used to be. In the past two years, she must have suffered a great deal, hiding and fleeing from place to place.

Reflecting on this, Wang Anfeng ultimately felt guilty.

The fall of Pharmacist Valley was due to himself, and in this matter, he had not a moment's hesitation. If he could go back in time, he would make the same choice. However, the subsequent chaos in Jianghu was his responsibility after the fierce battle and closure of the valley.

He had already executed the mastermind, but he couldn't stabilize the situation that followed, leading to an even more tumultuous state in Fufeng. Moreover, he and Chuan Lian had once considered each other friends.

Knowing that an old friend was in trouble, how could he sit still?

He immediately set his guqin down inside the room, slung the wooden sword that had been at his waist onto his back and strode out of the courtyard, choosing a direction and marching forth.

Xi Dingzhou City was no small place; with hundreds of thousands of people living in it, finding two individuals among the vast crowds was no easy task.

Even though Wang Anfeng possessed the authentic knowledge of Medicine King Valley and had discussed medical skills with Chuan Lian two years ago, he had only a basic understanding of Pharmacist Valley's pharmacology and never reached the core of it.

Given Meng Yuexue's character, even if she were to use Pharmacist Valley's pharmacology to protect herself, she would surely disguise it thoroughly.

For Wang Anfeng to find the legitimately-inherited disciple who intentionally hid herself with just the superficial knowledge of Pharmacist Valley's medical arts he had would be like a fool's dream.

If it had been the bookish guardian of two years ago, he would have been at a loss and could only use the dumb method of searching bit by bit. But two years later, as the secret backer of the Giant Whale Gang, though not involved in Jianghu, he had already learned many secrets.

He planned to use another method.

Following the secret report submitted by Gongsun Jing a year ago, Wang Anfeng walked slowly through Xi Dingzhou City, down its main streets, its alleys, past its bustling merchants, until he reached a secluded street.

There lay a brothel and gambling dens.

Places where men and women sought pleasure abounded.

Here, one could find the most potent and mellow wines, the clients who spent most lavishly, and also beggars lying on the ground without a penny to their name.

Upstairs were women of the most promiscuous and seductive natures, ingrained to their bones, and girls who looked clean and pitiable, yet were capable of killing someone with a flip of their hand. On both sides of the street stood children who appeared clean or filthy, carrying baskets with fruits and snacks, but beneath those baskets hid thin and sharp daggers.

The daggers had seen blood, the children had taken lives.

This was Jianghu.

Wang Anfeng's expression remained calm.

Only his hand, hidden under his sleeve, clenched slightly.

Xi Dingzhou City was vast; it had many citizens and numerous martial artists, but no large gangs.

Yet, wherever people gather, there is Jianghu.

Where Jianghu exists, there will always be such people.

Their martial arts might not be strong, or they might not know martial arts at all, but they have highly skilled protectors. They have money, a lot of it. Because they are wealthy, they have many good friends, and with these good friends, no one dares to touch them.

Most importantly, they know a lot of things.

Even more crucially, they are very loyal, extremely loyal.

They value righteousness more than money, and it is for this reason that their 'friends' also genuinely treat them as friends.

Many people don't understand why these extremely wealthy and influential individuals can carelessly throw around heaps of silver for things that, in the eyes of the common folk, are worthless—a cup of wine, a bowl of tea, or even a hearty laugh can be reason enough.

Thus they don't involve themselves in Jianghu.

Wang Anfeng stopped walking. With a shake of his sleeve, he sent a plump woman reaching for him staggering back two steps.

He looked up toward the courtyard ahead.

PS: The first update...