Chapter 84: Chapter 80: Turbulence

Though the Cyan Scale Association’s event was over, the turmoil it had stirred up was far from settled.

The founding of the Gaolin Commerce Association was akin to a clap of thunder in Gaolin County, pulling every local power into its vortex.

Driven by the combined efforts of the Huang Family, the Zhu Family, the Weapon Forging Shop, and the Wangyuan Escort Agency, this behemoth began to extend its tangled web of tentacles.

The first to feel the bitter chill were the wealthy households and minor families.

Under the combined pressure from these factions, most chose to compromise and align themselves with the new power.

Only a few with powerful backers, or those with ties to families like the Luo and the Han, were still managing to hold on.

But this was only the beginning.

Soon, the spear of suppression turned toward the Martial Arts Institutes and Martial Arts Halls founded by Martial Artists.

The wealthy households and shops in the city that used to hire guards, Martial Artists, and sparring partners—and even some non-essential contract positions at the County Yamen—all quietly disappeared.

The reason given was surprisingly consistent: The Commerce Association was centralizing personnel allocation and optimizing resources, so there were temporarily no vacancies… Using the resources under its control, the Gaolin Commerce Association had severed sixty percent of the income sources for the Martial Arts Institutes’ disciples in a single stroke.

Unlike the Martial Arts Halls, the disciples of the Martial Arts Institutes mostly came from humble origins. They relied on finding a contract position after achieving Manifest Force to earn the silver coins needed to continue their Cultivation.

This move struck at the very heart of the Martial Arts Institutes.

Panic and despair spread throughout the Martial Arts Institutes in the Outer City.

Liu Ze and Shen Zhenzhong were also overcome with worry.

The Liu Institute’s largest source of income—guard jobs for two rice merchants—had been reassigned by the Commerce Association to another Martial Arts Hall.

The Shen Institute, already short on members, was informed that the few small merchant caravan escort missions it depended on were no longer needed. “The Commerce Association has its own arrangements; there’s no need for you to worry about it,” they were told.

Within the Zhou Institute, the atmosphere was even more suffocatingly oppressive.

The confusion and anxiety on the disciples’ faces grew with each passing day.

Without contract positions, their most important source of income was gone.

Cultivation was incredibly expensive. Nutritional supplements, medicinal aids, equipment wear and tear—which of these didn’t require silver coins?

Disciples from poor families were fraught with worry, unable to muster any enthusiasm for their training.

In just half a month, some disciples had already chosen to leave, including several promising talents who had achieved Manifest Force.

Lately, Zhou Liang had also been visibly troubled, sometimes absent from the institute for an entire day.

The training shouts from the front courtyard had grown sparse, and the empty yard seemed all the more desolate.

“I went to Li’s in the south of the city today. They said… they said they don’t need the Nursing Home for now…”

“I heard Jinghong Martial Arts Hall is recruiting, as long as you’re willing to join a Hall backed by the Commerce Association…”

「…」

Chen Qing wasn’t oblivious to this, but he was powerless to change anything.

Every day, he continued his fist training, as unwavering as ever.

His hard cultivation during this period had led to rapid progress in his Fishing Toad Force.

[Fishing Toad Force Minor Achievement (497/500)]

The Third Realm, “Thunder Sound Marrow Cleansing,” involved using one’s breath to induce vibrations in the bone marrow, which would emit a buzzing, thunder-like sound.

This would achieve Purification and Marrow Cleansing, expelling the body’s impurities.

For Chen Qing’s strength, this would be a qualitative leap.

’Once I reach the Third Realm and undergo Purification and Marrow Cleansing, I’ll be confident in facing an expert like Shi Wenshan, who has reached Great Success in the Transmutation Force Realm.’

Chen Qing thought, then picked up a cloth to wipe the snow from a wooden post, preparing to practice his Pile Skill.

“Brother Chen!”

Just then, Bai Rui slowly approached.

He had broken through to the Manifest Force realm not long ago. He was quite sharp, and with his decent Root Bone, he had a good chance of breaking through to the Dark Force realm on his second attempt. He was considered one of the Zhou Institute’s more promising disciples.

At this moment, however, his face lacked the high spirits one would expect after breaking through to Manifest Force. Instead, it was etched with worry and unease.

Chen Qing asked, “What is it?”

Bai Rui hesitated for a long while before speaking, his voice filled with confusion and anxiety. “Brother Chen, I… It’s been almost a month since I broke through to Manifest Force, but I still can’t even get a hint of a contract position. The few places the Martial Arts Hall recommended were all snapped up by people from the Commerce Association. My family… my family has already borrowed a lot of money to support my training. If this keeps up…”

He lowered his head, his voice trailing off.

Chen Qing asked, “Are you going to leave?”

Bai Rui sighed but said nothing.

He didn’t have any deep attachment to the Zhou Institute; for him, martial arts was more of a path to a better future.

Now that this path was blocked, leaving was the only logical choice.

Chen Qing didn’t try to stop him, nor did he blame him. “Whether you return home or seek another path, think it over carefully before you decide. Just remember, no matter where you end up, don’t let your Fist and Foot Skills get rusty.”

Bai Rui’s eyes immediately reddened. He nodded emphatically.

Watching him leave, Chen Qing knew he likely wouldn’t be the last.

「…」

In the study in the rear courtyard, the door and windows were shut tight, and heavy curtains blocked out the light.

Zhou Liang, Liu Ze, and Shen Zhenzhong sat around a table, their expressions grim.

“Brother Zhou.”

Shen Zhenzhong broke the silence, his voice heavy. “Master Liu and Master Mao have both joined the Commerce Association. What are we to do?”

Liu Ze also looked toward Zhou Liang, his eyes questioning.

The Gaolin Commerce Association’s tactic of cutting them off at the source was truly ruthless. The disciples of the Martial Arts Institutes were growing restless, and an increasing number of them could see no future.

If this continued, the very foundations of the Martial Arts Institutes would crumble. It would only be a matter of time before they were forced to close.

“That Gaolin Commerce Association is just a front!”

Zhou Liang shook his head. “Their consolidation of river and land transport isn’t for protecting the region and its people or clearing trade routes at all! They’re using these channels to transport Blood Gathering Pills on a massive scale! And the even more poisonous Bone-Eroding Ointment!”

“What?!”

Liu Ze shot to his feet, his face pale as a sheet.

Shen Zhenzhong drew a sharp breath, his hands trembling slightly. “Old Zhou, are you certain? The audacity… it’s beyond belief!”

“Certain!”

Zhou Liang took a deep breath and said, “Last time you two told me about this, I secretly contacted an old friend who used to work in canal transport, and an old acquaintance from a pharmacy. After the Commerce Association was founded, several batches of medicinal herbs and fish, shipped under the association’s banner, have contained contraband! The recipient is the Huang Family’s Renhe Pharmacy. The Wangyuan Escort Agency and Weapon Forging Shop are also involved! They’re trying to drag the entire Gaolin County onto their pirate ship!”

“If we get involved, we’ll be digging our own graves! When this all comes to light one day, we’ll be the ready-made scapegoats!”

The study fell into a dead silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Beads of cold sweat formed on the temples of Liu Ze and Shen Zhenzhong. Even their breathing grew heavy.

They had only been worried about being squeezed out and suppressed by the Commerce Association; they had never imagined such a monstrous, deadly undercurrent churning beneath the surface.

Once the truth came out, anyone involved would be the first pawns to be sacrificed.

“This isn’t a Commerce Association…”

Liu Ze’s voice trembled as if he had just escaped death’s door. “This is clearly a death sentence!”

Shen Zhenzhong nodded repeatedly, his face ashen. “We can’t touch this. Not even if it kills us.”

Seeing the terror on his two old friends’ faces, Zhou Liang said in a low voice, “Our three institutes must stick together, for better or for worse. We have to help each other out and keep each other informed.”

Liu Ze and Shen Zhenzhong quickly agreed.

The three men continued to conspire in hushed tones for a long time. It wasn’t until dusk settled that Liu Ze and Shen Zhenzhong, their minds heavy with worry, finally took their leave.

Only Zhou Liang remained in the study, his brow deeply furrowed.

「…」

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