A few burly men in black tunics were particularly conspicuous in the crowd.
Short blades were tucked at their waists, and they looked utterly ferocious.
The man leading them was especially prominent.
He was in his early thirties, with a sturdy, muscular build. His temples bulged, and the veins on his neck stood out like earthworms.
With every breath, the rise and fall of his chest was greater than that of an ordinary person.
'A Martial Artist of the Qi Blood Realm!'
Jiang Che's heart tightened.
"Brother Dao, my condolences…" someone in the crowd whispered.
'Brother Dao? He must be Brother Dao of the Thunderbolt Gang—Skinny's older brother…'
He casually edged in from the side of the crowd, pretending to be a curious onlooker.
Only then did he get a clear view of two officials squatting on the ground, covering their noses with handkerchiefs as they examined three mangled corpses.
The gruesome sight of the bodies was nauseating.
Their heads were missing, and their chests looked as if they had been torn open by the sharp claws of a savage beast. The organs inside were gone.
It was the three thugs from last night.
A wave of retrospective fear washed over Jiang Che.
If he hadn't made that last-minute breakthrough and escaped, he would have likely met the same end.
"This is the third one this month. All of them had their heads crushed and their stomachs torn open…" a nearby vendor selling flatbreads said, shaking his head.
"Could a Black Beast have gotten into the city?" an old farmer carrying baskets of vegetables on a pole asked, his voice trembling.
"It's an evil spirit… It must be!" the night watchman stammered. "I saw a shadow during my watch. It was humanoid, with eyes that glowed green. It had a ghastly face and tusks, and it was as fast as the wind. WHOOSH! It shot right over the rooftops!"
"You're full of shit!"
The burly man in the black tunic called Brother Dao suddenly bellowed, his voice like a crack of thunder.
He grabbed the night watchman by the collar, his knotted muscles stretching the black tunic so taut it looked like it would rip.
"Stop your superstitious fearmongering! There are no such things as evil spirits in this world! This was clearly the work of a man!"
He violently shoved the watchman away. His bloodshot eyes swept over the crowd as he snarled:
"Anyone who dares touch my brother… if the Thunderbolt Gang gets our hands on him, I'll skin him alive, rip out his tendons, and smash every single one of his bones!"
Jiang Che kept his head down and quietly slipped away from the crowd.
Brother Dao, lost in his rage, didn't notice the slender young man's departure.
「Inside the White Cloud Martial Arts Hall.」
A few apprentices were already in the courtyard, warming up and chatting.
When a round-faced boy who knew him well saw Jiang Che walk in, he was about to call out a greeting.
But then, he noticed something was off.
The Jiang Che before him now exuded a sharp, formidable aura.
His every move carried a sense of stable, powerful force.
It was similar to how Gong Yulei and Zhang Xiong had been after their breakthroughs!
"Jiang Che, you… you broke through?!" he stammered.
The courtyard fell silent in an instant.
All eyes turned to Jiang Che.
Their eyes were filled with astonishment and envy.
Jiang Che paid no mind to their reactions.
He walked straight over to the eaves, where the hall's master, Luo Kun, was meditating with his eyes closed.
He called out respectfully, "Master!"
Luo Kun's eyes snapped open, a flash of surprise in them.
He grabbed Jiang Che's wrist in a flash to probe his condition.
"Good lad. You actually broke through…"
Luo Kun released his hand, his voice laced with a complex mix of emotions.
This young man's Qi Blood had been weak in the beginning, a far cry from the likes of Gong Yulei and Lei Zhangxiong, but he had actually managed to break through!
He had originally thought that with Jiang Che's aptitude, he would never make it past the Qi Blood Pass.
He never expected to have been so wrong!
"It was a stroke of luck," Jiang Che said with a cupped-fist salute.
Luo Kun roared with laughter, clapping a dry, heavy hand on Jiang Che's shoulder.
"Luck has nothing to do with reaching the Qi Blood Realm! Come, follow me to pay respects to the Founder!"
The two entered an inner chamber.
A yellowed portrait hung on the gray-white wall.
The painting depicted an old man with white hair but a youthful complexion. He stood atop a peak shrouded in clouds, hands clasped behind his back, his robes fluttering in the wind.
It was as if he might step out of the portrait at any moment.
"This is the founding patriarch of the Cangyun Sect, Cang Yunzi!"
Luo Kun said with a solemn expression.
"The Cangyun Sect?" Jiang Che said, startled.
"Isn't this the White Cloud Martial Arts Hall? What's the connection to the Cangyun Sect?"
Luo Kun nodded and explained:
"The Cangyun Sect is one of the three great Sects of Cangzhou, filled with countless masters. In my youth, I was a disciple of this very Sect."
His tone carried a hint of nostalgia.
"Unfortunately, I was unable to remain with the Sect, so I came to Lin Yuan City to open a hall and teach… But no matter what, you must remember that our lineage is, and always will be, an inheritance from the Cangyun Sect!"
"This disciple understands!" Jiang Che replied, his heart somber.
Lin Yuan City was merely a small city under the jurisdiction of Cangzhou.
Cangzhou, however, was the most prosperous region in the southeastern part of the Great Chu dynasty. It was a hub for merchants, and the Martial Dao thrived there.
Jiang Che himself had often dreamed of going there.
He had never imagined the White Cloud Martial Arts Hall had such deep roots!
"Kowtow."
Luo Kun commanded in a low voice.
Jiang Che quickly knelt on the prayer cushion and performed three respectful kowtows.
When he rose, Luo Kun was already holding out a cup of hot tea, which Jiang Che quickly accepted, performing the tea ceremony ritual.
Luo Kun took a sip and nodded in satisfaction.
"Good. From this day forward, you are an official disciple of I, Luo Kun!"
He set down the teacup and continued,
"As an official disciple, you no longer have to pay tuition, and you may take your noon meal at the Martial Arts Hall. However, once a month, you must accept a job for the hall. These are mostly things like guarding escorts, catching thieves, or providing security. The Martial Arts Hall will take a thirty-percent cut of your pay."
Jiang Che nodded repeatedly, secretly delighted.
The benefits of being an official disciple were truly on another level.
"However, there is something I must remind you of."
Luo Kun narrowed his eyes, his tone turning serious.
"After breaking through to the Qi Blood Realm, arduous training alone is not enough. It must be supplemented with a nourishing diet and Secret Medicines to fortify your Qi Blood. Otherwise, your Qi Blood will become depleted, and you will find it difficult to advance! If you try to force your training, you will only shorten your lifespan!"
"This disciple understands!" Jiang Che nodded gravely, but his heart sank a little.
Those expensive supplements and ingredients could easily cost dozens or even hundreds of silver taels. For someone of his family's means, the financial pressure was immense.
"Right. Now that you are a Martial Artist, it is time for you to formally step into the Jianghu."
Luo Kun's throat felt dry, so he took another sip of tea.
"After a while, people from Escort Agencies, apothecaries, and Gangs will come to the Martial Arts Hall looking to recruit. I'll let you know when they do. You can choose one to affiliate with. You'll receive a monthly retainer, but you'll be expected to lend your strength when needed. It's up to you to decide."
He suddenly lowered his voice, his tone becoming grave.
"But remember, the Jianghu is not some tournament stage. Some things… are better left avoided."
"Yes!" Jiang Che answered with gravity.
"That's all for today." Luo Kun waved his hand. "Gong Yulei is away on business and won't be back until tomorrow. I haven't started teaching the advanced Qi Blood Realm Fist Technique yet. Come back tomorrow morning, and I'll teach it to both of you together!"
"Thank you, Master!"
A Qi Blood Realm Fist Technique!
A surge of anticipation welled up inside Jiang Che.
After taking his leave, he went to collect his Disciple's Robe.
The snow-white uniform had flowing clouds embroidered on it in silver thread. It was tied with a dark-red sash at the waist, and the two words "White Cloud" were embroidered on the chest.
After changing, Jiang Che stood before a Copper Mirror to examine his reflection.
The young man in the mirror had lightly tanned skin and handsome features.
His black hair was tied in a high ponytail, with a few stray strands giving him a somewhat untamed look.
Though not powerfully built, his back was as straight as a pine tree.
He radiated a sharp, focused energy, looking quite dashing indeed.
'Ling'er will be so shocked when she sees me in this uniform!'
A smile crept onto Jiang Che's face as he pictured his sister's eyes going wide with surprise.