My martial arts have no bottlenecks.

Chapter 21 Guest Elder

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Zhang Kui, the leader of the Sea Serpent Gang, came to pay his respects in person.

He came alone, without any subordinates, carrying two boxes of pastries and a piece of cured meat. He entered with a friendly smile, like an ordinary neighbor making a New Year's visit.

Otherwise, if the gift is too extravagant, it would be inappropriate.

Ning San Niang was somewhat at a loss, so Liang Cheng invited her to sit down in the main room.

"Young Master Liang, I apologize for bothering you at the end of the year," Zhang Kui said, placing the gift on the table. "It's just a small token of my appreciation, to add a dish for Third Sister."

"You're too kind, Chief Zhang."

Zhang Kui looked around the room. There were old tables and chairs, flour bags piled up in the corner, and a faded image of the Kitchen God pasted on the wall.

He smiled and said, "Young Master Liang is now a guest elder of the City Lord's Mansion and the champion of the Three Towns Grand Competition. This house needs some repairs."

"I'm used to living here, it's quite nice."

"That's true," Zhang Kui nodded. "Whether it's a mansion or a thatched hut, it depends on who lives there."

At this moment, Zhang Kui said with a smile, "After the New Year, the dock will be expanding with two new berths. If Young Master Liang is interested, he can invest in a share. It's not much, just fifty taels, with dividends at the end of the year."

This is both a gesture of goodwill and a test.

Liang Cheng shook his head: "I'm focused on martial arts, I don't understand these things."

"I understand, I understand." Zhang Kui didn't press the matter and took his leave with a bow.

As he reached the door, he turned back and said, "By the way, Da Tou is your childhood friend. He's clever and capable. If you need anything, you can talk to him."

After Zhang Kui left, Ning San Niang came out of the kitchen: "Cheng'er..."

"It's nothing," Liang Cheng reassured his mother. "It's just a New Year's greeting."

Zhang Kui came here to stabilize relations, so he specifically brought up the big prize.

That night, Da Tou invited his three childhood friends, Liang Cheng, Er Gou, and San Ya, over for drinks.

As the three chatted, they gradually fell silent. After a moment of silence, Big Head suddenly grabbed the wine jug and took a big gulp.

"Brother Cheng, I know you look down on me for who I am now, but unlike you, I don't have talent or opportunities. This is all the skill I have. If I don't fight for the Sea Serpent 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."

Big Head gripped the wine flask tightly: "I have no regrets."

"That's good," Liang Cheng stood up. "I'll be going back to the martial arts school for seclusion after the New Year, and I might not be back for a long time. Take care of yourselves."

"Brother Cheng!" Da Tou called out from behind.

Liang Cheng stopped.

"If I ever fail, will you help me?"

Liang Cheng didn't turn around: "We'll see."

After saying that, he walked into the night.

Big Head sat by the pier, downed the rest of the wine, and then smashed the wine jug into the sea.

"We'll see..." he murmured. "Okay, okay."

Er Gou wanted to persuade her but didn't dare to, while Ya Ya lowered her head and twisted the hem of her clothes.

Broke up unhappily.

……

On the morning of the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, Liang Cheng returned to Yangwei Martial Arts School.

Zhou Hu was practicing his morning exercises in the courtyard when he saw him return. He stopped his boxing stance and said, "Master wants you to go to the main hall to see him after you come back."

"Yes, senior brother."

Yang Wei was drinking tea when he saw Liang Cheng come in and gestured for him to sit down.

"I heard Zhang Kui went to see you?" Yang Wei asked.

"Yes, they want me to invest in the docks."

Yang Wei nodded: "He's testing your attitude. Remember, the Sea Serpent Gang's waters are too murky; don't get too close to them."

"Disciple understands."

"The year-end is over, it's time to get back to work." Yang Wei put down his teacup. "At the end of March, Linwu City will organize a spring hunt. Our martial arts school can send three people to participate because we won the grand competition. Those who perform well in the spring hunt will receive a reward from the city lord's mansion, and may even be admitted to the martial arts academy."

Liang Cheng's heart skipped a beat: "Martial Arts Academy?"

"That's the sacred ground of martial arts in Linwu City, with resources far superior to those of Linhai Town," Yang Wei said, looking at him. "Now that you're a guest elder of the city lord's mansion, if you were to distinguish yourself in the spring hunt, you might be able to compete for it."

"This disciple will do his utmost."

"Alright, you've always been reliable, I trust you," Yang Wei waved his hand, "Go ahead."

As Liang Cheng stepped out of the main hall, he saw Zhao Yuan standing under the corridor, his face pale and his eyes gloomy. The two looked at each other but did not speak.

Liang Cheng nodded and turned to leave.

Zhao Yuan stared at his back, his fingers digging into his palm.

One step at a time, one step at a time.

He was not reconciled.

……

Liang Cheng's life returned to normal: he practiced stance training in the morning, honed his "wild ox strength" during the day, and went to the reef cave late at night to refine his "stone armor" skills.

The Stone Bone Project is progressing faster than before because the Iron Bone Marrow he asked Yang Wei to purchase from Linwu City has arrived.

The ointment he prepared at this time burned and pierced his bones, making each training session feel like torture, but the effects were remarkable. His bone hardness increased visibly, and even his punching power increased by nearly 20%.

【Mastery of Hunyuan Zhuang (255/1000)】

【The Great Perfection of the Wild Bull's Strength (103/2000)】

The Complete Works of Stone Armor Technique (Fragment) (72/2000)

But this progress was achieved with money.

When the Iron Marrow was exhausted, Liang Cheng had less than a hundred taels of silver left. He had to temporarily stop the Stone Bone Style training and return to the Hunyuan Stance and the water-grinding technique of the Wild Ox Strength.

Wealth, companionship, law, and location—wealth comes first.

Without resources, even the greatest talent is like trying to see the moon's reflection in water.

Just as Liang Cheng was pondering how to acquire resources, guests arrived at Yangwei Martial Arts School.

Fatty Wang, accompanied by two henchmen carrying a wooden box filled with lipsticks, entered and bowed to Yang Wei, saying, "Master Yang, I, Wang, am late in offering my congratulations!"

The box was opened, revealing three hundred taels of silver neatly arranged.

"I, Wang, would like to invite Young Hero Liang to serve as a martial arts protector for the 'Wang Family Trading Company,' with an annual salary of three hundred taels of silver, plus a two-courtyard house in the east of town as a gift," Fatty Wang said with a smile. "You only need to show up twice a month, which will not interfere with Young Hero Liang's cultivation."

Before Yang Wei could answer, a voice came from outside the door: "Manager Wang is quick to act."

However, Chen Bainian, a wealthy merchant from the three towns, entered alone, carrying only a blue cloth bundle.

Fatty Wang's expression changed slightly. He stood up, cupped his hands, and bowed, saying, "Old Chen."

Chen Bainian nodded slightly and pushed the bundle to Yang Wei: "It's just a small token of my appreciation."

When Yang Wei opened it, he found five dark golden iron marrow bones inside, of excellent quality, with a market value of over a thousand taels.

Seeing this, Fatty Wang couldn't help but smile wryly: "Since Old Chen is willing, I, Wang, will not embarrass myself by offering my services."

He tactfully took his leave, saying to Yang Wei before departing, "If Young Hero Liang is interested in the future, Wang's Trading Company will welcome you at any time."

After Fatty Wang left, Chen Bainian spoke up: "The annual salary is five hundred taels, and the annual supply of medicinal herbs is also five hundred taels. All Young Hero Liang needs to do is be a guest elder and help out three times when the business is in dire straits."

Upon hearing this, Yang Wei did not agree on Liang Cheng's behalf, but instead called Liang Cheng over and let him make his own decision.

Liang Cheng was taken aback when he saw the box of top-grade iron marrow. Chen Bainian was a thoughtful person.

"Why is Master Chen spending so much money?" Liang Cheng asked.

"At sixteen, you've mastered internal strength, achieved mastery of stance training, and reached a high level in hard skills as well. This demonstrates your perseverance," Chen Bainian said, looking directly at Liang Cheng. "What I value in you is your potential. Besides—"

He lowered his voice: "After the spring hunt, Linwu City will recommend outstanding individuals to participate in the selection of the County Martial Academy. I have some connections in the city. If Young Hero Liang needs it, I may be able to lend a hand. This is an investment, and also a cooperation."

Liang Cheng then looked at Yang Wei, who nodded slightly.

"it is good."

Chen Bainian smiled and handed over a warm jade pendant: "With this token, you can withdraw silver and access resources at any branch of Chen's Trading Company."

Both parties immediately went to the town's security office, where Liang Cheng signed a contract in their presence, officially becoming a retainer of the Chen family's trading company.