Chapter 28
Not long after Han Zhao left home, the carriages of the Xu, Su, and Zhang families arrived at Xinqiao District.
The leaders of some small and medium-sized sects had already come to visit.
However, both groups of people missed him.
They asked around and found out that Han Zhao had just left the city and could only return in disappointment.
However, the few gangs had left spies nearby and were waiting for Han Zhao to return to the city.
Compared to the large factions that had quasi-Martial Masters in the Blood Tempering Realm, small and medium-sized gangs like them, a Bone Tempering martial artist was the strongest combat power in the gang.
Especially for an 18-year-old Bone Tempering martial artist like Han Zhao, who had only cultivated for two years, he was the target of their competition.
There was no need for Han Zhao to really do anything. As long as he appeared during a gang conflict, many problems would be solved. Most of the time, a bloody battle could be avoided.
Han Zhao only returned to Blackrock City at night.
After he went to Edge Sharpening Manor to retrieve the reforged Frost Saber, he disguised himself and went to the Saber Hunter’s stronghold and the Chen family’s auction house in Nine Links Town to ask for information about black gold.
In the end, he learned that the Chen family’s annual large-scale auction would sometimes sell some precious medicinal herbs and forging materials. Previously, they had auctioned black gold several times in the past few years, and the most they had sold was ten catties of black gold.
After receiving the news, Han Zhao went to Nine Links Mountain to scout for information about the Flying Dragon Stockade.
After asking, they found out that other than collecting money from Edge Sharpening Manor, they had to skin all the nearby towns and villages as long as there were no Blood Tempering martial artists.
The strongest person in the Flying Dragon Stockade was the leader, Qi Xing, who was an expert at the first Blood Qi Breakthrough in the Blood Tempering Realm.
As for the second to fourth-in-charge, they were all at the Bone Tempering Realm.
However, the fourth-in-charge was killed by Han Zhao last time.
As soon as Han Zhao returned home, he met a few gang members from small and medium-sized gangs waiting at their door and invited him in name.
He expressed that he wanted to think about it, so the other party did not disturb him anymore.
…
The next day, Han Zhao woke up early.
He did not practice in the courtyard. Instead, he went out directly, ate breakfast at a nearby stall, and went straight to the martial arts school.
Previously, he had told Lu Yi that he would release the news of his breakthrough in about six to seven months.
Clearly, Lu Yi released the news yesterday.
Now that he had received the news, he naturally could not put on airs. After all, a few large families had invited him.
“The Su family and the Xu family’s business is not small. They should have some connections. As for the Zhang family…”
As Han Zhao walked, he thought about where to go.
First of all, the Xu family was certain.
Xu Ling was very kind to him. Previously, he had also promised to prioritize the Xu family after breaking through.
Next was the Su family. The Su family’s trading company was even stronger than the Xu family’s trading company.
However, although he did not dislike Su Yun, he did not have a good impression of her. They were acquaintances, so it depended on the situation.
Lastly, there was the Zhang family. If they wanted to deal with the Flying Dragon Stockade in the future, they would definitely provoke the Zhang family. The disguise was not omnipotent.
He could go to the Zhang family first and figure out the strength of the few Blood Tempering Realm martial artists in the Zhang family and the cultivation techniques they cultivated.
Only by knowing yourself and your enemy could you win a hundred battles.
As for the top factions with Force Tempering Martial Masters, he would not join any of them.
This was because even if these forces were only in name, they could not easily escape.
After a while, Han Zhao arrived at the entrance of the martial arts school.
Two stone lions more than a meter tall stood at the door. On the plaque on the door were the words “Mountain Shaking Fist Academy”.
It was so early, but from the entrance, one could hear shouts coming from the courtyard wall.
“It’s been two years since I first came here.”
Han Zhao couldn’t help but sigh. He had just arrived in this world and stood at the door like a small fry. His current situation was much better than before.
At this moment, Han Zhao suddenly laughed.
This was because he remembered that when he knocked on the door, he saw Zhao Yuantu’s dark bald head and the system’s almost funny notification.
Han Zhao walked into the martial arts school. The men in the outer courtyard were practicing martial arts. Lu Yi was still lying on a rattan chair in the middle of the front yard and backyard, leisurely munching on melon seeds.
He felt that this old man’s greatest hobby was to munch on melon seeds. Looking at the accumulated number of melon seed shells on the ground, he should have been munching for a while.
“Han Zhao.”
“Brother Han.”
“Senior Brother Han.”
Han Zhao walked towards Lu Yi. There were clearly more apprentices greeting him in the courtyard.
He nodded in response and came to Lu Yi’s side. “Master Lu.”
“You’re here.” Lu Yi narrowed his eyes and waved at the inner courtyard. “Go in and train for a while. Someone will be looking for you soon.”
“Ah, sure thing.”
Han Zhao walked into the inner courtyard.
Su Yun and Xu Ling had already started training, while Zhang Tianwen was training alone.
“Junior Brother Han!” Xu Ling’s eyes lit up when she saw Han Zhao from the corner of her eye. She abandoned Su Yun and ran over. “Congratulations.”
“I was just lucky.” Han Zhao smiled and joked, “Looks like you have to give me a raise.”
“Of course!” Hearing Han Zhao’s answer, Xu Ling smiled and waved her hand in front of him. “How about five taels a month? In addition, if you need any medicinal herbs or precious wild beast meat in the future, our Xu family’s trading company can sell it to you at a purchase price. This is a nominal treatment.”
“If you’re willing to sign a contract with the Xu family’s trading company, the allowance will be doubled. Moreover, we can provide you with a portion of demon beast meat that can increase your blood qi every three months.”
Han Zhao’s expression turned serious. Xu Ling’s conditions were not low.
With the strength of a Bone Tempering Realm martial artist, wearing leather armor to protect their vital spots would not be a problem for them to kill a ferocious tiger.
Demonic beasts were foreign beasts that surpassed the upper limit of their race. Their strength far exceeded their own kind. Demonic beast meat was a great supplement for human martial artists.
Just like the meat of the tiger demon that Han Zhao had eaten at the Prosperous Moon Restaurant previously, only three to five quasi-Martial Masters at the Blood Tempering Realm could defeat it.
Ordinary people could not buy these things even if they had money.
At that time, Zhang Tianwen was able to buy the tiger demon meat at the Prosperous Moon Restaurant because of his status as the second son of the Zhang family, not because of money.
If Han Zhao didn’t have any attribute points, signing a contract was his only choice in the future.
“Thank you, Senior Sister Xu. I choose to continue in name. If I’m lucky enough to advance further, I’ll definitely sign a contract with you.” Han Zhao pondered for a moment and made a decision.
Although he had cultivated the Sword Drawing Technique and the upper limit of his strength had increased a little, including the Life Nurturing Technique, they were all trump cards that could not be exposed.
Xu Ling was not in charge of the Xu family’s trading company yet. He had signed a contract with the strength of the Bone Tempering Realm, so he could only be considered a vassal of the Xu family.
They might have to follow the caravan out at any time and encounter unnecessary danger.
Only by becoming a Blood Tempering martial artist would he be a partner of the Xu family’s trading company.
He knew this very well.
It would not affect his cultivation just because he had a good relationship with Xu Ling.
“Alright then.” Xu Ling was a little disappointed. In fact, the conditions for signing the contract were obtained from her father.
Such conditions were already extremely generous for Bone Tempering martial artists. Any more and they would be treated like Blood Tempering martial artists.
‘Junior Brother Han looks amiable on the outside, but he’s really stubborn on the inside. He wants to rely on himself for everything…’ Xu Ling sighed in her heart. She really wanted to help Han Zhao.
[Judging from Xu Ling’s expression, your success rate will definitely increase greatly if you propose to marry into her family now!]
Han Zhao chose to ignore the notification.
It was not the time to start a family yet. In a few years, Cloud Prefecture would be in chaos. If he brought his family along, he would not be able to run peacefully.
At the very least, he had to become a Force Tempering Martial Master before considering marriage.
“Junior Brother… Han, congratulations.” Zhang Tianwen walked forward with a forced smile.
“Senior Brother Zhang is very considerate.” Han Zhao cupped his hands.
“Junior Brother Han, Eldest Brother asked me to invite you to the Zhang family in name.” Zhang Tianwen’s smile did not fade. Yesterday, he was first disgusted by Zhang Wu, then scolded by his father. Now, he had to invite Han Zhao. He was really aggrieved, but he had no choice but to smile.
“In that case, thank you for your kindness. Thank you, Senior Brother Zhang.” Han Zhao smiled and nodded.
With the Zhang family’s money, it would be a good thing to deal with the Zhang family in the future.
“…” Zhang Tianwen was stunned.
He was already prepared for Han Zhao’s rejection. Then, he would go back and add fuel to the fire and let Zhang Wu deal with Han Zhao.
Now that Han Zhao suddenly agreed, he was caught off guard.
It was as if he had hit cotton with all his might. He almost couldn’t breathe.
“Senior Brother Zhang?” Han Zhao tilted her head and looked at him.
“Ah? Oh, oh!” Zhang Tianwen reacted and hurriedly said, “I’ll go back and tell Big Brother now.”
With that, Zhang Tianwen cupped his hands and left quickly.
If he stayed here any longer, he would probably go crazy.