From a humble farmer to a great martial arts master

41. What's the point of practicing martial arts if you don't have money?

Guan Shanyue chatted casually, glancing around.

The livestock roamed the pen, the granary overflowed, the pregnant mistress was there, the maids served her, and the ancestral tablets were being worshipped…

Therefore, the conclusion was drawn that they were an honest and law-abiding family.

I felt increasingly relieved.

However, it is unknown where Ren Qingshan acquired his martial arts skills.

I started learning martial arts at the age of six, practicing in the sweltering summer and freezing winter. Now I am thirty-four years old. After nearly thirty years of hard work, I finally advanced to the Silver Blood rank two years ago.

Although he took some detours along the way and couldn't compare to the truly outstanding individuals, he was already considered top-notch in the county.

But this Ren Qingshan, who was only one year older than him, was already in the late stage of Silver Blood and had condensed true qi.

Clearly, he broke through to the Silver Blood Realm much earlier.

Is there really such a prodigy in the countryside?

Or did they receive some extraordinary inheritance?

However, this matter is sensitive, so it's not appropriate to ask directly.

For martial artists, anyone who inquires about another's martial arts techniques, except for close relatives, friends, or elders, is considered to have malicious intent.

"Brother Qingshan, with your martial arts skills, why are you content to live in the countryside? Haven't you gone out to make a name for yourself?"

With his thoughts drifting, Guan Shanyue asked with a smile.

Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes fell on Ren Qingshan's face, each with their own thoughts.

"I'm poor!"

"With money, you can go anywhere in the world; without money, you can't even take a step. When I was at my poorest, I worked as a guard for the Lu family. Despite my lofty ambitions, I was out of luck and had no choice but to accept it."

"However, things are looking up now. If any of you have any avenues for making money, or if you think highly of me, feel free to recommend me. After all, the poor are scholars, the rich are warriors; what's the point of practicing martial arts if you don't have money?"

Ren Qingshan cupped his hands and smiled.

Everyone here is wealthy: constables, martial arts school owners, gambling den bosses, salt merchant families... Pick up whatever's in your basket, don't be stingy, just shower me with silver!

Everyone couldn't help but laugh, but they also deeply agreed.

Martial artists rarely have a time when they are not short of money.

Martial arts skills, elixirs, weapons, attire, social skills... each and every one of these items cost a fortune.

Lu Qingyi was called out, and thinking of how Ren Qingshan had been driven away by Fang Jinpai for two taels of silver, she felt a little ashamed. Just as she was about to say something, she heard Liang Dachang say with a smile, "Brother Ren, if you don't mind, you can come and be my servant. I dare not say more, but five hundred taels of silver a year will be a piece of cake."

Having run a casino his entire life, Liang Dachang naturally saw that this was the perfect time to "place your bets and leave!"

This Ren Qingshan has lived in the countryside for a long time. Now that he has just broken through to the late stage of Silver Blood, he is seeking wealth and status, making him the most suitable person to invest in!

"Brother Dachang, I don't mean to belittle you, but your gambling den is a disgrace to heroes."

"If Brother Qingshan is interested, the doors of my Eight Directions Martial Arts School will be open to you. You will be treated as an 'Esteemed Elder,' a very prestigious position. You can occasionally give pointers to the disciples on their martial arts and improve your own skills. We can also spar with each other at any time."

Zhang Haolei said leisurely.

What kind of good place is a gambling den?

If the Eight Directions Martial Arts Academy could have one more Silver Blood late-stage Elder, its attractiveness to students would immediately increase.

Moreover, martial artists who come from the countryside are the most inspiring.

Next year, Ren Qingshan will take the martial arts examination. With his current level of skill, he is almost certain to pass, barring any unforeseen circumstances. He will then become famous and renowned, and the reputation of martial arts schools will rise accordingly.

Seeing that the two of them had started arguing, Lu Qingyi felt a little anxious and was about to try to speak up when Guan Shanyue beat her to it.

Guan Shanyue smiled arrogantly.

"Please stop arguing, you two. Magistrate Fang is eager to find talented people. Now that such a great talent has emerged from the countryside, I will report this to him."

"Lord Fang is a Jade Marrow Realm expert, from the Fang family of the prefectural city. He has a deep foundation. If we can catch his eye, our future will be limitless."

This is a win-win-win situation: it not only recommends talent to the county magistrate, but also curries favor with Ren Qingshan, and allows the magistrate to find out more about Ren's background.

Seeing that Guan Shanyue had gone to such lengths, Lu Qingyi sighed inwardly and swallowed back the words she was about to say.

The Lu family... how can they compare to the county magistrate?

It's pointless to say it out loud; it only makes me look bad.

"The three of you should not quarrel because of me. Everything can be discussed and agreed upon."

"Even though I'm now under the command of Magistrate Fang, I can still frequently visit the martial arts school to spar and exchange ideas, and instruct my disciples. If Boss Liang encounters any difficulties, I can certainly lend a hand."

"Although this is our first meeting, I feel an instant connection with the three of you. When I go to the county town in the future, I will definitely look for you all for drinks and conversation."

Ren Qingshan said with a smile.

What to choose?

I want them all!

Let's set a general idea first, and if something really happens, we can talk about money later.

Hearing him say this, the three of them smiled and nodded. Having more friends makes life easier, and there's plenty of time ahead.

In short, a martial artist at the late Silver Blood stage is considered one of the strongest in Huaiyin County, second only to the six Jade Marrow masters.

……

We were full and satisfied.

Guan Shanyue was the first to ask, "There's no time like the present, Brother Qingshan, why don't you come with me to the county government office to pay our respects to Lord Fang?"

Ren Qingshan didn't want him to be in such a hurry, so after a moment's thought, he immediately nodded: "Okay."

County magistrate.

Although he may only be a seventh-rank official, he is practically a local tyrant in this county. If he has a dream at night, a lot of people will want to make it come true for him the next day.

After quickly tidying up and giving instructions to his family, Ren Qingshan left the village with them.

Lu Qingyi had been wanting to have a private chat with Ren Qingshan, but she hadn't had the chance since entering the village. Now, walking on the road out of the village, she couldn't hold back any longer and said softly, "Senior Ren, please wait a moment. Fang Jinpai asked me to tell you something."

Ren Qingshan paused slightly, slowed his pace, let the others go first, waited at the village entrance, and walked with her at the back.

"It wasn't Fang Jinpai who contacted me, it was you, right? What's up?"

Looking at the stunningly beautiful woman before him, Ren Qingshan's lips curled into a slight smile.

Beautiful women are always pleasing to the eye.

While the people sitting there were chatting and eating, they kept glancing at her, but of course they were mindful of their status and spoke to her with great respect.

Lu Qingyi sniffed and said softly, "I came here today specifically to congratulate you on your breakthrough in martial arts. But now, I'm afraid I should congratulate you on your meteoric rise in the future."

Previously in Yushugou, I only thought of Ren Qingshan as a senior who had retired to the mountains and forests. Out of consideration for him, I did not try to recruit him again. Only today did I realize that I had made a mistake.

He was not a hermit, but also sought fame and fortune.

"No problem, no problem. Oh right, I just had something to ask you, but there were too many people around, so I couldn't go into details."

"True Qi... You come from a sect, do you know the methods of cultivating True Qi?"

Ren Qingshan seized the opportunity to ask.

Lu Qingyi's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she shook her head with a dark red face: "I... I don't have any at home. In the sect, I... my strength is weak, and I haven't cultivated true qi yet."

Seeing this shyness, like that of a water lily, Ren Qingshan couldn't help but tease her: "Then you really are a bit unambitious. It's been more than a month since the New Year, and you're still enjoying yourself at home instead of going to the sect to cultivate diligently?"

"I……"

Lu Qingyi hurriedly defended herself: "In the sect, I was envied by my senior sister and suppressed in every way. The incident of being robbed while guarding the elm tree in Yushugou was also done by that senior sister. Her family is a prominent family in the prefecture city, with two members achieving the rank of martial arts master."

After he finished speaking, he saw Ren Qingshan staring intently at his face.

Before I could react, he reached out and gently pinched and tugged at my hand, like an elder teasing a baby.

Can……

Lu Qingyi felt as if she had been struck by lightning.

I never expected him to be so frivolous; he reached out and pinched my cheek!

"Your senior sister must be really ugly, right? Pah, ugly people always cause trouble... Shameless!"

Lu Qingyi bit her lip, unease showing in her eyes, and said blankly, "It...it is quite ugly, but, Senior Ren, can you let go now?"

……

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