Proving God begins with the principle that no effort is wasted.

Chapter 72 Chamber of Commerce

The people from Cangsong Martial Arts School have left.

The disciples carried the person in a flustered manner. One of them stumbled and bumped into the threshold, letting out a muffled groan but not daring to make a sound.

All eyes were glued to that door until it turned into the alleyway and disappeared completely into the shadows, at which point a murmur of noise erupted in the room.

"Tsk tsk, will they even survive?"

"Luo Lie actually fell to a young man who had just broken through to a higher realm!"

"Guangchang... it really does harbor a man who eats people without spitting out the bones."

The people from different martial arts schools exchanged glances, their eyes filled with apprehension and calculation.

Li Guishan, the founder of the martial arts school, leaned back in his chair, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest, his face expressionless.

Lin Hongyu of Hongyun Martial Arts School lowered her eyes and slowly straightened her cuffs, as if everything around her was irrelevant to her.

Master Liu of Changxing Martial Arts School raised his eyes and looked directly at Liu Changqing. "Master Liu, you are very skilled."

Liu Changqing bowed slightly, speaking humbly, "Master Liu is too kind. On the ring, fists and feet have no eyes. It was just my beloved disciple's good fortune."

Teacher Liu fell silent and took his seat.

Shen Qing stood on tiptoe, looking in the direction they had left until they could no longer see them. Then she lowered her head and muttered softly, "They really won..."

Liu Yun folded the handkerchief into a neat square and stuffed it into her sleeve, her hands trembling uncontrollably.

Jiang Lan slowly opened her eyes.

The churning blood and qi in his chest had subsided, and the area on his left ribs where Luo Lie's palm strike had struck was bruised and black, and pressing it caused a dull, throbbing pain. A thin scab had formed on the gash between his thumb and forefinger, and his knuckles cracked with a few crisp sounds as he curled his fingers.

He turned to look at Liu Changqing, met his master's questioning gaze, and gently shook his head.

"cough--"

A loud cough silenced the commotion.

Wu Pa strode to the front of the stage, his posture upright and his voice deep and resonant. Cao Tieshan stood beside him, a shrewd smile typical of a businessman on his face.

"Fellow practitioners!" Wu Pa looked around and said, "Today's Golden Scale Gathering is a grand event, bringing together martial artists from the county to exchange skills and discuss martial arts."

But his tone suddenly turned cold, "But the world is not peaceful. River bandits are repeatedly suppressed, trade routes are cut off, shops are collapsing, and people are struggling to make ends meet. Each martial arts school is looking after its own interests, like scattered sand. If a major event really happens, it will be nothing more than a pile of scattered sand."

His gaze lingered on the heads of the various martial arts schools, and he said, word by word, "Patriarch Zhao, Manager Cao, and I have been discussing this for many days. The county must unite as one."

Wu Pa raised his voice, his tone resounding: "Today, I propose the establishment of the Gaolin Chamber of Commerce to unify the county's martial arts, commerce, and security!"

The entire audience erupted in uproar!

"A chamber of commerce? Led by the Zhao family?"

"Unification? Does that mean controlling everything?"

"This isn't forming a united front; it's clearly a takeover!"

The owners of several small martial arts schools looked ashen-faced.

Jiang Lan's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

The Zhao family now wants to swallow up all the martial arts forces in the county; their appetite is terrifying!

Wu Pa raised his hand, calming the restlessness in the room: "The Chamber of Commerce will manage river transport, land transport, goods, and security, concentrating resources to fight against river bandits. Membership is voluntary. Members will enjoy priority escort rights, low-priced medicines and weapons, and share all trade routes."

He emphasized the word "voluntary" very heavily, and everyone in the room understood the unspoken meaning—those who comply will prosper, those who resist will perish.

Cao Tieshan smiled and replied, his tone full of enticement: "The Zhao family is providing money and supplies, and the Wangyuan Escort Agency is in charge. This is a future that's been handed to us. Don't be ungrateful."

Wu Pa's gaze swept across the room: "Who wants to join?"

The air seemed to freeze; no one dared to be the first to speak.

"Changxing Martial Arts School, join."

An aged voice broke the silence. Master Liu stood up, his gray long gown faded from washing, his figure thin, yet his back straight.

He bowed towards the stage, and when he sat down, his back slumped slightly—Changxing Martial Arts School had long since declined, and he had no other choice.

"Kaishan Martial Arts School, join."

Li Guishan stood up, his voice booming like a bell, his aura imposing. He was a top-tier expert among the nine acupoint masters, and with his words, the tide of the battle instantly turned.

Several small martial arts schools that had long been affiliated with the Zhao family hurriedly echoed the call, their voices rising and falling in unison.

"I, Zhang Shicheng, am neither virtuous nor capable; I only know how to teach my apprentices. I will not get involved in such important matters as the Chamber of Commerce."

Another person stood up, cupped his hands in a gesture of refusal, and several others followed suit, all citing the weakness of their martial arts school and their unwillingness to engage in conflict as reasons for refusing to join the game.

Wu Pa and Cao Tieshan exchanged a glance, their expressions calm, clearly having been prepared.

All eyes instantly turned to Liu Changqing.

Although Guangchang Martial Arts School has declined, Jiang Lan's defeat of Zhou Liang and Luo Lie today has shocked the entire audience. Liu Changqing's attitude is enough to influence the remaining onlookers.

Liu Changqing slowly rose, his expression calm, and bowed respectfully: "Chief Escort Wu, Manager Cao, this matter concerns the lives of dozens of people in Guangchang, and I cannot make a hasty decision. Please allow me to return to the inn to discuss it, and I will give you a reply within three days."

Wu Pa nodded, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Cao Tieshan smiled and smoothed things over: "Please consider it, Master Liu. The Chamber of Commerce's doors will always be open to Guangchang."

Everyone understands the threat in those words.

Master Liu opened his eyes and said calmly, "River bandits are a menace. Fighting them alone is not a solution. Jinghong Martial Arts School is willing to join the Chamber of Commerce to protect the territory and its people."

Lin Hongyu then stood up and said calmly, "Unity brings strength, division brings weakness. Hongyun Martial Arts Academy will also take a share."

With the two martial arts schools expressing their stance one after another, the remaining people no longer hesitated and nodded in agreement, fearing that if they were a step too late, they would become a thorn in the side of the Zhao family.

Jiang Lan remained seated and motionless throughout.

He observed this power reshuffle with detached indifference, seeing through the Zhao family's wolfish ambitions and the cowardice and compromise of everyone present.

At the Guangchang seat, Sun Gengsan had a gloomy face, Li Yan crossed his arms and sneered, and Shen Qing lowered his head, his fingers digging into the seams of the chair, filled with anxiety.

The remaining sparring between the Azure Scales was completely a formality.

The disciples who went up on stage were all hesitant and their moves were weak, lacking any of the sharpness of martial artists.

As the sun set, it cast long shadows on the command platform. On the bluestone slabs, broken stones from the arena lay scattered, and where Luo Lie had lain, a pool of black blood gleamed coldly.

The wind whipped through the flags in the field, making a crackling sound that carried a sense of grimness.

Wu Pa stepped to the front of the stage, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "The Azure Scale Meeting is now over. As for the Chamber of Commerce, please go back and think it over carefully. We will be waiting for you at any time."

The crowd dispersed; some packed up their equipment, while others gathered in small groups to plot.

Those shop owners who joined the chamber of commerce wore smiles on their faces, but each harbored their own ulterior motives.

Jiang Lan got up and put on her outer robe.

Liu Yun handed him a dry cloth, which he took to wipe the cold sweat from his palms before handing it back.

"Go back," Liu Changqing said in a low voice.

……