Chapter 115: Liangjiang Military Academy
Even Li Shicheng’s murmur became clear and distinct.
Not only that, as Chen Shun’an focused his gaze on this incense stick, he had a premonition that with just a thought, he could snap the incense stick and strip Li Shicheng of his true spirit.
Either extinguish it, or guide it to ascend into the divine palace, or…
Enfeoff him as a deity!
Li Shicheng already knew the divine name of ‘Upper Abyss Water Origin’, becoming a shallow believer, and with Chen Shun’an manifesting divine power, completing one divine blessing.
This was equivalent to fully boarding Chen Shun’an’s ‘thieves’ ship’, with no way to regret or betray anymore.
“Directly manifesting divine power once, granting Calming Water, and a shallow believer can actually provide 65 points of wishes?”
Chen Shun’an pondered silently in his heart.
This was already higher than the wishes obtained from Chen Shun’an distributing one day of Blessed Water.
Shallow believer meant already believing in the deity but not having undergone the Discipline Transmission Ritual.
They could provide considerable pure wishes, but could not directly provide incense.
Discipline Transmission Ritual, in Chen Shun’an’s understanding, was similar to Daoism’s ‘Receiving Talismans’ or Buddhism’s ‘tonsure’.
Actually, in essence, it was a kind of ‘thought seal’ that increased believers’ awe and sense of belonging through complex rituals.
Once granted talismans, they were officially registered in the Dao records, no longer wild fox zen.
They would have generation rank, courtesy name, and lineage source.
“Hiss, this way, it seems I still need to create a transmission ritual? Water washing? Purification rite? Holy bath? It’s a bit complicated, seems like I’ll have to trouble Scholar Ma again…”
Chen Shun’an’s gaze flickered.
He suddenly thought of something and called up the information.
【Ran Yi Fish remaining fish scales: 106/108】
That Ran Yi Fish swimming in Chen Shun’an’s mud pill had already had two scales plucked.
Chen Shun’an suddenly realized that harvesting incense seemed like a business account?
Torturing a third-rate martial artist to death, bringing fear, harvesting over ten points of wishes.
This was one-time, not sustainable or renewable.
While making first-rate experts like Red Fifth Master and Bai Manlou generate emotions like curiosity and awe could harvest 30~90 points of wishes.
These all required Chen Shun’an to act personally or indirectly, bearing risks and expending his own time and energy.
Distributing Blessed Water or Calming Water, the former burned money, the latter consumed Ran Yi Fish scales.
It could be inferred that in the future, when Chen Shun’an manifested divine power in public, summoning clouds and rain, or quelling water disasters, it would also consume divine power and magic power to exchange for incense.
There must be giving to have receiving, but how much to give and how much to get was a profound art!
“Fifty-fifty, sixty-forty… or harvest ninety percent, distribute ten percent? No, seems still too much, one percent then.
If enfeoffing subordinate deities in the future, I can outsource divine positions, layer upon layer of exploitation for profit, I don’t need to manage anything, just sit on the throne, and the subordinate deities below will labor to manifest divine power, continuously supplying incense.
Not acting allows posing as an expert, best to also create divine arts like heavenly golden lotuses descending, sweet springs gushing from the earth, auspicious clouds with every step, capture true dragons and phoenixes as mounts, to embellish and package divine might.”
Chen Shun’an vaguely grasped the true way to play the incense divine path.
Moments later, Chen Shun’an collected his thoughts and thought no more.
“Tonight, entrust a dream, ask Master Li about the Golden Snake Coiling Silk Hand, that snake demon, is it human or demon?”
……
One or two days passed.
The Chen family old residence, after repairs, wall brushing and painting, roof tiles renewed, was completely refreshed, and among the nearby neighbors, it was the most grand.
The silver fish and Golden Scaled Perch raised in the central courtyard became somewhat more active.
Whenever people passed by the Chen family gate, they would look in surprise and sigh in admiration.
Chen Shun’an went to the orphanage again to look after those children, distributed Sweet Water, and bought some japonica rice, oil and salt, flour.
For Ran Yi Calming Water, Chen Shun’an felt no pity, plucking one scale from the Ran Yi Fish every day.
After three days of taking it, Chen Shun’an could gradually control the frequency and timing of falling asleep.
He could fall asleep anytime while walking, sitting, or lying down.
Logically, the Ran Yi Fish’s scales should be able to recover through some method.
After all, the divine path was not so inconvenient.
It was just that Chen Shun’an hadn’t found the corresponding method yet.
The corpses of Xin Character Hall Master, Jin Troupe Leader, and others were still exposed and hung at Vegetable Market Intersection, with crowds surging, and the common people taking it as normal.
But undercurrents surged quietly, with almost all large and small forces in Wuqing County turning their gazes to this Vegetable Market Intersection.
Would the Guo Lu Society people come?
This day, Chen Shun’an stepped into Weihang Street amid the morning smoke and fire.
“Alright, you all practice on your own, Old Liu, push a bit harder, you might breakthrough to second-rate by year’s end. You few too…”
Lin Shou Zhuo was instructing a group of water carriers, pipe never leaving his mouth, puffing ‘smack smack’.
Seeing Chen Shun’an’s figure, Lin Shou Zhuo tightened his belt and walked over.
“You’re here, let’s go, together to Liangjiang Military Academy.”
Sun Xiao and Cheng Bin secured the water cart and walked over: “Let’s go.”
Guo Lu Society gangsters appeared again, to avoid the Wuqing County order collapse from two months ago repeating.
Led by Wuqing County Yamen, calling on water stations, Four Great Pounding Houses, Four Great Huo, fishing gang, salt gang and other large gangs, various martial arts schools.
Regardless of white path or black path, gathering at Liangjiang Military Academy, seeming to hold some negotiation meeting.
Chen Shun’an guessed they wanted to raise funds, levy money and grain, manpower.
The strength requirement for participants was not low, minimum second-rate mid stage.
From Grit Well side, including Lin Shou Zhuo, only four people, counting as sending representatives.
Liangjiang Military Academy was located in the county north Tie Gong Ancestral Hall, this ancestral hall enshrining a martial dao grandmaster from Wuqing County three hundred years ago: Tie Yu.
Three hundred years ago, in that flood disaster affecting Wuqing County, Tie Yu fought a flood dragon, though defeated, he heavily injured it, delaying until the immortal arrived.
Afterward, Tie Yu’s heavy injuries did not heal, he entered death seclusion for years, finally powerless to return, regrettably falling.
The founder of Liangjiang Military Academy was Tie Yu’s chief disciple, passing on his martial arts legacy, establishing the martial arts school, continuing Master Tie Yu’s will.
Chen Shun’an’s four walked on the road, full of autumn scenery with red leaves, old gardens yellow flowers, naturally no need to say more.
Cheng Bin was radiant, seeming to have encountered some happy event, looking several years younger.
His lame leg seemed padded with something, walking with little noticeable difference.
He said to the three,
“Old Chen, Sun Xiao, Instructor Lin, remember to come drink my wedding wine on the sixteenth next month.”
Lin Shou Zhuo asked strangely: “You old bachelor, how suddenly marrying a wife? Which little girl?”
Sun Xiao was somewhat envious, sourly saying,
“Old Cheng, didn’t we agree to be lone wanderers, heartless through the flowers? How are you holding a wedding wine now?”
Chen Shun’an cupped hands laughing: “Then congratulations.”
Cheng Bin chuckled: “It’s a girl named Xiao Man, just seventeen, previously mistakenly entered the flower and willow place, but always kept herself pure, a clean courtesan.”
As Cheng Bin mentioned Xiao Man, he beamed, his two mustaches curling upward.
“This woman knows astronomy and geography, excels in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, simply a wonderful person…”
Cheng Bin chatted on endlessly here.
Chen Shun’an’s expression was somewhat odd.
Wait, Xiao Man?
Could it be that tearful one who could moisten, the courtesan?
Chen Shun’an was silent for a moment.
While Lin Shou Zhuo and Sun Xiao were somewhat surprised, they didn’t say more.
After all, the Sacred Dynasty customs were such, scholars and officials drinking flower wine and whoring night after night, patronizing actors and playing with players.
Keeping courtesans and redeeming actors was not uncommon.
Since Cheng Bin was willing, others had nothing to say.
“Brother Cheng, marriage is a major matter, don’t be careless, avoid momentary impulse.”
Chen Shun’an could only hint indirectly, reminding tactfully.
“Don’t worry Old Chen, I’m Cheng Bin, an old veteran, what haven’t I seen?”
Cheng Bin laughed heartily, unconcerned.
Chen Shun’an was somewhat helpless.
Those seductive vixens were targeting old veterans like you who are middle-aged and lacking love.
Hard to guard against!
Upon arriving at Liangjiang Military Academy, carriages and horses were already parked full by the two stone lions, martial artists in short outfits and tight-fitting clothes, muscles bulging, chatting idly.
Some bold and unrestrained, talking heaven and earth; some cautious in speech, unsmiling.
“Brother Wei Jin, long time no see.”
“This must be Senior Lu Jing, long admired!”
“Brother Ma, you’re here too.”
Chen Shun’an followed Lin Shou Zhuo into the Martial Arts Hall, he had some fame in the water stations and even pounding houses, but here he was a real passerby, ignored.
Only when people saw Lin Shou Zhuo and came to exchange greetings, out of etiquette, they would nod to Chen Shun’an, Sun Xiao and others, chat a few words.
After all, martial artists excelled in fighting, whether contesting territory, martial arts school challenges, catching thieves and arresting criminals, all required fighting to the death, then afterward mutual boasting and flattery, frequent interactions, drawing close.
Only then could fame be built.
Chen Shun’an’s strength had surged too fast, without enough time and achievements to convert strength into reputation.
The Martial Arts Hall had rockery pagodas, pavilions and towers.
An ancestral hall stood silently in the center of the Martial Arts Hall, doors wide open, allowing anyone to pay respects.
Chen Shun’an saw many acquaintances in the crowd, He Qiang, Zhou Qing, and Yue Ting from Wanlong Pounding House.
“Brother Shou Zhuo, and… Brother Shun An.”
He Qiang pushed through the crowd to Lin Shou Zhuo.
Two months no see, He Qiang had aged considerably, full of dejection, temples frosted.
Lin Shou Zhuo and He Qiang were originally the most promising under Landlord Zhao, hopeful for first-rate.
The two competed openly and covertly, not few spars.
He Qiang even ‘implicated’ Chen Shun’an for this, trying to delay and block Lin Shou Zhuo’s breakthrough speed through him.
Result, no effect.
Chen Shun’an didn’t fall for it at all.
And now, Lin Shou Zhuo had smoothly broken through, stepping into a new realm.
He Qiang was still stuck in place, long unable to find breakthrough opportunity.
Even…
He Qiang glanced at Chen Shun’an, gaze complex.
Almost caught up by this old man Chen Shun’an!
“Brother He.”X2
Lin Shou Zhuo and Chen Shun’an exchanged greetings with He Qiang.
“Iron Buddha Nie Zheng is here! He was originally the direct disciple of Nanyang’s hidden martial sect《Falling Form Eight Extremes Fist》, parents executed by the court as rebels, publicly beheaded, himself wanted for years, who would have thought he switched to officialdom, now even Patrol Inspector of Wuqing Patrol Inspector office… the Guo Lu Society people were killed by him.”
Waves of suppressed discussion voices came, some amazed, some sarcasm.
Chen Shun’an’s heart stirred, looking toward the sound, saw a cold and hard-tempered tall man striding into the Martial Arts Hall.
Along the way, crowds parted to avoid him, not daring to meet his eyes.
“Hahaha, Brother Nie, long admired your name, please!”
Hearty laughter came, directly overpowering all the noise in the hall.
Now the Martial Arts Hall chief instructor, status only below the outer commission commander and head of the academy with military background and few others, Lu Jing strode forward to welcome.
“Brother Lu.”
Nie Zheng squeezed out an ugly smile, cupping hands in salute.
“Chasing Cloud Divine Assistance Yun Ruo is here too! Of the Five Monsters, Four Uniques, Three Leaders, she’s the unique in movement technique, with strength to slay three bandits, usually stationed in Tongzhou City, who would think she returned to Wuqing County!”
“That’s… Hong Junxian, Senior Hong? Wasn’t it said he fell long ago? How is he alive again? What? He’s now joined Zhao Guanghui, guest official of Guanghui Money House?”
…
In a moment, experts gathered at the Martial Arts Hall.
The highest strength was Lu Jing, responsible for presiding, with strength to slay four thieves.
The other first-rate experts numbered over twenty.
Not that Wuqing County alone could cultivate and possess so many first-rate experts.
Between towns and forces, personnel flowed.
Often a first-rate expert would be active in multiple areas, holding multiple positions.
Merely due to Wuqing County’s special location, a key canal transport hub, most first-rate experts frequently came and went, even settling here.
Over time, this place gathered many experts year-round.
