Chapter 38: Tears of a Merchant's Heart

"Five thousand!"

Yan Qing let out a long sigh of relief. Having completed five thousand wholehearted punches, he was covered in a light sheen of sweat, yet he felt refreshed and clear-headed.

The gains from this "Martial Arts Genius" milestone were far beyond his imagination. From the aimless, clumsy punches at the start, he had gradually mastered the techniques of exerting force through his hands, arms, shoulders, and waist. By the end, his punches even carried a sharp whistling sound through the air. More importantly, he found that even such a simple action as throwing a punch was genuinely interesting; he had spent the entire afternoon at it and still felt unsatisfied.

Friends who have failed at weight loss know that the most troublesome aspect of exercise is that it is "boring." For things like running, swimming, or fat-burning circuits, the physical fatigue is secondary; it is the lack of enjoyment during the process that makes it hard for many to persist. Conversely, multi-player competitive sports like basketball or badminton have many people obsessed, willing to play until they are too sore to get out of bed the next day, simply because they aren't exercising for the sake of exercise, but for the sake of fun.

Yan Qing was certain he had never had any interest in sports before, so his current ability to practice punching with such tireless enthusiasm was clearly the work of the "Martial Arts Genius" trait. As the milestone description suggested, a true martial arts genius is not just someone with high comprehension, but someone who can find joy in the "dull work."

This was significant to Yan Qing—he had finally found a second hobby!

Although he loved playing games, playing the same one for so many days without any other form of entertainment was starting to wear thin, even for someone who considered himself a hardcore gaming Brahmin.

Dinner was, as usual, a special meal prepared by the "Night Four" team. As the leader, he was entitled to have the chef cater to his preferences. Just as Yan Qing was preparing to tuck into his meal, "Jiang Shi" and her companions in the game arrived at the Mansu Woodland.

The sky had already dimmed, but the area around the woodland was as bright as day; burning torches seared fiery scars into the night. As "Jiang Shi" leaned out to look, what appeared before her was a massive camp stretching for dozens of miles. A fence made of pointed stakes extended so far it seemed endless, as if it had completely surrounded the entire woodland.

A squad of soldiers stood at the entrance, each clad in gleaming armor and wearing purple-gold boots; under the light of the torches, their gear looked immaculate. Compared to the knights of the Qi State or the soldiers of the Zhou State, the first impression the Liang State soldiers gave was one of "opulence." They didn't look like slaughtering knives meant for dirty work, but rather like ceremonial artifacts brought out for a grand festival.

A scribe approached to register the information of the arrivals. Qian Gongyu and the coachman Lin Yuan had no issues, but the scribe paused when he saw "Jiang Shi."

"Head of the Qian family, are you saying... she is your guard?"

The scribe's gaze flickered between Qian Gongyu and "Jiang Shi," growing increasingly suspicious. Just when Yan Qing thought they wouldn't be able to bluff their way through, the scribe added, "I thought she was your sister or a relative, Head of the Qian family."

"A distant relative," Qian Gongyu smiled. "She has finished her studies and has now begun to serve the family."

"As expected of the Qian family, truly blessed with talent," the scribe echoed, clearing the way. "Please, enter. A 'Flowing Cup' banquet is being held inside. If you haven't eaten, please do us the honor."

He paused. "This gathering at Mansu Woodland is full of heroes, including two true prodigies from the Shang and Jie families."

"What? The Shang and Jie families?"

Qian Gongyu, who had been uninterested, became immediately excited at the news. "Uncle Lin, let's hurry inside!"

Without needing Yan Qing to ask, Qian Gongyu excitedly revealed the intel while in the carriage: "Although the Shang family is only a 'Vermilion Gate' noble house, the family head, Shang Xuanwen, is the current Prime Minister—a house of immense influence. The Jie family is even more formidable; they were a thousand-year-old hereditary clan long before the Liang State was founded, and since its establishment, they have been one of the only two 'Purple Ribbon' aristocratic families."

"I never had the chance to meet these noble scions in daily life; I didn't expect to run into them here! As long as I can forge some connections, this trip to the Mansu Woodland will have been worth it!"

"Young Miss, you may go ahead to the banquet; I will settle the carriage," the coachman Lin Yuan said considerately.

"Then I'll leave it to you, Uncle Lin!"

Qian Gongyu couldn't wait to pull "Jiang Shi" out of the carriage. Inside the woodland, it was even livelier. Servants and maids scurried about, and dish after dish of delicacies were constantly brought out from the kitchen; even through the screen, Yan Qing could almost smell the aroma. Guided by the servants, they soon arrived at a massive tent.

Though called a tent, it was no different in size from a grand banquet hall. Inside, a band played string and bamboo instruments, the ceiling was hung with enormous chandeliers, and the floor was covered in patterned carpets. Men and women dressed in luxurious attire mingled, clinking glasses. The tables were laden with mountain delicacies and rare treats, including monster meat that Yan Qing had only heard of but never seen.

One had to remember this was the middle of the wilderness, and the Mansu Woodland only opened for less than half a month each year. Yet, these noble scions still managed to enjoy a life of extravagance—though, of course, that was just the opinion of the impoverished Yan Qing. Perhaps, to these people, this environment was already quite grueling.

One could catch a glimpse of the high society of the Liang State in Jiangnan from this scene alone.

Qian Gongyu's goal was clear: to meet the dignitaries from the Shang and Jie families. It was easy to find her targets, as everyone here shared the same idea; the crowd had already formed two circles around the two elites, and it took effort to even squeeze in.

But Yan Qing had no interest in meeting any dignitaries; he turned to the dining tables to stock up. The monster meat was good, the roast pork looked crispy, and... wait, were those mantis shrimp as long as an arm? And holy crap, were those ice creams kept cool by piles of ice?

Just as Yan Qing was frantically "consuming" food through the screen, a heated argument suddenly broke out nearby, with Qian Gongyu's voice among them.

"Luo Weijin, do you dare say that again?" Qian Gongyu said coldly. "Don't think that I won't—"

"Think you won't bite? Oh, I never thought that," the young man arguing with Qian Gongyu laughed sarcastically. "Your threats are so potent; I'm terrified."

Yan Qing took a look. The belt worn by the youth named Luo Weijin was bamboo-green, signifying his family belonged to the second tier of the gentry, one level higher than the Qian family.

Qian Gongyu was flushed red with anger at Luo Weijin's words, but she didn't act rashly, turning to leave instead. Seeing this, Luo Weijin raised an eyebrow and said loudly to those around him, "Don't underestimate the White Cloud Qian clan. Even though they are just 'Blue Belts,' they can stably cultivate 'Third-Turn Messengers,' but it costs a price—like the previous head of the Qian family—"

"Luo Weijin!" Qian Gongyu pointed outside. "You want to take revenge on the Qian family? Fine, let's go outside and fight right now, but you are not allowed to slander my father!"

"As expected of the last remaining bloodline of the Qian family, truly barbaric. Can't win an argument, so you resort to violence?" Luo Weijin laughed. "But I'm not taking revenge; I'm just introducing my friends to the Qian family's heritage. Surely stating facts isn't the same as seeking revenge? That makes no sense, does it?"

Qian Gongyu bit her lip, yet she didn't dare leave and let Luo Weijin continue his tirade. She stood alone in the crowd, head bowed to hide her expression, enduring the humiliation of her family. She even started to regret coming to the Mansu Woodland. Ever since her father died, she had minimized her social interactions to fade the impact of the past and let time bury the Qian family's sordid history.

I shouldn't have come for the rewards of the Mansu Woodland... If I had just stayed home, no one would remember the Qian family, and no one would humiliate us...

I shouldn't have...

"Ah!!"

A scream suddenly erupted in the tent. Qian Gongyu looked up sharply to see Luo Weijin, who had been pontificating, knocked to the ground, two teeth missing and his mouth full of blood. The crowd scattered like startled fish, leaving only a sword-wielding girl standing motionless in the center. She was like a stone thrown into a lake—fearless, indifferent, and unbothered.

It was "Jiang Shi"!

"She hit him! She hit him!"

"A mere guard daring to beat a scion of the gentry? What a disgrace!"

"Wow, that was a brutal hit. His teeth flew out, man."

"What a pity, such a beautiful guard..."

Qian Gongyu hurriedly pulled "Jiang Shi" aside, whispering anxiously, "You, how could you hit him? You're only a 'Black Belt' and he's a 'Green Belt.' Striking a superior is a grave offense, and you're two ranks below him... the Qian family cannot protect you!"

"Are you satisfied?"

"Huh?"

"Young Miss, are you satisfied?"

Qian Gongyu was speechless. "Why are you asking that now? What does it matter if I'm satisfied... though, yes, it is satisfying."

"That's enough then. You don't need to protect me; let this punch be my repayment for the travel expenses."

Soldiers swarmed in from the tent entrance, quickly encircling "Jiang Shi." An old man rushed to Luo Weijin's side, seemingly using an artifact to treat him. He glared at "Jiang Shi" with intense hostility, though his own belt was only black—he seemed to be merely a guard for the Luo family.

"Jiang Shi" pushed Qian Gongyu aside, her left thumb pushing her sword hilt out by an inch, ready to kill.

The food had been looted, and they were close to the dungeon entrance; Yan Qing had no interest in following the local gang's rules and decided to simply fight his way out and enter the dungeon.

"Seize her! Seize this rebellious peasant!" Luo Weijin yelled, covering his mouth, his speech slurred. "Daring to strike a noble! She must be captured and executed to serve as a warning! The Qian family really is just a bunch of mongrel beasts, unworthy of being a noble house!"

"No!"

Qian Gongyu ran in front of "Jiang Shi," biting her lip. "Our Qian family can pay for damages and apologize, there's no need to—"

"Pay for damages? What do you think the Yunfu Luo clan is? Some destitute household that can be trampled on with a bit of money?" Luo Weijin was determined to reclaim his face. "She must die!"

"Heh, you can try to protect that peasant, let me see the 'backbone' of the Qian family—assuming you aren't afraid of being stripped of your noble status."

The soldiers drew their weapons, and "Jiang Shi" gripped her hilt, reaching out to push Qian Gongyu away once more. But this time, Qian Gongyu seemed rooted to the spot; "Jiang Shi's" push didn't budge her.

The situation was on the verge of exploding. Just as everyone expected a fight to break out, a voice as clear as a silver bell called a halt to the conflict.

"Stop."

A noble girl dressed in a red silk gown emerged from the crowd. Her demeanor was elegant, her expression cool, and though her voice was soft, it rang clearly in everyone's ears.

"Give me, Shang Xinyi, some face. Let this conflict end here."