Chapter 109: Longchong Residence

Dragonchong Prefecture, Prefecture City.

On South Main Street, not far from the Fengyang Martial Arts School, a newly opened martial arts school had just started business.

This new school was called “Mingyang Martial Arts School,” its name strikingly similar to Fengyang Martial Arts School, differing by only one character.

It was clear that Mingyang Martial Arts School was deliberately set up to challenge Fengyang Martial Arts School.

Fang Yue sat by the window on the second floor of a tavern, looking down at the two martial arts schools on the same street not far away.

Today happened to be the opening day of Mingyang Martial Arts School after its renovation, the day they accepted new disciples.

Behind Mingyang Martial Arts School stood the Qingyan Sect.

Many martial arts schools were backed by sects.

Some sects, besides occupying mountain strongholds and cultivating farmland below, also opened martial arts schools in the city.

The purpose of opening such schools, beyond recruiting fresh talent and forging connections with influential figures, was also to conduct business and manage assets under the school’s name.

A large sect with many disciples required vast resources and funds to support their daily needs, martial training, and overall upkeep.

Farmland at the mountain base could only sustain a basic livelihood, which was far from sufficient.

Thus, other businesses and industries were necessary—such as escorting valuables, providing guards, protecting premises, and offering training—both to generate income for the sect and to provide employment for many disciples.

Some unrelated profitable industries were also forcefully entered by sects leveraging their power to claim a share.

Moreover, many constables, clerks, and officers in officialdom were themselves disciples of sects.

Prominent families’ security guards and instructors often had sect disciples among them.

The sects wielded considerable influence in official circles.

In short, the northern part of Yunzhou was steeped in sect presence, unlike other prefectures and counties in Yunzhou.

Here, the government both suppressed and utilized the sects.

Fang Yue, traveling through this region, observed the local customs and social atmosphere.

Compared with the southern part of Yunzhou where he had previously stayed, it felt like an entirely different world, despite being within the same prefecture.

“Today is the opening day for Mingyang Martial Arts School to accept disciples. They are backed by the Qingyan Sect. Brother, do you want your son to enroll?”

“Let’s wait and see, no rush. My boy is only six years old; it’s still early. But your son is nearly ten; if he wants to learn martial arts, he should start early.”

“I’m thinking of having my little rascal learn business when he’s older.”

“Even so, learning some martial arts for self-defense wouldn’t hurt.”

“You have a point. I’ll take my little rascal to register later.”

...

Fang Yue overheard two patrons in the tavern discussing the newly opened Mingyang Martial Arts School.

Elsewhere in Yunzhou, families with some wealth preferred sending their children to schools to study, aiming for titles like scholar or official.

But in northern Yunzhou, where martial culture thrived, even common folk with some means chose to send their children to martial arts schools.

If a child showed talent and caught the eye of the sect behind the school, they could be accepted as disciples, with the sect covering all training costs and resources from childhood.

Once grown and skilled, many opportunities awaited, far better than a lifetime of hard labor in the fields.

Sipping his wine and enjoying local delicacies, Fang Yue kept his gaze fixed on the two martial arts schools down the street.

In front of Mingyang Martial Arts School, a sea of people had gathered—many city residents brought their children to register.

Mingyang was supported by the Qingyan Sect, the most powerful sect in the Dragonchong Prefecture area.

This alone drew such crowds eager to join.

In contrast, the entrance of the other martial arts school on the street was desolate.

Fengyang Martial Arts School, once the largest and most renowned in Dragonchong Prefecture, had fallen into neglect within just a few years.

Yet, compared to the lively Mingyang School, Fang Yue’s attention lingered more on Fengyang.

Fengyang Martial Arts School was his true target on this trip.

After gathering intelligence from Li the Drunkard and local gangsters, Fang Yue had gained a rough understanding of this once prestigious school.

Its previous headmaster was a congenital martial artist, which was not unusual.

For the biggest martial arts school in Dragonchong just a few years ago, having a congenital martial artist in charge was normal.

But this particular headmaster was no ordinary martial artist—he was a peak congenital martial artist.

What did that mean?

Even in northern Yunzhou, where martial prowess was widespread, there were only a handful of congenital martial artists in an entire prefecture, let alone peak ones.

From what Fang Yue had learned along the way, Yunzhou currently had only two Martial Saints.

One’s whereabouts were unknown, unseen for many years; whether alive or dead was a mystery.

The other was the deputy leader of the White Cloud Palace, stationed in the prefectural capital but rarely appearing publicly.

In other words, a peak congenital martial artist was the supreme existence in a prefecture; even the prefect would treat him with respect.

With such a peak congenital martial artist at its helm, Fengyang Martial Arts School should have dominated Dragonchong Prefecture.

...

But that was not all. Fang Yue also heard that the former headmaster of Fengyang Martial Arts School was hailed as the most promising congenital martial artist in Yunzhou over the past decade, one likely to break through to Martial Saint.

A Martial Saint was a figure who could roam freely across an entire prefecture. Governors would bow respectfully; revered masters from the sects would address him politely as “Fellow Daoist.”

Such a promising peak congenital martial artist was a rare genius.

Then why had Fengyang Martial Arts School fallen to such ruin, deserted and squeezed out by others?

The answer was simple.

Several years ago, the former headmaster of Fengyang Martial Arts School—the peak congenital martial artist—had gone mad.

This stunning revelation was hardly believable: the most promising martial genius in Yunzhou for a decade had lost his sanity.

No one knew how he had gone insane.

...

Winter in Yunzhou rarely brought frost; today’s warm sun made the temperature mild, not too cold.

After finishing his meal and drink, Fang Yue called the waiter to settle the bill, then leisurely stepped out of the tavern.

He wore a pale white brocade robe, a precious sword hung at his waist, and a folding fan in hand, looking every bit the wealthy young master.

The bustling street was alive with people and vehicles.

Tea houses, taverns, pawnshops, and workshops lined the street.

In the open space ahead, various stalls sold all manner of goods, with vendors shouting loudly to attract passersby.

“I should have a couple of attendants, a beautiful maidservant, and carry a birdcage with a thrush inside...” Fang Yue imagined the demeanor of a wealthy young master as he opened his folding fan to cool himself.

“Mother, look at that uncle—it’s strange to be carrying a fan in winter.”

“Don’t mind him; he might be crazy.”

Fang Yue sulkily closed his fan and made a funny face at the child, who shrank behind his mother in fright.

Laughing heartily, Fang Yue turned and headed toward the martial arts schools.