Martial Arts: Starting with Creating a Genius Persona

Chapter 24 More Money Required

The poetry gathering ended late at night.

Zhao Tianxiong's carriage did not head towards the Zhao family's residence, but instead turned into a narrow alley.

Deep in the alley, there is an inconspicuous house with no plaque on the door.

If it weren't for the tire tracks in front of the door, probably no one would give this place a second glance.

The carriage did not stop at the main gate.

Blood Wolf followed Zhao Tianxiong and entered through the side gate.

We passed through a narrow alley.

A black-clad guard stood every few steps on both sides of the passageway.

He was wiry and strong, his hand resting on the hilt of his knife.

Blood Wolf counted; from the side gate to the inner courtyard, there were at least three checkpoints.

At each checkpoint, someone was questioning people in hushed tones.

He didn't hear what Zhao Tianxiong answered, but he always passed smoothly.

"This place has even more guards than your Zhao family."

Blood Wolf kept his voice extremely low.

"nonsense."

Zhao Tianxiong didn't even turn his head.

"If my Zhao family had so many guards, would we need to come to him?"

We passed the third checkpoint.

The view before me suddenly opened up.

It was a spacious courtyard with artificial hills and flowing water.

Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the artificial hill, and an old man was standing in the moonlight, practicing his stance.

He was in his sixties, thin and frail, with gray hair and beard.

He wore a gray robe, and the muscles on his arms were clearly defined.

His stance was very stable; he had clearly sunk into the stance.

Blood Wolf stood at the courtyard gate for a moment.

His brows furrowed slightly.

"This person is...?"

"Outer sect elder of the Iron Bone Sect."

Zhao Tianxiong lowered his voice.

"Han Tieshan".

Blood Wolf's pupils shrank instantly.

Han Tieshan.

He had certainly heard of that name before.

An outer sect elder of the Iron Bone Sect, at the Meridian Opening Realm.

He's been working in the outer gate for over a decade, and his seniority is even greater than Tie Heng's.

He just hadn't expected it.

This outer sect elder of the Iron Bone Sect actually resided in such an inconspicuous courtyard in Qingzhou City.

Han Tieshan was completely immersed in cultivation.

They seemed unaware that someone had come in.

He slowly withdrew his stance, pressing his palms down from his chest.

A visible burst of energy erupted from the edge of his palm.

Beside the artificial hill, the branches of the old tree were pressed down by the force of the energy, and they all bent over.

Then it slowly bounces back to its original position.

Internal energy transforms into qi.

The Realm of Unblocking Meridians.

Blood Wolf's eye twitched.

A cultivator at the Meridian Opening Realm is indeed terrifying.

Han Tieshan finished his work and picked up a towel from the stone table next to him to wipe his hands.

Only then did he raise his head and squint at the two people at the courtyard gate.

"You two rascals, what are you doing here at this old man's place in the middle of the night instead of sleeping at home?"

Zhao Tianxiong quickly stepped forward, clasped his hands in a salute.

A smile spread across his face: "Elder Han, it's been a long time. I was just passing by tonight and thought I'd drop by to see you."

"I saw the elder practicing his skills outside the courtyard just now, and I dared not disturb him."

"Elder, your stance training allows you to control your internal energy with ease, bending tree branches without breaking them. In my half-life, I've never seen anyone else possess such control."

Blood Wolf also cupped his hands in greeting, joining Zhao Tianxiong in offering his cup.

"Elder Han's cultivation at the Meridian Opening Realm is truly a hidden talent! Our Iron Bone Sect is indeed full of hidden masters!"

Han Tieshan laughed and threw his handkerchief onto the stone table.

Stop flattering me!

He changed his tone: "You two lads, one is the head of the Zhao family, and the other is the leader of the Blood Wolf Gang."

"Coming to an old man like me in the middle of the night, you can't be here to learn stance training, can you?"

He sat down on the stone bench, picked up the teapot on the table, and took a sip directly from the spout.

"Speak, what is it?"

Zhao Tianxiong's smile froze on his face.

He glanced back at the courtyard gate to make sure the guards had retreated outside the alley before taking a half-step forward.

He deliberately lowered his voice.

"Elder Han, to be honest, I do have a small favor to ask of you."

Han Tieshan didn't reply.

Zhao Tianxiong wasn't in a hurry and slowly began to elaborate.

"I understand that Elder Han is in charge of the Iron Bone Sect's entrance selection process and the drawing of lots."

I would like to ask Elder Han for help during the lottery to match the people I have arranged with Lu Yuan.

In addition, these people may be at a higher level, so Elder Han may need to help cover for them.

Han Tieshan stopped holding the teapot.

"What grudge does Lu Yuan have against you?"

How could Han Tieshan not understand what these two people meant?

This is clearly an attempt to use the election as an opportunity to kill Lu Yuan.

He held the teapot in his hand and pondered it carefully.

"I've heard that Lu Yuan, at such a young age, has already reached the mid-stage of Body Tempering? He's quite a promising talent..."

"This is not a good matter."

He put down the teapot and said slowly.

"Elections should be fair, just and transparent."

The lottery was being watched closely, and they were even rigging the blood gas tests... The risks were too great.

Zhao Tianxiong understood perfectly well what this meant.

It's not a good solution.

It doesn't mean it can't be done.

"Of course I won't let the elders worry in vain."

Zhao Tianxiong clapped his hands behind him.

Heavy footsteps echoed outside the courtyard gate.

Six servants, in pairs, carried three heavy wooden boxes into the courtyard.

The servant placed the box in front of Han Tieshan.

The box was opened... and inside it was full of silver ingots.

Han Tieshan looked down at the three boxes, his eyes narrowing.

"What are you doing...?"

"A small token of my appreciation."

Zhao Tianxiong laughed.

Han Tieshan picked up the teapot and took another sip.

The teapot concealed his expression, but his squinting eyes never left the silver ingots in the box.

Zhao Tianxiong waited a moment, and was about to say a few more words when Han Tieshan spoke first.

"That Lu Yuan..."

He spoke in a softer tone.

"He is also a talent that my Iron Bone Sect has its eye on."

Zhao Tianxiong's smile froze for a moment, and he instantly became tense.

"Elder Han means..."

"It means..."

Han Tieshan put down the teapot, and the smile on his face gradually disappeared.

"It costs more..."

Zhao Tianxiong and Blood Wolf exchanged a glance and instantly breathed a sigh of relief.

The two of them pulled something out of their pockets almost simultaneously.

Zhao Tianxiong took out a small celadon bottle, while Blood Wolf took out a palm-sized brocade box.

The small celadon bottle contained three meridian-opening pills that the Zhao family had treasured for many years.

The brocade box contained two century-old blood ginsengs that the Blood Wolf Gang had obtained from the county town.

Han Tieshan's eyes widened suddenly.

He took the celadon bottle and brocade box, and examined them carefully under the moonlight for a long time.

The patterns on the elixir were clearly visible under the moonlight, and its fragrance was rich and lingering, making it a top-grade elixir.

The roots of the blood ginseng are thick and robust, indicating that it is at least a hundred years old.

"Hmm...these are all rare items!"

"This matter..."

Han Tieshan put the pills and blood ginseng into his sleeve.

"I agreed."

"Rest assured, Elder, tonight's matter..."

"Just please keep your mouths shut."

Han Tieshan shifted his gaze from him and glanced at the servants carrying boxes at the courtyard gate.

Zhao Tianxiong followed his gaze, nodded, and immediately understood what he meant.

At this moment, the servants seemed completely unaware of what was about to happen and remained respectfully kneeling to the side.