Martial Sage from the Vajra Skill

"Pardon me, are you Xu Yang?"

With Qian Jiaxing present, it was clearly a question he already knew the answer to.

Xu Yang frowned slightly. "And who might you be?"

The refined and courteous man clasped his hands. "I am Guan Xiaojie, Gang Leader of the Great River Gang. I imagine Brother Xu already knows that my Great River Gang is establishing a hall here. I’ve come to invite you to join us in a grand undertaking. What do you think, Brother Xu?"

’So this is Guan Xiaojie. He doesn’t look like a gang boss at all.’

He had thought Qian Jiaxing had become a guard for some wealthy family, but it turned out he had joined a gang, just like Xu Zheng.

"Thank you for your generous offer, Brother Guan, but I am already a Tributor for the Inner City Liu Family."

Xu Yang sneered inwardly. ’Inviting me to join him... Guan Xiaojie’s ambition is no small thing. I’m afraid his goal isn’t just to take over the Sishui Gang’s territory.’

Otherwise, the pittance extorted from the common people in the Sishui Gang’s territory wouldn’t even be enough to support two Martial Artists.

Guan Xiaojie smiled. "Brother Xu, that’s where you’re wrong. You may be a Tributor for the Liu Family, but that doesn’t prevent you from joining my Great River Gang. I won’t even ask you to leave the Liu Family. All I ask is that you lend a hand when the Great River Gang needs you.

An extra source of income will help you advance faster on the Martial Dao. I don’t imagine a man of your talent, Brother Xu, would want to be someone’s subordinate for the rest of his life, would you?"

’So he’s already investigated me. He probably knows I refused to marry into the Liu Family and thinks I have some ambition, which is why he’s inviting me to join him?’

Xu Yang shook his head. "I’m sorry, but I dislike conflict and just want to live a peaceful life. Gang Leader Guan, you should ask someone more suitable. Farewell."

After clasping his fist in salute, he turned and strode away.

Guan Xiaojie’s eyes narrowed slightly as he watched Xu Yang leave. He didn’t look away until Xu Yang’s back was out of sight.

"He seems to hold some resentment toward gangs," Guan Xiaojie said with a meaningful expression.

"He doesn’t know what’s good for him. The Gang Leader personally coming to invite him was giving him face, yet he was so rude," Qian Jiaxing said coldly.

Guan Xiaojie glanced at Qian Jiaxing. "If your Cultivation was at Qi Gathering Minor Achievement, you could be that arrogant too."

Qian Jiaxing’s face immediately flushed red. He realized he had said something that displeased the Gang Leader.

He couldn’t understand. Xu Yang had clearly disrespected the Gang Leader, so why was the Gang Leader speaking up for him?

"Gang Leader, this subordinate knows of another Martial Artist in this Bai Shi Workshop. He is a disciple of Gale Hall named Yang Jun. Should we go invite him?"

After holding it in for a moment, Qian Jiaxing brought up the information about Yang Jun.

"I don’t think much of that Yang Jun. Let’s go."

Guan Xiaojie shook his head and was the first to leave.

Qian Jiaxing was stunned. ’Both Xu Yang and Yang Jun are at Qi Gathering Minor Achievement. The Gang Leader came to personally invite Xu Yang, but he looks down on Yang Jun. Why is that?’

...

「The next day. Liu Mansion.」

"Brother Wang, you’re well-connected. Have you ever heard of a person named Guan Xiaojie?" Xu Yang looked at Wang Yun.

Hearing this, Wang Yun thought carefully for a moment before shaking his head. "Never heard of him. What about you guys?"

Wu Yongfeng and the others also shook their heads.

"You’re asking about Guan Xiaojie? Did he cause trouble for you?" Zhang Bo’s voice rang out.

Xu Yang and the others turned to see Zhang Bo striding toward them.

Xu Yang shook his head. "He didn’t cause any trouble for me. It’s just that he took over the Sishui Gang’s territory and came to invite me to join his Great River Gang yesterday. I was just curious and decided to ask around. Brother Zhang, do you happen to know him?"

Zhang Bo smiled and nodded. "Most people probably don’t know Guan Xiaojie, but I’ve actually had dealings with him. He used to be a disciple of the Tongbei Fist Hall, and his talent wasn’t bad. I believe he served as a Tributor for the Cao Family for two months before they had a falling out.

Later, I heard he failed to break through to Marrow Cleansing and left to make a name for himself. He never came back. To think he’d return only to start this damn Great River Gang. He’s really gone downhill."

Xu Yang didn’t hear the rest. Only the two words "Cao Family" registered in his mind. ’Is he really here because of the Sishui Gang affair?’

"Don’t worry. You’re a Tributor for the Liu Family now. As long as you don’t agree, he wouldn’t dare force you to join."

Xu Yang nodded. "He didn’t force me."

Zhang Bo nodded, then his gaze shifted to Wu Yongfeng. "Brother Wu, one of the brothers on the afternoon shift of Tributors is going into seclusion for a while. The Steward asked me to inform you that you’ll be filling in for him. You’ll be moved back once that brother returns."

Wu Yongfeng clasped his hands and said, "Understood."

’Was Guan Xiaojie sent by the Cao Family, or is this just a coincidence?’ Xu Yang wondered.

But after some thought, he realized he wasn’t coming up with anything useful, just making himself anxious. So, he decided to stop thinking about it and returned to his room to cultivate the Vajra Skill.

At noon, Xu Yang stepped out of the Liu Mansion’s main gate and was surprised to see Qiu Wenjie waiting there. He couldn’t help but ask curiously,

"Something is happening at the Martial Arts Hall today. Senior Brother Sun Tao was worried you wouldn’t show up, so he had me wait for you here."

After speaking, Qiu Wenjie asked curiously, "Where’s Senior Brother Wu Yongfeng? Why isn’t he with you today?"

Xu Yang’s expression darkened. "He has withdrawn from Weiyuan Hall. He won’t be going there anymore."

Qiu Wenjie fell silent at once. There were quite a few people like that in Weiyuan Hall. They would choose to leave the Martial Arts Hall after losing all hope on the Martial Dao, just to save the two taels of silver for the monthly tuition. ’Is it a desperate act born from helplessness?’ he thought. ’Maybe my turn will come one day.’

The two walked for a while before Xu Yang asked what was going on at the Martial Arts Hall that was so important that Qiu Wenjie had to come and wait for him specifically.

"I don’t know either!" Qiu Wenjie shook his head.

When they arrived at Weiyuan Hall, Xu Yang noticed that all the top disciples were present, sitting together in a pavilion.

"Junior Brother Xu, Junior Brother Qiu, come and join us."

Seeing the two of them, Sun Tao immediately waved them over.

The two entered the pavilion and sat down. Sun Tao then announced in a clear voice, "Last night, Gale Hall sent over a challenge letter, stating that their disciples would be coming to our Weiyuan Hall today for a ’sparring exchange’."

His expression turned serious. "All you Junior and Senior Brothers should know that our Weiyuan Hall and Gale Hall have always had grievances. Regardless of victory or defeat in this ’sparring exchange,’ Weiyuan Hall must fight and cannot retreat."