The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

"Your fist must be straight, your body upright. Power rises from the ground and is unleashed from the waist."

"Hm?"

’Why does that sound so familiar... That’s right, it’s what Zhang Yang used to say.’

In the Bai Family Courtyard, Bai Yuan was guiding his sister-in-law’s boxing practice.

Today, Xiao Qiaoniang was dressed in loose, black training attire. When a gentle breeze blew, the thin fabric clung to her body, revealing anything one might want to see.

But his sister-in-law was completely unaware...

Practicing martial arts required grueling effort. Xiao Qiaoniang had performed manual labor for years, so her constitution was decent, but she collapsed to the ground in exhaustion before she could even finish one set of the Five Animals Fist.

His sister-in-law’s temples were slick with sweat, and her breathing was heavy and ragged, yet she gritted her teeth and persevered, unwilling to give up.

Bai Yuan nodded to himself.

’To become a Martial Artist, you first need a certain ruthlessness—an unwillingness to admit defeat. Otherwise, you’ll never be able to train properly.’

’Li Ting, another Female Martial Artist, was the best example of this. The path of martial arts did not distinguish between men and women.’

"Let’s stop here for today."

Bai Yuan bent down and helped the exhausted Xiao Qiaoniang to her feet.

’My sister-in-law doesn’t have a cheat system like I do. Practicing for six hours a day is already her absolute limit. Any more would just injure her, doing more harm than good.’

This was where the effects of medicinal herbs truly showed. After a full day of training, a single herbal bath at night would have one feeling vigorous and energetic the next day.

Bai Yuan had received a token from Xue Gui for the herb shop, so he was not short on medicinal herbs for the time being. He also used his spare silver coins to buy Body Refining Medicine for Xiao Qiaoniang.

Although Xiao Qiaoniang’s innate aptitude was only average, she made up for it with her willingness to endure hardship. Aided by the medicinal herbs, she might be able to cross the skin-toughening threshold in less than two years.

As Bai Yuan’s cultivation level grew, so did his knowledge.

It was said that once a Martial Artist mastered Jin, they could live to be two hundred, which was like being granted a second life.

At a hundred years old, a Martial Artist who had mastered Jin was still as robust as a middle-aged man. They were almost demonic in their vitality, something mortals could not even imagine. They were nearly indistinguishable from Immortals.

"Sister-in-law, I’m heading to the Liu Family’s residence. I won’t be back for dinner tonight."

"Just be sure to come back early."

...

"Junior Brother Bai, how does a busy man like you have time to come see me?"

Liu Qingshan looked at the unannounced Bai Yuan and joked.

He had tried to visit Bai Yuan at the Bai Family home many times, but Bai Yuan was either hunting in the mountains or training at the Martial Arts Hall. The man was impossible to find.

Now that Bai Yuan had suddenly appeared, he was very curious about his purpose.

The Liu Family still had quite a few apprentices at the Huwei Arts Hall, so he had long been aware of Bai Yuan’s promotion to Inner Courtyard Disciple.

An Inner Courtyard Disciple of the Huwei Arts Hall was someone that not just his Liu Family, but even the great families of the city had to treat with care.

Liu Qingshan was thankful he had built a good relationship with Bai Yuan before the young man had risen to prominence.

Bai Yuan got straight to the point.

"Senior Brother Liu, would you be interested in opening a restaurant in the city?"

"A restaurant?"

Liu Qingshan was stunned. He never expected this to be the reason for Bai Yuan’s visit.

Although Liu Laohua was still the nominal Patriarch of the Liu Family, most affairs were already in Liu Qingshan’s hands. Within a few years, Liu Qingshan was set to become the head of Baisha Town and the Liu Family Patriarch.

Liu Qingshan hummed in thought, then his eyes lit up.

Restaurants were always a big money-making business, no matter the time or place, but opening one in Qinghe County was no easy feat.

Every restaurant in the city was backed by a major power. The Liu Family simply didn’t have the qualifications to get involved.

But with Bai Yuan’s backing, the situation would be completely different.

Before, his status as a mere Outer Disciple was naturally not enough.

But now, Bai Yuan was an Inner Courtyard Disciple of the Huwei Arts Hall, a true disciple of the hall’s master. Most powers would show some deference to Xue Gui.

Liu Qingshan had already been thinking about expanding his business into the city, so he and Bai Yuan hit it off immediately.

"Junior Brother Bai, with the two of us working together, there’s no doubt this business will succeed."

Liu Qingshan was suddenly filled with soaring ambition.

The Liu Family of Baisha Town was actually a branch of the Liu Family from the city, but after a hundred years, the blood ties had become exceedingly thin. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Although the Liu Family’s foundation in Baisha Town was extremely solid, they had never forgotten their dream of establishing themselves in the city.

Now, with Bai Yuan’s help, the timing was perfect.

Liu Qingshan was a man of swift and decisive action. He single-handedly overruled the objections of the family elders and raised three thousand taels of silver.

Bai Yuan wasn’t idle on his end, either.

The very next day, he went to find Old Xue.

Opening a restaurant in the city was no small matter, especially since he needed to leverage the name of the Huwei Arts Hall.

"Opening a restaurant?"

Xue Gui raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t expected this new disciple of his to have a knack for business.

"It’s just a matter of lending our name and taking a share of the profits."

"You can decide for yourself. Don’t bother me with such trivial matters in the future."

Xue Gui waved his hand dismissively.

He knew about Bai Yuan’s family situation; they were dirt poor. Back when he was still an Outer Disciple, Bai Yuan had constantly scrambled just to make a living.

If opening a restaurant would give this disciple of his more time to practice his saber techniques, then he was happy to see it happen.

Besides, it was just a matter of using the Huwei Arts Hall’s name, a common practice among the Inner Courtyard Disciples.

He was only concerned with the progress of Bai Yuan’s saber training.

"Thank you, Master."

Bai Yuan was overjoyed. ’It really is great to have such an easygoing master.’

...

Liu Qingshan was extremely efficient.

In just ten days, the Five Flavors Pavilion opened in the eastern part of the city.

The pavilion was five stories tall. From its top floors, one could look out over the murmuring Qinghe River. The scenery was delightful, making it an excellent location for a restaurant.

The location had originally belonged to another restaurant called the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion, but it had to be sold due to poor management. Liu Qingshan had been in the right place at the right time to take it over. Otherwise, no amount of silver could have gotten the new restaurant open so quickly.

"Brother Liu, my sincerest congratulations!"

"Tonight, we won’t go home until we’re drunk!"

"Qingshan, my boy. Well done."

...

Although Liu Qingshan was from Baisha Town, he had grown up in Qinghe County Town, so it was no surprise that many people came to show their support.

Bai Yuan’s guests, on the other hand, were pathetically few.

Aside from Li Ting, Zhuang Zhao, Ma Qi, and Wen Ji, there was no one else.

"Senior Brother Liu and Senior Brother Bai are really amazing. A restaurant this big must have cost a lot of silver."

Ma Qi gazed in awe at the Five Flavors Pavilion, which sprawled across several acres.

In his entire life, he would never dare to dream of opening such a restaurant.

"Haven’t any of the other senior and junior brothers from Huwei Arts Hall come?"

Li Ting scanned the room. Besides their own group, she couldn’t see any other disciples from the Huwei Arts Hall.

Her brow furrowed slightly. As the sole daughter of the Li Family, she was long accustomed to the ways of the business world.

On opening day, the greater the display and the more distinguished the guests, the smoother the business would run in the future. The opposite would mean a difficult road ahead.

With the opening of the Five Flavors Pavilion, countless eyes in the city were watching.

And the Five Flavors Pavilion’s greatest backing was, without a doubt, the Huwei Arts Hall.

Yet, more than half the day had passed since the opening, and not a single disciple from the Huwei Arts Hall had appeared.

This was rather intriguing.

In fact, quite a few people shared Li Ting’s thoughts, most of whom were competitors who had come to watch the show.

They were, of course, hoping the Huwei Arts Hall would snub the Five Flavors Pavilion. That would mean one less competitor for them.

The marketplace is a battlefield; it has always been a life-or-death struggle.

Just as the crowd was settling in to watch the drama unfold—

Several figures in short, cyan tunics appeared before the entrance of the Five Flavors Pavilion. On each of their cuffs was an embroidered golden tiger stripe.

It was the people from the Huwei Arts Hall!