Dong Wenhui, the master of Hengchang Martial Arts Hall, looked grim.

It was obvious Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall was taking advantage of the crisis. While Hengchang Martial Arts Hall was locked in battle with the Yuhe Chamber of Commerce, they had suddenly swooped in to snatch territory.

The men he sent to Mingyu Street to negotiate were thrown out of the district twice. He had personally sent word inviting Weng Xiaolin for tea, but Weng Xiaolin avoided him.

This was a clear sign they intended to swallow Hengchang Martial Arts Hall’s territory on Mingyu Street whole, without spitting a single piece back out.

"Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall has gone too far! Of the three great martial arts halls, they have the weakest overall strength, which is why the Jingmao Trading Company assigned to them by the Jili Empire was also the weakest. They lucked into an easy opponent, and now they dare to covet our territory? Do they really think Hengchang Martial Arts Hall has no one to fight back?"

Seated below Dong Wenhui were four hulking figures, each with a frighteningly powerful build. One of them—a bald man with a fierce expression and sallow, tanned skin—spoke, his face cold and severe.

Hengchang Martial Arts Hall had a total of four resident True Disciples. Golden Blade Martial Arts Hall had even more, with five.

In contrast, before Zhao Xuanqi became a True Disciple, Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall had only three in total. Of those, only Liu Changfeng and Luo Moyou were residents. Luo Moyou’s strength was considered merely average among True Disciples, leaving Liu Changfeng as the only one with truly formidable combat prowess.

In terms of resident strength, Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall was undeniably the weakest of the three great halls. There was a reason they had placed last in the Tri-Hall Tournament for several consecutive years.

If not for a few key factors, Hengchang and Golden Blade would have made a move on Xiaolin’s territory in the Upper River District long ago. Their senior-most disciple, Zhang Hongyun, held a post in the Giant Spirit Army. Weng Xiaolin himself had extensive connections from his youth when he followed Governor Xu Qingyuan to suppress the opium trade. And on top of that, they were backed by the Luo Family of the Upper River District.

But even with all that, for the past several years, Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall had only been able to defend its businesses in the Upper River District, lacking any capacity to expand.

"Ever since Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall made that Zhao Qi their fourth True Disciple, their actions have been unusually bold. Taking advantage of our crisis to encroach on our territory has completely crossed the line. If we tolerate this, what won’t we tolerate?"

"I’ve already looked into it," said another True Disciple, a man with a buzz cut, prominent cheekbones, and an aloof expression. "The person from Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall in charge of the Mingyu District is this Zhao Qi of the Wind Shadow Hall. The kid is young, but his ambition is huge. He’ll never be satisfied with just Mingyu Street. We have to teach him a lesson and make him understand his place, otherwise he’ll just keep stirring up trouble."

The other two disciples nodded in agreement. They couldn’t let this slide. If it happened once, it would happen again.

"This matter is simple to resolve. The Yuhe Chamber of Commerce is a foreign power. They don’t play by the rules of the Martial Arts Realm, so we have no choice but to fight them openly. Those Ghost Elders have deep pockets and a lot of influence—God knows where they found over twenty Cross-Training experts, which is why we’re so worn out. But Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall is a different story. If they want Mingyu Street, we’ll have to see if this Zhao Qi of theirs is truly capable."

"However, for Zhao Qi to be making such a name for himself, he must have some real skills. We can’t afford to be careless."

Dong Wenhui’s eyes flickered. He remembered Zhao Qi clearly from the Tri-Hall Tournament. Just a few months ago, the kid was merely at the Sound Force realm, yet now he had entered Cross-Training and built a fearsome reputation. Rumor even had it that he’d single-handedly taken down the head of the Jingmao Trading Company. Dong Wenhui didn’t know how much of that was true, but the boy could not be underestimated.

His gaze swept over his four True Disciples before finally landing on a towering giant of a man, nearly two meters tall, with a physique that rivaled Liu Changfeng’s.

"Kun, I want you to go. Teach Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall a lesson they won’t forget and take back Mingyu Street. You’ll get an extra twenty percent of its profits."

Dong Wenhui said to the towering man.

Zhang Xiankun was the second strongest of his four True Disciples, his power on par with Liu Changfeng of Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall. With him handling it, success was guaranteed.

"Yes, Master. A trivial matter. I will handle it and vent your frustrations."

Zhang Xiankun rose to his feet, his expression perfectly calm, as if he truly considered it a trivial affair.

...

...

「The next day.」

Mingyu Street, at the branch office of the Xiaolin Escort Agency.

Zhao Xuanqi’s study.

Ever since he took Mingyu Street, he had moved his study here. Living at the Xiaolin Escort Agency headquarters meant being under everyone’s noses, which came with numerous inconveniences. He felt much more at ease on his own territory.

By now, all the freight, escort, trade, and other businesses on Mingyu Street had largely fallen under his control. He had sent his men to shut down any industries belonging to Hengchang Martial Arts Hall or the Yuhe Chamber of Commerce. It was safe to say that he now had the final word on all business in Mingyu Street connected to the Martial Arts Realm. Not even Liu Changfeng or Luo Moyou could get a word in edgewise.

This was the result of his discussion with Weng Xiaolin.

Weng Xiaolin supported his efforts to expand into new territory. This new territory would be entirely his to control; the Martial Arts Hall wouldn’t interfere in its management, as long as he paid a monthly tribute to the hall. However, there were conditions.

Weng Xiaolin could transfer ordinary disciples from other businesses in the Upper River District, and the escort agency could also assign him a certain number of men. But there would be no elite forces; for that, he could only rely on his own Wind Shadow Hall.

Second, Weng Xiaolin would pull strings at the official level to clear the way for Zhao Xuanqi. But in all other matters, Zhao Xuanqi had to handle things himself.

The arrangement was quite fair, and Zhao Xuanqi readily accepted.

After all, while they were all "martial brothers" at the hall, interests were still bound to clash. If he were to use Liu Changfeng’s or Luo Moyou’s men, people would inevitably talk if he maintained complete control over the new territory.

TAP! TAP! TAP!

Just then, footsteps approached the study. Cai Mingliang walked in and said to Zhao Xuanqi, "Hengchang Martial Arts Hall sent someone again. This one’s a heavy hitter—Zhang Xiankun, one of their four True Disciples."

"His innate talent is said to be on par with Senior Brother Liu’s. His Cross-Trained physique is incredibly formidable; when his Qi Surges, he’s nearly impervious to blades and swords. Paired with Hengchang Martial Arts Hall’s Vajra Cannon Fist, he forged a fearsome reputation in Celestial Sea Prefecture. They call him the ’Evil Bright Monarch,’ and he’s considered a top-tier master among the True Disciples of the prefecture’s martial arts halls. Even if Senior Brother Liu fought him, it’s hard to say who would come out on top."

Cai Mingliang felt a knot of anxiety in his stomach. He never expected Hengchang Martial Arts Hall to dispatch such a man, especially while they were still locked in a bitter struggle with the Yuhe Chamber of Commerce. A top-tier True Disciple was a vital part of their main fighting force; they couldn’t afford to have anything happen to him.

It seemed the other party valued Mingyu Street more than he’d imagined, and they were angrier about what his Hall Master had done than he’d anticipated.

"So they’ve finally come. Show him in."

Zhao Xuanqi set down his book, his expression impassive. He seemed utterly unmoved by Cai Mingliang’s words.

Soon, under Cai Mingliang’s guidance, a hulking man built like an iron tower strode into the study, his bronze-bell eyes locking onto Zhao Xuanqi.

Zhang Xiankun’s expression was impassive. Before Cai Mingliang could even make an introduction, he swatted him aside. Cai Mingliang was utterly powerless against such immense force, tossed aside as easily as a child’s doll.

After shoving Cai Mingliang aside, Zhang Xiankun grabbed a nearby blackwood chair and sat down.

CRACK!!

Under the man’s terrifying weight, the wooden chair let out a pained groan, looking as if it might shatter at any moment.

His sheer size exerted an immense, silent pressure. Having just experienced the man’s overwhelming strength firsthand, Cai Mingliang stood to the side, not even daring to breathe.

"Three thousand silver coins. Call it payment for your trouble. Hengchang Martial Arts Hall is taking back Mingyu Street. Yes or no? Give me a straight answer."

Zhang Xiankun said to Zhao Xuanqi, his tone casual. There was no beating around the bush. Just like Hengchang Martial Arts Hall’s Secret Transmissions, he was direct and to the point.

"Are you trying to shoo away a beggar? Since Hengchang Martial Arts Hall has stopped sending minions to placate me, I’ll be just as direct with you: I’m keeping Mingyu Street." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Zhao Xuanqi leaned back in his chair, his own expression just as calm.

"Then there’s nothing left to discuss. We’ll settle this with our own abilities. As per the rules of the martial arts halls: we sign a life-and-death waiver and hold a Street Arena for the whole neighborhood to witness. Do you dare accept? Don’t worry, I won’t take your life. But Hengchang Martial Arts Hall is going to teach you a lesson about who you can and cannot afford to provoke. A rookie like you should go grind for another couple of years before trying to plant his flag and claim territory."