Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies

Chapter 119: Chapter 43: The Bigger the Storm, the Pricier the Fish

"Martial arts register?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall suddenly burst into an uproar.

As everyone knew, changing one's household registration in the Great Zhou was very difficult.

The civilians of Great Zhou were generally born with a certain registration, and unless something unexpected occurred, they would die with the same registration.

To change registration, one would either need to join the military and distinguish themselves by killing enemies on the battlefield, or ascend through scholarly or martial examinations to become an official or a general.

But for most ordinary people without any backing, both options were almost impossible.

There were many interpersonal subtleties involved; it wasn't simply a matter of assessing one's cultivation alone. Ordinary people had no advantage.

Similarly, once changed to a martial arts register, it meant getting an opportunity to enter the Great Zhou Court, becoming superior to others, securing a certain amount of fame and social status.

It didn't guarantee a lifetime of glory and wealth, but at the very least, it provided control over significant social resources, ensuring no worries about basic needs and blessings for three generations.

Even someone as strong as Li Linfeng had never obtained a martial title in his entire life.

Now that the clerk from the government office had brought up the martial arts register, it was no wonder everyone was quite surprised.

After hearing what the clerk from the Guardian Martial Department had said, everyone in the venue felt that the County Magistrate was very sincere.

However, unlike the others,

The same words, when they reached Li Linfeng's ears, suddenly made his heart sink; he sensed an ominous aura.

He figured out that the clerk's speech from the Guardian Martial Department was targeting him.

The clerk put it beautifully, seemingly showing sufficient respect, but in fact, he had already cornered him.

If he objected, on one hand, he would be defying the court, which was somewhat disrespectful and would not end well; on the other hand, he would be obstructing the path of other disciples who wished to advance, causing problems all around.

But if he agreed, Linfeng Hall, which he had worked his entire life to build, would likely be halved in strength.

Originally, he had planned to train four or five direct disciples and focus on cultivating three of them.

One disciple to manage the hall, one disciple to play the role of the tactician, and one disciple to wield the pair of red flower clubs, with these to strengthen and enlarge Linfeng Hall.

Even if he didn't have a martial title, his successors could benefit from it.

Now, after the incident with the tiger demon, one of his five direct disciples had died, and another was crippled.

Of the remaining three, two had hidden injuries due to conflicts with the Mi Gang.

The last one was fine, blessed with exceptional talent and had faced no issues, but his reputation was not prominent, and it was the time for him to accumulate strength.

Under such circumstances, the government office still wanted him to send personnel; wasn't this tantamount to digging up his roots?

Did he have a way to refuse?

No.

The government office behind this seemed like a huge mountain standing in front of him, rendering him immobile and helpless.

Li Linfeng's hands, hidden in his sleeves, could not help but clench into fists, his knuckles turning white.

The clerk, dressed in uniform and wearing his id card, glanced at Li Linfeng and continued, "Our lord knows that Master Li cares for his disciples, a rare good master indeed, but we also hope that Master Li can consider the overall situation and show more compassion for the town's people."

Li Linfeng exhaled, took two steps forward, and stared directly at the official from the Guardian Martial Department, his mouth curling into a smile as he said, "I can send my disciples, but I demand that each disciple's treatment be doubled, twenty taels each, and if they are injured or die as a consequence, a compensation of eighty taels, and for direct disciples, double this amount."

"If your lordship can agree to this, I will make the arrangements. If not, then we shall end this matter. I should consider my disciples more than the town's people."

Li Linfeng set a very high price, knowing the past stingy nature of the government office, confident they would not agree.

He planned to use this to refuse the government's draft, conserving strength while also bonding the people within the hall.

However, to Li Linfeng's surprise, the Guardian Martial Department unprecedently agreed!

"Good, Master Li truly is a master who treats his disciples like his own children. Before I came here, the County Magistrate had already made it clear that as long as Master Li's requests are not excessive, they can be granted. I find Master Li's request to be very reasonable."

Not only that, but the clerk of the Guardian Martial Department continued to up the ante, taking out a stack of silver notes from his bosom and placing it on the table next to him: "This is a little token prepared specially by the County Magistrate before coming here, I hope you will kindly accept it."

Following that, he took out a porcelain bottle and said, "I also have here Qi Blood Pills issued by the court, totaling twenty. They can solidify Qi-blood and increase cultivation progress. I hope Master Li will also not make things difficult for a mere official like me."

"This time, our county government's determination to eradicate the tiger demon is as solid as a rock, and we hope Master Li can contribute his strength. We will be most grateful."

Qi Blood Pill?

Li Linfeng's expression changed, knowing these were part of the martial benefits provided by the Great Zhou Dynasty Court, comparable to a great tonic.

Outside, one could be worth between one to five taels.

The Guardian Martial Department was indeed making a huge investment.

Now that things had reached this point, Li Linfeng already knew he had no room to maneuver.

He could neither fight nor escape.

What else could he do?

The fists that Li Linfeng was clenching inside his sleeves slowly relaxed.

"How many do you need this time?"

The clerk of the Guardian Martial Department flashed a smile and hurriedly said, "Considering Master Li has suffered heavy losses, you only need to allocate one direct disciple, five inner courtyard disciples, and ten outer court disciples. Whoever manages to kill the tiger demon will earn a martial title."

"Alright, I understand."

The clerk of the Guardian Martial Department clasped his hands and said, "Then we shall gather tomorrow morning at the West City Gate by Mao Hour. Since my task is done, I won't disturb Master Li any further, I take my leave."

"Take care, no need for formalities."

The clerk of the Guardian Martial Department turned and walked towards the door, and the many disciples gathered at the doorway of Linfeng Hall stepped aside, creating a path.

After he left the inner courtyard hall, Li Linfeng gestured to Ouyang Tiezhu and Wushili, saying, "You guys get some silver from A Fu and sort out the matters for our brothers. For the second one, I'll handle it myself."

"Yes, Master," Ouyang Tiezhu stepped forward and asked, "So who is going this time?"

Li Linfeng stared at Ouyang Tiezhu, then glanced at Wushili.

The matter of the tiger demon was so critical that even Niu Daping and Dong Zizhuang, who were unharmed, had faced trouble. These two had only just recovered from injuries a few days ago; if they went, the chances of misfortune were high.

At a loss, his gaze inadvertently swept over Shen Qing, who was standing outside the door, and with a resigned sigh, he said, "Let your junior brother go."

Ouyang Tiezhu and Wushili exchanged looks, "The junior brother has only trained in martial arts for a short time? Even if his talent is exceptional, his combat experience is lacking. If we let him go, it might be a life and death situation."

Li Linfeng helplessly said, "First ask your junior brother what he thinks."

Saying this, he gestured to Shen Qing to come over.

Understanding, Shen Qing approached and bowed with his fists, "Master, you called for me?"

Li Linfeng said, "I want you to go this time, are you willing? If not, then forget about it."

Shen Qing glanced at everyone, weighing the pros and cons in his mind.

With continuous cultivation, his true martial strength might approach the Qi Cultivation Realm, and with the advantage of the bow and arrow, it was even more unpredictable.

Besides, equipped with skills like Turtle Breathing Technique and Eagle Eye, and wearing the Dragon Roar Iron Cloth Shirt, even if he couldn't defeat the enemy, he had more than enough to protect himself.

The bigger the storm, the more precious the catch!

The chance to earn a martial title didn't always come.

It was also an opportunity to see just how strong he had become after learning so many martial arts and skills.

With that thought, Shen Qing agreed, "Disciple is willing!"