In the main hall.

Jiang Ning looked at the once robust man and noticed his face was pale, his body was trembling slightly, and drops of blood were dripping from his left sleeve.

The entire main hall fell into a sudden silence.

A long time passed.

“Brother,” Jiang Ning could not help but speak up.

By then, Jiang Li had slowly regained his composure.

“I am fine, do not worry about me.”

“Brother, what do you decide to do then,” Jiang Ning asked.

Jiang Li spoke with a calm expression, “Such a disheartening move. I do not believe the county magistrate will allow Cao Bin to act so outrageously.”

Hearing this, Jiang Ning secretly shook his head. Whether he would or would not, who could ever read another person’s mind?

However, based on Xu Yunfeng’s recent words, it was obvious that the struggle between the county magistrate, a powerful outsider trying to assert authority, and the entrenched local families had reached a boiling point.

If his brother refused to comply, the local families might very well use him to make an example for everyone else.

After all, his brother had worked in the yamen for many years and held some prestige, yet he had always followed the county magistrate’s orders blindly.

A person like this was the perfect target to make an example of.

Under pressure from the local powerhouses, the county magistrate might eventually choose to compromise.

Even if he did not compromise, what chance of survival was there when caught between two major factions? What good end could come of it?

Thinking of this, Jiang Ning felt an even greater sense of crisis.

He had not forgotten Xu Yunfeng’s parting look and words, which clearly used him and his niece and nephew to threaten his brother.

In the future, to force his brother to comply, there was no guarantee they would not do something to harm him or the children.

“I must rely on myself. Learning martial arts is a matter of utmost urgency now,” Jiang Ning thought to himself. Then, he remembered the identity of Wang Jin from the Canglang Martial Arts Academy.

Based on what he knew and guessed, Wang Jin might share a blood relation with Captain Wang of the Luoshui County garrison.

Furthermore, Wang Jin held an extremely high status, being an officially ranked martial arts expert who had advanced very far along the path of martial arts.

In a world where a powerful martial artist could be an army unto themselves, might made right, and Wang Jin’s fists were his authority.

If he joined the Canglang Martial Arts Academy, Xu Yunfeng would at least show some restraint on the surface.

More importantly, if he could pass the academy’s assessment and become a core disciple.

In this world, where teachers ranked alongside heaven, earth, sovereigns, and parents, the relationship between master and disciple was just like that of father and son.

If he could become a core disciple, Xu Yunfeng would not dare touch him or make a move against him, out of respect for Wang Jin’s reputation.

The status of a great expert’s core disciple was something a common bailiff with a minor clerk status could never match.

With this thought, Jiang Ning nodded secretly. “Looking at it now, the Canglang Martial Arts Academy is indeed a great choice. If the interface can grind experience points for martial arts techniques, given a little time, I will definitely pass the academy’s test and become Wang Jin’s core disciple. Reaching this step is practically jumping social classes, just like a commoner gaining the same official status as my brother.”

While his thoughts were racing.

“Brother, what are you thinking about?”

Jiang Li’s voice suddenly interrupted Jiang Ning’s deep thoughts.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning said, “I was thinking about Xu Yunfeng’s words before he left. He is clearly using me and your children to force you to give in.”

Jiang Li nodded immediately. “I noticed that too. He is very clever, knowing that all of you are my weak spots.”

As he spoke, Jiang Ning noticed that his brother’s left fist was still tightly clenched, the gaps between his fingers stained red with blood.

Then, Jiang Li added, “I believe in the county magistrate. He will not just stand by and do nothing.”

Jiang Ning shook his head. “Brother, placing the lives of our entire family on a single whim of the county magistrate is highly unwise.”

Hearing this, Jiang Li gave a bitter smile. “Those are the Cao, Liu, and Xie families, three absolute juggernauts. Aside from relying on the county magistrate, I have no options at all.”

“I have a way,” Jiang Ning said.

“What way,” Jiang Li’s eyes lit up instantly as he looked at Jiang Ning with hope.

Jiang Ning spoke slowly, “Wang Jin of the Canglang Martial Arts Academy shares a blood relation with Captain Wang of the Luoshui County garrison. If I can become a true disciple of the academy, I will share a master and disciple bond with him, which is as strong as that of father and son. This should grant me his protection. Since Wang Jin is related to Captain Wang, who holds military power, neither the county magistrate nor the powerful families would want to cross someone with military backing.”

“Captain Wang,” Jiang Li muttered, lost in thought.

Having lived in Luoshui County for so long, he naturally knew quite a lot.

After a moment of silence, he nodded. “If we can establish a connection with Captain Wang, the Cao family truly might not dare to make a move. In the Great Xia Empire, a company consists of one hundred men, and even the weakest among them is no worse than I was in my prime. There are quite a few elite squads formed entirely of ranked martial artists.”

“But,” he looked at Jiang Ning and continued, “how will you become a true disciple of the Canglang Martial Arts Academy? Wang Jin’s standards are incredibly high. To become a true disciple means receiving the core teachings of the academy, and those people always become ranked martial artists.”

Jiang Ning replied, “You do not need to worry about this, Brother. I have full confidence in myself.”

“Alright then,” Jiang Li nodded. “It is good that you have confidence, and there is no harm in trying. It is perfect timing since you are about to join the academy anyway.”

“If it fails, I will risk my life to beg Chief Feng to step in so the county magistrate protects you all,” Jiang Li said with determination in eyes.

Seeing the genuine emotion in Jiang Li’s eyes, Jiang Ning felt deeply moved.

Humans are not made of wood or stone, so how could they remain unfeeling?

During the months since his reincarnation, he had already fully accepted his brother and his brother’s wife in this life.

Although his brother’s wife complained about him occasionally, over the past two months, she was the one who washed his clothes, mended his torn garments, and never shorted him on food or drink.

As as for his brother, words could hardly describe his kindness. The saying that an eldest brother is like a father was perfectly embodied by him.

Just yesterday, simply because Jiang Ning mentioned wanting to learn martial arts, his brother went out to borrow a large sum of money so he could enroll in the Canglang Martial Arts Academy.

Being human, how could he not be deeply touched by such family devotion?

Now that they faced such sudden trouble, how could he just stand aside?

“It is finally my turn to repay my brother and his wife,” Jiang Ning murmured to himself.

After returning to his room.

Name: Jiang Ning

Source Energy: 3.6

Skills: Literacy (First Limit Break 47/2000) (Trait: Photographic Memory)

Looking at his status panel, a flood of thoughts rushed through Jiang Ning’s mind.

He had never expected such a sudden crisis to strike.

With his understanding of the situation, he knew all too well what a massive pressure it was to be targeted by the three great families, the Cao, Liu, and Xie.

They practically controlled half of Luoshui County.

Never mind the top three families, even an accomplished martial artist bailiff like Xu Yunfeng exerted tremendous pressure on ordinary people.

With successful martial arts training and powerful vital energy, such a person could take on over a dozen ordinary men barehanded, let alone with a blade in hand.

He had not forgotten Xu Yunfeng’s look when he left. If Xu Yunfeng truly intended to force his brother to comply, he would not just sit idly by.

Xu Yunfeng was a massive potential threat to him.

And that was someone who was merely accomplished without even reaching an official rank.

If it were an officially ranked martial artist, like Chief Bailiff Cao Bin.

According to what his brother said before, once a person achieved an official martial arts rank and mastered skin tempering, their skin would become as hard as bronze, making it difficult for blades or spears to harm them. They were no longer entities ordinary people could match.

Therefore, Jiang Ning knew very well that in a world where martial arts flourished and supreme power belonged to individuals.

Every so-called crisis came down to a single fact, he was simply not strong enough.

If he could reach an official martial arts rank and become strong enough, what would Xu Yunfeng matter?

What would Cao Bin matter?

Going even further, like the Guardian Martial Saint of the Great Xia Empire, the entire world would amount to nothing.

“Everything depends on what happens after I visit the Canglang Martial Arts Academy.”

After midday.

After finishing lunch, Jiang Ning left the house with his brother.

Walking along the street, both sides of the road were filled with the sounds of vendors hawking their wares and the lively atmosphere of daily life.

Flatbread, flatbread, fresh out of the oven flatbread, fifteen coins each.

Come have a look, high quality sesame oil.

Candied hawthorns for sale.

Fifteen coins for a single flatbread?

Jiang Ning clicked his tongue slightly in surprise.

He recalled from his host’s previous memories that a flatbread used to cost only eight coins, but now the price had nearly doubled.

“Judging from this small clue, grain prices must have skyrocketed. The world is truly becoming more and more chaotic.”