Chapter 6: The Scapegoat

In the main hall. 

Jiangning's gaze fell on the once-burly figure of his elder brother, Jiang Li. He noticed that Jiang Li's face had turned pale, his body trembling slightly, and drops of blood were falling from the sleeve of his left hand. 

The entire hall fell into a heavy silence. 

After a long while. 

"Brother!" Jiangning couldn't help but speak up. 

At this moment, Jiang Li slowly regained his composure. 

"It's fine. Don't worry about me." 

"Brother, what are you going to do?" Jiangning asked. 

Jiang Li spoke calmly, "Such a cold-hearted move I don't believe the county magistrate will allow Cao Bin to act so recklessly." 

Hearing this, Jiangning shook his head inwardly. Whether the county magistrate would intervene or not was impossible to predict. 

But based on Xu Yunfeng's earlier words, it was clear that the conflict between the county magistrate, the outsider, and the local families had reached a boiling point. 

If his elder brother refused to comply, the local families might use him as an example to intimidate others. 

After all, his elder brother had worked in the yamen for many years and had some influence, but he had always been loyal to the county magistrate. 

Such a person was perfect for making an example of. 

Under pressure from the local powers, the county magistrate might very well choose to compromise. 

Even if he didn't, being caught between two powerful factions, what chance did they have of survival? What good outcome could there be? 

Thinking of this, Jiangning's sense of crisis deepened. 

He hadn't forgotten the look in Xu Yunfeng's eyes and his parting words. It was clear that Xu Yunfeng was using Jiangning and his niece and nephew to threaten Jiang Li. 

In the future, to force Jiang Li to comply, Xu Yunfeng might not hesitate to harm Jiangning or his niece and nephew. 

"I have to rely on myself! Learning martial arts can't wait any longer!" Jiangning thought to himself. Then he recalled the identity of Wang Jin from the Canglang Martial Arts School. 

Based on his understanding and speculation, Wang Jin might be related by blood to Captain Wang, the commander of the Luoshui County garrison. 

Moreover, Wang Jin held a high status and was undoubtedly a ranked martial artist who had progressed far in his martial arts journey. 

In a world where a single martial artist could rival an army, strength was equivalent to power. 

By enrolling in the Canglang Martial Arts School, Jiangning would at least gain some respect from Xu Yunfeng on the surface. 

More importantly, if Jiangning could pass the Canglang Martial Arts School's entrance exam and become a true disciple, he would gain Wang Jin's protection. 

In this world, the relationship between master and disciple was akin to that of father and son. 

If Jiangning could become Wang Jin's true disciple, Xu Yunfeng wouldn't dare to touch him, let alone harm him. 

The status of a true disciple of such a powerful martial artist far surpassed that of an ordinary constable. 

Thinking of this, Jiangning nodded inwardly. "From the looks of it, the Canglang Martial Arts School is indeed a good choice. If the panel can generate experience points for martial arts techniques, given some time, I'm sure I can pass the Canglang Martial Arts School's entrance exam and become Wang Jin's true disciple. Achieving this would be like crossing a class barrier, similar to how a commoner gains the status of an official like my elder brother." 

As his thoughts flowed. 

"Little brother, what are you thinking about?" 

Jiang Li's voice suddenly interrupted Jiangning's contemplation. 

Seeing this, Jiangning said, "I was thinking about Xu Yunfeng's parting words. He's using me and your children to force you to comply." 

Jiang Li nodded. "I noticed that too. He's clever. You're all my weaknesses." 

As he spoke, Jiangning noticed that Jiang Li's left fist was clenched tightly, the gaps between his fingers stained with blood. 

Then, Jiang Li added, "I trust the county magistrate. He won't abandon us." 

Jiangning shook his head. "Brother, entrusting our family's safety to the whims of the county magistrate is unwise." 

Hearing this, Jiang Li smiled bitterly. "But that's the Cao, Liu, and Xie family's three behemoths. Besides relying on the county magistrate, I have no other options." 

"I have a plan," Jiangning said. 

"What plan?" Jiang Li's eyes lit up, and he looked at Jiangning with hope. 

Jiangning spoke slowly, "Wang Jin of the Canglang Martial Arts School is related by blood to Captain Wang, the commander of the Luoshui County garrison. If I can become a true disciple of the Canglang Martial Arts School, I'll have a master-disciple relationship with Wang Jin, which is akin to a father-son bond. This should earn me Wang Jin's protection. And since Wang Jin is related to Captain Wang, who holds military power, neither the county magistrate nor the four major families would want to provoke him." 

"Captain Wang?" Jiang Li murmured, deep in thought. 

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

After pondering for a moment, he nodded. "If we can establish a connection with Captain Wang, the Cao family probably wouldn't dare to touch us. In the Great Xia Dynasty, a hundred men form a unit, and even the weakest among them is no worse than me at my peak. There are even elite squads composed entirely of ranked martial artists." 

"But..." He looked at Jiangning and continued, "How will you become a true disciple of the Canglang Martial Arts School? Wang Jin's standards are extremely high. Only those who can become true disciples of the Canglang Martial Arts School receive its true teachings, and they are all ranked martial artists." 

Jiangning said, "Brother, don't worry about that. I'm confident in my abilities." 

"Alright then," Jiang Li nodded. "It's good that you're confident. There's no harm in trying! It just so happens that you're about to enroll in the Canglang Martial Arts School." 

"If it doesn't work out, I'll risk my life to ask Constable Feng to intervene and have the county magistrate protect you all," Jiang Li said with determination. 

Seeing the sincerity in Jiang Li's eyes, Jiangning felt a complex mix of emotions. 

Humans are not unfeeling plants or trees. 

In the few months since he had transmigrated into this world, he had already come to accept his elder brother and sister-in-law as family. 

Although his sister-in-law had her reservations about him, over the past two months, she had washed his clothes, mended his torn garments, and ensured he never lacked good food or drink. 

As for his elder brother, there was nothing more to say. The phrase "an elder brother is like a father" was perfectly embodied in him. 

Just yesterday, after Jiangning had mentioned his desire to learn martial arts, Jiang Li borrowed a large sum of money to enroll him in the Canglang Martial Arts School. 

As a human being, how could he not be deeply moved by such familial love? 

Now, faced with such a crisis, how could he stand by and do nothing? 

"It's time for me to repay my elder brother and sister-in-law," Jiangning thought to himself. 

After returning to his room. 

[Name]: Jiangning 

[Source Energy]: 3.6 

[Skills]: Literacy (First Breakthrough 47/2000) (Trait: Photographic Memory) 

Looking at his panel, Jiangning's thoughts were in turmoil. 

He had never expected such a sudden turn of events. 

Based on his understanding, he knew all too well the pressure of being targeted by the Cao, Liu, and Xie families. 

They were like half the sky in Luoshui County! 

Not to mention the three major families, even Xu Yunfeng, a constable with some martial arts skills, was a formidable threat to ordinary people. 

A skilled martial artist, with strong vitality and blood energy, could take on a dozen strong men bare-handed, let alone with a weapon in hand. 

He hadn't forgotten the look in Xu Yunfeng's eyes when he left. If Xu Yunfeng was serious about forcing Jiang Li to comply, he wouldn't just sit back and do nothing. 

Xu Yunfeng was a significant potential threat to Jiangning! 

And this was just Xu Yunfeng, who hadn't even reached the rank of a true martial artist. 

If it were someone like Constable Cao Bin, a ranked martial artist... 

According to his elder brother, once a martial artist reached the rank, their skin would become as hard as bronze, making them nearly impervious to ordinary weapons. Such a person was no longer someone an ordinary person could contend with. 

So Jiangning understood very clearly that in a world where martial arts flourished and power resided in individuals, all crises stemmed from one's lack of strength. 

If he became a ranked martial artist and gained sufficient strength, what would Xu Yunfeng amount to? 

What would Cao Bin amount to? 

Even more so, for someone like the Great Xia's Guardian Martial Saint, the entire world would be insignificant in comparison. 

"Everything depends on what happens after I visit the Canglang Martial Arts School!" 

After noon. 

After lunch, Jiangning followed his elder brother out of the house. 

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

"Freshly baked flatbread! Fifteen coins each!" 

"Come take a look! High-quality sesame oil!" 

"Candied haws for sale!" 

Fifteen coins for a flatbread? 

Jiangning couldn't help but click his tongue. 

He remembered from his past self's memories that flatbread used to cost only eight coins. Now, the price had doubled. 

"Seeing this small detail, it's clear that grain prices have skyrocketed. The world is indeed becoming more chaotic!"