The Guanshan Blade Association  

Translator: CinderTL

"What can I get for you two, sirs?"

As soon as the two men entered, a shop assistant approached them with a smile, not showing any disdain despite their shabby appearance.

Xu Sanyan looked around. The first floor was just an ordinary pharmacy, albeit slightly larger, with medicine cabinets lining the walls.

"I heard you sell precious herbs here. I came to take a look," Xu Sanyan said, staring directly into the assistant's eyes.

"Ah, you've come at an unfortunate time. The precious herbs have just sold out," the assistant replied with a smile.

Xu Sanyan took out a few pieces of broken silver from his pocket and slapped them into the assistant's hand. "Speak plainly."

The assistant chuckled, pocketing the silver, and leaned in closer. "To be honest with you, sir, no matter when you come, you won't be able to buy them. The precious herbs are in high demand, and they're always reserved for the noble ladies first."

The assistant gestured toward the city center, and Xu Sanyan understood—he was referring to the noblewomen in the government.

"Then there are the masters from various gangs waiting in line. For example, the White Horse Gang's leader receives a plant every month, as does the owner of the Moon Gazing Pavilion."

"The herb gatherers can only collect a handful of precious herbs each month, and they're barely enough to go around. Only occasionally are there leftovers for others to buy, and even then, the price isn't cheap—at least ten thousand taels of silver, and the price is still rising."

"Nowadays, the precious herbs around the outskirts of Dragon Abode Mountain have been mostly harvested. If you want more, you'll have to venture deeper into the mountains, but there are demon beasts inside. If you encounter one, you'll likely lose your life."

Xu Sanyan nodded. These herbs were highly beneficial for martial artists, hence the high demand. Wu Jue must have put in a lot of effort to obtain these few precious herbs.

It seemed that he needed to elevate his status; otherwise, even with money, he wouldn't be able to buy them.

"Thank you. If there are any leftover precious herbs, please let me know. I won't let you run around for nothing."

"You can count on it."

Xu Sanyan cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, left his address, and walked out.

Big Yellow Tooth asked, "Fourth Master, where are we heading next?"

Xu Sanyan looked toward the north of the city. "The Guanshan Blade Association."

…

The Guanshan Blade Association was located in the northern part of the city because the north was the most chaotic area, mostly inhabited by poor people with low living costs. The Guanshan Blade Association was relatively poor, so the north was the most suitable location.

Xu Sanyan walked through a long alley, at the end of which was a large courtyard. The dilapidated gate was wide open, and the sound of noisy chatter could be heard from inside.

"Why is it so noisy in the morning? What's going on?" Big Yellow Tooth asked curiously.

Xu Sanyan stepped through the gate and saw a spacious courtyard filled with dozens of burly men in tattered jackets, gathered around two men who were sparring with large blades.

"Nice!"

"Damn it, Wang Lai, strike him! I've bet two taels of silver on you…"

"Wang Widow is waiting for me naked tonight. If you lose, you'll have to keep me company…"

Xu Sanyan moved closer to take a look. The two men in the middle were exchanging blows enthusiastically, but they were holding back to avoid accidentally killing each other.

"You two look unfamiliar. Are you here to do business with our Guanshan Blade Association?" someone nearby asked.

Xu Sanyan smiled and shook his head. "I've long heard that the Guanshan Blade Association is filled with heroes, and I've come to admire it. I wish to join."

The man raised an eyebrow and grinned, revealing his large teeth. "Well, we've become heroes now, huh?"

Just then, the two men in the courtyard finished their match, and the man shouted, "Brothers, we've got a newcomer who wants to join."

Xu Sanyan understood that "hanging the stake" was the jargon for joining a gang, and he was familiar with some of the common terms used in the martial world.

The crowd turned to look at the two men, and someone mocked, "This kid probably doesn't even have hair down there yet."

"Hahaha…"

"What, are you going to count how many hairs he has?"

Xu Sanyan's smile remained unchanged, while Big Yellow Tooth glanced at the man who had spoken and quietly moved away from him.

Others might not know how ruthless Fourth Master could be, but he knew all too well. Fourth Master was generous with his brothers and never lacked money, but it was best not to provoke him.

Once, a new bandit in the gang saw Fourth Master always smiling and thought he was an easy target, making jokes without restraint.

The next day, he was skinned and tied to a pole, suffering for two days before he died.

Xu Sanyan didn't know what Big Yellow Tooth was thinking. He simply asked, "Who's the leader here?"

"Hah, you want to see the leader? No need for that. Just pass three trials, and you'll be one of us," someone in the crowd said.

"What are the three trials?"

A bearded man stepped forward. "The first trial is the Ground Roller Blade. Brothers, let's begin."

The crowd split into two rows, standing face to face with their blades held vertically in front of them, leaving only a narrow path in the middle.

"Walk through it without changing your expression, and you'll pass," the bearded man said.

The first trial was the simplest, just testing one's courage. In this line of work, being timid wouldn't do.

Xu Sanyan smiled calmly and walked through without so much as a glance to the side. Big Yellow Tooth followed closely behind.

Having been bandits, this was as easy as eating or drinking for them.

The bearded man nodded slightly. "The second trial is a test of skill. Pick any brother here in the courtyard. If you can withstand twenty moves, you'll pass."

Big Yellow Tooth glanced at the man who had mocked Fourth Master and silently mourned for him.

Xu Sanyan's eyes flickered, and he pointed casually. "How about this brother?"

Big Yellow Tooth thought, Of course.

It was the man who had said Xu Sanyan didn't even have hair yet.

"Hahaha, you've got guts, kid, picking me. Beg me now, and I'll go easy on you. How about it?"

Big Yellow Tooth twitched his lips. This man was still digging his own grave.

"Please."

Xu Sanyan extended his hand.

The crowd dispersed, giving the two men space.

"Kid, you're out of luck…"

The man drew his long blade. "Don't say I'm bullying you. You can make the first move."

"Alright…"

Before the man could finish his sentence, Xu Sanyan's figure suddenly disappeared. Before anyone could react, he kicked the man in the abdomen.

"Boom!"

The man was sent flying seven or eight meters and immediately fell to the ground, unconscious.

Xu Sanyan had held back. Killing someone right after arriving wouldn't leave a good impression.

This man was at most equivalent to a Qi Refinement beginner. For ordinary swordsmen, even a basic cultivation method was hard to come by. Fortunately, the Qi Refinement stage was all about physical training, so it could be practiced even without a cultivation method.

"Inner Qi Realm?"

"Am I seeing things? Someone so young in the Inner Qi Realm?"

The crowd erupted in commotion. They couldn't understand why someone with such talent would come to the Guanshan Blade Association. Even the White Horse Gang would offer him a good position.

The bearded man's eyes widened. This young man, so youthful, was actually in the Inner Qi Realm!

To date, the Guanshan Blade Association only had two members in the Inner Qi Realm—the leader and the deputy leader. Were they about to welcome a third?

"Little brother… where have you been practicing before?" the bearded man quickly stepped forward and cupped his hands in respect.

His attitude had changed noticeably.

Xu Sanyan smiled. "Just making a living in the Five-Hundred-Mile Wind Gap."

The bearded man immediately understood—he was from the Northwest Desert.

The Five-Hundred-Mile Wind Gap was another name for the Northwest Desert.

"What about the third trial?" Xu Sanyan asked.

(End of the Chapter)

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