Bustling Affairs

"Uncle Liu, what do you think of Han Liang? Aren't you a bit curious why I care so much about this guy I've only recently taken under my wing?" Xue Jin Qiao asked with a sly smile.

Liu Qingshan stroked his beard thoughtfully. "At first, I was puzzled. But now, I think I understand."

"Oh?" Xue Jin Qiao's eyes sparked with interest. "What have you figured out?"

Liu Qingshan held up a finger. "Young Han's words, his insight, and even his courage—all quite remarkable. It's hard to believe he was just a shop assistant fleeing to Shun'an. While his achievements in the Dragon Head Gang may not seem impressive to those at the top, those who know his humble background can see the value in them. Given time, he'll prove to be someone extraordinary… perhaps even one who won't remain confined to these waters."

"Oh?" Xue Jin Qiao raised an eyebrow. "And what else?"

Liu Qingshan grinned mischievously. "The most remarkable part is that he's caught your attention, Miss. Over the years, you've helped many promising young talents, yet I can only think of a handful who've truly captured your interest."

"Meeting Han on Mount Bluewind and saving him, well, that connection has made this relationship a bit more meaningful than a usual master-student bond. Plus, he's bound to prove useful in unearthing the hidden forces behind our troubles. No wonder you're willing to invest some effort."

Xue Jin Qiao laughed, pretending to scold him, "You old fox! You really know how to flatter me. But you're not wrong. It's been a while since I met someone as interesting as him."

Seeing her amused reaction, Liu Qingshan chuckled, standing off to the side, pleased with his cleverness. After a moment, Xue Jin Qiao's smile faded as she looked thoughtfully in the direction Han had left.

———

In the training room, I formed the proper hand seals, inhaling and exhaling slowly as I tried to guide the sluggish warmth circulating inside me. The initial stages of the Core Foundation Technique were tricky—it required coordinating hand seals, breath control, meditation, and internal energy flow. To achieve mastery, I'd have to get these four aspects perfectly aligned to complete a circuit through one of the twelve main meridians.

The Core Foundation Technique originated from the principles of the "Book of Changes," embodying the spirit of natural harmony and vitality. It's an excellent foundation-building skill, focusing on nourishing the body rather than directly enhancing combat strength. Its inner energy is pure and long-lasting, making it ideal for health and longevity.

Ten minutes later, my focus slipped, and I lost my grip on the technique once again. Typical. Unless you're some martial arts prodigy, most people need two or three months just to establish the basics of this kind of foundational skill. I only obtained the manual two days ago, so I wasn't expecting miracles.

Thankfully, my two months of training in the Dragon Head breathing techniques had prepared me well. Without that, I'd still be struggling to concentrate on the most basic flow of internal energy.

The biggest hurdle in Core Foundation was aligning those four requirements simultaneously—an unforgiving task, to say the least.

I'd come to accept that I wasn't some martial arts genius, so this was going to be a grind, a matter of patience and persistence. But I was in no rush; speeding through wouldn't make me battle-ready any faster.

Since joining the Dragon Head Gang, I've had the chance to see the combat skills of typical martial artists firsthand. Let's just say the power difference between trained fighters and ordinary people here is vast, like the gulf between humans and pigs.

Yesterday, I paid to attend a class taught by an instructor from the Martial Hall. He demonstrated a technique called Wind Slash that left me speechless. All I saw was a flash of silver before he reduced a wood-and-leather dummy into eight clean pieces in a single second.

He explained that he'd swung his blade ten times in that moment—a feat of "second-tier" martial prowess. Above him were the Gang's top fighters, the true battle-hardened elders and hall masters. Most experts in the martial world hover between the first and second tiers.

At the peak is the innate realm, the highest individual combat strength in this world. Nearly all of Dynasty's top fighters—those who've broken the human limits—are innates. They say the leader of the Dragon Head Gang and the master of the Martial Boxing Hall are both innates.

As for my own training journey? Just one word: worth it. If I had another word to describe it, though, it'd be… expensive.

After two weeks of struggle, I finally reached a point where I could practice the Dragon Head breathing technique without distractions. Feeling the flow of inner energy coursing through me, however slight, was motivating, and I started practicing two or three hours daily. Combined with hearty meals and expensive guidance at the Martial Hall, my health and strength were improving every day.

Naturally, this was all thanks to a jump in my monthly earnings. My base pay shot up to twenty taels of silver, and I earned extra from tutoring and account-keeping.

Otherwise, I'd never afford this training. Xue Jin Qiao's funds were for important tasks, not leisure, and it'd be laughable if I ran out of money halfway through.

"Now, time for some agility training." Unlike what I'd expected, the cost of borrowing or exchanging skills from the library wasn't too high.

For example, Core Foundation Technique, a high-level inner skill, was just twenty taels—about a squad leader's monthly salary. The real barrier was having the qualifications to access advanced techniques.

After exchanging for Core Foundation, I still had enough left to pick up an agility technique. Following Xue Jin Qiao and Liu Qingshan's advice, I chose Leaping Carp, which draws inspiration from the image of a carp jumping over the dragon gate.

The skill emphasizes two main points: slippery, evasive footwork for close-range dodging and the endurance needed for long-distance running.

Since my internal energy wasn't fully developed yet, I could only practice the footwork for now. The parts that require inner strength would have to wait.

"Han-ge! Han-ge! It's time!" Gao Yan called from outside the training room.

"Alright, just a sec."

'Ugh, it's that time already? Guess I'll finish up later', After meeting with Xue Jin Qiao to finalize the next steps, I volunteered to accompany one of the top supervisors from Earth Hall to the warehouse district for the monthly audit, bringing Gao Yan along for backup.

In Earth Hall, our internal affairs were divided into three ranks. Renzi members handled accounts, finances, and records across the gang's business. Dizi members managed local offices and financial matters for Dragon Head's regional territories, making up the largest workforce. Tianzi members were the overseers, working closely with the Balance Hall to monitor the massive operations of the gang.

Gao Yan and I hurried to the main hall, arriving just in time. Supervisor Qin from Tianzi had yet to arrive.

"Han-ge, why the rush to go to the docks? Weren't you just complaining about how swamped you are with tutoring?" Gao Yan asked, looking puzzled.

He wasn't wrong; the upper ranks of Earth Hall seem to love that saying the capable do more. My workload increased as fast as my salary.

But I wanted to study the Dragon Head Gang's dock business and population movement, so I couldn't pass up this opportunity.

I decided to offer Gao Yan some sage advice, "Listen, Gao, I keep telling you: opportunities are for the prepared. Waiting for luck to fall into your lap? That's for fools. A true strategist doesn't just wait for chances but creates them. Not everyone's born with connections or skills handed to them. For guys like us, the only way to carve out a future is through relentless effort."

"There's some room for growth in the Renzi tasks, sure. But who's to say those chances will go to me? Or that they'll be the best fit? I hardly know anything about the Dizi or Tianzi duties or their perks. So today, I'll shadow Supervisor Qin, get a first-hand look at their work. That way, I'll be prepared if a chance arises in the future, rather than fumbling in the dark."

Gao Yan seemed enlightened by my words, practically cheering at how insightful it all was. He reminded me of those students who, after a motivational speech, believe their lives will change overnight. Thankfully, Gao Yan's prospects are still better than most of the jaded students out there.

Just then, Supervisor Qin arrived with two assistants. With a round face, narrow eyes, and a sturdy build, he offered us a restrained smile and greeted us with a nod. "Let's get moving. We've got plenty to handle today."

With thirty years of experience, Supervisor Qin had worked in every rank and now focused solely on the local audits in Yuecheng. Out of all the supervisors I'd met, he was undoubtedly the most influential, making it worth the extra effort to impress him. Plus, Gao Yan and I were two of the rising stars in Renzi accounts, and he'd personally reviewed my work before, so he trusted us.

From my observations, Tianzi members had an essential role in internal audits but often faced grueling assignments, especially when dispatched to oversee local branches.

Their workload was enormous, with strict accuracy standards. Any mistakes could lead to shared responsibility with the Dizi team. "A sturdy boat bears heavy loads; a fine horse rides far," as the saying goes.

No wonder Earth Hall has shown so much interest in my accounting class. Fortunately, the dock district is close to headquarters and holds critical importance for the river trade. Even the boldest of troublemakers wouldn't dare cause chaos here, and there hasn't been an incident in over a decade.

Besides, High-Rank Qin wouldn't have brought me and Gao Yan along just to mess around. Our job here is strictly support, nothing more.

The dock area bustles with life, a vibrant, chaotic mix of porters and passersby, with endless comings and goings. I can see cargo boats lined up along the riverside, each one busily loading and unloading goods.

We pass noisy taverns and bustling teahouses before finally arriving at the headquarters of the Dragon Head Gang's operations—an inconspicuous little building.