Grains City.
Inside the Swift Leg Dojo.
“Master Shifti, you called for me?” Having hurried over the moment a junior disciple summoned him, Reo, who had been diligently practicing his leg techniques on the profound plum blossom poles, stood respectfully in his master’s presence.
Glancing up, he could immediately tell something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Five minutes prior…
Pacing back and forth in his private hall with his face twisted in venomous regret, Shifti roared.
“This so-called ‘Gym’ has become an existential threat!
I should have smashed his gates the day he opened them!” To understand this fury, one had to look at Master Shifti’s complicated history in Grains City.
Upon arriving to establish his dojo years ago, he had quickly realized a harsh truth: the Mayor’s Manor and the other two dojos already possessed deep, unshakable roots, and the citizens of this region respected raw, established strength above all else, and his dojo was based on exact opposite, the shift leg techniques.
Desperate to avoid bankruptcy, Shifti had been forced to lower his entrance requirements and tuition fees.
It was a humiliating compromise, but it worked.
Any mortal youth who dreamed of the martial path but lacked the innate talent or silver for the premier factions naturally flocked to his dojo.
Everything had been proceeding perfectly…
until this damned Iron Core Gym opened.
Now, a mere three months later, the gym’s entrance fee had skyrocketed to nearly match his own.
What was the difference between forty and fifty coppers?
In Shifti’s eyes, it was a brutal, unforgivable slap to the face.
A mere mortal peasant was stealing the food right out of his mouth.
Having made his decision then and there, he had summoned his disciple.
“I am going to kill him.” Present…
Standing up from his master chair, Shifti spoke in a low, dangerous voice.
“Reo, I have a small task for you.” “If you handle it cleanly…
I will personally help you break through to the minor accomplishment stage you have been so desperate to reach in shift leg technique.” Hearing this, a greedy, delighted light erupted in Reo’s eyes as he cupped his fists.
“Master, please instruct me!
I will not fail!” “Good.” Watching Reo quickly exit the hall, Shifti wore a dark, satisfied expression.
Reo might not possess heaven-defying talent, but his hands were incredibly dirty, making him the perfect blade for handling such shadowy matters.
Now, he just needed to wait for the news of Zani’s sudden, tragic demise, and then reap the chaotic aftermath to enrich his own dojo.
Hahaha!
Half a sichen(Hour) later…
All the arrogance and murderous glee Shifti previously wore had completely evaporated.
Standing frozen in his hall, his hands trembled as he read an urgent, blood-red edict dispatched directly from the Mayor’s Manor.
The Mayor’s official seal glowed with a faint, oppressive light, sending pure ice down Shifti’s spine.
“I need to flee.
Now.” Moving like a frightened rat trying to preserve its dog life, Shifti acted immediately.
Within a single incense stick of time, he had packed his most profound manuals, slipped out of the city unnoticed, and fled at his absolute maximum speed toward the provincial borders.
As for Reo and the dojo?
Who cares about them when my own head is on the chopping block?!
The edict had been terrifyingly clear.
The Mayor suspected a supreme Immortal expert was secretly backing the Iron Core Gym.
It stated that if anyone dared to offend the gym, the Mayor would personally hunt the culprit down to the yellow springs before the Immortal could even complain.
But it wasn’t the phantom Immortal that terrified Shifti, it was the Mayor himself.
Before Shifti had arrived to open his dojo, the power dynamic in Grains City had been beautifully simple: the Mayor ruled, and the two dojos obeyed.
But with the addition of a third dojo, the delicate balance had shifted.
While three dojos combined still couldn’t defeat the Mayor’s army, they now possessed enough political weight to refuse orders they disliked.
Knowing he was a foreign fungus disrupting the ecosystem, Shifti understood his perilous position.
The Mayor had always been a sharp sword hovering over his neck, desperately waiting for a valid excuse to execute him.
If Reo was caught attacking that gym, the Mayor wouldn’t just punish the boy, no, he would use it as the flawless excuse to annihilate Shifti and absorb his wealth!
Back at the Iron Core Gym.
Some time had passed.
[Quest: Recruit an Instructor] [Status: Completed] [Rewards: 10 EXP and a full set of non-electronic gym equipment (excluding dumbbells)] [EXP: 40/100] [Reward Dispensed: Gym equipment has been delivered to the sealed storage room.] “Good System!” Speaking the words unconsciously, Zani’s eyes glazed over as he read the prompts, a gleeful, foolish smile plastered across his face.
Finally!
“Did something happen, Master Zani?” Snapping out of his stupor, Zani realized where he was and felt a wave of embarrassment.
I spoke out loud, didn’t I?
“Nothing, nothing at all,” Zani quickly recovered, clearing his throat to save face.
“I was just commenting on your form.
The way you instruct the breathing rhythms while they lift the weights is quite masterful and professional.” “Oh?
Does that mean…” “Yes, Brother Bai!
Welcome to the Iron Core Gym family!” Extending his hand with a warm, brilliant smile, Zani was ready to praise the man further.
But noticing the dozens of curious disciples staring at them from across the hall, Zani let out a dry cough to maintain his dignity.
“Brother Bai, why don’t you follow me to the office?
These brats can practice on their own for now.” “Understood.” Leading Bai into the makeshift office, Zani personally poured fresh herbal tea, and the two began discussing the mundane details: wages, living accommodations, meal schedules, and other daily necessities.
As the conversation deepened, Zani, feeling confident in his new Instructor, decided to show some sincerity and shared his grand vision regarding the ‘inner’ disciples.
He explained how he planned to double their numbers and entirely fund their training.
Hearing this, Bai’s thick eyebrows knitted together.
“What?
You plan on training mere mortals until they can casually lift 300 kg?
Is this not absurdly excessive?” Continuing his probing tone, Bai pressed, “Moreover, you are burning your own silver to do this.
Tell me the truth, Master Zani.
What is your real plan?” “Hmm.
Since you have officially joined our ranks, it is only right that I enlighten you.” Leaning back and steepling his fingers to look like an unfathomable ancient mastermind, Zani smiled faintly.
“Listen closely, Brother Bai.
This is not merely about nurturing mortals or wasting silver.
It is about forging absolute, unquestionable loyalty.” “Loyalty?” “Yes.
Think about it.
We are willing to invest massive wealth in these youths when even their own parents cannot.
This karmic bond deepens with every medicinal meal we share and every drop of sweat they shed under our roof.” “And then what?” Bai asked, his face perfectly stoic.
“You will have a loyal mortal army.
What can a flock of mortals possibly achieve against a true martial artist?” Although Bai was probing with a calm, rugged face, deep inside the puppet’s Hollow body, Little Leo was utterly flabbergasted.
What is this mortal peasant plotting?
I was right about him, he is the most interesting mortal I have ever encountered in my travels!
Come on, hurry up and reveal your grand scheme!
“Hehehe…
Brother Bai.” Chuckling softly, Zani shook his head with a pitying look.
“Although you are the calmest and toughest man I have ever met, you are truly not very bright.” HOW DARE HE?!
Little Leo’s practically screamed in unrestrained fury inside the puppet.
Ignorant of the immortal rage he had just provoked, Zani continued smoothly.
“Think about it, Brother.
The martial path cannot be walked alone.
You either need to sell your life to a private dojo, or become a dog for the government.
By doing so, aren’t you placing your fate entirely in the hands of others?” “I suppose that is true.” “So, why don’t wealthy mortals simply purchase a Breathing Technique and cultivate in secret?” “Why?” “Because they fear!” Zani’s eyes flashed with sharp ambition.
“They fear that without the backing of an established faction, greedy wolves will slaughter them and steal it!
These manuals are supreme treasures and can fetch quite a lot, Afterall!” Tapping the heavy wooden table to emphasize his point, Zani leaned forward.
“Do you understand now, Brother Bai?
When my loyal army is forged, I will not need to join a dojo.
Nor the government to proceed further on martial path.” “Hmm…
I see.
That is quite a brilliant, albeit dangerous, plan,” Bai said, his tone carrying a trace of genuine respect.
“So, will you be expanding the gym further in the future to accommodate this?” “Let us not discuss the distant future just yet,” Zani smiled mysteriously.
Before Standing up and walking out of the room.