I Cheated While Cultivating

Chapter 46: The Pei Family of Pingzhou

Martial Arts Affairs Office.

This is an institution within the prefectural city government that specifically manages various affairs related to the city’s martial arts halls, consisting of one chief officer, two aides, and several bailiffs.

The establishment and closure of martial arts halls, applications for various support policies, exchange activities between martial arts halls, as well as the myriad of matters required for sects to select disciples at the martial arts halls, all such things are handled by this office.

In an era where martial arts thrived and martial halls were found everywhere, the power and benefits of the Martial Arts Affairs Office were significant. Both the chief officer and aides were considered local celebrities, highly esteemed, while also maintaining close relations with various major martial arts halls.

The current chief officer of the Martial Arts Affairs Office in Huangtong Mansion was named Tian Chong, who was once an apprentice at the Tongchang Martial Arts Hall. In his twenties, he had already entered Ninth Grade and later left the martial arts hall to work as a bailiff at the Martial Arts Affairs Office.

After more than twenty years of struggling and with the covert support of Huang Jingfu, he secured his position here. As the head of the Martial Arts Affairs Office, his power was immense.

Not to mention other benefits, just the decision-making power for support applications from martial arts halls and young martial artists was in his hands alone, which in itself was a substantial advantage.

Of course, the outcome of these support applications was scrutinized by many, and sometimes the mansion’s lord, Wu Zongshan, would inquire about related matters. Even though Tian Chong held sole decision-making power within the Martial Arts Affairs Office, he still couldn’t be too reckless.

At this moment, within the inner hall of the Martial Arts Affairs Office.

Tian Chong was leisurely sipping tea, a habit he and Huang Jingfu had developed together, as they often enjoyed tea in each other’s company.

One of the aides beside him, however, had a troubled expression. Glancing at the materials that had just been judged on the table, the aide gritted his teeth, stepped forward, and said,

“Chief Officer, it doesn’t seem quite proper to just reject it like this.”

The other aide, who had initially been dozing off, was now wide awake upon hearing this. Opening his eyes, he glanced at his colleague and said,

“Feng He, are you questioning the Chief Officer’s decision?”

"Ren Guang! You, you must not slander me!” Feng He’s face turned red with indignation and said,

“I just think that Zhou Heng is indeed a genius, and there are rumors that he is valued by the lord of the mansion.”

"And you still say you’re not questioning the Chief Officer?” Ren Guang sneered.

“Our duty as aides is to assist the Chief Officer, not to question him aimlessly!”

"Enough,” Tian Chong put down his tea bowl and casually tossed the materials regarding Zhou Heng and Longxing Martial Arts Hall aside, smiling, “You two should stop bickering all the time.

"As for the support application for Zhou Heng and Longxing Martial Arts Hall, there’s a reason I’ve held it back. Zhou Heng broke through to Ninth Grade by consuming medicine, and in the upcoming Chang Xing Sect selection, he is to compete in martial arts with Kong Chengshun.”

"Kong Chengshun is a true disciple of the Chang Xing Sect, Eighth Rank in the Martial Path, ranked ninety-ninth on the list of warriors, among the strongest of the younger generation. Zhou Heng’s chances of winning a match against him, even just for testing purposes, are nearly none.”

"If our Martial Arts Affairs Office were to provide support policy in advance and then our key-supported martial artist were to lose under the public eye, it would inevitably lead to criticism against us.

"If he were to somehow win by chance, then giving out the support policy in the name of a reward later on would not only be more fitting for the occasion but also safer, wouldn’t it?”

"This…” Feng He was puzzled, the explanation seemed to make sense, but he felt something wasn’t quite right.

"What ‘this’? The Chief Officer has explained it so clearly.” Ren Guang sneered.

“You still don’t understand?”

"But the lord of the mansion…” Feng He remained worried.

"Was I not clear enough just now?” Tian Chong glanced at Feng He and said indifferently,

“Holding back this application now is a matter of course, without any issues, even if the lord of the mansion himself came, he couldn’t say anything.”

"The subordinate understands,” Feng He had no choice but to nod and said,

“The Chief Officer is wise.”

"Good that you understand,” Tian Chong smiled and said,

“Actually, if Zhou Heng really could win in the competition, it wouldn’t be impossible to raise the support level up a notch for him.”

It was just a pity that he definitely wouldn’ t win.

On the way back from the Martial Arts Affairs Office to Longxing Martial Arts Hall.

Lin Cang and Lei Xiuyan traveled to a quiet and deserted spot.

"Hall Master, what happened, why was it rejected?” Finally, Lin Cang couldn’t help but ask, his face full of confusion, unable to understand the situation.

“It’s Huang Jingfu’s doing!” Lei Xiuyan said darkly,

“Tian Chong used to be from Tongchang Martial Arts Hall and has a good relationship with Huang Jingfu. He’s helpingTongchang and Changsheng suppress Zhou Heng.”

“Is he mad? By what right? Is he not afraid that the lord of the mansion will intervene?” Lin Cang asked incomprehensibly,

“And what benefit does this bring him?”

"The reason Tian Chong gave is very legitimate, beyond dispute.” Lei Xiuyan shook his head and said in a deep voice, “Let alone that the lord of the mansion might not pay attention to this matter, even if he did inquire, there would be nothing to fault.

"As for the benefits, it’s nothing but money. By holding back support for Zhou Heng and Longxing, naturally, he would give preference to another place.

"Once Zhou Heng is defeated, he can rightfully transfer the support to whoever gets the external disciple spot at the Chang Xing Sect selection, be it Tongchang or Changsheng.”

"By that time, Chang Xing Sect will also provide some support funds. Could it be that Tian Chong won’t benefit from this?”

"The mighty Martial Deployment Director actually wants to conspire with a martial arts hall to embezzle support funds??” Lin Cang was shocked beyond belief and incredulously said,

“How dare he, where does he get such gall? Isn’t he afraid of being dealt with by the Master of Huangtong Mansion?”

“Tian Chong is very good at currying favor and attaching himself to others,” Lei Xiuyan sighed and continued, “I’ve heard before that his daughter has been involved with a collateral member of the Pei family from the County City. “You know that the Martial Deployment Director of the Prefectural City is directly appointed by the County City’s Military Department, and the father of that collateral member of the Pei family is the chief director of the County City’s Military Department.

"And you’re also aware of the status of the Pei family. Do you think that the Master of Huangtong Mansion would really risk offending the Pei family just to deal with Tian Chong for the sake of Zhou Heng?”

"The Pei family.” Upon hearing this, Lin Cang could only let out a bitter laugh and sigh,

“Pingzhou Pei, one of the Twelve Ancient Families of Da Qi, the Celestial Human Clan, with the Family Head Pei Hongdao being a Fourth Rank peerless expert ranked ninth on the Earth Ranking and holding the position of Prefectural Governor of Pingzhou County…”

As he spoke, he found himself unable to continue.

The answer was quite apparent.

Huangtong Mansion is a subordinate administrative region of Pingzhou County. Master Wu Zongshan would simply not risk dealing with Tian Chong for the sake of Zhou Heng, as that would mean offending a colossal entity. Even if the connection Tian Chong had was just a collateral line, it was still enough to make Wu Zongshan apprehensive.

"The Pei family, untouchable indeed,” Lei Xiuyan shook his head and said, “Not to mention that Tian Chong’s reason for rejection is hard to argue against, even if there were a real issue in the end, the Master of Huangtong Mansion would most likely turn a blind eye.

"Alas, I originally thought that Tian Chong would not be so brazen and would at least follow the rules. I did not expect he would become this audacious.

"The trainer Tao Feng from the Changsheng Martial Arts Hall who we ran into earlier is likely here to mock us… Sigh, it’s Zhou Heng I feel sorry for. Such a talent and yet he can’t obtain the support he deserves. It is a pity, truly a pity.”

“Is there really no way to do something about this?” Lin Cang didn’t want Zhou Heng to suffer such an injustice.

"There’s no way out of this,” Lei Xiuyan seemed to deflate, as if he had aged a decade in an instant, and shook his head,

“Perhaps it is fate. We at Longxing have finally found a prodigy, yet we still face such adversity.”

"As long as Zhou Heng emerges victorious in the test duels, everything will be resolved,” Lin Cang was somewhat indignant and declared,

“I am going back right now and I will make sure he masters the Running Clouds Falling Sun Sword to perfection!”

At dusk.

Zhou Heng ended a day of training and headed straight to bed.

His waist and back ached, and his wrists were numb.

He hadn’t stopped all day, practicing the Running Clouds Falling Sun Sword continuously.

Lin Cang was like a man possessed, supervising him the whole time in the private training room, insisting he did not stop for even a moment.

If it weren’t for the fact that his Authentic Internal Energy Heart Method could now operate on its own at any time, quickly restoring his fatigue, he would have been completely exhausted after just one day.

Of course, the gains were considerable.

[Eighth Rank]Dugu Nine Swords’ Sword-breaking Technique: Advanced (2658/3000)

[Eighth Rank]Running Clouds Falling Sun Sword: Advanced (152/3000) In just one day, he had brought the proficiency of the Running Clouds Falling Sun Sword from intermediate to advanced, and he was one step closer to mastering the Sword-breaking Technique!

After lying down for a while, Zhou Heng got up from bed, planning to take a bath and burn incense, and then open the two Silver Fortune Bags and one Copper Fortune Bag he had obtained.

Fortune Bags can’t give birth to little Fortune Bags by just sitting there.

Better to open them and be thrilled.

However, just as he got out of bed, he heard a tapping on the roof tiles.

Soon after, a crisp and pleasant female voice reached him.

"Brother Zhou, I’m here to listen to your stories.”

It was Pei Luoling.