Chapter 35: The Manifest Sect-Com trezentos poemas famosos abalando nações, só quero ser um comerciante rico!(Apoiado na varanda, observo a lua brilhante.)

Stepping out of the yamen, Jiang Han was met with a burst of brilliant sunlight. He squinted uncomfortably, raising a hand to shield his eyes as his pupils adjusted.

Outside the yamen, two carriages stood waiting, accompanied by several people. Among them were Zhong Liyou, dressed in a scholar’s robe, and the beautiful young woman who was often seen with the wealthy heiress.

A thought stirred in Jiang Han’s mind. He walked straight up to Zhong Liyou and said, "Master Zhong, I am deeply grateful for your intervention today."

Zhong Liyou smiled warmly. "I am just glad you are unharmed."

"Now that this matter is settled, I shall bring two jars of my freshly brewed fine wine for you to sample, Master Zhong," Jiang Han said, bowing respectfully.

Zhong Liyou stroked his beard and chuckled. "Very well! I shall prepare a place for you at the Wangchao Pavilion."

Glancing at Meng Hongshang, and sensing that the two still had things to discuss, Zhong Liyou boarded his carriage and departed.

Jiang Han watched him leave before turning toward Meng Hongshang. He suspected that Qin Yunmian had been the one to send her, and he mused that this young woman’s background was likely far from simple.

Jiang Han cupped his hands in a salute. "Many thanks for your assistance, Miss. May I be so bold as to ask for your name?"

"Meng Hongshang."

The name sounded familiar, and as Jiang Han pondered it, he was struck with surprise. Was she not the most renowned dancer in the Great Yu Dynasty? Her sword dance was famous throughout the land, and her mastery of the sword was legendary.

Meng Hongshang looked at Jiang Han. "I once thought you were merely a merchant with a flair for poetry. I did not expect you to possess such a chivalrous heart—to see injustice and draw your sword against it. Though you lack martial arts, you still stood up to Gu Ting. Such chivalry is something many others do not possess."

Jiang Han was taken aback. He thought to himself, *I only wanted revenge; where did this 'chivalrous heart' come from?*

Meng Hongshang continued, "However, your actions were far too reckless. If Wu Wenhua did not possess innate, god-given strength, you would be the one beaten today instead."

Jiang Han looked ashamed. "You are right, Miss."

Meng Hongshang nodded slightly. "I am quite fond of your poem. 'Ten years of honing a single sword, its frosted blade yet to be tested. Today I show it to you, sir—who among us is free from grievance?' I admire your extraordinary talent, but even more, I admire the steadfast will you have honed over the past ten years. It is only a pity that your body is so frail. Even with a heart full of fire, you are but a delicate scholar; how can you hope to uproot injustice? Therefore, I wish to pass on my martial arts to you and teach you exceptional skills. Are you willing?"

Jiang Han thought to himself that he would be more than willing. Even setting aside the desire to right wrongs, learning martial arts to strengthen his frail body was reason enough. He had wanted to learn martial arts for a long time.

Meng Hongshang’s sword dance was world-famous, and her swordsmanship was unfathomable. To learn from her was something Jiang Han agreed to without a second thought.

"May I ask if there are any conditions?" Jiang Han hesitated. There was no such thing as a free lunch; surely Meng Hongshang wouldn't teach him without a reason.

Meng Hongshang’s expression softened with approval. Had it been anyone else, they would have jumped at the chance to learn from her, but Jiang Han’s caution showed a rare, rational mind.

"I am the Sect Leader of the Xian Sect," Meng Hongshang stated. "If you learn my arts, you must acknowledge me as your master, become a disciple of the Xian Sect, and perform duties for the sect."

"The Xian Sect?" Jiang Han paused. He recalled that the Great Yu martial arts world was filled with various factions, and the Xian Sect was among them. It held a decent reputation, operating under the mantra of "acting on behalf of Heaven to eradicate evil." They were known for suppressing tyrants and helping the people, not a wicked cult.

*Could Meng Hongshang be the Sect Leader?* If he became her disciple, wouldn't that make him the Young Master of the Xian Sect?

Jiang Han did not hesitate further. Becoming her student would allow him to build his strength, provide him with the backing of the Xian Sect, and allow him to cling to the powerful support of Meng Hongshang.

He immediately knelt. "I, Jiang Han, have drifted through life for half my years, regretting only that I never met a worthy master. If you do not find me unworthy, I am willing to serve you as my teacher."

The lines flashed through his mind, and he recited them instinctively.

Meng Hongshang was startled for a moment before a smile broke across her face. The words were so moving that it sounded less like an apprenticeship and more like he was adopting a patron.

She reached out to lift him up. "Very well. From this day forward, you are a member of the Xian Sect. Our sect exists to suppress tyrants and eliminate evil. Members of the Xian Sect are as one; if one is in trouble, the others must come to their aid."

Jiang Han felt a surge of joy. Joining the sect didn't seem so bad after all.

"Master," Jiang Han asked, "may I ask how many members our sect has?" He was curious about his fellow disciples. As the disciple of the Sect Leader, his status should be quite high—perhaps he could even command some of them?

"The Xian Sect once had three thousand disciples, renowned across the land..." Meng Hongshang turned away and said, "Since I took over, I trimmed the numbers. Now... there are three of us." Her face turned a rare shade of red.

Jiang Han froze, thinking he had misheard. "How many? Three? Only three?"

"The Xian Sect prefers quality over quantity. Though there were once three thousand, when I took charge, I found the disciples were of mixed quality. I cut them all away to preserve only the elite," Meng Hongshang said calmly. "Though few in number, all are prodigies who will not remain in the shallows for long."

Jiang Han’s mouth hung open. *This is what she calls trimming the numbers? Three thousand down to three? Can this even be called a sect?*

Meng Hongshang boarded her carriage. "In seven days, I will wait for you at the foot of Mount Cuiyun. Then, I will teach you the sword."

With those words, the carriage slowly pulled away.

Jiang Han stood on the spot for a while before coming back to his senses. His mood was complicated—had he been tricked? Joining a sect only to find it consisted of only three people seemed rather dubious. But on reflection, at least he could learn martial arts, and he had gained a stunning beauty as his master!

With that thought, his mood lifted significantly.

...

Jiang Han returned to his courtyard with Wu Wenhua. "Well? I didn't lie to you, did I? Would you like to join me?"

Wu Wenhua, already grateful to Jiang Han for saving his sister, now admired him to the point of worship. He immediately knelt and kowtowed three times. "Young Master, not only did you save my sister, but you also avenged me! From this day forward, I am willing to work for you like a beast of burden, even to the death."

Jiang Han accepted the gesture with a smile. He valued Wu Wenhua’s innate strength and his honest, loyal nature. He needed someone faithful to do his bidding, and Wu Wenhua was exactly that person.

As Jiang Han and Wu Wenhua left the yamen, news spread rapidly. Many who had been watching Jiang Han were shocked that he had walked out of the county office unscathed. He had beaten someone, and the son of Gu Liancheng at that, yet he had faced no consequences.

*What kind of background does this Jiang Han have?*

Many began to speculate about the mysterious figures supporting him. Jiang Han’s image in the eyes of the public began to shift; he was no longer the useless, talentless scholar, but a young man with an inscrutable background.