Chapter 50: Li Pei
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After the meal, Liao Qe dragged Lu Yao off to the room with a smile.
Martial artists had strong bodies and robust vitality, and their desires were much stronger than ordinary people's; the girl, having tasted the marrow, had developed a keen taste and immediately wanted to engage in cultivation with him.
"Getting up early in the morning might not be too good... Ah, forget it, come on."
Though somewhat tired, Lu Yao also found pleasure in it.
Afterward, Liao Qe calmed down, and the blush on her face faded. "Today, we're going to the Armed Forces Authority to register my martial master qualification. With both of us as martial masters, the Liao Family Fist won't be a minor school anymore."
A martial school or sect with only one martial master could easily fall apart if the leader encountered mishaps.
Lu Yao played with the softness in his hand and said, "Then I also need to work harder and strive to make it three~"
With medicinal supplements, a personal teacher, and all these advantages, he was confident he could quickly step into the Organ Refining Realm.
After getting dressed and helping her tidy her disheveled hair, the two stepped into the courtyard.
Liao Ya was practicing with her long spear, her face flushed, and whether it was from the exercise or not, she gave an annoyed glance at the pair who had indulged in an extra "meal."
She was about to call them to leave for the Armed Forces Authority when someone arrived with a message.
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"Master Liao, I am Zhang Jin, a servant attending to Princess Yongping."
The visitor had a clean-shaved, white face and a voice with a slightly sharp edge, likely an eunuch; yet he was dressed in a Western suit.
"I've come specifically to inform you—the Yunzhou National Martial Arts Association has been established. From today onwards, all martial artists will be managed by the Association, not by the Armed Forces Authority. This is a decree from the Prime Minister's Office, and you may verify it at any Government Office."
Liao Ya took the decree and handed it to Lu Yao, somewhat surprised: "Why all of a sudden…"
Zhang Jin smiled and said, "This is the will of the Imperial Court. Every state and prefecture will do the same, and Yunzhou is not even the fastest. Princess Yongping will host a banquet tonight at Four Seas Tower to welcome all of you. Make sure not to miss the time."
Lu Yao, having read the decree, knew such a thing couldn't be fake, and one could easily verify it by asking at any Government Office.
Handing a taels of silver to the strangely dressed eunuch, he shook hands with him: "Eunuch Zhang, thank you for the trouble. May I ask if you have any advice?"
Zhang Jin's hand did not shake as he accepted the silver, and his smile became a few degrees more genuine.
"Our house has long heard that the Liao Family is a lineage of loyalty and bravery. Truly, the reputation is well deserved. Well then... I will overstep my bounds and say—
While our court favors martial artists, some do not repay the nation's kindness and even repeatedly commit crimes. Therefore, the National Martial Arts Association was created to rectify this.
The Association follows a Western model; in addition to the chairman, there is also the position of 'council member.'
This position does not depend on connections or Kung Fu, but on the two words 'loyalty and bravery'!
The Liao Family has a Blood-Exchange expert who sacrificed his life for the country. Indeed, a model example! There's great hope for becoming a 'council member'!"
After finishing his words, Zhang Jin bowed with his hands clasped: "I have several more visits to make, so I will take my leave now."
After the visitor had gone, Lu Yao said, "No wonder that bastard Sun Haoran has been using every means to target us; his sights must be set here. He definitely doesn't want to see you become a council member."
Liao Ya, confident and filled with a fighting spirit, said, "Such a lowlife as Sun Haoran isn't worth mentioning. We'll go to Four Seas Tower and see; if that lout is there, it will be the perfect time to settle this."
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In the evening, the three of them arrived at Four Seas Tower, which had been reserved by Princess Yongping.
At the entrance stood two rows of 20 burly men in Western suits, radiating sharpness, with the bearing and stride of military men.
Liao Ya looked forward with anticipation: "I have heard that Princess Yongping is an exceptional talent. At just 20, she has already entered the Blood-Exchange Realm, so I wonder what she is like!"
Liao Qe glanced at the doormen with a curl of her lip: "Quite the grand setup."
Then, a voice came from behind: "She is Prince Yi's daughter. This grandeur is actually quite modest for her."
Turning around, they saw that it was Duan Pei, who had acted as a witness in the past and had just arrived.
With his age and experience, he explained a few things to the group:
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"Not only is the Commandery Princess's father a Prince, but also the Minister of Military Affairs and a core member of the Western Affairs Faction. Unexpectedly, it was she who came to rectify Yunzhou's Martial Faction."
Several people exchanged greetings and entered the Four Seas Tower together, taking their seats in a designated area.
They saw that all the martial artists of Yunzhou listed in the register and above the Organ Refining Realm had come, about a hundred or so. Those who had witnessed the last competition were all present, including Sun Haoran and Master Pang.
The expressions on everyone's faces were varied, mostly showing a hint of astonishment, as the establishment of the "Elite National Martial Arts Association" was quite unexpected.
Only a few people, like Sun Haoran, seemed to have known in advance and sat there composedly. Among them was the elderly Master Pang, whose occasionally opening and closing elderly eyes sparkled with a sharp light.
The crowd didn't have to wait long before an announcement rang out, "Her Highness, the Commandery Princess, has arrived~," and a short-haired beauty made her entrance.
With elegance, she clasped her fists in a salute, her voice crisp and pleasant as a singing oriole, clearly heard by everyone:
"I am Li Pei. As a fellow practitioner of martial arts, there is no need to regard the so-called title of Commandery Princess."
"In order to popularize the Martial Path and promote the spirit of martial excellence, the Imperial Court has established the Elite National Martial Arts Association, entrusted with the heavy responsibility of strengthening the nation and the people, and rebuilding the Divine Land. I have the honor of becoming the president of the Yunzhou branch, overseeing the affairs of martial artists."
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The short-haired beauty spoke confidently.
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Lu Yao glanced at her, then at Liao Ya, his expression strange. This was the first time he had seen someone who could compete with Master Liao in terms of chest size!
Li Pei was dressed in a fitted suit, resembling a female university student about to go for an interview.
She also had a teardrop mole at the corner of her eye. According to physiognomy, those born with such a mole are destined to struggle with love and be trapped by emotions in this life, and they are prone to tears.
Yet, this woman had a pair of very appealing phoenix eyes, slender with a slight upward tilt at the corners, conveying disdain and arrogance. It was clear she was someone "not to be trifled with," carrying the air of an overbearing female CEO and not appearing to be someone prone to crying.
As he was observing her, he was taken aback when Li Pei suddenly turned her head, her gaze particularly bright as it directed straight at Lu Yao.
"He/she is also at the Constant Stability Realm!"
Their eyes met, and they both had the same thought.
Lu Yao subtly nodded his head, discreetly moving his gaze away.
Li Pei, however, showed a hint of interest: she hadn't expected to find someone in Yunzhou proficient in Spirit Refinement.
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The room fell silent, as everyone digested the news of the establishment of the Yunzhou National Martial Arts Association, weighing the pros and cons.
Surveying the surroundings, Li Pei, expressionless, dropped a bombshell:
"Before coming here, I did my homework and have a deep understanding of Yunzhou's Martial Faction. The actions of certain individuals are truly disappointing. Selling opium, trafficking people, forcing the virtuous into prostitution... Forgive my bluntness, but you are a bunch of trash.
The primary task of the Martial Arts Association is to decisively weed out those harmful to the group. From today onwards, the qualifications for martial artists and the opening of martial arts schools will undergo stricter auditing, and those who commit crimes will be severely punished!"
These words sent a stir through the audience.
What Li Pei spoke of were the most lucrative industries, there were many involved in these acts; it was like taking away people's livelihoods, equivalent to killing their parents!
The crowd was full of rebellious martial artists, with countless eyes fixed on Li Pei with malice, especially those who ran brothels and opium dens, wishing they could devour her alive.
As she watched a group of people boiling with rage, Li Pei sat down leisurely, her mouth curling up into a contemptuous smile.
"This is my first time in Yunzhou, and I was just thinking it would be nice to see the local talents. Would anyone like to 'ask for tips'?"
"Asking for tips" meant that Li Pei would stand still, allowing the challenger to make the first move, while she countered and neutralized the attack.
By doing this, she was positioning herself as a senior and a superior, clearly showing disdain. But it was also the fastest way to dominate the local martial artists.
The crowd became restless.
The martial artist who ran a brothel particularly looked down on women and was the first to lose his patience; a burly man stood up and bellowed:
"The Imperial Court is foolish and lawless, letting foreigners take over our great lands, and I have been indignant for a long time. Today, I will meet you in challenge!"
The shout reverberated throughout the hall, vibrating like a buzzing sound, coming from an Organ Refining Warrior.