Chapter 57 - 55: The Four Reunite
*(PS: I made a mistake in the last Chapter. He owed Wei Hong thirty taels of silver. It has now been corrected.)*
...
"This time, our Xiang Army, under the leadership of County Captain Xu, went to Siyang Town to suppress the rebellion..."
"I made a small fortune during that time."
Wei Tu explained casually.
"I see." Wei Hong said, looking thoughtful upon hearing his words.
A few days ago, the Xiang Army had left the city overnight, and some of the great families’ household guards were also dispatched. She had heard something about this.
She just hadn’t expected that County Captain Xu had taken Wei Tu and the others to Siyang Town to suppress a rebellion.
"Brother Wei, were you injured?" A few moments later, Wei Hong snapped out of her thoughts and asked with concern.
Wei Tu shook his head. "My official position is Capital Army Envoy, so I didn’t fight on the front lines. I wasn’t injured. Thank you for your concern, Second Aunt."
In truth, the aftershock from the giant with the iron hammer’s strike had left him with a minor injury on his right side. But thanks to his Inner Power Cultivation, he was able to circulate his Qi and Blood, and it was mostly healed within two or three days.
Of course, Wei Tu saw no need to mention this to his second aunt, Wei Hong.
"You are the pillar of our Wei Family. It wasn’t easy for the Wei Family to produce a rising star like you. You must take good care of yourself..."
"You absolutely cannot get hurt."
As he was leaving the Huang Family estate, Wei Hong walked Wei Tu to the main gate, earnestly reminding him.
Finally, Wei Hong added, "Brother Wei, if you’re short on money again next time, just come to your second aunt and your uncle. Your uncle has a big business; he’s not short on cash."
Hearing this,
Wei Tu cupped his fist in gratitude.
Besides his gratitude, he was also sighing inwardly.
The first time he visited the Huang Family, he had waited in a side room of the outer residence for a quarter of an hour before even seeing Wei Hong. When he asked for her help, she was impatient and couldn’t even be bothered to accept the gift he brought.
This time, he came to the Huang Family’s home to repay thirty taels of silver. Wei Hong didn’t even bother to count it, casually handing it to a maidservant and personally seeing him out the main gate.
’How times have changed,’ Wei Tu mused after leaving the Huang Family estate and reaching the main street.
...
After leaving the Huang Family,
Wei Tu returned home, then took fifty taels of silver coins to visit the Weii Family.
Logically, since Wei Tu and Weii Fei had traveled together to Siyang Town to suppress the rebellion, he could have just repaid the money to Weii Fei on the road.
But Wei Tu had his own considerations.
Back then, Weii Fei, like him, had needed Refined Armor forged and didn’t have fifty taels of silver on hand.
The fifty taels of silver he had borrowed was money Weii Fei had shamelessly asked his own adoptive father, Weii Jinghai, the Gang Leader of the Cyan Tiger Gang, to provide.
An adoptive father, after all, was not the same as one’s biological father.
A so-called ’adoptive father’ in a gang was even less than a typical one; they only adopted sons to raise more thugs for the gang.
And it wasn’t as if Weii Jinghai, the leader of the Cyan Tiger Gang, didn’t have his own biological sons.
For Weii Fei to do this, he must have been under considerable pressure.
Therefore, by coming to the Weii Family this time to repay the money openly and honorably, not only could he give Weii Fei some prestige and prove that Weii Fei had not made a mistake in befriending him, but he could also use this matter to raise Weii Fei’s status within the Cyan Tiger Gang.
「An hour later.」
Wei Tu left the Weii Mansion after repaying the money.
Inside the Weii Mansion, in the main hall of the Cyan Tiger Gang, Weii Jinghai, dressed like a scholar, glanced around at the adopted and biological sons beside him. His gaze landed on Weii Fei, his face showing admiration. "Feii’er, you’ve proven your ability in the matter of the Military Examination. Now, you’ve also shown results when it comes to making friends."
"After I’m gone, the position of Gang Leader... of this Cyan Tiger Gang... can be yours."
"Yes, Adoptive Father." Weii Fei’s face lit up with joy, and he nodded.
Although the Cyan Tiger Gang was essentially a group of thugs sponsored by the Government Office, forced to split the profits from their illicit activities seventy-thirty with them, the amount of silver coins involved was still substantial. Needless to say, the benefits of becoming the Gang Leader would be immense for him.
...
「Half a month after returning to the County Town.」
Wei Tu received news from the Xiang Army Government Office. Governor Wangg’s plan against the Wuyun Tower had proceeded smoothly and was a resounding success.
The Wuyun Tower’s headquarters, along with its seven branches, were almost completely wiped out.
Within just half a month, this Great Martial Arts Sect had been successfully erased from Shannan Dao by the Government Office.
’Big Brother Kou Liang sent a letter, inviting us to reunite at Xuanhe Tower on the thirteenth of this month...’
’The thirteenth... that’s in seven days.’
"Second Brother, have you thought things through regarding the Immortal Skill, the *Five Elements Spirit Body*?"
That evening, Wei Tu and Weii Fei went to Cuiyun Tower in the County Town. The two found a private room and spoke in secret.
"I’ve thought it through."
Weii Fei sighed. "For the past half-month since I’ve been home, I’ve been trying to unravel the mysteries of this Immortal Skill. But after searching through all the ancient texts, I’m still completely lost."
"Rather than let this Immortal Skill rot in my hands, it’s better to share it so the four of us can study it together."
"If one of the four of us succeeds, it will be a blessing for the other three."
Hearing this,
Wei Tu nodded to himself, strongly agreeing with Weii Fei’s decision.
After returning to the County Town, he too had secretly begun to practice the Immortal Skill, the *Five Elements Spirit Body*.
But unlike the three Martial Arts Skills—the *Turtle Breath Qi Cultivation Technique*, the *Tiger Crane Double Form Fist*, and the *Bone Marrow Cultivation Scripture*—his Late Bloomer Destiny Chart had yet to show any text or corresponding progress for his Cultivation of the *Five Elements Spirit Body*.
In other words, this Cultivation Technique, the *Five Elements Spirit Body*, had a high threshold. Without grasping its key principles, it was impossible to even begin.
"There’s wisdom in numbers. The four of us studying together and helping each other along is better than one person struggling alone."
Wei Tu said with a smile.
...
「Seven days later.」
The four of them reunited at Xuanhe Tower.
This time, Fu Zhizhou wasn’t late. In fact, he arrived at the Celestial No. 3 Private Room a quarter of an hour earlier than both Wei Tu and Weii Fei.
"This time, I asked you three brothers to come not because of any urgent matter, but because I was thinking that we brothers haven’t seen each other in two years and it was time for a gathering."
"Furthermore, our oath that day stated that we would support and help one another in our careers in Officialdom."
"After this operation to eliminate the Wuyun Tower, everyone’s official positions will see a corresponding promotion. We should discuss which posts would be best to choose, so that the four of us can continue to be a source of mutual support..."
After exchanging a few pleasantries with Wei Tu and Weii Fei, Kou Liang got straight to the point.
Generally speaking,
promotions were decided by the Government Office and had nothing to do with the Military Officers themselves. But nothing was absolute. As long as you had connections and pulled the right strings, you could arrange a lateral transfer to a desirable post.
From a hardship post to a cushy one.
"Big Brother is right. We should indeed discuss this matter and come up with a plan," Fu Zhizhou said seriously, nodding emphatically.
"I earned merit for my part in wiping out the Wuyun Tower headquarters, so I should be dispatched to a local County Yamen to serve as a Captain... When that time comes, I’ll do my best to get transferred somewhere near you sworn brothers..."
he added.
After Fu Zhizhou finished, the others also shared their own plans.
Then, everyone’s gaze fell on Wei Tu, wondering why he hadn’t said a word.
"Big Brother, it’s different for me." Wei Tu shook his head at Kou Liang and explained, "My Martial Arts strength has improved again. I plan to take this year’s provincial Military Examination. I want to win a title in the examination before being appointed to a post."