Martial Saint with Passives

Yin Yingying couldn’t help but recall the events from back then.

If Jiang Che hadn’t escorted her all the way, she probably wouldn’t have reached Cangzhou safely.

He was only in the Iron Skin Realm back then, yet he managed to kill two experts from the Wuxiang Alliance who were at the Great Success stage of Force Integration!

His Transformation into a Black Armored Martial Artist, in particular, had left an extremely deep impression on her!

She also knew this was definitely Jiang Che’s secret, so she hadn’t mentioned it to anyone.

’It’s been so long. He must have reached the Force Integration Realm by now. And he originally came to Cangzhou to join the Cangyun Sect. With his ability, he’s probably already an Inner Courtyard Disciple of the Cangyun Sect...’

’If I were to ask Jiang Che to come...’

But the thought merely flashed through her mind before she suppressed it.

Even if Jiang Che had reached the Force Integration Realm, he was still an entire Great Realm below the Bone Forging Realm.

Her father was determined to hire an expert who could intimidate all other parties; he would never consider a young man with such a low Realm.

She sighed softly, burying this thought deep in her heart once more.

After bidding her father farewell, she turned to check on the newly arrived bolts of cloth.

...

...

...

「Cangyun Sect, Main Affairs Pavilion.」

Jiang Che stood before the mission wall for a long while, his gaze sweeping over the rows of wooden plaques.

”Escort a merchant caravan to the neighboring prefecture. Duration: half a month. Reward: thirty taels.”

”Guard the southern Mining Area. Duration: one month. Reward: fifty taels.”

”Assist with city patrol and maintaining order. Duration: one month. Reward: forty-five taels...”

Jiang Che’s brow furrowed ever more tightly.

These mission rewards might be decent for an ordinary disciple.

But for him, it was a drop in the bucket.

Even if he took the highest-paying mission and worked for a year without eating or drinking, it wouldn’t make a dent.

’This won’t work. I have to find another way,’ Jiang Che thought to himself.

He turned and left the Main Affairs Pavilion, heading straight for Cheng Yuzhi.

That little fatty was well-connected and full of ideas; perhaps he knew some other avenues.

At the mountain gate, Cheng Yuzhi was receiving people coming up the mountain.

Seeing Jiang Che, he immediately trotted over, his face breaking into a familiar grin.

”Senior Brother Jiang! You’re here! What can I do for you? Just say the word!”

Jiang Che didn’t stand on ceremony. ”I do have something to ask you. I need money urgently—a lot of it! The Sect missions pay too slowly. Do you know any faster ways to make money?”

”Money?”

Cheng Yuzhi pondered for a moment, then suddenly thought of something. He clapped his hands and said, ”Go to the big merchants in the city!”

Jiang Che was taken aback. ”Merchants? What would I want with them?”

Cheng Yuzhi explained, ”To be a Tributor! Get them to invest in you! In Cangzhou Prefecture, what wealthy merchant doesn’t want an expert from a great sect as a backer? The monthly stipend is at least a hundred taels of gold! Sometimes even several hundred! It’s all for peace of mind, to avoid being harassed by local thugs and Gangs! Some of the savvier ones will specifically invest in promising disciples from our Three Great Sects. It’s called ’providing charcoal in a snowstorm.’ When you make it big in the future, Senior Brother, they’ll get to ride your coattails to success!”

Jiang Che’s interest was piqued. ”That’s certainly a possibility. Where do I find these merchants?”

Cheng Yuzhi smiled. ”The Four Seas Commerce Association! Pretty much any merchant of a certain size in the city is registered there. The name of a Cangyun Sect disciple is like hard currency over there—very popular! But...”

He paused here, a hint of hesitation on his face.

”But what?” Jiang Che pressed.

Cheng Yuzhi sighed. ”Most merchants, especially those looking for a Tributor, want an expert at the Bone Forging Realm or above... Senior Brother, you’re at the Force Integration Realm now, right? This... might mean fewer people will be interested. But it’s not a total long shot. You can give it a try!”

Force Integration and Bone Forging. Though only separated by a single realm, the difference in status in the eyes of others was like that between heaven and earth.

Jiang Che understood. He nodded. ”Alright, I’ll go take a look.”

The Four Seas Commerce Association had a reception point within the Cangyun Sect, a standalone small building that was rather lavishly decorated.

After entering, Jiang Che handed over his Sect Token and a brief resume detailing his Cultivation.

The receptionist behind the counter was a pale-faced middle-aged man.

He took the documents and glanced over them roughly. His fingers tapped lightly on the counter as a knowing smile appeared on his face. He said pointedly,

”My dear Junior Brother, we will submit your information for you. However, with so many disciples waiting, if you want your file to be seen by the patrons first, it requires a little... ah, processing fee.”

The corner of Jiang Che’s mouth twitched. He painfully took out a fifty-tael gold note and handed it over.

The man quickly pocketed the gold note, his smile suddenly becoming a little more sincere. ”Don’t you worry, Junior Brother. I’ll notify you as soon as there’s any news!”

But Jiang Che waited for several days, and there was no news at all.

So he went back to the Four Seas Commerce Association’s station to inquire again.

When the receptionist saw him, all traces of his previous enthusiasm had vanished. He became extremely cold, not even looking up as he flipped through a register:

”Oh, it’s you. No, no patrons are interested in your file at the moment. Keep waiting.”

Just then, a disciple with a clearly more powerful aura, who had already reached the Early Stage of the Bone Forging Realm, walked in.

The receptionist was like a completely different person. His face instantly beamed with a smile as he hurried over to greet him:

”Well, hello! Senior Brother Li! Congratulations, congratulations! Wang’s Trading House in the west of the city saw your file and is extremely satisfied. They’ve specifically requested you to be their Tributor!”

The man called Senior Brother Li nodded, a smug look on his face.

Frustrated, Jiang Che couldn’t help but step forward and say to the receptionist,

”I may only be at Force Integration, but my actual combat ability far exceeds others at my level. An ordinary Bone Forging practitioner isn’t necessarily my match!”

After speaking, he glanced at this ”Senior Brother Li.”

’Even without my Transformation, it probably wouldn’t be hard to beat him.’

Jiang Che felt he had to display some of his strength, or else everyone would just keep looking down on him!