Realm-Hopping Martial Master
Chapter 35 - 34: After the Matters are Concluded, Depart and Brush Off One’s Sleeves

Chapter 35: Chapter 34: After the Matters are Concluded, Depart and Brush Off One’s Sleeves

"Brother Jiang, from now on, you’re like a real brother to me!"

「Zhou Family Restaurant.」

Inside a private room, a table laden with dishes exuded an enchanting aroma.

Zhou Yang had never imagined that after Jiang Shu added those white crystalline granules to the dishes, which originally had little flavor, they would all be enhanced with an ultimate umami taste.

If Jiang Shu hadn’t been present, he could hardly have resisted devouring them.

With such a secret recipe, why should he worry about the prosperity of his family’s restaurant business?

"Enough of that," Jiang Shu said, sitting at the head of the table and leisurely tasting the dishes. "You’ve tried the food. Go discuss it with your father. For this partnership, should I invest in your Zhou Family Restaurant, or will you simply buy this edible salt and MSG from me?"

After the discipleship ceremony yesterday, his status had undergone a qualitative change. For the first time, he personally felt the formidable prestige of Elder Qiu.

Gifts arrived ceaselessly at the small courtyard. Some merchants even waited at the door, pleading for him to lend his name to their establishments.

Several sons from prominent families also sent invitations, requesting a meeting at Skylark Square.

Jiang Shu hadn’t known what kind of treatment a Martial Artist at his level was entitled to.

But now he was absolutely certain: someone who had achieved the great circulation of vital energy throughout the body as a formal disciple lived in a completely different world than an ordinary apprentice!

Within the martial arts school, apprentices like his former self were still struggling for one extra dose of Famished Tiger Elixir each month.

He, however, could now purchase a dose from Elder Qiu every three to five days for five silver pieces.

Ordinary apprentices could lend their names to shops, but they generally had to physically be present to protect the premises.

He, on the other hand, merely needed to let it be known that he was endorsing a particular shop.

An ordinary apprentice might earn about ten silver pieces for lending their name.

For him, the lowest offer was thirty silver pieces.

In a single day, his status had become almost unrecognizable.

He was merely a formal disciple who had achieved the great circulation of vital energy, yet he received such treatment. He had gone from being a refugee in the outer city’s Qu She Alley, with no guarantee of surviving the next day, to residing in the inner city, able to become an esteemed guest of any shop with a single word.

What if he were to become a Skin Grinding Realm Martial Artist one day?

Although he had already held the status of a Martial Artist in extremely high regard, yesterday’s events showed him he had still underestimated it.

His plans would need some minor adjustments.

"Investment! A fifty-fifty split!" Zhou Yang blurted out as soon as Jiang Shu finished speaking.

If it were an ordinary person, the Zhou Family Restaurant would have tried to coerce them into revealing how the salt and MSG were made. For a typical Martial Artist, they would propose a cooperative model with a 10-90 split in the restaurant’s favor. After all, the restaurant had significant costs: waiters, head chefs, meat, fruits, and vegetables—none of it was free.

But with Jiang Shu, it had to be fifty-fifty.

How else could they demonstrate their sincerity in this partnership? Jiang Shu was confident in his salt and MSG, and Zhou Yang was even more so!

With this salt and MSG, the dishes at their Zhou Family Restaurant could be priced several notches higher!

Customers wouldn’t decrease; they would only increase!

Anyone who could afford to eat at a restaurant wouldn’t quibble over a little extra money.

What they were paying for, after all, were flavors they couldn’t replicate at home.

"Fifty-fifty is too little," Jiang Shu stated. "Let’s do a thirty-seventy split. Your restaurant gets thirty."

"Brother Jiang... this... a thirty-seventy split?" Zhou Yang nearly spilled the wine from his cup, his chubby face scrunched up.

A fifty-fifty split was something he could still manage. He could talk to his father, wear him down, and likely get approval. But thirty-seventy? Forget about Jiang Shu currently only having achieved the great circulation of vital energy; even if he were a Skin Grinding Realm Martial Artist, his father wouldn’t agree.

This is too...

"Do you think I’m being unreasonable?" Jiang Shu asked, seeing Zhou Yang’s expression and knowing his thoughts. "You write the contract. Fifty percent goes to my master, thirty percent to the restaurant, and I get twenty percent."

After becoming a formal disciple, he understood the inner city much better.

Skin Grinding Realm, Bone Forging Realm, Refining Internal Realm.

Every major household had at least one expert in the middle or late stage of the Bone Forging Realm.

As long as the County Lord from the county government didn’t intervene, a late-stage Bone Forging Realm Martial Artist was effectively the supreme authority in Pingling County.

In the Martial Arts Realms, each level was a world of its own.

The gap between the Bone Forging Realm and the Skin Grinding Realm was even greater than the gap between the Skin Grinding Realm and the state of having achieved the great circulation of vital energy.

If the salt and MSG were just a minor venture, increasing the restaurant’s profits by only ten or twenty percent, it might be overlooked.

But was that likely?

"If the Zhou Family Restaurant’s business booms because of the salt and MSG, what do you think the major families in the county will do? Just think about the Luo Family Pharmacy."

Jiang Shu lowered his voice. "On the contract, write a thirty-seventy split. But in reality, we’ll split it so that your restaurant gets forty percent. My master will receive fifty percent of the total, and I’ll take the remaining ten percent."

"My master’s fifty percent share might not be entirely his to keep; he might distribute some to other martial arts schools or prominent families. But the Zhou Family doesn’t need to worry about that. Just focus on making the dishes well."

After settling all matters, Jiang Shu handed the Zhou Family Restaurant contract to his master, Elder Qiu.

Back in the small courtyard, Jiang Shu took a deep breath. With a mere thought, he returned to Xuanxing.

「Qingjiang Garden.」

「Room 301.」

Gazing at the familiar room, Jiang Shu finally relaxed.

He hadn’t rested at all recently. In terms of martial arts, he had achieved Great Success in the three methods of cultivation—training, nourishing, and combat—at the Famished Tiger Martial Arts School, earning the status of a formal disciple and obtaining the "Famished Tiger Roar Mountain Strength" technique for Skin Grinding Realm cultivation.

Financially, he had partnered with the Zhou Family Restaurant. Although he only had a ten percent share of the profits, he was confident that, over time, the restaurant would become a goose that laid golden eggs.

Moreover, as a formal disciple in Pingling County, he now had access to Gold. Trading between the Two Realms could also yield a substantial fortune; he just needed to be careful about Gold exchanges within the inner city.

Now, all that’s left is to achieve Perfection in my Horse Stance, and I can gain exam-exempt admission to an academy before the national college entrance exams, Jiang Shu pondered.

Regarding which academy to attend, he had deliberated on it numerous times.

The Shengjing Academy was located in the political center, frequented by many officials and dignitaries. As the top academy in the Xia Country, its martial arts teaching staff and resources were undoubtedly the best. However, within its walls, politics would certainly outweigh martial arts. No government would ever allow individual martial prowess to supersede political power.

The East Sea Academy, located in the Xia Country’s most prosperous financial metropolis, was economically unparalleled. It might lack some of the most elite martial arts resources, but foundational resources were definitely abundant and more than sufficient.

The Tianshu Academy, formerly the Tianshu Military Academy, had produced countless generals. Even now, it was considered a cradle for military officers. Competition there was intense yet fair; with his strength, it wouldn’t be difficult to distinguish himself.

As for Jiangnan Academy, the closest to his home, it produced many scholars and literary figures. Its professors had even won international literature awards, making Jiangnan Academy a true, shining jewel in the literary world. However, from a martial arts perspective, Jiangnan Academy held no advantage compared to the other three major academies.

"I should ask Mom and Dad for their opinion," Jiang Shu mused aloud. "Things are pretty much settled now; I can reveal my true abilities. I just wonder how Mom and Dad will feel when they find out their son is guaranteed a spot in an academy."

He couldn’t help but smile at the thought. Recalling his parents’ increasing toil—leaving early and returning late these days—Jiang Shu pushed open the door and went out.

His parents had raised him for nearly eighteen years.

For the years to come, it was his turn.