Chapter 54

"Even if the Xiang family's manor was burned, I, the Dragon Lord of the North, am not so petty. Money is just an external possession. If I were to work with you, in addition to the conditions mentioned, I have one more request..."

"My nephew, Xiang Ying, has lost his career prospects due to your involvement, and the path of the imperial examinations is now completely blocked. So I want you to take him as your disciple. Don't try to fool me with the superficial teacher-student relationship that foreigners have. I want a formal apprenticeship ceremony, and for him to be your innermost senior disciple. Will you agree to this?"

Before Xiaole Tian could respond, Xiao Hexin was the first to lose his temper. "You must be dreaming..." He roared, charging forward like a black panther, his blade flashing toward Xiang Shaolong's neck.

Almost simultaneously, two more figures rushed forward behind Xiao Hexin: Wang Huaiyuan and Sima Yun.

Since Xiaole Tian began writing and lecturing on Taibai Peak, these three personal guards had already considered themselves his disciples. When they had no missions, the three of them would sit together to study "The Western Journey," and would ask Xiaole Tian for guidance on parts they didn't understand. In just a few months, their knowledge of Western learning had become one of the best in the Qing Dynasty.

Today, Xiang Shaolong dared to claim the status of an inner disciple, which was intolerable. Even if they were not a match for him, they still wanted to fight.

Xiaole Tian couldn't understand the deep bond between master and disciple in ancient times. In ancient law, the relationship between master and disciple was almost equivalent to that of father and son. Even legally, a disciple could inherit the master's property, ranking as an important legal heir after the children.

However, this inheritance was not just about property but also about reputation. Xiaole Tian's status as a master of Western learning was already foreseeable. Who would be his senior disciple? How would they be ranked? These were all important issues, as they concerned the future spread of Western learning in the Qing Dynasty.

The position of a sage was not something just anyone could achieve, but being a second sage was still a possibility. Even if one didn't have the fate of a second sage, becoming one of the 72 virtuous men would be enough to leave a name in history.

Xiang Shaolong was too arrogant, not only demanding money but also craving fame. For Xiao Hexin and the others, the humiliation of being tied up due to their inferior skills was nothing compared to the humiliation of Xiang Shaolong's rudeness.

"What are you doing...?" Xiaole Tian hadn't finished speaking when the scabbard in his hand suddenly disappeared. Four black shadows appeared, and the clashing of blades was too fast to see clearly.

In less than half a minute, three figures were flying backward, crashing onto the riverbank. Xiang Shaolong, fighting three at once, showed no signs of strain and quickly gained the upper hand.

"What are you all doing? Are you crazy? Stop it and sit down..." Xiaole Tian was almost angry to the point of fainting. Why did they start fighting? Even if they wanted to fight, losing three against one was embarrassing. However, this also reflected the high value of Xiang Shaolong, who would be a great asset if they could win him over.

"What's wrong with you three, Xiao Hexin? Are you having a seizure...?" Xiaole Tian was so angry he wanted to whip them. At this moment, Xiang Shaolong, holding the steel sword he had just confiscated, placed it on the ground and said with a smile, "Perhaps my words were not precise enough. My nephew will join Mr. Xiao's school, but he will not take the position of the senior disciple. We martial artists still respect seniority..."

Only then did Xiaole Tian understand. These people equated his Western learning with a prestigious school. They didn't understand the concept of an open university or the mentor system. However, Xiaole Tian didn't have time to change their minds. On the contrary, some of these traditional ideas could be beneficial for controlling his subordinates.

"Get up and stand over there for punishment... I plan to have thousands of disciples in my Western learning school. How can you have such petty minds? Don't embarrass me..."

At this point, Xiaole Tian clasped his hands and bowed to Xiang Shaolong, "From now on, I entrust my safety to you, Dragon Lord..."

Xiang Shaolong didn't speak, but straightened his clothes, performed a deep bow, and knelt before Xiaole Tian. The great hero of the North, Xiang Shaolong, officially joined Xiaole Tian's camp.

The dark clouds of the day dissipated. After a brief rest by the stream, the main group continued to escort the silver to Taibai Peak, while Xiang Shaolong, Xiao Hexin, and the others gathered around Xiaole Tian by the fire to grill fish.

Heroes often become friends after a fight. After a brief conversation, Dragon Lord marveled at the knowledge of Xiao Hexin and the others, while they admired his martial skills. After a few drinks, they became as close as brothers.

After a few pleasantries, Xiang Shaolong got to the point, "Mr. Xiao may not know, but there are at least three groups of bandits secretly watching you. One is the eagle claws of the Internal Affairs Office, who are high-ranking martial artists hired by the court. They are troublesome, but it's clear they are only spying and not trying to harm you..."

"The second group is more diverse and not unified. They are probably the servants and guards of some important officials in the court, and occasionally a few martial artists who are not top-notch. I suspect they are related to my previous employer..."

"The third group is the most troublesome. They are the eagles under Zeng Guoquan, my southern counterpart. During this time, I have fought him at least three times, each ending in a draw. Fortunately, the important information about your speeches has not been leaked..."

Xiaole Tian was stunned. He never imagined that Xiang Shaolong had been secretly protecting him and gathering intelligence for him during his absence.

What surprised Xiaole Tian even more was that he was already surrounded by a pack of wolves. He mustn't underestimate the ancients. They lacked modern scientific knowledge and an understanding of historical trends, but that didn't mean they were stupid. These politicians, steeped in power struggles, were ruthless and unscrupulous in dealing with their enemies.

Xiaole Tian secretly patted his chest, thinking how fortunate he was to have these heroes protecting him. Otherwise, he would have been torn apart by the wolves, leaving nothing but bones.

Xiang Shaolong not only brought intelligence but also a piece of news that made Xiaole Tian both laugh and cry. The bedridden old scholar Wang was almost dead, and the corrupt scholars were secretly plotting to give Xiaole Tian a major setback in Beijing by carrying a coffin to his door.

"When I heard this news, I was shocked. It's good that you didn't return to Beijing. Wang Shizheng is already a living dead man. When you return to the capital, you will be greeted by a funeral procession and a large coffin. They want to use this method to completely ruin your reputation..."

With a bang, the hot-tempered Wang Huaiyuan smashed a pebble with his fist. "Old bastard, that's too despicable. I'll go to the capital and kill him now..." He was about to mount his horse, but Xiao Hexin and Sima Yun held him back.

"Don't cause trouble for Mr. Xiao. If you act, they will have more to say. In the end, the blame will still be on Mr. Xiao. Sit down..." They forcefully held him back.

Xiaole Tian shook his head. "These corrupt scholars are just that. It's as if I care so much about this empty reputation. I'm just a second-rate foreigner who has returned from abroad, and I want to be a bit unconventional... Let them do what they want. I have my own way to deal with it. In the face of absolute power, their despicable tricks are just garbage..."

The meeting by the fire continued until dusk, and then they rode back to Yixian County. The news of Xiang Shaolong's joining was a huge relief for Xiaole Tian. On one hand, he gained a top-notch bodyguard, ensuring his safety. On the other hand, through Xiang Shaolong, he could connect with many more martial artists, which would greatly help in building his intelligence network.

Even more surprising, Dragon Lord offered a brilliant plan for the coin minting project that neither Xiaole Tian nor the old shopkeeper had thought of. "Since you want to privately mint silver coins, why not collect scattered silver from outside the Great Wall? The court's policy has always been to rule the Manchu and Mongol banners together. The princes and nobles on the grasslands don't have to pay taxes; they just symbolically submit some furs and game each year..."

"There is a large amount of silver in