Free Labor Delivered to His Doorstep, a Small Test of Skill

Free Labor Delivered to His Doorstep, a Small Test of Skill

"Hand over the ore immediately."

"If you're not convinced, we don't mind loosening up your bones for you."

"Hurry up and hand over the ore."

Zhang Hu's three lackeys also surrounded them, each rubbing his fists and itching for a fight.

"A dog can't stop eating shit."

Zhou Shan sneered.

Zhang Hu had joined the Iron Shirt Sect a year ago and cultivated Internal Force, but Zhou Shan now possessed a year's worth of cultivation himself. If they truly fought, he had no fear of Zhang Hu.

As for Zhang Hu's three lackeys, they were all trash who had yet to cultivate Internal Force.

If they had cultivated Internal Force, they would not be someone else's lackeys.

"What did you say? You dared call me a dog?"

Zhang Hu's face filled with shock and fury.

A newcomer who had only joined the Iron Shirt Sect for a month, who had not even cultivated Internal Force, actually dared call him a dog.

He was truly outrageously bold.

"Beat him! Beat him to death!"

Zhang Hu roared.

"Yes, Boss!"

As they spoke, Zhang Hu's three lackeys were about to attack Zhou Shan.

"What are you doing?"

Suddenly, a man's voice came from nearby.

Zhang Hu and the others, who had been about to make their move, stopped.

Everyone turned toward the voice and saw two martial artists in black armor patrolling past the area.

They were members of the Guiyuan Sect's Black Armored Army. Even ordinary Black Armored Guards at the lowest rank were established martial artists with more than ten years of cultivation.

"Whatever grievances you have, settle them in private. Don't cause trouble right under my nose."

One of the Black Armored Guards spoke indifferently.

"My lord, we'll leave at once." Zhang Hu put on a fawning smile, then turned to Zhou Shan. "Consider yourselves lucky this time. You've escaped disaster."

With that, Zhang Hu led his men away.

You're the lucky ones.

Zhou Shan sneered coldly inwardly.

He now possessed a year's worth of cultivation. If they truly came to blows, he could easily take on all four of Zhang Hu's group by himself.

So it was still uncertain who would be teaching whom a lesson.

"Let's go!"

Zhou Shan placed the basket full of iron ore in the transport area.

West Ridge Iron Mine was not merely a mine; it also had a foundry for forging weapons.

Zhou Shan saw thick smoke billowing from the foundry in the distance. Though he could not see what was happening inside, he could imagine countless furnaces within, radiating unimaginable heat. The sounds of hammering iron and shouted calls rose without end.

Miners, transport workers, and foundry laborers all performed their respective duties.

The three of them arrived at an open area and joined a long queue.

The open area bustled with activity. Dozens of huge iron cauldrons faced skyward, filled with vegetable leaves, porridge water, wild vegetable roots, and the like. Beneath each cauldron was a stone stove, with blazing flames roaring fiercely.

Cook after cook wielded iron ladles, continuously serving thin wild vegetable porridge to the long lines of miners before them.

However, Zhou Shan and the others were different. The Iron Shirt Sect had sent them to assist the Black Armored Army in guarding West Ridge Iron Mine. Though their status and treatment naturally could not compare to the Black Armored Army's, and they had currently been assigned to mine ore, their food was still quite decent. They had meat with every meal.

Their mining work was only temporary. Once enough miners had been recruited, they would no longer need to mine.

After eating, they rested for two quarters of an hour.

Zhou Shan then returned to the mine tunnel and resumed mining.

That afternoon, Zhang Hu and the others did not come looking for trouble, since they were assigned to different tunnels. But the next day, Zhang Hu's group chose the same tunnel as Zhou Shan.

"Zhou Shan, I'm afraid we're in trouble this time."

"Zhang Hu and the others chose the same tunnel as us. They're clearly coming for us."

Huang Yun spoke anxiously.

"It's fine. Leave it to me."

Zhou Shan replied calmly.

Another day had passed, and his cultivation had already reached two years. He feared Zhang Hu and the others even less now.

After entering the mine tunnel, Huang Yun began mining.

Besides people from the Iron Shirt Sect, there were also people from Giant Bear Martial Hall, the Black Tiger Gang, and Hengshan County's two great families. Seeing the situation, they all took the initiative to keep their distance, choosing to mine farther away so they would not be dragged into trouble.

"Zhou Shan, why aren't you mining?" Zhang Hu said coldly. "Get digging. You escaped disaster yesterday, but you won't be so lucky today. The Black Armored Guards won't come into this mine tunnel."

"A wise man does not suffer immediate losses. Hurry and dig!"

Huang Yun whispered.

"With four free laborers right in front of me, why should I work so hard mining myself?"

Zhou Shan said.

"Four free laborers? Where?"

Zhang Hu looked around in every direction.

"Brother Hu, this kid's talking about us. There are exactly four of us."

One of the men stepped forward and whispered into Zhang Hu's ear.

"You brat, you dared make a fool of me. You're truly outrageously bold." Zhang Hu said viciously, "Get him! Beat him hard! If we don't beat you until you kneel and beg for mercy today, then I won't be surnamed Zhang!"

"If you want to deal with me, you'll need the ability to back it up."

Zhou Shan said coldly.

"Get him!"

At once, Zhang Hu's three lackeys raised their fists and charged toward Zhou Shan.

Bang!

Zhou Shan lifted his foot and kicked out with all his strength, instantly striking the abdomen of the lackey charging at the front.

The lackey staggered backward and fell to the ground, clutching his stomach and howling. The intense pain temporarily robbed him of his fighting strength.

At that moment, Zhou Shan slid forward. His hands transformed into eagle claws and flashed out, both claws landing instantly on one young lackey's shoulders. With a crack, the joints between his shoulders and arms dislocated, and both arms dangled limply at his sides.

This was the tendon-severing, bone-dislocating technique within Eagle Claw Iron Shirt.

"Ah!"

With a miserable scream, that young lackey also lost the ability to fight again.

Now, only Zhang Hu and one other lackey remained.

"Now it's your turn."

Zhou Shan immediately charged toward Zhang Hu.

"Internal Force. This Zhou Shan has cultivated Internal Force."

Zhang Hu's expression darkened somewhat.

He had not expected Zhou Shan to become so fierce. The moment he attacked, two of Zhang Hu's men lost their fighting strength. Zhou Shan must have cultivated Internal Force; otherwise, he could not have taken down two men so easily.

At that moment, the other young man with a crew cut also rushed forward. He likewise used the Eagle Claw technique from Eagle Claw Iron Shirt and pounced at Zhou Shan. But Zhou Shan easily dodged, then his eagle claw flashed out and directly seized the crew-cut youth by the throat before smashing him into the stone wall of the mine tunnel.

With a bang, the crew-cut youth's head suffered a heavy blow, and he immediately fainted.

"So what if you've cultivated Internal Force? You've only cultivated for one month, while I've cultivated for a year."

Zhang Hu also rushed close and unleashed the Eagle Claw technique.

Zhou Shan did not dodge, meeting him with eagle claws of his own.

Though Zhou Shan attacked later, he was faster. Their two eagle claws collided in midair, and Zhou Shan immediately locked onto Zhang Hu's wrist before violently twisting it down and to the right.

Zhang Hu's wrist was injured. The searing pain prevented him from gathering strength for the moment, while Zhou Shan immediately raised his leg and kicked twice, striking both of Zhang Hu's calves.

With a bang, Zhang Hu's legs went weak, and he immediately dropped to his knees.

Zhou Shan clenched the fingers of his other hand into a fist and gave Zhang Hu a thorough beating.