Yangping Mountain

After hearing Tian Hu describe the terms, Lin Sheng could not help clicking his tongue.

Three taels of silver a month, plus twenty jin of rock goat meat—the ordinary disciples of Beast Hunter Hall could earn remuneration worth five taels of silver each month.

That was indeed unimaginable on Crock Street. One month at Beast Hunter Hall was worth more than half a year of his hard labor at the slaughterhouse, and there were martial arts manuals to cultivate as well.

"Of course, beyond all that, you will truly be qualified to receive instruction in martial arts."

Seeing the change in Lin Sheng's expression, Tian Hu smiled. As he spoke, he took a small booklet from his robes.

"Raging Bull Fist is one of the foundational martial arts of our Town Mountain Tower. It has its own unique merits in strength training. Though it is merely a third-rate martial art, cultivating it to completion can still allow you to step into the Muscle Forging realm."

Lin Sheng accepted the booklet and gave it a quick look. He felt somewhat disappointed. The reason was simple: the booklet only recorded the method for cultivating Raging Bull Fist to minor achievement.

Unable to hold back, he asked.

"Captain Tian, is this only the method for cultivating it to minor achievement? Then the cultivation method after that..."

At those words, Tian Hu's brow furrowed slightly as he said,

"Raging Bull Fist at minor achievement is already enough for you to cultivate. Once you successfully gain entry and formally step into the Body Tempering realm, the subsequent cultivation methods will naturally be passed on to you."

After saying that, Tian Hu patted Lin Sheng on the shoulder again, speaking with a lecturing air.

"On the path of the Martial Way, you must advance steadily and build a solid foundation. Do not aim too high, or even with some talent, it will be hard for you to achieve anything."

In his view, Lin Sheng came from humble circumstances and had decent talent. If it had been an ordinary new Beast Hunter Hall disciple, he would have already berated him.

"Lin Sheng understands."

By now, Lin Sheng understood that obtaining the later stages of Raging Bull Fist would not be easy. He could only sigh inwardly while nodding respectfully.

"Alright, go change into your clothes first. Someone will take you to the grounds shortly."

Tian Hu beckoned over a hall guard and had him lead Lin Sheng away to collect clothing and various other necessities.

*

*

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

Crock Street.

Within a large courtyard, a rarity in a place like Crock Street, more than a dozen people stood gathered.

A bearded man of medium build with a gloomy face squatted on the ground, staring motionlessly at a corpse covered by a white cloth.

Only after a long while did the bearded man reach out and slowly pull back the white cloth, as though he did not dare believe it or face it.

At last, as the cloth was lifted, the head beneath was revealed.

When the bearded man saw that head, whose original features could no longer be recognized and which had even been smashed beyond human form, the hand clutching the white cloth tightened abruptly, producing a series of grinding cracks from his bones.

Only when the cloth was fully removed did he recognize from the corpse's build and clothing that it was none other than his beloved younger brother.

The bearded man closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He then covered the corpse with the white cloth again before rising to his feet. His gaze was icy to the extreme, and a chilling killing intent appeared in his eyes as he swept his eyes one by one over the Tooth Gang members standing in the courtyard.

The group immediately lowered their heads, not daring to meet his gaze. Most of them were Liu Yuanshan's trusted confidants, and they knew all too well of the Second Gang Leader's sickly doting affection for his younger brother. Now that his own brother had been reduced to this state, there was no need to imagine what Liu Yuanshan was feeling.

Thinking of Liu Yuanshan's usual brutal temperament, if they happened to offend him at a time like this, they might not even know how they died.

"Tell me what you saw of the murderer. Say everything. Do not conceal even the slightest thing."

The bearded man, Liu Yuanshan, spoke slowly.

The Tooth Gang members exchanged glances, and someone immediately spoke.

"The murderers were two men in black. They were quite agile and could escape beneath crossbow bolts. Both should be Body Tempering realm martial artists."

Having said that, the gang members did not continue. The truth was that this was all they knew.

"That's all!? A pack of trash."

Liu Yuanshan spoke coldly. Before anyone could react, he had already appeared before the gang member who had just spoken, seized his neck, and lifted him into the air.

The gang member's face instantly flushed red, and he struggled to breathe as he hastily replied with difficulty.

"One... one of the men in black was struck by an arrow. This subordinate... this subordinate has already sent people to watch the city gates..."

Yet even after hearing that, Liu Yuanshan showed no intention of releasing him. Instead, the hand gripping his neck kept tightening until a bone-cracking sound that sent shivers down one's spine came from the unlucky gang member's neck.

Only then did Liu Yuanshan release his hand. The Tooth Gang member's body had already gone limp, blood streaming from his mouth and nose in great gushes. He was clearly dead.

"Send men to watch every pharmacy in the city. Seize anyone suspicious on sight. If you cannot find the murderer, then you pieces of trash can go below and accompany my brother... And find every single person who has had a grudge with my brother during this period. I mean anyone!"

Liu Yuanshan's voice was indifferent yet twisted. The Tooth Gang members hurriedly acknowledged the order and then rushed away, not daring to linger for even a moment, afraid that they would become the next unlucky soul.

Very soon, Liu Yuanshan was the only one left in the courtyard.

He gazed quietly at Liu Ergou's corpse and muttered,

"Rest easy, little brother. No matter who it is, your brother will find the murderer and make his entire family accompany you in death..."

Suddenly, as if he had sensed something, he frowned and turned toward the side.

"Who?"

At some unknown point, an additional figure had appeared in the courtyard. He was a tall, thin middle-aged man with prominent cheekbones and a savage scar running vertically down his cheek.

"Gang Leader!"

Upon seeing the tall, thin man, the twisted grief on Liu Yuanshan's face subsided somewhat. He cupped his hands in salute.

That was right. This tall, thin man was none other than Meng Hongsheng, the gang leader of the Tooth Gang.

"I already know what happened. Rest assured, there will be an explanation for this matter."

Meng Hongsheng's gaze swept over the corpse of the Tooth Gang member on the ground as he spoke blandly. He then walked straight over to Liu Ergou's body, pulled away the white cloth, and paused as his eyes fell upon the corpse—especially its badly damaged head. He then examined the other corpses one by one.

"Gang Leader, can you see anything?"

Liu Yuanshan could not help asking. Though they were both in the Muscle Forging realm, he understood the gap between himself and Meng Hongsheng. Whether in strength, insight, or experience, Meng Hongsheng surpassed him by far.

Moreover, Meng Hongsheng was not only a martial artist; he was also highly skilled in medicine. Perhaps he could discern something from the corpses.

"The same person struck them. He was very strong, and his strength should place him among the upper ranks of the Body Tempering realm. But there was no method to his attacks at all, so I cannot identify his specific style. Of course, it is also possible that this was deliberate."

Meng Hongsheng stated his judgment bluntly.

"Hmm."

Suddenly, his brow creased. His nostrils twitched as though he had smelled something, and he leaned close to Liu Ergou's corpse to sniff carefully.

"This is... the scent of Fish Fat Grass..."

After a long while, he seemed to recall something and murmured the words aloud.

He was indeed skilled in medicine, and he possessed extraordinary talent. His sense of smell had been far sharper than that of ordinary people from birth. At this moment, he had already determined what the strange scent on Liu Ergou's body was.