Investment

"Blood and Qi Solidification, Moves Harmonized—has he entered the gate?"

He narrowed his eyes, a flicker of surprise appearing on his face.

He had already sized up the talents of these skinners before.

Of them all, only the one named Wu Gang could be considered fairly good.

There were a few others who were passable as well, though they still fell somewhat short of Wu Gang.

As for the rest, they could only be called ordinary. With good luck, they might have a chance to enter the gate after a month.

Yet he had no impression of this boy at all. And this very boy, who had never caught his eye, had now entered the gate.

With that thought in mind, he strode over.

Among the skinners, Wu Gang was carefully holding his stance. When he saw Tian Hu approaching, he immediately held his breath and focused his mind, practicing with even greater vigor. He had progressed rapidly during this period and could feel that he had already touched the threshold. He estimated that in another three to five days, he would successfully enter the gate.

Yet under his expectant gaze, Tian Hu walked straight past him and headed directly to the back of the group.

"What is your name?"

Tian Hu's gaze settled on Lin Sheng. Before he could speak, Tian Hu's large hand had already landed on his shoulder.

"Reporting to Captain Tian, my name is Lin Sheng."

Facing Tian Hu, Lin Sheng answered neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"When did you enter the gate?"

"I was fortunate enough to enter the gate last night."

Lin Sheng answered earnestly.

"How old are you?"

"Sixteen."

"Not bad. Your innate bone structure is average, but you entered the gate in around ten days. It seems your comprehension is quite good. Pack up tomorrow and come find me at the Beast Hunter Hall."

Tian Hu nodded slightly, a faint smile appearing on his face.

He truly had not expected the Slaughterhouse to have such a promising seedling.

As for why he had not noticed him before, it was likely because he had not examined him carefully enough. He had nearly overlooked such a seedling.

He had managed to enter the Raging Bull Fist in just ten days, and under such impoverished conditions. This boy's comprehension could be ranked among the upper middle tier.

Though his innate bone structure was only lower middle, he was only sixteen after all, and his bones had yet to fully settle. If he could eat his fill, stay warm, and supplement it with some medicine, he might not be unable to step into the upper middle tier.

Even in the Beast Hunter Hall, this was talent worth cultivating.

Having gained Lin Sheng, Tian Hu carefully examined the innate bone structure and cultivation progress of the others as well, lest he miss anything else. The result, however, disappointed him somewhat. Other than Lin Sheng, there were no unexpected surprises.

Rarely opening his mouth to speak, Tian Hu offered everyone a few words of encouragement. Then he did not linger, turning and leaving the Slaughterhouse.

Once Tian Hu departed, the skinners immediately stopped what they were doing. Nearly everyone's eyes fell upon Lin Sheng.

"Entered the gate? Lin Sheng, you entered the gate?!"

Some skinners who were fairly familiar with him immediately crowded forward, asking with both curiosity and jealousy.

Even some coworkers who had not been familiar with him before came forward one after another, acting exceptionally close. Anyone who did not know better would have thought they were the best of friends.

Not far away, Wu Gang watched the atmosphere that had originally belonged to him, his fists clenching tightly.

"How was this possible?"

He had always believed that he possessed the best talent and innate bone structure in the entire Slaughterhouse, and that he would be the first to enter the Raging Bull Fist.

Yet Cheng Yaojin had charged out halfway along the road and entered the gate several days ahead of him.

He did not have much impression of Lin Sheng. In his eyes, the other was merely an insignificant nobody who had joined the Slaughterhouse not long ago.

Yet this very insignificant nobody had pressed him down.

Filled with extreme unwillingness, he immediately cultivated with even greater effort.

He had even decided that over the next few days, he would ask Wang Dehai for leave and devote himself entirely to cultivation until he entered the Raging Bull Fist.

After smiling and nodding his way through all this suddenly appearing attentiveness, Lin Sheng practiced a while longer before finding an excuse to slip away.

However, he did not hurry to leave the Slaughterhouse. Instead, he first went to find Wang Dehai.

He would officially report to the Beast Hunter Hall tomorrow, so naturally he had to inform the man in charge of the Slaughterhouse.

Just as he arrived outside the Slaughterhouse, before the courtyard belonging to Wang Dehai,

he saw Wang Dehai sitting in the courtyard.

"Lin Sheng, come over and sit."

Seeing Lin Sheng arrive, Wang Dehai rose and carefully examined him from head to toe before beckoning him over.

"Yes, Manager Wang."

Lin Sheng nodded and walked over.

"Sit. I already know about your situation."

He had Lin Sheng sit down, then extended a plump hand and heavily patted his shoulder twice, as though sensing something. A smile soon appeared on his face.

"If I remember correctly, you have been at the Slaughterhouse for two months now. We brothers have yet to have a proper drink together. I'll treat you to this meal today. Consider it your Farewell Feast for joining the Beast Hunter Hall."

"Thank you, Manager Wang."

"At a time like this, why are you still calling me Manager Wang? Call me Brother Wang from now on."

Lin Sheng was somewhat surprised by Wang Dehai's warmth, but quickly adapted. Having lived two lives, although he was not someone who could charm everyone from all directions, he still understood something of worldly dealings and human sentiments.

He simply had not expected this world to be even more nakedly blunt.

He had only just received word that he was to report to the Beast Hunter Hall, yet Wang Dehai had already laid out food here.

Glancing at the dishes on the table, which he rarely saw in ordinary times, Lin Sheng could not help but sigh.

Sure enough, strength was everything.

As the two toasted one another, Lin Sheng did not drink, but he showed no courtesy toward the food on the table, devouring it in great mouthfuls.

Yet the dishes on this table would probably cost no less than a hundred large coins. This single meal equaled a month of his hard labor.

The two chatted for a while, and their relationship quickly grew closer over the dinner table. Before long, they were slinging arms over each other's shoulders.

"Brother Lin, do you know why I specially arranged this feast for you?"

Wang Dehai drained a cup of wine and asked with a cheerful smile. But before Lin Sheng could answer, he had already answered his own question.

"Do you think it is because you joined the Beast Hunter Hall?"

Lin Sheng froze for a moment, then quickly nodded.

"No, no. Every few years, the various halls recruit suitable workers with talent into places like the Beast Hunter Hall. Though the Slaughterhouse is full of poor folk, plenty join the Beast Hunter Hall each time. Not just anyone is worthy of this elder brother of yours throwing a Farewell Feast."

Wang Dehai shook his head slightly and spoke calmly.

"Brother Lin, you have only just come into contact with the Martial Way, so you do not know much about its path. Since we have time today, this elder brother will tell you about it."

"Oh, then many thanks, Brother Wang."

Hearing this, Lin Sheng's heart stirred, and a trace of delight appeared on his face.

He did not understand much about the Martial Way in this world. If not for encountering the Raging Bull Fist, he would still be a complete novice even now.

He had indeed always wanted to learn information about the Martial Way, but had never had any avenue to do so. He had originally planned to start gathering such information after entering the Beast Hunter Hall. Now that Wang Dehai had taken the initiative to speak, it saved him the trouble.