I Made My Way in This World With Three Things: Ruthlessness, Courage, and Wits!

"Should only be a few more days before my Whale Sand Palm reaches 'Entry Level' completion and steps into a new realm, right?"

Gazing at the black talisman-shaped panel before him, a flicker of anticipation rose in Fang Xuan's eyes.

Over the past few years, the reason he had risen steadily through the Black Whale Gang and even caught the eye of one of its hall masters, becoming his foremost fighter, was tied to this talisman.

In his previous life, he had merely been an unremarkable small-town exam grinder. He did not starve, but he only barely scraped by.

Until one day, bored out of his mind, he visited Dragon Tiger Mountain to observe a Daoist talisman-bestowal ceremony. He had only taken one extra look, and when he opened his eyes again, he had arrived in this ancient world, where imperial power had crumbled and suffering filled the land.

What he had never expected was that the talisman he had seen during that ceremony had followed him into this world.

He did not know much about talismans. He had heard that they were broadly divided into inner and outer talismans. Inner talismans could summon divine generals to protect one's body, call upon gods and command generals, and perform rites to aid the world. Outer talismans could protect oneself and one's household, prolonging life and preserving health.

He did not know what kind of talisman he had received. It could neither summon divine generals to protect him nor extend his lifespan.

Yet every skill, technique, and art he learned displayed a progress bar upon this talisman.

The progress bar was roughly divided into four stages: First Glimpse, Entry Level, Perfect Mastery, and Peak of Perfection.

The method for increasing progress was simple. He only needed to follow the talisman's instructions and train diligently without pause, and he could push the progress bar forward, reaching new realms.

Over the past few years, he had first made a name for himself with his First Glimpse Whale Sand Palm and earned that Black Whale Gang hall master's favor. Later, with a Whale Sand Palm that had not yet fully reached Entry Level, he had soared into becoming the Black Whale Gang's hottest rising star, with few ordinary people able to stand against him!

"Still, it's a pity that Whale Sand Palm is only a basic technique in the gang. Without true martial arts cultivation methods to support it, I'll never be able to enter the realm of cultivation in this lifetime."

Thinking of this, Fang Xuan let out a soft sigh.

In this world, what did it matter how high he raised the proficiency of Whale Sand Palm if he could not obtain a martial arts mental cultivation method?

No matter how flashy his moves were, without a qualitative transformation, he would only be throwing his weight around among ordinary people for the rest of his life, never truly making it onto the stage!

"Huff."

Fang Xuan slowly exhaled a long breath of stale air and stopped dwelling on it.

He rubbed his face. Only after the smell of alcohol had completely faded from his body did Fang Xuan push open the wooden door to the inner room.

A candle lamp burned inside, its oil flame making the small room fairly bright.

The furnishings were simple: two wooden beds laid side by side, with an old square table ahead of them, its lacquer peeling away.

Before the table stood a thin, refined-looking youth whose brows bore a three- or four-part resemblance to Fang Xuan's. He was holding a horse stance with perfect seriousness.

The youth's face was pale, sweat covered his forehead, and his legs trembled as he held the stance, relying solely on one breath of determination to grit his teeth and endure.

"Brother, you're back?"

Hearing the sound, the youth looked up at Fang Xuan, and delight and affection immediately appeared on his childish face.

His name was Fang Li. He was fifteen or sixteen years old and Fang Xuan's blood brother.

Fang Xuan did not answer. Instead, he glanced sideways at the tightly shut book beneath the oil lamp, then at the string of cured meat and pig trotters tied with red cord and hanging nearby.

His expression gradually darkened.

"The Prefectural Examination is in a few days. Why aren't you hurrying up and studying at a time like this? What are you doing?

"And those cured meats and pig trotters—I told you to deliver them to Instructor Xun South of the City as tuition for becoming his student. Why are they still at home?"

Fang Xuan's voice sank, his face utterly expressionless.

Fang Li timidly shrank back. Whenever Brother used that tone, it meant he was about to get beaten.

"Brother, I don't think studying is much use. It'd be better to train up some strength. In the future, I could be like you—no matter who saw me, they'd have to call me sir. Now that would be impressive."

Fang Li forced a smile onto his face and spoke as casually as he could.

Before he could finish his sentence—

Smack—!!!

A heavy slap landed viciously across Fang Li's face, leaving him dizzy and seeing stars as he dropped onto the floor on his backside.

"Impressive?"

Fang Xuan laughed in anger. He tore open the front of his shirt, revealing the crisscrossing old and new scars beneath, then grabbed Fang Li by the hair, hauled him up like pulling a green onion from dry earth, and pressed him before his eyes.

"Open your damned eyes and take a good look! This so-called glory of yours was bought with my life! You can't even bring yourself to kill a chicken, and you want this glory too?"

"Brother, I..." Fang Li still wanted to speak.

"I've spent all these years fighting for my life outside, coming and going through blades and swords, earning money with my life every day! Everyone who sees me calls me sir? Let me tell you, people may respect and fear me on the surface, but in truth, I'm hated by people and dogs alike. Who doesn't curse their bad luck under their breath when they see me?"

"I was counting on you to study hard, earn official rank in the future, and rise above the rest!"

"And now you're telling me you won't study anymore?"

"I'll beat you to death today, you ungrateful little bastard!"

Fang Xuan casually grabbed a bamboo broom from the side, rolled up his sleeves, and prepared to strike.

He was truly furious.

In times like these, whether they were fishermen's sons by the ferry docks or hoodlums like him who appeared so imposing, they were all no more than the bottom rung of this age.

All these years, he had fought and struggled so Fang Li could earn official rank and escape the rotten mud pit that was Pingjiang County!

And now this brat was telling him... he would not study anymore?

Then what had all those years of licking blood from the blade's edge been for?

"Big Brother!"

Just then, an anxious, childish girl's voice rang out. A sallow-faced girl of around twelve or thirteen rushed from the kitchen.

"Big Brother, you misunderstood Second Brother!"

"It isn't that Second Brother refused to study. Instructor Xun South of the City refused to accept Second Brother's tuition, so Second Brother had no choice but to bring it back!"

The Fang Family had three siblings in all.

Fang Xuan was the eldest, while this sallow-faced girl was the youngest sister, Fang Lan.

Their parents had died early. Fang Li and Fang Lan had still been young then, so Fang Xuan alone had shouldered the burden of the household and raised his younger brother and sister.

As the saying went, the eldest brother was like a father.

In Fang Li and Fang Lan's eyes, Fang Xuan had long taken on the role of a towering father figure.

"Instructor Xun is said to teach without distinction. He accepts everyone else's tuition, so why would he refuse yours?"

Fang Xuan frowned and looked at Fang Li with an unpleasant expression.

Fang Li did not answer. He merely lowered his head and mumbled hesitantly,

"Maybe I'm too dull-witted, and he doesn't think much of me."

"Bullshit! You've always been clever and quick-witted, born to study. Who the hell dares say you're dull-witted?"

Fang Xuan cursed, then looked at Fang Lan.

"Xiao Lan, you tell me. What exactly happened!"

Fang Li hurriedly looked at Fang Lan, shaking his head desperately and signaling with his eyes.

Fang Lan was young and did not understand such worldly concerns. Filled with indignation, she said,

"That old man said Second Brother was a hoodlum's younger brother, a little hoodlum himself. He said he would not accept hoodlums as students, much less recommend a hoodlum for the Prefectural Examination. He said it would insult the refined and tarnish his reputation! He even said the tuition gifts we brought were filthy things obtained through despicable means, and that accepting them would dirty his hands! Second Brother couldn't take it, so he fought that old man right there and wanted to risk his life against him. But that old man's guards beat him out!"

"Xiao Lan, shut up!!!"

Fang Li shouted, startling Fang Lan into stumbling several steps back.

"Brother, it wasn't like that. Xiao Lan exaggerated too much. At worst, I'll go see Instructor Xun again tomorrow."

Fang Li wiped his eyes and looked at Fang Xuan with a face full of forced smiles.

Fang Xuan said nothing. The hand holding the broom slowly lowered.

Looking down through Fang Li's collar, he could clearly see the bruises and swollen red marks hidden beneath his clothes.

After a long silence.

"I understand. This isn't your fault." Fang Xuan stiffly forced out the words.

The atmosphere in the inner room gradually turned somewhat rigid.

"Big Brother, Second Brother, today is Winter Solstice—we have to eat dumplings!"

Only then did Fang Lan come to her senses. She hurriedly brought out the dumplings that had been kept warm in the kitchen, trying to smooth things over.

"Big Brother, hurry and try them. Second Brother and I wrapped these dumplings together!"

Fang Xuan nodded and said nothing more. He picked up his chopsticks, lifted a dumpling, placed it in his mouth, and chewed slowly.

Since he did not speak, Fang Li and Fang Lan did not dare make a sound either. Both lowered their heads and ate their dumplings.

"Brother."

Suddenly, Fang Li looked at Fang Xuan, his eyes completely red.

"What is it? Still thinking about the Prefectural Examination recommendation? Don't worry. Pingjiang County doesn't only have Instructor Xun who can recommend you. I'll find someone else."

"No."

Fang Li shook his head. He stared fixedly at Fang Xuan, tears glimmering in his eyes.

"Brother, our family doesn't have to worry about food or clothes anymore. Life is slowly getting better. Can you stop risking your life for us? Let's stop thinking about rising above the rest. I only want the three of us to be safe and sound. Every time you don't come home at night, Xiao Lan and I don't dare sleep. We worry all night long, afraid something might happen to you."

Fang Li's voice became hoarse and choked. Though he tried hard to control himself, his shoulders continued trembling.

Just moments ago, when he had seen the crisscrossing old and new scars across Fang Xuan's chest, his heart had felt as though it were being carved apart by a thousand blades.

He knew Brother had never been some hoodlum who bullied merchants and tyrannized the streets.

It was only because their parents had died early. When the neighbors saw that the Fang Family had only three half-grown children left, everyone came to kick them while they were down!

There had even been street hoodlums who wanted to lay hands on their little sister, who had only been five or six at the time.

Back then, Brother had held a woodcutter's blade and guarded the door every night!

Whoever dared reach a hand toward the Fang Family, Brother would chop off that hand!

Brother had said that only if he was vicious and ruthless enough would others dare not bully the Fang Family!

Now, many people said Fang Li was clever and gifted, able to compose a poem in three steps and write a verse in five, born to be a scholar!

But only he himself knew that Brother was the one truly born to study!

Because everything he had learned, from his early education onward, had been taught to him by Brother!

The lamplight flickered as Fang Li went on and on.

Only after Fang Li had finished did he look at Fang Xuan with reddened eyes.

Fang Xuan fell silent.

After a long while, he smiled and rubbed Fang Li's head, saying only three words:

"Go to sleep early."

As the words fell, Fang Xuan rose and pushed open the door to leave.

Heavy snow drifted down as wind and frost cut like steel blades scraping bone.

Within the yard enclosed by a bamboo fence.

A tall figure repeatedly plunged his hands into tiny pebbles heated until they glowed red.

Sssh!

Sssh!

Sssh!!

The sounds of Fang Xuan training rang out without cease.

"Brother."

After a long silence, determination appeared in Fang Li's eyes. He too rose, sat before the oil lamp, opened his book, and began studying in earnest.

Fang Lan cleaned up the bowls and chopsticks, carefully washing clothes for both of her brothers.

The dim yellow candlelight flickered, stretching the silhouettes of the three siblings long and faint behind them.