He'd treated them to the meal, but Steward Li had paid the bill.
When it came down to it, he'd still been the one treating them.
Anyone who'd ever done this knew the drill. When someone was eager to befriend you, you'd invite them out for a meal. After a few rounds of drinks and a lively conversation, even though you'd invited them, they'd slip away under the pretext of going to the bathroom and quietly pay the bill.
When you complained that they'd secretly paid, they'd reply generously, "It's nothing. Don't give it another thought." And you'd say, "Next time, you have to let me pay."
That was exactly what Steward Li had done. Lin Fan was the one who'd said, "Next time, you have to let me pay."
To Lin Fan, the meal had simply meant, Brothers, we got a free meal again.
But to Steward Li, it meant a great deal. It showed that his relationship with Lin Fan had grown closer, and proved to the master that his efforts were paying off.
What did it mean to win twice over?
This was what it meant.
With their bellies full and their thirst quenched, the group returned to the pier's warehouse, satisfied. The underlings went back to their posts and resumed working. To them, life these days was something they'd never dared hope for before.
One day.
In the warehouse, several underlings stared fixedly at the open space. They watched Lin Fan swing his staff, mouths hanging open as they gazed in rapt fascination. To them, Brother Lin seemed surrounded by a solid wall of staffs.
The wind howled around the staff. Wherever it passed, the air burst apart.
They'd never imagined anyone could wield a staff to such an extent.
They couldn't help thinking that if they took a solid hit from it, their whole bodies would probably fall apart.
Lin Fan was completely immersed in his staff technique. Everything around him seemed to fade away. Suddenly, his eyes sharpened, and he thrust the long staff toward a hanging sandbag, fierce as a dragon surging out of the sea.
Pfft!
The sandbag burst on impact, its sand scattering across the ground like flowers strewn by a celestial maiden.
"Whoa..."
The underlings' eyes widened. They gasped in astonishment, utterly stunned. Was this the sheer dominance of their Brother Lin?
[Beginner Staff Technique Proficiency +1]
[Beginner Staff Technique (Mastered)]
[Beginner Staff Technique mastered. Choose one staff technique to continue.]
[Strength Type: Thousand Jin Staff Technique]
[Speed Type: Gale Staff Technique]
[Technique Type: Four Directions Staff Technique]
The change to the panel caught his attention.
Now that he'd mastered Beginner Staff Technique, he'd been ready for it to become Intermediate Staff Technique. Who could've expected such a huge change? This thing had appeared out of nowhere.
Strength type? Speed type? Technique type?
Why couldn't he have all of them?
Faced with the choice, a line came to mind: Of all the martial arts under heaven, none can withstand a determined attack—except speed.
So he chose the strength type: Thousand Jin Staff Technique.
Because there was another line that had been left out.
That was, overwhelming strength works miracles.
Strength was the real deal. No matter how fast you were, no matter how flashy your technique was, one swing from him would split heaven and earth and send you running with your head in your hands.
When it came to choices, he never hesitated. Once he'd made up his mind, not even nine horses could drag him back.
[Thousand Jin Staff Technique (Not Yet Initiated 1/1000)]
At that moment, Lin Fan felt a warm current flowing through his body. At the same time, a vast amount of information surfaced in his mind. A sea of knowledge... no, a sea of staff techniques.
He could clearly feel his body growing stronger, his strength increasing by a great deal.
His muscles trembled faintly.
The improvement had taken root deep within him.
In the eyes of the underlings around him, Brother Lin's aura had changed. Now he seemed like a ferocious, rampaging beast, intimidating them into stillness.
Lin Fan roared and leaped into the air. Gripping the staff with one hand, his arm tensed, his gaze fierce. Like a world-shattering strike that cleaved heaven and earth, he brought the staff crashing down.
Bang.
The ground cracked and caved in, leaving a deep pit. The wooden staff in his hand snapped into several pieces.
"Hahaha..."
Lin Fan laughed, feeling more exhilarated than ever. If he'd previously experienced the thrill of possessing strength, now he was enjoying the ecstasy of pushing it beyond its limits.
"Congratulations, Brother Lin! Your divine martial arts have reached perfection!"
The underlings cheered.
Lin Fan laughed. "You know about the Martial Way?"
"No."
"Then why are you saying that?"
"Uh..."
They often heard Brother Lin talk about the Martial Way. They didn't really understand it, but at that moment, praising him by saying his divine martial arts had reached perfection seemed perfectly reasonable.
He checked the panel.
[Realm: None]
[Thousand Jin Staff Technique (Not Yet Initiated 1/1000)]
[Beginner Body Refinement (Minor Accomplishment 432/500)]
His realm still hadn't changed.
But he wasn't in a hurry. At least in his current situation, he had a huge advantage. The people he'd encountered were weak as chickens, easy to handle.
He didn't understand what his current condition counted as.
The staff techniques and all that didn't matter.
What mattered was how the staff technique improved his body: greater strength, a stronger physique.
Where had all those martial arts experts gone?
Even if he never crossed paths with one,
at least let me see one. Give me some idea of where I stand.
"Brother Lin, ordinary wooden staffs clearly aren't enough for you. I think we should have a custom staff forged. I know a master craftsman at a blacksmith's shop who's very skilled. Want me to go ask him?"
Wu Yong glanced at the shattered staff. Given the strength Brother Lin had just unleashed, an ordinary wooden staff couldn't hold up.
They needed something solid.
Wu Yong was right. Lin Fan nodded. "Good. I'll leave this to you. Let me know how much it costs."
"No problem. Any special requirements, Brother Lin?"
"Hmm... Use the best materials. The ends should be threaded, and make it as heavy as possible."
"Understood."
Wu Yong nodded repeatedly. As the most loyal underling at Brother Lin's side, he knew that a good underling was one who could take burdens off Brother Lin's shoulders.
Qian Tao, in the crowd, also wanted to step forward and help Brother Lin, but opportunities often came and went in the blink of an eye. Wu Yong had simply been too quick.
He silently vowed to be first next time.
Thinking back over these past few days, he remembered the looks he'd received at home.
They were looks of approval and comfort.
His second uncle praised him to everyone he met. The neighbors all knew that the Qian family's boy had made something of himself in Loyalty Hall and had become the trusted aide of Jili Pier's boss.
The boss might not count for much, but in the eyes of ordinary people, he was as impossibly important as an official.
At that moment, a figure stood in the sunlight at the warehouse entrance.
"Little brother."
Hearing the familiar voice, Lin Fan looked toward the entrance. The instant he recognized the visitor, he hurried over to greet her. "Sis, what brings you here?"
Only when he reached the entrance did he notice that the hall master had come too. With his hands behind his back, the hall master had just finished inspecting the pier. He was very pleased with how smoothly Lin Fan had managed it.
Just as expected of a trusted aide he'd personally approved.
Reliable as always.
"Hall Master," Lin Fan said respectfully.
"Mm." Wang Changhai nodded, his manner perfectly conveying the hall master's dignity.
Madam Wang frowned in displeasure. "What are you doing? Putting on that sour hall-master face in front of my little brother? Don't mind him, little brother. I came especially to see you."
Wang Changhai sighed. Dear, I'm the hall master. Isn't a hall master supposed to look serious when he's out and about?
"Sis, what did you come to see me about? You could've sent someone to let me know. You didn't need to come in person." Lin Fan smiled warmly; the way he looked at his sister and the hall master was completely different.
For some reason, Wang Changhai sensed a certain distance between them.
Madam Wang took Lin Fan's hand. "Come on, come with me. I'm taking you somewhere."
"Hey, hey, Sis, slow down. There's no rush. Your little brother's right behind you."
Lin Fan sincerely considered her his older sister.
He could feel the sincerity between them.
And he was willing to keep treating his sworn sister with all his heart.
Ribbit, ribbit...
Wang Changhai stood frozen at the warehouse entrance, watching the two figures gradually disappear into the distance.
Wait... were they treating me like I wasn't even here?
They were leaving without even calling me along?
"Greetings, Hall Master," a young underling said respectfully.
"What are you standing around for? Got nothing to do? Get back to work! Honestly, every single day..."
Wang Changhai turned and hurried after his wife.
Dear, wait for me!
And my trusted aide—you can't forget who promoted you!
I'm your hall master!
Before you continue