One Seamless, Flowing Sequence-That Was Insanely Fierce!

Had he really been promoted just like that?

Lin Fan's mind blanked. He'd only said a few nice things, and somehow he'd buttered the hall master up until he was putty in his hands?

Of course, he couldn't say that out loud.

"Thank you for promoting me, Hall Master," Lin Fan said excitedly.

Wang Changhai patted Lin Fan on the shoulder. "Work hard. Don't disappoint me. Do well, and I'll make sure you rise through the ranks."

With that,

he took out his money pouch. He'd intended to give Lin Fan a little loose silver, but after thinking it over, he handed him the entire pouch.

"Hall Master, I can't accept this."

"Come on. You're going to be my trusted aide from now on. How can you get by without a little silver on you? Take it."

"Thank you, Hall Master."

Wang Changhai smiled with satisfaction, then warned the surrounding gang members to obey their leader or face the gang's rules. After that, he said no more and turned to leave.

As the hall master, he had little to do each day and mostly just wandered around. Knowing he wasn't strong enough, he had no interest in fighting over territory. He only wanted to hold on to this little patch of land at the pier.

Besides, the pier brought in plenty of money. He had no shortage of food or drink.

"Brother Lin, congratulations!"

Wu Yong was beside himself with excitement. He couldn't believe the hall master had taken a liking to Brother Lin, who'd just leaped up to become their leader.

And since he considered himself close to Brother Lin, that meant no one here would dare bully him anymore.

The surrounding gang members came to their senses and hurried to offer their fawning congratulations.

Lin Fan accepted their flattery without a trace of embarrassment, feeling especially pleased. His goal was to enter the Security Bureau, but that didn't stop him from becoming a leader. Besides, once he was a leader, he'd have freedom.

He'd have plenty of time to raise his proficiency.

Beep. Leader's mindset unlocked.

Lin Fan took some loose silver from the pouch and handed it to Wu Yong. "Tonight, take the brothers out for a good meal and drinks. Put it all on my tab."

"Got it, Brother Lin."

Wu Yong took the silver and glanced at the gang members around them. His meaning was clear: See that? Brother Lin gave me the money to arrange everything. That means I'm his trusted aide, and I rank just a tiny bit above the rest of you.

The gang members cheered.

"Long live Brother Lin!"

"Brother Lin, you're so generous! We'd go through fire and water for you!"

They hadn't had much schooling and could barely recognize a few characters. They'd only just learned the phrase "go through fire and water," and some of them decided to find a storyteller and study up on more ways to praise people.

Lin Fan waved them back to their posts, then told Wu Yong to fetch the pier doctor. The flesh wound on his back would heal faster if he applied some medicine.

He knew this Beginner Body Refinement was going to take some time. It was just too easy to get hurt. But while he'd been learning it, he'd sensed a faint stream of warmth flowing through his body.

It had probably improved his physical constitution a little.

He clenched his fist and tightened his arm. He could feel that he'd grown a bit stronger.

Before long, the doctor arrived. When he saw the wound on Lin Fan's back, he was clearly taken aback, but he kept his composure and applied the medicine. Once everything was done and the doctor had left,

Lin Fan rolled his arm around. His back still throbbed whenever he moved, but he could bear the pain now. He found a wooden stick and kept working to raise his proficiency.

He couldn't rest just because he was hurting. In fact, continuing to practice Martial Way through the pain could strengthen his will.

A short while later, the sound of a wooden stick cutting through the air rang out in the warehouse.

Lin Fan wanted to put every moment to use and improve his strength. Although he still hadn't had the chance to encounter the Martial Way, the panel could help him improve. Then, when he finally got the chance to learn the Martial Way, he'd have more options.

So what if he had to suffer now?

He wouldn't even furrow his brow if he had to eat shit.

[Basic Staff Technique proficiency +1]

As his staff proficiency slowly increased, Lin Fan put more and more force behind each swing. The feeling was simply wonderful.

Night fell, and the moon was round and bright.

Lin Fan came out of the restaurant and stood at the entrance, looking up. The noisy voices of his underlings drifted from inside. He hadn't wanted to come; Wu Yong could've handled everything.

But after thinking it over, he decided it would be better to show up.

The shopkeeper stood beside him respectfully, his face beaming with fake warmth and hospitality. Those few tables were a real source of stress for him tonight. He knew they were from Loyalty Hall and was afraid the whole bunch would get drunk and cause trouble.

"Shopkeeper, just look after them without worrying. If the money isn't enough, come find me at Jili Pier tomorrow. If they cause trouble, don't be afraid—just stay well away and come see me tomorrow. I'll make it right," Lin Fan said with a smile.

"Understood, understood."

The shopkeeper nodded again and again. He felt that this man was quite different from that foul-mouthed pack of ruffians. He seemed warm and easygoing, and made people feel at ease.

"Go on, get back to work."

Then Lin Fan headed home. The shopkeeper remained at the entrance, watching until Lin Fan's silhouette disappeared into the darkness. Only then did he turn and go back into the restaurant, where he heard someone upstairs calling impatiently.

"Bring the wine! We're out!"

"Coming, coming!"

The street

was quiet, with the occasional chirp of an insect.

Lin Fan walked slowly. He'd come alone to this world, and it was only natural that he felt lonely. The one thing keeping him going was that he had a cheat, and he wanted to experience things he'd never encountered before.

After all, what boy hadn't dreamed of walking on rooftops and vaulting over walls? Even when they grew older, that dream never went away.

Now, that chance was right in front of him.

Of course he wouldn't let it pass him by.

Suddenly,

the muffled, hurried sound of footsteps came from behind him, as if someone was running. He looked back and saw a blurry figure in the moonlight. The man looked broad and burly, and a flash of silver glinted beside him. Lin Fan tensed up instantly.

"A blade."

And the figure was heading straight for him.

"Run, you in front! We're from the Security Bureau! He's a murderer!" Two men were chasing after the figure. When they saw an ordinary civilian ahead of the murderer, they immediately shouted a warning.

A murderer?

He'd been in this world for two months and hadn't seen one yet. But no matter where you were, a murderer was dangerous. Besides, anyone who'd dare do something like that probably wasn't simple.

At that thought, Lin Fan didn't waste a second. He turned and ran.

He had some strength, sure, but what if this murderer was a real expert? If Lin Fan rushed in recklessly, thinking he could fight him, only to get cut down with one slash, that'd be a joke.

Clang!

Weapons clashed.

Angry shouts and curses followed.

"You bastards! I'll hack you to death!"

Clearly, the fight was on.

Lin Fan stopped and looked back, wanting to see what a fight between experts looked like. But after watching for a few seconds, he realized something was wrong.

The way that man swung his blade didn't look like an expert's.

The murderer was relying on his bulky frame to gradually overpower them. He slashed one of the men across the arm, but the murderer had also taken a cut.

The pain made him howl, and his face twisted into a ferocious snarl.

Lin Fan thought it over. He'd been studying the law every day because he wanted to get into the Security Bureau. He also knew that plenty of people wanted to join, and some of them had powerful connections.

Talent alone might not be enough.

If he could forge a connection with someone in the Security Bureau, it might help him.

With that thought, he made up his mind.

He still hadn't moved. It wasn't that he didn't want to; it just wasn't the right moment yet. He had to wait for a chance to rescue them in their moment of peril, descending like a god from the heavens to smash the murderer to pieces.

The chance came soon enough.

The younger man clutched his injured arm in pain and collapsed to the ground.

Only the middle-aged constable was left, struggling to hold on.

Lin Fan sprang into action. He charged forward, picking up speed as he unleashed his full physical strength. Just before reaching the murderer, he leaped into the air, bent his knees, and slammed them into the man's back.

Thud!

The murderer cried out in pain and crashed to the ground. Lin Fan planted both hands on the ground and flipped back to his feet. As the murderer struggled to get up, Lin Fan whipped out a kick and slammed it into his chin.

Blood and teeth sprayed through the night.

The murderer's eyes widened. He lost consciousness, his head slumping to the ground.

The two constables stared, stunned by Lin Fan's seamless, flowing movements. They'd been in this line of work for years and had never seen such a decisive, stylish move.

This—this was insanely fierce!