Brothers, Grab Your Weapons, Follow Me

Several days passed.

During this time, Lin Fan's life proceeded at a steady pace. Every day, he would wake up and practice his staff techniques for an hour. After eating, he would go to Qingfang Private School to study Law. Upon returning to the pier, he would have someone help him practice Beginner Body Refinement by striking him with a staff.

Inside the warehouse.

Muffled thuds continued.

Lin Fan stood with his upper body bare, his muscles taut. He held a horse stance, gritting his teeth as two subordinates repeatedly struck him with staffs.

His subordinates were long accustomed to this.

From initial shock to current admiration, their feelings had changed after witnessing it firsthand. Their respect for their leader was deeply ingrained.

Who could endure such beatings normally?

If it were them, they would have been bedridden long ago.

But their Brother Lin, on the contrary, grew more energetic with each blow, like a terrifying beast that knew no pain.

Whenever they faced Brother Lin, they always felt a sense of pressure.

Therefore, their attitude towards Lin Fan gradually shifted from envy to the reverence they felt now.

At this moment, outside the warehouse, a subordinate in gang attire appeared with an elder. The subordinate took several deep breaths, as if making a decision, and walked towards the warehouse.

"Second Uncle, I don't know if this will work, but don't say anything out of line once we're inside."

"I know, Second Uncle knows."

The elder, hunched over, carried a bamboo basket covered with a cloth. He nodded repeatedly to his nephew's words. As a fisherman, he had always lived on his fishing boat, making a living by selling fish to vendors. Although he didn't earn much, his life was manageable.

But who could have imagined his only son suddenly falling ill, becoming like a living dead person? In that moment, the pillar of his family collapsed.

His son needed medicine to survive.

His grandson was young and still needed raising.

The pressure was like a mountain weighing him down.

Knowing his nephew was at Jili Pier, under the Loyalty Hall, he hoped his nephew could lend a hand and help him secure a spot for a fishing stall at the pier.

After all, selling fish to fish vendors earned too little.

Entering the warehouse, the elder was so nervous he could barely breathe. His nephew was also cautious, feeling anxious and hesitant to make such a request.

His second uncle didn't have the funds to rent a stall and hoped for a few months of leniency, promising to pay it back slowly.

Honestly, even he felt the request was excessive.

This was the territory of the Loyalty Hall, not a charity.

He saw Brother Lin busy at work, standing still with his head down, waiting. He knew this was something Brother Lin did daily.

He was used to it, but for his second uncle, it was the first time seeing it.

It was then that the elder got a clear look at his nephew's leader. Lin Fan's strong, imposing physique was full of explosive power. The two men wielding the staffs had ferocious expressions, and each strike landed squarely on Lin Fan's body. As the staffs were lifted, faint traces of blood could be seen splashing in the air.

Half the warehouse was bright, the other half dark.

The light and shadow acted like a dividing line, separating Lin Fan.

In the elder's eyes, it was more like a ferocious beast.

The elder felt a tremor of fear, his legs trembling. He had the urge to flee, but thinking of his situation at home, he steeled himself and waited.

Suddenly.

A furious shout, accompanied by a cracking sound, echoed through the warehouse.

Two wooden staffs snapped in response. One of the broken pieces rolled to the elder's feet.

The elder looked down. The wooden staff was as thick as an arm, yet it had been broken. This filled the elder with extreme dread.

[Beginner Body Refinement (Novice 1/300)]

At this moment, a smile appeared on Lin Fan's lips. After several days of effort, he had finally reached the novice stage.

He felt a warm current surge within him, his limbs and bones feeling incredibly refreshed. He could clearly feel his strength increasing and his physical toughness improving significantly.

Two younger subordinates immediately brought him towels.

"Thank you."

Lin Fan took a towel and wiped the sweat from his face. The two subordinates wiped the bloodstains from his body. To these subordinates, the Brother Lin before them was truly terrifying.

He had endured blows from staffs as thick as an arm without a single groan.

He was even smiling now.

They had tried it before, but after taking just one hit, they had completely abandoned the idea of trying again.

It hurt like hell.

After wiping his face, a subordinate respectfully took the towel. Lin Fan then looked towards the entrance. "Qian Tao, is there something?"

Qian Tao immediately stepped forward, respectfully saying, "Brother Lin, this is my Second Uncle. He has something he hopes Brother Lin will grant."

Second Uncle?

Lin Fan looked at the elder, who was acting timidly, and smiled, "Old sir, what is it you need?"

"Master Lin, I'd like to rent a fishing stall on your turf," the elder said, trembling.

"A fishing stall, hmm, alright."

Lin Fan could tell at a glance that this old man made a living fishing. He was tanned from the sun and rain. Renting a fishing stall was likely because he didn't want to sell to fishmongers and wanted to earn a bit more.

Qian Tao said, "Brother Lin, my second uncle's family ran into some trouble, so he doesn't have the stall fee right now. I was wondering if you could give him a two-month grace period, and he'll definitely make up for it then."

Lin Fan smiled, "No problem, we're all brothers here. A two-month grace period is nothing major."

Qian Tao's eyes turned red with gratitude when Brother Lin agreed so readily.

He truly hadn't expected Brother Lin to be so straightforward.

"Brother Lin, thank you so much."

Lin Fan patted his shoulder, "It's fine. Saying thank you between brothers makes us strangers. Besides, I've seen how diligently you work at the docks. Keep it up."

"Yes."

At this, the elder quickly offered his bamboo basket. Before he could speak, Lin Fan interrupted him.

"Old sir, please take your things back. Qian Tao is my brother, and you are his uncle, so there's no need for such formalities."

"This..."

The elder looked to his nephew for help. What should he do if Master Lin wouldn't accept it?

"Brother Lin, look..." Qian Tao wanted Brother Lin to accept it so his uncle could feel at ease, but seeing Brother Lin's resolute expression, he nodded and told his uncle to take it back.

A moment later, Qian Tao led his uncle away.

Lin Fan watched their retreating figures and sighed inwardly. At this moment, he deeply felt that for some people, a simple, insignificant agreement could change a family's fate.

His actions just now deeply moved the younger brothers around him.

They realized that Brother Lin was truly righteous and benevolent.

Working for someone like him, they could do so willingly.

As if sensing their gazes, Lin Fan nodded at them, as if to say, "Work hard, and if you follow me, I won't hog the glory."

"All you need to give in return is..."

Loyalty!

Outside the warehouse.

The elder held his nephew's hand, "Nephew, you've made something of yourself."

Qian Tao patted his uncle's hand without saying much. When he first joined Loyalty Hall, his family had opposed it, and even his relatives had gossiped behind his back.

They always felt he was doing something wicked out there.

Now that they needed his help, he knew that after this incident, his family's and even his relatives' attitudes towards him would definitely change.

However, he understood that this was all thanks to Brother Lin.

It gave him the right to stand tall in front of his family.

The sun began to set.

Inside the warehouse, Lin Fan stopped what he was doing and put the wooden staff back in its place. His efforts over the past few days had been fruitful.

[Basic Staff Technique (Great Accomplishment 452/1000)] [Beginner Body Refinement (Novice 1/300)]

He clenched his fist, feeling as if he could now punch a cow to death.

Was it an illusion?

Perhaps not.

The effects of Beginner Body Refinement exceeded his imagination.

But he never became complacent. These were just crude techniques, gained through hardship. They were worlds apart from true martial arts.

Although, even now, the officers of the Security Bureau were unaware of the existence of martial arts, which undoubtedly increased the difficulty of him acquiring them.

But there was also an advantage.

That was, with his current abilities, he could establish himself more quickly in Yong'an City.

Once he joined the Security Bureau and became an officer, he would spare no effort in accumulating merit and climbing the ranks. His current goal was very clear.

Join the Security Bureau, climb the ranks.

Eventually, gain access to martial arts that ordinary people could not.

Just as he was packing up to leave, he saw Wu Yong, with a bruised and swollen face, running in in a panic.

"Brother Lin, something's happened."

Seeing Wu Yong, Lin Fan's expression changed slightly. Wu Yong had been conscripted by the Hall Master all day to act as labor, apparently because the Hall Master's mistress loved shopping and needed someone to carry many things.

But now Wu Yong returned in disarray, meaning the Hall Master had run into trouble.

Without overthinking it.

"Lead the way, we'll talk as we go."

Listening after the fact would be a waste of time.

Listening on the way, they made perfect use of their time.

They exited the warehouse.

"Fuck, brothers, grab your weapons, follow me."

With a roar, he was answered by a hundred voices. The younger brothers, who were preparing to go home, gathered around him in unison.