Dormitory Brothers, Chen Dahu

The night was as dark as ink, and the wind from the Wilderness carried the scent of blood.

Lin Fan knelt on one knee, using the short blade planted in the dirt to support himself. He gasped for breath as sweat and blood trickled together from his temple.

Around him lay the bodies of three Wind Wolves. Blood stained the weeds red, and the air was thick with a strong, rank stench.

The battle was over, but victory had come at a terrible cost.

After blinding the first Wind Wolf, Lin Fan had thought he could quickly deal with the other two. But he had underestimated the Demonic Beasts' savagery and their ability to work together.

Rather than retreat after their companion died, the two Wind Wolves launched even more frenzied attacks. They pounced in turns from either side, leaving seven or eight wounds on Lin Fan with their sharp claws and fangs.

At the most dangerous moment, a Wind Wolf's claw nearly slashed open Lin Fan's throat. Luckily, he twisted aside in time, and it left only a deep gash on his shoulder, down to the bone.

But battle was always the fastest way to grow.

A string of prompts flashed across the Status Panel:

[Basic Footwork Proficiency +15]

[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency +12]

[Killed 1st Tier Demonic Beast Wind Wolf, Combat Experience +2]

[Killed 1st Tier Demonic Beast Wind Wolf, Combat Experience +2]

[Killed 1st Tier Demonic Beast Wind Wolf, Combat Experience +2]

[Level-skipping battle (1st Grade versus peak 1st Grade), proficiency gain increased by 50%]

Just three Wind Wolves had brought him nearly 30 points of proficiency, ten times what he gained from ordinary practice.

More importantly, Lin Fan had gained an entirely new understanding of battle.

Wind Wolves weren't puppets or wooden dummies. They were living creatures that could think, cooperate, and fight to the death. Every pounce was filled with killing intent, every bite aimed at a vital point.

The pressure of life and death had pushed Lin Fan to use [Basic Footwork] and [Basic Fist Technique] to a level he had never reached before.

"Cough, cough..." Lin Fan coughed up a mouthful of bloody phlegm.

He checked his injuries.

The worst was the gash on his shoulder, deep enough to expose the bone and bleeding without stopping. Next were three claw marks on his left arm. They weren't deep, but they were long. He also had a few shallow wounds on his calf and back.

Fortunately, none of his bones or tendons had been injured. They were all flesh wounds.

"I need to treat these quickly." Lin Fan tore off the hem of his shirt and loosely bandaged the wound on his shoulder.

Then he began to process his spoils.

Following the instructions in the Common Demonic Beast Illustrated Guide, Lin Fan carefully cut open the Wind Wolves with his short blade and removed their Demonic Cores.

The three gray crystals were each about the size of a pigeon's egg. They felt cool in his hand, and he could sense the wind-elemental essence within them.

"So this is a Demonic Core..." Lin Fan examined them closely.

This was the first time he had personally obtained materials from a Demonic Beast. Back in the Slum District, he had only helped out a temporary Hunting Group. He hadn't been allowed to handle the spoils.

Aside from the Demonic Cores, the Wind Wolves' pelts, teeth, and claws were valuable materials too. But Lin Fan had no tools, so he could only strip off the most valuable hide from their backs and cut out their four sharpest fangs.

By the time he finished, night had fallen completely.

The Wilderness at night was more dangerous than he had imagined. Roars from all kinds of Demonic Beasts echoed through the distant woods: wolves howled, tigers bellowed, and strange cries rang out from creatures he couldn't identify.

Daring not to linger, Lin Fan wrapped his spoils in wolf pelts and hurried back to the academy.

Building 7, Room 203, East District.

When Lin Fan pushed open the door, everyone in the dormitory jumped in alarm.

"Brother Fan!" Chen Dahu was the first to rush over. Seeing Lin Fan covered in blood, his face changed. "How did you get hurt this badly? Did you run into trouble?"

Zhou Ming and Zhao Tie Zhu crowded around him too.

"I'm fine. Just flesh wounds." Lin Fan set the bundle on the table. "Help me get some clean water and bandages."

"I'll get water!" Zhao Tie Zhu dashed out of the dormitory.

Zhou Ming rummaged through the cabinet and pulled out a small first-aid kit. "I've got some Hemostatic Powder here. It's not great, but it's better than nothing."

Soon, Zhao Tie Zhu returned with a basin of clean water.

Lin Fan took off his bloodstained outer shirt, revealing a crisscross of wounds. The most shocking was the gash on his shoulder, its flesh torn open as blood continued to seep out.

"My heavens..." Zhou Ming sucked in a sharp breath. "What did you run into?"

"Three Wind Wolves," Lin Fan said calmly as he began to clean his wounds.

The clean water stung like fire when it touched the injuries. Lin Fan only furrowed his brow; his hands didn't pause for a moment.

Chen Dahu watched, his heart in his throat. "Brother Fan, couldn't you be a little more careful? It's only your first day, and you're already hurt this badly..."

"There's no battle without injuries," Lin Fan said mildly. "Besides, it was worth it."

He pointed to the bundle on the table. "Three 1st Tier Demonic Cores, three Wind Wolf back pelts, and twelve fangs. The Demonic Cores alone can sell for 30 Academic Credits. With the other materials, they're worth at least 50 in total."

"50 Academic Credits!" Zhao Tie Zhu's eyes widened. "That'd feed me for half a month!"

Zhou Ming looked thoughtful. "But you nearly paid for them with your life. Brother Fan, I know you're strong, but next time, go with a team. More people means more help."

Lin Fan didn't answer.

He knew Zhou Ming was right. But going with a team meant splitting the spoils, looking after teammates, and coordinating tactics... all of which would slow him down.

Besides, he had the system.

As long as he didn't die, injuries were catalysts for faster growth.

"By the way, take this." Chen Dahu suddenly dragged a wooden chest out from under his bed. Inside were all sorts of bottles and jars.

After rummaging for a while, he pulled out a small green porcelain bottle. "This is Golden Wound Ointment my dad gave me. It's an external medicine made for Hunting Groups, and it works better than what the academy sells."

"No need. I can buy medicine with Academic Credits." Lin Fan shook his head.

"Why buy it?" Chen Dahu insisted, opening the bottle. "My dad said I should make more friends at the academy. You came first in the exam. If I can be your friend, I'm the one who's lucky."

The bottle held pale green ointment with a cool, medicinal fragrance.

Chen Dahu carefully spread it over Lin Fan's wounds. The moment the ointment touched his skin, a cool sensation washed over him, and most of the pain eased.

"This medicine..." Lin Fan was a little surprised.

It worked far better than any wound medicine he'd seen in the Slum District.

"Hunting Groups make their living in the Wilderness, so getting injured is part of everyday life." Chen Dahu applied the ointment as he spoke. "That's why we take wound medicine seriously. My dad got the recipe for this Golden Wound Ointment from an old physician. It can stop bleeding and help flesh grow back, and it can even remove Demonic Beast toxins."

"Thank you," Lin Fan said sincerely.

"What are you thanking me for?" Chen Dahu gave him a simple, honest smile. "We're roommates. We'll have to look out for each other."

By the time they had treated his wounds, it was late.

Zhou Ming and Zhao Tie Zhu went to bed one after another, leaving only Lin Fan and Chen Dahu awake in the dormitory.

The two sat by the window, speaking quietly in the moonlight.

"Dahu, your father's the leader of a Hunting Group. Why didn't you join the Genius Class?" Lin Fan asked, voicing the question that had been on his mind.

With Chen Dahu's family circumstances and foundation, even if his talent was average, he should have been able to make it into the Genius Class with enough resources.

Chen Dahu was silent for a moment, then said quietly, "My dad wouldn't let me."

"Why not?"

"He says the Genius Class is too comfortable." Chen Dahu gazed out the window. "They live in villas, use a Spirit Gathering Array, and eat the best pills... Those children from powerful families do make progress quickly, but they're missing something."

"What?"

"Wildness," Chen Dahu said earnestly. "My dad says true Martial Artists aren't raised in greenhouses. You have to struggle in the Wilderness, see blood, and face life and death before you can develop real skills."

Lin Fan's heart stirred.

Those words echoed what Old Man Li and Chen Dashan had said.

"So your dad sent you to the Regular Class?"

"Yeah." Chen Dahu nodded. "He says that even though the Regular Class has fewer resources, it's closer to the real world. Here, I have to learn to earn my own resources, face competition, and solve problems by myself."

He paused, looking a little embarrassed. "But my talent really is average. I've practiced martial arts for five years, and I'm only at the middle stage of 1st Grade. I nearly failed the entrance exam."

"But your foundation is solid," Lin Fan said.

Lin Fan had noticed it while observing the Training Ground earlier that day. Chen Dahu's fistwork and footwork weren't especially refined, but every movement was precise, and his technique for generating force was sound. Only years of systematic training could produce that level of skill.

"My dad forced me into it." Chen Dahu scratched his head. "Starting when I was ten, I had to get up before dawn every day to train. Horse stance, hitting wooden dummies, running with weights... If I slacked off even a little, I got the whip."

"Strict teachers produce outstanding students."

"But my dad says I'll never be more than a 2nd Grade Martial Artist." A trace of disappointment flashed in Chen Dahu's eyes. "He says my Bone Structure is ordinary and my comprehension average. Reaching 3rd Grade Martial Master is the limit for me in this life."

Lin Fan looked at the honest, sturdy youth and suddenly asked, "Are you willing to settle for that?"

Chen Dahu froze, then shook his head hard. "No! My dad is the leader of the Thunder Hunting Group. Back in the day, he was a well-known figure in the Wilderness. I want to become a Martial Artist like him. I want to rebuild the Hunting Group. I want to..."

His voice dropped. "I want my dad to be proud of me."

In the moonlight, a flame burned in the eyes of the broad-shouldered youth.

Lin Fan fell silent.

He thought of his previous life on Earth, where he had been an ordinary person too. A programmer working 996, hunched over a computer and tapping out code every day, dreaming that one day he'd make something of himself—only to die suddenly at his desk after working overtime.

After transmigrating to this world, he had gained a system and a chance to become stronger.

But Chen Dahu had nothing of the sort.

This world was even harsher to ordinary people. Without talent, connections, or a stroke of fortune, one might spend an entire life struggling at the bottom.

"Dahu," Lin Fan said suddenly, "do you want to become stronger?"

"Of course!" Chen Dahu answered without hesitation.

"Then I'll help you," Lin Fan said calmly. "Starting tomorrow, train with me. Whatever I practice, you practice. However long I train, you train."

Chen Dahu stared at him. "Brother Fan, you..."

"But it'll be grueling." Lin Fan looked at him. "Ten times, a hundred times harder than what you're doing now. You might get injured, you might get so tired you can't get back up, and you might want to quit."

Chen Dahu took a deep breath and straightened his back. "I'm not afraid of hardship! My dad says there's no such thing as martial arts practice without hardship!"

"Good." Lin Fan nodded. "Tomorrow morning at five. Meet me at the Training Ground."

"Yes!" Chen Dahu replied excitedly.

Night had fallen deep.

After Chen Dahu went to bed, Lin Fan sat alone by the window and brought up the Status Panel.

Today's battle had brought in a bountiful harvest:

[Basic Fist Technique: Mastery Level (1956/5000)] +33

[Basic Footwork: Mastery Level (1523/5000)] +67

[Basic Breathing Technique: Mastery Level (1189/5000)] +66 (essence consumed and recovered during battle)

[Combat Experience: 53] +6

[New Skill: Short Blade Usage (Beginner 12/100)]

His proficiency with the short blade had grown naturally during the battle. It was only at the beginner level, but at least he had a foundation now.

At this rate, if he could fight like that every day, [Basic Fist Technique] would reach the Minor Accomplishment Level within a month.

But Lin Fan knew that was impossible.

First, his body couldn't take it. Three Wind Wolves had left him this badly injured. If he fought like that every day, sooner or later he'd lose his life.

Second, the academy had only so many missions. There weren't tasks involving Wind Wolves every day, and taking too many would draw attention.

"I need to find another way..." Lin Fan mused.

Just then, he noticed a faint light flickering at the bottom of the Status Panel.

Focusing on it, he saw a line of tiny text:

[Detected that host has completed a Demonic Beast elimination mission for the first time. Task System activating...]

[Activation progress: 1%...2%...]

Task System?

Lin Fan's heart stirred.

According to the system's setup, the Task System wasn't supposed to officially activate until Volume Two. But it looked like it had been triggered early.

Was it because he had taken on a combat mission ahead of time?

[Activation progress: 10%...20%...]

The light was growing slowly, but progress was sluggish. At this rate, it would take at least a few days to activate completely.

"Fine by me." Lin Fan closed the Status Panel. "One more function means one more path to strength."

He looked up at the night sky outside the window.

The stars were sparse, the moonlight cold.

This world was vast and dangerous, but it was also full of opportunities.

With the system at his side, the perseverance of a grinding machine, and every reason to become stronger, Lin Fan believed that if he had enough time, he could reach the pinnacle of the martial path.

But time... was precisely the most extravagant thing he had.

His younger sister's illness needed money, his cultivation needed resources, and the enemies he would face in the future were growing stronger...

"I need to speed up," Lin Fan murmured.

He decided that starting tomorrow, he would not only train himself to the limit, but also bring Chen Dahu along.

One more person meant one more source of strength. Besides, Chen Dahu was loyal and sincere—worth investing in.

More importantly, Lin Fan saw a reflection of his former self in Chen Dahu: an ordinary person who longed to grow stronger but had only average talent.

He wanted to see how far an ordinary person like that could go with the best training methods and the most relentless attitude.

It would help Chen Dahu, and it would also be a test of his own theories.

If even Chen Dahu could grow stronger under his guidance, that would prove the system was worth far more than he had imagined.

Night had grown late.

Lin Fan returned to bed and closed his eyes to rest.

His wounds still throbbed faintly, but his mind was crystal clear.

Tomorrow, a new beginning.

He would not only train himself, but bring his brother along too.

Perhaps this road would take him farther.

Even breathing sounded through the dormitory.

Moonlight streamed through the window, falling on the four boys.

They came from different backgrounds, possessed different talents, and carried different dreams.

But tonight, the paths of fate had crossed.

The road ahead was still long, but at least they were no longer alone.