Rolling Logs! No Witnesses!

The Nu River dock was bustling with activity.

Lu Chen carried a log, as thick as a bowl and about thirty feet long. Each step he took on the damp, slippery gangplank made a "creak" sound.

This log was Dragon Bone Wood, used for building warships. It weighed over four hundred pounds. Ordinary laborers needed two people to carry it, resting every few steps.

But Lu Chen carried it alone. Though veins bulged on his forehead, his steps were surprisingly steady.

His gaze cut through the crowd, always subtly fixed on the shrinking figure ahead – Baldy.

Baldy had also taken on work today, but he was the type to slack off, only choosing light, miscellaneous goods to move.

At this moment, he was carrying a basket of dried fish on his back, his eyes darting nervously. He kept glancing back at Lu Chen in fear, his steps on the planks chaotic and unorganized.

Last night, those two ruffians had gone and never returned.

This morning, Lu Chen had appeared at the dock as if nothing had happened, even giving him a "smile."

This amplified Baldy's fear infinitely.

He knew those two were definitely finished.

And Lu Chen, this usually quiet young man, was definitely a ruthless character who wouldn't hesitate to kill!

I have to run... get out of here, go to the next county and hide for a while...

Baldy's resolve faltered. He just wanted to finish this job quickly, collect his pay, and flee.

He quickened his pace, wanting to cross the narrow floating bridge ahead and get onto a docked cargo ship.

The floating bridge was narrow, only wide enough for two people to pass sideways. Below was the swift, murky water of the Nu River, with huge whirlpools churning beneath the bridge.

The moment Baldy stepped onto the floating bridge, heavy footsteps sounded behind him.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The sound was dull like drumbeats, each one hitting his chest like a hammer.

Baldy instinctively looked back.

He saw Lu Chen, carrying the massive log, striding towards him. Lu Chen's huge shadow instantly enveloped him.

"Move aside, I need to pass."

Lu Chen's voice was flat, with no discernible emotion.

But to Baldy, it sounded like a death knell.

"You... don't come any closer!"

Baldy trembled with fear, his foot slipped, and he lurched backward.

The floating bridge was already unstable. His panic caused it to sway violently.

A cold glint flashed in Lu Chen's eyes.

Opportunity.

Without any extra movement, as if merely to maintain balance, his shoulder twitched slightly. The heavy log "inadvertently" shifted outward by an inch.

This inch was precisely enough to hit the fish basket on Baldy's back.

The four-hundred-pound log, combined with Lu Chen's forward momentum, generated immense force.

Baldy didn't even have time to scream. He flew directly out of the floating bridge's railing.

"Help..."

Splash!

A huge spray of water erupted, and Baldy's figure was instantly swallowed by the murky river.

The Nu River's currents were swift and rough, and the undertow beneath the floating bridge was treacherous. Forget Baldy, who couldn't swim; even an expert swimmer would lose a layer of skin falling in.

"Ah! Someone fell in!"

"Quick, save him!"

The surrounding laborers cried out in alarm, craning their necks to look.

But on the river, apart from a few churning bubbles and the floating fish basket, there was no sign of Baldy.

Lu Chen stopped, steadying the log on his shoulder, a look of "shock" and "panic" on his face.

"What... how did he fall in himself?"

Lu Chen shouted loudly, his tone innocent, "I just asked to pass, and he panicked and slipped!"

A few laborers nearby had also seen what happened and nodded in agreement:

"Yeah, I saw it too. The bald guy slipped on his own."

"This floating bridge is slippery to begin with, and he was carrying stuff and flailing around. It's no wonder he fell."

"Sigh, that bald guy's always up to no good. Guess it's karma."

No one suspected Lu Chen.

In everyone's eyes, Lu Chen was just a hardworking, simple lad. Carrying such a heavy load, he needed to concentrate fully just to walk; how could he have the energy to harm someone?

Moreover, the log had indeed "accidentally" brushed against the fish basket just now, looking entirely like an accident.

A supervisor from the Black Water Gang walked over, glanced at the river, and waved his hand impatiently:

"What are you shouting about! What's so surprising about one or two people dying? Get back to work! If you delay, I'll dock your wages!"

At this dock, the death of a laborer was as common as the death of a dog.

Since the supervisor had spoken, the crowd quickly dispersed, and everyone continued to lower their heads and work, no longer caring about Baldy, who had disappeared into the river.

Lu Chen carried the log, steadily moving forward.

The corners of his mouth curved upward almost imperceptibly.

The trouble was resolved.

This kind of "accident" not only left no witnesses but also saved him a lot of future hassle.

Even if Baldy's body was recovered, there would be no wounds on him, and it would only be classified as drowning.

This was the importance of intelligence, more terrifying than mere brute force.

Lu Chen worked exceptionally hard that day.

As if to calm his nerves, or perhaps to vent.

By the time work ended in the evening, he had earned a full hundred coins.

This was the most he had ever earned in a single day.

But Lu Chen didn't rush home. Instead, he went to a bulletin board by the dock.

A crowd had gathered there, pointing and chattering at a notice printed on red paper.

"The Black Water Gang is recruiting?"

"I heard they lost quite a few brothers in the reeds last time, so they need to replenish their numbers."

"Even as an outer member, you get two taels of silver a month, and meals are provided! That's much better than being a laborer like us."

"Get real, is the food from the Black Water Gang any good? That's a job where you put your life on the line!"

Lu Chen stood outside the crowd, his gaze fixed on the notice.

[The Black Water Gang is recruiting elite members. Requirements: strong and robust, brave and willing to fight. Those who pass the assessment will receive a monthly salary of two taels and be bestowed with the Black Water Short Uniform.]

Two taels of silver.

Meals provided.

These two conditions hooked Lu Chen's heart like a fishing hook.

He toiled endlessly at the dock for just over one tael of silver a month, and he had to buy his own food. He couldn't save any money, let alone afford medicinal herbs to aid his martial arts training.

Furthermore, as his Stone Crushing Palm broke through to the second realm, simply eating meat had begun to yield diminishing results.

He needed higher-level resources, such as genuine tonics or the "exotic beast meat" unique to this world.

These were things he could only access by joining a powerful organization like a gang.

More importantly, with the protection of the Black Water Gang, petty troublemakers like Baldy would no longer dare to provoke him easily.

"Fortune favors the bold."

Lu Chen made up his mind.

His current strength, though only at the second realm of Stone Crushing Palm, combined with his Iron Skin trait, gave him far superior resilience to the average person. Coupled with his monstrous strength, passing the assessment shouldn't be difficult.

However, he also needed to be careful.

He couldn't appear too strong, lest he be seen as a troublemaker or his origins be suspected; nor could he be too weak, or he wouldn't be accepted.

Maintaining the persona of a "strong, thick-skinned brute" was the safest approach.

Having made up his mind, Lu Chen squeezed out of the crowd and silently noted the time and place of the assessment.

Tomorrow at noon, at the Black Water Hall.

On his way home, Lu Chen made a special trip to the pharmacy to buy a bottle of liniment for bruises and sprains.

Although he wasn't injured, he had to play the part convincingly.

If he was going to pretend to be a "brave and fierce brute," he needed to smell like he'd been in a fight, didn't he?

Back at the large courtyard, Lu Chen didn't practice his punches in the yard as usual.

He had an assessment tomorrow and needed to maintain his peak physical condition.

He sat on his bed, closed his eyes to rest, and mentally rehearsed the moves of Stone Crushing Palm over and over again.

Although he couldn't move, this mental training allowed him to deepen his understanding of the techniques.

On his status panel, the proficiency of Stone Crushing Palm remained at (Realm 2: Proficient 1%).

But he knew that with sufficient resources, that number would soon start to climb.

Night deepened.

Lu Chen touched the money pouch hidden close to his body, feeling its firm texture, and a sense of peace washed over him.

Baldy is dead, and those two ruffians are dead.

Now, he has no worries left.

Tomorrow will be a crucial step he takes in this chaotic world.

From a laborer who was bullied by everyone to a gang member.

Even if it's just the lowest-ranking grunt, it's still a leap.

"Heavenly Dao Rewards Diligence..."

Lu Chen muttered softly, clenching his fist in the darkness.

As long as he works hard, he will definitely reap rewards.

This cheat system has never let him down.

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