The Angry River docks were bustling.
Lu Chen carried a log as thick as a bowl and about three zhang long. Each step he took on the damp, slippery gangplank made it creak.
The log was Dragon Bone Wood, used to build warships. It weighed over four hundred jin. Ordinarily, two laborers had to carry one together, stopping to rest every few steps.
But Lu Chen carried it alone. Though the veins on his forehead bulged, his steps were remarkably steady.
His gaze passed through the crowd, always seeming to linger on the hunched figure ahead: Baldy.
Baldy had work today too, but he was the sort to shirk and slack off, choosing only light odds and ends to carry.
At that moment, he was carrying a basket of dried fish on his back. His eyes darted about, and every so often he glanced fearfully behind him at Lu Chen. His steps were hurried and erratic.
The two thugs from last night hadn't come back.
Early this morning, Lu Chen had appeared at the docks as if nothing had happened. He'd even taken the initiative to "smile" at Baldy.
That had magnified Baldy's fear a hundredfold.
He knew those two men had definitely been done in.
And Lu Chen, the usually taciturn youth, was undoubtedly a ruthless killer who wouldn't bat an eye at taking a life!
I have to run... Leave here and hide out in the neighboring county for a while...
Baldy was already backing out in his mind. He just wanted to finish this job, collect his pay, and flee.
He quickened his pace, trying to cross the narrow floating bridge ahead and board a cargo ship moored there.
The bridge was narrow, barely wide enough for two people to pass sideways. Below it flowed the Angry River, swift and muddy, with enormous whirlpools churning beneath the bridge.
Just as Baldy stepped onto the floating bridge, heavy footsteps sounded behind him.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The muffled sound beat like a drum, each step seeming to land right on his heart.
Baldy turned around instinctively.
Lu Chen was striding toward him with the enormous log on his shoulder, its huge shadow instantly engulfing him.
"Make way. Coming through."
Lu Chen's voice was calm, giving nothing away.
But to Baldy, it sounded like a death sentence.
"Y-you... Don't come any closer!"
Baldy shuddered in terror, slipped, and fell backward.
The floating bridge already swayed. His flailing made it rock violently.
A cold glint flashed in Lu Chen's eyes.
Now.
He made no unnecessary move. As if merely trying to keep his balance, he gave his shoulder a slight jerk, and the heavy log "accidentally" shifted outward by an inch.
That inch struck the fish basket on Baldy's back perfectly.
A four-hundred-jin log, combined with the momentum of Lu Chen's stride—how tremendous was that force?
Baldy didn't even have time to scream before he was flung beyond the railing of the floating bridge.
"Help—"
Splash!
A huge spray of water erupted, and Baldy's figure vanished into the muddy river.
The Angry River ran fast, with towering waves and treacherous currents beneath the floating bridge. Someone who couldn't swim like Baldy would be in trouble; even a strong swimmer would be badly battered if they fell in.
"Ah! Someone fell in!"
"Quick, save him!"
The laborers nearby cried out in alarm, craning their necks to look.
But aside from a few bubbles breaking on the river's surface and the floating fish basket, where was Baldy?
Lu Chen stopped, steadied the log on his shoulder, and put on an expression of "shock" and "panic."
"W-what... How did he fall in by himself?"
Lu Chen shouted, sounding completely innocent. "I just called out to let him pass. He panicked and slipped!"
Several laborers nearby had seen what happened and nodded in agreement:
"Yeah, I saw it too. Baldy slipped all on his own."
"This bridge is slippery to begin with, and he was carrying a load while stumbling around. No surprise he fell in."
"Ah, Baldy did plenty of evil in his day. Guess this is karma."
No one suspected Lu Chen.
In everyone's eyes, Lu Chen was just a simple lad who worked hard. With such a heavy load on his shoulders, he had to focus just to walk. How could he have the strength to harm anyone?
Besides, the log really had "happened" to brush against the fish basket. It looked entirely like an accident.
A Black Water Gang overseer came over, glanced at the river, and waved impatiently.
"What are you making such a fuss about? What's so strange about one person dying? Get back to work! If you hold things up, I'll dock your wages!"
At these docks, a laborer dying was as commonplace as a dog dying.
Since the overseer had spoken, the crowd soon dispersed. Everyone went back to work with their heads down, and no one gave another thought to Baldy, who had vanished into the river.
Lu Chen carried on, striding steadily with the log on his shoulder.
The corner of his mouth curled almost imperceptibly.
The problem was solved.
An "accident" like this left no witnesses and spared him any further trouble.
Even if Baldy's body was pulled from the water, there wouldn't be a single mark on him. It could only be classified as death by drowning.
That was the importance of brains—they were more frightening than strength alone.
Lu Chen worked especially hard that day.
As if to calm his nerves, or perhaps to vent.
By the time work ended at dusk, he had collected a full hundred copper coins.
It was the most he'd earned in a single day so far.
But Lu Chen didn't hurry home. Instead, he went to a notice board by the docks.
A crowd had gathered around it, pointing at a notice on red paper and discussing it.
"The Black Water Gang's recruiting?"
"I heard they lost quite a few men in the Reed Marsh last time. They're looking to fill their ranks."
"Even an outer member gets two taels of silver a month, and meals are included! That's a lot better than working as laborers."
"Sure, the Black Water Gang's food sounds great. But you have to risk your neck to earn it!"
Lu Chen stood outside the crowd, his eyes on the notice.
[The Black Water Gang is recruiting elite members. Applicants must be strong, brave, and ready to fight. Those who pass the test will receive two taels of silver a month and a Black Water Short Uniform.]
Two taels of silver.
Meals included.
Those two conditions hooked Lu Chen's heart like bait.
He worked himself to the bone at the docks, yet earned only a little over one tael of silver a month. He still had to buy his own rice and meat, leaving nothing to save—let alone enough to buy medicinal herbs to aid his training.
Besides, now that Stone Crushing Palm had broken through to the second realm, simply eating meat was already becoming less effective.
He needed higher-grade resources, such as genuine tonics or the "Exotic Beast Meat" unique to this world.
He could only get access to those things by joining a faction like a gang.
More importantly, with the Black Water Gang backing him, petty nuisances like Baldy wouldn't dare provoke him so easily again.
"Fortune favors the bold."
Lu Chen made up his mind.
His strength was only at the second realm of Stone Crushing Palm, but with the Iron Skin trait, his ability to take a beating far surpassed that of ordinary people. Add his freakish strength, and passing the test shouldn't be difficult.
But he also had to be careful not to overdo it.
He couldn't seem too strong, or he might be singled out or arouse suspicion about his background. But he couldn't be too weak either, or he wouldn't get in.
The safest persona was a brawny lout with a bit of extra strength and hide as tough as leather.
Once he had decided, Lu Chen squeezed out of the crowd, quietly memorizing the time and place of the test.
Tomorrow at noon, the Black Water Hall.
On the way home, Lu Chen made a special stop at an apothecary to buy a bottle of bruise liniment.
He wasn't hurt, but if he was going to put on an act, he had to go all the way.
If he was going to play the role of a brawny lout "ready to fight," how could he do that without smelling of medicine?
Back at the courtyard, Lu Chen didn't practice his forms as he usually did.
With the test tomorrow, he had to keep himself in peak condition.
He sat on his bed with his eyes closed, quietly running through the moves of Stone Crushing Palm in his mind again and again.
Though he couldn't move, this kind of mental practice could still deepen his understanding of the moves.
On the panel, Stone Crushing Palm's proficiency remained at (2nd Realm, Familiarity 1%).
But he knew that with enough resources, that number would soon start climbing.
Night fell.
Lu Chen touched the money pouch tucked against his body, felt its firm weight, and found his mind at peace.
Baldy was dead. The two thugs were dead.
Now he had nothing to worry about.
Tomorrow would be a crucial step forward in this chaotic world.
He would go from a laborer anyone could bully to a member of a gang.
Even if he was only the lowest-ranking grunt, it was still a leap forward.
"Heavenly Dao Rewards Diligence..."
Lu Chen murmured softly, clenching his fist in the darkness.
As long as he worked hard, he would be rewarded.
This golden finger had never let him down.
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