Zhao Tieshan stood atop a pile of damaged cargo crates, the Ghost Head Saber in his hand still dripping blood.
"Tonight, every one of you brothers showed what you're made of! You've made our Black Water Gang's name ring out loud!"
His voice echoed through the air, thick with the stench of blood.
"Hall Master is mighty!"
"Kill every last one of those Red Fish Gang bastards!"
The surviving gang members raised their weapons and let out exhausted but excited shouts.
Zhao Tieshan waved a hand for silence, then turned toward Brother Liu beside him.
"Liu San, how many casualties? Have you recorded everyone's contributions?"
Brother Liu hurried forward and handed him a ledger, its pages stained with blotches of blood.
"Reporting to the Hall Master, we lost seven brothers and more than thirty were injured. Most only suffered flesh wounds. The Red Fish Gang left behind more than thirty corpses, and we cut down even more than that! I've recorded all the brothers who distinguished themselves tonight."
Brother Liu paused, then deliberately raised his voice.
"Lu Chen was especially impressive. He took down a Red Fish Gang leader and two skilled fighters all by himself, and even took a cudgel blow head-on. He's one tough bastard!"
At those words, everyone's gaze turned toward a figure in the corner.
Lu Chen was smeared with blood, impossible to tell whether it was his or his enemies'. A large patch of his clothes had been torn away from his back, revealing a horrifying bruise.
He stood there silently, wiping his saber with a piece of cloth, as if the fight had drained every last bit of strength from him.
Zhao Tieshan looked at Lu Chen, his eyes full of scrutiny and approval.
He had noticed this newcomer during the test. He was strong and sturdy, but Zhao Tieshan hadn't expected him to be even more fearless in a real fight.
"Good lad, your name's Lu Chen, right? I knew I was right about you!"
Zhao Tieshan strode up to Lu Chen and gave his shoulder a heavy slap with one big hand.
"You're built like a tank. From now on, the brothers can call you 'Lu Iron Skin'!"
"Lu Iron Skin!"
"Haha, that name suits him!"
The gang members around them joined in, and the looks they gave Lu Chen held less of the unfamiliarity of before and more respect and acceptance.
In a gang, strength was always the fastest way to earn respect.
"Thank you for the name, Hall Master."
Lu Chen cupped his fists, his voice a little hoarse.
"Now, let's reward everyone according to their merits!"
Zhao Tieshan turned and returned to the raised platform, his voice once again carrying across the whole area.
"Every brother who fought tonight gets one tael of silver! Any brother who was wounded gets another tael for medicine! The families of the brothers who died will receive ten taels in compensation!"
"As for you, Lu Iron Skin!"
Zhao Tieshan's gaze fell on Lu Chen again.
"You killed an enemy leader and earned the most credit. Five taels of silver! Starting today, you're an official member of the War Hall. No more running numbers or doing odd jobs. Stick with me, and you'll have plenty of hard fights ahead!"
Five taels of silver.
A muffled wave of astonishment passed through the crowd.
That was enough to keep an ordinary laborer working at the docks for more than half a year.
Countless envious gazes turned toward Lu Chen, but when they saw him covered in blood and wearing that steely expression, their envy gave way to acceptance.
He had earned it with his life.
Lu Chen could feel his heart racing. He hadn't expected his contribution to be worth so much.
With five taels of silver, he wouldn't have to worry about resources for his martial training for a while.
"Thank you, Hall Master!"
He cupped his fists again and bowed deeply.
After the fight, Lu Chen was given three days off to recover from his injuries.
He didn't go into the city to squander his money. Instead, he immediately turned the five taels of silver into practical resources.
First, he went to the black market and spent one tael on a Mountain Splitting Saber, heavier and made of better steel than the gang's standard sabers.
His old saber had been nicked in the fight and was no longer fit for use.
He spent the remaining four taels entirely on meat.
Not ordinary pork, but the lowest-grade exotic beast meat available on the black market: flesh from a beast called the "Ironhide Boar."
The boar meat was so coarse that ordinary people could hardly chew it, but its vital energy far surpassed that of domestic pigs.
It was also extremely expensive. Four taels of silver bought only thirty jin.
Back at the dormitory, Lu Chen placed his new Mountain Splitting Saber beside his bed, then shut himself in his room.
He boiled the Ironhide Boar meat in salted water and then wolfed it down.
The meat was tough as cowhide, but he didn't care. Relying on his powerful digestion, he forced it down piece by piece.
A wave of scorching warmth spread through his body. He immediately got up and began practicing Stone Crushing Palm in his cramped room.
Sweat streamed down him, his muscles bulging.
The bruise on his back gradually became less painful as the vast tide of vital energy coursed through it.
By day, he trained hard in Stone Crushing Palm, converting all the energy from the boar meat into nourishment for his body and consolidating his "proficient" level.
At night, he practiced Mountain Splitting Saber Technique, a basic martial art taught by the gang. It emphasized broad, forceful movements and overwhelming strength.
Lu Chen didn't aim too high. He simply repeated the most basic chops, cuts, lifts, and slashes.
He understood that even the most advanced techniques grew from the firmest foundations.
With the Heavenly Dao Rewards Diligence panel's support, every time he swung his saber, he could feel his control over his strength growing a little more precise.
Three days passed in a flash.
He had consumed all thirty jin of Ironhide Boar meat, and his body had visibly changed.
He seemed to have grown another size broader. His muscles, which had previously only shown faint definition, now stood out in sharp relief, brimming with strength.
On the panel, his Stone Crushing Palm proficiency had climbed to (2nd Realm, Proficient: 35%), while Mountain Splitting Saber Technique had appeared on the panel from nothing and reached (1st Realm, Initial Mastery: 20%).
That evening, Lu Chen, whose leave had ended, received a new assignment.
"Lu Iron Skin, you're healed up, right? Tonight, you and Wang San and Li Si are going to patrol the Angry River."
Brother Liu had come to deliver the orders again.
"Patrol?"
Lu Chen paused.
"That's right. The river's been unsettled lately. That 'thing' that cost us several brothers last time has started showing its face again. The Hall Master ordered us to send out more men to patrol the riverbank. If you spot anything unusual, send a signal immediately."
Brother Liu handed Lu Chen a bamboo signal flare.
"Remember, your job is only to keep watch. Don't engage that thing under any circumstances. It's a wicked creature."
"Understood."
Lu Chen nodded and took the signal flare.
He was on his guard against the legendary "Water Ghost."
Night fell by the Angry River.
The river wind was icy. Black water churned, making a deep, muffled roar.
Moonlight spilled across the surface, shattered by the waves into countless tiny, flickering shards.
Lu Chen and two other gang members named Wang San and Li Si walked slowly along the riverbank levee, carrying lanterns, Mountain Splitting Sabers at their waists.
"This damn weather. No human being should have to work in it."
Wang San hunched his shoulders and breathed warm air into his hands.
"Quit whining and stay sharp. If anything goes wrong, the Hall Master will skin us alive."
Li Si was more composed, warily scanning the darkness around them.
Lu Chen said nothing. He sharpened his five senses to the limit, listening for any unusual sound hidden among the wind and water.
Ever since the fight, his senses had grown sharper.
The three of them walked about a li along the riverbank. All around them lay utter silence, broken only by the water slapping against the shore.
Just then—
"Splash!"
A strange sound came from the water diagonally ahead of them.
The three men stopped abruptly and turned together toward its source.
A shadow silently burst from the water.
It moved faster than anything an ordinary person could comprehend.
Wang San, walking on the outermost side, hadn't even had time to turn his head before the shadow pounced on him.
"Ah!"
A short scream tore through the night sky.
A tremendous force dragged Wang San bodily toward the river.
Splash!
Water sprayed into the air.
His scream cut off. Only ripples spreading across the surface and a smear of red that quickly widened remained.
A living man had simply vanished.
Li Si's legs gave way and he collapsed to the ground, his face deathly pale. He pointed at the river, lips trembling, unable to utter a word.
Lu Chen felt ice run through his body too.
By the lantern's dim, yellow light, he saw it clearly.
At the moment Wang San was dragged under, he had seen the outline of the shadow.
A humanoid creature with dark green scales, long limbs, and sharp claws at its fingertips. Its eyes glowed an eerie green in the darkness.
This was the "Water Ghost."
This was a demon.
A fear that seemed to rise from his very bones seized Lu Chen's heart, locking every muscle in his body.
He could sense the creature's aura: cold, savage, and hungry for flesh and blood.
It was far beyond anything he could handle right now.
Just then—
"Splash!"
The river broke open again, and the Water Ghost burst from the water once more. This time, its target was Li Si, crumpled on the ground!
"Run!"
Lu Chen roared and, without the slightest hesitation, pulled the trigger on the signal flare in his hand.
A piercing whistle shot into the sky, bursting into a red firework against the night.
The Water Ghost's movements faltered for a moment, as if startled by the sudden noise.
It didn't retreat. A savage glint flashed in its green eyes, and its claws still reached for Li Si's throat.
It was over!
Lu Chen's heart sank.
But at that critical moment—
"Beast! How dare you!"
A thunderous shout rang out nearby.
A burly figure arrived in an instant.
It was Zhao Tieshan!
His vital energy surged. Beneath his skin, it was as if magma flowed, radiating astonishing heat and driving away the cold around him.
The Ghost Head Saber was already drawn in his hand, a faint red glow covering its blade.
Meridian Connecting Realm!
Lu Chen was shaken to the core.
This was the might of a Meridian Connecting Realm martial artist: vital energy released beyond the body, burning like a blazing fire!
The Water Ghost clearly sensed the deadly threat. It let out a strange cry, abandoned Li Si, and turned to dive back into the water.
"Trying to run? Too late!"
Zhao Tieshan snorted. He stomped hard, soared high into the air, and swung the Ghost Head Saber in an arc.
"Mountain Splitting Style!"
Squelch!
Blood flashed.
One of the Water Ghost's arms was severed at the shoulder, spraying green blood into the air.
The Water Ghost let out a pained screech. Using the momentum, it plunged headfirst into the Angry River without looking back and vanished in an instant.
Zhao Tieshan landed on the riverbank and stared at the churning water, his brow tightly furrowed. In the end, he didn't pursue it.
"Hall Master!"
Li Si, who had escaped death, scrambled on all fours to Zhao Tieshan and dropped to his knees, sobbing uncontrollably.
Zhao Tieshan ignored him and looked instead at Lu Chen, still standing nearby. A trace of approval flashed in his eyes.
"Lu Iron Skin, you've got guts. You stood your ground when faced with a demon."
"My legs were too scared to move."
Lu Chen gave a bitter laugh. That was the truth.
Zhao Tieshan laughed heartily but didn't call him out.
He walked over to the Water Ghost's severed arm and prodded it with the tip of his saber. A thick, foul stench filled the air.
"This thing's getting more and more brazen. It actually dared to come ashore and attack a patrol."
Zhao Tieshan's expression turned grave. "Looks like something's changed in the river."
He glanced at Li Si, still shaken, then at Lu Chen, who remained calm, and said solemnly:
"Don't let word of tonight's events get out, or we'll cause a panic. Li Si, take Wang San's remains back and double the compensation. Lu Chen, stay here and help me clean up."
After speaking, Zhao Tieshan seemed to have somewhere urgent to be. He gripped his saber and vanished into the night with a few swift leaps.
Only Lu Chen remained at the scene, along with the Water Ghost's Severed Arm, which was still twitching faintly.
The river breeze swept past, and Lu Chen shivered. Only then did he realize that cold sweat had long since soaked his back.
Zhao Tieshan's mighty figure, blood and energy surging as he severed the arm with a single slash, had burned itself deep into Lu Chen's mind.
His thirst for greater power had never been so intense.
He crouched down and, by the lantern's light, carefully examined the severed arm.
Its surface was covered in fine scales, and its knotted muscles seemed brimming with strength.
Just then, Lu Chen's gaze sharpened.
He noticed that the green blood slowly flowing from the wound contained a strange, intensely vital energy.
The energy was fierce and pure, a hundred times richer than the Ironhide Boar meat he had eaten.
A wild thought surged uncontrollably from the depths of Lu Chen's heart.
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