Surrounded by Wolves

"Stop looking," Sun Cheng's voice pulled Cui Hao and Wang Nian back to reality. "Now that you've entered Mortal Martial, the next step is to get familiar with using your strength."

"I'll break down some practical applications and cooperative stance training power generation techniques for Broken Fist for you. Absorb them carefully and master them quickly. This is the foundation of Mortal Martial Realm, and it's also the key to whether you can advance further in the future."

"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Wang Nian quickly hid his unconcealed envy and thanked him respectfully.

Then, a hint of hesitation and embarrassment appeared on his face. He rubbed his hands and cautiously probed, "Senior Brother Sun... do you know if there are any errands to be found?"

Sun Cheng immediately understood Wang Nian's meaning.

For disciples like Wang Nian, whose families were ordinary, even poor, breaking through to Mortal Martial was indeed a joyous occasion, but it was immediately followed by immense financial pressure.

Consolidating and improving cultivation required Qi and Blood Pills, and sufficient meat. Every item required silver.

Finding an errand to obtain a relatively stable income and resource support was the most common path for ordinary disciples.

They couldn't compare to Xiao Li and Li He, who received financial aid and didn't need to sell their labor for the time being.

Sun Cheng pondered for a moment and said, "If you want something more leisurely, you can try the Fire Suppression Bureau. There isn't much daily work, but the rules are strict, and you won't have much freedom in your actions. You need to be on standby at all times."

The Fire Suppression Bureau, commonly known as the fire brigade, was considered a semi-official organization.

Wang Nian didn't want to go somewhere without prospects. "Senior Brother Sun, are there any wealthy families looking for guards?"

Guards worked hard, but often received better treatment and might interact with different levels of people. If they were fortunate enough to gain the master's appreciation, there might even be extra benefits.

"Guards..." Sun Cheng thought for a moment. "The Mister Zhang family in the west of the city seems to be recruiting guards for night patrols. It's hard work on night duty, and it also involves some risks."

Wang Nian's eyes lit up. "That sounds good! Please trouble yourself, Senior Brother. Could you... could you write me a letter of recommendation?"

"I'll write one for you this afternoon." This was a simple favor for Sun Cheng. If he could help his junior brother, it would be good to build a good relationship.

After dealing with Wang Nian's matter, Sun Cheng turned to the silent Cui Hao. "Junior Brother Cui, what about you? Do you have any plans?"

"Senior Brother Sun," Cui Hao cupped his fist. "I'd like to go to places like Jiren Hall or Xuanhu Hall."

Hearing this, Sun Cheng shook his head slightly and said frankly, "The old establishments you mentioned already have many experts guarding them, and they are extremely picky about recruiting personnel."

He paused and continued bluntly, "You've just entered Mortal Martial, and you broke through right at the deadline. In their eyes... you probably won't even catch their dharma eye."

"Forget it, I'll think about it again."

Sun Cheng didn't try to persuade him further. He assumed the stance for Broken Fist> and said, "Come on, get familiar with your strength. Both of you, attack me together."

Leaving the martial arts school after dark, on the way home, Cui Hao looked at his status panel.

[Broken Fist> Stance Training: Minor Accomplishment (3/600)]
[Effects: Physique +10, Damage Resistance +5, Bonus Damage +5, Critical Hit +1]

The effects stacked, and his physique was significantly enhanced again!

This confirmed his previous guess – the martial arts school taught the techniques in a fragmented way.

When they first joined, they only taught the most basic methods for refining strength and a simplified version of Broken Fist>, aiming to temper the physique, accumulate Qi and blood, and lay a solid foundation.

Only after disciples broke through to Mortal Martial, possessing a good physical foundation and Qi and blood support, would they teach the more complete and complex parts.

What Sun Cheng taught today, he now knew, was that the seemingly simple five major moves of Broken Fist> actually had twelve intricate variations beneath them, with seamless transitions between offense and defense, and the interplay of reality and illusion.

And the stance training wasn't just about standing still; it involved eight basic footwork techniques, coordinated with breathing and Qi circulation, allowing for movement within a small area. Each step corresponded to different power generation techniques and practical combat movements.

The fragmented teaching wasn't because the martial arts school was stingy; it was actually for the disciples' benefit.

The content of the techniques was too vast. If it were all revealed at once, new disciples with unstable minds and insufficient Qi and blood might become obsessed with the flashy moves, neglecting the fundamental accumulation of Qi and blood and physical tempering. This would ultimately lead them to abandon the root for the branches and fail to achieve greatness.

This also meant that starting from Mortal Martial Realm, the martial arts school truly began teaching disciples "how to fight," how to effectively apply their strength in combat.

Everything before that was just "preparation."

Thoughts churned in his mind, and he unknowingly passed through the North Gate and out of the city. Cui Hao quickened his pace to return to Willow Tree Village.

"Brother Hao!" Su Yun opened the courtyard gate from inside, her voice filled with lingering fear. "...Aunt Li, Aunt Li was beaten by Zhou Menglong! She's not lightly injured!"

Cui Hao's heart tightened. "What happened? What was the reason?"

"I heard someone in the village reported to Zhou Menglong, saying... saying that when Zhou Menghu died, Aunt Li was laughing loudly at her doorstep."

"Then when Zhou Mengyue died, Aunt Li laughed again... Today, Zhou Menglong brought people to block Aunt Li, saying she was 'gloating' and 'disrespectful to his brother.' He slapped her several times in public and kicked her... Aunt Li is old, she couldn't take it. She almost passed out and is now lying at home, unable to get out of bed..."

"Try not to go out as much as possible recently," Cui Hao instructed. "Tell me if we're short of anything at home, and I'll get it."

Su Yun lowered her head. "The water vat at home... is almost empty. I'm afraid to go out and fetch water..."

"Eat first," Cui Hao said, putting his arm around his wife's shoulder as they walked into the house. "I'll fetch it after we eat."

Dinner was a large piece of stewed meat, fragrant white rice, and delicious Snake Soup.

Both of them were extremely hungry and ate everything at a ravenous pace.

After eating their fill and feeling energized, Cui Hao picked up two large wooden buckets and went out to fetch water.

He was intercepted halfway.

"Xiao Haozi, wait a moment."

Cui Hao stopped, turned his head to look at the burly figure who suddenly appeared in the snowy night, and showed a suitably timid expression mixed with a hint of fear. "Brother... Brother Zhou, are you calling me?"

Zhou Menglong pointed to the three people beside him and said to Cui Hao, "Xu Liang, Zhang Si, and Wang Gouzi are all renowned hunters in the village."

"As for me, I just returned from the west and plan to unite everyone's strength to form the Mad Wolf Gang."

"From now on, handling village affairs and doing a little business in the city will be much more convenient! What do you say, Xiao Haozi? Join the Mad Wolf Gang too?"

Cui Hao felt disgusted. These Zhou brothers were truly born of the same mother, always thinking of doing bad things, and they weren't even ashamed.

Though he disdained, disliked, and looked down on them in his heart, he put on a show of being flattered and troubled, waving his hands repeatedly. "Brother Zhou, you flatter me too much! I... I'm just a scholar with no strength to even truss a chicken. If I join a gang, won't I just be a burden to everyone? No, no..."

"A scholar is exactly what we need!" Zhou Menglong interrupted Cui Hao, his tone leaving no room for refusal. "The gang needs someone literate for bookkeeping, writing documents, and dealing with outsiders! Follow me, Zhou Menglong, and I won't mistreat you!"

"Brother Zhou..." Cui Hao shrunk his neck, appearing even more timid. "I'm just an insignificant nobody with no great ambitions. I just want to tend to my small plot of land and live a peaceful little life... Please understand."

Zhou Menglong's expression turned grim, his eyes narrowing slightly as he sized up Cui Hao. His voice dripped with coldness. "What? Do you look down on me, Zhou Menglong, or... do you have other ideas in mind?"

Cui Hao "trembled" and took half a step back, almost dropping his water bucket. He hastily said, "No! Absolutely not! Brother Zhou, how would I dare! I'm just timid and useless... You are magnanimous..."

Zhou Menglong suddenly let out a scoff, waved his hand, and said dismissively, "Forget it, forget it. Scholars are useless! Get lost and go fetch your water!"

"Ah! Thank you, Brother Zhou! Thank you, Brother Zhou!" Cui Hao, as if granted a great pardon, quickly bowed and scraped, then scurried off with his bucket to fetch water.

Throughout the entire exchange, Xu Liang, Zhang Si, and Wang Gouzi watched silently, not interjecting.

Only after Cui Hao had walked far away did Zhou Menglong retract his gaze and turn back to the three of them, a smile mixed with temptation and threat reappearing on his face. "You three think carefully. Join the Mad Wolf Gang, and you'll have meat and wine every week! If you're uncooperative..."

He paused, his cold eyes sweeping over the three. "Your fate won't be much better than that Xiao Haozi! He refused me today, and I wonder how many days his beautiful young wife will be safe?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Liang's eyes lit up, and a lewd, covetous expression appeared on his face. He rubbed his hands and said with a fawning smile, "Brother Zhou... you mean you want to go after Xiao Haozi's wife? That Su Yun... she is indeed the most radiant woman in our village..."

Zhou Menglong snorted, as if it were natural. "Beautiful women naturally belong to the strong! He, Cui Hao, a mere Tong Sheng, a poor scholar, why should he possess such a beautiful woman? He doesn't deserve her!"

"Brother Zhou... if... if the deed is done," Xu Liang licked his slightly chapped lips and asked tentatively, "can... can the brothers also... have a taste? In the village, Su Yun is the most alluring..."

Zhou Menglong nodded in agreement. "Yes."

"Gang leader..." Zhang Si raised his hand to speak. "Xiao Haozi knows how to hunt. We can lure him into the mountains..."