Surrounded by Wolves

"Stop staring," Sun Cheng's voice brought Cui Hao and Wang Nian back to reality. "Now that you've entered the Mortal Martial Realm, you need to familiarize yourselves with how to wield your strength."

"I'll break down a few practical variations of the Broken Fist and techniques for using its power in conjunction with the stance training. Pay close attention and master them as soon as you can. These are the foundation of the Mortal Martial Realm, and the key to whether you can advance further in the future."

"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Wang Nian quickly hid the envy he couldn't keep off his face and thanked him respectfully.

Then a trace of hesitation and embarrassment showed on his face. He rubbed his hands together and cautiously asked, "Senior Brother Sun... do you know where I might find a job?"

Sun Cheng immediately understood what Wang Nian meant.

For disciples like Wang Nian, whose families were ordinary, if not downright poor, breaking through to the Mortal Martial Realm was certainly cause for celebration. But what came right after was enormous financial pressure.

Consolidating and improving one's cultivation required Qi and Blood Powder and plenty of meat. Every bit of it cost silver.

Finding a job and securing a relatively steady income and supply of resources was the preferred path for most common-born disciples.

He couldn't compare with Xiao Li and Li He; they were receiving support and didn't need to sell their labor for the time being.

Sun Cheng pondered for a moment. "If you want something easy, you could try the Fire Suppression Bureau. There isn't much to do most days, but the rules are strict, and you won't have much freedom of movement. You have to be ready to respond at any time."

The Fire Suppression Bureau was what the common folk called the firefighting brigade. It was halfway to being an official government office.

Wang Nian didn't want to go somewhere with no prospects. "Senior Brother Sun, are there any wealthy households looking for guards or the like?"

Being a guard was hard work, but the pay was often better. It might also bring him into contact with a different level of society. If he were lucky enough to earn his employer's favor, there might even be extra benefits.

"Guards..." Sun Cheng thought it over. "It seems Mister Zhang's household in the west of the city is hiring guards for night patrols. Night duty is tough, and you'd have to take on some risks."

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

"I'll write one for you this afternoon." It was a small favor for Sun Cheng to do. If it helped his junior brother, it would be good to build a bond between them.

After dealing with Wang Nian's matter, Sun Cheng turned to Cui Hao, who had been silent all along. "Junior Brother Cui, what about you? What are your plans?"

"Senior Brother Sun," Cui Hao said, cupping his hands, "I'd like to try somewhere like Jiren Hall or Xuanhu Hall."

Hearing this, Sun Cheng gave a slight shake of his head and spoke frankly. "Those old, established halls you mentioned already have no shortage of experts on their payroll. They're extremely picky about hiring."

After a pause, Sun Cheng put it bluntly. "You've only just entered the Mortal Martial Realm, and you broke through right at the deadline. In their eyes... I'm afraid you won't even catch their attention."

"I'll forget it, then. I'll think of something else."

Sun Cheng didn't try to persuade him further. He assumed the Broken Fist's opening stance. "Come on. Get used to wielding your strength. Both of you, attack me together."

After leaving the martial arts hall at night, Cui Hao checked his status panel on the way home.

[Broken Fist Stance Training: Minor Mastery (3/600)]

[Effects: Physique +10, Resistance to Blunt Force +5, Bonus Damage +5, Critical Hit +1]

The effects had stacked, and his physique had improved significantly once again!

This confirmed his earlier guess: the martial arts hall taught its techniques in separate stages.

At the entry level, they taught only the most basic methods for building strength and a simplified version of the Broken Fist. The aim was to temper the body, build up Qi and blood, and lay the foundation.

Only after disciples broke through to the Mortal Martial Realm, with a solid physical foundation and sufficient Qi and blood to support it, would they be taught the more complete and complex parts.

It was only after today's lesson from Sun Cheng that Cui Hao learned that beneath the five seemingly simple signature moves of the Broken Fist lay twelve ingenious variations, with transitions between offense and defense and feints interwoven with real attacks.

The stance training wasn't just standing still, either. It included eight basic footwork patterns. Paired with breathing and the flow of Qi and blood, they let a practitioner weave and dodge atop a wooden post no wider than a few feet. Every step corresponded to a different way of generating force and a different combat movement.

The techniques were taught in stages not because the martial arts hall was stingy, but because it was thinking of its disciples.

There was too much to learn. If everything were taught from the start, new disciples with immature minds and insufficient Qi and blood might become enamored with flashy moves, neglecting the most fundamental tasks of building up Qi and blood and tempering their bodies. They would put the cart before the horse and never amount to much.

This also meant that the martial arts hall only truly began teaching its disciples "how to fight" once they reached the Mortal Martial Realm—how to use their strength effectively in actual combat.

Everything before that had just been "preparation."

His thoughts churned. Before he knew it, he had left the city through the north gate. Cui Hao quickened his pace toward Willow Tree Village.

"Brother Hao!" Su Yun opened the courtyard gate from inside. Her voice trembled with lingering fear. "...Aunt Li—Aunt Li was beaten by Zhou Menglong! She's badly hurt!"

Cui Hao's heart tightened. "What happened? Why?"

"I heard someone in the village told Zhou Menglong that... that Aunt Li laughed really loudly outside her house when Zhou Menghu died."

"Then, when Zhou Mengyue died, Aunt Li laughed again... Today, Zhou Menglong brought people to corner her. He said she was 'taking pleasure in their misfortune' and 'showing disrespect to his brothers,' then slapped her several times in front of everyone and kicked her... Aunt Li is old; how could she withstand that? She nearly passed out. She's still lying at home and can't get out of bed..."

"Try not to go out for now," Cui Hao told her. "If we're short on anything, tell me. I'll go buy it."

Su Yun lowered her head. "The water jar at home... is almost empty. I don't dare go out to fetch water..."

"Let's eat first," Cui Hao said, putting an arm around his wife's shoulders and guiding her inside. "I'll get water after dinner."

Dinner was large chunks of stewed meat, fragrant white rice, and delicious snake soup.

Both of them were ravenous, and they devoured every last bite.

After eating their fill, their bodies brimming with strength, Cui Hao picked up two large wooden buckets and went out to fetch water.

Someone intercepted him on the way.

"Xiao Haozi, wait a moment."

Cui Hao stopped and turned toward the burly figure that had suddenly appeared in the snowy night. He wore an appropriately timid expression, with a hint of fear. "Z-Zhou... Brother Zhou, were you calling me?"

Zhou Menglong pointed to the three men beside him and said to Cui Hao, "Xu Liang, Zhang Si, and Wang Gouzi. They're all well-known hunters in the village."

"As for me, I just got back from the west. I'm planning to bring everyone together and form the Mad Wolf Gang."

"From now on, it'll be more convenient to handle things in the village and do a little business in the city! What do you say, Xiao Haozi? Join the Mad Wolf Gang too."

Cui Hao was sick to death of the idea. The Zhou brothers really were born of the same mother; every day, all they thought about was doing bad things. Didn't they have any shame?

Though he looked down on them and couldn't stand them, his face showed a flattered yet conflicted expression. He waved his hands repeatedly. "Brother Zhou, you're too kind! I... I'm just a scholar who can't even truss a chicken. Wouldn't I only hold everyone back if I joined a gang? I can't, I can't..."

"A scholar's exactly what we need!" Zhou Menglong cut him off, his tone leaving no room for refusal. "The gang needs literate people to keep accounts, write documents, and deal with outsiders! Follow me, Zhou Menglong, and I won't treat you badly!"

"Brother Zhou..." Cui Hao drew his neck into his shoulders, looking even more timid. "I'm just a nobody with no prospects. I don't have any grand ambitions. I only want to keep my little plot of land and live a peaceful life... Please understand."

Zhou Menglong's face darkened. He narrowed his eyes and sized Cui Hao up, his voice turning icy. "What? Look down on me, Zhou Menglong? Or... do you have something else in mind?"

Cui Hao "shrank back in fright" half a step, nearly dropping his buckets. He hurriedly said, "No! Absolutely not! Brother Zhou, how could I dare? I'm just a coward with no prospects... You're a great man; please be magnanimous..."

Zhou Menglong suddenly let out a mocking laugh and waved his hand, his tone full of disdain. "Forget it, forget it. Scholars are useless! Get lost and go fetch your water!"

"Right! Thank you, Brother Zhou! Thank you, Brother Zhou!" As if granted a reprieve, Cui Hao bobbed and bowed, then hurried off with his buckets.

Throughout the exchange, Xu Liang, Zhang Si, and Wang Gouzi had watched in silence without saying a word.

Only after Cui Hao had gone far did Zhou Menglong look away and turn back to Xu Liang and the other two. That same smile, half temptation and half threat, returned to his face. "You three, think it over. If you join the Mad Wolf Gang, I'll see to it that you get meat to eat and wine to drink every week! If you don't know what's good for you..."

He paused, his cold gaze sweeping over the three men. "Your fate won't be much better than that little Xiao Haozi's! He rejected me today. How many more peaceful days do you think his beautiful little wife will get?"

At this, Xu Liang's eyes lit up. A lewd, eager look appeared on his face as he rubbed his hands together and smiled ingratiatingly. "Brother Zhou... are you saying we should go after Xiao Haozi's wife? That Su Yun... really is the prettiest, freshest-looking woman in the village..."

Zhou Menglong snorted, as if it were only natural. "Beautiful women belong to the strong! Cui Hao is just a lowly Tongsheng, a poor scholar. What right does he have to such a beautiful woman? He doesn't deserve her!"

"Brother Zhou... if... if we pull it off," Xu Liang said, licking his chapped lips as he ventured the question, "could... could the brothers have a taste too? No woman in the village is as alluring as Su Yun..."

Zhou Menglong nodded. "You can."

"Boss..." Zhang Si raised a hand to speak. "Xiao Haozi knows how to hunt. We can trick him into the mountains..."