Nominated for a Concurrent Post

In a room on the second floor of the Hua Pavilion overlooking the street, a person peered through a gap in the window at the scene below. Once Chen Mo left, the person slowly closed the window.

A moment later, the burly man carrying a saber walked into the room and bowed, saying, "Vice Leader, just now..."

"I saw it all," the man addressed as the Vice Leader interrupted. "Do you know that person's background?"

The burly man replied, "That person is a Ming Jin practitioner. He claimed to be from the Panshi Martial Hall."

The Vice Leader sneered, "I know every Ming Jin practitioner in the Panshi Martial Hall, and he is not one of them. Send some scouts to investigate the Panshi Martial Hall and see if this person has been seen there."

The burly man hesitated, "But what if he really is from the Panshi Martial Hall..."

"Bang!"

The Vice Leader slammed his palm onto the wooden table in front of him, sending tea splashing everywhere and covering the tabletop in cracks. "Since when has our Hansha Gang ever feared a martial hall? Besides, we have someone behind us..."

The burly man immediately understood, nodded in acknowledgment, and exited the room.

In a narrow alley in the south of town.

Chen Mo and Chen Lan returned home. The latter let out a long sigh of relief; had Chen Mo not appeared in time during today's terrifying encounter, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

In these chaotic times, ordinary women were mostly unable to control their own fates. Even the few who were free lived in constant fear every day, and without a strong man to protect them, they easily became prey for tigers.

"Neither the Black Tiger Hall nor the Hansha Gang are kind people," Chen Lan said, still feeling a lingering fear.

After some thought, Chen Mo said, "Sister, try to go out less from now on. I will handle all the daily shopping."

"Can you manage it with your busy schedule?" Chen Lan asked with concern.

Chen Mo nodded, "No problem. Lately, I've been listening to my seniors at the martial hall talk about the town's news, so I'm quite well-informed and understand the various factions. I can handle things outside much better. You just stay home and cook; I love the food you make."

Chen Lan smiled, and the house was filled with a long-lost sense of happiness.

After dinner, Chen Mo practiced his stance and punches as usual.

With Black River Town currently caught in the whirlpools of the Black Tiger Hall and the Hansha Gang, and perhaps other hidden factions lurking in the shadows, Chen Mo knew very well that he had to improve his strength as quickly as possible.

The next day at dawn.

Chen Mo arrived at the martial hall, first practicing his stance twenty times, then his punches twenty times.

When Ji Chang inadvertently moved closer to Chen Mo, he suddenly realized something and exclaimed in shock, "Junior Brother, you've broken through to Ming Jin!?"

This voice drew the gazes of the others.

Junior Brother Chen Mo had only been here for half a month, how could he have already broken through to Ming Jin?

If it were true, wouldn't he have broken the record held by the senior disciple?

Yin Shanshan, who had been watching Zhang Chong intently, turned to look at Chen Mo, her eyes filled with a grave expression. She clearly did not want to believe it.

Luo Heng, who had been lost in his own training, glanced in Chen Mo's direction with a smile that was neither entirely righteous nor entirely evil, "Interesting. I have another opponent starting today."

Beside him, Luo Wei twitched his mouth, wanting to say something but unable to find the words.

At this moment, the steady, bell-like voice of Yin Tianqing rang out:

"Everyone, quiet down!"

The hall fell silent instantly, and everyone stopped their training, knowing the master had something to say.

Shortly after, several figures walked into the hall one after another. Leading them was a man in a yellow robe with a majestic, tiger-like stride, followed by two muscular martial artists.

Behind them were a man and a woman; the man was around thirty, and the woman was in her early twenties.

Yin Tianqing brought up the rear. After inviting them to sit, he smiled and said, "Your presence in my humble hall truly makes it shine!"

The yellow-robed man cupped his hands, "The Tianqing Martial Hall is full of talent; seeing it today, it is truly so."

The man and woman also offered some polite remarks.

Finally, Yin Tianqing turned to his disciples: "Today, the Zhao Family and the Wu Family are visiting to select some capable disciples. Everyone, please cooperate."

Ji Chang leaned close to Chen Mo's ear and whispered, "This is what they call a sponsored appointment. The Zhao Family is the largest family in Black River Town, while the Wu Family has declined slightly in recent years."

Chen Mo nodded; he was also interested in this sponsored appointment.

An appointment came with a salary, which could solve his current financial distress.

Then, the yellow-robed man from the Zhao Family cupped his hands toward the man and woman from the Wu Family, "You two, I shall not be modest."

He walked straight past the disciples and stopped in front of Zhang Chong, "I have long heard that the senior disciple of the Tianqing Martial Hall became famous at a young age. Seeing you today, it is just as they say. Would you be willing to become a retainer for the Zhao Family?"

A retainer?!

Hearing this title, everyone couldn't help but look on with envy. The status of a retainer was much higher than that of a mere guard, especially a retainer for the Zhao Family.

Zhang Chong had long been qualified for an outside appointment, but he had been waiting for the best option, and today, he had found it.

The steady senior disciple was overjoyed, "This junior is willing! Thank you, Senior, for this opportunity!"

After the Zhao Family took Zhang Chong, the two from the Wu Family began searching through the crowd, but there were very few Ming Jin disciples left who hadn't been appointed, and their choices were limited.

The man from the Wu Family spoke up, "I am inclined to choose someone who broke through to Ming Jin earlier."

The woman, however, said, "I prefer someone with better natural talent."

Judging by their expressions, Chen Mo could tell that these two were at odds; it seemed there was infighting within the family as well.

The man's face darkened slightly before he turned to Yin Tianqing, "I must ask Master Yin to select a disciple for us."

Yin Tianqing nodded, his gaze sweeping across the room.

His eyes lingered on Chen Mo; the speed at which the latter had reached Ming Jin truly surprised him, but after a moment of hesitation, his gaze continued to wander and finally landed on Luo Heng.

He withdrew his gaze, "Luo Heng broke through to Ming Jin last year, and his practical combat experience is quite impressive."

Upon hearing this, the corners of Luo Heng's mouth curled upward.

The man from the Wu Family nodded, looking quite satisfied, "In that case, then..."

"Wait!"

The woman beside him interrupted, "Master Yin, I heard your hall just took in a new disciple this month named Chen Mo."

"That is true," Yin Tianqing replied, "Chen Mo should have just broken through to Ming Jin."

Hearing this, both the yellow-robed man from the Zhao Family and the man from the Wu Family revealed expressions of astonishment; breaking through to Ming Jin in less than a month was rare even in the great families.

The man from the Wu Family said, "Although he broke through to Ming Jin extremely quickly, he lacks experience, and I fear he may be unable to shoulder the responsibility."

The woman from the Wu Family arched her brows, "Isn't that a bit too presumptuous of you?"

The yellow-robed man from the Zhao Family watched as if enjoying a joke, teasing, "Don't tell me you want the two of them to fight it out to decide the winner?"

The man from the Wu Family did not refute this upon hearing it, "Why not decide the winner on the spot? A life-and-death battle would damage our harmony, so it would be better if they each strike a wooden stake with their palms; whoever can split it cleanly shall be the winner."

After he finished speaking, he looked at Yin Tianqing, who pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement.

Although the woman from the Wu Family was still reluctant, she had no other choice; she looked up at the slightly thin Chen Mo, not holding much hope in her heart.

Yin Tianqing personally designated two wooden stakes of identical size and thickness, and Luo Heng stepped forward first with confidence, rolling up his sleeves, gathering his strength in his right palm, and chopping down fiercely.

"Crack!"

A fissure appeared in the middle of the wooden stake, splitting it into two halves; although there were still some wood fibers attached and it wasn't perfect, he was certain it was enough to win.

He glanced quietly at the reactions of the crowd, seeing those he had previously defeated gasp, as if that palm had struck them instead.

The man from the Wu Family felt reassured upon seeing this, while the woman from the Wu Family's expression dimmed.

Everyone looked toward Chen Mo as he walked slowly onto the stage, stood before the wooden stake, and raised his hand into a fist.

"Using a fist?"

Expressions of doubt surfaced on the faces of the crowd, and the man from the Zhao Family also whispered, "Using a fist to split a stake requires much more control over force than a palm; it seems this boy doesn't know how to use his palm."

When Chen Mo's right fist was one foot and three inches from his shoulder, it suddenly descended.

"Crack—"

The wooden stake before him shattered crisply, and the break was even and smooth, with almost no wood fibers remaining connected.