Apology

Li Yuan listened intently. Escorting caravans had no fixed schedule and involved too many gang entanglements; neither option was what he truly wanted.

Zhao Qin seemed to read Li Yuan's thoughts and continued, "There is one other place: the Black Market, ten miles outside the county town."

"They often post tasks there that don't see the light of day, and the pay is high."

"For instance, acting as temporary security, collecting debts, or even private jobs that are better left unsaid."

"Money comes quickly, but the risks are the highest, and it's easy to invite trouble."

"If you decide to go, it's best to only take simple tasks, and you must be extra careful."

"There are also items and martial arts manuals that are hard to sell elsewhere; you might even find those there."

Hearing this, Li Yuan's heart stirred. The Black Market—that was a place worth looking into.

While risks certainly existed, the level of freedom was also high.

What he needed most right now was to quickly accumulate a sum of silver to purchase a better heavy bow and supplements like high-quality meat.

"Understood," Li Yuan nodded.

Immediately after, Li Yuan went to the study to flip through some transcripts, increasing his progress in the Literacy skill.

[Skill: Literacy (Novice)]

[Progress: 80/500 points]

Seeing the sun tilting toward the west, he rose to leave the martial hall and headed toward his home outside the city.

Just as he stepped out of the street where the martial hall was located, a somewhat familiar voice drifted from an alleyway:

"Yo! Isn't this Li Yuan? It's been a while. Are you... coming out of the Five Animals Martial Hall?"

Li Yuan turned his head to look and saw a man with a buzz cut, wearing cotton short-sleeved attire and sporting a signature set of yellow teeth, walking toward him with a smile.

It was Yan Xiang, the leader of the local ruffians, whom he had met only a month ago.

Behind him followed several cowering men, among them Wang Three Scars, whose face was still bruised and whose arm was still in a sling.

Seeing this formation, Li Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Yan Xiang," Li Yuan said in a flat tone, devoid of any discernible emotion. "What is this? Did you bring people to block my path today? Is this about Wang Three Scars?"

The improvement in his strength and his status as a student of the martial hall meant Li Yuan no longer feared Yan Xiang.

Even if Yan Xiang's boss were to come after him, he would have to consider the Five Animals Martial Hall standing behind him.

You have people behind you? Do you think I don't?

Borrowing influence to exert force was, after all, one of life's essential lessons.

Upon hearing this, a warm smile spread across Yan Xiang's face as he stepped forward quickly, completely lacking the subtle air of condescension he had displayed in the past:

"Li Yuan, what are you saying? Am I the kind of person who acts without rhyme or reason? We haven't just known each other for a day or two, have we?"

As he spoke, he turned back and glared fiercely at Wang Three Scars:

"It was this dog who went behind my back and broke the rules, actually daring to extort you. I only just found out, and I brought them here immediately—I had to give you an explanation."

Yan Xiang's expression turned stern as he barked at those behind him: "You lot, get over here and kowtow to Master Li to apologize!"

Wang Three Scars and the others fell to their knees with a thud, kowtowing like they were pounding garlic:

"Master Li, we were wrong! We were blind and didn't recognize your greatness. We will never dare to do it again!"

"Master Li, spare us!"

Li Yuan ignored them, looking at Yan Xiang with a hint of surprise.

This script was all wrong. Shouldn't it be that the underling gets beaten, the boss gets angry, they come for revenge, and then he, Li Yuan, suppresses them with a single hand?

Seeing Li Yuan's expression soften, Yan Xiang leaned in a step closer and said:

"Li Yuan—no, I should call you Brother Li now."

"I truly didn't expect it. It hasn't been long since we last met, and you've quietly joined the Five Animals Martial Hall."

"I even heard... you've already made a name for yourself and broken through to the Ox Skin Realm?"

These words finally made everything clear to Li Yuan.

When he and Yan Xiang met in the past, had they ever been this polite?

It turned out everything was because he had broken through to the Ox Skin Realm and become an official student.

Yan Xiang gave a thumbs-up and praised him sincerely: "Impressive, truly impressive!"

"I knew it. Brother Li, you've been dealing with wild beasts in the mountains since you were a child; you've always had a fierce, resilient spirit in your bones."

"You were never meant to stay in a small pond. I always felt you were different from those spineless cowards."

Li Yuan understood now; Yan Xiang's information network was indeed well-connected, and his ability to change his face was just as fast.

He truly deserves his reputation for surviving in this territory for so long.

He said indifferently, "You flatter me; I have merely just stepped over the threshold."

"Ah, that is too modest," Yan Xiang said, waving his hands repeatedly. "To step into the Skin Refining Realm is to be a carp leaping over the dragon gate; you are no longer the same kind of person as those of us just muddling along."

As he spoke, he pulled two money pouches from his bosom and shoved them into Li Yuan's hands. "This is compensation for those idiots under Wang Three Scars offending you."

"And this other one is a small token of my sincerity, a congratulatory gift for your entry into the martial path. You must accept it!"

Li Yuan weighed them; the pouch Yan Xiang gave him privately was quite heavy, likely containing seven or eight taels of silver.

Not only had he returned the silver he had extorted in the past in full, but he had added an extra two or three taels on top.

This Yan Xiang was certainly willing to spend a fortune to resolve this minor grievance.

Li Yuan sighed inwardly; this world of martial arts was not just about killing and fighting, but about human relationships and worldly wisdom.

After this display, he even felt a bit embarrassed.

This Yan Xiang, no wonder he managed to get ahead. I used to think he was just a bully who picked on the weak.

Now it seems this shrewdness—the ability to read the situation and cling to an opportunity the moment it arises—is the true foundation of his success.

Watching Yan Xiang, who appeared genuinely happy for the rise of his "old acquaintance," Li Yuan felt a chill run down his back.

Often, people like this are the ones who strike the hardest once you fall.

Yan Xiang tried to invite Li Yuan for drinks and a meal, but Li Yuan refused.

He had no desire to waste more breath on Yan Xiang, so he turned and left.

Li Yuan did not head straight home; instead, he circled through several alleys, and after confirming he was not being followed, he headed toward the Black Market outside the city.

As the night grew heavy, Li Yuan reached a secluded spot, donned the cloak and mask he had purchased in advance, and padded his shoulders with two wooden boards.

Before long, he arrived at a place where only a few dim, flickering lights swayed in the wind.

The people here were mostly armed with blades, swords, or short staves, all watching one another with vigilance.

This was the Black Market Zhao Qin had mentioned.

At the entrance, a guard with a black cloth covering half his face silently held out a hand.

Li Yuan understood, fished out one hundred copper coins, and handed them over; only then did the man step aside to let him pass.

Stepping inside, he found himself in a man-made cavern.

Shadowy figures moved about within; most were like Li Yuan, faces covered with cloth or wearing bamboo hats, keeping their distance from one another while whispering in low voices.

Along both sides of the cavern, small stalls were set up.

The items displayed on the roadside stalls were bizarre and varied: blood-stained manuals, fresh medicinal herbs still caked in dirt, as well as pills, weapons, and armor.

Li Yuan did not linger at the stalls; his goal was the area where tasks were posted.

After asking a stall owner, he followed the flow of people to a relatively open area where a larger crowd had gathered.

On a mottled earthen wall, slips of paper were scattered about.

He stepped forward, carefully examining them by the dim light of an oil lamp from a nearby stall.

The contents of the slips were diverse: some sought medicinal herbs of a specific age, some recruited hands to explore certain locations, and others were for seeking revenge or collecting debts...

The rewards varied just as much.