Job Posting Board

By the time the two returned to the martial hall, dusk had fallen.

The senior brothers in the common dormitory saw Zhang Hu injured, but said little, as if this sort of thing were commonplace.

When they went out under the Black Stone Martial Hall's name to escort goods or take on other jobs, how could they avoid getting hurt? Some even lost their lives.

If they were left with a permanent injury, they could only blame their bad luck. Those legendary, sky-high-priced medicines were entirely out of their reach.

Even a single Blood Coagulation Pill was enough to leave these Outer Courtyard disciples gazing up in hopeless envy.

This time, Zhang Hu slept until the middle of the night before waking.

He opened his eyes and saw Zhou Yun, who had kept watch over him all night, as well as the brocade robe hanging by the bed. Tears welled in his eyes and finally spilled over.

Zhang Hu fought back his tears and choked out the words through clenched teeth.

"Brother Yun, I'm sorry."

"I shouldn't have stolen Lu Meng's clothes. I'm useless! I'm nothing but a good-for-nothing!"

Zhang Hu slapped himself over and over, as if that could lessen the guilt in his heart.

Zhou Yun had been like an elder brother to him since they were children, yet he had let the so-called promise of a martial future blind him.

He had thought he could gamble for a chance, but that so-called Senior Brother Wang had only wanted to win a beauty's smile. He'd sent Zhang Hu to serve as a punching bag.

If Zhou Yun hadn't shown up, Zhang Hu would have ended up a complete cripple. He wouldn't even have been able to work the fields if he went home.

In this era, an ordinary farmer who couldn't work the fields was as good as sentenced to death.

The slaps kept ringing out.

Zhou Yun said nothing. He only watched quietly.

Only when Zhang Hu had slapped his face swollen did Zhou Yun grab his hand.

"That's enough. The one tael of silver I owe your family? Consider it paid off today."

Zhou Yun said no more. He could understand why Zhang Hu had done it.

But what was done was done, and there were always consequences to bear.

"Good! As long as you don't kick me out, Brother Yun!"

Zhang Hu wept openly. He wasn't worried about the silver; what he feared most was that the big brother he'd followed since childhood would cut ties with him.

"I've decided. I'm done pouring all my effort into the martial path. I'll take more jobs outside and save up to bring home a wife. Then I can live a peaceful life with my mother."

Zhang Hu wiped away his tears and snot in one swipe. His eyes held the look of someone who had made up his mind.

"But you're different, Brother Yun. Your bones are better than mine. If you're willing to work hard, you'll surely be able to break through to Bright Force!"

"If there's ever anything you need from me, just say the word!"

The young man thumped his chest. The gloom from before had vanished, and he seemed to have found hope in life again.

Zhou Yun fell silent for a moment, then said nothing more and patted his shoulder.

"It's good you've figured things out. Get some rest."

Night deepened, and snores rose and fell throughout the common dormitory.

By dawn, a new day had begun.

[Today's settlement: Though you did not practice martial arts, you defeated an enemy of a higher level. Though you are but an ordinary martial artist, your talent still shone through. Evaluation: C, middle.]

[You gained three strands of qi and laid the foundation for the martial path. Reward: one Blood Coagulation Pill, greatly improving your chances of breaking through to Bright Force.]

"Defeating an enemy of a higher level gives such a generous reward? I thought that if I didn't practice my punches, the reward would be a little less than yesterday's."

As soon as Zhou Yun opened his eyes, he saw the settlement panel in front of him.

So it wasn't just punching and standing practice. Anything related to the martial path could count toward the settlement.

That meant he needn't worry that his rewards would dry up if he tried something else. He could even experiment with other things.

After all, the Blood Coagulation Pill was a rare treasure.

Senior Brother Wang had casually offered to sell one off cheaply to Zhang Hu just to win a beauty's smile.

But on the ordinary market, it would cost at least three taels of silver.

"Three taels of silver. It's about time I repaid my debt to the Sea Whale Gang."

Zhou Yun currently had two Blood Coagulation Pills. One was entirely surplus to his needs, so he could sell it to pay off the debt.

With some savings he'd accumulated over time, he should be able to clear his family's debts. After that, he could focus on practicing martial arts without a worry.

With his mind at ease and spirits high, Zhou Yun got up and headed for the Martial Arts Arena.

Unlike other days, many senior brothers from both the Inner and Outer Courtyards had gathered there early that morning.

In the training yard stood a huge wooden board covered with dozens of notices.

"Senior Brother, what's going on today...?"

Zhou Yun found an Inner Courtyard senior brother who was taking down a notice and cupped his hands as he asked.

"Oh? You're a junior brother from the Outer Courtyard, right?"

The young man had a handsome face and a dashing air about his brows. He smiled warmly.

"This is the job posting board. Our Black Stone Martial Hall holds one every three months, listing positions and requirements from the other forces in Black Stone County. The junior brothers from the Outer Courtyard don't often take any of them."

Zhou Yun understood at once. "Thank you, Senior Brother. May I ask your name?"

"My name is Chen Jingping. Just call me Senior Brother Chen."

Senior Brother Chen waved a hand, seeming not to think much of it. "These positions are divided into half-time and full-time, with different salaries. Some also involve gang clashes and conflicts with various enemies. It's best to wait until you've reached Bright Force before taking one."

Zhou Yun nodded, only half understanding. He had heard about these positions before entering the martial hall; the minimum requirement was Bright Force.

Most were only half-time, but even then they paid one or two taels of silver a month, enough to cover the martial hall's tuition.

He looked farther down the board and saw several positions that required Dark Force. They paid as much as ten taels of silver a month, or even included a Blood Coagulation Pill.

However, most involved feuds between various families. Once you got involved, it was hard to extricate yourself.

This was the first time Zhou Yun had heard about all these twists and turns.

He was about to thank Senior Brother Chen Jingping again when he saw that the other man had already joined two male Inner Courtyard disciples and a female one.

Two of them looked familiar.

"Senior Brother Chen, which family's posting did you take this time? You even had time to talk to an Outer Courtyard disciple?"

The haughty young man lifted his chin slightly and looked at Zhou Yun in the distance with disdain. "Outer Courtyard disciples like him will never get near the threshold of Dark Force in their whole lives. There's no point in you or me befriending them."

"Junior Brother Liang, you're mistaken. He's part of our Black Stone Martial Hall too. There's no harm in offering him a few pointers."

Chen Jingping remained as gentle as jade, answering unhurriedly.

"What a waste of time. Instead of spending it talking to him, I'd be better off asking Senior Sister Shen what jobs her family's escort agency has. Maybe I can trade for a few Blood Coagulation Pills."

With that, Liang Chengshi clasped his hands behind his head and trotted over to the young woman in white.

"Senior Sister Shen, does the Sky Sea Escort Agency have any jobs available? Could you recommend me for one?"

It was Shen Qingxue. Her expression was cool, and she furrowed her brows slightly.

"If Junior Brother Liang has a need, Master Liang should be more than willing to accommodate you."

"My father's an old fossil. He keeps saying you can't take too many pills because they cause pill toxins, and that you should temper your body more... Who doesn't rely on precious natural treasures to get ahead these days?"

Liang Chengshi folded his arms and looked up at the tall, straight-backed man beside him. "Senior Brother Wang, you just got back from Xiang City. Tell me, isn't that right?"

The man was Wang Lan. He narrowed his eyes with a smile. "Junior Brother Liang is right. Still, in some matters, you'd do well to heed Master Liang's advice."

"Listen to that old fossil? I might as well figure things out myself."

With his hands behind his head, Liang Chengshi strode toward the Inner Courtyard.

"This person seems a little familiar..."

Before leaving, Shen Qingxue looked at Zhou Yun's figure as he practiced martial arts, then shook her head.