Receiving an Assignment

The next day.

Shen Mu got up early, washed and dressed, then headed out. After meeting Luo Tao on the street, they walked together toward Firewood Gang headquarters.

"Brother Shen, you're here."

They entered Firewood Gang's gates and made their way to the Martial Arts Arena, where Mao Shouzhuo greeted them warmly.

Shen Mu returned the greeting with a smile. "Brother Mao, I went to collect the firewood money yesterday, so I was delayed by a day. I'm really sorry about that."

"No worries."

"Come on," Mao Shouzhuo said with a smile. "I'll take you to register."

"Then I'll trouble you, Brother Mao."

With Mao Shouzhuo leading the way, the two of them headed to Gathering Heroes Hall.

The people training their bodies at the Martial Arts Arena watched them leave with envy in their eyes.

As they walked, Mao Shouzhuo told Shen Mu about Firewood Gang's history.

It was said that hundreds of years ago, Firewood Gang had made its fortune by robbing travelers in the mountains. Afterward, it began to wash its hands of its former ways.

The Firewood Gang in Cloud Dragon County was merely a branch that had split off from the gang in the prefectural city above.

Many customs from the old mountain strongholds had also been passed down.

Now that he had reached First Stage Boiling Blood, Shen Mu was qualified to become a true member of Firewood Gang.

Before becoming a member, he had to burn incense at Gathering Heroes Hall to honor Firewood Gang's ancestors and swear to share life and death, wealth and honor with the gang from then on.

Only after that would he register, choose a hall to join, and receive a specific assignment.

They soon arrived at Gathering Heroes Hall. Two guards stood watch at the entrance. Only after Mao Shouzhuo explained their purpose did they allow the two inside.

Gathering Heroes Hall was a somewhat spacious chamber, with tables and chairs arranged along either side and an altar at the far end, crowded with ancestral tablets.

Shen Mu clicked his tongue inwardly, as if surprised that Firewood Gang had been passed down for so many years.

Now that he had reached First Stage Boiling Blood, his senses had also grown sharper.

He could clearly feel something prickling at his back as soon as he entered Gathering Heroes Hall.

He guessed someone was watching him from the shadows. That person's martial cultivation was extremely high; if they wanted to kill him, they could do it without breaking a sweat.

"Brother Shen, here."

Mao Shouzhuo took three sticks of incense from the altar and handed them to him.

"Brother Shen, once you've paid your respects to our ancestors, you'll be a true member of Firewood Gang. From then on, you'll share life and death, wealth and honor with the gang. Have you thought it through?"

Mao Shouzhuo's expression was solemn as he asked in a low voice.

Shen Mu's expression turned grave. "If Firewood Gang does right by me, I'll do right by Firewood Gang!"

"Shen Mu, newly admitted member of Firewood Gang, offers incense to the ancestors!"

Mao Shouzhuo gave him a deep look, then called out loudly, his voice ringing through the entire hall.

"Dong!"

Outside Gathering Heroes Hall, a gang member struck the bronze bell. Its toll rang across Firewood Gang headquarters and carried far into the distance.

At that moment, everyone in Firewood Gang stopped what they were doing and turned to look toward Gathering Heroes Hall.

When the bell rang, it meant a newcomer had joined Firewood Gang and become a true member.

With the bell tolling, Shen Mu stepped forward, lit the incense, and performed three prostrations and nine kowtows, completing the initiation ceremony.

"Brother Shen, let's go. I'll take you to register!"

After Shen Mu completed the ceremony, Mao Shouzhuo led him to Incense Hall to register, explaining the gang's ranks along the way.

"Firewood Gang's ranks, from highest to lowest, are Gang Leader, Hall Master, Incense Master, Market Master, Deacon, core member, and member. Those at First to Third Stage Boiling Blood are members; Third to Sixth Stage are core members; Seventh to Ninth Stage are Deacons. Once you reach Ninth Grade Tendon-Changing, you can serve as a Market Master..."

"Those at First Stage Boiling Blood receive one tael of silver a month, along with two jin of ungraded demonic beast meat."

"Upon reaching Second Stage Boiling Blood, you receive two taels of silver a month, along with five jin of ungraded demonic beast meat."

"..."

Shen Mu clicked his tongue inwardly. He hadn't expected the gang's hierarchy to be so strict.

But then he thought it over. Firewood Gang had been around for hundreds of years, while the branch in Cloud Dragon County was just a minor offshoot. The ranks had long stood the test of time.

After registering at Incense Hall, Shen Mu received two sets of Firewood Gang member's clothes and a wooden token as proof of his identity. The front bore the character for "firewood," and the back had his name.

Besides that, Shen Mu also received the body-tempering instructions for Second through Fourth Stage Boiling Blood, along with a manual for Army-Breaking Saber Technique, an ungraded martial art.

Mao Shouzhuo explained, "Brother Shen, once you reach Fourth Stage Boiling Blood and become a core member, you can come here to collect a more advanced body-tempering manual."

"As for this Army-Breaking Saber Technique, it's a simplified version of a low-grade Yellow Grade martial art called Demon-Subduing Saber Art. It's suitable for those in the Boiling Blood Stage to practice, and it also tempers the body. You could say it kills two birds with one stone."

"If you manage to enter a grade later, then practice Demon-Subduing Saber Art, and you'll get twice the result with half the effort."

Shen Mu nodded with a smile. "I see. I understand now."

"Now that you're registered, the next step is to join a hall."

Mao Shouzhuo smiled. "Firewood Gang has Beast Hunting Hall, Yuan Mulberry Hall, and Firewood Hall. Which one appeals to you, Brother Shen?"

"But think carefully, Brother Shen. Once you join a hall, you can't change your mind!"

Seeing the hesitation on Shen Mu's face, Mao Shouzhuo continued, "Of course, if you haven't made up your mind, you can do what I did and serve as an instructor at headquarters, training the outer members. Once you've thought it through, you can make your choice..."

After giving it some thought, Shen Mu smiled and said, "Brother Mao, I'd like to join Yuan Mulberry Hall and get an assignment there."

"Yuan Mulberry Hall?"

Mao Shouzhuo paused, then nodded. "Yuan Mulberry Hall is a fine place. Since you've made up your mind, Brother Shen, I'll take you there."

"Then thank you, Brother Mao."

Mao Shouzhuo smiled. "No need. From now on, we're all brothers in the same gang. Naturally, we should look out for each other."

Shen Mu had reached First Stage Boiling Blood in just one month. Across all of Firewood Gang, that kind of cultivation speed was rare as a phoenix feather and a qilin horn.

Whether Shen Mu had used Blood Qi Pills to speed up his progress or reached this point through diligent practice, his demonstrated potential was worth investing in.

When they reached the entrance to Yuan Mulberry Hall, Shen Mu saw the signboard hanging above the gate.

Inside Yuan Mulberry Hall, Shen Mu saw a young man of about twenty-six or twenty-seven. Bare-chested, he showed off his sturdy muscles as he wielded a long saber with fierce, sweeping strokes.

Blood-colored steam billowed thickly from his body, making Shen Mu's heart tighten.

"With blood-colored steam that dense, he must be close to entering a grade, right?"

Shen Mu thought to himself.

Mao Shouzhuo didn't interrupt the man's practice of Army-Breaking Saber Technique. He simply stood beside Shen Mu and quietly introduced him. "That's Qin Yu, a Deacon of Yuan Mulberry Hall. He's currently at the peak of Eighth Stage Boiling Blood. His father, Qin Xiong, is Yuan Mulberry Hall's Incense Master and has already reached Fourth Grade Tendon-Changing."

Shen Mu nodded, naturally understanding the deeper meaning behind Mao Shouzhuo's words.

If he joined Yuan Mulberry Hall and managed to get along with this man, then with his backing, Shen Mu would surely thrive there.

But he also knew that if he didn't show enough potential, why would Qin Yu pay him any attention?

About the time it takes to burn a stick of incense passed. Qin Yu lowered his saber and looked over at them.

"Shouzhuo, what brings you two here?"

Qin Yu smiled.

Seeing Qin Yu greet Mao Shouzhuo so warmly, Shen Mu's thoughts stirred.

It seemed Mao Shouzhuo had connections within Firewood Gang too. Otherwise, how could he be stationed at headquarters?

Mao Shouzhuo smiled. "Brother Qin, this is Shen Mu. He tempered his body for just one month before reaching First Stage Boiling Blood. I've already taken him to Gathering Heroes Hall to offer incense. He wants to join Yuan Mulberry Hall, so I brought him over."

"Oh?"

Qin Yu understood. "So this young brother is the reason the bell rang at Gathering Heroes Hall just now?"

"To reach First Stage Boiling Blood in only a month—his martial talent really is exceptional."

"Shen Mu pays his respects to Deacon Qin."

Shen Mu clasped his hands and bowed, speaking respectfully.

"Brother Shen, I'll head back first. Brother Qin will take care of everything you need to do to join Yuan Mulberry Hall."

Mao Shouzhuo said.

Shen Mu nodded and thanked him. "All right. Thank you for showing me the way, Brother Mao."

"No worries."

Mao Shouzhuo waved, said his farewells to Qin Yu, then turned and left.

"Come with me."

Qin Yu put on his robe and motioned for Shen Mu to follow.

Shen Mu quickly caught up with Qin Yu, and the two of them headed into Yuan Mulberry Hall.

Qin Yu led him inside. The layout was the same as Gathering Heroes Hall, with tables and chairs along both sides and an altar in the middle, where ancestral tablets were enshrined. The only difference was that it had far fewer tablets than Gathering Heroes Hall.

Qin Yu looked at Shen Mu, his expression serious. "Did Shouzhuo tell you that once you join Yuan Mulberry Hall, you can't change halls?"

Shen Mu nodded. "He did."

"Good. Since you understand, offer incense to Yuan Mulberry Hall's ancestors. From now on, you'll be one of us."

Qin Yu gestured for him to proceed.

Shen Mu walked up to the altar, took three sticks of incense, lit them, and placed them in the incense burner. Then he performed three prostrations and nine kowtows before the ancestral tablets.

"All right. As of today, you're a member of Firewood Gang's Yuan Mulberry Hall."

Qin Yu's expression softened slightly before he continued. "Now we'll assign you a position. At present, there are three positions available to members of Yuan Mulberry Hall."

"The first is guarding ten mu of Origin Mulberry Field and preventing outsiders from secretly stealing the nearly ripe Origin Mulberry Fruit. This position carries some danger. After receiving the monthly pay given to all members, you'll also earn an extra five taels of silver a month from Yuan Mulberry Hall."

"The second is overseeing the outer members who pick Origin Mulberry. The duties are somewhat tedious, but you'll earn an extra three taels of silver a month."

"The third is overseeing the outer members who raise Origin Silkworms. The duties are somewhat tedious, but you'll earn an extra two taels of silver a month."

When Qin Yu finished, he waited quietly for Shen Mu to decide.

At yesterday's banquet, Shen Mu had learned about Yuan Mulberry Hall's positions from Wang Jin.

If he guarded Origin Mulberry Field, he'd have plenty of time during the day to temper his body and improve his blood qi.

The work did carry some danger, but it was within acceptable bounds.

Shen Mu replied respectfully, "I'll take the first position: guarding Origin Mulberry Field!"

"Guarding Origin Mulberry Field?"

Qin Yu was taken aback, but said nothing more. He took out a wooden waist token and handed it to Shen Mu.

Shen Mu accepted it. The words "Field Eleven, Section C" were written on it. That must be the exact section of Origin Mulberry Field he'd be responsible for guarding.

Qin Yu explained, "There's lodging in the fields. If you want to buy demonic beast meat to temper your body and improve your blood qi, you'll have to go into the city and buy it yourself."

"Show this waist token to get into the fields. Once you're there, the members working there can direct you to Field Eleven, Section C."

After taking his leave of Qin Yu, Shen Mu returned to the Martial Arts Arena and said goodbye to Luo Tao, who was training his body. He also said goodbye to Mao Shouzhuo.

Next, Shen Mu went to Wang Jin's residence to tell him he'd joined Yuan Mulberry Hall and received an assignment guarding Origin Mulberry Field.

Only after saying goodbye to him did Shen Mu leave the city and head for Emerald Cloud Valley, where Origin Mulberry Field was located.