The Invisible Barrier

"Senior brother, your family?"

Hearing Zhuang Tao's words, Chen Jing was visibly stunned.

The Zhuang family's business was one of the largest restaurants in Red Rock County. With a constant stream of customers eating and drinking every day, they made a fortune daily, and their family foundation was naturally very substantial.

Moreover, during his time at the Fist Academy, Chen Jing had heard that the Zhuang family maintained a specialized beast-hunting team, allowing them to procure various rare exotic beast meats year-round.

Zhuang Tao nodded, his tone earnest as he said, "That's right. Junior brother, your character and conduct are very much to my liking. If you come to work for my family, not only will your food and drink be free, but you'll also receive three jin of Green-skinned Horned Pig meat and twenty-five taels of silver every month!"

Listening to the terms Zhuang Tao offered, Chen Jing's heart skipped a beat.

Three jin of Green-skinned Horned Pig meat... that alone was worth a fortune.

Plus twenty-five taels of silver?

Such treatment, if thrown out there, would be enough to recruit a group of loyal death-sworn!

Yet, it was being used to recruit him. This could no longer be called a pie falling from the sky; it was gold falling from the heavens!

"Then... what would I usually have to do?"

Chen Jing took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement as he asked.

After all, with such generous compensation, the level of danger might be significantly higher.

"My family is opening a new restaurant soon; you would usually just hold down the fort there."

At this, a mysterious smile appeared on Zhuang Tao's face as he continued, "But more importantly, there's the beast-hunting team!"

Hearing this, Chen Jing raised an eyebrow, a trace of doubt flashing in his eyes: "The beast-hunting team?"

Zhuang Tao explained with a sense of pride, "Exactly. Our Zhuang family doesn't just run restaurants; we also keep a beast-hunting team specifically to hunt exotic beasts."

"Exotic beast meat, exotic beast hides, exotic beast materials—it all depends on them for supply."

"Otherwise, how do you think my family managed to grow our restaurant business so large!"

Speaking to this point, Zhuang Tao's expression turned serious. "When you come to work for me, junior brother, you must participate in one exotic beast hunting expedition every month."

"Of course, the difficulty of the hunts won't be too high. After all, we wouldn't let you throw your life away for nothing; we'd only be the ones losing out in the end."

Chen Jing nodded upon hearing this and replied, "So that's how it is."

No wonder Zhuang Tao offered such generous terms; it turned out the bulk of the value lay in the exotic beast hunting.

At this moment, Zhuang Tao said with a solemn face, "Alright, junior brother, we are good friends. As long as you come to my side, I will definitely not treat you unfairly."

He then patted Chen Jing on the shoulder and continued, "Of course, there is no rush. You can go back and think about it first. The news that you have broken through to the Blood Creek realm and become a First Blood Martial Artist has basically reached the County Government Office. Other factions will receive the news soon, and you can compare the offers then; you'll know the situation once you do."

Chen Jing responded, "Alright!"

"Good. Since you have broken through to the Blood Creek realm, let's begin our practical training."

Zhuang Tao suddenly dropped his smile, saying with a stern expression, "Let your senior brother teach you the first lesson: there is danger at all times!"

Before the words had even faded, a fist came crashing down!

Seeing Zhuang Tao's attack, Chen Jing hurriedly raised his arms to block, saying, "Senior brother, that's a bit lacking in martial virtue!"

After sparring with Zhuang Tao for the rest of the afternoon, Chen Jing finished his training when evening arrived. As he walked toward home, he pondered the terms Zhuang Tao had offered.

He had to admit, he was quite tempted by Zhuang Tao's recruitment.

Three jin of Green-skinned Horned Pig meat, twenty-five taels of silver, and all food and drink covered...

Anyone would be tempted.

However, friendship was one thing, but one still had to compare offers from different sources. Only after seeing what others were willing to pay would he know the true situation, and it wouldn't be too late to make a decision then.

The women of the slums were sitting at their doorways, chatting casually while working on their needlework.

Suddenly, a figure came sprinting from the distance.

Aunt Li squinted and realized, isn't that my own son? She quickly shouted, "Zhuzi, why are you running so fast! What happened?"

Hearing this, Zhuzi stopped in his tracks, gasping for air as he said, "Mom, I saw... I saw..."

Aunt Wang, standing nearby, chimed in, "What did you see, Zhuzi? Speak up, why are you stuttering!"

Aunt Li glared fiercely at Aunt Wang, then patted Zhuzi on the back, saying, "No matter what you saw, stop for a second and catch your breath!"

After taking a breath, Zhuzi shouted loudly, "My friend at the County Government Office just told me that Chen Jing has become a First Blood Martial Artist! He said we should build a good relationship with him!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the women present were stunned for a moment before they began to discuss it fervently.

"What!"

"Little Jing has become a martial artist?"

"Little Jing really became a martial artist!"

"Oh my, back then when Old Chen came to borrow money, I didn't lend him any. He won't hold a grudge against me, will he..."

"Exactly, Aunt Wang, didn't you say that Little Jing practicing martial arts was useless? Now that he's a martial artist, will he come to beat you up? After all, those martial artists are all cold-blooded killers..."

At this moment, the entire alley was a cacophony of voices, descending into chaos.

"This... that shouldn't be possible, right?"

Hearing the discussion among the many matrons, Aunt Wang's expression shifted instantly. Gritting her teeth and stamping her foot, she hurried toward the house of Chen Sanwu.

Seeing this, the other matrons quickly followed suit.

Soon, when Chen Jing arrived at the entrance of the alley, he saw from a distance that a large group of women had gathered at his doorstep.

"Little Jing is here!"

"Little Jing, come in quickly!"

"Little Jing is back from martial arts training! When he was just two or three years old, I said he would have a bright future!"

"Old Chen, your son is back!"

The moment Chen Jing appeared, a chorus of chattering voices erupted in unison.

Listening to the jumbled remarks of the crowd, Chen Jing finally understood: somehow, the news of him becoming a First Blood Martial Artist had reached these neighbors.

"Little Jing... no... Master Jing, I was blind before and said the wrong things. Please, don't take it to heart!"

At this moment, Aunt Wang hurried over to Chen Jing and began to beg for mercy.

Hearing Aunt Wang change her address for him from "Little Jing" to "Master Jing," Chen Jing was momentarily stunned.

He then clearly sensed that the way the surrounding neighbors looked at him had changed.

It had shifted from their previous indifference and disdain to current reverence, fear, and even a faint, underlying dread.

An invisible barrier had emerged between him and these people...

Seeing Chen Jing fall into a sudden silence, Aunt Wang panicked and hurriedly spoke up: "Master Jing, it was my fault... can you please let me off..."

"Aunt Wang, I never took those words to heart."

Listening to Aunt Wang's pleas, Chen Jing waved his hand, speaking with total indifference.

To be honest, Chen Jing had long since forgotten what Aunt Wang had said back then.

After all, in Chen Jing's eyes, Aunt Wang was nothing more than a stranger he vaguely recognized.

"Jing'er, come in quickly!"

At this moment, Chen Sanwu came out from the house and hurriedly beckoned to Chen Jing.

Seeing this, Chen Jing followed Chen Sanwu into the house.

"Father, I've broken through. I am now a First Blood Martial Artist!"

Looking at Chen Sanwu before him, Chen Jing spoke up quickly.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Hearing Chen Jing's reply, Chen Sanwu was so excited his hands were trembling, his face filled with uncontrollable joy.

"It's good that you've broken through. I really should have sent you to learn martial arts sooner!"

By the end, Chen Jing even saw a few tears rolling from the corners of Chen Sanwu's eyes.

At this time, Chen Jing asked: "By the way, Father, why are the neighbors gathered at our door? How did they know I broke through?"

Hearing this, Chen Sanwu began to explain: "It seems that Aunt Li's son saw people from your martial arts school delivering something to the County Government Office, and that's how they knew you had broken through."

Chen Jing nodded his head: "So that's how it is."

Just as Chen Jing and Chen Sanwu were discussing this, a knock sounded at the door.

Chen Jing stood up to open it, revealing a tall fellow with a blue scarf tied around his arm.

Looking at this man, Chen Jing remained calm on the surface, but secretly, he had already begun to circulate his blood energy.

If the fellow before him made even the slightest suspicious move, Chen Jing would throw a punch at the very first opportunity!

"Are you Chen Jing, Brother Chen?"

Fang Cai hurriedly began to explain: "I am Fang Cai of the Blue Scarf Gang. I've come this time to invite Brother Chen to take up a post in our gang!"

Upon hearing this, although Chen Jing had already decided he would not join the Blue Scarf Gang, he followed custom, invited the man into the house, and asked about the compensation.

As soon as Fang Cai entered, he laid out all the terms.

However, compared to the offer given by Senior Brother Zhuang, the Blue Scarf Gang's compensation was clearly much worse.

Not to mention the lack of exotic beast meat, the pay was only fifteen taels of silver, and there wasn't even the benefit of free daily meals.

He wondered if the brothel businesses under the Blue Scarf Gang that Fang Cai mentioned he could visit for free...

Could even be considered a benefit of the post?