A Misunderstanding

The patrol captain listened to the commotion around him, but his eyes kept sizing Lu Zhen up and down.

As a local big shot in the southern part of the city, he spotted what was going on at a glance. A punch that could cave in someone's chest like a painting—that was terrifying strength, the kind only someone in the Mid Force Refining Realm could possess!

Then he noticed Lu Zhen's black martial arts uniform, which marked him as an Inner Sect disciple of the Iron Arm Martial Arts Hall. The captain immediately weighed his options.

Yan Tieqiao's Inner Sect disciple.

The men sprawled on the ground, meanwhile, were nothing but a handful of penniless country drifters, hooligans and scoundrels.

Would he offend a promising martial arts expert over a few worthless scum? He'd have to be out of his mind! These days, what difference did a few dead refugees make from a few dead stray dogs?

The captain coughed, his expression turning stern as he pointed at He Gui, who lay limp on the ground, and cursed:

"Why, you He Gui! You've got some nerve, breaking into a home and robbing people in my district! Men, cuff the surviving thugs and haul them back to the cells for a thorough interrogation!"

Then the captain turned to Lu Zhen. His stern face had softened into an official yet accommodating expression.

"Since they broke in to rob you, Master Lu, and you stepped in, that was self-defense. Justified, entirely justified!"

"Thank you for seeing the matter clearly, sir."

Lu Zhen smiled faintly. As he stepped forward, he slipped a hand into his robe with practiced ease.

When he drew it out again, two rolls of silver dollars wrapped in red paper were pinched between his fingers. A full twenty dollars, heavy in his hand.

He took the captain's hand and, in the same motion, slipped the money discreetly into his wide sleeve. His tone was warm, but carried the easy familiarity of someone who knew how the world worked.

"It's freezing out. You and your men have gone to all this trouble coming here. Please, take this little something for your efforts. Get the men some good liquor and a few pounds of dog meat to warm them up."

The captain felt the weight in his sleeve. At the faint, crisp clink of the silver coins, his official smile melted into a breeze-bright grin.

Twenty silver dollars! That was half a month's take for his whole squad! As expected, an Inner Sect disciple of the Iron Arm Martial Arts Hall had deep pockets—and knew exactly how to handle things!

"Oh, Master Lu, you're too kind! You're a real gentleman!"

The captain clasped Lu Zhen's hand in return, as warmly as a long-lost half-brother, and loudly introduced himself:

"I'm Li Biao, captain of the Third Squad at the southern Constabulary! I've long heard that the Iron Arm Martial Arts Hall's Inner Sect disciples are all outstanding men. Seeing you today, Brother Lu, it's clear that heroes do emerge young!"

"Don't worry, Brother Lu. I'll take care of this! These rabble deserved to die. I'll have my men drag the bodies to the mass grave and bury them, so you won't have to get your hands dirty. If you ever need anything around the southern part of town, just say the word!"

"Then I'll leave it to you, Brother Li. I'll treat you to tea at Wangjiang Pavilion another day."

"Hahaha! Of course, of course!"

The men from the Constabulary had arrived quickly, and left just as quickly.

The bodies were dragged away like dead dogs, and Squad Captain Li Biao had his men cover the bloodstains with a few shovelfuls of yellow earth. The alley fell silent again, and the neighbors who had come to watch went back inside.

A gust of cold wind swept through, and the broken wooden door of the He household creaked, teetering on its hinges.

Just inside the threshold, Shen Yun seemed drained of all strength. She slid down the doorframe and crumpled to the ground.

Lu Zhen's gaze swept over the drafty shack, and his brow furrowed.

There were too many wolves in this world. He Gui had been arrested, but who could say another Gui—or a Zhang—wouldn't show up tomorrow? Shen Yun was a widow with no shortage of looks, living in a shack without even a proper door. She was practically a juicy piece of meat tossed into a pack of hungry wolves.

Lu Zhen thought of his own ramshackle home.

Now that he'd joined the Inner Sect, he had to toughen his body at the martial arts hall during the day, then pull a rickshaw for extra money in the mornings and evenings. Wan'er was a sixteen-year-old girl, still little more than a child, left alone at home all day. He'd always had a weight on his mind. The neighbors might be afraid of him now, but beyond Pig Cage Alley, refugees roamed in packs, desperate with hunger.

He'd avoided the idea before, afraid of inviting gossip and giving people the wrong impression.

But now, he, Lu Zhen, was at the Mid Force Refining Realm, wearing the black uniform of an Iron Arm Martial Arts Hall Inner Sect disciple. One punch from him could cave in a man's chest! His fists were the law in Pig Cage Alley! Who would dare wag their tongue?

If Shen Yun moved in, the two women could shut the door and keep each other company, looking out for one another if anything happened. It was the safest plan.

"Sister Shen," Lu Zhen said.

Shen Yun looked up, her eyes red-rimmed.

"Little Lu... no, Master Lu, if you hadn't been here today, I..."

Lu Zhen strode forward and firmly caught her by the arm.

Her arm felt pitifully thin beneath his hand, and her flimsy clothes did nothing to keep out the cold.

Lu Zhen let go and pointed at the broken door. "This door's wrecked. It can't keep out the wind or thieves. Pack your things and move in with me. I'm away during the day, so you can keep Wan'er company. That'll put my mind at ease, too."

As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Yun stiffened.

Move in with him?

In this conservative, traditional slum, a man and a woman living together...

A widow whose husband had just died moving into the home of a strapping bachelor late at night—what that meant went without saying. It meant living together, becoming his concubine, becoming his woman.

Shen Yun lowered her head, and two blushes bloomed across her pale cheeks, spreading hot all the way to her ears.

She bit her lower lip and stole a glance at Lu Zhen's broad, upright chest and his neat black uniform. Her heart hammered like a drum. If she went with him... it would be better than being defiled by those hoodlums. Besides, he was a loyal man who could shoulder his responsibilities.

"I... I'll do as you say," Shen Yun whispered, her voice faint as a mosquito's buzz.

She went inside and gathered only a few patched old clothes, bundling them into a thin little pack before coming back out.

The two of them crossed the dim alley. Lu Zhen pushed open the door of his own home, which was propped shut with a wooden stick.

"Wan'er, come give us a hand."

Hearing her big brother's voice, Lu Wan hurried out from the inner room. When she saw Sister Shen behind him, cheeks flushed as she clutched a bundle, the girl froze for a moment.

"Sister Shen will be staying with us from now on. You two can keep each other company and look out for one another," Lu Zhen said briskly as he took off his outer jacket, still cold from the air outside.

At once, Lu Wan's big, dark eyes lit up.

Poor children never forgot a kindness. Back when heavy snow had sealed their door, Sister Shen had secretly brought them hot porridge and two silver dollars that had saved their lives. Without them, she and her brother would have starved or frozen to death. She had never forgotten Sister Shen's kindness.

"That's wonderful! Sister Shen, come inside, quick! It's windy out there!" Lu Wan ran over happily, took Shen Yun's cold hand, and led her into the house.

The girl's eyes darted from her strapping, manly big brother to Shen Yun, who stood with her head bowed, radiating the gentle grace of a woman from the water towns. She grinned and couldn't help murmuring:

"This is wonderful... Sister Shen is so kind. It'd be even better if she became my brother's wife..."

Her voice was quiet, but in the silent room, everyone heard her clearly.

Shen Yun's face, already still flushed, turned bright red in an instant, like a ripe tomato. She hurriedly lowered her head, twisting the cloth of her bundle tightly in both hands and nervously pinching the hem of her clothes. She was so embarrassed she wanted to crawl into a crack in the ground, and couldn't manage a word of protest.

Lu Zhen's hand stopped abruptly as he poured the water.

He turned to look at his little sister, her face full of expectation as she congratulated herself on being clever, then at Shen Yun, who had lowered her head in silence, too shy to look up.

The corner of his eye twitched.

"What are you muttering about?"

Lu Zhen put on a stern face and glared at his little sister, utterly exasperated.

"Hurry and take Sister Shen to the inner room to rest. I have to get up early to practice my fist at the martial arts hall tomorrow!"

Lu Wan stuck out her tongue playfully, took Shen Yun by the hand, and led her into the inner room.

"Sister Shen, we'll sleep in here. I've already warmed up the bedding. Don't mind my brother—he's a rough martial arts man. He doesn't understand these things."

Night fell deep, and all was quiet.

Lu Zhen sat cross-legged alone on the hard bed in the outer room.

[Daily Settlement Panel opened]

[Today's settlement: three hours of martial arts practice, two hours pulling a rickshaw...]

[Base rewards: Silver Dollars +2, Profession Experience +10, Physique Experience +20, General Experience +10]

[Level bonus activated: Daily Settlement Level Lv.3 (daily rewards multiplied by an additional 3x)]

[Final rewards: Silver Dollars +6, Profession Experience +30, Physique Experience +60, General Experience +30!]

[Lu Zhen (30 years old)]

Money: 46 Silver Dollars

Current profession: Rickshaw Puller

Level: Daily Settlement Lv.3 (20/800)

Skills:

Rickshaw Pulling Lv.3 (50/800)

Coiling Dragon Stake Lv.3 (30/800)

Iron Wire Fist Lv.3 (25/800)

Physique: Tendon Stretching and Bone Strengthening Lv.3 (545/800)

General Experience: 70 points