"Junior Brother Chen, there's no need to sell yourself short. There's still more than half a year before the Martial Examination. If you can grasp Dark Force during that time, you'll still have a shot." Fang Minghai smiled.
Chen Yuan only smiled in response.
Who could say what would happen more than half a year from now?
Soon, it was his turn to congratulate Xu Heng. He stepped forward and clasped his hands. "Congratulations, Senior Brother Xu, on breaking through the Bone Realm and reaching new heights."
Chen Yuan remembered clearly: this was the third time he had offered his congratulations, and it probably wouldn't be the last.
Xu Heng gave a faint nod.
"Chen Yuan, your talent may be average, but you have decent perseverance. Though you've found a job with the Li Family, don't let the comfort make you slack off in your cultivation.
"I suggest you make catching up to my shadow your lifelong goal. If you manage it, you'll have nothing to fear in this life."
After two months of secluded cultivation, the amazement Chen Yuan had inspired in him that day had completely faded, and Xu Heng's horizons were no longer confined to Huo Academy.
Chen Yuan acknowledged him and turned to leave.
A little arrogant, but he certainly had the ability to back it up.
The road ahead was long and arduous. He still had to cultivate diligently.
When news spread that Xu Heng had broken through the Bone Realm in just four months, the martial arts circles across the region were thrown into an uproar.
At the upcoming Martial Examination, Xu Heng would undoubtedly be a formidable rival to every contestant.
If they couldn't win him over, then they could only destroy him...
But the Song Family, which stood behind Song Qiao, had also stepped in, sending senior family members to negotiate with Xu Heng over deeper support and cooperation.
That at least made Xu Heng safe in the open.
The families in the Inner City also gave up on trying to arrange marriages with him.
Xu Heng had made connections with the Song Family. Apart from the other three great families, what family or faction would dare interfere?
Chen Yuan shut his ears to the outside world, settled down, and devoted himself to martial arts.
He also grew increasingly adept at handling the Herb Garden's affairs, and inevitably discovered that Zhang Hong was a sticky-fingered fellow.
He often brazenly stole medicinal herbs, and the farmhands seemed so used to it that they didn't dare say a word.
During that time, Zhang Hong repeatedly tried to talk him around.
"Brother Chen, why be so upright? There's an allowance for losses anyway. Anything within that allowance is a perk for us.
"The Li Family won't reward us for keeping losses low. At most, they'll give us a verbal pat on the back. As long as we don't exceed the allowance, they won't punish us for higher losses either. Meanwhile, what we get is real silver. Why wouldn't we take advantage?"
Chen Yuan knew Zhang Hong was trying to drag him into it. He kept his hands clean and turned him down each time.
"Brother Zhang, you can take it for now. If I ever run short of money, I'll swallow my pride and take a little."
He knew that once you got your feet wet, it was hard to get back on dry land. He couldn't sacrifice long-term interests for petty gains right in front of him.
As long as Zhang Hong didn't exceed the allowance and get his wages docked, Chen Yuan intended to turn a blind eye.
It might affect his own performance, but that was an unavoidable problem between partners. He couldn't expect Zhang Hong to give up that share of the profits for no reason; doing so would only provoke him.
As for reporting Zhang Hong for lining his own pockets, that was something only a hotheaded fool would do. It would make Zhang Hong hate him for good.
Chen Yuan didn't want to provoke a martial artist who had reached Great Accomplishment in Skin Refining. He had to stick to the principles of the Dao of Survival.
Zhang Hong was worried that the fool Chen Yuan might report him, so he wanted to drag him into it and tie him to the same boat.
Unfortunately, Chen Yuan wasn't swayed.
But after probing him indirectly, he found out that Chen Yuan wouldn't report him as long as he stayed within the allowance. So he stopped worrying about it.
Zhang Hong wasn't surprised. He had already figured out where Chen Yuan drew the line.
A graduate of Huo Academy, with D-Grade Bone Structure, just having reached Minor Accomplishment in Skin Refining, and with some connection to Fan Dajiang, though not much.
Anyone with any sense wouldn't dare offend him, a seasoned martial artist at Great Accomplishment in Skin Refining.
It was a good thing Chen Yuan wouldn't interfere. Zhang Hong wasn't about to give up his share of the profits, especially since medicinal herbs had been selling much better at the Black Market lately, bringing in a handsome profit.
At the end of the month, the Herb Garden manager came to inspect their work. Experienced Zhang Hong had left himself some leeway and hadn't exceeded the loss allowance, so they passed the inspection without a hitch.
The two of them each received their monthly pay and a Bone-Strengthening Pill.
After the manager left, Zhang Hong said with a smile, "Well, Brother Chen, wasn't I right? As long as we don't exceed the loss allowance, the managers won't make things difficult. If you've changed your mind and want in, there's still time."
For Zhang Hong, getting Chen Yuan involved was the safest option.
Chen Yuan smiled and shook his head. "I appreciate the offer, Brother Zhang, but I'm too slow-witted for this sort of thing. If I give us away, I'm afraid I'll only get you into trouble."
There was no way he would get involved.
Even if he wanted to profit from it, he wouldn't consider working with Zhang Hong. That would be like handing over leverage against himself.
He thought Zhang Hong wouldn't want to work with him either; he simply had no choice, since the fact that they were partners couldn't be kept secret.
Zhang Hong glanced at Chen Yuan and said no more.
He openly began picking herbs again. A new month had begun, and the loss allowance had reset.
With medicinal herbs selling well at the Black Market, he wanted to sell as much as possible early in the month.
Chen Yuan pretended not to see and practiced Six Harmonies Mind Boxing on his own.
His comprehension was no longer poor, so he could afford to spend a little more time practicing his boxing.
Moonlight shone through the pines, and clear springs flowed over the stones.
As his practice of Six Harmonies Mind Boxing steadily improved, midnight arrived.
After handing over to the guard taking the next shift, Chen Yuan took his lantern and headed toward Hundred Herb Lane.
Zhang Hong knew the guard taking over, and struck up a conversation. "That kid won't listen to reason. He doesn't want to work with me."
The guard smiled. "Isn't that a good thing? One more person means a smaller share of the spoils for us."
Zhang Hong shook his head. "I just have a feeling that kid isn't simple."
The guard looked completely unconcerned. "What's there to be afraid of? Does he dare report us? If you're really worried, just find a way to drive him out."
He glanced at the bulging cloth sack on Zhang Hong's shoulder and added, "You've picked this much already? Better be careful."
Zhang Hong nodded. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Prices are high these days, so I can earn a little more."
The guard smiled too, then said meaningfully, "Then there's nothing to worry about. Even if you really do exceed the allowance, can't you just pin the blame on the new guy?"
Zhang Hong froze, then furrowed his brow.
"That won't do. If he gets angry and decides to go down with us, we'll be in trouble. If this comes to light, we'll all be in for it."
The guard waved a hand, unconcerned. "I don't believe he's got the guts, but it doesn't hurt to be cautious."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Zhang Hong left and headed straight for a nearby Black Market.
The Black Market only opened on designated days and at designated times, but those changed frequently to evade the authorities.
However, since Zhang Hong often resold medicinal herbs, he had a regular contact of his own.
At a wooden door, he knocked according to the secret signal. Before long, someone wearing a mask opened it.
"The price of medicinal herbs hasn't changed, has it? Take a look and tell me how much I can get for these." Zhang Hong placed the cloth sack on the table and got straight to the point.
The Masked Man checked the contents and said, "The price hasn't changed. I can give you five taels of silver. There's demand for more herbs on the other side, so if you can get another batch, you can sell them to me too."
Zhang Hong nodded. "I'll sell these for five taels first. I can't get any more herbs in the short term."
He wasn't the sort to lose his head at the sight of profit. He knew when to quit while he was ahead; otherwise, something would have gone wrong long ago.
The Masked Man handed him a purse, then added, "I've got news about the Bone-Nurturing Pill you asked me to look into. It won't come cheap, but someone might be willing to pay a high price for it."
Zhang Hong's body stiffened. His pupils contracted, and his face grew even more somber beneath the darkness.
Only his eyes were visible, blazing with fierce longing.
Before you continue