Monthly Salary

Late at night.

Li Chuan dragged his exhausted body back to the Common Dormitory.

Hu Yuan had just finished washing up and was about to get into bed.

When he saw Li Chuan return, his gaze was somewhat complicated.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Li, on successfully Gate-Knocking."

Li Chuan could feel the sincerity in his words.

In truth, Li Chuan did not harbor much dislike toward Hu Yuan.

It was normal for a poor boy to suddenly rise to power and leap across too many stages at once, causing his mindset to change.

Besides, Hu Yuan had not actually done anything to him.

At most, he had called him "Junior Brother Li."

Afterward, he had apologized to him several times, and would occasionally bring pastries from home to share.

Thus, Li Chuan smiled and thanked him as well.

Dim moonlight filtered through the wooden window and fell across Hu Yuan's face.

His expression carried confusion and fear for the future as he said quietly,

"I wonder whether I will one day succeed at Gate-Knocking like Senior Brother Li."

Li Chuan recalled Hu Yuan's diligent figure during the day. He had cultivated bitterly for two or three months, yet his results had been mediocre.

His talent was even worse than Li Chuan's.

There were dozens, if not hundreds, of people like him in the Outer Courtyard.

Their final outcomes were all much the same: failure at Gate-Knocking... or never even getting the chance to accumulate enough qi and blood to attempt it.

They wasted months of time and more than a dozen taels of silver, only to leave in gloom.

Li Chuan did not know what to say and could only console him.

"Keep at it. Even a Low-Grade Bone Constitution has a sliver of a chance at Gate-Knocking."

"I hope so." Hu Yuan replied absentmindedly, but his thoughts had already drifted far away.

If he failed at Gate-Knocking, what would happen to his older sister?

She had even given him the dowry she had saved for so long so that he could learn martial arts...

He truly did not want to disappoint her.

The moonlight outside the window was dim, but the youth's eyes were dimmer still.

The next day, Li Chuan rose as usual at the crow of the rooster.

"According to Second Senior Brother, the factions that need affiliated martial artists should come looking for me today. I can't waste the time waiting. Life hasn't gotten any better yet."

Li Chuan thought to himself. After simply eating two pastries, he headed straight for the Martial Arts Arena.

Winter was nearly here. The morning wind blew in from the riverbank, carrying a bone-scraping chill.

Li Chuan rubbed his hands and looked down at his coarse hemp clothes.

"Winter is almost here, and it's getting colder by the day. These clothes won't hold up. I need to buy padded clothes for warmth as soon as possible, or catching a chill will be troublesome."

As a Bright Force martial artist, his physique was far stronger than an ordinary person's, but he was not immune to all poisons.

He could still fall ill.

Only because he had broken through to Bright Force had he managed to endure this long in these few thin garments.

If it were an ordinary person practicing martial arts every day while wearing only thin clothes in this cold, they would have fallen sick long ago.

But in this weather, even he would not be able to endure for much longer.

When the leaves froze over, it would be difficult to go out without padded clothing, let alone practice.

"If I can get a half-post paying two taels of silver, that should just about cover food, clothing, and daily expenses."

Li Chuan kept thinking while his hands never stopped moving.

The Mountain-Holding Stance had already broken through to Minor Mastery, but the corresponding Through-Arm Fist had fallen somewhat behind.

With the Through-Arm Fist only at Initiation, he could not even fully display his strength when using it.

After breaking through to Bright Force, every aspect of his body differed greatly from before. If his fist technique could not keep up, he could only bring out nine-tenths of his full strength.

It was like working out in his previous life—many familiar everyday movements would easily become distorted afterward.

For example, he might find his mouse aim inaccurate, or always use too much force when shooting a basketball.

It was all because the body needed to establish new muscle memory.

Bang! Bang!

The sound of fists striking wooden stakes echoed especially far across the empty Martial Arts Arena.

[Practiced Through-Arm Fist, proficiency +1]

[Practiced Through-Arm Fist, proficiency +1]

Yet even by late at night, when Li Chuan was ready to head back, no faction had come looking to hire him as an affiliate.

Li Chuan frowned. "Has word not gotten out yet? I can only wait a few more days and see."

Over the next few days, he waited in the Martial Arts Arena every moment for someone to come knocking. He did not even dare go too far away, afraid that visitors would be unable to find him.

But no matter how he waited, no one came.

Three days later, at the Martial Arts Arena.

Li Chuan practiced the familiar Through-Arm Fist, but his mind was elsewhere.

He had seen many factions come to hire affiliated martial artists. They usually sent someone over quickly, and after signing a contract, the work could begin immediately.

Why was it different when it came to him?

Li Chuan touched his pocket.

"There's only about five hundred copper coins left. If I still can't find an affiliated post, I'll have to tighten my belt again."

In fact, by now, he had already cut back on his daily meals.

Of his three meals a day, only lunch included meat.

Clearly, that amount was nowhere near enough.

Now that he had broken through to Bright Force, his need for qi and blood was greater than before.

In the past, one meal of meat a day had barely sufficed, but now it did not.

He always had a feeling of "hunger."

Li Chuan had tried eating several extra pastries, but all he got was a bloated, aching stomach. The hunger did not lessen in the slightest.

"Looks like this hunger isn't ordinary hunger, but my body's demand for qi and blood..."

Remaining in this state all the time, Li Chuan could feel even his newly grown, sturdy muscles shrinking somewhat.

His daily practice also grew increasingly weak, and at times he could barely remain standing.

"I can't go on like this. I have to make money!"

Li Chuan decided to seek out Second Senior Brother and get a clear answer!

Just as he was about to leave, he heard someone asking,

"Which one of you is Brother Li who just succeeded at Gate-Knocking?"

The visitor had a pair of triangular eyes and looked rather fierce. He was clearly not someone easy to deal with.

"I am." Li Chuan waved to him, hope rising in his heart.

Four days had passed. At last, a faction had come looking for him!

Triangular Eyes said,

"Brother Li, I'm Song Dawei of the Iron Tiger Gang. Recently, we've been fighting the Black Bear Gang fiercely. We'd like to hire you for a half-post in our gang. Should you encounter the Black Bear Gang, we hope Brother Li will lend a hand."

"As for the terms... a monthly salary of two taels of silver. What do you think, Brother Li?"

"The Iron Tiger Gang? Isn't that the Black Bear Gang's sworn enemy?" Li Chuan pondered.

The Black Bear Gang was Liu Hu's gang. Its leader, Cao Yan, was the one who had specifically demanded his family's shop.

The Iron Tiger Gang's conflict with the Black Bear Gang had indirectly eased the pressure on him.

Moreover, a half-post paying two taels of silver was quite sincere for someone like him, with no Bone Constitution and no combat experience.

More importantly, this money could resolve his urgent need.

But...

"My apologies, but your gang's affiliated post does not suit my intentions. Please seek someone else."

Song Dawei thought Li Chuan did not understand the market and was dissatisfied with the price, so he hurriedly said,

"Brother Li, this pay, and for only a half-post, is already very generous."

"Thank you for Brother Song's and the gang leader's kind intentions, but please forgive me. I have other plans." Li Chuan shook his head and refused again.

"Very well..." Song Dawei sighed. "If Brother Li changes his mind, you can come find me anytime. The Iron Tiger Gang's doors will always be open for you."

Even if a deal could not be made, goodwill remained. Song Dawei was not foolish enough to offend a Bright Force disciple.

"I'll trouble Brother Song to thank the gang leader on my behalf. I appreciate his regard." Li Chuan clasped his fists apologetically.

After seeing Song Dawei off, Li Chuan's eyes flickered.

Two taels of silver for only a half-post was indeed very tempting.

But the price was being dragged into the struggle between the Iron Tiger Gang and the Black Bear Gang.

He had heard that the two gangs had already fought one another to a white-hot stage.

Their members often brawled fiercely. Broken hands and legs were commonplace.

It was terribly dangerous!

Even though he was at Bright Force, if he rashly got caught in a chaotic battle involving more than a dozen people, he could not guarantee that someone would not stab him in the dark!

He was at Bright Force, but he was still flesh and blood!

Blades and swords had no eyes. One careless mistake, and he might lose his life.

Granted, Li Chuan had indeed been tempted by the terms Song Dawei offered.

But at the same time, he had keenly noticed the risks hidden beneath them.

"Without understanding the situation, caution is still best. I cannot let a small profit cloud my judgment!" Li Chuan silently warned himself.

"I still need to ask Senior Brother Luo for a clear answer. After all, he's my only connection in the Inner Courtyard..." Li Chuan gave a bitter smile.

After arriving at Pine Wind Martial Hall, he only knew three people.

Qin Feng, Hu Yuan, and Luo Zheng.

There was no need to mention Qin Feng. He simply could not be bothered to acknowledge him.

Hu Yuan could barely protect himself.

Only Luo Zheng could offer him help.

"Four days and still no one has come looking for you?" Luo Zheng was somewhat surprised.

"Someone from the Iron Tiger Gang came just now, but I turned him down."

"Good choice." Appreciation appeared in Luo Zheng's eyes as he explained, "Those gangs may seem to offer high pay, but the risks are high as well. One misstep can leave you injured. If you end up crippled, there's no point practicing martial arts anymore. What use is more silver then? Either you spend it treating your injuries, or you spend it buying your life!"

In his view, Li Chuan had still made a wise choice despite being so short of silver. His temperament was truly exceptional.

For a time, Luo Zheng's opinion of Li Chuan improved considerably.

Previously, he had only told Li Chuan so much out of sympathy.

But now, he regarded Li Chuan more highly.

In this world, only clever people could survive.

"However... Junior Brother Li, you should be prepared. Generally speaking, after you succeed at Gate-Knocking, the Martial Hall will release word of it for you and draw factions to come."

"Based on past experience, if someone wants to hire you as an affiliate, it should take no longer than three days at most."

Luo Zheng had phrased it tactfully, but Li Chuan still understood what he meant.

No one was willing to come looking for him.

"Generally, factions consider two things when hiring affiliated martial artists. The first is Bone Constitution potential. It's essentially an investment. Junior Brother Qin is the representative example. He had only just broken through to Bright Force when the Wang Family of the Inner City came to his door, offering a monthly salary of ten taels of silver. He only needed to teach their youngest son for an hour or two every week. They called it an affiliated post, but in truth they were paying for Qin Feng's potential."

"The second is extraordinary ability—strength beyond ordinary people that can provide value to those factions. For example, if your fighting style is formidable, an escort agency or patrol force may hire you."

Li Chuan understood.

His Low-Grade Bone Constitution had barely crossed the line for a breakthrough. In outsiders' eyes, his potential had already been exhausted.

And he had no record of actual combat, so he could not attract the second type of faction.

That was why no faction was willing to hire him as an affiliate.

Luo Zheng glanced at Li Chuan, then thought for a moment before saying,

"Junior Brother Li, my family's apothecary happens to be short of someone. Would you be willing to come? A half-post, with a monthly salary of three taels of silver."

"There usually isn't much work. Every month, we need to make roughly one or two trips to Huangshi County. You only need to come along as an escort. My eldest uncle personally leads the group, so it isn't very dangerous."

"Whenever we return after delivering medicinal herbs, you'll also receive a share of silver based on your contribution. The least is two or three mace, while the most can even reach one tael."

Having known Li Chuan for more than three months, Luo Zheng had observed through their everyday interactions that Li Chuan was resolute, repaid kindness, and handled matters cautiously. He was excellent material worth investing in.

"Oh, right." Luo Zheng paused. "Don't tell the others traveling with you that your monthly salary is three taels. They all receive two taels. I added that extra tael on my own authority. Consider it the bond between fellow disciples. No need to thank me."

Seeing Luo Zheng speak so lightly with a cheerful smile, clearly trying not to make him feel too burdened, warmth rose in Li Chuan's heart.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Luo!"

Luo Zheng patted Li Chuan on the shoulder.

"Practice well. Even a Low-Grade Bone Constitution has a sliver of hope of Gate-Knocking a second time and breaking through to Dark Force. Such cases are rare, but not nonexistent."

"Come on, I'll introduce you to my eldest uncle!"

Luo Zheng pulled Li Chuan along to the Luo Family Apothecary.

The Luo Family Apothecary had operated in Anning County for decades. It was a Lineage business and occupied an enormous area.

Li Chuan estimated roughly that it covered at least two or three mu!

"Our shop is laid out with a front courtyard, rear workshop, and Inner Courtyard. The front courtyard sells medicine, the rear workshop is where herbs are sliced and stir-fried for processing, and the Inner Courtyard is where people live. My eldest uncle should be in the Inner Courtyard right now," Luo Zheng introduced.

As Li Chuan walked and looked around, he saw two burly retainers at the entrance alone. One of them had even approached Bright Force.

The front courtyard was astonishingly large as well, with more than a dozen rows of cabinets set out. Streams of people kept pouring in, making it bustling beyond measure.

There were actually this many people at an apothecary... Makes sense. Birth, aging, illness, and death—illness is a fate no one can escape. Li Chuan sighed inwardly and followed Luo Zheng into the rear workshop.

Inside the rear workshop, more than a dozen female workers each had clearly assigned duties, working in perfect order.

At the front, they selected suitable medicinal ingredients; those behind them immediately washed, roasted, and dried them.

It was practically a miniature assembly line!

People always say the ancients were foolish, but that clearly wasn't true. In this world where productivity was so underdeveloped, the rudiments of an assembly line already existed. With that thought, Li Chuan passed through the rear workshop and entered the back courtyard.

"Uncle, I brought you a capable hand!" Luo Zheng shouted.

"A-Zheng is back? Let me see what kind of capable hand you've brought me." The tall, broad-shouldered Luo Houping walked out from the courtyard.

Luo Zheng pushed Li Chuan forward and introduced him.

"This is a junior brother from our Martial Hall. He entered Bright Force not long ago, but he's cautious and steady by nature—a talent worth cultivating!"

Luo Houping smiled and nodded, though inwardly he was unconvinced.

He knew his nephew's temperament better than anyone.

His willingness to promote newcomers and make friends far and wide was both a strength and a weakness.

This was not the first time Luo Zheng had brought someone to the medicine convoy. He had brought several others before.

Every time, he recommended them with all his might, but to be honest, none of them had been fit for any great use.

Most disciples who came out of those Martial Halls had never weathered wind and rain. Some had never even seen blood!

When they encountered bandits on the road while delivering medicine—bandits carrying real weapons—their legs would shake like sieves from fright.

What use were such people in the medicine convoy besides drawing pay for nothing?

In Luo Houping's eyes, Li Chuan naturally belonged to the same sort.

But he was an old fox, after all. In front of Luo Zheng, he showed no sign of anything unusual.

Instead, he put an arm around Li Chuan's shoulder with a genial expression.

"Since you're A-Zheng's junior brother, treat this place as your own home. No need to stand on ceremony. Just call me Uncle Luo. There happens to be a batch of medicine that needs delivering to Huangshi County shortly, so get yourself ready. But there's no need to be too nervous—danger is rarely encountered on the road when delivering medicine."

Li Chuan blinked. Why did he feel like the moment those words were spoken, something was bound to go wrong?