A Fortune, a Man Returning Home on a Snowy Night

Huangshi County, Outer City.

A massive number of refugees lined up, waiting for relief from within the city.

Li Chuan looked carefully and saw that the porridge was so thin it was practically water, with only a dozen or so grains of rice barely visible.

Yet even so, countless people still strained with all their might to squeeze inside.

If Huangshi County was like this, would Anning County become the same one day? Li Chuan could not help thinking.

Though gangs stood thick as forests in Anning County's Outer City and fought often, there was at least a relatively stable order.

But if thousands upon tens of thousands of refugees ended up wandering outside the city, no one could guarantee that the city walls would not be overrun!

Bright Force and Dark Force martial artists were not invincible. A blade could wound them, and poison could kill them.

Even if a Transforming Force master came to hold the fort, there would still be no small amount of danger.

If I get a chance to make money, I need to settle my family in the Inner City. That would be safer.

Thinking as he walked, Li Chuan soon arrived at Jia Family Pharmacy.

Luo Houping went in with a smile and spoke with the pharmacy owner. Before long, he emerged carrying a cloth sack.

Through a corner of it, Li Chuan could see silver ingots glinting inside.

"Lend a hand, all of you. Unload the goods, then get some rest early!" Luo Houping instructed the group.

After unloading the goods from seven carts, Jia Family Pharmacy sent several men over to load another batch of medicinal herbs onto them.

Luo Houping explained to Li Chuan:

"It is not easy to make a trip to Huangshi County, so naturally we exchange what each side lacks. We will also buy some medicinal herbs unique to this place from them."

Once everything was finished, the group spent the night in the Outer City.

Early the next morning, they set off back for Anning County.

This load was lighter, and the carts traveled faster as well.

Having earned Luo Houping's regard, Li Chuan finally no longer had to travel outside.

Instead, he sat inside one of the carts.

Taking advantage of this rare free time, Li Chuan diligently practiced the Through-Arm Fist.

This unexpected incident made him place even greater importance on fighting techniques.

No matter how great one's strength was, if it could not be brought out, it was useless.

Through his unflagging efforts.

Two days later.

Li Chuan finally struck out with Throat-Piercing Heart-Lock.

His five fingers curled into claws, vicious and fierce.

[Through-Arm Fist Proficiency +1]

[Through-Arm Fist has broken through to Minor Mastery]

[Skill: Through-Arm Fist (Minor Mastery)]

[Proficiency: 1/2000]

At the very instant of his breakthrough, Li Chuan experienced a strange sensation.

It was as though some shackle within his body had been unlocked.

Whenever he used the Through-Arm Fist before, he had always felt constrained, as if his hands and feet were bound.

It was like wearing an ill-fitting garment. He could wear it, but it never felt comfortable.

Now, however, everything was entirely different.

Whether he used Throat-Piercing Heart-Lock, the Heavy Strike Style's Rib-Breaking Mountain-Cleaving, or the Entangling Strike Style's Arm-Entangling Tendon-Breaking—

He felt like a fish returned to water.

As though his arms and fingers obeyed his will!

This little change alone is enough to raise my strength by twenty percent! Li Chuan thought to himself.

Satisfaction flashed through Luo Houping's eyes.

"Congratulations on your breakthrough, A-Chuan."

Another day passed, and they finally returned to Anning County.

Looking at the familiar four words, "Luo Family Pharmacy," Li Chuan felt somewhat dazed.

This medicine delivery trip had taken eight or nine days.

The gains had also been exceptionally plentiful.

First, he had performed well during the delivery and could receive an additional reward.

Second, his Through-Arm Fist had broken through to Minor Mastery. He had finally obtained a fighting method worthy of his Bright Force, raising his strength another level.

Luo Houping took a sip of tea and gave a cough.

Everyone straightened up, knowing it was time to reward merit.

"Lin Shuyuan, three mace of silver."

"Gao Wenlu, four mace of silver."

"Wang Youwei, one tael of silver."

The crowd cried out in surprise. They had not expected Wang Youwei to receive a whole tael of silver.

Wang Youwei instinctively looked toward Li Chuan.

He knew Li Chuan must have put in a few good words for him.

He silently engraved this favor in his heart, thinking that one day, he would surely repay it.

Luo Houping continued reading out more than a dozen names.

Only Li Chuan had yet to be mentioned.

Everyone held their breath, wanting to see how great a reward Li Chuan, the greatest contributor to this journey, would receive.

"Li Chuan... You rendered merit in protecting the medicine. Not only did you avert a crisis, you also preserved my Luo Family's reputation. Three taels of silver!"

The crowd burst into startled cries.

Three taels was a month and a half of their wages!

The medicinal herbs in these carts had only been worth several dozen taels to begin with, and the Luo Family could not possibly keep all the earnings.

Their costs alone were not low, and their profits would at most have been around ten-odd taels.

Yet even under such circumstances, Li Chuan had been rewarded three taels of silver.

It could be said that a large portion of the profits from this shipment had been given to Li Chuan.

Luo Houping did not forget to encourage everyone.

"So long as you do what you ought to do well, silver will not be lacking for you."

After dismissing the others, Luo Houping called Li Chuan before him.

"A-Chuan, you did very well this time. My view of you has changed greatly."

"You also know A-Zheng's temperament—your Senior Brother Luo's, that is. He likes making friends in all circles. Over the past few years, he has recommended quite a few people to join our medicine delivery team, but most of them have been crooked melons and split dates, incapable of shouldering great responsibility."

"But you are different. You kill decisively, yet your thoughts are meticulous."

"Go back and prepare well. When the time comes to deliver precious medicine, I will bring you along."

Li Chuan's pupils contracted.

Precious medicine was not something ordinary medicinal herbs could compare with.

The quantity carried by these seven carts alone was worth several hundred taels of silver!

The facts proved that his somewhat gambling-like choice had been the right one.

"Thank you for your support, Uncle Luo!"

Luo Houping smiled warmly.

"Go back. Even those with a Low-Grade Bone Constitution have a sliver of hope of knocking on the gate a second time."

After Li Chuan left, Luo Houping's expression instantly darkened. Cold light gleamed in his eagle eyes.

"There is something wrong with that pack of hungry wolves. Find the trail of those young refugee boys for me. If you discover any connection..."

"Do not let a single one go!"

If he did not kill a few people, they would truly think the Luo Family could be kneaded and squeezed by anyone.

Before leaving, Li Chuan collected this month's wages in advance.

Adding the three taels of reward silver, his wealth abruptly reached six taels!

Li Chuan rubbed the texture of the silver in his robe.

"Why does this feel like I've received some huge bonus..."

Before the world fell into chaos, silver was still extremely valuable.

Five taels of silver were enough to support a family of three for an entire year.

His family scrimped and saved, working from dawn until dusk every day, yet they could only give him one tael a month for food.

Six taels of silver undoubtedly counted as an enormous fortune!

Moreover, from now on, he would receive at least three taels of silver in monthly wages.

And it would not be only three taels. Every medicine delivery run also came with a considerable share of the profits!

It could be said that he had thoroughly become wealthy.

At the very least, eating meat every meal would pose no pressure at all!

Li Chuan's heart burned, but he did not head to the market to buy food first.

Instead, he went to the pawnshop and redeemed the jade bracelet his mother had previously pawned.

Afterward, he went to the market and bought three roast chickens, a pound of beef, ten pounds of white rice, and two jugs of yellow wine.

At the hour of Xu.

Li Family Breakfast Shop.

Winter nights always fell early. By the hour of Xu, it was already nearly completely dark.

By the dim moonlight, Wang Xiumei wearily saw off the final table of customers, then slumped into a chair.

Running a breakfast shop was exhausting work to begin with.

Not to mention that this shop had to stay open from morning until night.

By the time she finished washing the shop clean each day, it was nearly the hour of Hai.

After hurriedly resting for a short while, she had to get up again at the hour of Yin to prepare the ingredients.

The long-term state of overwork had left Wang Xiumei looking utterly haggard.

But whenever she thought of Li Chuan, far away at the Martial Hall, she felt a wave of contentment.

So long as her son could live well, all of this was worth it.

"I wonder how Chuan'er is doing now. With the weather freezing cold, has he been chilled? Are two taels of silver enough for him?"

Mothers were always like this.

Unlike fathers, who hoped their sons would become dragons, mothers often only wanted their children to be happy.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Who is it?"

"Mother, I'm back."

Creak.

Wang Xiumei pulled open the wooden door. Seeing that familiar face, she froze for a moment before joy appeared on her face.

"Chuan'er, why have you come back? Have you been doing well at the Martial Hall? Mother feels you have grown so much more haggard. Has anyone bullied you? How have you been eating..."

Wang Xiumei chattered on and on.

Li Chuan did not find it tiresome in the slightest. He merely listened patiently.

"Oh, right, Chuan'er. That Gate-Knocking of yours... how did it go?" Wang Xiumei carefully watched Li Chuan's expression, afraid he might be unhappy.

"It's all right, Mother was only asking. Even if you did not succeed, it does not matter. Come back to the breakfast shop—Mother will not let you go hungry!" Wang Xiumei hurriedly added.

Li Chuan smiled.

"Mother, I succeeded. I am now a Bright Force martial artist and Master's registered disciple."

"Ah!" Wang Xiumei cried out, then shouted inside, "Dahai, A-Chuan succeeded in his Gate-Knocking!"

Wang Xiumei felt that all the hardship and toil of recent days had been repaid.

Tears instantly welled up in her eyes as she murmured:

"Dahai, did you see it? A-Chuan has truly made something of himself..."

She instinctively touched the jade bracelet on her wrist, only to remember that she had long since pawned it.

Just as she felt somewhat dejected, a bracelet shining with a glazed radiance appeared before her eyes.