Extra Harvest!

"The distribution of this reward silver is based primarily on your contributions during this medicine delivery. For instance, those who stood at the front lines to fend off the White-Browed Ape will receive a larger share. Does anyone have any objections?" Luo Houping said in a deep voice.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

This method of distribution was the most convincing to everyone.

As for who had contributed, it was plain for all to see.

Luo Houping coughed once:

"Zhang Haitao, for tending to the horses' needs and keeping them calm and steady throughout the journey, you are awarded one tael."

Hearing this figure, the crowd gasped.

Zhang Haitao was only responsible for logistics and was not a Bright Force martial artist standing on the front lines; usually, he would earn at most two or three hundred wen for a trip.

Now that it had reached one tael, one could imagine the total payout for delivering such precious medicine!

"Du Chun, for hiding at the back and waiting for a chance to flee when facing the White-Browed Ape, I will overlook this since it is your first offense, but if there is a next time, don't bother coming back!" Cold light flashed in Luo Houping's eyes as he spoke.

Those who deserted in the face of battle dealt the greatest blow to the team's morale.

It was even possible for the collapse of the entire caravan to be caused by the disappearance of a single point.

It had to be strictly punished!

Hearing this, the crowd nodded secretly.

Only with clear rewards and punishments could people be truly convinced.

Although Du Chun was a Bright Force martial artist, he had made no contribution, so this was only right.

Du Chun's face flushed with shame as he responded in a low voice.

Moving on, the rest were all Bright Force martial artists who had stood at the front.

Anyone who had put in the effort received at least seven taels.

The one who shot the White-Browed Ape in the eye with an arrow, and the one who was the first to raise a shield to block the ape's attack, both received ten taels of reward silver.

After finishing the others, Luo Houping suddenly paused.

Everyone knew whose share remained unannounced, and they were all curious about how much reward silver Li Chuan, who had the greatest contribution, would receive.

Twelve taels? Thirteen taels?

That was already a lot.

A single shipment of Tiger Heart Grass was only worth four hundred taels of silver.

Not to mention that the Luo Family had to cover their own costs and pay monthly salaries.

"Li Chuan, for saving Wang Youfang and preventing the defensive line from being breached, and subsequently organizing the counterattack against the White-Browed Ape, your contributions from start to finish were monumental."

Luo Houping paused for a moment:

"Reward silver, fifteen taels!"

Everyone let out an exclamation upon hearing this.

That was fifteen taels!

Their monthly salary was only two taels of silver.

This single trip was worth seven and a half months of salary?!

It was already quite an exaggerated amount.

But thinking about it carefully, it felt very reasonable.

If Li Chuan hadn't saved Wang Youfang and had let the White-Browed Ape charge into the wooden hut, the batch of herbs brought back would certainly have been ruined.

As for the couriers, who knew how many would have been killed or injured!

Therefore, everyone accepted this amount.

The Luo Family was quick with their payments, settling the accounts immediately.

Holding the silver they had risked their lives for, the group left happily.

Li Chuan stepped forward:

"Uncle Luo, I intend to attempt the second Gate-Knocking over the next two months. I would like to suspend my position for two months, so there is no need to pay me my monthly salary."

Li Chuan had thought this decision through carefully.

This battle had made him clearly realize that his Bright Force was not yet strong enough.

To venture outside, one needed at least Dark Force to have enough strength to save one's life.

He was not far from the second Gate-Knocking.

With fifteen taels of silver in hand, he didn't need to take any more risks.

Although it was only enough to last a month or so... it would have to suffice for now.

Luo Houping nodded.

As Li Chuan turned to leave.

"A-Chuan, wait a moment." Luo Houping called out to him. "A-Zheng knows you are preparing for your second Gate-Knocking and need silver to build up your blood and energy. He asked me to give you these five taels of silver as a contribution."

Luo Houping took out a small pouch and pressed it into Li Chuan's palm.

Li Chuan hesitated.

Luo Houping smiled.

"Take it. You know A-Zheng's temperament; if you don't accept it, he won't even be able to sleep."

A warmth spread through Li Chuan's heart as he cupped his fists.

"Please thank Senior Brother Luo for me."

"By the way, why didn't I see him at the shop today?"

Luo Houping sighed softly. "It's nothing major. You should head back first."

Seeing this, Li Chuan understood it was a private family matter.

Since they were unwilling to speak of it, he felt it was not his place to ask further.

After bidding farewell to Luo Houping, Li Chuan walked calmly into the market with twenty taels of silver in his possession.

Twenty taels of silver were not actually a heavy burden for a Bright Force martial artist.

Yet, Li Chuan felt the weight in his hands.

This truly counted as "life-selling money."

If he were the least bit careless, he would surely die at the hands of that beast!

Once I return this time, I won't step out again until I break through to the Dark Force! Li Chuan thought to himself.

Twenty taels of silver were enough to buy venison every day for two months!

It was enough for him to reach the Dark Force.

The death of the Thunder-Striding Hand made him realize that the Bright Force was nothing special.

One could die just like that.

Without entering the Dark Force, a life was as fragile as wild grass.

Li Chuan shook his head, casting the negative thoughts from his mind.

"Brother Zhang, cut me ten pounds of venison."

Carrying the ten pounds of venison, Li Chuan returned to his Common Dormitory.

"I've been eating dry rations for days without any meat; I'm truly starving!"

Without meat to supplement his diet, eating only staples left him unsatisfied.

No wonder the laborers at the construction sites in my past life could eat a whole basin of rice—it was because they lacked fat and protein, so it didn't keep them full!

Li Chuan quickly set up a pot, boiled water, and tossed in two pounds of venison to cook.

Once he fished it out, he hurriedly sprinkled some salt on it and began eating in large mouthfuls.

There was no other reason—he was simply too hungry!

"There's truth to the saying that 'fullness and warmth breed desire'; being hungry is more effective than any mantra for clearing the mind!" Li Chuan sighed.

When one is hungry, there is only one thought in the mind.

Eat!

As the venison went down, the rich blood and energy dissolved within his body, and the hunger finally began to subside.

"A long-lost feeling..."

Why hadn't eating venison felt this blissful before?

It wasn't until he had eaten inferior donkey meat that he truly appreciated the taste of venison again.

Indeed, one only cherishes what they have regained after losing it.

Li Chuan tried standing in his stance for a while, watching the proficiency bar rise, and nodded with satisfaction.

At this rate, he would be able to master the Mountain-Holding Stance in less than a month.

When that day came, it would be time for his second Gate-Knocking!

"Bang!"

In the Martial Arts Arena, two shirtless figures crossed paths.

Fist against fist, palm against palm, they traded blows back and forth in a lively display!

After a long while, the two finally stopped.

Yu Sinian panted heavily:

"Junior Brother Li, you definitely put in extra training over the New Year. Before the holidays, I could easily defeat you, but now we're evenly matched, and I'm even faintly falling behind!"

Li Chuan said helplessly:

"Senior Brother Yu, how can you say that to me? Do you think you've practiced any less than I have?"

Yu Sinian laughed and scolded:

"Don't compare yourself to me. I've been at Bright Force for a year and have been in the Martial Hall for nearly a year and a half. I've even attempted the Gate-Knocking twice; I'm already an old hand."

Li Chuan's heart stirred:

"Senior Brother Yu, then you must be close to attempting the Gate-Knocking again, right?"

Yu Sinian smiled:

"Still a bit off. I plan to wait until Master has time to visit the Outer Courtyard so I can ask for his guidance on techniques and see if I can make a breakthrough in one go!"

Li Chuan nodded.

Master Liang Hangzhou, as one of the few great Transforming Force experts in Anning County, was not a man of leisure.

Usually, aside from sparring with other Martial Halls, he was busy networking with various factions.

Whatever time remained was entirely dedicated to training the Inner Courtyard disciples.

There was almost none left to spare for the Outer Courtyard.

"Senior Brother Qin, Senior Brother Tang, Senior Brother Lin, Master is calling you into the Inner Courtyard!" a disciple shouted while standing at the entrance of the Inner Courtyard.

Qin Feng, Tang Xiang, and Lin Zhe all stopped what they were doing upon hearing this and walked toward the Inner Courtyard.

A flash of envy crossed Yu Sinian's eyes:

"This is the special treatment for disciples who have reached the second Gate-Knocking. Every three days, Master sets aside time to guide their cultivation, covering both training methods and combat techniques."

"Junior Brother Li, haven't you noticed? Disciples in the Outer Courtyard come and go, with a new batch every few months, but the Inner Courtyard always has the same people."

"Only the disciples who have reached the second Gate-Knocking are the core of the Martial Hall. To put it bluntly, we're just here to make up the numbers."

Yu Sinian's face held a look of longing and desire:

"Bright Force, Bright Force—it sounds nice, but in reality, it only serves to bluff ordinary people; it doesn't amount to much at all."

"Within the Four Great Families of the Inner City, people like us would only be hired as guards to watch their gates."

"But if one reaches Dark Force, they are an honored guest anywhere in the Outer City. Even if they went to the Four Great Families, they could secure a position as a respected consultant."

Yu Sinian seemed lost in thought, murmuring in a low voice:

"Bright Force and Dark Force differ by only one word, yet it's like a chasm, a true chasm..."