Extra Gains!

"Today's silver rewards will mainly be based on your contributions during this medicine delivery trip. For example, those who stood at the front when resisting the White-Browed Ape will receive more. Any objections?" Luo Houping asked in a deep voice.

Everyone nodded.

This method of distribution was the most convincing.

As for who had contributed, everyone had seen it with their own eyes.

Luo Houping coughed.

"Zhang Haitao, for caring for the horses and keeping them calm without agitation, one tael as a reward."

Hearing that number, everyone clicked their tongues in surprise.

Zhang Haitao had only handled logistics. He had not been a Bright Force martial artist standing at the front, and a normal trip would earn him at most two or three hundred copper coins.

Yet this time, he received a full tael. One could only imagine the reward for delivering a shipment of precious medicine!

"Du Chun, when facing the White-Browed Ape, you hid at the back and waited for an opportunity to flee. Since this is your first offense, I will not pursue it. But if there is a next time, you need not come again!" As Luo Houping spoke, cold light flashed in his eyes.

Those who fled before battle dealt the greatest blow to a team's morale.

The disappearance of even one point could lead to the collapse of the entire convoy.

They had to be severely punished!

Everyone secretly nodded as well.

Only clear rewards and punishments could truly convince people.

Though Du Chun was a Bright Force martial artist, he had made no contribution at all. This was only right.

Du Chun's face reddened in shame as he quietly acknowledged it.

After that came the Bright Force martial artists who had stood at the front.

As long as they had contributed, they received at least seven taels.

The one who had shot the White-Browed Ape in the eye with an arrow, as well as the one who had been the first to raise a shield against its attack, both received ten taels in reward.

After reading out everyone else's rewards, Luo Houping suddenly paused.

Everyone knew whose name remained unread, and they were all curious how much silver Li Chuan, who had contributed the most, would receive.

Twelve taels? Thirteen taels?

That was already a great deal.

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

Not to mention that the Luo Family still had to cover costs and monthly stipends.

"Li Chuan saved Wang Youfang and prevented the defensive line from being breached. Afterwards, he organized the counterattack against the White-Browed Ape. From beginning to end, his achievements were outstanding."

Luo Houping paused.

"Reward: fifteen taels!"

Everyone cried out in surprise.

That was fifteen taels!

Their monthly stipend was only two taels of silver.

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

That was already astonishing.

But on second thought, it also seemed entirely reasonable.

If Li Chuan had not saved Wang Youfang, allowing the White-Browed Ape to charge into the wooden house instead—

Then all the medicinal herbs they had brought back would certainly have been ruined.

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

Thus, everyone accepted the amount.

The Luo Family paid quickly, settling everything at once.

The group took their hard-earned, life-risking silver and left with beaming faces.

Li Chuan stepped forward.

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

Li Chuan had considered this decision carefully.

After this battle, he had clearly realized that Bright Force was not strong enough.

To make one's way outside, one needed at least Dark Force to have sufficient strength to protect one's life.

He was not far from his second Gate-Knocking.

And now that he had fifteen taels of silver, he no longer needed to take risks.

Though it would only be enough for a month or two... he could make do for now.

Luo Houping nodded.

Just as Li Chuan was about to turn and leave—

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

Luo Houping took out a money pouch and stuffed it into Li Chuan's palm.

Li Chuan hesitated.

Luo Houping smiled.

"Take it. You know A-Zheng's temperament. If you refuse it, he will not be able to sleep."

Warmth welled up in Li Chuan's heart. He cupped his fists.

"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 serious. Go back first."

Seeing this, Li Chuan understood that it was their family matter.

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

After bidding Luo Houping farewell, Li Chuan calmly entered the market carrying twenty taels of silver.

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

Yet Li Chuan felt that it weighed heavily in his hand.

This really could be called "life-buying money."

With the slightest carelessness, he truly could have died at that beast's hands!

This time, I won't leave again until I break through to Dark Force! Li Chuan thought.

Twenty taels of silver would be enough for two months even if he ate venison every day!

Enough for him to break through to Dark Force.

The death of the Thunder-Striding Hand had made him realize that Bright Force was not all that remarkable.

When it was time to die, one simply died.

Without entering Dark Force, one's life was like wild grass.

Li Chuan shook his head, flinging the negative emotions from his mind.

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

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

"I've eaten dry rations for days without any meat passing my lips. I'm starving!"

Without substantial meat to replenish himself, staple food alone could not fill him.

"No wonder those working on construction sites in my previous life could eat a whole basin of rice. There was hardly any oil or meat in their food, so it didn't keep them full!"

Li Chuan hurriedly set a pot over the fire and boiled water, tossing two jin of venison into it to cook.

After fishing it out, he hastily sprinkled on some salt and began wolfing it down.

There was no other reason. He was simply too hungry!

"There's a reason people say warmth and fullness breed lust. An empty stomach works better than any heart-clearing chant!" Li Chuan remarked.

When one was hungry, there was only one thought in one's mind.

Eat!

As the venison entered his stomach, abundant vitality and blood spread through his body, and only then did the hunger fade away.

"What a long-lost feeling..."

Why had eating venison not made him this happy before?

Only after eating worse donkey meat, then returning to venison, did that feeling become so much more vivid.

Sure enough, only what was lost and regained would be cherished more deeply.

Li Chuan tried standing in the Mountain-Holding Stance for a while. Seeing how quickly his proficiency rose, he nodded in satisfaction.

At this rate, he would reach Major Mastery in the Mountain-Holding Stance in less than a month.

Then would come the day of his second Gate-Knocking!

Bang!

Within the Martial Arts Arena, two bare-chested figures crossed paths.

Fist met fist, palm met palm. They traded blow after blow, making for a lively sight!

After a while, the two finally stopped.

Yu Sinian panted heavily.

"Junior Brother Li, you definitely trained extra over the New Year. Before the new year, I could still defeat you easily. Now we're evenly matched, and I even seem to be at a slight disadvantage!"

Li Chuan said helplessly.

"You have the nerve to say that about me, Senior Brother Yu? Have you trained any less than I have?"

Yu Sinian laughed and cursed.

"You're comparing yourself with me? I've been at Bright Force for a year, and I've been in the hall for nearly a year and a half. I even attempted a second Gate-Knocking once already. I'm an old hand by now."

Li Chuan's heart stirred.

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

Yu Sinian smiled.

"Not quite. I plan to wait until Master has time to come to the Outer Courtyard, then ask him for guidance on the techniques and see whether I can charge through in one go!"

Li Chuan nodded.

Their master, Liang Hangzhou, was one of the few great Transforming Force experts in Anning County. He was no idle man.

Normally, apart from sparring with the major martial halls, he spent his time forging connections with various factions.

Whatever time remained was all used to train the Inner Courtyard disciples.

Almost none of it was allotted to the Outer Courtyard.

"Senior Brother Qin, Senior Brother Tang, Senior Brother Lin, Master is calling you into the Inner Courtyard!" a disciple shouted from the entrance to the Inner Courtyard.

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

A flash of envy passed through Yu Sinian's eyes.

"This is the special treatment reserved for disciples who have completed their second Gate-Knocking. Every three days, Master sets aside time to guide their cultivation, covering everything from training methods to combat methods."

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

"Only disciples who have completed their second Gate-Knocking are the core of the Martial Hall. To put it bluntly, people like us are just here to make up the numbers."

Yu Sinian's face carried longing and desire.

"Bright Force, Bright Force—it sounds impressive, but in truth, it can only bluff ordinary people. It is nothing worth mentioning."

"Among the Four Great Families in the Inner City, people like us can at most serve as household guards, watching the gate for others."

"But if one reaches Dark Force, one will be an honored guest anywhere in the Outer City. Even in the Four Great Families, one can secure a respected position as an Attendant."

Yu Sinian seemed somewhat lost as he muttered softly.

"Bright and Dark Force, separated by only one word, yet divided like a heavenly chasm. A heavenly chasm..."