Of Course, I Don't Need to Be Afraid

Dawn had barely broken.

The world lay gray and white, the cold wind howling as an extra chill and killing intent suddenly filled heaven and earth.

Wang Sheng wore a gray short martial outfit and came to the martial academy as usual to train, still pounding away at the wooden dummy.

He did not want to expose the fact that he had advanced to Bright Energy yet.

First, his entry into martial arts could barely be explained away as the result of desperate hard work.

But if the time he took to advance to a Bright Energy Martial Artist was even shorter than the time he had taken to enter martial arts, then there would truly be no way to explain it.

Second, Lin Shu's death could not be concealed. Once a thorough investigation began, if they discovered that Wang Sheng had recently reached Bright Energy, then as someone who had a conflict with Lin Shu, he would definitely become the first suspect.

"Junior Brother Wang is up early to train again!"

Lin Qing, a formal disciple who had entered martial arts half a year before Wang Sheng, had just entered the martial academy when he spotted Wang Sheng in the empty training grounds, silently doing nothing but training hard.

Watching Wang Sheng sweat and toil, Lin Qing immediately felt a trace of jealousy and disdain.

A Low-grade Physique like his—who knew what kind of dog-shit luck had let him barely enter martial arts within the time limit through hard work? And now he wanted to rely on that little bit of sweat to cultivate Bright Energy?

Dream on!

As the saying went, every pass was a different heaven.

Entering martial arts was one pass, and reaching minor accomplishment in martial arts to produce Bright Energy was another. Every pass eliminated countless people; each was as difficult as climbing to heaven.

Lin Qing was jealous that Wang Sheng seemed to have earned the favor of Luo Zhengwen, a senior brother at Bright Energy.

Wang Sheng's Low-grade Physique was plain for all to see. His potential had already reached its end.

Yet Lin Qing himself had an upper-mid Physique and had entered martial arts half a year ago, but he still had not produced Bright Energy.

For someone with a Low-grade Physique to keep sweating and training so desperately was simply asking to become a glaring show-off, drawing cold looks and resentment from many people.

After making that veiled sarcastic remark, Lin Qing said no more.

After all, Wang Sheng's feat of crippling Meng Xu with a few punches was right there. He did not want to provoke Wang Sheng too much.

As time gradually passed, more and more disciples gathered in the martial academy.

Yet it was nearly noon, and there was still no sign of Lin Shu.

This left several people who had always been close to Lin Shu feeling puzzled.

Wang Sheng sat on a stone stool with his eyes closed, resting, when he heard several disciples whispering among themselves.

After reaching Bright Energy, his strength, five senses, reaction speed, and more had all been enhanced.

Moreover, before stepping into Bright Energy, the pressure in his heart had been immense, leaving him with no mind to listen to others' idle chatter.

Now that he had reached Bright Energy, much of that pressure had eased, so his attention was indeed a little more scattered.

"Grain prices are rising far too quickly, and meat costs an arm and a leg. If they keep rising, we'll only be able to drink thin porridge."

A disciple who had entered martial arts but had not produced Bright Energy spoke helplessly.

"Who isn't in the same boat? I only hope we can become Bright Energy Martial Artists soon!"

"Having enough thin porridge to fill your belly is already a problem, and you still want to cultivate Bright Energy?"

"I heard the Martial Artists of Han Country are each ridiculously huge, looking like giants."

"Recently, quite a few experts from Southern Ridge Prefecture have come to Ershui City, and they've already fought plenty of battles. A fierce dragon cannot suppress the local snake—those people will get taught a lesson sooner or later!"

"Sigh, I only hope the chaos of war ends soon. Otherwise, my family will have to start preparing to move away."

Many people paid close attention to Southern Ridge Prefecture, Han Country, and the affairs of the martial world. These were life-and-death matters closely tied to them, and no one could ignore them.

Just as Wang Sheng had rested for a while and was preparing to continue training, a black-clad yamen runner suddenly came calling.

A disciple quickly passed on the message, and only after receiving Master Zhao's permission could the black-clad yamen runner enter the inner courtyard.

Before long,

Master Zhao left the martial academy with the black-clad yamen runner, his face full of anger.

"What happened? Could Han Country or the rebel army have attacked?"

"I don't think so. It looks more like someone offended Master."

"Enough wild guessing. Keep training."

Li Hu sternly urged his junior brothers with those final words.

"Lin Shu's corpse has been found."

Wang Sheng had already prepared himself mentally.

Speaking of Lin Shu,

Wang Sheng thought of the Blood Stacking Technique he had found on him last night. It truly was an extraordinary secret art.

The Blood Stacking Technique had three levels.

Each level could unleash unimaginable power.

The principle behind the Blood Stacking Technique was to use inner force to stimulate acupoints and blood, causing every attribute of the body to surge tremendously.

The first level of the Blood Stacking Technique could unleash double one's strength.

The second level of the Blood Stacking Technique tripled one's strength while also strengthening the skin. There was a note: Those not born with powerful physiques should use it with caution.

The third level of the Blood Stacking Technique quadrupled one's strength, while all senses would be enhanced. Note: Body Refiners were forbidden from using it!

If Wang Sheng truly cultivated the Blood Stacking Technique to the third level, then even at the early Bright Energy stage, he could exchange a few moves with an early Dark Energy expert.

However, only the first level of the Blood Stacking Technique could currently be used. Using it would bring a period of weakness, which would probably appear a day later.

One of the latter two levels said to use it with caution, while the other forbade its use outright. Just reading that was enough to make one afraid to learn them.

"Lin Shu truly was worthy of being called a genius! The Blood Stacking Technique clearly required Bright Energy to use, yet before he had even produced Bright Energy, he had wanted to rely on external force to stimulate his acupoints and gain tremendous power."

Wang Sheng muttered inwardly, feeling relieved. Luckily, he had killed Lin Shu early. Otherwise, once Lin Shu had fully developed, even causing him the slightest trouble would have been disgusting.

Another half day passed.

When afternoon arrived,

Zhao Jie gathered all the disciples, his expression exceptionally gloomy.

"Lin Shu is dead."

"He was ambushed and killed by a Martial Artist who was at least at Bright Energy."

Zhao Jie's words left everyone utterly stunned.

Many disciples could not help discussing it in low voices.

Some disciples showed regret, pity, and even sorrow on their faces, yet inwardly they were secretly delighted.

After all, no one liked seeing someone from the same path soar to great heights; they preferred seeing another's towering building collapse!

"If any of you know which Bright Energy Martial Artist Lin Shu recently formed a grudge with, report it to me at once. A disciple of mine, Zhao Jie, cannot die so inexplicably!"

After Zhao Jie spoke, he waited for a while. Seeing that no one responded, he turned with a cold face and headed toward the inner courtyard.

After Zhao Feipeng, Li Hu, and several other senior disciples told everyone to continue training, they entered the inner courtyard to comfort Zhao Jie.

"Luckily, I didn't expose my Bright Energy strength!"

Wang Sheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that it was better to keep lying low.

Several days later,

Wang Sheng felt that the situation had gradually stabilized. The yamen constables investigating the case had also stopped coming so often, so he began looking for ways to make money.

Any Bright Energy Martial Artist who wanted to work would never be unable to earn money.

Wang Sheng needed to leave himself ample time for his daily cultivation, so he could not take a full-time job.

After secretly asking around for several days, Wang Sheng approached a small gang called the Golden Bull Gang.

This gang had only recently fought its way out of a street and established itself. Its leader was known as Ox Cyclone, an expert at Late Dark Energy.

The Golden Bull Gang was in the midst of expanding and was lavishly spending money to recruit helpers. It was equally generous toward part-time Martial Artists.

After Wang Sheng met and spoke with Ox Cyclone twice, they finally settled on fifteen taels of silver and two Blood Replenishing Pills per month, along with a freely gifted finely forged long saber.

Afterward, Wang Sheng also took nominal positions with the White Dog Gang, Azure Cloud Wine Shop, and Lin Nan Grocery Store. Together, they brought him seventy taels of silver, three Blood Replenishing Pills, and a jug of Sweet Medicine Wine each month.

A nominal position meant he only went when there was work to do and did not need to remain in the small faction at all times. Logically, plenty of people held several such positions to earn more money.

However, for better future development and to demonstrate their loyalty, most people would not casually take a second position.

Doing as Wang Sheng did brought short-term profit, but once it was exposed over time, he would be questioned and isolated, perhaps even dismissed immediately.

Of course, Wang Sheng did not need to be afraid. He had never expected to truly join any small faction officially.