Extermination (Please Keep Reading!)

A retainer's duties differed from those of Feng Sihai, the Yao Family's head guard. The latter not only had to protect the Yao Family but also handle whatever matters came up in the household.

A retainer only needed to lend a hand when the Yao Family required it.

Under normal circumstances, three or four taels was already a decent wage for a First Refinement martial artist serving as a retainer.

Yet the Yao Family was offering Wei Luo a full ten taels a month.

Even Liu Changle was a little envious. But envy was envy—Wei Luo's abilities were plain to see, and his martial potential wasn't low either.

So the Yao Family's investment could be considered an advance investment.

Wei Luo was quite satisfied as well. He'd thought earning a few taels on this trip would already be good enough. He hadn't expected to land a "high-paying retainer position."

By the end of the trip, he'd made thirty taels of silver just by turning things over.

Feng Sihai had also been carrying more than twenty taels, which Wei Luo and Liu Changle split between themselves.

"Wei Luo, my Yao Family may not compare to the Sun Family, but if you ever can't stay with them, you're welcome to come to my Yao Family."

Before they departed, Yao Song didn't forget to poach someone from the Sun Family.

This trip had left an impression on him that was simply too deep.

Wei Luo was both brave and resourceful. First, he'd noticed something was wrong with Feng Sihai; then he'd plotted Feng Sihai's death; finally, he'd driven off the river bandits.

With such temperament, even if Wei Luo failed at martial arts, joining the Yao Family as a steward would still strengthen the family.

Thus, even after what Feng Sihai had done, despite most of the Lineage believing they could no longer trust outsiders, Yao Song still insisted on offering Wei Luo ten taels a month.

Wei Luo more or less understood what Yao Song was thinking. He accepted the Yao Family's goodwill.

But he had no intention of leaving the Sun Family for now. After clasping his fists in salute, he departed with Liu Changle.

On the way home, the two passed through the Miscellaneous Ward. There were even more refugees in the streets and alleys now, with people selling themselves at nearly every alley entrance.

Seeing those emaciated refugees, a sliver of unease rose in Wei Luo's heart.

Only after going to Shanyang County had he realized just how severe this flood disaster was.

After natural disaster came man-made calamity. Even the parts of Shanyang County untouched by the flood had been thrown into chaos by the refugee influx.

This time, Wei Luo had also experienced just how terrifying gathered refugees could be.

A hundred or so refugees had boarded their boat a few days ago. If he hadn't intimidated them in time, he and Liu Changle might have been the only survivors.

It seemed a large number of refugees had already reached Pingjiang Town from Shanyang County. If things weren't handled properly, trouble might break out.

Just as Wei Luo was thinking this, someone walked through the streets banging a gong and shouting.

"Porridge is being handed out outside the east gate! Anyone who wants to eat, head outside the city! Miss it, and you're out of luck!"

The refugees lying around the street corners immediately scrambled up when they heard there was food.

"Porridge? Is that for real?"

"Who cares whether it's real? We'll know if we go take a look. I haven't eaten in three days. Even if they give me Guanyin clay, I'll eat it!"

Most of the refugees were so hungry their eyes had turned green. They staggered toward the city gates in a flood.

After asking around, the two learned that the Sun, Wu, and Huang Families had joined forces with the yamen to distribute porridge.

It wasn't that the three families were particularly kindhearted. They had likely sensed the danger of refugees gathering and didn't want to follow in Shanyang County's footsteps.

"We made quite a bit of money this time. Might as well spend it all on improving our strength. If something really happens, we won't even be able to protect ourselves otherwise."

Liu Changle was still talking about how he would show off when he got home, but Wei Luo's thoughts had already drifted far away.

"Ah, if only I had that kind of talent..."

"He's only been in the compound for a few months, yet he's already reached the Second Refinement. That's ridiculous!"

"That's fate. On the day they traded fists, even the family head praised Shen Wu a few times. Could you do that?"

The next day, the moment Wei Luo arrived at the courtyard, he found the boatmen all talking about Shen Wu.

After asking around, he finally learned what had happened in the few days he and Liu Changle had been away.

When the Sun and Wu Families clashed, Shen Wu had defeated several First Refinement martial artists from the Wu Family in a row, becoming the most dazzling figure in the exchange between the two families.

And just the day before yesterday, Shen Wu had directly broken through the second Qi-Blood Threshold.

There was only one person in the courtyard at Three Refinements: Master Qin.

There were fewer than ten at the Second Refinement, all veteran boatmen. The moment Shen Wu broke through, he surpassed seventy percent of the boatmen.

Now, even the veteran boatmen in the courtyard had begun thinking of befriending Shen Wu.

"Wei Luo, watch the fist! If you can last twenty moves, I'll treat you to drinks."

On the training ground, Wei Luo had just settled into his stance when Zhao Xiu came at him with a punch straight to the face.

Wei Luo immediately retreated half a step and used Whirling Force to block it.

Zhao Xiu was at the Second Refinement. His punching power already far exceeded Wei Luo's, and for the sake of their evening drinks, he used his full strength.

Amid the collisions of fists and elbows, Wei Luo was quickly suppressed.

Though he was stretched thin, once they truly began fighting, Wei Luo still managed to withstand Zhao Xiu's twenty moves of tempestuous attacks.

[Folding Waves Fist Progress: 43%]

Wei Luo could feel it. Before long, he would be able to touch the second Qi-Blood Threshold.

"Wei Luo, I really didn't notice it before. You went out for a few days, and your strength has grown by quite a bit again."

There was a trace of amazement in Zhao Xiu's voice. After thinking for a moment, he added,

"Sure enough, nothing compares to a life-and-death battle."

Wei Luo nodded at that. This time, he'd first watched Feng Sihai fight Liu Changle, then killed Feng Sihai himself.

When it came to a real fight, Wei Luo had felt many differences. After that battle, he'd improved considerably.

Liu Changle was much the same. His fist techniques had improved quite a bit.

And the two of them had made plenty of money on this trip. After training until they were exhausted, they directly bought two bowls of Bone-Strengthening Soup.

Not long after the Bone-Strengthening Soup entered his stomach, Wei Luo could feel the weakness in his muscles and bones receding. At the same time, his entire body heated up, as if his qi and blood had increased by a sliver.

A bowl of Bone-Strengthening Soup cost half a tael of silver, but it was truly a case of getting what one paid for. Wei Luo could feel even his strength had risen a little.

It might have only been a little, but Bone-Strengthening Soup was generally drunk once every three days. Over time, it could improve the effects of fist training by at least fifty percent.

By afternoon, Zhao Xiu came out from the inner courtyard again and found Wei Luo and Liu Changle.

"Today happens to be my birthday. Come to my house tonight for a gathering. I'll introduce you to a few old hands from the courtyard, and I've got some good news to tell you too."

"A birthday banquet?"

"That's right. Don't forget. I still need to notify the others."

After saying that, Zhao Xiu left them an address and turned to leave.

Zhao Xiu often helped the two practice their fists and had introduced them to ways of making money.

The three of them had long since become more than mere drinking buddies, so Wei Luo and Liu Changle naturally agreed at once.

"But it's already this late. We can't exactly show up empty-handed, can we? We need to find something presentable."

Seeing the sun sinking westward, Liu Changle was briefly at a loss. Zhao Xiu had told them too late.

But Wei Luo merely smiled and said,

"Come on. Let's rent a boat by the river."

Liu Changle didn't understand.

"What are we renting a boat for?"

"To catch fish, of course."

"Giving fish as a gift would be way too shabby."

Liu Changle was reluctant, but Wei Luo couldn't be bothered explaining. He grabbed him and dragged him out of the courtyard.

Since they were giving a gift, they obviously couldn't give something commonplace.

Treasure Fish were out of reach, but with the Great Thousand Revelation, catching some relatively rare fish species wouldn't be a problem. They would be more than presentable.