Martial Examination

"Mom, I'm back!"

After greeting Zhou Fang, Duan Xuan went to look for the grinding tools.

Then he caught sight of some broken silver placed beside his mother's pillow and let out a surprised sound. "The hides sold for this much today?"

Duan Xuan thought his mother had sold the sable pelt, but on second thought, a sable pelt would fetch far more than this, unless his mother had been cheated.

Zhou Fang wore a smile, though guilt lingered within it. "This was sent over by the Zhao family and the Liu family.

I heard from them that Zhao Rui and Liu Chunmei are doing quite well in the county town now.

Zhao Rui has really made something of himself. In two months, he'll nearly catch up to the position of his Seventh Uncle.

Although Chunmei is a servant, I heard the Wang family treats her quite well. They rarely make her do heavy, exhausting, or dirty work!"

Duan Xuan nodded slightly. He already knew all this. When the two had come to chat with him not long ago, they had roughly told him about it.

"Everyone's getting better, and I'm happy for them both. I've now broken through to the Bright Realm, and recently I've taken a post at Benevolent Harmony Hall's medicinal garden. We won't have to worry about tuition fees anymore."

Taking advantage of the moment, Duan Xuan shared his joy with his mother as well.

Though Zhou Fang did not understand what Bright Force was, she knew this must have been an achievement her son had earned through immense hardship.

Her nose immediately stung, and she looked as though she were about to cry.

"Mom, this is wonderful news. Why are you crying?"

Zhou Fang's eyes reddened. "The Zhao family and the Liu family both told me that practicing martial arts is the hardest, most grueling, most brutal thing in the world—and a bottomless pit that swallows gold.

They know you three brothers are close. Though they can't help much, they still hoped you would accept this little token of their goodwill!"

"Ah, your mother is useless. I can only lie here, and I can't give you more. But don't worry, son. I'm getting faster and faster at weaving hides.

My craftsmanship is getting better too.

This afternoon, the Golden Leopard Gang came by as well. They were quite decent.

They took several hides from our family and directly gave us an ounce of broken silver!"

"Mom, thank Uncle Liu and Uncle Zhao for me later. And don't blame yourself. You gave me a strong body and a mind that can think. That's already more than enough.

Over the next few days, we can properly sort out that sable pelt. Then I'll find a good place to sell it for a good price."

Zhou Fang felt much better and nodded, then accepted the several taels of silver Duan Xuan handed her.

She did not ask where the silver had come from, because Duan Xuan had already given her a sum of silver not long ago.

If her son did not say, then as his mother, there was no need for her to press him. She chose to support her son in silence!

Duan Xuan committed the kindness of the Zhao family and the Liu family to memory. As for the Golden Leopard Gang...

Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives. The moment he looked up, Duan Xuan saw three people standing outside his small courtyard.

Unlike Wolf Stronghold, who had barged in directly before, these men were fairly polite. They symbolically knocked on the broken door from outside.

The leader was a rugged-looking burly man. At first glance, one might have taken him for a heroic wanderer of the martial world.

"Brother Duan Xuan, I'm Xu Jinbao, leader of the Golden Leopard Gang!" Seeing Duan Xuan emerge from the house, Xu Jinbao cupped his fists in greeting.

Duan Xuan did not rush to open the door, merely returning the salute with cupped fists.

Xu Jinbao was tactful as well and did not shamelessly insist on coming in for another sit-down. "We've driven Wolf Stronghold away. If Brother Duan needs help in the future, just say the word.

If there is ever anywhere we have failed to look after you properly, you may speak freely.

We won't disturb Brother Duan's rest any longer. Farewell!"

The group left with cheerful smiles.

"Big Brother, that skinny brat doesn't seem special at all. Why are you being so courteous to him?

Our Golden Leopard Gang has just arrived at Snakehead Ravine. We need to establish our authority!" the thug beside Xu Jinbao asked in confusion.

Xu Jinbao clasped his hands behind his back. "This Duan Xuan is no ordinary man!"

"Isn't he just a Bright Force martial artist? Big Brother and Second Brother are both Bright Force martial artists too!" the other man said unwillingly.

The Golden Leopard Gang had driven off Wolf Stronghold and even sent their chief fleeing to who knew where.

If the two chiefs had been together at the time, Wolf Stronghold's chief would never have escaped.

The two thugs had no idea what Duan Xuan had to be so arrogant about. If they told him of Big Brother's record of fighting five alone, it would probably scare him to death.

Xu Jinbao shook his head. "Two reasons. First, he is a disciple of Broken Mountain Martial Arts Hall.

Though Broken Mountain Martial Arts Hall is a small martial arts hall, I've already investigated. This year, it actually produced two martial artists with first-grade bone aptitude.

What does first-grade bone aptitude represent?

A clear path all the way to Dark Force.

Breaking through the third threshold and reaching Transforming Force would not be difficult either.

And Duan Xuan is their senior brother. Tell me, would offending him do our Golden Leopard Gang any good?

Second, Duan Xuan is poor and skinny. He clearly has no money to buy supplements, yet he still crossed the first threshold and stepped into Bright Force.

We cannot offend a ruthless man like this, nor can we afford to. From now on, that benevolent gentleman's blessing lantern need not come to their home again.

Find out who is close to the Duan family, and reduce or waive things for them as appropriate. Forge a good karmic bond—it will benefit you and me alike!"

The two men finally understood. After answering in acknowledgment, the three slowly headed back toward the stronghold beneath the setting sun.

Early the next morning, Duan Xuan felt his abdomen burning hot, as though a current of heat were swirling within.

It was not a stomachache, but his qi and blood burning. After being fully absorbed by his body, it finally gathered at his dantian.

After seeing off the Golden Leopard Gang last night, he had begun grinding the Qi-Blood Pill according to the method Senior Brother Zhang Chen had taught him.

This thing was rich in qi and blood. Only experts at Dark Force or above could consume it directly.

Martial artists below Dark Force, like Wolf Tian, could recover from their injuries in a short time by swallowing it directly, but they could not exhaust the qi and blood within it. Their bodies could very likely explode.

The safest method was to grind it into powder and mix it into food for consumption, like Qi-Blood Powder.

Divided up this way, it made enough for eight small packets of Qi-Blood Powder.

"Mom, I'm leaving first. Don't trouble yourself with the meat in the vat. I'll stew it when I come back."

After bidding Zhou Fang farewell, Duan Xuan made his way toward Yellow Snake County as familiarly as ever.

"Granny Liu, why are you so happy today?"

"Don't you know? Everyone from Wolf Stronghold is dead. Wolf Stronghold is gone!"

"I heard it too. The corpse of Wolf Tian, Wolf Stronghold's chief, still can't even be identified, and I heard the other chiefs died horribly as well!"

"It's truly swept away a great hatred in my heart!"

"Isn't that so? This morning, members of the Golden Leopard Gang came by and said they would waive this month's Mountain Lord incense money.

Judging by their expressions, they were shocked and delighted. It seemed like they hadn't done it!"

"I heard it was the people from Benevolent Harmony Hall who did this good deed. They eliminated evil for the people—what heroes!"

The last time Duan Xuan had heard such words was when he had ambushed Two-Scar.

Now Wolf Stronghold had been completely wiped out, and the Golden Leopard Gang had taken their place.

Duan Xuan was happy, but he also understood clearly that oppression and exploitation were far from over.

Unfortunately, his abilities were limited for now. He would deal with it—but not yet!

After walking a long way, he arrived at the martial arts hall as usual. His senior brothers and sisters were chattering away in the training grounds, though he did not know what they were discussing.

Zhang Chen, the bear-like burly man, slowly appeared behind Duan Xuan. "The martial examination is about to begin, Junior Brother. Are you planning to take part?"

"The martial examination?"