Zhou Man

The Wild Wolf Gang was located in the southwestern corner of Cloudwater City, with two Martial Artists at the peak of the Skin-Flesh Realm holding the fort.

It counted as a modestly powerful faction within Cloudwater City.

Inside the Wild Wolf Gang's main hall, the light was dim, and the air was thick with the scent of wine and meat. Dozens of oil lamps flickered and danced, their firelight waxing and waning as it stretched the figure seated in the seat of honor into something long and distorted.

Jackal lay prostrate before the seat of honor, his expression frantic.

Taking down True Intent Martial Hall had been the first important task the gang had assigned him.

Now that he had botched it, not only had he betrayed the gang leader's trust, but his own prestige as a Martial Artist had also taken a considerable hit within the gang.

Chen Dao sat boldly in a broad beast-hide chair, continuously stuffing a roasted lamb hind leg into his mouth.

The dull sounds of flesh being torn and chewed echoed through the empty hall.

Chen Dao gazed at Jackal below, his eyes cold.

After a long while, he finally spoke. "You're saying Wu Yi went to True Intent Martial Hall?"

Jackal hurriedly replied, "Absolutely, Gang Leader. I was just about to deal with that True Intent Martial Hall disciple, Li Kuai, when Wu Yi unexpectedly turned out to be hiding in the martial hall and even kicked this subordinate."

Upon hearing this, Chen Dao turned to look at the second gang leader seated to his left. Their gazes met, as though they were communicating in silence.

After a moment of silence, Chen Dao's voice reached Jackal's ears again, and his words filled Jackal with delight.

"Fine. You've worked hard on this task.

The position of fourth chief is still vacant. I think highly of you, Jackal. Go collect your reward."

Jackal immediately kowtowed several times.

"Many thanks, Gang Leader."

After watching Jackal leave, Chen Dao closed his eyes and leaned back in the beast-hide chair, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest.

"Speak, Second Brother."

The second gang leader beside him looked at Chen Dao in the seat of honor. After a brief silence, he slowly uttered a few words.

"Big Brother, I suspect the current Wu Yi isn't human at all."

That single sentence sent a chill of sweat down Chen Dao's back.

"You really didn't make a mistake?"

Chen Dao looked toward Second Brother, while the sound of his fingers tapping the armrest gradually faded.

"You know me, Big Brother. I personally checked him on the spot. His breath had completely vanished."

Chen Dao knew his Second Brother well. Though he appeared dull and taciturn, he was a ruthless man who always saw things through to the end.

Seeing how certain his Second Brother was, Chen Dao inwardly cursed. This was bad.

If he truly was one of those filthy things, then...

At that thought, Chen Dao immediately rose to his feet, picked up the saber at his side, and turned grave.

Seeing his Big Brother act this way, Second Brother promptly stood as well.

"Second Brother, it's best to prepare early. If it truly is one of those filthy things, it may have already remembered your aura. Go arrange the gang's defenses.

I'll go take a look at the Zhang Household."

"Don't worry, Big Brother. Leave everything in the gang to me."

Hearing that, Chen Dao finally relaxed.

The importance of having a good teammate.

Elsewhere, Wu Yi arrived at Zhou Man's home.

Seeing the bare walls and impoverished surroundings before him, Wu Yi could not help feeling guilty.

He had cared too little for his disciples.

"Is... is Man'er back?"

A frail woman's voice drifted over.

Wu Yi followed the sound and saw Zhou Man's mother, who had been bedridden for many days, lying on the bed.

The room was dim, and the figure beneath the thin blanket looked especially frail. Each shallow breath revealed the helpless weakness of long illness.

"Auntie, I'm Zhou Man's hall master. Zhou Man hadn't come to the martial hall all day, so I came specifically to check on him."

Wu Yi slowly walked over to Aunt Zhou, his tone gentle.

Upon hearing that he was the hall master, Aunt Zhou hurriedly tried to rise, but Wu Yi stopped her.

"So it's Hall Master Wu. This humble woman has been discourteous..."

"Auntie, you're in poor health. There's no need for formalities."

"I came to see Zhou Man. Auntie, do you know where Zhou Man went?"

"Man'er... let me think..."

Aunt Zhou closed her eyes slightly, her breathing slowing as though she had sunk into her memories.

"I remember now, Hall Master Wu. Man'er seemed to mention this morning that he was going to some wharf to earn money..."

As she spoke, Aunt Zhou began coughing without pause.

Having gotten the answer he wanted, Wu Yi decided not to stay any longer.

"Auntie, these are some medicines I brought for you. When Zhou Man comes back, remember to have him boil them for you to drink."

"Thank you, Hall Master Wu. I'm sorry to trouble you..."

After setting the medicine packet aside, Wu Yi walked to the doorway. He turned back to look at Aunt Zhou, his gaze complicated.

Birth, aging, sickness, and death... was this the life every person had to endure?

Cloudwater Wharf lay within territory controlled by the Wild Wolf Gang.

Merchant ships often docked there, making it possible to skim quite a bit of profit.

How could a mere Wild Wolf Gang have taken control of Cloudwater Wharf without anyone backing them?

It was said that the Wild Wolf Gang stood behind one of Cloudwater City's two great clans, the Zhang Household.

There had once been a gang that tried to seize this juicy prize from the Wild Wolf Gang. The outcome was easy to imagine: the gang was wiped out overnight.

It was said that not even a blade of grass remained on their grounds, and even the bird eggs in the trees had been shaken loose.

Zhou Man carried three large sacks on his shoulder, panting as he followed the laborers ahead of him step by step toward the warehouse.

"Put them here. Put them all here."

"Hey, put that down more carefully! If you break it, selling your entire family still wouldn't be enough to compensate for it."

"Sorry, sorry, sir. I'll be more careful next time."

Zhou Man looked toward the voice.

He saw a slightly hunched old laborer repeatedly bowing and scraping before a Wild Wolf Gang member holding a long whip.

"What the hell are you all looking at? Hurry up and carry the goods! Carry one sack less, and you won't get paid today!"

At those words, many laborers who were already panting from exhaustion had no choice but to force themselves onward and quicken their pace.

"Come on, Xiao Man."

The one speaking was Brother Liu.

Over the past few days, he had been looking after Zhou Man, the newcomer.

"Okay, Brother Liu."

Zhou Man did not look any longer and instead followed Brother Liu back toward the cargo ship.

In truth, Zhou Man had already been working at Cloudwater Wharf for four or five days.

Ever since his mother's illness worsened, Zhou Man had been working as a laborer at Cloudwater Wharf while continuing to train at the martial hall.

Brother Liu was Zhou Man's neighbor and had watched him grow up. Knowing that Zhou Man's family was becoming increasingly destitute, he had introduced Zhou Man to work as a laborer at Cloudwater Wharf.

As a Martial Disciple, Zhou Man was naturally quite strong. His family had only relied on growing a little grain for a living, so he simply accepted Brother Liu's offer.

Everything had been fine at first.

Until one day, several people suddenly came to his home, claiming that Zhou Man owed the Wild Wolf Gang a large debt and had to sell himself to repay it.

Zhou Man was no fool. Wasn't this outright extortion? How could he possibly agree?

So he fought them. Though Zhou Man had not entered the Skin-Flesh Realm, youthful confidence made him believe he could handle anyone below that realm.

In the end, the other side had no sense of fair play. They had hidden a Skin-Flesh Realm Martial Artist among them, who knocked him flat with a single punch.

Under their threats and temptations, Zhou Man was ultimately forced to sign a contract of sale.

And the place they ordered him to work was none other than Cloudwater Wharf.

Zhou Man had no idea what they were planning, but he was alone while they were numerous and powerful. How could he possibly fight them?

If only I could break through to the Skin-Flesh Realm...

Thinking this, Zhou Man hoisted another three large sacks onto his shoulder.