Rewards and News

The young gang leader, Zhou Yingjun, was not very tall.

He was inconspicuous among a crowd of burly men.

But all the disciples knew that he was far from ordinary. He was a Bright Force martial artist who had already stepped into Ninth Grade Martial Arts.

Bright Force Martial Warriors possessed the strength of a thousand jin, with hides like ox leather, difficult to harm even with blades.

Especially this young gang leader, who had already reached the peak of Ninth Grade. His tendons, bones, skin, and flesh had been tempered to perfection. Forget ordinary swords and sabers—even the county yamen's firearm squad likely could not harm him in the slightest.

In the entire Great River Gang, apart from the old gang leader Zhou Tianxiong, who was like a divine dragon whose head was seen but tail never found, Zhou Yingjun was the ceiling of their combat strength.

Su Xinghe had seen this young gang leader fight several times. His steel-tipped iron spear weighed thirty or forty jin, and when wielded, it was like a meat grinder.

Whether blades, spears, swords, halberds, or iron-plated greatshields stood in his path, the instant they so much as grazed or collided with it, they twisted and deformed at once.

It could be said that ordinary gang disciples like Su Xinghe and the others had almost no chance of escape once they were targeted.

Fortunately, none of the opponents he had encountered so far had been ranked martial artists.

Zhou Yingjun entered the room, his sharp gaze sweeping over everyone.

At once, the entire hall fell silent.

"You performed very well today. I'll cover tonight's drinks."

He spoke simply and clearly, his voice loud and powerful. Even the disciples at the very edge heard every word distinctly.

At that, everyone burst into cheers.

After all, today was different from usual. More or less everyone had pocketed some spoils, and practically every one of them had treated themselves to a special meal and fine wine.

Su Xinghe was secretly delighted as well, and his smile toward the young gang leader became several degrees more sincere. Even the plate of pig head meat on the table before him looked more lovable.

But that was not all. Zhou Yingjun whispered a few words to the men behind him, and Brother Blade, a senior headman, carried over a heavy wooden chest.

Everyone's eyes went wide. This was the main event of the night.

"Li Tiebang, come up!"

"Your team took first merit today. With twenty-two additional battle merits, your reward totals sixty-two taels of silver."

Zhou Yingjun still spoke rather cautiously. After all, they were inside the city. Even as a Martial Warrior, he could not openly put matters like murder and arson on the table before so many people.

On the left side of the hall, a bare-chested brawny man with thick bandages wrapped around his chest was supported forward by others, unable to wait any longer.

It seemed he had received word long ago. Even with serious injuries, he had forced himself to appear at this reward ceremony.

"This lowly one, Li Tiebang, thanks the young gang leader for the reward!"

"Mm, a tough man indeed!"

That single compliment made the brawny man, whose chest was still seeping blood, grin from ear to ear.

He too had once worked hard, hoping to become a Martial Warrior like the young gang leader. But his talent was lacking, and he had no resources. Now, the only reason he could hold steady as a minor headman was because his life was hard enough.

Under the candlelight, the gleaming white silver made everyone's hearts sway. All of them were breathing heavily, including Su Xinghe in the corner.

He needed silver far too badly.

Names were crossed off one after another. Before long, a name Su Xinghe had been eagerly awaiting was called.

"Zhang Whiskers!"

"Your team fought fiercely and earned sixteen battle merits. Your total reward is thirty-six taels of silver."

As he spoke, the young gang leader's gaze swept over their table and paused briefly on Su Xinghe.

Battle merits meant the number of enemies killed. The figures just reported had made even him, a Ninth Grade martial artist, cast a sidelong glance.

An eight-man squad had taken sixteen heads. This inconspicuous newcomer alone had claimed six.

"Gulp!"

Lu Kui swallowed hard. Minor headman Zhang Whiskers was his immediate superior. There were eight men in the squad, and out of thirty-six taels, he reckoned he could get three or four taels.

The Great River Gang worked with great efficiency, and this young gang leader, Zhou Yingjun, was even more ruthless and sparing with words.

Before the time it took to drink a cup of tea had passed, the rewards had all been distributed according to merit.

After drinking a cup of wine with everyone, Zhou Yingjun swiftly departed with two senior headmen.

Today's gains were not limited to the little silver given by the Qian Family Merchant Association. At the Brokerage Guild, an entire shipload of spoils still awaited his inspection.

In a corner of the hall, the seven squad members waited eagerly.

There had long been an unwritten rule for internal squad distribution. Captain Zhang Whiskers took sixteen taels, and the remaining twenty taels were divided up.

The six old hands each received three taels of silver. One new disciple, though he had fought fiercely and taken the most heads, received only two taels.

Su Xinghe inevitably felt disappointed, but he quickly adjusted himself.

Once you were mixed up with a criminal gang, where could fairness possibly be found?

Only your own strength was truly dependable.

So, the moment he got the silver, he slipped away under the pretense of needing to piss.

Lu Kui tucked away his silver, still feeling unsatisfied. He once again suggested going to Two-Chi Alley for some fun. Everyone loudly agreed, only to turn around and find that little brother Blackie had vanished without a trace.

"Cough, cough!"

"The woman at home is pressing me hard. Your brother here will head off first."

"Oh dear, guests just happened to come to my home. You all have fun."

"It's no fun with too few people. How about we stay here, drink, and play cards instead?"

By then, Su Xinghe had already left Eight-Zhang Street.

He stood before an alley and examined it carefully for a moment.

At last, he pointed toward the corner of the wall on the right.

"Uncle, I want that one!"

"Sharp eyes, little brother!"

"Of course. I'm an expert. That one has a proud chest and perky rump—one look tells you it's healthy."

The uncle gave him a thumbs-up.

"Want me to slaughter it for you?"

"Slaughter it!"

With a lift of his hand and a drop of his blade, the uncle began draining its blood and scalding off its feathers, calling out as he worked.

"Alright then, exactly five jin. Forty wen."

Across both lives, Su Xinghe was already forty or fifty years old combined.

Naturally, he would not let thin skin force him into riding a tiger he could not dismount from.

His family was poor now, and his future uncertain. Rather than leave the money unused, he might as well buy some food and improve the meals for himself and his family.

As for whether he would be given a hard time tomorrow—he was already cannon fodder. Was he supposed to fear being given a hard time?

The next morning, the sky had only just begun to brighten.

"Mother, I'm going to the docks. The chicken soup is simmering in the heated bed. Don't forget to eat it at noon."

After receiving his reward silver last night, Su Xinghe had bought a hen at the southern city night market on his way home. He had simmered it overnight in grass ash on the heated bed, letting it cook slowly.

He took a sip of the soup in the morning. It was damn fresh!

"Oh..."

"Cough, cough..."

"Why did you spend that money..."

The sounds afterward were nearly inaudible. He had already gone out and left the alley.

"Morning, Boss! Have you eaten?"

At the mouth of the alley, a scrawny figure squatted by the wall. Upon seeing him emerge, a pair of distinct black-and-white eyes rolled busily about.

"What is it?"

Su Xinghe stopped and looked down at the youth from the corner of his eye.

The other party had run so quickly yesterday that it had made him, the boss, lose face. Besides, he had only just given him living expenses—was he already trying to mooch food and drink again today?

The scrawny figure had wanted to play mysterious, but he caught sight of his boss's less-than-pleasant expression. Realizing his idea might have been a little presumptuous, he hurriedly explained his purpose.

"I just got two pieces of news."

"The Iron Escort Chief of the Qingshan Escort Agency in the eastern part of the city let word slip at his own banquet last night. They plan to recruit ten escort hands, and anyone accepted will be taught genuine martial arts."

"But they didn't mention whether there would be a monthly stipend."

"And about Old Madman, whom you told me to watch—he may not be able to hold on much longer. A medicine-fetching boy from Huichun Hall sent word that his original injury treatment prescription has already been replaced. The doctor is now prescribing powerful medicine to calm the mind and relieve pain."

"I think he may have run out of silver."