Old Street Drifts with Funeral Whites, Tempering Blade Skills, Jade Deer Steps into the Medicine Hall, Old Man Huang's Fury!

The autumn wind was bleak, and bare trees stood branchless.

Another year was drawing to its end. Bitter winds and northern snow would arrive before long.

This winter, who knew how many impoverished families would again be trapped in filthy, waterlogged streets and alleys, their bedding leaking cold air, without firewood or charcoal, struggling just to survive.

In years past, whenever this time came around, his own family had not fared much better.

But Zhang Qing tightened the thick Wind and Cloud Association uniform around himself. Dressed in fitted martial attire, he tried his best to hold his head high. Looking at this dilapidated alley, his eyes shone brightly.

"Yesterday, for some reason, Yellow Medicine Master was so scared that he saw enemies in every bush and tree. He had me run to Inner Street and invite Master Wang, the 'Overlord Spear' among fist, spear, saber, and sword, to come in person. We worked all day until it got dark."

"Because of the delay, I could only collect my silver this morning and come home to see Father and my sisters."

He patted the bulging pouch at his waist, unable to hide the smile on his face.

"Following Brother Ji really has made life so much better. Sigh."

"But he's too incredible. I don't know if I'll ever become even a tenth as capable as him and be able to help him."

Zhang Qing scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed.

A childhood companion he had played with since they were little had suddenly soared into the sky and become an outstanding figure. There was no way he could get used to that in just two months.

Yet half of everything he had now had been given by Brother Ji, and the other half by "Master Han."

Now that he had learned