The autumn breeze was gentle, the sky a clear blue, white clouds floated by, and wild geese flew south.
Warm sunlight filtered through the increasingly sparse branches of the old locust tree in the courtyard, casting light on a young man.
The young man was tall and dressed in coarse short clothes, practicing his punches with vigor.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
His movements were extremely quick, his gaze sharp. As his fists and feet moved, they left behind a series of afterimages, producing continuous sounds of wind breaking—a truly intimidating display.
*Huff...*
After practicing for a full hour, the young man finally stopped, slightly closing his eyes. He exhaled a long stream of white breath that resembled an arrow, lingering in the air for quite some time.
Slowly opening his eyes, he noticed his complexion was somewhat pale. He murmured to himself:
"It's been seven months, and I still can't break through. It seems I must switch to a better technique..."
His gaze flickered for a moment before returning to calmness.
He took two steps to the weapon rack under the locust tree and slowly drew out a four-foot-long knife from its sheath, lightly running his fingers along the blade.
Suddenly, with a flick of his wrist, the knife flashed, effortlessly slicing through a withered yellow leaf that fell silently to the ground.
*Swish! Swish! Swish!*
The thirty-pound long knife felt weightless in his hands; its blade glimmered with a dazzling cold light.
More astonishingly, after completing a set of knife techniques, he maintained steady breathing without showing any signs of fatigue. He continued practicing without pause.
This long knife was heavy and cumbersome—military-grade weaponry. Even the strongest soldiers could only swing it vigorously a dozen times at most; few martial artists in the world would dare use such a weapon.
Yet after finishing a set of techniques with this long knife, the young man remained unfazed and even continued to practice for another hour before finally sheathing it.
Only then did his complexion turn slightly red, but his breathing remained steady and long.
He looked up at the sky and saw it was nearly noon. He walked into the main room, changed into yellow short clothes, tied on a wooden waist plaque, picked up a food box, and exited the small courtyard.
The young man made his way through narrow alleys until he arrived at a courtyard with three chimneys rising from it. He stepped inside.
Inside the courtyard gathered over ten gray-clad apprentices who were lining up to receive their meals. Upon seeing the young man enter, seven or eight of them greeted him enthusiastically:
"Senior Brother Chen is here!"
"Big Brother Chen!"
A sincere smile appeared on the young man's face as he replied:
"Hehe, Junior Brother Zhang and Junior Brother Wei! You both arrived quite early..."
He greeted each of them before handing his food box to one of the attendants with an innocent smile:
"Brother Xiao Liu, same as always—twenty pieces of white bread, three large bowls of stewed meat, and one bowl of vegetables!"
"Sure thing!"
Xiao Liu accepted the food box and turned to head inside.
A tall-faced apprentice who overheard remarked:
"This guy eats way too much!"
The short and stout apprentice in front responded in surprise:
"You really are clueless! You don't know Senior Brother Chen?"
The tall-faced apprentice asked curiously:
"Brother, is Senior Brother Chen famous? Tell me more! I just passed my test three days ago and became an apprentice; I don't know anything..."
The stout apprentice became animated:
"Let me tell you! Senior Brother Chen is a great person—kind-hearted with no airs about him. He often helps us gray-clad apprentices out and is highly skilled in martial arts. I heard he's about to become the fourth leader of the guard team!"
The tall-faced apprentice expressed envy:
"The guard team is such a good position! No need to work hard while getting to eat meat every day. I wish I could join them..."
"Of course! Senior Brother Chen joined the guard team over a year ago; he wields a thirty-pound long knife and has reportedly killed several mountain bandits!"
"A thirty-pound long knife?!" The tall-faced apprentice's eyes widened. "I struggle just carrying thirty pounds of iron materials!"
The stout apprentice beamed with pride:
"Hehe! Senior Brother Chen is truly a martial arts prodigy! He passed his apprenticeship test three years ago and was accepted by Manager Li on that same day. Within just one year he broke through to skin refining; after spending another year beside Manager Li he joined the guard team—he's incredibly fierce and has achieved many merits! Just last month he broke through to bone refining; even the three leaders of the guard team are only at that level!"
"Senior Brother Chen is Manager Li's disciple? No wonder he's so impressive! Before coming here I heard tales about Manager Li—he's known as a peak marrow-refining expert throughout Leping County!"
"Did you know that Manager Li has two even more impressive disciples?"
"Who are they?"
"Well... that's quite a story..."
Standing at a distance, Chen Yuan listened to their whispers with a smile on his face.
Though they tried to lower their voices intentionally it couldn't escape his increasingly keen senses.
The young man was indeed Chen Yuan; three years had passed since he entered the Hundred Weapons Hall and became Manager Li's disciple.
Hearing snippets about his own experiences over these past three years from other apprentices evoked feelings of nostalgia within him.
In these three years, he had indeed gone through many experiences.
Before long, Xiao Liu returned carrying an overflowing food box carefully handing it over to Chen Yuan:
"Here you go, Brother Chen."
"Thank you."
Chen Yuan graciously accepted the food box and turned to leave.
Behind him several gray-clad apprentices called out:
"Take care on your way back, Senior Brother Chen!"
"Big Brother Chen! Are you only taking one day off?"
As he walked away with a smile Chen Yuan replied:
"Yes! I'll return to the guard team tomorrow..."
After exchanging pleasantries he exited the kitchen courtyard quickening his pace. As he walked along the path back home his smile gradually faded returning to tranquility.
...
After finishing lunch Chen Yuan went to see Manager Li.
He arrived early today while Wang Cong and Zhao Shan had yet to show up.
Entering the main hall he respectfully bowed towards Manager Li:
"Er Niu pays respects to Master!"
Manager Li stroked his beard smiling:
"You've come Er Niu; today is your day off. Why not go enjoy yourself at some entertainment venue?"
Chen Yuan scratched his head sheepishly:
"I don't understand those things; all I know is how to practice martial arts. With nothing else going on during my day off I must serve my Master."
Manager Li's smile grew wider:
"You certainly have filial piety! How is your practice with Hu Tiger Power? Any difficulties?"
Chen Yuan pondered for a moment before asking:
"Master, when I circulate my vital energy through Chong Mai I often feel restless..."
He posed several questions which Manager Li answered one by one.
During this time both Wang Cong and Zhao Shan arrived but refrained from interrupting standing quietly aside while listening attentively.
They too were only at bone refining stage but had deeper experience than Chen Yuan; thus Manager Li's guidance benefited them as well!
After about fifteen minutes Manager Li's expression turned serious as he said:
"Alright that will be enough for now. Your two senior brothers have arrived; there's something I need to discuss with you."
"Please instruct us!"
Wang Cong responded while both Chen Yuan and Zhao Shan wore solemn expressions listening intently.
Manager Li gently stroked his beard before speaking slowly:
"Tomorrow morning our hall will be transporting a batch of ironware to Chiman Mountain Range. I will accompany the convoy as well; you three will come along with me."
"Yes Master!"
All three responded in unison.
"This time we're doing business with a new village—a deal worth several thousand taels of silver—we need to deliver goods deep into Chiman Mountain Range where travel is perilous due to bandits roaming around. You must prepare well and not let your guard down."
Wang Cong asked:
"But Master didn't we buy flags from those villages? Surely no one would dare rob us?"
Manager Li narrowed his eyes gravely replying:
"The situation today differs from before; last year both Lánzhōu and Xīngzhōu suffered droughts followed by locust plagues causing refugees fleeing everywhere—the new villages springing up within Chiman Mountain are becoming increasingly unruly. The flags we purchased previously are losing their effectiveness—we must act cautiously."
Wang Cong's expression changed:
"I understand Master; I won't take this lightly!"
Manager Li nodded slightly easing up:
"You don't need too much worry either—after all we're not just any small merchants; no one would easily provoke us given our backing from Hu Tiger Gang. Moreover Manager Sun places great importance on this transaction sending me alongside Zhang Jinkui—he'll likely bring along some disciples too so combined we'll have six bone refining warriors making it safer."
All three nodded in agreement but both Wang Cong and Zhao Shan wore serious expressions while Chen Yuan maintained an innocent demeanor yet felt alert internally.
The Hundred Weapons Hall appeared outwardly as an honest iron shop but secretly engaged in dealings with bandits!
Conducting business with local troops proved challenging requiring connections through county offices while sharing profits among various shops increased costs making profits less substantial than expected!
Landlords often had their own blacksmiths making purchases from Hundred Weapons Hall infrequent or unstable...
In contrast bandit camps within Chiman Mountain were willing to spend money on weapons allowing profitable trades without paying taxes ensuring high profits!
With backing from Hu Tiger Gang combined with connections among local military forces operating openly across both legal/illegal sectors they wouldn't pass up such opportunities!
This also explained why so many guards were hired since if they merely operated legally there'd be no need for such extensive security measures!
However past dealings involved trading along edges of Chiman Mountain whereas this time they planned enter deeper regions engaging new villages which posed greater risks!
Even sending both managers indicated heightened caution requiring extra vigilance from all including Chen Yuan himself!
Afterwards Manager Li reiterated several points before dismissing Wang Cong while Zhao Shan and Chen Yuan left together from Li's residence.
Zhao Shan had no rest today needing return immediately back into guard duty reminding Chen Yuan firmly as they parted ways:
"You heard everything—this trip into mountains isn't trivial business so don't act recklessly anymore."
Chen Yuan nodded earnestly:
"I'll heed your advice along with Master's words!"
Zhao Shan remained unconvinced adding further caution:
"You said that last time too yet look what happened? Zheng Jun is Zhang Jinkui's disciple—he means no good towards you! You were lucky last time avoiding encirclement while managing to kill one bandit—but if you continue acting recklessly next time who knows what might happen?!"
Chen Yuan scratched his head feeling sheepish:
"But Zheng Senior Brother is captain—I must follow orders; how could I expect him wanting harm done unto me…"
Zhao Shan shook his head helplessly:
"You're far too naive! This time around stay close beside me—no acting independently whatsoever!"
Chen Yuan grinned broadly:
"Sure thing Senior Brother!"
(End of Chapter)