Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

Xilun was silent for a moment, then nodded solemnly, "Thank you for your guidance, mentor."

Looking at Siron's resolute and calm demeanor, Renn's eyes revealed a hint of admiration.

"It seems you still intend to give it a try."

Ryan leaned back in his chair, shifting to a more comfortable position. "Do you know 'Knight'?"

Xilun shook his head.

"This is an honor, and also a qualification."

"For those extraordinary individuals who prove their ability, courage, perseverance, and talent through ring matches, the Knights Association will award them the title of 'Knight'," Ryan explained.

"For example, a first-order baptized person can participate in the 'Junior Knight Fighting Tournament'."

"Those who are at the second level of the Ripper can participate in the 'Intermediate Knight Fighting Tournament'."

As he said this, a fervent light flashed in Renn's eyes.

"If you perform exceptionally well in combat sports, you can gain the favor and investment of powerful noble families, large business guilds, and even the military."

Renn looked at Siren and said, word by word:

"If you want to acquire resources, you either need to develop the ability to earn them by struggling in the mud, or you need to prove yourself in a fight and let those big shots see your value."

"I think you have the talent to participate in the 'Junior Knight Fighting Tournament' next year."

"Of course, the premise is that you can't slack off and you have to put in ten or a hundred times more effort than the average person."

Xilun's heart skipped a beat.

Junior Knight Fighting Tournament!

"I understand, Mentor Ryan."

Xiren took a deep breath, his eyes burning with ambition.

Renn nodded slightly, seemingly satisfied with Siren's reaction.

"You've mastered the sensation of Qi and can generate Qi at any time using breathing techniques, right?"

Xilun hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

Renn revealed an expression of "I knew it," and his smile widened even further.

"very good."

"You are quite talented in breathing techniques and martial arts, even better than I imagined."

He opened the drawer, took out an envelope, placed it on the table, and pushed it towards him.

"The foreman position I got from the Brotherhood wasn't great, but it wasn't too bad either. At least it would let you see blood and toughen you up."

"This is the letter of introduction I wrote for you."

"Take it and give it to Yuri. He'll understand what I mean."

Xilun's face lit up with joy. He quickly stood up, accepted the envelope with both hands, and said, "Thank you, Professor!"

Ryan waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to be so polite.

"Take the letter of introduction first."

"When you come tomorrow, we'll talk about the 'contracted fighter' thing again."

Xilun's lips curled into an uncontrollable smile.

Sign a fighter!

......

The oak door closed behind us with a dull thud.

Xiren stood in the shadows of the corridor, his fingers unconsciously stroking the rough cover of the letter in his pocket.

His lips involuntarily stretched towards his ears, revealing a smile that appeared somewhat sinister to onlookers.

Back on the bench in the training area, Xiren plopped down, his previously tense shoulder and back muscles relaxing a bit, but the feeling of pleasure was still on his face.

Feslow, who was wiping his sweat with a towel, was taken aback when he saw Xilen's appearance.

"What's wrong?"

Feslow draped a towel around his neck and leaned closer curiously. "Did you find money? Or did Professor Ryan give you extra tutoring?"

Xilun waved his hand, but he couldn't suppress the smile on his lips.

"It's nothing."

He paused, his eyes deep, "I was just thinking about something happy."

Feslow leaned closer, his gaze darting in a certain direction, and lowered his voice, "Hey, next Saturday is Daisy's birthday party in the White Oak district. Are you going?"

Xilun paused slightly as he untied the bandage binding his hands.

White Oak Quarter, flowers, cakes, elegant social dances... these words flashed through his mind.

He didn't answer immediately, but subconsciously looked up.

My gaze cut through the noisy crowd and landed precisely on that beautiful figure surrounded by admirers.

As if hearing a noise, Daisy, who was talking to someone, suddenly turned to the side, her deep blue eyes, as blue as lake water, instantly piercing through the crowd and meeting Xilun's gaze.

Daisy seemed lost in thought. She didn't speak, but quietly looked at Xilen.

Xilun remained silent for a moment, then finally looked away.

"No time."

He shook his head, his voice calm.

Daisy's delicate face did not show much change in expression; she seemed to only be in a daze for a moment.

"Daisy? How about this one?"

Fina, standing nearby, was holding a fashion magazine and discussing birthday dresses with great interest.

Noticing that her friend didn't react, she looked up in confusion: "What's wrong? You don't look well?"

"...It's nothing."

Daisy shook her head gently, smiled faintly, and said softly, "I was just thinking about some things."

……

The locker room was empty.

Xilun opened the cabinet door, took off his sweat-soaked training clothes, revealing his strong, granite-like upper body.

He changed back into his patched, coarse cloth work clothes, tucked the slightly heavy "Pepperbox" pistol into his lower back, and covered it with the hem of his coat.

His trousers were rolled up, and a sharp dagger was tightly bound to the outside of his calf with a leather belt, the handle just within reach of his hand hanging down.

After doing all this, he straightened his collar in front of the mirror, and the young man with sinister eyes in the mirror also stared back at him coldly.

"call!"

Xilun exhaled a puff of white mist and pushed open the door to go out.

It was already completely dark outside.

Winter always comes exceptionally early and is exceptionally harsh in Saint Laurent.

As soon as I stepped out of the club, a biting cold wind hit me in the face, scraping like a knife.

Fine snowflakes drifted down from the sky, melting as soon as they landed and mixing with the mud on the ground.

Xilun shrank back, put his hands in his pockets, and walked quickly down the dimly lit street.

Although my body is full of energy and I have "black scale patterns" to keep me warm, this damn weather still makes me feel uncomfortable from the bottom of my heart.

There weren't many pedestrians on the road, but the lights were still on in the houses on both sides.

Occasionally, a few people would go out, but they were all wrapped in tattered coats, looking timid and hurrying along.

As he passed an alleyway, Xilun paused for a moment.

Under the dim streetlights, a stiff corpse was curled up in the corner.

He was a homeless man, wrapped only in a few newspapers, his exposed skin showing an eerie bluish-purple hue.

The corpse emitted a faint stench.

Several ragged children were gathered around the corpse, deftly prying at the tattered cotton-padded coat that was still relatively intact on the homeless man's body.

Xilun withdrew his gaze expressionlessly.

"Damn it!"

He muttered to himself, "It's gotten cold so early this year!"

He rubbed his hands together and quickened his pace.

A little further on, you'll reach the neighborhood where the Brotherhood's headquarters are located.

Just then, someone walked up from the side.

The man was wearing a baseball cap pulled low and a large black trench coat with the collar turned up, obscuring half his face.

The street wasn't narrow, but the man seemed to have no eyes, charging straight at Xilun.

Xilun frowned and slightly shifted his footing, trying to avoid it.

But the other party seemed to have anticipated his movements, and with a slight sway of his shoulder, he still managed to collide solidly with Xilen's arm.

"Are you blind...?"

Xilun's eyes turned cold, and he was about to lash out when the man did not stop. Just as they brushed past each other, the man's lips moved slightly, and he uttered a sentence in a low voice.

"Take care on the road, sir."

His voice was hoarse, as if he had a mouthful of sand in his throat, "There are roving gunmen in this area."