Chaotic Times and Disasters: I Hunt Down Martial Arts Masters and Become a God

Shen Yao sat in the carriage, one hand supporting her swollen foot, the other gripping the carriage armrest.

She remained silent the entire way until she could see the walls of Ironblood City in the distance, at which point she finally spoke.

Ironblood City is the largest city on the northwestern border of Jing Kingdom, and it houses an entire border army camp.

The city is divided into four districts—the military camp is in the south, occupying 30% of the area, and unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter.

The market town is in the north, lined with shops where you can buy anything. The residential area is in the east, ranging from the mansions of wealthy merchants to the shacks of the poor. The government office is in the west, where the city lord's mansion and government offices are located.

"The rules in the city are very simple."

Shen Yao tucked her hair behind her ears.

"Private fights are forbidden within the city; violators will be punished according to military law. But once outside the city, no one cares. That's why the Black Stone Ridge gang has been able to run rampant outside the city for so many years."

Fu Qing asked her what level the Body Tempering Realm was in Iron Blood City.

Shen Yao thought for a moment and used a very vivid phrase.

"In the eyes of ordinary people, he is already a master, but in the border army, a Body Tempering Realm cultivator can only be a squad leader. A centurion in the border army must be at least a Meridian Opening Realm cultivator, and a chiliarch must be a Bone Tempering Realm cultivator."

She added,

"City Lord Duan Tieshan is a sixth-rank Qi cultivator, but he comes from a military family and his skills are all genuine, unlike the unorthodox methods of Black Wind Stronghold."

Fu Qing felt reassured and nodded slightly.

As evening fell, a massive city appeared at the end of the official road.

The city wall was ten zhang high, with dark blue bricks laid one by one, and the gaps between the bricks were filled with glutinous rice mortar, making it so solid that even a catapult could not break it.

Every few steps along the city wall, a black flag was planted, with an iron eagle with outstretched wings embroidered on it.

Long queues formed at the city gate, including peddlers carrying loads, merchants driving horse-drawn carts, warriors carrying weapons, and farmers pushing wheelbarrows.

The soldiers guarding the city wore uniform black leather armor and had standard military knives hanging at their waists. They checked the travel permits one by one.

When it was Fu Qing's turn, the city guards stopped him, saying, "Travel permit."

Fu Qing, who had no travel permit, immediately stepped aside.

Shen Yao poked her head out of the carriage, holding up a bronze plaque.

"He was a guard at my family's pharmacy. He saved my life on the way, so I'll pay the toll."

This was the explanation that Fu Qing and Shen Yao had agreed upon.

The city guards recognized Shen Yao. The Shen family's pharmacy had been operating in Ironblood City for three generations, and they never owed a single penny in medicinal herb taxes each month.

The soldier glanced at the bronze plaque, then at Fu Qing, waved his hand, and let him pass.

Once inside the city, the streets were lined with shops.

Song Nini was riding a horse, her neck almost twisted off. To her left was a cloth shop, and to her right was a jewelry stall.

This was the first time in her life she had seen so many things piled together; her mouth gaped open wide enough to fit an egg.

"Sis! Look at that!"

She tugged at Song Yawei's sleeve and pointed to a sugar figurine stall by the roadside.

There were more than a dozen sugar figurines on the stall—a rabbit, a tiger, a dragon, and an eagle with outstretched wings.

Song Yawei glanced at Fu Qing, who took out two copper coins from his pocket and tossed them to the old man selling candy.

Song Nini happily picked out a rabbit-shaped sugar figurine, licked it, and closed her eyes with great satisfaction.

Shen's Pharmacy is located in the residential area of ​​Dongfang, and its storefront is very clean.

A row of celadon medicine jars were displayed on the counter, and several diagrams of human meridians hung on the wall. The backyard was a small courtyard surrounded by several tiled houses.

As Fu Qing and his two companions reached the door, an elderly man with white hair and a cane came out of the shop to greet them.

Mr. Shen's legs are not very nimble, but he walks very fast.

Seeing that Shen Yao's clothes were torn and her ankles were swollen, and then seeing the overturned carriage and broken shaft behind her, the wrinkles on his face tightened instantly.

Shen Yao called out "Dad" and limped over. Old Mr. Shen helped his daughter up and down, and only after confirming that she was alright did he let out a long sigh of relief.

"Where's Lao Liu?" Mr. Shen looked behind the carriage.

Shen Yao lowered her head and after a long while, she finally finished speaking, "I was killed by the bandits of Black Stone Ridge... It was this benefactor who saved me."

Mr. Shen turned to look at Fu Qing.

Mr. Shen lived to be over sixty years old. He worked his way up from apprentice to manager and had seen more people than he had eaten salt.

He immediately noticed the dried blood on Fu Qingyi's sleeve and the gleaming hilt of the large, gleaming sword at his waist; this was no ordinary hunter.

Mr. Shen leaned his cane against the counter, clasped his hands together, and bent his knees as if to kneel down.

Fu Qing reached out and supported him, gently lifting the old man up by supporting his arm with her palm.

"Sir, there's no need for that."

Mr. Shen felt a force as steady as an iron frame supporting him, making it impossible for him to kneel down.

He looked up at Fu Qing and said, "My benefactor saved my daughter. My Shen family will remember this kindness for the rest of our lives. Since you are from out of town, why don't you stay at my house for now and find a place to stay tomorrow?"

Fu Qing immediately nodded and smiled, "I'm sorry to bother you, sir."

Old Master Shen instructed the shop assistants to arrange accommodations. There were three rooms in the east wing of the backyard. Fu Qing led the horses to the stable in the backyard and carried the luggage into the room.

Song Yawei and Song Nini entered the room. The two sisters saw the new bedding on the bed and the teapot and teacups on the table. They glanced at each other. The bedding was new, and the teapot was still steaming.

Song Nini plopped down on the bed, sinking into the soft bedding. "Sis, this bed is so soft."

Song Yawei stood by the window and glanced outside. A row of medicinal herbs were drying in the courtyard, and a faint herbal fragrance filled the air.

Fu Qing was talking to Mr. Shen next to the stable.

...

That evening, Mr. Shen hosted a simple banquet in the back room of the pharmacy. During the meal, he poured Fu Qing a glass of wine and subtly reminded him of something—

Guo Lie, the bandit leader of Black Stone Ridge, is a master of the sixth level of Body Tempering, and he also has two deputies who are at the fifth level of Body Tempering.

Fu Qing killed their men, so it would be best for him to stay in the city a while longer and wait until things calmed down before making any further moves.

Fu Qing put down his wine glass. "When will the border troops recruit?"

Mr. Shen was taken aback. "My benefactor wants to join the army?"

"Naturally, having military status makes things easier."

Mr. Shen nodded. "The border army recruits soldiers at the drill ground west of the city on the first and fifteenth of each month, requiring at least the first level of Body Tempering. The day after tomorrow is the fifteenth of the first month, just in time."

After saying that, he added, "However, the border army's assessment is very strict. Just reaching the first level of body tempering is not enough. You have to hit five lines on the force testing monument to pass. You also have to be tested on martial arts skills and combat experience."

"The pay for joining the border army is better than farming. There are rewards for killing enemies and promotions for meritorious service. But to be honest, the border army suffers high casualties. Fighting against the Di people and bandits, it's good if five out of ten people survive a year."

Fu Qing nodded and said nothing more.

It is very difficult for ordinary people to survive in this chaotic world. To live like a human being, one must rely on one's own strength.

Fu Qing's greatest asset is the system. To gain more plunder points, joining the army and killing enemies is the fastest and best way, although it carries some risks.

...

After finishing his meal and returning to his room, Fu Qing sat on the edge of the bed and opened the control panel.

[Cultivation Level: Body Tempering Level 4]

【Strength: 207】

[Endurance: 212]

[Agility: 202]

[Plunder Points: 535]

Today I killed five Blackstone Ridge bandits—Scarface, a level 3 Body Tempering expert, gave me 216; a level 2 Body Tempering expert gave me 137; and the three level 1 Body Tempering experts each gave me 50-60. Adding what I had left over, I got a total of 535.

He stared at the numbers on the panel, calculating in his mind.

The fifth level of body tempering requires 250 in each of the three dimensions. He is currently lacking 43 in strength, 38 in endurance, and 48 in agility. Not too much, not too little.

I'm going to report to the border army the day after tomorrow; there will definitely be tough battles to fight then.

Mr. Shen said that the centurion of the border army was at the Meridian Opening Realm. How big is the difference between the Meridian Opening Realm and the Body Tempering Realm? He doesn't know yet.

He glanced at the option for the keyword lottery; the current prize pool keywords could be randomly drawn for 10000 plunder points.

This investment is quite large; his primary task right now is to elevate his skill level.

Fu Qing put the panel away and blew out the oil lamp on the table.

In the darkness, Song Yawei turned over, placed her hand on his chest, and asked groggily, "Honey, are we going to live here from now on?"

"Stay here first."

He held her hand in his palm. "Once we buy a house, we'll move out and I'll buy you two maids. You won't have to do your own laundry and cooking anymore."

After a while, Song Yawei softly hummed in agreement.