Surviving in the chaos of battle, I'm grinding for proficiency.

late at night.

Li Chuan dragged his tired body back to the dormitory.

Hu Yuan had just finished washing up and was getting ready for bed.

When he saw Li Chuan return, his eyes held a complex expression:

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Li, on successfully passing the test."

Li Chuan could sense the sincerity in his words.

In fact, Li Chuan didn't have much dislike for Hu Yuan.

It's normal for a poor boy to suddenly gain power and skip many stages, and for his mindset to change.

Moreover, Hu Yuan didn't do anything to him.

It was nothing more than calling him "Junior Brother Li".

He apologized to himself several times afterward and would occasionally bring some biscuits from home to share.

Therefore, Li Chuan thanked him with a smile.

The dim moonlight shone through the wooden window and onto Hu Yuan's face.

His expression was filled with confusion and fear about the future, and he whispered:

"I wonder if I will ever be able to successfully pass through the barrier like Senior Brother Li."

Li Chuan recalled Hu Yuan's diligent figure during the day, who had practiced hard for two or three months but achieved only mediocre results.

Their talent is somewhat inferior to mine.

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of people like him in the outer courtyard.

The final results were all similar: failure to break through the barrier... or not having the chance to accumulate enough Qi and blood to break through the barrier.

Wasting several months and a dozen taels of silver, he ended up leaving in disappointment.

Li Chuan didn't know what to say either, so he could only offer words of comfort:

"Keep going, even those with inferior aptitude have a chance to succeed."

"I hope so," Hu Yuan replied casually, his thoughts drifting elsewhere.

What will my sister do if I fail to pass the test?

She used all of her dowry, which she had saved up for a long time, to learn martial arts...

He really didn't want to disappoint his older sister.

The moonlight outside the window was dim, but the boy's eyes were even dimmer.

……

The next day, Li Chuan still got up at the crack of dawn as usual.

"As my second senior brother said, the forces that need my temporary post will come to me today. I can't waste the time waiting, and life hasn't gotten better yet."

Li Chuan thought to himself, ate two simple pancakes, and headed straight for the training ground.

Winter is approaching, and the morning wind blowing from the riverbank is chillingly cold.

Li Chuan rubbed his hands together and looked down at the coarse linen clothes he was wearing:

"Winter is approaching and the temperature is getting lower and lower. This outfit won't be enough. I need to buy some cotton clothes to keep warm as soon as possible, otherwise I'll catch a cold and it will be troublesome."

As a martial artist specializing in Ming Jin (a type of martial arts), his physique is much stronger than that of ordinary people, but he is not immune to all poisons.

I still get sick.

It was only because he broke through to the Ming Jin level that he was able to withstand the strain of wearing only these few layers of clothing for so long.

If it were an ordinary person, practicing martial arts like this every day while wearing only a thin layer of clothing and getting cold would have made them sick long ago.

But in this weather, even he can't withstand it for long.

When the leaves freeze over, it's difficult to go out without a cotton-padded coat, let alone practice martial arts.

"If I could get a half-carriage for two taels of silver, that would be enough for my food, clothing, and daily necessities."

Li Chuan kept thinking while his hands continued working.

He has already broken through to the minor level in Baoshan Zhuang, but his progress in Tongbei Quan has fallen behind.

The basic Tongbei Quan is so basic that it cannot even unleash its full potential.

After breaking through to the Ming Jin level, there are significant differences in all aspects of the body compared to before. The fist technique cannot keep up, and only 90% of the power can be exerted.

Just like after working out in my previous life, many of the movements I used to do every day are easily deformed.

For example, when using the mouse, you might find that the positioning is inaccurate, and you always shoot too hard.

This is all because the body needs to rebuild muscle memory.

"Bang, bang!"

The sound of fists striking wooden stakes seemed particularly distant in the empty training ground.

[Practicing Tongbei Quan, proficiency +1]

[Practicing Tongbei Quan, proficiency +1]

……

Even late into the night, when Li Chuan was preparing to return home, no powerful figure came to ask him to take up a post.

Li Chuan frowned: "Has the news not spread yet? We can only wait a few more days and see."

These past few days, he has been waiting at the training ground every moment for someone to come and recruit him. He doesn't even dare to go too far, for fear that the person coming will not be able to find him.

But no matter how long he waited, no one came.

Three days later, at the martial arts training ground.

Li Chuan practiced his familiar Tongbei Fist, but seemed somewhat distracted.

He had also seen many organizations come looking for people to take up positions, and they would all send someone very quickly, and once a contract was signed, the person could start working immediately.

Why is it different when it comes to me?

Li Chuan touched his pocket:

"I only have about five hundred coins left. If I can't find a temporary job, I'll have to live frugally again."

In fact, he has already reduced his daily meals.

They eat meat only once a day, at lunch.

Clearly, this amount is far from enough.

Now that he has broken through to the Ming Jin level, his need for Qi and blood is greater than ever before.

In the past, one meal of meat a day was barely enough, but now it's not.

He always had a feeling of "hunger".

Li Chuan tried eating several pancakes, but only experienced abdominal bloating and pain; his hunger was not relieved in the slightest.

"It seems this hunger isn't ordinary hunger, but rather a sign from the body that it needs more blood and energy..."

Being in this state all the time, Li Chuan could feel that his newly grown, strong muscles were getting smaller.

I'm getting less and less energetic when I practice every day, and sometimes I can't even stand up straight.

"We can't go on like this, we have to make money!"

Li Chuan planned to go find his second senior brother and ask him for clarification!

He had just prepared to leave when he heard someone asking a question.

"Which one is Brother Li, who just successfully passed the test?"

The newcomer had triangular eyes and looked somewhat fierce; he was not someone to be trifled with.

"It is me." Li Chuan waved to him, a glimmer of hope rising in his heart.

Four days have passed, and finally some powerful force has come looking for him!

The man with the triangular eyes said:

"Brother Li, I am Song Dawei from the Iron Tiger Gang. We have been fighting fiercely with the Black Bear Gang recently, and we would like to invite you to join our gang. If we encounter the Black Bear Gang, we hope you will lend a hand."

"As for the salary... it's two taels of silver per month. What does Brother Li think?"

"Iron Tiger Gang? Isn't that the Black Bear Gang's mortal enemy?" Li Chuan wondered to himself.

The Black Bear Gang is Liu Hu's gang, and the gang leader, Cao Yan, specifically asked for his family's shop.

The conflict between the Iron Tiger Gang and the Black Bear Gang indirectly relieved his pressure.

Moreover, two taels of silver for a half-carriage was quite a generous sum for someone like me who had no background or practical experience.

More importantly, this money can solve my immediate problem.

But......

"I'm sorry, your position does not suit my needs. Please find someone else."

Song Dawei assumed Li Chuan was unaware of market prices and dissatisfied with the offer, so he quickly said:

"Brother Li, this payment is already quite generous, even for a half-carriage."

"Thank you for your kindness, Brother Song and the gang leader, but please understand that I have other plans." Li Chuan shook his head and refused again.

"Alright..." Song Dawei sighed. "If Brother Li changes his mind, he can come to me anytime. The Iron Tiger Gang's doors are always open for you."

Even if a deal falls through, goodwill should remain. Song Dawei wasn't foolish enough to offend a Ming Jin disciple.

"Brother Song, please convey my gratitude to the gang leader for his high regard," Li Chuan said apologetically, clasping his hands in a fist salute.

After seeing Song Dawei off, Li Chuan's eyes flickered.

Two taels of silver, and only half a hanging, was indeed very attractive.

But the price is getting caught up in the struggle between the Iron Tiger Gang and the Black Bear Gang.

He heard that the two gangs had reached a fever pitch in their fight.

The two sides' gangs frequently clashed, with broken hands and feet being commonplace.

Very dangerous!

Even if he is a Ming Jin (a type of martial arts expert), if he rashly gets involved in a chaotic battle involving more than a dozen people, he cannot guarantee that he won't be stabbed in the back!

He is a master of martial arts, but he is also a mortal!

Swords and blades have no eyes; one wrong move and you could lose your life.

Admittedly, Li Chuan was indeed attracted by the price offered by Song Dawei.

However, he also keenly observed the risks hidden behind it.

"Without understanding the situation, it's best to be cautious and not let small gains cloud your judgment!" Li Chuan secretly reminded himself.

"I still need to ask Senior Brother Luo for clarification, after all, he is my only connection in the inner courtyard..." Li Chuan said with a wry smile.

After arriving at Songfeng Martial Arts School, he only knew three people.

Qin Feng, Hu Yuan, Luo Zheng.

Needless to say, Qin Feng didn't even bother to acknowledge me.

Hu Yuan himself is in dire straits.

Only Luo Zheng was able to provide him with help.

……

"No one has come looking for you in four days?" Luo Zheng asked, somewhat surprised.

"There was a member of the Iron Tiger Gang just now, but I turned him down."

"Well done." Luo Zheng's eyes showed appreciation as he explained, "These gangs seem to offer high prices, but the risks are actually high as well. A slight mistake can result in injury. If you end up crippled, there's no point in practicing martial arts anymore. What's the use of having so much money? You either have to use it for medical treatment or to buy your life!"

In his view, Li Chuan's ability to make wise choices despite such a lack of funds demonstrates his extraordinary character.

In an instant, Luo Zheng's opinion of Li Chuan improved considerably.

I only said so much to Li Chuan out of pity.

But now, he values ​​Li Chuan more.

In this world, only the clever can survive.

"However... Junior Brother Li, you should be prepared. Generally speaking, after you pass the test, the martial arts school will help you spread the word and attract forces to come."

"Based on past experience, if someone hires someone for a temporary post, it will take no more than three days at the latest."

Luo Zheng phrased it tactfully, but Li Chuan still understood what he meant.

Nobody wanted to come to him.

"Generally speaking, when powerful forces hire people for temporary positions, they look at two aspects: one is their innate talent and potential. In fact, it's like an investment. A prime example is Junior Brother Qin. He had just broken through to the Ming Jin realm when the Wang family of the inner city came knocking on his door. The monthly salary was ten taels of silver, and all he had to do was teach their youngest son for an hour or two each week. It was called a temporary position, but it was actually paying for Qin Feng's potential."

"The second type is that you have extraordinary abilities, are stronger than ordinary people, and can provide value to these forces. For example, if your fighting style is strong, the escort agency or the patrol may come to hire you."

Li Chuan understood.

He himself has inferior physical constitution, and is even at the very limit of his potential. To outsiders, his potential is already exhausted.

However, he had no real combat record and was unable to attract the second force.

Therefore, no powerful organization is willing to offer me a temporary post.

Luo Zheng glanced at Li Chuan, thought for a moment, and then said:

"Junior Brother Li, my family's pharmacy is short of a person. I wonder if you would be willing to come? It's a half-job position, with a monthly salary of three taels of silver."

"There isn't much work on weekdays. I usually have to go to Huangshi County once or twice a month. You can come and escort me. My uncle will personally lead the team, so it's not very dangerous."

"Each time we bring back medicinal herbs, we will give you some silver based on your contribution. Some will receive two or three coins, while others may receive one or two taels."

Having known Li Chuan for over three months, through our daily interactions, I've observed that he is resolute, grateful, and prudent in his actions—a promising investment opportunity.

"Oh, by the way," Luo Zheng paused, "don't tell your colleagues that you get three taels a month. They all get two taels. The extra two taels was an extra amount I gave you on my own initiative. It's a token of our camaraderie. No need to thank me."

Looking at Luo Zheng's smiling face, and hearing him speak so casually, trying to ease his pressure, Li Chuan felt a warmth in his heart:

"Thank you, Senior Brother Luo!"

Luo Zheng patted Li Chuan on the shoulder:

"Practice martial arts diligently, and even those with inferior aptitude have a glimmer of hope to break through to the Dark Force stage a second time. Such examples are rare, but they do exist."

"Come on, let me introduce you to my uncle!"

Luo Zheng pulled Li Chuan to Luo's Pharmacy.

Luo's Pharmacy has been operating in Anning County for decades. It is a family business and occupies a very large area.

Li Chuan roughly estimated that it was at least two or three acres in size!

"My family's shop is laid out in a front yard and a back workshop. The front yard is where we sell medicine, the back workshop is where we process medicine, and the back yard is where we live. My uncle should be in the back yard now," Luo Zheng explained.

As Li Chuan walked and looked around, he saw two burly retainers at the entrance, one of whom was even close to the Ming Jin level.

The front yard was also surprisingly large, with more than a dozen rows of cabinets, and people would constantly pour in, making it very lively.

"There are so many people in the pharmacy... That makes sense. Birth, aging, sickness, and death are inevitable. Illness is a fate we can't escape." Li Chuan thought to himself as he followed Luo Zheng into the back workshop.

In the back workshop, more than a dozen female workers had clear division of labor and worked in an orderly manner.

First, suitable medicinal materials are selected, followed by washing, roasting, and drying.

It's practically a small assembly line!

"People always say that the ancients were stupid, but it seems that they weren't at all. In this world with underdeveloped productivity, they already had the prototype of the assembly line." Li Chuan thought to himself as he walked through the back workshop and into the backyard.

"Uncle, I've brought you back a skilled fighter!" Luo Zheng shouted.

"Ah Zheng is back. Let me see what kind of expert he is?" The tall Luo Houping walked out of the courtyard.

Luo Zheng pushed Li Chuan forward and introduced him:

"This is our junior brother from the martial arts school. He hasn't been practicing Ming Jin for long. He's cautious and honest, and has great potential!"

Luo Houping nodded with a smile, but inwardly he didn't take it seriously.

He knew his nephew's temperament best.

Being willing to promote newcomers and make many friends is both an advantage and a disadvantage.

This wasn't the first time Luo Zheng had brought people to the medicine team; he had brought several before.

I always recommend them highly, but to be honest, they're all pretty useless.

Most of the disciples who came from these martial arts schools had never experienced hardship, and some had never even seen blood!

On the way to deliver the medicine, they encountered bandits carrying real weapons, which made their legs tremble with fear.

What use is someone like that in the medicine team besides drawing a salary without working?

In Luo Houping's view, Li Chuan is certainly one of these types of people.

But being an old fox, he didn't show anything unusual in front of Luo Zheng.

Instead, he put his arm around Li Chuan with a friendly expression:

"Since you are Ah Zheng's junior brother, make yourself at home here. There's no need to be formal. Just call me Uncle Luo. We have a batch of medicine to be delivered to Huangshi County later, so be prepared. But don't be too nervous; there's rarely any danger on the way to deliver medicine."

Li Chuan blinked. Why did he have a feeling that there was going to be a problem as soon as he said that?