Chapter 7: Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkey

"Hey, brother over there, why aren't you saying anything?"

Just as Lu Yuan was silently consuming food in the corner, someone on the communal bed suddenly looked toward him and asked.

Lu Yuan turned his face and saw all seven people looking at him, so he said in a low voice:

"I ate a bit too much, and my stomach is having trouble digesting it. Please excuse me, everyone."

A man laughed: "You kid, I just saw you eat a full five big bowls of rice. I was worried your belly would burst. How is it now? Nothing wrong, right?"

Lu Yuan nodded: "It's been too long since I've had a meal, so I ate a bit more. It should be fine once I digest it."

"Then you'd better be careful with your next meal."

A man asked:

"I see you speak in such a refined way; could it be you're a young master from some wealthy family?"

Lu Yuan knew the principle of blending in with the world, so he shook his head and said:

"My family just had a bit more farmland back then; it couldn't be considered a wealthy family. Now that we've arrived here, we are all brothers on the same boat, regardless of the past."

"Well said."

A man sat up from the bed and said:

"This Boxiyuan of the Qinglong Gang is not simple. Since we are newcomers and unfamiliar with the place, we might get bullied. I think it's best if we stick together from now on to avoid being bullied. How about everyone introduces themselves now, so we can be brothers from here on out and face things together in the future?"

"Not bad, well said."

"My name is Niu Da, from Huangyun Village in Liujiang County, twenty-seven this year!"

"My name is Xu Qiang, from Dayang Village, twenty-three years old."

"My name is..."

For a time, the disaster victims in the room spoke up one after another, giving simple self-introductions.

Lu Yuan also went with the flow and announced his name and where he came from.

The people present were not old, all in their early twenties, with the oldest being only twenty-eight; at twenty-two, he was the second youngest.

After this introduction session, the relationships between the people in the room clearly grew closer, and they even began to call each other brothers, forming a small group.

The group of men huddling together for warmth chatted more and more enthusiastically, quickly moving from the situation in the Boxiyuan to the hardships on the road of fleeing the famine. Lu Yuan, while silently using the Ingestion Technique to digest the food in his stomach, also chimed in from time to time to show he was part of the group.

However, not long after they started chatting, footsteps approached outside the room, and at the same time, a shout came:

"Get to sleep immediately, you bastards! Whoever gets up late tomorrow morning will get the whip!"

The crowd immediately stopped talking, all lying down honestly and closing their eyes.

Just like that, each harboring confusion about the future, the room was soon filled with loud snoring.

Lu Yuan also relaxed his mind, and after completely digesting the food in his belly using the Ingestion Technique, he entered dreamland.

It is unknown how much more time passed.

Woof, woof, woof, woof!

A burst of urgent barking suddenly came from outside, followed by shrill, miserable screams, startling him and everyone else awake.

"Hmm?"

Having not lost his vigilance upon arriving in this strange place, Lu Yuan was the first to climb off the bed and open the window to look, but it was pitch black and he couldn't see anything.

"What's going on?"

Xu Dahu and the others had previously stated the rules, so the others dared not rashly go out to check and could only look at each other in dismay.

And just as they were hesitating whether to go out and see, a knocking sound rang out at their door:

"You newcomers, all of you get to the main courtyard!"

The crowd didn't understand why, so they could only push the door open and come to the spacious courtyard, where they immediately saw Li Shu's disciples, the brothers Xu Dahu and Xu Erhu, along with several fierce-looking Qinglong Gang members holding mastiffs and carrying oil lamps.

Under the dim light, Lu Yuan saw at a glance that there were two men on the ground with blood dripping from their legs, rolling on the ground and wailing.

Among them, Xu Erhu held a long whip, the sound of the whip cracking as he lashed out fiercely at the two:

"Ungrateful things! We brought you into the city and gave you full meals, and yet you want to run as soon as you get here? Where in this world is there such a cheap deal!"

The sound of the lashing was incessant. The two men screamed repeatedly, and soon their bodies were torn and bleeding, a sight too horrible to look at.

The two receiving the whipping were clearly disaster victims recruited together with them; the others watched with cold hearts and tight expressions, not even daring to breathe loudly.

Only Lu Yuan felt a slight sense of relief in his heart.

In fact, as soon as he entered this garden and realized something was wrong, he had considered running away.

But since he was a newcomer and didn't know the situation, and because many people in this courtyard seemed to possess Martial Arts, he hadn't acted rashly, preparing to observe for two days instead.

He just hadn't expected someone to have the same idea as him and act so quickly.

"Have you all seen this?"

The two escapees were covered in blood and soon beaten to their last breaths. Xu Dahu pointed at the two on the ground and sneered at the crowd:

"These two idiots wanted to run in the middle of the night, but were caught on the spot. They deserve this fate."

"I'll say it again: the Boxiyuan is not a place you can come and go as you please. Once you enter, you are people of this place while you live, and ghosts of this place when you die. If anyone else dares to have crooked ideas, the outcome will be even worse than theirs! Do you remember!?"

"Re, remembered!"

Under the threat of killing the chicken to warn the monkey, the crowd responded in terror, fearing that if they answered too slowly, they would also be whipped.

Xu Dahu nodded in satisfaction:

"Alright, go back and rest. Remember to gather at the training courtyard tomorrow morning when you hear the gong!"

The crowd agreed, took one last unbearable look at the two dying escapees on the ground, and then returned to their rooms.

Once they lay down on their beds, everyone was basically sleepless, lowering their voices to communicate:

"Sigh, those two were far too bold. I wonder how they will be dealt with later."

"This Qinglong Gang really isn't a kind place. I'm starting to regret it..."

"Regret what? At least here you get full meals, and maybe you can even learn Martial Arts and carve out a future. Staying outside the city would definitely be worse than being here."

"That is also true."

Lu Yuan did not participate in the conversation, but silently calculated in his heart.

Up to now, he truly felt a bit like he had just escaped the tiger's den only to enter a wolf's lair.

However, unlike the others, he at least had the Ingestion Technique and the Heavenly Book as his reliance, so he was not very worried.

Comparatively, what concerned him more was how to obtain more Luck Power to light up the Guidance technique and step onto the path of immortality.

But this matter clearly could not be rushed.

For now, he could only lie low in this Boxiyuan, on one hand using the Ingestion Technique to strengthen his body, and on the other learning some methods for self-defense.

Only when he had some capital could he consider other things.

Early the next morning.

After Lu Yuan got up, he felt refreshed and full of energy, as if his body had an inexhaustible supply of strength.

This was naturally thanks to the effects of the Ingestion Technique.

After digesting those five large bowls of rice, the nutrition and nourishing effects he gained were no less than a dose of tonic; both his physique and strength had increased slightly.

And this was just one full meal.

If he had full meals every time, it was unimaginable how strong his body could become in the long run.

Soon, washing up quickly in the water room as if in battle, Lu Yuan and the others arrived at the drill ground courtyard to line up and assemble.

During this process, they neither saw Li Shu nor the two people who were caught last night; it was unknown how they had been dealt with.

After everyone assembled, Xu Dahu walked over swaggeringly and began his opening lecture:

"You lot, after entering this Boxiyuan, you are considered reserve Wrestlers. But your physical foundations are only passable; if you want to get on the stage, first you must build up your physical strength; second, you must master wrestling and throwing techniques, which is the key to winning against the strong while being weak."

As he spoke, he stood firm in front of everyone, a smile appearing on his rough and fierce face:

"It's hard to explain with just empty words, so I will demonstrate for you first. Three people come out; if the three of you can work together to throw me down, I will reward each of you with a pig knuckle!"

As soon as these words were spoken, many people's eyes lit up, and several men immediately raised their hands:

"I'll do it!"

Xu Dahu raised his hand and casually pointed at the three who looked the most robust.

Because they had all eaten a full meal last night, these three men looked to be in good spirits. After walking out and discussing briefly, they came before Xu Dahu, two grabbing his legs and one grabbing his waist, and began to exert force.

However, even with all three exerting force at the same time, Xu Dahu's burly and sturdy body did not move or sway.

After two or three blinks of an eye, the three men had bulging veins and flushed faces; despite their combined efforts, they failed to lift his body, let alone throw him over.

Seeing this scene, the other dozen or so men could not help but clamor, appearing to find it completely unbelievable.

Only Lu Yuan had some insight, seeing that Xu Dahu had clearly used some kind of Stance Technique, which had neutralized the combined force of the three.

In the original owner's memory, this was considered a relatively advanced Martial Arts technique; only the True Disciple of the martial arts hall in Liujiang County where the original owner studied could do it.

Looking at it this way, Fengyang Prefecture was indeed worthy of being the capital of the province; even a small gang leader had impressive Martial Arts.

At this moment, after trying several times in a row without being able to shake him, Xu Dahu laughed:

"Alright, you three soft-handed weaklings, get down. Is there anyone else who wants to come up and try?"

The others looked at each other, but only Lu Yuan's gaze shifted, and he immediately raised his hand: "I'll try!"

Seeing him take the lead, two other men also tentatively raised their hands, seemingly wanting to give it a try as well.

"Good, you three come up!"

Lu Yuan and the others stepped out and walked to the front. After he signaled, he was the first to lean down and grab Xu Dahu's left leg. After the other two were in position, he exhaled and shouted:

"One, two, three, lift!"

Whoosh!

After the word 'lift', the three exerted force together.

But while the other two were exerting force with bulging veins, Xu Dahu's body, as sturdy as an iron tower, did not move or sway, yet the left leg that Lu Yuan was holding was suddenly lifted up!

Hmm?

At this moment, both the onlookers and Xu Dahu himself could not help but show expressions of surprise.

As his whole body's strength erupted, Lu Yuan only felt as if he were holding an extremely heavy boulder.

But he had almost single-handedly lifted half of Xu Dahu's body, while the other two were grimacing and flushed, yet still unable to lift Xu Dahu's body.

This situation did not last long.

Lu Yuan quickly let go, and while panting, he complimented him with high emotional intelligence:

"I can't lift it anymore; Brother Dahu's skills are truly formidable, we are in awe!"

Xu Dahu looked over with a face full of surprise:

"What is your name, kid? This strength is likely close to the level of a Martial Apprentice who practices strength; have you practiced before?"

"I am Lu Yuan; I haven't really practiced before."

Lu Yuan said:

"I have had a big appetite since I was a child, I eat a lot, so I have a lot of strength."

Although the original owner had some experience practicing in a martial arts hall, it was only a memory, so saying he hadn't practiced was not entirely wrong.

The original owner's physical foundation, plus the fact that he had been constantly nourishing and strengthening himself with the Ingestion Technique during this time, meant his strength was only stronger and not weaker than before, and far superior to everyone else present, so lifting the other person was naturally not a difficult task.

And the reason he became this 'bird that sticks its head out' was, on one hand, that he wanted to test his own strength, and on the other, he saw that playing the 'pig eating the tiger' was absolutely not suitable for surviving here; only by being more outstanding could he get more attention.

Moreover, it could also pave the way for the Ingestion Technique, so eating more at every meal would not arouse suspicion.

"Not bad, not bad."

Lu Yuan's performance had clearly caught his eye, and Xu Dahu was very satisfied:

"Although you didn't throw me over, being able to lift me is already not easy. Tonight, I will have the kitchen stew half a knuckle just for you!"

"Many thanks, Brother Dahu."

Lu Yuan naturally expressed his gratitude and thanks, then returned to the ranks.

And after this opening act, Xu Dahu began his formal instruction:

"What you just saw is a proper Martial Arts Stance Technique, the Fixed Mountain Stake. This Stance Technique is precisely a method for tempering force; once practiced to great success, one can develop the Rolling Stone Force, and when that force erupts, three or five strong men will not be able to get near you."

"Being able to practice this Stance Technique to great success counts as having achieved the first level of Martial Arts: the Force Refining Realm. At that time, you can become a formal Wrestler, and each time you go on stage, you can earn at least ten Silver Yuan in prize money!"

"Furthermore, after reaching the Force Refining Realm, you will gain the attention of the gang and be passed down more advanced Martial Arts. As long as you study and practice diligently, subsequently becoming a Tendon Changing Martial Student, a Bone Forging Martial Master, or even a Thunder Sound Realm Great Martial Master is not impossible! By then, let alone in this Boxiyuan, you could even have a place in the entire Qinglong Gang or the entire Fengyang Prefecture!"

Xu Dahu spoke with great passion, spittle flying, and although the people below had little experience, they were stirred up by this grand promise.

Only Lu Yuan shook his head inwardly as he listened.

Because his predecessor had once spent money to study at a martial arts hall, he had some understanding of Martial Arts cultivation.

In this world's Martial Arts cultivation, personal talent and diligent practice combined can at most account for half; the remaining half lies in wealth.

Literature is for the poor, martial arts for the rich; to achieve anything, a martial artist must have large amounts of meat and even medicinal materials for supplementation, especially starting from the Tendon Changing and Bone Forging realms, where one needs unique medicinal bath formulas to refine the tendons and bones with various medicinal materials to have any chance of success.

Such consumption is something an ordinary family simply cannot afford, not to mention that such formulas are mostly kept secret, and those without connections cannot even come into contact with them.

The key is this.

Not to mention this shallow method of the Fixed Mountain Stake for building a foundation, all of them, the newly recruited, are over twenty years old; their tendons and bones have long since set, and starting to learn Martial Arts now is undoubtedly too late.

Unless a Martial Star descends to earth, it is very difficult to achieve anything of note.

The Boxiyuan arranging for this shallow Stance Technique to be taught is likely just to let them master a few tricks so that when they fight to the death on stage, they can better amuse the powerful and wealthy.

(End of chapter)