After a full month at the Martial Arts Hall, Lin Yan decided not to continue rooming and boarding there.
The Martial Arts Hall’s fees weren’t exorbitant, but he calculated that if he ate at home, he could save about two silver a month.
He only had twenty silver left, so every penny had to be saved.
The Martial Arts Tree had already reached a height of eight inches. At this rate, even without using Skin Smoothing Cream, he could achieve Single-Time Skin Smoothing in another four months.
Additionally, the green leaf representing Mountain-Splitting Fist had also unfurled more than halfway. It only needed another month to open completely.
"Senior Brother Ge, Lin Yan has left the Martial Arts Hall."
"That pauper actually has the nerve to train at the Martial Arts Hall."
In the Disciple’s Quarters, Ge Hui listened as a junior brother reported the news. A look of disdain crossed his face. As long as Lin Yan stayed in the Martial Arts Hall, there was truly nothing he could do to him.
’Now that Lin Yan has left the Martial Arts Hall, I have plenty of ways to deal with him.’
After training for several years, as a Martial Artist who had reached Single-Time Skin Smoothing, he had plenty of connections in the city.
「Half a month later.」
Someone came to Lin Yan’s house. It was Zheng Bo, a neighbor from the same street but a different alley, who was currently running with the Black Tiger Gang.
"Lin Yan, look at you now! Training at the Martial Arts Hall and everything."
Zheng Bo was overly familiar, immediately trying to pat Lin Yan on the shoulder. Faced with someone so forward, Lin Yan would have normally dodged. This time, however, he thought of his Martial Arts Tree’s ability and didn’t move away.
But when he saw the tattered leaf that appeared on the Martial Arts Tree, Lin Yan felt a little disdainful.
Zheng Bo was two years older than him and had been in the Black Tiger Gang for three years, yet his Martial Arts Tree wasn’t even five inches tall.
After mastering the Pile Skill and sufficiently nourishing one’s Qi Blood, the Martial Arts Tree could reach a height of five inches.
’Zheng Bo is in a gang... does he skip nine meals every three days?’
’So when the neighbors said Zheng Bo was "somebody" in the Black Tiger Gang, they must have meant it literally—he’s just *some body*.’
"Brother Zheng, what can I do for you?"
"Good news."
Zheng Bo chuckled. "Our Black Tiger Gang is recruiting talent right now. Lin Yan, since you’ve trained in martial arts, you can get five silver just for joining."
’He wants me to join a gang?’
Lin Yan shook his head. "Brother Zheng, I’ve joined the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall. The hall has rules. We’re not allowed to join gangs. If they find out, we get expelled."
"If the Martial Arts Hall doesn’t allow it, then just don’t let them find out."
Zheng Bo said nonchalantly, "Lin Yan, seeing as we’re from the same street, I went out of my way to see the Gang Leader. As long as you join our Black Tiger Gang, the gang will cover all your expenses at the Martial Arts Hall. Besides, all you’ll have to do is focus on your training; you won’t have to get involved in gang business."
"It’s that good? Isn’t the Black Tiger Gang getting the short end of the stick?"
"What loss could there be? In the words of our Gang Leader, it’s an investment in you. Once you’ve mastered your skills at the Martial Arts Hall and completed your training, it won’t matter whether you’re expelled or not. By then, you’ll be a major powerhouse for the Black Tiger Gang."
’The reasoning was sound enough. It’s what you’d call an angel investment.’
If he wasn’t certain that Zheng Bo hadn’t even succeeded in his Nourishing Foundation, Lin Yan might have actually believed him.
’The Black Tiger Gang might not be a major gang, but it still has over a hundred members. How could someone like Zheng Bo, who hasn’t even completed his Nourishing Foundation, possibly get an audience with the Gang Leader?’
"Lin Yan, just sign your name on this. I’ll show it to the Gang Leader, and he’ll issue the silver coins to you. You get five silver for joining, and twenty silver every month after that."
Zheng Bo pulled out a Document. Lin Yan glanced at it; it was a certificate of membership for the Black Tiger Gang, needing only a signature.
’The Otherworld version of a triad’s membership file!’
"Brother Zheng, let me think about it."
Lin Yan put on a tempted but hesitant expression.
Zheng Bo patted Lin Yan’s shoulder again. "Make a decision quickly. There aren’t many spots for a deal this good. Once they’re filled, this kind of offer is gone. I’m only coming to you first because we’re neighbors. Can’t let a good opportunity go to an outsider, right?"
"Thank you for looking out for me, Brother Zheng. I’ll make a decision as soon as possible."
After seeing Zheng Bo off, Lin Yan closed the courtyard gate. The smile vanished from his face as he began to ponder. ’There are only two reasons Zheng Bo would approach me.’
’One: The Black Tiger Gang is genuinely short-staffed, and Zheng Bo is trying to trick me into joining.’
’Two: Zheng Bo is acting on someone’s orders to get me to join the Black Tiger Gang. As soon as word gets back to the Martial Arts Hall, I’ll be expelled.’
’Five silver upon joining, and twenty silver a month after that.’
’This is a package the Black Tiger Gang could never afford. And if Zheng Bo were just lying about the pay to trick me, I’d find out as soon as I joined and would feel no loyalty to them. The Gang Leader wouldn’t be stupid enough to set things up that way.’
’So, ruling out the first possibility, it can only be that Zheng Bo is acting on someone’s orders to target me.’
’Since I came to this world, there’s only one person I’ve managed to offend.’
’Ge Hui!’
The image of Ge Hui surfaced in Lin Yan’s mind. ’Ge Hui didn’t dare to move against me inside the Martial Arts Hall. Now that he knows I’ve left, he’s specifically found Zheng Bo to set a trap.’
’The moment I sign my name, Zheng Bo will take the document straight to Ge Hui. Then Ge Hui will report it to our master, and I’ll be thrown out of the Martial Arts Hall.’
To verify his suspicion, Lin Yan left the house moments later. It wasn’t long before he spotted Zheng Bo on the street.
Zheng Bo bought some cooked meat from a shop on the street, then carried the bag as he turned into an alley.
He took a winding path, twisting and turning through several streets before finally stopping in front of a courtyard gate. Just as he took out his key to open it, his eyes narrowed. He glanced around, and only after confirming he wasn’t being followed did he turn, cross to the house on the opposite side, and knock gently on the door.

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