Chapter 1

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On the 11th of September, 669th year of the Great Cloud Era, the sun was just rising, and the sounds of people and barking dogs came from afar. Lin Xiao suddenly opened his eyes, his clear black and white pupils flashing with a sharp light as he gazed upward.

On the ceiling beam, a spider was weaving its web.

"Are you there?" Lin Xiao asked in a low voice.

"Come out and chat, for half a coin." After a few breaths, Lin Xiao spoke again: "Or even one coin will do."

But there was still no response. The entire room contained only Lin Xiao.

"Was it just an illusion?" Lin Xiao was puzzled and uncertain. Before he fainted, he vaguely heard something about a 'cultivation sequence' and 'activation,' thinking it might be a golden finger finally arriving.

Getting up, Lin Xiao subconsciously rubbed his chin, his brows slightly furrowed: "Why did I faint yesterday? According to the pattern, I should faint once every quarter, and I already fainted last month, so it should be around the same time next quarter."

He couldn't figure it out.

Fainting without any warning was Lin Xiao's old problem, which he had since childhood. His adoptive parents had taken him to see a doctor, who, after a series of examinations, said Lin Xiao had a brain disease and wouldn't live past fifteen. In desperation, they consulted a fortune-teller, who, after a series of complex finger calculations, said Lin Xiao's fate was too strong and needed a name change to 'Wuming.'

Lin Wuming!

Without a name, would he not die?

Lin Xiao had objections, but they were useless. He could only accept it helplessly. However, he usually used the names Lin Xiao and Lin Wuming in different situations. Whether it was the doctor's nonsense or the fortune-teller's skill, Lin Xiao was now eighteen.

Fainting once every quarter, usually in the middle of the month, had become a pattern Lin Xiao had long grasped.

Who would have thought that he would faint again while collecting the regular fee last night.

Thinking about this, Lin Xiao quickly got out of bed, tidied up the bed neatly, folded the quilt, and quickly put on his clothes, smoothing them out. He pushed open the wooden door of his bedroom, walked to the pond in the courtyard, rinsed his mouth, brushed his teeth with a rough cloth dipped in salt, washed his face, and combed his short hair.

As long as the conditions allowed, Lin Xiao would always take care of himself, believing it was a form of self-respect.

"Brother, you're awake." A relieved voice came from behind: "You fainted again last night, it scared me."

This was a boy of about twelve or thirteen, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, named Zhou Zheng. Although he and Lin Xiao were not blood-related, they were like brothers, as Zhou Zheng was the biological child of Lin Xiao's adoptive parents.

Lin Xiao fainted once every quarter, and each time he would sleep it off. Zhou Zheng wasn't overly worried.

"It's fine." Lin Xiao smiled: "Are you hungry? I'll make breakfast."

"Brother, let me do it, you practice." Zhou Zheng said with a tone of taking charge: "Let you taste my cooking."

"Okay, I'll wait." Lin Xiao was taken aback but then smiled.

Lin Xiao usually took care of the meals, rarely letting Zhou Zheng help.

Stretching his limbs, Lin Xiao held his breath, stood with his legs parallel and slightly wider than shoulder-width, sank his waist, sat in a horse stance, pulled his chest in, and lifted his back, focusing his energy. This was the horse stance.

After two quarters of an hour, Lin Xiao took out his sword and practiced a set of basic sword techniques.

"Clang, clang, clang, Zhou's egg and vegetable noodles are here, Brother, come and taste my cooking." Zhou Zheng held two large bowls, steaming hot, with a face full of anticipation.

"Ah Zheng, others charge for noodles, but you charge with your life." Lin Xiao sighed after taking a bite.

"Brother, I feel like you're not praising me."

(To be continued, please turn the page)

"Your intuition is right." Lin Xiao said seriously: "I'm not praising you."

"Brother." Zhou Zheng's face turned dark, huffed, and ignored Lin Xiao, burying his head to eat. But after one bite, his face wrinkled.

The noodles were overcooked, the vegetables were too soft, and the soup was salty and bitter.

"Ah Zheng, today I'll teach you another lesson: the noodles you cook, you must finish, even if you have to cry while eating them." Lin Xiao ate two bites without changing his expression, then pushed the remaining noodles into Zhou Zheng's bowl: "You're growing, eat more, and remember to go to school after eating."

Ah Zheng had a characteristic: he could eat anything, no matter how bad it tasted, he could swallow it.

"Brother, I... I don't want to go to school anymore." After hesitating for a moment, Zhou Zheng finally mustered the courage to say, looking at Lin Xiao timidly.

"If you don't go to school, what will you do?" Lin Xiao's face turned serious as he asked sternly.

"I want to join the gang with you." Zhou Zheng said loudly.

"No." Lin Xiao's face changed abruptly, and he growled, scaring Zhou Zheng: "Ah Zheng, you must listen to me, engrave my words deeply in your mind: absolutely do not join the gang, absolutely do not join the gang, absolutely do not join the gang."

"Remember, go to school and study hard. In the future, if you can become a teacher, you will be respected and have a stable life." Lin Xiao's voice softened, but each word was heavy and powerful: "When I save enough money, I'll send you to the county academy to study. Maybe in the future, you can pass the imperial exams and get a government position, and then I'll be proud of you."

"Remember, don't be late." Lin Xiao, holding a one-meter-long sword in its sheath, walked towards the courtyard gate, paused, turned to look at Zhou Zheng, his eyes dangerous, his tone stern: "Don't think about skipping school, otherwise... the consequences will be severe... very severe."

"Got it, Brother." Zhou Zheng nodded quickly, his face showing concern as he watched Lin Xiao's back disappear through the gate.

...

Outside the house, Lin Xiao took a deep breath, his face indifferent, his eyes sharp, and his demeanor intimidating.

Holding the iron sword, Lin Xiao walked briskly, his steps swift. People passing by would instinctively step aside, avoiding eye contact, only relaxing after he had passed.

"Too scary."

"I heard that Lin Wuming fainted last night when he went to the martial arts hall to collect the fee."

"Really?"

"Can a gang member faint from fear?"

"Shh, keep it down, see that sword in his hand? I heard he once used it to cut off someone's hand and even made a hole in someone's neck."

This was the civilian area of Qingtong Township, where people lived at the bottom of society, mostly surnamed Wang and Zhou. They worked hard for a living, with little intrigue or violence. Living here was relatively peaceful.

The civilian area had little to offer, and causing trouble here would bring no gain and only damage one's reputation.

Gang members valued their reputation, and losing face would lead to ridicule and even punishment by the gang rules.

Lin Xiao and Zhou Zheng lived in this civilian area for several reasons. First, the house was left by their adoptive parents, with two rooms, a small kitchen, a toilet, and a large courtyard. Lin Xiao had even built a simple bathroom in one corner of the yard.

Second, there was a school in the civilian area, making it convenient for Zhou Zheng to attend.

Third, they didn't have enough money. If they had more, Lin Xiao would have moved to the wealthy area, where the living environment and school conditions were better. With even more money, he would have sent Zhou Zheng to the county academy, increasing his chances of passing the imperial exams.

In this world, becoming an official was a good path, and most people dared not offend them, even gang members. Challenging an official was like challenging the dynasty.

Gang members, no matter how powerful, couldn't match a nation.

Second, becoming a teacher was also a good path, respected for knowledge and manners, even by gang members.

This was why Lin Xiao insisted that Zhou Zheng attend school and study hard.

Joining a gang?

If not for circumstances, Lin Xiao wouldn't have taken this path.

Eighteen years ago, he was adopted by Zhou Zheng's parents as an infant. At that time, there was no Zhou Zheng. His adoptive parents treated Lin Xiao like their own, and the name Lin Xiao came from an iron plate on the infant's body, which the parents had a teacher read.

When Lin Xiao was fifteen and Zhou Zheng was ten, their adoptive parents died from overwork. Lin Xiao took on the responsibility, raising Zhou Zheng and ensuring he could achieve success and bring honor to the family.

Raising and educating Zhou Zheng required money. The family's savings were depleted by the medical expenses for the adoptive parents, so Lin Xiao had to find a quick way to earn money.

By chance, he joined the White Cloud Gang as a regular member. With his bravery, strategic thinking, and the favor of a senior member, he quickly earned a substantial amount of money. Over time, he became more deeply involved, and a few months ago, he was promoted to an elite member and a leader, leading three regular members.

The White Cloud Gang's headquarters was in the county, and Qingtong Township was a branch. The highest position was the branch leader, followed by major heads, minor heads, elite members, and regular members.

A minor head usually led three to five elite members, and an elite member led three to five regular members.

Last night, Lin Xiao took three subordinates to collect the regular fee from a newly opened martial arts hall. During the confrontation, he suddenly fainted.

It seemed the fee wasn't collected, and he would need to go again.

"Brother Xiao, are you okay?"

"Brother... Brother Xiao..."

"Brother Xiao, we were just about to look for you."

Three young men, each holding a spiked club, walked towards him. One was thin like a bamboo pole, one was short and stocky, and one had a mature face, looking almost thirty, though he was only nineteen.

The thin one was Wang Daniu, the short and stocky one was Wang Xiaohu, and the mature-faced one was Zhou Dazhu.

All had down-to-earth names, typical of the common people, clearly given by their elders. As for Zhou Zheng, his name was chosen by Lin Xiao, otherwise, his adoptive parents would have named him Zhou Erdan.

Whenever this was mentioned, Zhou Zheng was very grateful to Lin Xiao, feeling extremely lucky.

Otherwise, what would people call him as a teacher?

Teacher Erdan?

Thinking of this, Lin Xiao always wanted to laugh.

"Did you collect the fee from the Green Tiger Martial Arts Hall?" Lin Xiao asked calmly.

"No, they refused to pay." Wang Daniu answered quickly.

"Brother Xiao, after you fainted last night, we quickly took you away." Zhou Dazhu explained methodically.

"Y-Yes... Y-Yes... T-That's right." Wang Xiaohu nodded, stammering.

"Let's go." Lin Xiao took the lead.

"Go... Go... Where?" Wang Xiaohu was taken aback.

"Idiot, of course, we're going to the Green Tiger Martial Arts Hall." Wang Daniu said, quickly following.