Travel through a martial arts world and gain a little breakthrough every day.

As the wolf struggled weakly, a large amount of foul blood flowed from Zhang Xiaoyu's wound, and then it slowly healed.

Lin Feng narrowed his eyes. This Bloodthirsty Demon Art was truly terrifying. Should he learn it too?

Zhang Xiaoyu drank the blood of another wolf and slowly stood up.

He looked at Lin Feng and said, "Xiao Feng, this Bloodthirsty Demon Art has saved me once again."

Lin Feng nodded. "I never expected the Bloodthirsty Demon Art to be so miraculous."

Zhang Xiaoyu wiped away the bruises from her wound and sighed, "I can feel my life slipping away with this filthy blood."

Everything comes at a price.

Lin Feng suddenly realized, "So that's how it is."

Thinking about how she had won the arena, Zhang Xiaoyu couldn't help but smile. "Xiaofeng, we won! Can we join the city guard now?"

Lin Feng nodded and then shook his head. "There are two more assessments in three days."

"Those two tests are supposedly just a formality, and they should be easy to pass."

"There's always a risk of failing an assessment; you never know until the very last moment."

"You're right, we can't be too happy yet."

Lin Feng hunted another wild boar for Zhang Xiaoyu.

After Zhang Xiaoyu had blood drawn, she was actually able to walk again.

On their way back to the city, Zhang Xiaoyu bought a new set of clothes and changed into them.

I went to the clinic to have my wound bandaged again.

As the two reached the courtyard gate, Master Ding and his son returned from the other side.

The father and son were clearly drunk and had just been drinking.

Master Ding smiled and cupped his hands in greeting, "Congratulations to you both on your victories! You two truly displayed your prowess on the stage today."

Zhang Xiaoyu said, "You're too kind to congratulate me, sir. This is only the first round."

Master Ding waved his hand and said, "It's not early, it's not early. This first round is the most crucial. If we pass it, we'll basically be all set."

Young Master Ding was much more polite this time. "Brothers, your martial arts skills are truly ashamed of me. Brother Zhang, are you alright?"

Zhang Xiaoyu smiled and said, "It's nothing serious, I'll be fine after resting for a couple of days at home."

As soon as Zhang Xiaoyu and Lin Feng entered the courtyard, both families came over and looked them up and down.

Lin's mother asked Lin Feng, "Xiao Feng, are you alright? How did the competition go?"

Lin Feng said with a smile, "I'm fine. I won the competition easily."

Sister-in-law Zhang also asked Zhang Xiaoyu, "My lord, how are you? Are you hurt?"

Zhang Xiaoyu also said with a smile, "I'm fine too, I won this match as well. My brother and I will participate in two more matches in three days."

Zhou Chunlan covered her chest with her hand, "It's good that everyone is alright."

The family had dinner and then went home.

That evening, the sound of Zhang Xiaoyu's sister-in-law crying came from Zhang Xiaoyu's room, clearly indicating that she had seen Zhang Xiaoyu's injuries.

Sister-in-law Zhang cried and said, "Waaah, you used to be so honest and steady, why do you always risk your life like this now?"

Zhang Xiaoyu held his wife in his arms. "I used to be honest, but have we had a better life?"

I read in a book that the way of man is to take from those who are lacking and give to those who are in excess.

The poorer we are, the more we are bullied. I can only try my best while I'm young, so that you can become an official's wife someday.

Sister-in-law Zhang leaned against Zhang Xiaoyu's chest and said, "I don't want to be an official's wife. I just want our family to be safe and sound."

While the two were talking, the child on the bed, Zhang Fengye, woke up and started crying for some unknown reason.

The couple quickly went to take care of the child.

……

The next day, Lin Feng led Zhang Xiaoyu up the mountain to hunt.

Zhang Xiaoyu drank her fill of beast blood, and her injuries were almost completely healed.

After the two descended the mountain, Lin Feng took Zhang Xiaoyu to the Yunlai Inn and found Sun Yu.

The three of them went to a restaurant for a meal.

Lin Fengmian took a sip of tea and said, "Brother Sun, are you planning to stay in Qinghe County for an extended period?"

Sun Yu was still excited about winning the arena yesterday. "Of course, now that I've won the competition, I'll be taking up a post in the city guard in a couple of days."

With my martial arts talent, I could become a squad leader in a year or two, and then a general.

"Maybe he'll be noticed by a sect in the future, and he might even be able to join the Sword Sect."

Zhang Xiaoyu raised a glass of wine, "Then I wish Brother Sun a bright future in advance."

Sun Yu raised his glass and said with a smile, "Everyone of you has a bright future ahead of you. In the future, the three of us brothers will rule Qinghe County with an iron fist, hahaha."

Lin Feng drank a cup of tea with the two of them instead of wine.

Sun Yu was a very outgoing person and quickly became friends with the two of them.

……

In the evening, Lin Feng's brother-in-law, Zhou Haitao, came to Lin Feng's house for dinner.

After finishing his meal, Zhou Haitao stammered to Lin Feng, "Brother-in-law, I don't want to practice martial arts anymore."

My mother wants me to set up a breakfast stall in the county town and sell some steamed buns.

My martial arts training speed is far slower than yours and Brother Zhang's.

I also feel that I'm not cut out for martial arts.

Lin Feng didn't reply, but instead said, "Go and call Hu Zi over."

Zhou Haitao called Lin Hu over.

Lin Feng said to the two of them, "Your Brother Zhang and I had a fortuitous encounter, and our martial arts progressed faster. You don't need to compare yourselves with us."

Lin Feng looked at Zhou Haitao and said, "Haitao just said he wanted to set up a stall to sell steamed buns, but I disagree."

It's hard to say how much money one can make selling steamed buns.

They had to pay taxes, protection money, and also let a group of people eat and take for free.

After a year of hard work, you can't even save two taels of silver.

Why did we fight our way out of Xiahe Village?

Isn't it all about getting ahead and making a name for yourself?

Once your brother Zhang and I have established ourselves in the city guard, you two will be able to join in a couple of years if you've mastered your skills.

This is the right path.

Haitao, go back and tell your mother that I'll pay for your martial arts training, and I'll give you another two hundred taels a year.

Lin Feng then looked at Lin Hu, "Hu Zi, you too, your treatment is the same as Hai Tao's."

You two shouldn't think about anything else, just keep practicing your skills.

The opportunity will come sooner or later.

"If you put in the effort, you won't lack opportunities."

Zhou Haitao's eyes reddened and snot started flowing from his nose. "Waaah, thank you, brother-in-law. I didn't want to sell steamed buns either."

I love eating steamed buns.

I'll go tell my mom right now that I'll practice martial arts diligently from now on and won't do any more chores.

Lin Hu's eyes were also red. Knowing that Lin Feng and Zhang Xiaoyu had won the fight, he had also questioned his own talent and had even thought about giving up.

Lin Feng patted the two men on the shoulders, telling them to go back.

If this were a peaceful and prosperous era in the past, doing some small business to support one's family wouldn't be so bad.

But this is a chaotic world. In a chaotic world, without military force, one can only become a lamb to the slaughter.

......

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

When it came to the second round of martial arts exams...

That morning, Lin Feng and Zhang Xiaoyu, dressed in new clothes and carrying their respective swords, went out.

The headquarters of the city guard was located in the city, in a large courtyard of over a thousand square meters.

After Lin Feng and Zhang Xiaoyu left, Master Ding and his son walked out of the courtyard.

Looking at Lin Feng and the other man's retreating figures, Young Master Ding said, "Father, didn't you say there were four pre-selected spots?"

"So, one of them will probably be eliminated?"

Master Ding shook his head. “Recruiting new people is a rare opportunity to make money. The city guards should take advantage of this to make a fortune.”

"Maybe both of them will be eliminated?"

"Even with Brother Lin's excellent kung fu, he was defeated?"