This punch really hurts

Wang Qiang pointed a trembling finger at Chen Yi. His bark was still worse than his bite, though his feet were already slowly shuffling backward.

"Chen... Chen Yi! Don't lose your mind! This is Black Stone Gang territory. Do you know who our leader is? That's Shi San, known in the Jianghu as the Black Blood Iron Claw!"

Chen Yi couldn't be bothered to listen to his nonsense. Gripping his small hammer, he charged straight forward and knocked Wang Qiang to the ground with a single strike.

"That's for throwing your weight around like a dog backed by its master!"

Wang Qiang felt dizzy, his ears ringing. The searing pain in his face nearly made him black out.

Before he could even scream, Chen Yi brought the hammer down again.

"That's for skimming our rations!"

This blow slammed into his back, resulting in a sickening crack.

"Argh!!"

Although Wang Qiang was a martial artist, Chen Yi's cultivation was higher. He couldn't handle even a single strike, yet Chen Yi straddled him and unleashed a frenzy of blows!

"That's for beating and cursing us at every turn!"

"Ah!! Stop hitting me!"

"That's for forcing us to sign those indenture contracts!"

"Ah!! Spare me! Spare me! I was wrong! Hero, spare my life!!!"

"That's for trying to force me to feed the monsters!"

"Ah!! I never did that?! You're framing me!!"

In the heat of the moment, Chen Yi had blamed him for something that happened in his simulation.

"So what if I'm framing you?!"

As the foreman, Wang Qiang managed the supervisors and coolies on the dock, holding the highest status among them. Consequently, he had frequently abused his power.

Seeing him shriek in agony under Chen Yi's beating, not only were the coolies delighted, but even the supervisors who had fallen into the water were secretly cheering.

They were finally venting their pent-up frustration!

Not far away, Shi San, the leader of the Black Stone Gang, walked over.

Seeing Wang Qiang pinned down and beaten by Chen Yi without any ability to fight back, he actually became interested.

"Who is this kid?"

The Black Stone Gang's Head Enforcer took a look, cupped his fists, and spoke.

"Chief, that kid is Chen Yi. Three months ago, he drifted down from the upper reaches of the Qing River with a fool. The brothers picked them up to work as dock coolies."

Shi San looked thoughtful. He turned to a pot-bellied brute behind him.

"Old Fourth, this Chen Yi must be a martial artist; Wang Qiang is no match for him. Go test him out and see what he's made of. But be careful—don't hit too hard and cripple him."

"You got it, Boss!"

Chen Yi was enjoying beating Wang Qiang when his wrist was suddenly seized. The small hammer in his hand was snatched away and casually tossed to the ground.

Turning his head, he saw it was the Fourth Master of the Black Stone Gang.

"Kid, you're about to beat him to death. How about exchanging a few moves with me?"

Chen Yi kicked Wang Qiang into the water.

"Fourth Master, you're a martial artist. How could I be your opponent? Isn't this bullying the weak?"

There were very few martial artists in the Black Stone Gang.

After all, people with the necessary Root of Bone were rare, and those with the fortune to step onto the Martial Path were even rarer.

Presumably, a small gang like this would try to recruit any martial artist they discovered.

Judging by the Fourth Master's desire to spar, Chen Yi estimated that he had already achieved his goal.

"Hahaha! Let's not play games. Aren't you a martial artist too?"

"There are levels even among martial artists."

"I am at the Sixth Stage of Body Refining! But I won't bully you. As long as you can make me feel pain, we'll let bygones be bygones regarding today's events. I'll even ask the Chief to make you a key officer of the Black Stone Gang!"

Chen Yi clenched his fists.

"Does the Fourth Master's word count?"

"Hmph! When has Shi Laosi ever gone back on his word? If I say we won't pay your wages, then we never pay them!"

Chen Yi felt that this guy's IQ was low enough to share a table with Da Chun.

Since the two were merely sparring, weapons were naturally set aside.

If it came down to fists, however, Chen Yi’s newly acquired trait had to be mentioned.

Serious Punch!

At the start of their exchange, the Fourth Master felt completely at ease.

Chen Yi was indeed a martial artist; his strength and reflexes were far beyond those of a commoner.

However, compared to the Fourth Master's own cultivation at the Sixth Stage of Body Tempering, there was a distinct gap. He felt he could handle the boy easily.

"Is this the best you can do? You can't even touch the hem of my robe!"

"Does the Fourth Master only know how to dodge?"

"Hmph! I'm just worried I might accidentally kill you if I strike back, and I wouldn't be able to explain that to Big Brother! With your amateurish kung fu, I could stand right here and let you hit me, and you wouldn't scratch me!"

The guy was certainly a man of his word.

He said he would stand still, and stand still he did.

Chen Yi seized the opportunity, channeling every ounce of his strength to maximize the effect of his trait.

Serious Punch!

Tenfold Destructive Power!

"Bam!!"

The punch struck the Fourth Master’s belly fat, sending ripples through it like a stone thrown into a lake.

The Fourth Master’s body instantly folded inward.

He forcefully swallowed the metallic taste of blood rising in his throat.

Chen Yi smirked, taking a step back as he looked amusedly at the Fourth Master, who was desperately trying to hold it together.

"How was that, Fourth Master?"

The Fourth Master endured the agonizing pain in his abdomen, struggling to swallow down wave after wave of blood. His entire body trembled slightly.

"It... it didn't hurt! It... it was actually not bad. I'll go inform the Gang Leader! You... just don't hurt anyone else!"

As the Fourth Master turned around, he found Shi San already standing behind him.

"I saw everything. Chen Yi, since you are a martial artist, the Black Stone Gang would like to offer you a position. We can share in wealth and glory! You will no longer have to work as a coolie."

Objective achieved. However, Chen Yi kept his face expressionless; he had to make the act convincing.

"I want to leave."

Shi San let out a mocking chuckle.

"Old Four didn't use his full strength just now because he was afraid of hurting you, but don't think he can't beat you."

The implication was clear.

If the Black Stone Gang's Fourth Master could handle him, then the Gang Leader certainly could.

Inviting you to join is a courtesy because you are a martial artist. Don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit.

"In that case, I will stay."

"I have one more question. Since you are a martial artist, why didn't you tell us? Why were you willing to work here as a coolie instead?"

Chen Yi replied in a flat tone.

"After I fell into the water, my body was weak, and I couldn't mobilize my Blood Qi. I only recovered in the last few days. Besides, I did tell your people before, but they didn't believe me."

"Who did you tell?"

"Wang Qiang."

Wang Qiang had just been fished out of the water by the Black Stone Gang members.

He was covered in injuries and in pain all over.

Hearing this, his pupils instantly constricted.

"What? I didn't know! Gang Leader! I didn't know! I really didn't know!"

Shi San gave a cold snort.

"You suppressed a talent and caused resentment in his heart. Is this how you do your job? Throw him back in to feed the fish!"

"Yes, sir!"

Wang Qiang, having just been fished out, was thrown back down.

Almost all the bones in his body were broken. Falling into the water in such a state meant certain death.

"Gang Leader! Spare me! I really didn't kn— *glug glug*... Gang Leader! Help... *glug glug*..."

A gang was a gang, after all; they turned hostile at the drop of a hat.

Chen Yi was only pretending to join them now to find an opportunity to take Da Chun and leave together.

If he could wipe out this gang in passing, he wouldn't mind at all. It just depended on whether the next simulation would grant him enough strength.

At noon that day, Shi San hosted a banquet for Chen Yi at the Black Stone Gang's headquarters near the docks.

The gang's four chieftains, the key officers known as the Four Beams and Eight Pillars, and the elite members all took their seats.

"Let us raise our bowls! A toast to our new brother, Chen Yi!"

Shi San appointed Chen Yi as the instructor for new recruits, responsible for teaching martial arts to the rank-and-file members.

It was a position that appeared to carry status, yet offered no access to the gang's inner workings.

Clearly, Shi San was no fool; he hadn't given Chen Yi a critical position right off the bat.