Apocalypse: Grinding EXP through Hunting

"Heh, take a guess?" Li Miao gave him a look that suggested he was an idiot.

Tang Wen thought about it for a moment and realized it couldn’t possibly be real.

Li Miao said, "Keep this little Token safe! If you lose it, the only way to get a replacement is to come to me and prove your identity. Otherwise, it belongs to whoever finds it."

"Besides proving my identity, what else is it for?"

"You can accept missions in a few of the Stone Towers in the middle. Go ask for the specifics yourself. You’re a One-star Hunter now, so you can only enter the one-star tower."

The Hunter Token felt heavy in his hand.

He squeezed it hard; it was incredibly solid, showing no sign of bending.

Tang Wen asked, "So a Martial Artist is a One-star Hunter, and an Extraordinary is a Two-Star?"

Li Miao shook her head. "The bar isn’t that high. Extraordinaries are Three-star Hunters the moment they join. Regular Martial Artists can also slowly rank up by completing enough missions."

He asked a few more questions.

As Tang Wen finished packing his luggage, Li Miao looked at him and asked, "When are you coming back?"

He froze. ’How could I possibly know that?’

Li Miao understood. "Do you have an address? I can have someone deliver a message to you."

Tang Wen scratched his head. "I’m going to the Black Water Gang, and I’m not sure how long I’ll be there. But I have a Blood Crow that can fly over often. I’ll have it deliver messages to you then."

Over the past few days, besides practicing the Night Divine Fist, he had spent one thousand taels of silver to meet with Elder Li of the Black Water Gang from Ganshan City.

For the meeting, he had specifically gone out of the city to find a Sand Wolf.

He used the Breath Concealment Technique to hide his true Martial Arts Realm.

He then used some women’s powder, mixed it with hot spring mud, and smeared it on his face.

This made him look like a dark-faced young man in his early twenties with a beard.

Upon meeting Elder Li, he delivered his long-rehearsed lines:

"My name is Tang Wen. I have long heard of the great name of Elder Li of the Black Water Gang.

"I hear you are incredibly skilled, and all the brothers under you praise you, saying that following you means they’ll always have meat on the table!

"This humble one has admired you for a long time!

"I came here today, specially asking for an introduction from the Shopkeeper of the Four Seas Inn, because I want to follow you!"

The silver-haired Elder Li had his arms around two lovely young ladies.

It was a perfect picture of an old man with his young lovers.

Seeing that Tang Wen spoke sincerely and had even presented five hundred taels of silver—and, more impressively, was a Peak Martial Artist and a Beastmaster—

and hearing the rumor that he had just viewed the Contemplation Method for the Night Divine Fist at the Four Seas Inn.

With all these conditions combined?

How could he possibly refuse to take him in?

He immediately agreed to Tang Wen’s request.

He also made it clear that Tang Wen would start as at least a captain, and with some achievements, he could quickly become a Vice Commander, or even a Commander!

By then, beautiful women, Cultivation Techniques, land, and mansions would all be his!

Tang Wen feigned excitement as he accepted this empty promise.

He was secretly relieved to confirm that this Extraordinary Level Elder Li had not seen through his disguise.

Today was the day Elder Li would take him back to Ganshan City to join the Black Water Gang.

A quarter of an hour later, having applied a light beard and finished his disguise, Tang Wen went downstairs and saw the slender, white-haired but youthful-looking Elder Li and his entourage.

The Elder was riding a High-level Beastial Horse, one hand on his lower back.

Seeing Tang Wen approach, he laughed. "Young Brother Tang, you’re here! Ah, I’m getting old, I’m not what I used to be. It’s only been a few days of fun, and my back is already starting to ache."

Tang Wen forced a smile. "Not at all, Elder Li. You’re clearly as vigorous as ever."

Elder Li twisted his back and sighed, "I’m not the man I used to be! Wine and women have taken their toll. From this day forward, I’m giving up drinking!"

Tang Wen: ...

As everyone gradually gathered, Li Miao suddenly emerged from the back of the inn.

"Shopkeeper Li, what wind blew you here?" Elder Li exclaimed in surprise upon turning to see her.

Tang Wen also saw Li Miao. She was personally leading a horse, which had two bundles tied to its back.

After greeting Elder Li, Li Miao walked straight up to Tang Wen. "I’m just seeing a friend off. I hope Elder Li will take good care of my brother here in the future."

Elder Li was inwardly surprised but readily agreed out loud.

Tang Wen took the reins, a warmth spreading in his chest.

He heard Li Miao whisper in his ear, "So? Did I give you enough face? If you have trouble with women in the future, you’d better come back and ask me for advice!"

The flicker of warmth that had just appeared in Tang Wen’s heart vanished instantly. "...You should tone it down. It’s bad for your health."

"Hmph! You think I’m like those useless men?" Li Miao straightened her back proudly.

After bidding farewell to Li Miao, Elder Li led Tang Wen and the others, spurring their horses toward Ganshan City.

The distance between the two places was no more than three or four hundred li.

The group was composed of Martial Artists at the very least, and even if their mounts weren’t Exotic Beasts, they were still magnificent horses.

In just a day’s time, they arrived at the foot of Ganshan City.

Under the setting sun, golden light bathed the mountain cliffs.

The great city built into the mountainside before them was majestic and imposing, its shocking presence no less than that of the cloud-piercing peaks behind it!

An impregnable pass of iron!

The four words instinctively popped into Tang Wen’s mind.

He was about to express his awe when he suddenly felt Elder Li’s gaze upon him.

In a flash, his thoughts turned, and he switched to a different phrase, exclaiming with heartfelt wonder:

"This city is so damn big! It’s a hundred times bigger than our camp!"

"HAHAHAHAHA!"

The group burst into laughter.

That description was so damn rustic and unadorned.

It figured. The kid was from a small camp; of course he hadn’t seen the world.

"It really is big!"

"A big city, a big city indeed!"

Laughing and joking, the group rode past the outer tent area where the poor and slaves lived, and entered the Outer City.

"Greetings, Elder Li, and everyone."

The fully armored Guard Captain at the gate greeted them with a fist-and-palm salute.

After a nod between both parties, Elder Li urged his horse into the city.

There were many rumors about Ganshan City.

Most of them spoke of how dark and terrifying it was.

A place where the strong ruled all, holding the power of life and death over the weak.

As soon as he entered the city, Tang Wen saw several men in shackles and gray clothes, clearing away trash with brooms, shovels, and other tools.

One of the men next to Tang Wen, seeing his connection to Shopkeeper Li of the Four Seas Inn, had been trying to get friendly with him on the journey and now explained:

"Our city never used to care about this stuff. But then our City Lord took a trip to some place called Sanlian City. When he came back, he made all the major gangs pitch in with money and manpower to clean up the streets and repair the roads."

"But you know, after all this cleaning up, it’s a lot easier on the eyes than before."

"And it smells a lot better, too."

’The City Lord of Ganshan City has even been to Sanlian City?’

After passing through a few more streets, someone shouted:

"We’re here!"

Tang Wen looked up and saw a building that resembled an ancient Government Office.

It had white walls, black tiles, and flying eaves with interlocking brackets.

At the top of eighteen black stone steps stood a wide, black gate.

On either side of the gate, white characters were written on the black walls:

Black Water moistens the white mountains, a warm heart and ancient path known within and without

Ice sculptures adorn the snowy peaks, heroic drinkers dominate the mountain city

Inside the gate, a black stone pillar that rose above the courtyard wall had three large, golden characters written on it in a flamboyant, cursive script—Black Water Gang!

The heroic air of the martial world hit him right in the face.

"Impressive! Overbearing!"

Tang Wen’s face was full of excitement, like a newcomer just entering the martial world with the words "easy mark" written all over his face.

Elder Li chuckled. "The initiation ceremony won’t be for a few months. It will be held for all the new recruits at the same time, presided over by the Gang Leader."

With that, he led the way to a side gate.

Here, the large iron gates stood open. There were no stone steps, so everyone’s horses and mounts could enter easily.

Elder Li took Tang Wen on a tour, showing him the gang’s various departments: the Law Enforcement Hall, the Loyalty Hall, the Martial Bravery Hall...

The Black Water Gang had tens of thousands of members; without rules, there would be chaos.

Seeing the Law Enforcement Hall made Tang Wen laugh internally. The Black Water Gang was a criminal organization, having nothing to do with "good people."

Yet one of the most important halls in the gang was actually the Law Enforcement Hall.

Elder Li explained that everyone in the Law Enforcement Hall was an expert. Anyone who dared to break the gang’s rules would not escape their punishment.

Everyone was weary from the journey, and having been away from home for half a month, they were all eager to return.

That night, there was no welcome banquet.

Tang Wen was temporarily housed in an inn a few streets away from the Black Water Gang’s headquarters.

This inn, of course, was also run by the Black Water Gang.

Out of consideration for Li Miao, Elder Li took good care of Tang Wen, arranging for him to have a small, private courtyard all to himself at the inn.

Two days passed. He was in the courtyard studying the Night Divine Fist when he suddenly heard someone call out from outside the gate:

"Brother Tang Wen, Elder Li has summoned you."