Chapter 91: Chapter 87 Another Year 2 "I’ve painstakingly hidden my strength, secretly building it up, just to catch Liu Yuanhu off guard one day—and you idiot went and spilled it all!" Feeling Zhao Honglie’s storm-like fury, Han Lu instinctively gulped. He also realized that he might have taken things too far. "Boss, I really know I was wrong!" After venting, Zhao Honglie gradually calmed down. "If it weren’t for the fact that you once took a blade for me, I would’ve chopped you up long ago. Every day, instead of training properly, you’re off causing all kinds of nonsense. Do you have any idea how many people are eyeing your position?" Zhao Honglie’s disapproval was laced with frustration. Han Lu, however, breathed a sigh of relief internally. This meant he had passed the crisis. Rubbing his head, he grinned in an attempt to please Zhao Honglie: "Black Sand Gang is still under your command, Boss. No matter who’s watching my position, it’s useless to them." "But, Boss, don’t you think you’re being a bit overly cautious about Liu Yuanhu? With the strength of our Black Sand Gang now, does he dare to turn against us?" "Stay kneeling! Who gave you permission to get up?" Zhao Honglie barked angrily, and Han Lu hastily knelt back down. "You know nothing. Liu Yuanhu hasn’t been wasting time this past year. My informants say he’s been going back and forth to the city, building connections to become the acting county magistrate. If he really gets support from there, we’re going to have a rough time in the future." "For now, this is still Da Liang’s world! Though the people above us might not have the energy to micromanage, we still need to prepare for every possibility. Growing stronger in secret is the wisest path. Thankfully, you’re not completely stupid—you didn’t expose all our strength." Zhao Honglie pointed upward with a cold snort. Han Lu immediately nodded repeatedly. At this moment, he couldn’t help but feel a bit regretful. He’d lost his head earlier, letting Du Jiangbo stir him up into nearly ruining the gang’s major plans. Thinking about Du Jiangbo’s death from falling off a cliff, he spat angrily in his heart. "That mangy dog got off too easy!" Seeing that Han Lu had truly taken his words to heart, Zhao Honglie’s expression softened slightly. "Kneel here for three days! For the time being, spend the next stretch in the headquarters training seriously. No going outside." Hands clasped behind his back, Zhao Honglie slowly walked away. Han Lu’s face twisted bitterly, though he understood this was to quell voices of dissent within the gang. So, he harbored no resentment in his heart. "Thank you, Boss, for your forgiveness!" ... Time passed slowly. This winter wasn’t as cold as last year’s, giving the lower-class folk slightly better days, though only marginally. The only good news might be that, in the year since the new emperor ascended the throne, there had been no reports of unrest anywhere. This left Gu Sheng slightly surprised and curious about the new emperor. Could he really be a wise ruler at the dusk of an era, able to turn the tide and revitalize the dynasty? Still, it was too early to tell. In the end, whether success was achieved would depend on future developments. For Gu Sheng, however, this was undoubtedly a good thing—it meant he had more time to grow. He even hoped that the new emperor could truly turn things around, restoring the empire, allowing him to devote more energy to pursuing the Martial Arts. As his training progressed step by step, Gu Sheng became increasingly immersed in it. The marvels of the Martial Arts often left him astonished, and the feeling of mastery over power fascinated him. He wanted to see just how far the Martial Arts could take him! Merely the Four Realms of Body Refinement were already so formidable, making practitioners akin to superhumans. What terrifying heights would later stages reach? For some reason, Gu Sheng recalled the storyteller surnamed Zhang and his tales of the Lightning General Qin Leiyu. If those descriptions were true, Qin must have been one of the strongest beyond the Martial Arts. But that was still far from Gu Sheng’s reach. He glanced at his stats panel. [Name]: Gu Sheng [Age]: 15 [Realm]: Refining Skin Realm (Iron Skin) [Martial Arts]: Chopping Wood (First-level Tearing), Archery (First-level Penetration), Iron Stone Fist (Perfect 25%), Shapeshifting (Great Success 46%) ... Both Iron Stone Fist and Shapeshifting were advancing steadily. With no external disturbances, Gu Sheng’s state of mind had never been better. Insights came to him intermittently, and the progress of his two Martial Arts exceeded his earlier expectations. The speed of grinding experience was never constant; it was closely tied to Gu Sheng’s own mental state. "In addition, the progress in refining my skin has been very gratifying!" A faint smile tugged at Gu Sheng’s lips. Stretching out his right arm, he lightly stimulated his Power, revealing a dark, iron-like sheen that enveloped his skin. It looked as if it were forged from fine steel. Yet, an obvious difference was apparent. The once vibrant, dark iron sheen was gradually fading, slowly retreating. "The Jade Skin Realm is a process of returning to simplicity. Breaking through will not only further enhance the toughness of my skin but also grant the ability to control all the pores of my body, mimicking Stone Skin or Iron Skin at will!" "It’s such a sneaky realm. Identifying whether someone has reached the Jade Skin Realm can only be confirmed through combat. A supposed Iron Skin warrior might well be a disguised Jade Skin expert!" "Good thing I didn’t encounter any of those shady characters earlier." Gu Sheng felt a twinge of relief. Though, realistically, the tactic wasn’t particularly effective. With a Martial Artist’s sharp senses, a sudden display of strength or speed beyond one’s apparent realm could easily give away the truth—unless it was used in a setup to entrap someone. "Hmm... When spring arrives, and I break through to the Jade Skin Realm, I’ll publicly claim I’ve become a Stone Skin Martial Artist." According to his current pace, Gu Sheng was indeed progressing as expected toward becoming a martial practitioner. His reputation as a diligent and relentless cultivator was well established. Everyone in the area knew that he spent all year either training or training again. If someone so committed didn’t see improvement, it would arouse suspicion instead. He silently formulated his plan. Revealing a portion of his strength would have its advantages. When he entered the mountains to hunt black bears or tigers, it wouldn’t raise too many eyebrows, especially since his extraordinary archery skills were already recognized. Gu Sheng exhaled lightly, gazing out at the falling snow. The year was drawing to a close, and by this time next year, he would be turning sixteen. The recent upheaval at the Li family fortress had completely settled. The grudges involving Du Jiangbo, Li Yu, and Han Lu had gradually faded from conversation. After all, everyone swept only their own doorstep; in such times, maintaining one’s own survival was the priority. It was said that Han Lu was still under house arrest within the Black Sand Gang’s headquarters. As for the Li family fortress, a new martial practitioner from the Black Sand Gang seemed to have taken over management, leaving its residents far worse off than those at Gu’s Manor. Rumor had it that fortress peasants were fleeing whenever they could. Lost in these thoughts, Gu Sheng unconsciously drifted further into contemplation. ... The year’s end. Gu Sheng celebrated briefly with Gu Erniu and others. As Gu Sheng’s displayed strength grew increasingly impressive, some nearby hunters who had closer relationships with him indirectly benefited, yielding better harvests than in previous years. Gu Erniu’s family, in particular, had seen a noticeable improvement in their living conditions. Within the context of Gu’s Manor, this group was middle-tier—not poor like tenant farmers but far from enjoying the privileges of the main family. Still, for Gu Erniu and his peers, they were more than content. Sitting at the head, Gu Sheng commanded an undeniable presence despite his young age, earning the respect of everyone at the gathering as they toasted him in turn. Everyone knew. Gu Sheng was destined to become a Martial Artist. On top of that, he was willing to bring them along for the ride, leaving the group deeply grateful. Zhang Ze grinned and sighed dramatically, mentioning how he and Gu Erniu had bet that Gu Sheng would become a Martial Artist by year’s end, only to see Gu Sheng fall short. As a result, Gu Erniu won the wager, earning himself half a bottle of aged wine. Laughter broke out among everyone present, though all still hoped Gu Sheng would soon achieve his breakthrough. What no one realized was that Gu Sheng was only a step away from the Jade Skin level. After the New Year celebrations, the group dispersed in high spirits. This was one of the few times a year where everyone came together to celebrate. Even the poorest households would dip into their savings for a decent meal today. In a way, this was a form of hope. A vital anchor to sustain people’s will to live. Watching their retreating figures, Gu Sheng shook his head with a faint, amused smile. As he walked back home, a familiar blue-clad figure appeared in the distance. Gu Xiaojiang. Aside from Gu Erniu, Gu Xiaojiang was one of the few friends Gu Sheng truly trusted. However, Gu Xiaojiang had been in secluded cultivation for some time, and the two hadn’t seen each other in ages. Unexpectedly, he chose this moment to reappear. A smile slowly spread across Gu Sheng’s face.