A young man emerged from the dilapidated house, straightening his robe before stepping over the threshold.

"Hu Li, feeling like a big shot now, huh?" The leader sneered as he saw Hu Li's demeanor, his brows furrowing in disdain.

His companions chuckled along with him.

Hu Li acted as if he hadn't heard them. He tilted his head, pointing at the leader without any courtesy, and said, "Xu Cheng, do you have something to discuss with me?"

Xu Cheng's face darkened, and his henchmen behind him tightened their grip on their knives, ready to attack Hu Li at any moment. Remembering the advice of his strategist before leaving, Xu Cheng raised his hand to calm down the excited henchmen.

Hu Li thought to himself, "At least he's pretending to be a person."

Hu Li smiled and then added, "Forgive my rudeness. Nowadays, I should address you as Master Xu."

Xu Cheng snorted lightly, somewhat pleased with being addressed as Master.

With a slight smirk, Hu Li continued, "I remember back when Master Xu ruled the mountains for a couple of years, enjoying a life of luxury with carriages and fine wines. I envied you so much. But now, after leaving the mountains and turning over a new leaf, it seems your gate is a bit deserted."

Xu Cheng felt a pang of discomfort, abandoning all the high-minded principles he had been taught by his strategist. He cursed, "You damn troublemaker. Hand over the payment."

Xu Cheng used to rule the Golden Knife Mountain in the Central Plains, where riches were plenty. He would descend from the mountains every now and then to plunder, ensuring a good life for himself for half a year at a time. But due to some inexplicable whim of the new emperor, he ordered the expulsion of the Hu people from Jiahan Pass on the border. Although this matter had nothing to do with Xu Cheng, his blood boiled with excitement during the military campaign, and he happened to pass by Golden Knife Mountain on his way, where he joined the fight. This unexpected move led to Xu Cheng's downfall, and he had to abandon the mountain.

Five years ago, Xu Cheng fled to Yanran from the Central Plains, where he established the Golden Knife Sect with a dozen remaining die-hards.

Despite its name sounding like a martial arts sect, it was just another group of bandits up to no good. The Golden Knife Sect and the No-Phase Zen Sect seemed to be enemies, but Xu Cheng's skills were limited to four things: arson, murder, robbery, and looting. The people of Yanran were having a hard time, so they pooled their resources and hired Hu Li, who was making a living doing small business. Hu Li took the money, grabbed his long knife, and stood at the end of Changhong Street, guarding it all day long.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Hu Li had plenty of tricks up his sleeve.

But none of Xu Cheng's four skills worked, and life for the Golden Knife Sect became even tougher. Though they weren't starving, they had fallen from grace, and the gap was too great for those who hadn't experienced it firsthand to understand.

A few months ago, the head strategist of the Golden Knife Sect advocated for reform. Coincidentally, the Black Horse Escort Agency issued a heroic call for escorts with generous rewards.

However, the Black Horse Escort Agency required clean background for its escorts. Despite several months of effort, the Golden Knife Sect was still a group of bandits, without even the qualification to sign up.

It took the Golden Knife Sect a lot of effort and money to silence the rumors and clean up their reputation, finally getting the chance to participate.

In the end, Xu Cheng ranked eleventh, just missing out. Hu Li happened to rank tenth, pushing the Golden Knife Sect out of the rankings.

Hu Li had just returned from escorting a shipment when Xu Cheng couldn't wait to confront him.

Among these ten people, who else besides Hu Li had so many worries and responsibilities? The Black Horse Escort Agency recognized the merit, not the person. Whoever grabbed the plaque owned it.

Hu Li gripped the handle of his knife and drew it before Xu Cheng. As he approached, Hu Li sidestepped him.

"You want the money?" Hu Li chuckled, continuing to poke at Xu Cheng's sore spots. "Does Master Xu still think robbery is the fastest way to riches, so you're reverting to your old ways?"

"Know your place and hand over the plaque," Xu Cheng growled, his temper flaring.

Hu Li casually retrieved the plaque from his waist, maliciously swinging it in front of Xu Cheng. Watching the plaque sway, along with Hu Li's infuriating face, blood rushed to Xu Cheng's head.

"What if I don't? In the contest,..." Hu Li opened his palm and suddenly clenched the plaque, holding it lightly. "Master Xu, we're like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each showing his or her unique skills. Now that this plaque is in my hands, it's no longer yours."

Xu Cheng was thoroughly enraged. He drew his knife and made a white line on the ground, pointing it directly at Hu Li. Xu Cheng was skilled with the knife; otherwise, he wouldn't have held the mountain.

With his knife drawn, Hu Li discarded the scabbard and held the knife in front of his chest as Xu Cheng approached. Xu Cheng was vulnerable to attacks from behind, but Hu Li blocked a strike aimed at his shoulder, quickly pushing Xu Cheng back. Then, Xu Cheng began attacking Hu Li's lower body, but Hu Li simply retreated, evading Xu Cheng's advances. Xu Cheng unexpectedly swung his knife towards Hu Li's face, but Hu Li remained unfazed, continuing to step back. On the second step, he stabilized himself, grabbed Xu Cheng's wrist with his hand, and pulled it towards him. Xu Cheng attacked Hu Li's abdomen with his left hand, but Hu Li swiftly countered with a palm strike to Xu Cheng's acupoint.

Inside the house, Bai Huai Shui witnessed his nephew's extraordinary verbal skills, which turned the opponent into a mad dog in just a few words. Bai Huai Shui grabbed a kitchen knife, planning to go out and fight the Golden Knife Sect to the death.

At that moment, he suddenly remembered his own lofty ambitions and decided to sacrifice himself for them.

As he raised the kitchen knife, preparing to shout, his voice vanished. The henchmen of the Golden Knife Sect carried the unconscious Xu Cheng out.

Hu Li kicked another intact door and raised an eyebrow, looking at the fallen door. He said disdainfully, "The door's broken."

The group stared at each other in shock. Hu Li stretched out his hand, finally revealing his intention, and said, "Pay up for the repair, or no one is leaving this door today."

Bai Huai Shui's expression changed as he admired his shameless nephew's audacity.

This broken door had already been nearly destroyed by Hu Li. Bai Huai Shui looked at his pitiful sect, sighed heavily, and realized that the child of a poor family was early matured, as the ancients had said.

His nephew was so young, yet he was already resorting to deception and trickery for a living.

One of the henchmen reluctantly threw some silver coins into Hu Li's hand. Hu Li nonchalantly weighed them before stepping aside, finally allowing them to leave.

The money for the repairs was obtained.

Hu Li pocketed the silver coins and started walking back. Turning his head, he saw Bai Huai Shui standing at the door.

Hu Li's gaze shifted downward, seeing his handsome and elegant martial uncle holding a kitchen knife. He furrowed his brows slightly and kindly advised, "Uncle, be careful with that knife. It has no eyes."