Chapter 52: You Are a Good Person!

Du Gu Changsheng sprang to his feet at Xin Lang’s words, thumping his chest and shouting, “No! I haven’t lost yet. Let’s fight again!”

At that moment, the short Linghu Bubai stepped in front of him and said, “Second Brother, you take a break. It’s my turn now!”

“Oh, come on, Third Brother, are you trying to snatch the meat buns from your second brother?” Du Gu Changsheng protested.

“Second Brother, you’ve already lost. It’s my turn according to the rules!” Linghu Bubai refused to relinquish his right to challenge Xin Lang.

“I just slipped! I haven’t lost yet!” Du Gu Changsheng insisted.

“You lost!” Linghu Bubai retorted.

“I didn’t!” Du Gu Changsheng argued.

Both brothers, eager for the meat buns, stubbornly refused to give way, each wanting a chance to challenge Xin Lang.

“Third Brother, are you trying to challenge me as well? Don’t forget, my name means ‘Ever-Victorious’. Other than our eldest brother, I’ve never lost to anyone!” Du Gu Changsheng squared up against Linghu Bubai.

“Very well, let’s have a match first! And don’t forget, my name is ‘Undefeated’! Apart from eldest brother, I’ve never been beaten either!” Linghu Bubai readied his stance.

Meanwhile, the mustachioed Dongfang Wudi cheerfully pulled Xin Lang aside. “Little brother, let those two settle things between themselves. How about I cut in and challenge you first?”

“Uh… alright…” Xin Lang surrendered, utterly bewildered by this trio of oddballs.

“Earth-rank Intermediate Technique—Water-Shearing Cotton Palm!” Wanting to test Xin Lang’s strength and end things quickly, Dongfang Wudi unleashed his strongest move right away.

Xin Lang met him head-on with a punch, determined to gauge Dongfang Wudi’s power.

Bang! Fist and palm collided.

Xin Lang’s fist was charged with explosive force, but upon striking Dongfang Wudi’s palm, the energy seemed to vanish as if absorbed by water, disappearing without a trace.

“Ha! Little brother, your hidden strength is powerful, but my soft force is its natural nemesis! Admit defeat and hand over the buns!” Dongfang Wudi laughed triumphantly.

“Hmph, not so fast! Taste my Chain Explosive Force!”

Suddenly, Xin Lang rushed in close, launching a flurry of attacks—fists, elbows, knees, and feet—overwhelming Dongfang Wudi, who was thrown into confusion. Finally, Xin Lang executed the “Mountain-Crushing Slam,” sending the over two-hundred-pound Dongfang Wudi flying with his back.

Sitting on the ground, Dongfang Wudi pointed at Xin Lang in astonishment. “You’ve mastered hidden force even in your back! Force moves as you will! Force moves as you will! Are you… are you a Level Ten Martial Artist?”

“Level Ten Martial Artist!” Du Gu Changsheng and Linghu Bubai, in the midst of their bickering, stopped and stared at Xin Lang in shock.

“So young and already Level Ten!”

“That means he’ll be advancing to Master soon!”

“At this age, there’s no doubt he’ll become a Martial Sage one day!” All three exceptional members of the Strongest Mercenary Group exclaimed in amazement.

“It’s over… my hopes for the meat buns are dashed!” Du Gu Changsheng wailed.

“Um… captains, don’t be so pessimistic! There’s still a chance you’ll get those buns,” Xin Lang replied with a sly smirk.

“Brother, you’re a Level Ten Martial Artist! The three of us together are no match for you. How are we supposed to win?” Dongfang Wudi complained.

“I can restrict myself to twenty percent of my power and fight you with the strength of a Level Two Martial Artist,” Xin Lang offered.

“Really?” Dongfang Wudi asked in disbelief.

“Really—” Xin Lang began, but Du Gu Changsheng jumped in, “Brother, come on! Let’s continue—I haven’t lost yet!”

Xin Lang chuckled to himself. “Who would have thought buying some buns back then would yield such great benefits now?”

Through these battles with the three brothers of the Strongest Mercenary Group, Xin Lang had gotten a clear sense of their abilities. Dongfang Wudi, the mustachioed captain, was a Level Four Martial Artist, cultivating the Earth-rank Intermediate “Water-Shearing Cotton Palm,” whose soft, flowing force could diffuse most of an opponent’s hidden power. The vice-captain, Du Gu Changsheng, was Level Three, practicing his own creation, “Du Gu’s Nine Staffs,” which Xin Lang judged to be barely Earth-rank, Lower Grade. The third captain, Linghu Bubai, was also Level Three, using the Earth-rank, Lower Grade “Swift Thunder Palm.”

Along the way, lured by the promise of meat buns, the three captains—indeed, the only members—of the Strongest Mercenary Group took turns challenging Xin Lang. Watching his experience points steadily rise, Xin Lang was delighted.

Moreover, through these matches, Xin Lang’s strength continued to grow. Not only did he master their techniques, but he even felt himself on the verge of breaking through to Level Three.

Xin Lang led the three of them through the forest for seven or eight days. At first, their challenge side-quest ratings were six-star or seven-star difficulty! But by the end, even without leveling up, Xin Lang had fully mastered all three Earth-rank techniques. When they challenged him again, it was a rare miracle if the Level-Up System awarded him even a single experience point!

Realizing that the trio could no longer help him accumulate points, Xin Lang decided it was time to part ways.

One day, Xin Lang led them along a creek to the very pool where the Level-Up System had first struck him. He said, “Captains, if you cross this mountain and keep heading south, you’ll eventually leave this forest.”

“Great! We’re finally getting out of this accursed place!” Linghu Bubai exclaimed.

“Once we’re out and in town, there’ll be plenty of buns to eat!” Du Gu Changsheng’s eyes shone and he drooled in anticipation.

Dongfang Wudi stroked his little moustache and, trying to sound profound, asked, “Brother, how long will it take to walk out of this forest from here?”

“Well, I’ve never actually done it, but I’d guess ten days to two weeks or so,” Xin Lang replied.

The truth was, to reach Nine Sun City, they should have headed north, and it wouldn’t even take an hour! Xin Lang sent them south only to make sure they got as far from Nine Sun City as possible.

“Ten-plus days? Why is it still so far?” Linghu Bubai wailed.

The burly Du Gu Changsheng scratched his head. “Wait—why are you sending us south? Didn’t we come straight from the north to get here?”

At that, all three turned to stare at Xin Lang.

“Uh…” Xin Lang thought for a moment and said, “This is the only spot in the forest I’m familiar with. If we don’t return here, I can’t find the way out. By the way, the journey ahead is long—I still have some buns and a piece of dried meat left; you guys should take them.”

“Brother!” Du Gu Changsheng snatched the buns from Xin Lang, his eyes moist. “You’re a good man! On behalf of the Strongest Mercenary Group, thank you! Once we finish our mission, we’ll treat you to a grand feast!”

“Uh… haha… well, let’s wait until next time, if fate allows,” Xin Lang replied with a polite laugh.

“Brother, aren’t you coming with us?” Dongfang Wudi asked.

“Well… I think I’ll stay. I haven’t finished gathering all my herbs yet and need to spend a few more days in the forest,” Xin Lang answered.