The gatehouse of this large residence was imposing, clearly the domain of a wealthy household. Outside the walls stood a dense row of armored soldiers, leaning on their spears, motionless as cast-iron statues, radiating a chilling aura.

Li Muzhan looked up, reading the three large characters on the inscribed plaque: "Ming Lü Tang" (Hall of Bright Laws).

These three characters were newly inscribed, imbued with a stern, martial air, carrying the scent of clashing bronze and charging cavalry that sent a shiver down the spine and shook the spirit.

Sima Li smiled faintly, allowing Li Muzhan to gaze upward at his leisure.

After a moment, Sima Li spoke, "Little Master, I must ask you to bear with this inconvenience. Stay inside for a while until I report to the Commandant; then we shall determine the proper course of action."

"Yes, I trouble the Sima." Li Muzhan executed a military salute.

Sima Li smiled again, "Little Master, once inside, you will inevitably face indignities. Bear with it, and it will pass. Do not confront them directly; if a fight breaks out, you will not fare well."

"Yes, thank you for the reminder, Sima." Li Muzhan nodded.

He could hear Sima Li sighing. Entering the Ming Lü Tang, to emerge unscathed would be monumentally difficult; one would likely leave with a broken arm or a broken leg.

"Clap, clap!" A guard in a cloak stepped forward and knocked on the door knocker.

A small hole in the door opened, and an eye peered out, after which the door was pulled open, revealing two burly men standing at the threshold, who respectfully greeted, "Sima Li!"

"Mm, this one is a new offender. Take him in," Sima Li waved his hand dismissively.

"Yes," the two strong men replied respectfully, stepping out. They reached out to search Li Muzhan, uncovering a curved dagger. They glanced at it, pocketed it, and said in deep voices, "Go inside. Stay put and don't cause trouble, or your sentence will be doubled!"

Li Muzhan offered no resistance, bowed once more to Sima Li, turned, and stepped into the great courtyard.

The courtyard was utterly silent, not a sound to be heard. The two strong men respectfully saw Sima Li off, then led him into a room.

The room was vast, stretching from east to west, entirely covered by a massive heated brick bed (kang). More than a dozen large men lay upon it, their foot odor thick and nauseating. Li Muzhan frowned briefly, then relaxed his expression, deciding to accept the situation: Since I am here, I shall be at peace.

One of the large men stated, "You can sleep here! ... What did you do to land here?"

"Killing someone," Li Muzhan replied.

"...Uh, very well. Lie down!" The man's expression flickered slightly. He pointed toward the edge of the kang and barked, "Move over! The man is small but taking up too much space. Are you looking to die?"

The dozen or so men on the kang shifted inward, making room. Li Muzhan sat down.

"Alright, hurry up and sleep!" the two strong men shouted, then turned and left.

The weather had turned cool, yet there were no bedding quilts here, only the large kang, a rush mat, and a dozen large men lying on it—some even bare-chested. Li Muzhan glanced over; every man was powerfully built and brimming with vital energy.

As soon as he lay down, a large man beside him murmured softly, "Which faction are you with? Who is your captain?"

"Zhao Shengli," Li Muzhan smiled.

"Ah, Zhao Titou (Iron Head Zhao)." The man grunted an acknowledgment, shaking his head. "That fellow is crude and overbearing; you'd have bad luck under him."

The man had a square face and an outwardly kind expression. Li Muzhan smiled.

"What did you say you were in for earlier?" the man asked again; he hadn't heard clearly.

Li Muzhan replied, "Killing someone."

"Good heavens, murder!" The man stuck out his tongue and sized up Li Muzhan. "Aren't you a monk? Why are you serving as a soldier?"

Li Muzhan smiled. "Serving as a soldier is also a form of cultivation."

"And that involves killing people?" the man pressed.

Li Muzhan nodded, picked up some nearby clothing, and casually wiped down the rush mat before lying down.

"Little Monk, how many did you kill?" another large man inquired.

"Six," Li Muzhan said.

"Mercy! Six!" The man beside him gasped. "What happened?"

Li Muzhan lay back, resting his arm behind his head. "Nothing much."

Seeing his silence, one of the men sneered, "Little Monk, aren't you just bragging?"

People chimed in, "Six? You killed six and you're standing here unharmed, not a scratch on you?"

Li Muzhan smiled, turned his head away, presenting his back to them, and focused on his own thoughts.

Since he ignored them, the others couldn't gauge his sincerity, and after a few grumbles, they gradually lay down to sleep, and silence returned to the room.

Lying on the kang, Li Muzhan pondered the gains and losses of his actions. Killing those men this time was not wrong; he had already decided it was better to resolve the issue sooner rather than risk being ambushed on the battlefield later.

He had already researched military law beforehand: this situation qualified as self-defense. If he had merely injured them, there would have been no issue, but killing them was an offense. However, the crime was not capital; he would only receive some form of punishment.

The crucial factor was those four individuals; their testimony was paramount. If they firmly maintained that Yue Feihu and the others struck first, he would mitigate most of his penalty.

Regardless of the era, laws share fundamental similarities.

By paying a small price, he eliminated future trouble and established his authority—killing two birds with one stone. It couldn't be better.

Unconsciously, he drifted off to sleep. When he awoke the next morning, everyone else was still deeply asleep, snoring thunderously, clearly enjoying a profound rest.

He got up and stepped off the kang, exiting the room. It was a large courtyard, featuring a rockery in the center, with flowerbeds to the east and west, though the flowers had already withered.

At that moment, more than a dozen large men were practicing martial arts. Some stood motionless, while others swung their fists, whipping the air with power that was clearly formidable.

Li Muzhan watched them for a few moments, unable to identify their specific techniques.

He found a quiet corner and began practicing the Flying Bear Palm style. He quickly entered the flow; as he moved, streams of warm energy coursed through his body, bringing an ineffable comfort that nourished his flesh and blood.

His Indestructible Vajra Divine Art had reached the fifth layer, its power comparable to before; ordinary blades and spears could no longer harm him. However, the soldiers around him were all practitioners with strong bodies and immense physical power. The weapons they wielded would possess even greater force, and he dared not test himself against them.

With the gentle flow of warmth circulating, he continued his practice until breakfast.

At mealtime, two strong men brought in two large buckets of food. Each man received a large bowl of rice and two dishes; the rations were no different from outside.

Li Muzhan entered the room, finished his meal quickly, and then found another spot to continue practicing the Flying Bear Palm.

He genuinely enjoyed the sensation during practice, feeling as if he were bathing in a hot spring—it was intoxicating.

However, cultivating this technique was extremely draining, consuming vast amounts of physical energy. It was no wonder that one needed to cultivate a basic level of martial arts first to strengthen the body enough to handle the strain.

If it were Li Baolu or men with bodies like theirs, practicing the Flying Bear Palm once would leave them utterly exhausted.

Li Muzhan's body was exceptionally strong, tempered by the Indestructible Vajra Divine Art. His internal organs were resilient, his meridians long-running, far surpassing everyone else's. Even after practicing all morning, he felt only slight fatigue.

He noticed that the more fatigued his body became, the better the cultivation effect, but this relied on one premise: the movements had to be precisely correct, without any deviation.

Even a slight imperfection rendered the practice useless—a hair's breadth difference led to a vast divergence. This was precisely why the Grand Instructor had been so strict about form when teaching this skill.

Consequently, many people tried desperately to cultivate rapidly, aiming for daily progress, but often found themselves incapable; as fatigue set in, even strong willpower couldn't maintain the required precision of movement.

In such cases, forcing practice yielded twice the effort for half the result, making rest preferable. Thus, surpassing others and achieving prominence was not easy.

Li Muzhan, possessing the great advantage of the Indestructible Vajra Divine Art, could practice for three or four hours consecutively, perhaps longer, whereas ordinary people managed only about an hour a day. His rate of progress was naturally different.

The sun quickly traversed the sky, and noon arrived. Li Muzhan paused the Flying Bear Palm and began a slow walk around the courtyard, familiarizing himself with the layout and closely observing the others.

There were about fifty men in this compound, all robust, carrying a palpable air of ruthlessness, clearly not new recruits.

Li Muzhan mused that the troop recruitment drive would end in just over a month, and apart from himself, the Cavalry Camp had no other new additions. Was this because the Cavalry Camp had high standards, or was simply a shortage of enlistees?

He presumed the former, as joining the military was the quickest path to prominence and wealth. Soldiers held a high status, and the rewards for victory were generous, creating immense temptation for young men.

As he walked, he observed his surroundings. Most people kept to their own small areas, maintaining peace without conflict; the atmosphere appeared relatively tranquil.

Yet, he sensed an underlying current of oppression pervading the area.

He approached the rockery and followed a small path, intending to circle behind it for a better look, only to find three figures blocking his way, cutting off his path.

The leader, about thirty years old, was short and stocky, a five-foot frame, with a square, broad face, sword-like eyebrows, large eyes, and a rather high nose. By rights, he should have looked respectable, but he exuded a distinctly sinister aura, his eyes cruel and savage.

Flanking him were two men. To the left stood a thin man with a sharp, melon-seed face and narrow eyes, fixed intently on Li Muzhan.

The other large man was tall and powerfully built, with a long face that suggested simple honesty; he was currently smiling broadly at Li Muzhan with an air of false friendliness.

Li Muzhan stopped, studying the trio without speaking.

The three men studied him in turn, also remaining silent. People nearby stole glances, quickly looking away, pretending not to have seen anything, feigning ignorance.

The three stared fixedly at Li Muzhan, who calmly regarded the leading man.

As time stretched, the air seemed to gradually solidify.

Li Muzhan remained composed and at ease, perfectly still, even allowing a faint smile to touch his lips, seemingly looking down upon their little maneuver, and he shook his head slightly.

The leading man squinted at him, the corner of his mouth curling up: "You're the new little monk, are you?"

Li Muzhan nodded. "Indeed. I have not yet had the honor of knowing your esteemed names."

"This old fellow is Xiong Sihai!" The large man waved his hand impatiently. "Whether you know my name or not makes no difference. Let me put it this way: do you know the rules for newcomers?"

Li Muzhan paused, then laughed. "What rules are those?"

Xiong Sihai coughed, his voice full of arrogance. "First, you call someone 'Big Brother,' and then you serve tea and water!"

Li Muzhan burst out laughing, shaking his head repeatedly.

"What? You don't intend to follow the rules?" Xiong Sihai's sword-like eyebrows knitted together, his expression suddenly turning ferocious and savage as he stared coldly at him. "Do you know what happens to those who defy the rules?"

Li Muzhan smiled. "Other than that, are there any other rules?"

Xiong Sihai chuckled darkly. "Once a Big Brother, always a Big Brother. From now on, you must be available whenever called, ready for my command!"

Li Muzhan glanced around the courtyard and smiled. "So, everyone else follows the rules?"

"Precisely!" Xiong Sihai nodded proudly.

Li Muzhan shook his head. "I don't believe that."

The thin man's narrow eyes widened, radiating menacing glares. "Hey, little monk, who do you think you are? Whether you believe it or not, the proper thing is to accept the rules obediently!"

"Big Brother, let's teach him a lesson first!" he turned to say.

Xiong Sihai waved his hand. "Courtesy before force! Courtesy before force! How many times have I taught you, you brute!... Move aside!"

The thin man reluctantly stepped aside, positioning himself behind Xiong Sihai.

"Little monk, you don't want to follow the rules, is that it?" Xiong Sihai observed him lazily, rubbing his nose, a smile lingering on his face.

Li Muzhan thought for a moment. "Allow me some time to consider."

"Good! Good!" Xiong Sihai swayed his body, cracked his neck, and flexed his knuckles, huffing, "How long do you need to think?"

Li Muzhan smiled. "Two days, perhaps."

"Kid, are you messing with us!" the thin man shouted, his small eyes shooting daggers.

Li Muzhan smiled. "I think slowly; I genuinely need two days."

The honest-looking man sized him up thoughtfully, then suddenly turned. "Big Brother, I say we agree to his terms. We'll discuss it again after two days, how about that?"

"Mm... Fine," Xiong Sihai stroked his chin, considering it. "Since you are a monk, a man of the Buddha, I will grant you an extension of two days!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "Thank you."

"Hmph, think it over carefully!... Let's go!" Xiong Sihai turned and strode away with a swagger, walking like a stiff-legged turtle. The thin man glared at Li Muzhan before turning to follow.

Li Muzhan watched them leave, his expression thoughtful. All three were clearly masters, likely having cultivated second-tier martial arts. Otherwise, the entire courtyard, filled with tough men, wouldn't tolerate their bullying.

He could see that everyone in the yard feared these three; clearly, what they said was true—everyone had to address Xiong Sihai as Big Brother.

He sighed, shaking his head. Such is human nature; the martial world exists everywhere, even here in the Ming Lü Tang, where people waited to be punished yet still scrambled to establish dominance.

He took a slow circuit around the yard, arriving at a secluded spot—a corner shielded by the rockery where few people would look.

He planned to resume practicing the Flying Bear Palm. Without his spear or long saber, the only thing he could practice was the palm style.

"Hush! Hush!" Suddenly, a large man squeezed into the corner, raising a finger to his lips, repeatedly making the shushing sound.

Li Muzhan watched him and smiled without making a sound.

He recognized the man as the one who slept next to him on the kang last night, snoring so loudly it was enviable.

The large man crouched near the rockery, glancing left and right, then crept closer and whispered, "Little Monk, disaster is imminent for you!"

Li Muzhan raised an eyebrow, showing confusion.

The large man continued, "Brother Xiong is currently giving orders to everyone to deal with you!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "How do they plan to deal with me?"

The man lowered his voice. "There are plenty of ways, all sorts of nasty tricks!... For example, you need to use the latrine, right? They'll just make sure you can't go!"

"How could I be prevented from going?" Li Muzhan asked with a smile.

The large man pouted. "Hmph, someone will be inside! You think you can just walk in?"

Li Muzhan laughed. "Surely there will be a time when it's empty?"

The large man shook his head. "No way!... Everyone will line up, one right after the other, with no gaps, so you won't get a chance!"

Li Muzhan chuckled. "There must be a first-come, first-served rule. What if we wait outside?"

The large man bristled. "Hmph, others won't bother with rules like that for you. If you try to get in, you'll get beaten!"

"...Did you experience this?" Li Muzhan looked at him and asked with a smile.

The large man's face flushed crimson, and he shot Li Muzhan a glare full of indignation.

Li Muzhan quickly said, "I was just guessing, after all, an open attack is easy to dodge, but a hidden arrow is hard to defend against!"

"Hmph, you guessed right!" The large man stared at him for a moment, then suddenly sighed, deflating like a punctured ball, looking listless. "I suffered under this before. While I was relieving myself, someone gave me a shove, and I fell right in!"

Li Muzhan grimaced, his body hair standing on end.

He had been wondering why this man, with whom he had no prior bond, would risk danger to pass on a warning—it was unnatural. It must be due to unquenched resentment.

"Mm, I will be careful," Li Muzhan nodded.

The large man sighed. "In my opinion, you should just submit obediently. It’s impossible to guard against everything. Everyone recognizes him as Big Brother, and they will all help plot against you."

Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head. "I'll give it a try."

"You... Sigh—alright then!" The large man glanced around stealthily, crouched low, and darted away.

Li Muzhan mused for a moment, then shook his head and smiled, returning to practice the Flying Bear Palm.

With this short rest, his energy fully recovered. He plunged back into the warm sensation, finding endless enjoyment in repeating the Flying Bear Palm sequence over and over.

With every repetition, his internal energy deepened slightly. Though the increase was minute, his inner vision was clear, and his perception sharp; he could detect it.

Even if the growth was small, any increase provided him with infinite motivation. He was intensely eager to know what would happen next as his inner strength deepened.

Furthermore, the practice itself was a form of pleasure; he wished he could continue without stopping.

Unknowingly, evening arrived. The main gate creaked open, and the two strong men entered carrying wooden buckets. The aroma of food drifted out as they called out loudly, "Dinner time!"

People rushed inside, grabbing their bowls, and lined up to receive their rations.

Li Muzhan took his bowl, examined it, sensed an off-flavor, and went to the well to draw a bucket of water to wash it. He vaguely noticed people smiling secretly.

Li Muzhan sighed, realizing they were up to mischief. He suddenly spotted a man in the crowd, hunched over, looking dejected—it was the man who had warned him.

That large man glanced at him, then immediately looked away, pretending not to know him. Li Muzhan sighed inwardly, pretended not to notice, and went to queue at the very end.

One of the men turned to look at him, revealing a mocking expression.

Li Muzhan acted as if he hadn't seen it, inwardly amused. This situation was a true 'four sides surrounded by the enemy' scenario; whether he could hold out would be a real test.

Finally, it was his turn: two scoops of vegetables and one scoop of rice. Li Muzhan thanked the two men and tried to find a quiet place to eat.

As he walked, he surveyed the yard. Several large men were playing rough, having already finished their meal.

As they played, they unintentionally moved closer to Li Muzhan. Just as Li Muzhan turned his head, two men suddenly charged in, rushing toward him in a swift movement.

Li Muzhan dodged aside just in time, frowning as he looked back. The two large men had already run away.

He shook his head; they were targeting his bowl, trying to knock his food flying.

This tactic was severe. The martial arts he practiced now demanded significant caloric intake to replenish what was expended. The army’s rations were excellent, and even here in the Ming Lü Tang, the food was no different from outside.

In the past, when his internal energy was profound and he utilized the Heavenly Origin Breathing Technique, going two or three days without food was manageable. But now, that was impossible; the consumption was immense, and he lacked the source energy to sustain it.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he observed several other large men, who were slowly moving away from him.

Li Muzhan found a spot, calmed himself, and began to eat. Suddenly, dust flew toward him—it was a large man sweeping the floor upwind.

Li Muzhan could only offer a wry smile. He moved to another spot, only to find a few others tossing a bloody, mutilated dead rat back and forth, laughing loudly.

Li Muzhan smiled faintly, glanced at them, and continued eating normally, savoring his meal.

He quickly finished his food and drink, then went to rinse his bowl, understanding that washing it was futile; someone would inevitably dirty it again.

No one disturbed him while he was cultivating.

Night deepened, and the courtyard was brightly lit. The two strong guards bellowed at everyone to get back into the room and not stay outside. Only then did Li Muzhan slowly return to his quarters.

Upon entering, he paused. The large man who had been on the kang was gone, replaced by someone else.

That man had a round, dough-like face, was filthy, with disheveled hair, and an unbearable stench of foot odor. Seeing Li Muzhan enter, he lifted his head and gave a lewd, friendly grin.

Li Muzhan nodded, shutting off his sense of smell to ignore the stench, and said calmly, "Where is the other man?"

"Oh, him? He got moved to another room, with Big Brother," the dough-faced man chuckled, a look of disdain on his face.

Li Muzhan gave him a brief glance and said no more, immediately lying down to sleep.

The other man also fell silent soon after, quickly succumbing to deep slumber.

The next morning, at mealtime, Li Muzhan saw the warning man again. He had dark circles under his eyes, looked exhausted, and dragged himself along, following subserviently behind Xiong Sihai.

Li Muzhan frowned, guessing the man hadn't slept all night.

After getting his rations last in line, Li Muzhan took his bowl and slowly walked up to where Xiong Sihai and his two cohorts stood. He smiled faintly while observing them, his gaze sweeping over the utterly weary large man.

Li Muzhan understood that Xiong Sihai was deliberately keeping the fatigued man nearby to provoke him.