Xukong's First Test

Near the western exit of town, there existed an open ground. Many tents were currently pitched in that open ground. On some of the tents, banners or plates bearing the symbols of mercenary groups could be seen. While the other tents were just normal tents used by hunters.

The mercenaries could be seen sitting outside the tents, doing chores. Some were sharpening their weapons, some were taking an inventory while others were just talking to each other. Suddenly the mercenaries heard a commotion coming from the site where hunters had their tents set up.

Some of the mercenaries stood up and walked there to check. Upon reaching there, they saw a couple of broken tents as well as hunters that were currently being beaten. They looked at the aggressors and saw that they did not seem to care much as they continued their one-sided fight.

"We already told you to leave once, why don't you listen?" A short hunter said as he punched the face of a man lying on the ground.

"Do you dare to disrespect Gan Ma again? A long-faced man spoke as he stepped on the hand of another hunter lying on the ground.

These hunters were none other than the same hunters who had fought with Lin Mu before. Since they were unable to get a room at the inn, they had no choice but to pitch a tent with the other hunters at the western exit of the town.

Most of the hunters were not natives of Northern town. They usually came from the subordinate villages and lived at inns for the most part as they could not buy houses in the town. There were two reasons for this, the first being that there were few empty houses left in the town and the houses were expensive to buy as well.

Especially for hunters who barely made a few gold coins a year, it was impossible to buy a house. Though it was not like every hunter stayed at the inn during the winter. The hunters that came from the villages would return there during the winter and only return during the spring.

"Damn it, how did that kid become a cultivator?" The short hunter shouted as he punched an unconscious hunter.

He then stood up and then kicked the unconscious man one last time before leaving him. A couple of other hunters came by and picked up the unconscious man before taking him away.

"Don't think too much. Leader Gan Ma will take care of him soon." The long-faced hunter replied.

"I want to kill that kid with my own hands. Even leader took years to become a cultivator, who even taught him?" The short hunter spoke with frustration on his face.

A buff hunter that was standing at the side spoke,

"There aren't many cultivators in the town. It's definitely not someone from the town, thus it could only be someone from the mercenary companies."

"God dammed mercenaries, putting their noses where they don't belong. First, they take our hunting grounds, then our inns, and now they try to change our power structure. Trash like that brat should stay trash forever and know their place." The short man said.

Suddenly sounds of weapons being drawn can be heard.

"Try and say that again." A burly mercenary spoke with a rough voice.

The hunters became alarmed as they saw mercenaries standing behind them. One of the hunters with a long face came forward and passed a small pouch to the mercenary while whispering something to him. After hearing the hunter, the mercenary took the pouch and retreated along with the rest of them.

The hunter who had spoken with the mercenary came back and slapped the head of the short hunter.

"Watch your mouth. Look around before you wag your tongue. You nearly got us in trouble." The long-faced hunter spoke.

The short hunter did not protest and just stayed silent. While the rest of the hunters set up the tent.

Back at the Northwind inn, Lin Mu was looking around the room. The room was at least ten times bigger than the hunting shack. There were four beds, a table, and four chairs in the room. On the right of the room, there were two windows, through which one could see the street below.

Lin Mu had not expected for the room to be this big. The room was clearly made for accommodating four people, but right now he had occupied it all by himself.

'No wonder the hunters wanted this room, it is big enough for four of them.' Lin Mu thought.

Lin Mu was bothered by the attitude of the Inn's staff, but understood that it was something that they had to do. Gan Ma's hunters were forceful bullies, and if they had not given in, they probably would have done something worse to the staff.

"Gan Ma would probably come after me soon. I need to get a measure of his cultivation before that." Lin Mu muttered to himself.

"Hmm, so this is the place you will be staying at." Xukong spoke inside Lin Mu's mind.

"Yes senior." Lin Mu replied.

"Seems like you will have to return to the forest every time you want to train your skills though." Xukong said.

"That I will have to do indeed. I can't reveal them here, of course." Lin Mu spoke.

"And this man Gan Ma, I want you to eliminate him. This will be your first test." Xukong ordered.

Lin Mu was a little taken aback by senior Xukong's words, but then he further explained.

"You need to learn to eliminate a problem from the very roots. If you don't, they will only come to trouble you in the future." Xukong spoke with a stern tone.

Lin Mu nodded and accepted senior Xukong's test. He then left the room and went downstairs towards the desk. He went up to the clerk and asked where the kitchen was.

"Follow me, please." The clerk spoke.

Lin Mu then followed the clerk to the back of the inn from where they exited out into the yard. The kitchen of the inn was located in a small shed in the yard behind the inn. He took him to the shed where a fat and squat man was chopping some meat.

"Fatty Yuan, this sir will be using the kitchen to cook their food. Please ensure that he has whatever he needs." The clerk spoke to the cook.

The cook named Fatty Yuan did not speak and only grunted in response. The clerk was unnerved by this and looked at Lin Mu's face. Seeing that Lin Mu did not mind the cook's dismissive attitude, he took a breath of relief. He then left Lin Mu and went back to his work.

"Use whatever you want here." Fatty Yuan spoke curtly before resuming his work.

Lin Mu could not withdraw the meat from his ring, thus he just used the ingredients that were already there and cooked some breakfast for himself. Although it did not fill him up, it was enough for him to last awhile. He would have to withdraw the meat before coming to the inn next time.

After Lin Mu finished his breakfast, he left the inn and headed towards Jing Wei's emporium. He wanted to sell all the materials he had accumulated during these few days and also try to find a weapon manual.

Lin Mu looked around the town and observed that the people have started to wear thicker and warmer clothes. He himself had no need for such clothes as his body would resist the cold and keep his body at normal temperature.

A few minutes later he had reached the desolate alley. Lin Mu walked up to the shop and withdrew all the materials he had. Unknowingly, he had accumulated a rather large amount of materials. A problem now presented to Lin Mu. He could not justify bringing so many materials at once to the shop, as he would not be able to show how he carried them here.

Even the sled that Lin Mu made would not be enough to carry so many materials. He thus withdrew only half of the materials and placed the rest of them back into the ring. He then placed the sled at the side of the shop and opened the door of the shop.

Surprisingly, the door still felt hard to open, even though Lin Mu was much stronger than before. He did not mind this and picked up some of the items before walking in. He placed the items at the empty counter and went back to get the rest of them. After he had brought all of the items inside, he ringed the small bell kept on the counter.

A few minutes later Duan Ke walked out from the door behind the counter. She looked at the counter that was overflowing with beast materials and became annoyed. There were 21 beast pelts, beast horns, feathers, and many more bones lying on the counter.

Duan Ke then inwardly sighed.