In the eyes of outsiders, Li Yuan suddenly turned fierce, like a weak and bullied rabbit suddenly transforming into a humanoid bear.
But in reality, he was only showing strength around "3~4", which was about the same as "Brother Xiong with the bow".
However... for the residents of the workshop, a strength of "3~4" was already strong enough, enough for Li Yuan to keep his own prey.
But just having prey wasn't enough; he wanted to make money.
His way of making money was by selling meat, selling skins...
If he sold these things to the unscrupulous grain merchants, who knows how much he'd be cheated.
So, earlier he saw that rogue named Xiaohu, and casually asked about the "black market", but Xiaohu couldn't make connections with the black market.
However... he did gain two pieces of information: the black market has stalls, and there's a spot for every radish; martial artists who have reached a certain level can set up stalls in the black market.
Don't hit the smiling person, smack and give a carrot.
He taught the guy a lesson and gave Xiaohu three pounds of meat, which surely built his image.
Moreover, Xiaohu might help him keep an eye on black market news in the future.
As he was thinking, Lady Yan came running over with a bat in hand, looking ready to risk her life for a rescue.
But when she saw her man was perfectly fine, she breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Brother Yuan, it's okay if the meat's gone, as long as you're alright."
"The meat gone does matter." Li Yuan said gravely.
Lady Yan couldn't help rolling her eyes, teasingly saying: "You still want to fight back? I heard you got stopped... Hey, there's really no way. Let's talk back at home."
"Alright, let's go home." Li Yuan said with ease, then added with a smile, "Not a single tael of meat is missing, and when we get home, I'll make sure you eat to your fill."
Speaking, he shook the burlap sack behind him and asked, "Sister Yan, does this burlap sack look like it's missing meat?"
Lady Yan was stunned.
Li Yuan didn't explain either, saying: "Let's talk back at home."
Lady Yan was quite puzzled but still followed, holding her bat, looking like a "single rider protecting her master".
...
They arrived home.
Li Yuan directly took out the deer from the sack, then took a small wooden stool to sit in the yard, extending his hand: "Sister Yan, bring me a knife, I'm going to gut it and skin it."
Lady Yan saw such a big deer, feeling both puzzled and delighted, but hearing this, she hurriedly said: "Aren't we going to kill it inside the house?"
Li Yuan said: "The smell's strong, how will we sleep at night then?"
Lady Yan saw him like this, feeling immensely curious, stomped her foot, came up and asked: "Brother Yuan, what's going on? Why didn't those people steal the meat?"
Li Yuan said: "It's because your man became stronger, and they're afraid."
"Brother Yuan, are you for real?" Lady Yan didn't believe it.
Li Yuan said: "You'll believe it tomorrow."
...
At night.
Whatever happened outside, Li Yuan didn't care.
Today, he and Yan Yu feasted heartily on the meat.
Though it was missing some spices and wine, it cooked out the fat and sprinkled with salt, which was already delicious.
The meat was a bit gamy, but for people who don't usually eat meat, it was completely tolerable and even negligible.
...
After a night of intimacy, Lady Yan was exhausted, lying limp like mud, leaning against Li Yuan.
With her long hands touching Li Yuan, squeezing on one side, pressing on the other, she murmured weakly in a gentle voice: "You've grown stronger... now I'm starting to believe you've really changed."
Suddenly, she thought of something, saying: "You... really mastered that cultivation skill?"
Li Yuan said: "I've told you before, you didn't believe me.
But this matter must still be kept secret, don't let outsiders know."
Lady Yan's body stiffened for a moment, still hardly believing it, but responded: "Your wife isn't foolish."
Li Yuan said: "From now on, you can eat as much meat as you want… whatever other wives have, I want you to have too."
Lady Yan's body trembled slightly, a sweet feeling bubbling in her heart, wasn't this what she had said to Li Yuan that day?
Now, Li Yuan actually said it back to her.
"Brother Yuan..."
Lady Yan gently and tenderly entwined, "I care about you."
...
...
The night passed.
Li Yuan was surprised to find that the points gained during this night had increased from "6" to "7".
Is this what "happiness can enhance gains" means?
"Sister Yan..."
He gazed at the lovely lady in his arms and lightly kissed her.
Yan Yu seemed to feel his kiss, behaving like a child, turned over and clung to him, mumbling: "Let's sleep a bit more..."
"Alright, then let's sleep a bit more..."
...
Morning.
Lady Yan and Li Yuan got up and sat facing each other, enjoying porridge with venison, when suddenly they heard footsteps from afar.
She leaned out the window to take a look and saw a group of people running toward the house.
On the left was a group led by Qian Er.
On the right was Brother Xiong's group.
There was also a small scoundrel trailing behind them.
It was quite a spectacle, making Lady Yan's face lose color, and she was about to get up to lock the door.
But just as she moved, Li Yuan's large hand pressed down on her shoulder, "Sister Yan, don't worry, stay inside, I'll take care of it."
With that, he stepped to the wall, picked up the great bow, grabbed the quiver, and emptied all the stones inside onto the bed before heading out.
Li Yuan walked towards the fence gate, while both groups and the small scoundrels approached the gate.
When Li Yuan stepped out the fence gate, the other side stopped too.
Li Yuan surveyed the small scoundrels, focusing on Xiaohu, and said, "I asked you to bring meat, why bring so many people? What's going on?"
Xiaohu said with a teary face, "Brother Yuan, they asked about you, I..."
Before he could finish, Qian Er laughed and said, "Li Yuan! I, Qian the Second, misjudged you; turns out you're a brave man!
Today, I won't beat around the bush.
My eldest brother is a steward at the Fulin Commerce Association; my fourth and fifth brothers went with him, but my third brother wanted to hunt instead, and I prefer being idle.
If you join me today, I'll definitely recommend you to my eldest brother in the future.
Think it over; joining the Commerce Association is far better than staying at this Little Ink Workshop."
With Qian Er's words, Li Yuan understood the situation.
The Little Ink Workshop had been a battleground for Brother Xiong and Qian Er vying for dominance.
Now, with a strong figure like himself emerging unexpectedly, naturally, they both wanted him.
Brother Xiong sneered, "Brother, don't listen to his nonsense!
Have you forgotten what Qian San is up to?
Have you forgotten how Monk Pan died?
Before, being your brother, I might have neglected you, but not anymore.
You're a capable man, perfect to join me.
In the future, with wine, meat, and women, you'll lack nothing with me!
Doesn't that sound great?"
Li Yuan clasped his fists as a gesture of respect to Brother Xiong and said, "Brother Xiong, I already mentioned it to you that day.
I appreciate you coming to find me, it makes me happy.
But I'm not ambitious; I just want to hunt, live a simple life, not compete or fight. A warm home with my wife and children is my lifelong goal."
Brother Xiong's face darkened.
Qian Er laughed, "Then Li Yuan, you should come with me; joining the Fulin Trading Team will surely make your life much better."
Li Yuan shook his head.
Qian Er's smile froze, then said, "Li Yuan, you're a brave man. But in this Little Ink Workshop, you should choose a side, right? If you don't choose me, then you're choosing him!"
Qian Er's voice turned grave.
Li Yuan briefly closed his eyes, gazed into the distance, then suddenly walked forward.
Both groups watched with curiosity.
Li Yuan walked to an intersection and pointed forward with his finger.
He pointed towards a pair of old poplar trees.
After the pointing, he picked up two pigeon egg-sized stones from the ground, placed them on the branches of the poplar trees, then stepped back.
"Here's the deal: I'll shoot two arrows.
If I don't hit the stone on the left poplar tree, I'll join Brother Xiong.
If I don't hit the stone on the right, I'll join Qian Er.
Let fate decide whom I should follow, how about that?"
Brother Xiong and Qian Er considered the distance, which was over a hundred paces away.
The size of the stones made the shot very challenging.
Qian Er said, "What if you miss both?"
Li Yuan said, "Then I'll shoot again until a decision is made."
He paused and continued, "But if I hit both, it means fate wants me to aid neither, how about that?"
Brother Xiong was silent for a moment, then said, "Alright, if you hit both at this distance, I won't have anything to say."
Qian Er agreed, "Okay! Let fate decide!"
...
Inside the house, Lady Yan leaned against the window, she saw the two groups vying for Li Yuan, confirming the truth behind her husband's words whispered beside her.
But at this moment, she was extremely nervous, her almond eyes wide, fists clenched tightly, her heart anxious like a basket fetching water.
Can he do it...
Brother Yuan, can you do it?