The silence after the Stone Serpents left was thick as marsh mud. Elder Wen leaned heavily on his worktable, knuckles white, staring blankly at the spot where the rabbit carcass had been. His quiet sobs were the only sound in the clinic. Su Lin stood frozen in the courtyard, water dripping from his hands. The cold fury inside him had crystallized into something hard and sharp – a blade honed by necessity.
*Target: Stone Serpent Gang (Broken Nose Unit). Threat Level: Low (Early Body Tempering Realm). Environment: Urban. Current Capability: Sufficient. Action: Elimination. Method: Deniable.*
He finished drying his hands, his movements deliberate. "Elder Wen," he said, his voice flat, devoid of the earlier false weakness. "Lock the front door after I leave. Don't open it for anyone but me."
Wen looked up, confusion warring with despair on his face. "Su? What are you—?"
"I'm going back to the marsh," Su Lin interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I need herbs. Strong ones." It wasn't a complete lie. He needed EXP. He needed to complete the spear mastery. And he needed to test the Iron Mountain Stance against something more challenging than a rabbit. He grabbed his improved reed spear – the knife lashed tighter now – and the pouch of Glowmoss powder. "Lock the door."
He slipped out the back before Wen could protest. The Moss Quarter was stirring, the sour smell of cheap breakfast porridge mingling with the ever-present damp and refuse. He moved with purpose now, the cautious shuffle replaced by a low, ground-eating stride that covered distance without drawing attention. The West Gate guards barely glanced at the returning "mudlark."
The Whispering Marsh felt different today. The mist was thinner, the sun higher, casting long shadows through the reeds. The croaks and clicks seemed louder, more insistent. Su Lin wasn't here to stumble upon prey. He was hunting. He needed EXP, and he needed it from a beast that would push his newly mastered defense. He recalled Wen mentioning Razorback Boars sometimes ventured near the rocky outcrops northwest of the city wall – Low-Level beasts, but notoriously tough and aggressive, equivalent to a High-Level Body Tempering martial artist due to their thick hide and tusks. Perfect.
He headed northwest, moving with silent efficiency, scanning not just for threats, but for terrain advantages. He found his spot: a narrow gully formed by two large, moss-draped boulders. The entrance was partially choked with thorny vines, but the space inside was clear, the ground relatively dry and solid. A natural funnel. He scattered Glowmoss powder heavily around the entrance and inside the gully, hoping its strong scent would mask his own and perhaps irritate the boar's sensitive nose. He positioned himself at the far end, back against the cool stone, spear held low and ready. He settled into the Iron Mountain Stance, not just activating it, but letting its principles seep into his posture. His breathing slowed, his weight distributed evenly, rooted. He became part of the rock.
`[Iron Mountain Stance Active (Perfection)]`
`[Effect: Lv4 Damage Reduction, Lv4 Impact Resistance, Lv4 Rooted Stability]`
He waited. Patience was a weapon. The sun climbed. Insects droned. Then, a heavy snuffling sound, growing closer. Branches snapped. A large, dark shape shouldered through the thorny vines at the gully entrance.
`[Target: Razorback Boar]`
`[Threat Level: Low-Level Beast]`
`[Species Power: Equivalent to Mid-Level Body Tempering Realm Martial Artist]`
`[Traits: Steel-Hide (Passive - Enhanced CON), Berserk (Triggered by Pain/Threat)]`
`[Estimated EXP Reward: 80-120]`
The boar was massive, easily three times the size of the rabbit. Coarse, dark bristles covered its muscular frame, culminating in a ridge of stiff hair along its spine – the namesake razorback. Small, intelligent eyes glinted with suspicion above a snout lined with wickedly curved tusks. It snorted, pawing the ground, clearly agitated by the Glowmoss smell. It spotted Su Lin at the back of the gully.
*Perfect.* The confined space limited the boar's ability to charge at full speed or maneuver. Su Lin had the wall at his back. No escape route, but also no flanking. A straight fight. Victory was calculable. *100% assured.*
The boar lowered its head, a deep, rumbling growl vibrating in its chest. Then it charged. Not with blinding speed, but with terrifying, earth-shaking momentum, a battering ram of muscle and bone aimed straight at Su Lin.
Su Lin didn't flinch. He braced, the Iron Mountain Stance flaring. He planted his feet, knees slightly bent, core engaged, spear held diagonally across his body, the knife-point aimed at the boar's lowered head. He wasn't trying to stop the charge; he was redirecting it.
The boar hit the spear shaft just below the knife point. The impact was colossal. A shockwave jarred up Su Lin's arms, threatening to tear the spear from his grasp. His boots skidded backwards an inch on the packed earth, but the Lv4 Rooted Stability held. The spear shaft, reinforced by his Lv3 Arm Stability (from the spear mastery he *would* have), bent alarmingly but didn't break. The Lv4 Impact Resistance absorbed the bone-jarring force, translating it through his stance into the ground, leaving him shaken but unharmed.
The boar's own momentum, combined with Su Lin's braced deflection, slammed its left shoulder hard into the gully wall. Stone chips flew. The boar squealed in pain and surprise, momentarily stunned.
*Exploit the opening.*
Su Lin didn't hesitate. He surged forward, not with a wild thrust, but with a precise, powerful lunge straight at the boar's exposed neck, just behind the ear – a known weak spot. His movement was smooth, economical, born of the spear form knowledge simmering in his mind.
The sharpened knife-point struck true, punching through the thick hide and tough muscle. Dark blood welled.
**"SCREEEEE!"** The boar's shriek was deafening in the confined space. Pain ignited its Berserk trait. Its eyes flooded with red rage. It whipped its head around violently, snapping the already stressed reed spear shaft like kindling. The knife remained embedded in its neck. The boar, ignoring the wound, spun with surprising speed, its tusks aiming to gut Su Lin.
Su Lin reacted instantly. He dropped the broken spear haft and pivoted, using the Lv4 Rooted Stability to anchor his turn. Instead of retreating, he stepped *into* the boar's charge, inside the arc of its swinging tusks. He raised his arms, crossing them in a defensive block, channeling the Iron Mountain Stance fully.
The boar's tusk slammed into his crossed forearms. It felt like being hit by a sledgehammer wrapped in sandpaper. The Lv4 Damage Reduction flared, turning a bone-shattering impact into a deep, bruising blow. Su Lin grunted, the force driving him back a step, but his guard held. The boar's hot, rank breath washed over him.
Before the beast could recover, Su Lin dropped his guard and drove a short, powerful punch straight into the base of the boar's skull, right where his knife was already buried. He put his whole body weight behind it, augmented by the dense power of the Iron Mountain Stance.
**CRUNCH.**
The sound was sickeningly final. The boar's enraged squeal cut off abruptly. Its legs buckled. Its massive body crashed to the ground, twitched violently for a few seconds, then lay still. The red rage faded from its eyes, leaving only emptiness.
Su Lin stood over the carcass, breathing heavily. His forearms throbbed where the tusk had hit, the skin bruised and scraped, but unbroken. His ribs ached from the initial charge impact. He flexed his hands. The Iron Mountain Stance had held. Against a beast equivalent to a High-Level Body Tempering martial artist, fueled by Berserk rage, he had won. With defense, positioning, and one well-placed blow.
`[Target Eliminated: Razorback Boar]`
`[EXP Gained: 100]`
`[New EXP Total: 127]`
A hundred EXP. More than enough. He quickly scanned the area. No other threats drawn by the noise yet. He set to work. He retrieved his knife, wiped it clean on the boar's bristles. He couldn't take the whole carcass – it was too big, too noticeable. But the tusks… they looked sturdy, sharp. Potential crude weapons or trade items. He used the knife to hack them free. He also cut out the boar's heart – Wen might find uses for it. He buried the head and entrails deep, camouflaging the spot. He kept the tusks and heart wrapped in broad leaves inside his pouch. Time to go back. He had what he needed.
The guards at the West Gate whistled as he approached, covered in mud and boar blood. "By the Stones, mudlark! Get in a fight with a mud-golem? You look like death warmed over!"
"Tripped. Fell in a boar wallow," Su Lin mumbled, keeping his head down, clutching his pouch. They laughed, waving him through, too used to the grime of the Moss Quarter to care.
Back at the clinic, Wen had locked the door as instructed. Su Lin knocked in a specific pattern. Wen opened it, his eyes widening at Su Lin's appearance. "Su! You're hurt! What happened?"
"Boar. Got too close," Su Lin said shortly, brushing past him. "Tusks. Heart. Useful?" He dropped the leaf-wrapped bundle on the worktable.
Wen stared, speechless for a moment, then hurried to examine the gifts. "Razorback tusks? And the heart... potent alchemical ingredient! Su, this is... dangerous! You shouldn't..." His voice trailed off as he saw the hard look in Su Lin's eyes. "The Serpents... they'll be back soon."
"I know," Su Lin said. He walked to the water barrel, washed the worst of the grime off his arms and face. The bruises were darkening. "Lock the door again. Don't come out, no matter what you hear." He picked up the longest, straightest piece of wood Wen had for kindling – about four feet long, thick as his wrist. Not a spear, but serviceable. He headed towards the back courtyard.
"Su, what are you doing?" Wen asked, fear replacing confusion.
"Sharpening a walking stick," Su Lin replied, his voice devoid of inflection. "My leg hurts." He pulled the curtain shut behind him, separating the courtyard from the main room.
Alone, Su Lin sat cross-legged. He closed his eyes. The EXP glowed in his mind. 127. The City Guard Basic Spear Form awaited. He focused.
`[Technique: City Guard Basic Spear Form (Low-Grade Weapon Art - Incomplete)]`
`[EXP Cost to Master:]`
` - Entry Level (Effect Lv1): 5 EXP`
` - Proficient Level (Effect Lv2): 15 EXP (Total 20)`
` - Mastery Level (Effect Lv3): 25 EXP (Total 45)`
` - Perfection Level (Effect Lv4): 50 EXP (Total 95)]`
He started small. *Master to Entry Level.*
**[EXP Deducted: 5]**
**[Mastering: City Guard Basic Spear Form to Entry Level]**
**[Progress: 100%]**
**[Mastery Level: Entry]**
**[Effect: Lv1 Thrust Precision, Lv1 Arm Stability]**
**[New EXP Total: 122]**
Knowledge flowed – the basic grip, the fundamental stance for thrusting, aligning his body for power. His muscles understood the posture instinctively. He felt the effect immediately: the crude wooden staff in his hands felt more stable; aiming a thrust felt more natural. His arms felt steadier.
He pushed further. *Master to Proficient Level.*
**[EXP Deducted: 15]**
**[New EXP Total: 107]**
**[Mastering: City Guard Basic Spear Form to Proficient Level]**
**[Progress: 100%]**
**[Mastery Level: Proficient]**
**[Effect: Lv2 Thrust Precision, Lv2 Arm Stability]**
More knowledge flooded in – combinations, integrating blocks with counter-thrusts, basic footwork to maintain distance. The staff became an extension of his will. He could visualize fluid sequences. The effects strengthened: his grip was unshakeable, the point of the staff unwavering even during movement. Thrusts felt faster, more accurate.
*Master to Mastery Level.*
**[EXP Deducted: 25]**
**[New EXP Total: 82]**
**[Mastering: City Guard Basic Spear Form to Mastery Level]**
**[Progress: 100%]**
**[Mastery Level: Mastery]**
**[Effect: Lv3 Thrust Precision, Lv3 Arm Stability]**
The final nuances clicked. Using the staff's length defensively to control space, subtle shifts to create openings, exploiting an opponent's momentum. It was no longer just moves; it was a cohesive fighting style. The effects peaked at Lv3: his arms felt like steel springs, capable of delivering rapid, pinpoint thrusts with minimal effort. He knew he could hit a moving target's vital spot with ease.
He still had EXP. He left Perfection for later. He stood, picking up the wooden staff. He flowed through a series of thrusts, blocks, and steps. The movements were smooth, powerful, controlled. He stopped as heavy footsteps pounded on the clinic's front door, followed by furious banging.
"WEN! OPEN UP! TIME TO PAY! OR WE START BREAKING BONES!"
Broken Nose. Right on schedule. Su Lin leaned the staff against the wall. He walked to the curtain separating the courtyard. He didn't pull it aside. He stood there, a silent shadow. He heard Wen fumbling with the latch, heard the door creak open.
"Where's our coin, old man?" Broken Nose snarled. "And where's that useless cripple? We got plans for his legs!"
"I... I have two leaves..." Wen stammered.
"TWO?!" Broken Nose roared. "That's an insult! Boys, teach the old man some respect! Find the cripple!"
Su Lin heard a thud and Wen's cry of pain. That was the trigger.
He pulled the curtain aside and stepped into the main room, moving not with a limp, but with a deliberate, steady stride. He held no weapon visibly. "Stop."
The three thugs froze. Broken Nose had shoved Wen against the wall. The Burly Thug and Greasy Hair were starting to ransack the herb shelves. They turned, surprised, then sneered seeing Su Lin empty-handed.
"Well, well," Broken Nose leered, stepping away from Wen. "The cripple grows a spine? Too late." He cracked his knuckles. "Hold him, boys. I'll start with his kneecaps."
The Burly Thug and Greasy Hair lunged forward, reaching for Su Lin's arms.
Su Lin didn't retreat. He stepped *forward*, meeting them. As their hands closed, he activated the Iron Mountain Stance. His body became an anchored monolith. Their grips tightened, but he didn't budge an inch. Lv4 Rooted Stability held firm against their pull.
**[Iron Mountain Stance Active (Perfection)]**
`[Lv4 Rooted Stability: Negates Grapple Attempt]`
Surprise flickered in their eyes. Su Lin moved. He twisted his torso sharply, breaking their holds with Lv4 Strength (baseline + Talent Level) and precise leverage. Simultaneously, he drove a short, powerful punch straight into the Burly Thug's solar plexus.
The thug's eyes bulged. All the air left his lungs in a pained whoosh. He doubled over, gasping like a fish out of water.
Greasy Hair recovered, swinging a wild haymaker at Su Lin's head. Su Lin raised his forearm in a block infused with Iron Mountain Stance.
**THUD!**
The punch landed. Pain flared, but Lv4 Damage Reduction turned a knockout blow into a heavy bruise. Su Lin absorbed the impact, his arm barely moving. Before Greasy Hair could react, Su Lin snapped a front kick into the thug's lead knee.
**CRACK!**
Greasy Hair screamed, collapsing as his knee buckled sideways.
It had taken three seconds. Two thugs were down, one wheezing, one shrieking.
Broken Nose stared, shock turning to rage. "MARTIAL ARTIST!" he bellowed, drawing a rusty, notched dagger from his belt. "You hid it! KILL HIM!"
He charged, dagger leading, a clumsy but powerful thrust aimed at Su Lin's gut. Fear and rage made him predictable.
Su Lin sidestepped smoothly, the movement economical. The dagger whistled past his ribs. As Broken Nose stumbled forward, overextended, Su Lin pivoted and drove his elbow hard into the back of the thug's neck, using the man's own momentum.
Broken Nose crashed face-first into the heavy wooden shelf unit laden with clay jars. The impact was jarring. The rotten corner post Wen had never fixed splintered with a loud crack. The entire shelf unit groaned, then collapsed forward in a cacophony of shattering clay and raining herbs. Broken Nose disappeared under the wreckage with a final, choked gasp.
Silence descended, broken only by the Burly Thug's wheezes and Greasy Hair's pained sobs. Wen stood pressed against the wall, eyes wide with shock, mouth agape. Su Lin stood amidst the chaos, breathing steadily. The bruises throbbed, the cut on his arm stung, but he was whole. He looked down at Broken Nose's legs protruding from under the collapsed shelf. Motionless.
He walked over to the wheezing Burly Thug. The man looked up, terror in his eyes. Su Lin stomped down hard on the thug's outstretched hand, crushing fingers against the packed earth floor.
**CRUNCH.**
The Burly Thug shrieked, the sound joining Greasy Hair's cries.
Su Lin knelt beside Greasy Hair, who was clutching his shattered knee. He met the thug's terrified gaze. "The Stone Serpents," Su Lin said, his voice cold and flat as the marsh stone. "Who leads them in the Moss Quarter now?"
"N-Nobody!" Greasy Hair whimpered. "B-Broken Nose... he was the boss here! Just us! Just this crew! Please!"
Su Lin stared at him for a long moment, assessing the truth. Then he nodded. He stood up. He walked over to Wen, who flinched slightly. Su Lin ignored the reaction. He picked up the two copper leaves Wen had offered earlier, lying forgotten on the floor.
"Call the guards," Su Lin instructed, his voice still devoid of emotion. He placed the two copper leaves on the worktable. "Tell them the Stone Serpents broke in demanding money. They attacked you. There was a struggle." He gestured at the carnage – the collapsed shelf, the groaning thugs, the motionless legs. "Accidents happened. They fell. Things broke. You defended yourself."
Wen stared at the coins, then at the scene, then back at Su Lin. The fear in his eyes was slowly replaced by dawning comprehension, then a grim resolve. He nodded slowly. "Accidents," he repeated, his voice rough. "They... they were always clumsy bullies."
Su Lin picked up his wooden staff. He walked towards the back courtyard. "Clean yourself up, Elder Wen," he said without looking back. "You have a story to tell the guards."
He stepped back into the courtyard, closing the curtain. He leaned the staff against the wall. He looked at his hands – bruised, scraped, but steady. The Iron Mountain Stance hummed within him. The spear knowledge coiled in his muscles. He had eliminated the immediate threat. Deniably. The Cautious Sovereign had defended his territory. But the marsh still whispered beyond the walls, and the city held other dangers. His journey had truly begun.
( End of Chapter )