Madman!

Chapter 77: Taking Over Businesses, Expanding Manpower

Three days later, Lidong's people had completely withdrawn from that half of the street.

Over the past few days, Ah Fei had recruited a number of foot soldiers. Although they hadn't practiced New Arts, they were sturdy, daring, and willing to fight.

Regardless of the gang, such entry-level muscle was always a necessity.

After all, one couldn't have New Arts martial artists watching venues and collecting protection fees.

At the same time, Curry brought someone to introduce to Chen Wujun. The newcomer was in his early twenties, sporting a sharp, short haircut. He looked clean-cut and had bright, intense eyes.

His clothes were cheap, but his muscles were solid. He didn't look like a practitioner of New Arts; his build was muscular but streamlined rather than bulky.

His muscles appeared functional and efficient.

As soon as the man entered, Chen Wujun looked him up and down, his eyes lighting up with interest.

'He walks with heavy steps and bent knees, his back slightly arched. His arms are long and hang naturally, almost like an ape in motion...'

'He's an Old Arts practitioner. His footwork looks excellent... Interesting!'"Brother Jun, what do you think of him?" Curry patted the young man on the shoulder, presenting him like a prized treasure.

"This guy is skilled. He got into a conflict with some people and knocked several of them flat. He possesses considerable strength."

Half a month ago, this guy had clashed with a few pickpockets on Longjin Street. Even when the pickpockets pulled knives, he left them all sprawled on the ground.

Curry heard Chen Wujun was hiring, so he specifically asked around and found this kid.

A glint flashed in Chen Wujun's eyes as he suddenly projected a burst of hostility. The young man felt his scalp tingle; his body jerked backward like a startled ape, his spine arching instantly.

Realizing immediately that the other party was testing him, he straightened up and returned Chen Wujun's gaze, sizing him up in return.

The man in the chair looked even younger than himself, yet he possessed a "Turtle Back and Crane Form" posture. His gaze was as sharp as a falcon's, and his aura was ruthless. Just sitting there, the phrase "Eagle Eyes and Wolf Glance" sprang into the youth's mind.

"Not bad. What style do you practice, and for how long?" Chen Wujun smiled, the sharpness in his eyes dissipating.

That backward shrink and jump revealed good Kung Fu. He was an Old Arts martial artist who had reached the Body Forging realm.

"Family-style Through-Back Fist, practiced since childhood!" the youth replied cautiously.

"Oh? Since childhood? That's quite some time... New to the Walled City?"

"Yes."

"What crime did you commit?" Chen Wujun asked with a playful expression.

"Speak boldly. The Walled City holds all kinds. We aren't short on stowaways or fugitives."

"I didn't commit a crime. Just smuggled in. I have no ID and I want to make money," the youth said after a moment's hesitation.

"No crime... but you've killed, haven't you?" Chen Wujun smiled. When the youth had recoiled earlier, his killing intent had leaked out.

Chen Wujun felt this young man resembled his former self.

"You'll start from the bottom here. 3,000 a month. Will you do it?" Chen Wujun didn't press further.

Killing someone wasn't a big deal here.

Shark Jiu hadn't pressed him for details back then, either.

"Okay." The youth agreed immediately.

"But I need half a month's pay in advance."

"Give him 1,500!" Chen Wujun chuckled. "Curry, you take him under your wing for now."

"Yes, Brother Jun." Curry beamed. He knew this guy was capable.

He had taken several men to find him earlier and tested the guy's skill himself, but couldn't take him down.

"What's your name?" Chen Wujun asked suddenly.

"Li Wei."

Chen Wujun nodded and let Curry take him away.

He would test his skills again later. But even if he was good, he had to start from the bottom.

Even with his relationship to his Senior Sister, hadn't he also started as a low-level lackey?

It wasn't until the conflict with Lidong, where he counter-killed over a dozen enemies, that his Senior Sister paved the way for him to lead support and rightfully ascend.

Aside from Li Wei, he had also recruited a New Arts martial artist named Fa Zai in the Initial Construction Phase, with an Enhancement Reconstruction Magnetic Field just over 25%.

Elephant's people had tried to recruit him, but Fa Zai had been cuckolded by one of Elephant's lackeys, so Ah Fei managed to poach him.

Like Li Wei, Fa Zai had to start from the bottom, though his starting salary was 8,000.

Initial Construction Phase New Arts martial artists always started at 8,000 before rising in rank.

Chen Wujun was currently riding a wave of popularity in the Walled City. He had recruited over a dozen people in three days. Including Ah Fei's men, he now had about 30 subordinates, three of whom were Initial Construction Phase New Arts users.

"Brother Jun, this is the situation on that half of the street." Ah Fei walked over holding a booklet.

"Half a street. Total of 23 shops, 15 stalls, 16 Apartment Phoenixes..."

"How much can we collect per month?" Chen Wujun took the booklet and flipped through it casually.

"78,000!" Ah Fei replied.

Most of the shops were tailors, unlicensed clinics, appliance repair shops, dog meat shops, convenience stores, and the like. They paid 1,000 to 2,000 a month.

The general goods stalls and noodle stands paid 500 a month.

Apartment Phoenixes paid 200 a week, totaling 800 a month.

Only one private dance hall and three small-to-medium private gambling dens brought in more revenue.

Chen Wujun did the math. 78,000 a month. His share would be half, 39,000. That wasn't even enough to feed his men.

The real money had to come from the dance hall and gambling dens he took from Lidong.

"How are the gambling dens and the dance hall doing?" Chen Wujun asked.

"The gambling dens can net about 150,000 in rake per month. The dance hall used to make 60,000 to 70,000, but Lidong took all the people with him. The most important thing for a dance hall is the girls."

Chen Wujun calculated. If business recovered to previous levels, he could pocket 110,000 to 120,000 a month.

Now, with three gambling dens, one dance hall, and the money from the half-street, he could bring in roughly 280,000 to 290,000 a month.

But maintaining his lackeys would cost 120,000 to 130,000.

At the end of the month, he'd be left with 150,000 to 160,000. Just enough for his martial arts training.

Between the four stances and his eyes, he now needed over twenty Magnetic Field Crystals a month, costing more than 100,000.

Furthermore, the three gambling dens were his main source of income. Recently, business had dipped because Lidong was also offering rebates. He needed to think of a solution quickly.

"I understand. Recruit people for the dance hall first. I'll figure out a way to handle the gambling dens."

"By the way, I want to find a teacher. Help me think of where to look," Chen Wujun said, recalling his conversation with Shark Jiu.

"A teacher? What kind of teacher? For martial arts or..." Ah Fei looked blank. Brother Jun and Sister Shark Jiu were from the same sect; why would he need a teacher?

"A home tutor! To teach language, math, and stuff! How many times have I told you? The most important thing out here is using your brain! How can you grow a brain without studying?" Chen Wujun slapped the back of Ah Fei's head.

"Ask around. Remember, I want a woman. She doesn't need to be good-looking, but she must know how to teach. Do you understand?"

"Understood! I'll have people ask around!" Ah Fei replied immediately.

Chen Wujun had considered asking his cousin for help—she was a high-achieving student, a master's in psychology, and knew many other intellectuals.

But he couldn't let his cousin know about his affairs, so he could only send Ah Fei.

...

A day later, Chen Wujun arrived at the warehouse. He walked a circuit on the wooden stakes before jumping down.

Before the gambling duel, he had nurtured his essence, energy, and spirit to their peak. Winning the fight had further elevated his vision and state of mind, resulting in significant progress in his strength.

Walking the stakes now had little effect.

Chen Wujun stood there pondering. If he planted sharp knives under the stakes so falling meant getting skewed, or poured a layer of oil on the stakes, the effect should be better.

After thinking for a moment, he walked to the weapon rack and took out two short-handled Hook Sickles.

When his master taught him the Swimming Dragon Palm, he mentioned that the weapon for this style was the Hook Sickle. Hooking, locking, cutting, and stabbing were exactly the combat methods of the Swimming Dragon Palm.

The mechanics involved flat palm stabs and returning palm hooks, while the hidden elbows were also used for hooking and cutting.

Chen Wujun held the Hook Sickles and ran through the moves, gaining some insight.

He had already practiced the Swimming Dragon Palm to the upper level and had a deep understanding of it. He didn't need his master to teach him; just by practicing with the weapons a couple of times, he could figure out most of the applications.

A moment later, Zhou Qing entered through the warehouse gate.

"Run through the palm technique. Let me see."

"Yes, Master."

Chen Wujun placed the Hook Sickles back on the rack and performed the Swimming Dragon Palm.

The technique was well-structured, combining hardness and softness. Yet in Chen Wujun's hands, it was executed with overwhelming force and brutal hostility, a posture that screamed death to anyone who stood in his way.

Zhou Qing's eyelids twitched several times watching him.

It didn't look like the palm technique he had taught.

However, Zhou Qing had seen countless martial artists of all kinds, so he didn't comment too much on the style itself.

He simply said, "You've trained this skill to the upper level of Body Forging. You have your own flavor now."

"If you want to go further, you must begin Qi Refining."

Hearing this, Chen Wujun was instantly filled with interest. "Master, what is Qi Refining? How do I refine Qi?"

"I told you before. Before the war, Old Arts were divided into Bright Jing, Dark Jing, and Transformation Jing... After the war, combined with New Arts, they evolved into Body Forging, Qi Refining, and the Transformation Realm. They correspond one-to-one with the original Old Arts divisions, but they aren't the same."

"After all, since humanity discovered and utilized Magnetic Field Crystals, development has taken a completely different path."

"For example, the original Dark Jing: 'Heart harmonizes with Intent, Intent harmonizes with Qi.' It's normally hidden within the body and released when needed. It sounds mystical, but in reality, it's just storing strength inside the body to deliver a penetrating force. An expert in Dark Jing hits someone, and they look fine on the outside, but their insides are damaged. It's similar to the spiral force I showed you."

Chen Wujun nodded thoughtfully.

His master had indeed demonstrated spiral force before, slapping a pillar. The front was untouched, but the back shattered.

"The key to Dark Jing is twisting the mind and intent into a single force," Zhou Qing continued.

"But with the application of Magnetic Field Crystals and the development of New Arts, today's Qi Refining has changed. It is clearer and more tangible."

Zhou Qing paused here for suspense, not explaining further. Instead, he said to Chen Wujun, "Put out your hand. I'll let you feel it."

Chen Wujun extended his hand. Zhou Qing tapped the back of it with a finger.

Chen Wujun immediately felt as if needles were piercing his hand, causing him to instinctively shake it.

"That was the old Dark Jing."

Then, Zhou Qing tapped the back of Chen Wujun's hand again.

Chen Wujun felt the same needle-like sensation, but simultaneously, his palm went numb, as if it no longer obeyed his commands.

"This is Qi Refining."

"Do you know where the difference lies?"

Chen Wujun carefully recalled the sensation. Specifically, the second time Zhou Qing pressed his hand, the numbness had made his hand unresponsive.

Combining this with the analysis of New Arts he had read in "Cold Steel",

Chen Wujun suddenly attained realization:

"Master, it's bio-electricity!"