Chapter 333: He’s Back!
“All warriors who wish to register for the martial arts competition, please come this way to sign up! The registration fee is ten taels of silver per person. Today is the final day for registration, so please line up quickly and inform others as well!”
A man dressed in a guard’s uniform stood on a high stool, striking a brass gong to attract attention. His announcement quickly drew a crowd.
Beneath him, three tables were neatly arranged, each covered with red velvet cloth. Behind the tables sat six city guards, two at each table, ready with brushes, ink, and paper to record names. Two locked chests sat nearby, presumably for the entry fees.
As soon as the man finished speaking, numerous martial artists carrying weapons rushed forward, forming an orderly queue under the supervision of the city guards.
Yu Xiaoxuan glanced at the long and growing line, then touched his empty purse, his heart sinking with disappointment. His eyes darkened as he realized how far he had fallen.
Once, he had been a noble young master in the capital. Now, stranded in exile, he couldn’t even afford a mere ten taels of silver.
Not just ten taels—he had nothing. Not a single coin.
“Hey, brother, are you looking for work?”
A cheerful voice interrupted his thoughts. Yu Xiaoxuan turned toward the man who had clapped his shoulder.
The newcomer was strikingly handsome, with an air of nobility. He wore a jade crown and embroidered robes and held a paper fan in his hand, fanning himself leisurely. He looked every bit the refined nobleman—an odd sight for someone actively recruiting workers on the street.
Seeing Yu Xiaoxuan’s wary expression, the man snapped his fan shut and, without waiting for a response, grabbed Yu Xiaoxuan by the wrist and led him toward a recruitment table.
“Come, come! You look like a fighter. I just opened a casino, and I need some muscle. If you’re willing to work for me as a security guard, I’ll pay you ten taels of silver per month.”
Yu Xiaoxuan had been about to walk away, but at the mention of ten taels of silver, his eyes lit up.
Ten taels had once been nothing to him. But now, with his mother and sister penniless and the harsh winter approaching, ten taels could make all the difference.
If his father and brother returned, they would surely bring some money. But what if they didn’t…?
Even though Yu Xiaoxuan hated thinking that way, he couldn’t afford not to. He had to prepare for the worst.
“Alright, then. Pay me ten taels in advance—I want to sign up for the competition.”
Ye Lu:….
Ye Lu had recently resolved to stop being a frivolous playboy and start making serious money. Without a single employee to help him, he had borrowed tables and chairs from the city guards and set up a makeshift hiring booth right in the middle of Luo City.
As soon as he got everything arranged, he spotted Yu Xiaoxuan standing at a distance, staring longingly at the competition registration booth while touching his empty purse. Ye Lu wasted no time in approaching him.
He had already guessed the kid was broke. But he hadn’t expected him to be bold enough to ask for an advance payment on his first day.
Ten taels was nothing to Ye Lu, but as he gave Yu Xiaoxuan a once-over, his expression turned skeptical.
“Kid, I’m just being honest with you—the competition is packed with top-tier fighters from all over. With that skinny frame of yours, you’ll be lucky to make it into the top hundred.
“Listen, I’ll give you the money in advance if you want it. But if you lose, not only will you be out ten taels, you’ll also owe me a full month of work.”
Hearing this, Yu Xiaoxuan hesitated.
Between ten taels and ten thousand, the larger prize was tempting. But considering the stakes, and his family’s situation, he ultimately decided it was better to play it safe.
Moreover, staying in Luo City would give him a chance to investigate his grandmother’s whereabouts.
“Fine, I’ll take the job.”
At this, Ye Lu grinned and immediately shoved Yu Xiaoxuan onto a bench behind the hiring table.
“Great! You’re officially hired. Your pay starts today. Now, your first job is handling recruitment. We’re hiring everyone—men, women, young, and old.
“Security guards get ten taels per month. General laborers get two taels. Women get one tael and five coins. This is the going rate in Luo City, but if they perform well, I’ll give raises. Tell them that.”
With that, Ye Lu unfolded a hiring ledger and placed it in front of Yu Xiaoxuan.
“All the details are in here. You handle this, and I’m going to take a nap. I’ll check in at noon.”
Yu Xiaoxuan:….
Ye Lu walked away, fanning himself with his paper fan, leaving Yu Xiaoxuan dumbfounded.
Before he had time to process what just happened, people began approaching the booth, inquiring about jobs.
Before long, Yu Xiaoxuan found himself fully engrossed in his new role. But every now and then, he glanced toward the competition registration line, unable to suppress the itch to participate.
Meanwhile, at the city gates—
A martial artist named Man Feng, whom Yu Luo had sent to spread word of the tournament, had just returned.
And he wasn’t alone.
He had brought over a hundred fighters with him!
However—
“Man Feng, what the hell is going on?! You told us this was a newly built city in the middle of nowhere. Why are there so many people here?!”
Man Feng himself was stunned.
He had only been gone for four days. But in that short time, Luo City had transformed.
Shops lined the streets, banners flapped in the wind, and the entire city bustled with life.
“What the—?! When I left, only a handful of shops were open. How did dozens more spring up in just five days?”
Standing frozen in shock, Man Feng began to doubt whether he was even in the right place.
But that was impossible—this had to be Luo City.
It couldn’t be the ruined, rundown Feng City.
“Hey, look! They’ve already started registering for the tournament. There are so many people lining up—should we still sign up?”
One of the newcomers had spotted the registration booth and was beginning to feel uncertain.
“Of course we’re signing up! We didn’t travel all this way just to turn back. Unless you can’t afford the ten-tael entry fee?”
“This is a rare opportunity to make a name for ourselves in the martial world. Why wouldn’t we sign up?”
