3: Chapter 3 To gain it is my fortune, to lose it is my fate

The moment the Tidal Breathing Technique reached the first layer, Jiang Hanzhou felt a warmth spread through his body, as if enveloped by the spring sun.

Simultaneously, he felt strength from head to toe. This newborn power flowed slowly through his limbs and bones; it wasn't violent, yet it was exceptionally resilient, like a tide sweeping over a parched riverbed, silently nourishing every inch of his body.

Standing at the bow, Jiang Hanzhou slowly retracted his stance and exhaled a long breath of turbid air. The white mist shot out like an arrow for over a foot in the cool morning fog before curling away.

Qi Nurturing Realm, the first Realm of the martial Dao.

This Qi refers to the Qi of blood and vitality.

According to Boss Hong's explanation, a Martial Artist at this Realm can control their blood and Qi, possessing far greater strength than an ordinary person, but this power is still loose and not yet condensed.

One must wait until the next Realm to truly connect the whole body, allowing strength to be applied as one, condensed and unified.

But for Jiang Hanzhou, this change was already enough to fill him with joy.

"Great, today is the twenty-eighth day. I can still follow the River Patrol Squad."

A look of happiness appeared on Jiang Hanzhou's face. He rowed back to shore, turned in his catch, and went straight to the plaza to find Boss Hong.

There were very few people in the plaza at this time; many had already given up.

Only a few scattered figures were there to Cultivate.

When Jiang Hanzhou arrived, a moment of confusion crossed his face—because Boss Hong wasn't there.

"Little Jiang, are you looking for Instructor Hong to ask about Tidal Breathing Technique tips?"

At that moment, a Fisherman who had just finished work wiped his sweat and walked over to Jiang Hanzhou to explain, "Don't bother looking. Something big has happened."

Jiang Hanzhou's heart skipped a beat, a bad premonition rising within him. "What happened?"

"Our Canglang Water Dock's cargo ships were attacked by water bandits yesterday. The Dock Master was furious. The River Patrol Squad, the Guard Squad, and the Three Rivers Estuary Patrol Inspection Division have all been dispatched."

"Boss Hong also took men to pursue the bandits who plundered the cargo ships."

"Before leaving, he left word that the assessment ends here. Anyway..." He glanced at the few people still persisting in the plaza and lowered his voice, "Anyway, he also feels that no one in our batch will make it."

The man sighed with emotion after speaking.

The River Patrol Squad... is gone?

A clear sense of loss, like cold river water, instantly washed over Jiang Hanzhou's heart.

If he had achieved a Breakthrough two days earlier, there would have been a spot for him in the River Patrol Squad.

The meat rations in the squad, the fixed Cultivation time, the clear path for advancement... it would be a lie to say he didn't yearn for it.

"But if I can't get in... then so be it."

This tide of regret came quickly and receded just as fast.

Feeling that wisp of newborn blood and Qi power within him, Jiang Hanzhou's gaze quickly returned to calm, becoming even clearer than before.

My fortune to gain, my fate to lose.

He was already a Qi Nurturing Realm Martial Artist.

Although he hadn't made it into the River Patrol Squad, he had found his own path.

"I see. That's a pity. I was hoping to ask some questions."

Jiang Hanzhou snapped back to reality and replied, following the man's lead.

Since he couldn't join the River Patrol Squad, there was no need to reveal that he had become a Martial Artist, lest he provoke envy in others.

"Yeah, a pity." The man wiped his sweat and smiled again. "Come on, let's go eat. Only after eating and drinking our fill can we keep working."

Jiang Hanzhou nodded and followed him to the dining hall.

At the dining hall, Boss Hong's words reached everyone's ears.

For a moment, the atmosphere was heavier than the morning mist at the pier. The bland taste of the brown rice seemed even harder to swallow now.

"It's over, completely hopeless. From now on, I'll just be dealing with these broken boats and rotten nets every day."

"Just endure it. After ten or twenty years, if you're lucky enough to become a manager, that'll be the end of the line."

Sighs rose and fell one after another.

Jiang Hanzhou ate his meal in silence. Now that he was a Martial Artist, his appetite was larger, and he needed more nourishment.

"Look at you lot, so pathetic! Are your eyes only fixed on that one crooked tree, the River Patrol Squad?"

At that moment, Zhou Dazui, who was always well-informed among the Fishermen, suddenly spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.

"Big Mouth, what do you mean by that?"

Someone asked curiously, a small spark of hope reigniting in their eyes.

Zhou Dazui was indeed very well-informed; the news about practicing martial arts had come from him.

Seeing everyone looking over, Zhou Dazui could no longer hide his pride at having exclusive insider info. He slammed his ceramic bowl onto the wooden table with a thud.

"Hmph, prick up your ears and listen well!"

Zhou Dazui counted on his fingers and said proudly:

"Our Canglang Water Dock dominates the Three Rivers Estuary, controlling water trade routes that connect to Linjiang Prefecture! With such a huge operation, do you think just those few dozen people in the River Patrol Squad can hold it up? There are plenty of other ways!"

"First, of course, is the River Patrol Squad, protecting our own territory. Second is the Merchant Escort Squad! Following our Water Dock's large merchant ships, traveling the White Dragon River, down to Yunmeng Marsh, and even to the Prefecture Capital! The things you'd see, the goods you'd handle, and this—"

He rubbed his fingers together, implying profit. "It's much better than staying at home!"

The listeners' hearts warmed, but when they thought about how the Merchant Escort Squad also required real combat against fiercer water bandits or even exotic beasts, they shrank back a bit.

"Look at your lack of guts!" Zhou Dazui sneered. "There are also two inner hall paths that don't require risking your life every day."

"Inner hall paths?"

"Right! The first one: the Slaughterhouse!"

Zhou Dazui lowered his voice even further, sounding somewhat mysterious.

"Don't turn your nose up at the name! Our Water Dock's Slaughterhouse occasionally handles big fellas hauled up from the deep-water areas or exotic beasts hunted back from the mountains!"

"Do you know what exotic beast meat tastes like? I heard an expert like Boss Hong might not even get two taels a month! Working in there, even the scraps and bone fragments left between your fingers to make soup would be incredibly nourishing! When you practice your skills, you'll get twice the result with half the effort!"

The sound of people swallowing saliva echoed through the dining hall.

Exotic beasts!

Those were legendary treasures containing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, of immense benefit to Martial Artists!

"What about the other one?"

Jiang Hanzhou asked at the right moment, already having a slight preference in his mind.

Zhou Dazui looked at Jiang Hanzhou, then glanced at the others before slowly uttering three words: "Medicinal Cuisine Hall."

"That's right! The most precious and quietest place in our Water Dock!"

Envy appeared in Zhou Dazui's eyes.

"That place specifically prepares medicinal cuisine and nourishing soups for the dock's nobles and big external clients. They use aged medicinal herbs and the essence of Spirit Fish. I heard even a bowl of the most ordinary 'Blood and Qi Soup' costs as much as a normal family's yearly expenses! If you can get in, even as an apprentice, just smelling the medicinal fragrance would increase your strength!"

Now, even the most dull-witted Fisherman's eyes widened.

Medicinal Cuisine Hall!

It was practically like a legendary immortal's kitchen!

"Stop dreaming!"

At that moment, a somewhat experienced Fisherman shook his head and said:

"My uncle wanted to send me there to try before. The assessment for the Medicinal Cuisine Hall requires memorizing the compendium of one hundred herbs and the record of exotic beasts and spirit fish—hundreds of medicinal herbs, parts of exotic beasts, their characteristics, and how their medicinal properties interact... I heard the books are as thick as bricks and the words are awkward to read, much harder than remembering the tides! If you can't memorize them, you won't even touch the threshold."

These words were like a bucket of cold water, dousing most people's enthusiasm.

Most of them came from poor backgrounds; knowing a few words was already considered clever. Memorizing vast, sea-like texts? Too difficult.

However, a glimmer of light flashed in Jiang Hanzhou's lowered eyes.

Memorization? Assessment?

In his previous life as a college student, having been tempered by the sea of exam questions and the struggle of thousands crossing a single-log bridge, what he feared least was systematic knowledge memorization.

To him, this wasn't an obstacle; rather, it was likely the fastest and safest method.

"Medicinal Cuisine Hall..."

He murmured to himself, as a clear and steady path gradually took shape.

While everyone was lost in thought and the dining hall was buzzing with discussion, the dock's manager, Iron Hand Zhang, walked in with his hands behind his back. The noise vanished instantly.

"Listen up!" Iron Hand Zhang's gaze swept over them. "You lot have practiced your fishing skills well enough. In three days, you will enter the Three Rivers Estuary deep-water area in batches for fishing."

Deep-water area!

Everyone's spirits lifted.

Everyone knew that the Three Rivers Estuary, as the confluence of the Canglang River, White Dragon River, and Yunmeng Marsh, was an extremely vast body of water.

The deep-water area was mysterious and unpredictable; there was a chance to catch valuable Spirit Fish there.

And compared to exotic beasts on land, Spirit Fish were much safer.

"The rules remain the same: the catch belongs to the dock. But if you can catch a Spirit Fish, the dock will buy it on the spot based on type, weight, and quality, and there will be an additional reward!"

After Iron Hand Zhang finished speaking, he turned and left.

Reward!

This word made the hearts of all the Fishermen burn with excitement.

They worked every day for just two meals, without a penny to their names.

A reward was their most direct and legitimate way to get cash!

Jiang Hanzhou clenched his fist.

Cultivation is inseparable from resources. Whether he wanted to buy some common medicinal herbs to help consolidate his blood and Qi or improve his diet to build up his foundation, he needed money.

This deep-water area, where danger and opportunity coexisted, was exactly his chance to earn his first pot of gold.

"But before I go, I still need to learn a few basic Martial Skills to test the effect of my Late Bloomer fate."