Chapter 9: Brute Force Adventurer
After settling down in Jiaoshi City, Talil took Xilutiya to visit her sister Winnie’s residence.
“Grandfather said to have sister find me a job in Jiaoshi City, otherwise playing with the idiots in the village every day will make me dumb too.” Talil complained softly while walking on the road; this was also why she followed Xilutiya to Jiaoshi City.
Hearing this, Xilutiya couldn’t help but cover her mouth and chuckle softly.
“What job is sister Winnie doing in the city right now?”
“Her, I’m not sure, but I know her husband; he works at the ‘Oak Barrel’ Merchant Guild, specifically something like bookkeeping.”
“Villagers can earn 3 silver coins a month at most, but husband gets 6 silver coins at the Merchant Guild; the treatment is very good.”
“Sister’s jobs change frequently; sometimes she tutors young children as an enlightenment teacher, other times she works as a front desk maid.”
“Front desk maid is about 3.5 silver coins a month; enlightenment teacher pays much more, up to 5 silver coins a month at most.”
Talil introduced the situation in Jiaoshi City to Xilutiya: ordinary working farmers here earn about 3 silver coins a month, but it’s very hard work, not as leisurely as in the village; slightly better jobs like waitstaff, front desk, shop clerks, etc., pay 3.5-4 silver coins, but generally require being young, literate, and having a proper appearance.
The two walked along the main street of the East City District, where the streets were relatively clean, with many shops along the roadside: clothing tailor shops, utensil shops, furniture shops, oil presses, and places selling weapons and armor, right next to the Adventurer’s Guild.
Compared to other shops, the Adventurer’s Guild had obviously high foot traffic, with many people coming and going; quite a few carried weapons and equipment, and among them a minority were physically robust—Xilutiya could sense the Nature Power emanating from them.
Name: Unknown
Race: Human（Mortal Body）
Status: Healthy（Slight hidden injuries）
Talent:
Sturdy【Good Grade】: You easily develop solid muscles, provided you have sufficient nutrients; this talent increases your appetite.
Fate Card: 【Brute Force Man】（First Order-Blood Law）; Within a light red border, a robust man stands tall with chest puffed out, showing off his sharply defined muscles.
‘Through training in the Breathing Technique and activation of the Blood Law Nature, your physique has grown increasingly sturdy; the brute force from these muscles is genuine.’
Effects:
【Brute Force Lv.2】: Increases your base power; even without using any abilities or secret arts, you possess more than twice the strength of an ordinary person, allowing you to use heavier weapons and thicker armor.
Ability Card:
【Breathing Technique Lv.2】（Blood Law）: Regulates blood flow rate through breathing, driving and enhancing full-body power and reaction speed. This ability burdens the heart and body and cannot be used for extended periods（recommended not to exceed 3 minutes/day）.
【Blood-Colored Muscles Lv.1】（Blood Law）: Activates the ‘Blood Law’ Nature trait, rapidly expanding your muscles and granting a brief power boost.（recommended not to exceed 2 times/day）
————
A passing robust man laughed and chatted with his companions as he entered the Adventurer’s Guild hall; the ‘Blood Law’ Nature Power emanating from him was so conspicuous that Xilutiya couldn’t ignore it even if she tried.
Seeing Xilutiya’s gaze turn toward the robust man in the distance, Talil also shifted her sight over.
“That’s a badge adventurer.” She saw the crossed dual swords copper badge pinned on his armor.
“That is, an adventurer whose strength is recognized by the Adventurer’s Guild; certain tasks can only be taken by them.”
The maiden nodded, and then the two continued onward.
After they left, this sturdy adventurer and his companion entered the Adventurer’s Guild hall, and a youth behind him spoke excitedly.
“Brother Jieluo, how much bounty can we get this time?”
“Hahaha, at least 60 silver; don’t worry, you won’t miss out.” His broad palm patted the youth.
“Mike, you performed very well this time; study hard, and you’ll be like me in the future, haha.” He let out a hearty laugh to encourage him; the other companions around also laughed heartily—some teased this newbie who had just entered the trade, while others quietly encouraged him.
“Of course, I’m going to make big money.” The youth Mike rubbed his nose ambitiously.
“I’m a once-in-a-century genius from our village; I learned the Breathing Technique at sixteen, and my Sword Technique is unmatched.” Indeed, with such strength, it’s no wonder he was so ambitious.
“I was in my early twenties when I suddenly comprehended the Breathing Technique.” At this point, Jie Luo felt a bit emotional, recalling some past events.
“Anyway, no need to mention the past; today let’s drink heartily and get some meat.” The group headed to the Adventurer’s Guild front desk, took out the cloth bag from their backs and opened it, revealing wolf heads one by one, including a huge wolf head with reddish fur, its lower jaw broken open.
This action immediately drew the attention of others in the Adventurer’s Guild.
“Wow, a Red Wolf head; this is a Blazing Sun First Order Red Wolf!” Someone immediately recognized the wolf’s origin.
“The others are also high-quality Ti Lang heads; they should fetch quite a few silver coins.”
“Red Wolf fur is even more valuable; many nobles acquire it, but I don’t know where they took it—looks like they didn’t bring it and hid it away.”
“They’re all veteran adventurers; they definitely wouldn’t bring it out easily.”
“Who’s that leader? He looks very robust, and the blood energy emanating from him is very strong.”
“That’s Jie Luo; you don’t even know him? He’s a very famous adventurer in Jiaoshi City; reportedly few can beat him.”
“That strong? How does he compare to Lord Solang?”
“No comparison; Lord Solang is the Jiaoshi City Guard Captain appointed by Viscount Xue Feng, with strength at Second Order Castle Nature.” The responder shook his head.
“Without the appointment, Lord Solang’s strength drops to First Order, and Jie Luo might have a chance to win.”
“Nobles’ foundations aren’t something ordinary people can contend with.”
While these people gossiped, Jie Luo’s companions proudly grinned and struck poses for some young girls in the hall.
“Hey, tonight’s gonna be fun.” One of them hooked his companion’s shoulder and laughed.
“Of course; we went to such lengths to complete the bounty just to live it up these next few days, haha.”
Ten minutes later, after calculation and registration, the front desk miss had someone bring out 64 silver coins and place them on the desk.
“First Order Red Wolf head bounty is 50 silver; the other 31 Ti Lang heads are worth 14 silver based on quality and value. If you also obtained the Red Wolf fur, the guild will buy it at a high price.”
“How high?” Jie Luo touched his chin.
“About 60 silver.” The front desk miss thought for a moment and replied.
Blowing on his fingertips, Jie Luo nodded slightly. “Fair enough, but you asked too late; that fur is already reserved— the buyer offered 80 silver.”
“I won’t say who specifically; I think you don’t need to inquire anyway.”
“That’s truly a regret; please consider the guild next time you hunt a Red Wolf.” The front desk miss didn’t press and responded politely.
In response, Jie Luo just teasingly nodded with a wink at this good-looking front desk miss. “How about we have a drink tonight.”
Facing such an invitation, this front desk miss in a brown-and-white uniform gave a professional smile and waved her hand.
“Sorry, sorry; I don’t go out casually at night.”
“That’s really boring.” The man mimicked a bard’s melancholic tone.
Then, he picked up the money bag, turned to his long-waiting companions, and called out: “Alright, brothers, tonight to the Blood Pig Bar—drink heartily, make a racket, hahaha!”
“Oh~”
“Jie Luo, you’re the best captain I’ve ever seen!”
“Brother Jieluo!”
“We’ll follow you from now on.”
“Good brothers.”
“Let’s go, go, go!”
The group left the Adventurer’s Guild amid envious gazes from those around; at this point, many people crowded to the front desk to closely examine the wolf heads turned in as bounty items.
“It’s a Red Wolf; one eye was slashed out, lower jaw injured too, but it doesn’t seem fatal…”
The crowd analyzed slowly; the lively atmosphere in the Adventurer’s Guild continued late into the night.
