“Heh, I’d say you’re at the ve-e-ry first stage. You haven’t started cleansing your body yet, nor begun accumulating inner Qi. Don’t worry, for an ordinary man, you’re quite strong. Just one more step and you’ll be on the path of a true warrior. I’m sure you’ll reach the first stage of Body Tempering. Don’t give up!”

  Their talk took place during a rest stop, where the entire squad had settled down. Others listened as well, though they didn’t join in. Someone nearby grunted doubtfully, clearly unconvinced that a man like Zhang Min could achieve more than the rest. A few snorted disapprovingly, as if disapproving of Li Chen for revealing their trade secrets. Others nodded in agreement, but even if everyone had told Zhang Min to give up on becoming stronger, he still wouldn’t have listened.

  Between swigs of light, foul-smelling water from leather flasks, the seasoned mercenary shared his experience. He’d seen plenty of hotheaded youths chasing easy glory. Squinting against the sun and the gray dust rising from the road, Zhang Min listened intently. Li Chen’s words about pills and elixirs settled in his mind like new notes in a growing record of this world, one where alchemy promised the shortest road to strength, and with it, to freedom.

  Hm. So it’s like using local steroids? From what I know, the stronger a mercenary is, the more he gets paid, Zhang Min mused, glancing at his calloused, dirt-streaked hands. You have to spend money to make money. A vicious circle. Something to think about.

  From then on, he often chatted with the talkative Li Chen, filling the gaps in his knowledge of this world. Whenever he could, Zhang Min asked other mercenaries about strengthening pills, potions, and other remedies used by martial practitioners. He also learned a lot about herbs that could cleanse and fortify the body. Though their effect was weaker than the pills made from them, they cost far less and with some luck, could be gathered personally in the woods.

  He was told that there were thousands of kinds of plants. Some were eaten raw, others brewed into tea, and some worked best for healing baths. A whole new corner of the martial world opened before Zhang Min’s eyes, one he had never considered before. Alchemy and herbalism could speed up progress immensely, though never for free.

  When I didn’t know about those damn pills, I didn’t want them and now suddenly I need them. Guess I’m just greedy, he thought, staring at the sky above the camp. It’d be great to manage with herbs alone. They’re cheaper. If only I knew what they looked like, I’d search the whole forest.

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  The road to the first mine stretched over a full week. The caravan dragged provisions from one trail to the next, while mercenaries pushed wagons whenever they got stuck. Fortunately, nothing happened: no ambushes, not even a trace of bandits. Only the creak of wheels, the snort of horses, and the shouts of drivers broke the monotony. A force of two hundred men was enough to cool even the hottest bandit heads; no one dared approach.

  They stopped for three days in a small settlement near the mines. Workers unloaded supplies, tools, and crates of unknown contents. The air reeked of earth, metal, and damp straw. The mercenaries rested each in their own way, some eating and drinking, others sleeping, others sharpening blades. Those who’d brought a skin of liquor rarely reached for it.

  The mining town was poor and offered no entertainment. A few crooked shops, greasy signs, and children chasing mangy dogs with sticks. There was nothing to do. Zhang Min hated wasting time. While others chatted lazily by the fires, he resumed intense training. On the road he hadn’t abandoned his exercises, but had kept to stretches, simple drills, and meditation to save strength for the road. Here, behind the town’s dirty walls and among piles of coal, he pushed himself to the limit. Passersby glanced at him but didn’t interfere.

  Sometimes I think I do this out of boredom, he thought, wiping his sweaty forehead with the back of his hand. Back home, every minute was scheduled. Now I’ve got an ocean of time. Can’t even read here. If I do nothing, time just crawls.

  On the fourth morning, as soon as the first rays of sunlight crept over the treetops, the caravan moved toward the next destination. The road wound between bare hills and sparse groves where the scent of pine drifted in and out. Two days later, they began a steep climb into the mountains. The forest thickened, the view shrank, and the narrow rocky path made the wheels slip. Mounted scouts rode ahead, checking possible ambush sites, while the others pushed the wagons uphill. The horses breathed heavily, their flanks slick with sweat and mud, hooves clattering against the stones.

  “Li Chen! Gather the men!” ordered the squad commander, his voice hoarse from fatigue and constant shouting, yet sharp and steady. “We’re taking the pass to scout the area.”

  “Huh? Isn’t that what the scouts are doing? They just left,” Li Chen said, glancing at the road, skepticism in his tone.

  “You think I don’t know that?” The man gave his subordinate a stern look, then pulled out a map and spread it on a sack of supplies. “The boss is worried about this spot — the cliff that hangs over the road. We’ll go through the woods and see if anyone’s hiding up there.”

  The rest of the squad slowly gathered around, listening closely while checking their gear. Most faces were tanned, beards unkempt, but their eyes were still sharp and watchful.

  "What if there’s an ambush?"

  “It’ll depend on their numbers,” the commander replied. “Either we fight, or we send a signal. Move out!”

  “Yes, sir!”