The fat boy's real name is Joe Mosley. He's the eldest son of Remond Mosley, owner of Mosley Pharmacy in Double Willow District, the outer city. Remond Mosley used to run a small business, but by chance, he switched to medicinal herbs. He made a name for himself through hard work in Farfield City and started the Mosley Pharmacy.

  Stirling had heard Julio talk about Joe Mosley. Despite the young age, he never thought the chubby boy could be so clever. Indeed, Joe had his eyes on Stirling from the moment he stepped into the dojo.

  "Joe Mosley, let's make things clear. Don't drag me into your affairs."

  Stirling glanced at Joe Mosley and spoke.

  "Come on, brother, I hoped to make friends with you. I'm just worried that after Figo leaves, we will be bullied because we have no real friends here." He emphasized the word

  "Look, very few of us apprentices can make a name for ourselves. Kim Dojo welcomes many newcomers every year, but most of them are nobodies in the end." Joe Mosley seemed very familiar with the Kim Dojo.

  "Well, our duty is to train hard. If you are strong, who would deliberately pick on you? By the way, do you know what happened to Julio's sister that Marshall mentioned?" Stirling memorized something and asked.

  "Julio is a man who's determined to learn martial arts and rise above his limitations. His family is fully supportive. To raise tuition, they even sold his sister." Joe Mosley whispered.

  "Huh?" Stirling was stunned, his expression changing. He didn't expect that the honest and simple Julio had such a shameful past.

  "Hey, there are many stories like this. I heard Julio didn't intend to do it, but it was his father's wish, and he couldn't disobey it." Joe Mosley patted Stirling's shoulder with a mature air, but the pain in his body seemed to provoke a grimace.

  "Well, we're both new here and don't have any connections. Why don't we team up? We can look after each other if anything goes wrong." Joe Mosley continued.

  "Practicing your boxing is the priority!" Stirling said that, ignoring fat Mosley.

  Although Joe Mosley didn't say what he was up to, Stirling had a rough idea. He might be young, but he wasn't stupid. Joe Mosley's motivation for joining Kim Dojo wasn't to learn real martial arts. And unlike this fat boy, Stirling had only 15 years left to live!

  Thinking of this, Stirling couldn't help but feel a surge of anxiety.

  The closer you are to losing something, the more you cherish it.

  Looking at Joe Mosley now, Stirling felt pity. Joe Mosley had a normal lifespan and the opportunity to become a samurai. But he got distracted by other things. He was unaware that in this scorched-world apocalypse, force was the ultimate power. It was the key to survival!

  Unknown Stirling's thoughts, Joe Mosley chuckled and said, "No hurry, no hurry. After all, we're fellow apprentices. Let's eat first."

  The dining hall of the dojo was a side room in the front yard.

  Without saying, the food there was far superior to what you'd find at ordinary homes. A fist-sized piece of fatty pork elbow simmered with a mix of herbs. The rich aroma spread through the window.

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  "No wonder the food costs ten silver coins a month! How can ordinary people afford this?" Stirling sat at the dining table, staring at a big bowl of meat porridge. He sighed to himself.

  But he had to admit that after this morning's training, he was dying of hunger. He had a strong stomachache since his first medicinal bath last night, but today's was much worse.

  Stirling thought it might be because his medicine bag had been enhanced last night. The high-efficiency formula helped his body handle the strain better.

  "Wolf! There's not much left, and once it's gone, it's gone!" Joe Mosley, standing next to him, said as he picked up a piece of pork elbow and stuffed it into his mouth. He was starving as well.

  Stirling could not help but feast. He gulped down his large bowl until the whole dining hall echoed with the sound of swallowing.

  After breakfast, it was time for the morning training. It was during this time that the chief tutor, Master Kim, would come to the courtyard for guidance.

  Including Figo, the others all practiced a style of boxing called "Kim Boxing." The name suggests that Kim boxing is a martial art created by the Kim family. In reality, this style simplifies the martial arts of the generals. It adds its own twists, resulting in a powerful and fierce approach. Master Kim gained fame in his youth with this style. Later, when he arrived in Farfield City, he shared it with others, helping the tradition grow.

  This was Stirling's first time learning to box. He had learned swordsmanship on his own before, but the two styles were different and should not be mixed up. The instructor was naturally Figo. He was the best in the dojo, so he could step in as the substitute instructor when Master Kim was away. Yet, Figo clearly didn't seem too eager to teach. He simply demonstrated a few key points, then walked away with his hands behind his back. It seems as if he were going to attend to other matters.

  "Look, this is the difference between a disciple and an apprentice." As Figo left, Joe Mosley quietly approached Stirling and whispered to him.

  This scene was naturally observed by the other brothers. Julio glanced over and then paid no attention. While Marshall glanced over at them several times, face was fierce.

  Stirling noticed Marshall's gaze, exchanged a brief glance, then ignored him. He continued practicing his boxing, engrossed in the practice.

  Stirling stood at the back of the courtyard. He watched the others move while practicing himself. After an unknown amount of time, an old man in green robes slowly entered the courtyard. "Master Kim!"

  "Master Kim!"

  …

  Everyone stopped their movements and saluted Master Kim with a bow.

  "Keep working." Master Kim waved his hand, signaling them to continue. He then sat down at the small stone table in the courtyard and drank the scented tea on the table.

  Seeing this, no one dared to slack off and continued practicing, hoping to impress Master Kim. But Master Kim only watched for a few minutes before leaving again. This made everyone sigh inwardly and relax. Once Master Kim's figure was gone from the courtyard entrance, everyone eased up. They chatted cheerfully, appearing to ignore the boring practice.

  It wasn't their fault. In the dojo, if someone doesn't achieve the first realm in a year, he will lose the chance to become a Kim's disciple. He can stay for a second year by paying the full tuition. Even if he passes the rhino-skin hurdle, he'll only be a semi-disciple in the outer courtyard. Like the two samurai in the dojo who reached the rhino-skin realm in their second year, both stayed at Kim Dojo. They hoped to earn the title of Kim Dojo semi-disciple.

  The title of a dojo semi-disciple holds great importance in the outer city. Even the gangs can offer discounts when collecting taxes door to door, as a mark of respect for Master Kim. After all, Master Kim, despite his age, is still a genuine blood-boiling stage expert. In the Outer City, he's a top-tier figure, and no one wants to mess with him.

  Ignoring the laughing and joking around, Stirling maintained a stern expression, diligently cultivating it. He, a frail creature with only 15 years left, knew every second counted, could not afford to waste any time. And Stirling's performance naturally caught the attention of the surrounding brothers. "Hey, he's so motivated right after arriving! I remember I was like that when I first arrived, practicing until late every night!"

  "Wait until he works in vain for half a year, and he will see. Hard work is meaningless in the face of talent." Everyone smiled at each other and murmured. Even Joe Mosley shook his head at Stirling.

  "This idiot hasn't dealt with reality yet. In fact, his destiny is sealed on the first day."