“You think everyone is like you, lazy and slick. This kid is going to enter the Martial Arts Academy, so all of you better behave yourselves and don’t be a bad influence.”

After cursing, the deputy boat captain David King heard the rattling sound.

On the high bow deck, Samuel Thompson set up a machine gun and started firing at the river.

In the water, a monstrous fish covered in scales, over five meters long, with fangs a full foot in length.

Rows of blood burst open on the monster fish’s body, quickly dyeing the river blood red.

Watching the monster fish flip belly-up on the river, Samuel Thompson put down the gun, grabbed a harpoon, and struck at the fish.

What luck—he’d actually encountered a beast at the Mountain-Opening level.

David King quickly walked over, reached out, and together they dragged the monster fish near the patrol boat.

“It’s not dead yet, get the gun.”

Before David King finished speaking, Samuel Thompson had already picked up another harpoon and stabbed down.

Soon, the two of them hauled the monster fish onto the boat, and he casually touched the wound.

“Shenzhi really is a lucky star. Usually, we patrol for ten days or half a month and never run into a Mountain-Opening level demonized fish.”

Several Wu’an soldiers stepped forward, quickly chopping up the monster fish and putting it into the boat’s cold storage.

These demonized fish are also cultivation resources.

The Wu’an Army is poor, so they have to cook up their own special meals.

“Extra food tonight.”

David King looked at Samuel Thompson and said, “Shenzhi, you’ve been busy for so long, come down and take a break. Let this bunch of brutes take over for you.”

“Captain, it’s fine, I can do it.”

Samuel Thompson waved his hand to refuse; he wasn’t tired at all.

Protecting the waterway—there’s no room for slacking off.

“Five li ahead, a ship has sent out an alarm.”

Splash! The patrol boat roared and sped forward.

……

“What a place.”

At nightfall, the patrol boat docked at the pier, and Samuel Thompson walked off, still unsatisfied.

Looking at the river bathed in sunset, he headed toward the sentry post.

After a whole day, he’d collected four drops of demon blood at the Stone-Splitting level, and one at the Mountain-Opening level.

Order in the port area had basically been restored, with Wu’an soldiers stationed everywhere. Since yesterday, all ships entering the port had been detained—entry only, no departures.

The Blood God Cult had stirred up such a commotion in the port area; there must be huge interests involved. The Wu’an Army was investigating every possibility.

Of course, none of this had much to do with him. Right now, he only wanted to collect demon blood.

Back at the sentry post, he glanced at Edward Carter, then returned to the dorm to wash up and went to the cafeteria for dinner.

That night, after resting for two hours, Samuel Thompson went to the training ground.

In the days that followed, he repeated the same routine, feeling very fulfilled.

Five days later.

Samuel Thompson returned from the infirmary and saw the dorm door half open.

“Someone there?”

Baldy Wood was holding a well-used thermos, standing in the dorm with his back to the door, looking at the upper corner of the wall.

“Back already?”

Without turning around, Baldy Wood said, “The matter from a few days ago is settled. You made a great contribution. Do you know who that beast was in the end?”

Hearing this, Samuel Thompson wasn’t particularly excited.

The matter being settled, to him, meant three hundred thousand was as good as in his pocket.

Baldy Wood turned around, a wooden box appearing in his hand, which he handed to Samuel Thompson.

“That guy was the ringleader of the beasts. How did you spot him?”

Samuel Thompson took the wooden box, opened it, and saw a medal with a bronze ribbon lying inside.

First-Class Demon Hunter Medal.

The Demon Hunter Medal is a broad term; anyone who protects humanity and renders meritorious service can be awarded one.

“Mainly because he wanted to kill me.”

Seeing Baldy Wood’s curiosity, Samuel Thompson thought for a moment and said, “You can’t hide the look in someone’s eyes when they want to stab you.”

“So, our plan worked?”

Baldy Wood rubbed his head and said, “Looks like I’m a master of both blade and keyboard. If anyone dares call me a brute again, I’ll keyboard them to death.”

“By the way, the unified cabinet assessment is coming up, right? If you need anything, just say so.”

“The Linjiang sentry post is nice. I’ll stay a few more days, if that’s okay.”

“You want to stay?”

Baldy Wood looked at Samuel Thompson in surprise.

“You’re not preparing for the martial arts assessment?”

“Unity of knowledge and action—isn’t that preparing for the assessment?”

Samuel Thompson replied.

After glancing at Samuel Thompson, Baldy Wood walked out, truly at a loss for words.

“Stay as long as you want. It’s not like we can’t feed you. Just don’t miss the assessment.”

……

Three months later, at night.

Bang!

In the training ground, Samuel Thompson’s fist slammed into the alloy target like a cannonball.

10,851 kg!

Power over ten thousand—Mountain-Opening level!

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Chapter 9: Grade Four Inner Armor

Three months weren’t spent in vain.

Patrolling the river every day, his skin had tanned.

Looking at the number on the display, Samuel Thompson showed a hint of a smile.

Mountain-Opening level—he’d finally advanced before the academy assessment.

“Let’s try the blade technique boost again.”