Sweeping Through Demons with the System Chapter 008: Difficult to Join a Gang

Lu Shaolin turned around and gave a slight bow with clasped hands to the uncle before making his way to the Black River Gang's headquarters.

Within the time it would take to sip a cup of tea, a stronghold on the river loomed before him. Occupying a third of the river channel, it was connected to the shore by a wooden plank path.

Constructed entirely of wood, the river stronghold featured an entrance by the shore, where four burly men stood guard. Clad in matching black warrior attire, long swords hanging from their waists, they vigilantly surveyed the area.

Without hesitation, Lu Shaolin advanced toward the entrance.

"Boy, this is the Black River Gang's headquarters. Outsiders are not permitted to approach!" warned a leading burly man, addressing Lu Shaolin.

Cupping his hands in a traditional greeting and wearing a smile, Lu Shaolin inquired, "Elder brother, is there a way to join the Black River Gang before next spring?"

"You're eager to join early, huh? If you're acquainted with a hall master or someone in a position of authority within the gang, then you can reach out to them. Otherwise, it's best to wait patiently until next spring," the burly man advised.

Pausing briefly, Lu Shaolin pressed, "Uh... are there any other options?"

Just as expected! In every world, connections are key!

"That's all there is to it, boy! Best to leave this place at once," the burly man said, waving his hand to hasten Lu Shaolin's departure.

With a slight bow and clasped hands, Lu Shaolin expressed his gratitude. "Alright! Thank you for the information!" He then turned and left.

Unable to join the Black River Gang, Lu Shaolin resolved to explore his next option: the Dagger Society.

Passing the tea shop again, the uncle asked if he had managed to join the gang. Shaking his head, Lu Shaolin bade the uncle farewell and resumed his journey toward the county town.

Glancing skyward, he noted that it was nearing noon—no wonder he felt a twinge of hunger.

Quickening his step, Lu Shaolin realized that in this expansive world, securing a meal was a priority not to be ignored!

Upon reaching the county town, Lu Shaolin quickly found a roadside stall and proceeded to down three large bowls of noodle soup with gravy in one sitting. The stall owner watched in awe.

The noodle soup with gravy they served was known for its generous portions, tailored primarily for those involved in physical labor. A typical man would be satiated after just one large bowl. Even though this young man had a robust build, he astonishingly managed to consume three large bowls, which was truly astounding!

"Boss, the check, please!" Contentedly patting his slightly bulging belly, Lu Shaolin called out.

"Alright! Little brother, that'll be fifteen copper coins for the three large bowls you've had," the stall owner responded, smiling.

"Here you go." Lu Shaolin produced the copper coins and passed them over.

"Thank you, little brother," said the boss, accepting the coins with a smile.

Rising to his feet, Lu Shaolin began to leisurely amble down the street.

Choosing not to return home just yet, he resolved to find an inn for a brief respite, intending to venture into the Dagger Society's territory later in the night.

After some aimless wandering, an inn caught his eye.

"Welcome to the Good Fortune Inn," Lu Shaolin murmured to himself, reading the signboard before stepping inside.

The inn's main hall featured around ten tables and chairs, with guests occupying four or five of them. A waiter was engaged in wiping down the surfaces.

Upon noticing Lu Shaolin's entrance, the waiter set aside the cleaning cloth he was holding and came forward. "Sir, are you here for a meal or to stay the night?" he inquired.

"To stay the night," Lu Shaolin responded, smiling.

"The common rooms are ten coins, mid-range rooms go for thirty coins, and the top-quality rooms are fifty coins. Which would you like, sir?" The waiter promptly inquired, directing his question to Lu Shaolin.

"A mid-range room will suffice," Lu Shaolin said, patting his pocket and silently rueing his limited funds.

"Very well! One mid-range room it is!" The waiter called out to the counter, then turned back to Lu Shaolin, extending an inviting hand. "You can make your payment over here, sir."

"Mm-hmm," Lu Shaolin nodded, following the waiter to the counter to complete the transaction.

"Sir, your room is on the second floor. Please follow me," the waiter said, guiding Lu Shaolin up the staircase.

Once they reached the second floor, the waiter ushered Lu Shaolin into his designated room.

The room's furnishings were extremely simple upon opening the door. It contained two chairs, a table, and behind a folding screen were a bathtub and a bed.

"Would you like to take a bath, sir?" the waiter inquired.

"No need, I'll decide upon my return tonight," Lu Shaolin responded, shaking his head.

"Very well, sir. If you require anything, simply pull this rope and I'll come right up," the waiter directed, pointing to a hemp rope near the door.

"Mm, thank you," Lu Shaolin smiled in reply.

"Then please rest well, sir. I have other duties to attend to downstairs."

"Go ahead," Lu Shaolin said.

With that, the waiter exited the room, gently closing the door behind him.

Locking the door from the inside, Lu Shaolin moved to the bed. He leaned his long spear against its side and lay down, letting out a contented sigh.

"Ah, lying down is so much more comfortable," he mused, stretching languidly before closing his eyes.

It wasn't long before soft snores filled the room; Lu Shaolin had swiftly drifted into dreamland.

...

It was dinner time when Lu Shaolin finally roused himself. Sitting up and rubbing his cheeks, he grabbed his long spear and exited the room.

The ground-floor lobby was a hive of activity as he descended. Nearly every one of the dozen or so tables was filled, and sounds of chatter and clinking glasses echoed from every direction.

"Sir, would you care to dine here?" The innkeeper greeted Lu Shaolin with a smile as he descended.

"No need," Lu Shaolin replied, shaking his head as he continued on his way out of the inn.

By now, the sky had grown dark, and the glow from lanterns lit at the entrances of various shops cast a distinct night market atmosphere.

Making his way to Spring Flower Street, Lu Shaolin found himself on the busiest thoroughfare in the county town.

Filled with brothels and gambling houses, Spring Flower Street was Pingshan County's entertainment hub, as Lu Shaolin would have described it, based on his experiences from a previous life!

Upon reaching Spring Flower Street, Lu Shaolin was greeted by a bustling and brightly lit scene!

First, he located a small food stall to satisfy his hunger for dinner, before venturing deeper into the street.

As he observed the lavishly dressed girls on the second floor, his expression turned peculiar. It wasn't for any reason other than the fact that all these girls were remarkably plump, some even exceedingly so!

Upon reflecting on memories from his past life, Lu Shaolin came to an understanding.

The beauty standards for women in the Great Xia Dynasty mirrored those of a dynasty from his previous life, where plumpness was deemed attractive!

In the early days of the Great Xia Dynasty, a high premium was placed on fertility. Women who had many children could even earn commendations from local government offices.

Likely influenced by the dynasty's policies, the common folk favored women who were plump and robust, seeing such traits as indicators of good health and an enhanced ability for childbearing. Meanwhile, the upper classes were more inclined towards women who were slightly plump and curvy, yet not overly thin!

Shifting his attention, Lu Shaolin proceeded towards the largest brothel on the street.

As he approached the entrance, a grinning pimp halted him: "Little brother, you appear quite young. A girl here starts at two taels of silver; do you have enough?"

"I'm here to find someone from the Dagger Society," Lu Shaolin replied.

"Seeking someone from our gang, are you? What business might little brother have with us?" The pimp hesitated momentarily, but continued to inquire with a smile.

"To join your gang!" Lu Shaolin declared outright.

"If you wish to join, little brother, you'll have to wait until next spring when we recruit new members. We're not currently accepting any. However, with enough silver, exceptions can be made," the pimp whispered, eyes scanning cautiously.

"Oh~ how much silver are we talking about?" Lu Shaolin inquired promptly.

"For a mere twenty taels of silver, my cousin, who's a minor gang leader, can recommend you for membership," the pimp said, his grin broadening.

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