Gou Hang was highly satisfied with Song Wen's submissive demeanor.

The irritation melted from his face. He scrutinized Song Wen from head to toe before asking, "You are literate?"

He had seen it clearly just now. After pushing through the crowd and scrutinizing the notice, Song Wen had turned away with a disappointed look.

At that time, no one was reading the notice aloud.

Based on that sequence of reactions, it was easy to deduce that the youth could read.

Song Wen was briefly taken aback, not expecting such a small detail to draw attention.

In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through his mind as he weighed the risks and benefits of his reply.

After rapid calculation, Song Wen decided to speak the truth.

This Dog Ye possessed sharp observation skills; he would not be easily fooled.

With his mind made up, Song Wen bent his waist even lower, the sycophantic smile on his face growing more pronounced.

"Replying to Dog Ye, this humble one attended a private school for a few years in my youth and recognizes some characters."

Song Wen's expression remained steady, his pulse unhurried. He spun the lie effortlessly, ensuring no outsider could detect a flaw.

Gou Hang nodded, thoroughly pleased with both the attitude and the answer. His gaze now carried a hint of appreciation.

The scholars he usually encountered always liked to put on lofty airs. Even when they were starving, they treated his recruitment offers with utter disdain-all because he was merely a low-level lackey of the Heavenly Fiend Gang.

Today, he had finally met a literate man who knew his place and showed proper deference in broad daylight. This deeply gratified Gou Hang's vanity.

Gou Hang lofted his chin, maintaining his arrogant persona.

"How old are you this year?"

"Sixteen."

To avoid being looked down upon, Song Wen purposely claimed a slightly older age based on his current physical stature.

"What is your name?"

"Song Wen."

Gou Hang nodded and pressed further, "How do you earn your living?"

"I write letters for others to scratch out a meager livelihood, barely getting by day to day," Song Wen continued to fabricate.

Gou Hang then questioned him about his family situation.

Song Wen spun a tale of a fallen household, claiming both his parents were dead and that he was entirely without kin or connections.

"Follow me from now on. With my recommendation, you can smoothly enter the Heavenly Fiend Gang. Your monthly stipend will be one tael of silver."

It had to be said that in the Qian Kingdom, where literacy was abysmally low, scholars received decent treatment.

At current market rates, one tael of silver was enough to sustain a family's food and drink for an entire month.

A look of hesitation crossed Song Wen's face. He felt an instinctive aversion to sudden kindness from a stranger.

This Gou Hang was clearly no saint. Could things truly be as good as he claimed?

"What? Do you look down on our Heavenly Fiend Gang?" Gou Hang's displeased voice rang out.

Song Wen forced a placating smile onto his face, bowing as he explained, "Dog Ye, you misunderstand. It is only that this humble one is shallow in learning and knows too few characters. I am terrified of ruining your important matters."

"If this master isn't afraid, what are you afraid of? Kid, do not refuse a favor when it's offered."

Sensing the underlying threat in the man's tone, Song Wen chose to go with the flow. His face immediately smoothed into an expression of profound gratitude.

"Thank you for the elevation, Dog Ye. From this day forth, this humble one will look only to your leadership and go through fire and water for you."

Song Wen's eyes shone with intense thankfulness, as though he were looking at his own parents. The fervor and admiration in his gaze made Gou Hang swell with pride; it had been a long time since anyone had revered him so deeply.

Gou Hang reached behind him into a subordinate's robes and pulled out half an oil cake.

"Look at your sallow face. You probably haven't had a full meal in ages. Here is half an oil cake left over from my breakfast. Take it."

"Thank you for the bounty, Dog Ye."

Song Wen took the cake and wolfed it down.

He did this partly because he was indeed starving, and partly to sustain Gou Hang's vanity.

As he chewed, he analyzed the situation.

From the looks of it, the conditions within the Heavenly Fiend Gang were not as lavish as one might think. Otherwise, Gou Hang would not have hoarded half a leftover oil cake.

Still, if things were as Gou Hang described, joining the gang was not a bad trade.

The Heavenly Fiend Gang was the ultimate underworld power in Yancheng. Since he was entering under the guise of a scholar, they likely wouldn't send him to the front lines to fight and kill. His safety would be relatively assured, and his survival needs would be met. For his current predicament, this was the optimal choice.

He truly owed some thanks to this lackey. Though Dog Ye lacked brains, he had genuinely solved Song Wen's most critical survival crisis.

Gou Hang had come to the street specifically to post and announce the recruitment of young boys. He barked out the contents of the notice once more.

Naturally, he was illiterate himself, but someone had briefed him on the text beforehand.

With that finished, he led Song Wen away.

After navigating past the strict guard posts of numerous gang disciples, they entered the headquarters of the Heavenly Fiend Gang.

The compound was vast. Under Gou Hang's guidance, they wound through a labyrinth of paths before arriving outside a row of buildings.

Entering a particular room, Gou Hang addressed an old man with deep respect.

"Elder Yan, I have brought a newcomer. He is a literate scholar."

Elder Yan looked to be over fifty. In this turbulent age of scarce medicine, he was considered an advanced senior.

He opened his clouded eyes, surveyed Song Wen, and tossed a small booklet toward him.

His voice brooked no argument: "Read the contents aloud."

Song Wen caught the booklet, understanding this was his examination.

'This is the ancient version of a job interview,' Song Wen mused silently.

He flipped the booklet open and read clearly:

"The sky is dark, the earth is yellow; the universe is vast and desolate. The sun rises and sets, the moon wanes and waxes; the stars are spread across the sky. Cold comes and heat departs; autumn harvests and winter stores..."

"Enough. That will do."

Elder Yan did not make him finish. After Song Wen had read about a hundred characters, the old man cut him off.

Elder Yan turned to Gou Hang and said, "Your luck is quite good. Elder Jiyin has been recruiting another batch of literate youths lately. This boy fits perfectly."

Gou Hang rubbed his hands together, offering an awkward, servile chuckle.

"Elder Yan, I heard that providing scholars to Elder Jiyin's side comes with a bounty. You see..."

Elder Yan laughed. "You are well-informed. I thought you merely stumbled into this by luck, but it turns out you came prepared. Go to the accounting room and claim ten taels of silver."

"Many thanks, Elder Yan." Gou Hang bowed repeatedly, his face plastered with groveling smiles.

Watching from the side, Song Wen felt utterly bewildered.

What did this mean? Why would the recruitment of a single literate person warrant a ten-tael bounty?

In Yancheng, ten taels of silver could buy two attractive young maidservants.

A dark premonition gripped his heart; he had been sold.

Moments ago, he had been smugly believing he was playing Gou Hang like a fiddle. It turned out he was the fool.

Seeing Gou Hang turn to leave, Song Wen cried out with his last shred of hope, "Dog Ye! Didn't you say you were going to take me to live high and sleep soft?"

Gou Hang cast a disdainful glance over his shoulder, his eyes dripping with cold mockery.

Then, without a word, he turned and vanished from the doorway.

"A mere hoodlum like him? How could he ever provide you a life of luxury? Being sent to Elder Jiyin is a supreme fortune that countless people beg for but never receive. That is an immortal destiny. Do not be ungrateful."

Elder Yan's icy voice drifted from behind Song Wen.

"Men, escort this brat to Elder Jiyin."

Two burly men stepped into the room, three-foot steel blades hanging from their waists.

"Clang!"

One of the men drew his blade halfway. The gleaming steel reflected a biting chill that made Song Wen's eyes sting.

"Kid, I advise you to stay smart. Don't make any reckless moves," the guard warned coldly.

Song Wen's heart burned with fury and indignation. He did not believe a single word regarding Elder Yan's so-called "immortal destiny."

If it were truly a coveted fortune, would they resort to human trafficking and forced coercion to secure candidates?

Yet, facing the cold gleam of the steel blade, he had no choice but to accept reality.

To be weak was to be handled at the whim of others.

As he followed the two thugs out, his fists clenched so hard his knuckles turned white.