Chapter 25: Saving People
Dachen Village was now thoroughly chaotic, a complete mess.
Clearly, this was a premeditated plunder, starting with landlords like Guo Xiangshen, then radiating out to encompass the entire village—looting as much as possible.
The whole village was full of refugees, indistinguishable from ghosts, wailing, accompanied by screams of agony and the villagers' cries of pain as they fought back.
In less than an hour, seven or eight people had already died, including villagers and refugees.
When Chen Ku quietly returned to the dilapidated cave, he found his mother and sister-in-law holding Hu Zi, still safe within. He didn't disturb them.
After feeling relieved, he headed back to his own house.
He found that it had indeed been broken into by the refugees. The outcome of the night's events was already clear. His home, being dirt poor and having no grain stored, didn't have many valuables to lose; it was just thoroughly ransacked.
Even so, after Chen Ku checked the kitchen and the rooms, two quilts were still stolen, and even the half jar of salt in the kitchen was taken, jar and all.
These locust-like devils! Chen Ku cursed inwardly.
From what he saw, even his house, which had little grain stored, was picked clean like a goose plucked in flight. He could only imagine what the families in the village who actually had grain stored were currently enduring.
He couldn't worry about everyone else, but he still had to look after Jiyang, Master Li, and Big Brother Zhao's families. After all, grain being stolen was one thing, but if people were killed in the chaos, that would be a true disaster.
As Chen Ku was heading towards Master Li's house, someone suddenly burst out onto the road. Chen Ku instinctively prepared to strike, but then he recognized the voice of Heiwa, the Long-term Worker from Guo Xiangshen's home, who said excitedly, "Brother Chen, I've been looking for you! Guo Xiangshen is asking for your help. Those damned refugees, not satisfied with just eating their fill, are looting every home! Guo Xiangshen sent me to ask for your help, promising an additional ten acres of land as a thank you if you can ensure his family's safety."
Ten acres of land! Chen Ku was moved. Guo Xiangshen is certainly generous.
Each acre was worth at least five or six Silver; ten acres would be fifty to sixty Silver. In the countryside, the importance of land sometimes exceeded that of Silver. Having a certain amount of land would naturally make one a landlord. Guo Xiangshen had over a hundred acres in the village and could afford to eat chicken, duck, fish, and meat every meal even without doing a stroke of work, being a wealthy man worth Over a Thousand Taels of Silver.
If I accept these ten acres, adding to my own seven acres, totaling seventeen acres, it would be too much for Mother and Sister-in-law to farm alone, Chen Ku thought. They would have to hire sharecroppers and laborers. In a sense... I, Chen Ku, would transform, stepping into the landlord class myself.
Moved by this thought, Chen Ku said, "All right, go back and give him my reply. I'll be there soon."
Heiwa nodded excitedly. They had all witnessed Brother Chen's feat of overturning that old yellow ox in the field.
Chen Ku watched Heiwa leave.
He considered, I received Guo Xiangshen's goodwill and hospitality a few days ago, a favor I was already obliged to repay. Now he's offering an additional ten acres. There's no reason not to go. However, priorities matter, and some relationships are closer than others.
Chen Ku still decided to first check on his close friends in the village.
When he arrived at Big Brother Zhao's house, he was slightly alarmed to see blood all over the ground outside. He hurriedly called inside, "Big Brother Zhao, is everything alright in there?"
Hearing this, Zhao Liangcai's voice came from the window, also sounding relieved, "It's the Chen Brothers! My family is alright, don't worry. The blood outside is from those damned looters I shot with my arrows. I hit two of them in the arms, and then no one dared to come in. Don't worry about my place; go check on Master Li's house."
Chen Ku's heart relaxed, and he replied, "Then you be careful."
Soon, he arrived at Jiyang's house to find Li Jiyang's home already turned inside out. He was slightly shaken and hastily went inside to look for people.
After a while, Chen Ku walked out, lost in thought. The granary is spotlessly clean, showing no signs of being robbed.
It didn't take him long to understand. Master Li truly lived up to his name. An Old Head who specialized in navigating the mountains, he had even guided his own elder brother. The title 'Old Head' itself often signified meticulousness, caution, and intelligence—qualities essential for someone leading herb-gathering expeditions. Seeing no one at home and the granary completely empty, he quickly guessed what had happened.
I was able to think of moving my family, so a shrewd Old Head like Master Li must have thought of it too. Not only that, he probably heard the news and secretly hid the harvested grain somewhere. Now that the refugees have arrived, all they had to do was hide their families, just like I did, and let the refugees ransack the house. As long as the grain and the people are safe, losing a few household items isn't a significant loss.
This guess is most likely correct, he thought.
Chen Ku was relieved.
This method... probably occurred to quite a few villagers. But it would only work for smaller households with three or four acres of land and not much harvested grain, making it easy to move. Guo Xiangshen's family, on the other hand, is a prime example: a large household with a granary overflowing with grain. They couldn't possibly move it all in such a short time...
Chen Ku knew he couldn't delay any longer and had to hurry over. Hopefully, the refugees haven't actually beaten Guo Xiangshen to death.
「...」
In Guo Xiangshen's house, it was all chaos, with refugees looting and smashing. The granary had been completely overrun. The local able-bodied men gathered from the village and the Long-term Workers from his estate had long since been overwhelmed and scattered.
Guo Xiangshen's family was driven into the stable, secretly hiding in the haystack.
Seven members of the family—his mother, wife, son, daughter-in-law, and a daughter about fifteen or sixteen years old—all had their faces smudged black, pretending to be refugees.
"Father, all our grain has been plundered by these bastards!" Guo Wen, although hiding, was seething with anger, itching to rush out of the stable and fight those people.
"Oh, for heaven's sake, child, be quiet!" Old Lady Guo anxiously grabbed her grandson by the sleeve, saying, "All those are material possessions; staying alive is what's most important."
"But-but, those were our things!" Guo Wen felt a burning urgency inside.
Guo Xiangshen, grinding his teeth, scolded his son in a low voice, "You good-for-nothing! What do you know? It's just some grain. What could be more precious than life?"
His mother said softly to her son, "Foolish boy, your father is right. Moreover, during the banquet for those damned scoundrels, your father had already secretly hidden our money, valuables, and account books. Now, it's only some grain that's left. It's not a big deal if we lose it; preserving our lives is most important."
Guo Xiangshen, looking at his dumbfounded son, gritted his teeth and said, "Even if we take ten thousand steps back and our family ends up with nothing, we still must live on. Your father, I, know how to rise from poverty to wealth again. Remember, staying alive is the foremost thing."
While the family was hiding and talking in the stable, suddenly, a torch lit up the stable.
Behind the torch was none other than Grey Snake, who had called on their house earlier.
He grinned and said, "I knew it. I searched everywhere and couldn't find Master Guo's family. Turns out you were hiding with the animals."
Grey Snake held a torch in one hand and a pointed fork in the other.
The sight made Guo Xiangshen's family of seven feel utterly devastated.
Guo Xiangshen's eyes darkened, his lips trembling as he said, "Brother Grey Snake, you've opened the granary. Take as much grain as you want. Why must you trouble my family like this?"
"Want grain?" Grey Snake flashed a dangerous smile. "The starving ghosts outside want the grain. Who said I wanted grain?" Then he focused on Guo Xiangshen's daughter, saying, "Your daughter is quite beautiful. Even with a blackened face, she's delicate and has an oval face... Master Guo, how much would it take for me not to touch her?"
As he spoke, he planted the torch beside the stable.
With the fork, he pointed it at Guo Xiangshen's neck, then reached out his freed hand towards Guo Xiu's collar.
"Father! Brother! Save me!" Guo Xiu shrieked in terror.
However, her brother, whom she regarded as her greatest savior, lost all his earlier bravado at the sight of the pointed fork and actually shrank back, terrified.
Guo Xiu felt utterly hopeless.
Just when she thought she was going to be violated—
WHOOSH!
WHOOSH!
WHOOSH!
A fierce gust of wind whipped through the air, stirring Guo Xiu's bangs and causing her clothes to flutter.
Suddenly, a figure stood to her left.
BANG!!
The man holding the pointed fork, Grey Snake, was thrown backward, crashing heavily inside the stable, killed instantly.
Chapter 26: Landlord
Guo Xiu's eyes, excited and blurred, looked at this savior under the torchlight.
"Chen, Chen Brothers," Guo Xiangshen, already agitated, began, scrambling to his feet and rushing to Chen Ku. "Chen Brothers, you really came to save us."
But Chen Ku, with a "complicated" expression, looked down at Grey Snake on the ground.
He isn't dead, is he? I've never killed anyone before, and now...
Guo Xiangshen, however, was staring at Grey Snake's corpse.
What do you mean, he might not be dead?!!
Upon hearing this, Guo Xiangshen, in fear and resentment, snatched up the pitchfork.
"He must die! I'll stab this beast to death!"
As the pitchfork pierced Grey Snake's back, blood bubbled forth.
This beast plundered my home! I'll stab him to death! All my family's grain, just gone like that!
THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!
"Damn it, he even dared to lay hands on my daughter and steal my money! Die, die, die!!"
THUD! THUD! THUD!
With immense hatred, Guo Xiangshen stabbed Grey Snake more than ten times. Gasping heavily, his forehead beaded with sweat, he finally stopped.
He turned to look at his son and daughter, who were covering their mouths in fright.
Panting, he paid them no mind. He just looked at Chen Ku, pleading, "Such a despicable cur deserves worse than death. Tonight, no matter how many of these vermin die, the government won't blame us one bit. Brother Chen Ku, don't worry. As long as you can ensure the safety of Guo Someone's family tonight, I am willing to give you fifteen mu of land! What do you think? Saving our family's lives is what matters most!"
Fifteen mu...
Chen Ku had only been feigning the shock of a first-time killer. He hadn't expected the other man to be so perceptive. To alleviate Chen Ku's supposed unease—whether for revenge or some other reason—Guo Xiangshen had not only personally stabbed Grey Snake over ten times but was also willing to offer an additional five mu of land.
Since that was the case, there was even less to worry about.
Chen Ku nodded gravely. "I'll escort you out of the village first."
With Chen Ku guarding them, even if vagrants tried to pounce, none could get close.
Thus, amidst continuous terror, they were escorted by Chen Ku. The Guo family, seven in all, who had found it difficult to either leave or stay, finally escaped from the village, which resembled a hell filled with demonic vagrants.
But not long after Guo Xiangshen's family had escaped, a cry was heard, "Ah! Beasts, beasts!!"
From a distance, Guo Xiangshen saw that the vagrants had not only stolen all their grain but had also set fire to their family estate, burning it down.
It had been built with good timber and had taken a year to complete.
"Beasts, a pack of beasts! None of you will meet a good end! You beasts will all go to the Blade Mountain Hell!"
Guo Xiangshen's eyes were bloodshot, and his body trembled, on the verge of collapse.
It was his daughter who promptly supported him, gently consoling him through her tears, "Dad, it's good that our family is safe. You said it yourself, as long as we're alive, grain and houses are just material possessions."
Old tears streamed down Guo Xiangshen's face. He had said as much, but he hadn't anticipated that these beasts would burn down his estate as well.
Chen Ku looked towards the burning Guo family estate.
He figured that anyone who died inside tonight would have been turned to charcoal in this inferno. Who could tell how they died? It was too chaotic. More than one or two had perished, all of them scrambling for grain...
However, after tonight, it would likely all be over.
Those one or two hundred people, leaderless now, were just a scattered mob. Having looted so much, they would disperse like startled birds and beasts. For the time being, they probably wouldn't launch a second raid on Dachen Village. This would give him some peace of mind about his family when he went to the county seat.
「 」
The timber in Guo Xiangshen's estate was indeed of high quality.
A massive fire blazed all night, painting half the village sky red, and was only extinguished at dawn.
As daylight broke, no vagrants remained in the village; no one knew where they had fled.
Only the people of Dachen Village who had hidden in their homes, in caves, or under broken haystacks during the night had survived the ordeal.
Chen Ku had returned to the dilapidated cave dwelling much earlier and brought his family back to their house.
"Curse them! The salt is gone, and so is the bedding..." his sister-in-law cried, looking at the devastation in their home. "This gang of cutthroats!"
But Mother Chen, hearing the weeping from various households in the village and the sound of many firecrackers—firecrackers at such a time were a signal that someone in a family had died, asking the villagers, old and young, to come and help—heard them from seven or eight families in a row. Looking at her own house, where only a salt jar and a few sets of bedding were missing, she closed her eyes and said to her daughter-in-law, "Stop crying. We're fortunate enough; our losses are minimal. Guo Xiangshen's entire estate was burned to the ground, and other families even lost lives. Aren't they much worse off than us?"
Hearing this, the sister-in-law stopped crying and silently went to the kitchen to cook.
DRIP. DROP.
Chen Ku stood in the courtyard, feeling his cheeks moisten.
CRASH!
Suddenly, a torrential downpour began.
Just as he had expected. Rain at daybreak. Now, any tracks at Rest Spring would be completely washed away.
This autumn deluge poured over the ruins of Guo Xiangshen's estate, extinguishing the last embers and white smoke, leaving Guo Xiangshen beyond tears...
If it had rained earlier, perhaps his estate could have been saved.
"Dad, what do we do now?" Guo Wen asked, staring blankly at the ruins.
Guo Xiangshen, meanwhile, was busy digging out a large, very well-hidden chest from the rubble. He let out a breath and said, "Xiu, you go and take this land deed for fifteen mu to your Brother Chen Ku. Thank him for saving our family last night."
"Fifteen mu, Dad... Isn't that too much?" Guo Wen said, his heart aching. Their family only had a little over a hundred mu in total; giving away so much at once was painful.
Guo Xiu, however, had no objections. She nodded obediently and delivered the land deed to Chen Ku.
Watching his daughter leave, Guo Xiangshen turned to scold his son, "To say you're stupid is an understatement! You can only see what's right in front of your nose. Let me ask you, wasn't the whole village plundered this time?"
Guo Wen scratched his head. "So what?"
Guo Xiangshen sneered, "We had so many long-term workers, yet even we couldn't protect our grain. Do you think anyone else in the village could? About half the families have been looted clean. In a couple of days, it's time for the autumn tax. With no grain to pay, they'll have to sell their land. So, the fifteen mu I gave away today? In a few days, I'll get back thirty mu, maybe even fifty mu! You believe me?"
Guo Wen's eyes lit up. "Dad, you're truly amazing!"
Guo Xiangshen said coolly, "Otherwise, how do you think our family acquired over a hundred mu of land? Now, I have a task for you. Take this silver, go to the county seat, and buy grain. Take plenty of guards. Then, use that grain to buy land from the villagers."
Guo Wen nodded vigorously. "Dad, I understand!"
As his son was about to leave, Guo Xiangshen reached out to stop him again, saying, "After you buy the grain, send a cartload to Chen Ku's family. That's for the tax on the fifteen mu of land he now owns.
Guo Wen frowned and exclaimed, "Dad, you..."
Guo Xiangshen snapped, "You know nothing! Just do as I say."
Unite with the powerful, devour the weak—this was the way of survival.
Meanwhile, Chen Ku had received the land deed for fifteen mu from Guo Xiu. As the girl left, she kept glancing back, clearly affected by the events of the previous night.
Regrettably, a peaceful country life with a wife and children warming the hearth was not his dream; they were fated to meet but not to be together.
Looking at the land deed for fifteen mu of prime rice paddies and wheat fields in his hand, and then at the devastation in the village, he guessed what was happening.
While this raid had cost Guo Xiangshen dearly, it had also, in a way, created an opportunity for him to acquire more land. After all, only his grain and buildings had burned last night; his other assets were untouched...
Looking at this easily acquired land, added to what his family already owned, he was now a landowner with more than twenty mu. And in the future, as his income increased, his family's landholdings would likely grow even larger...
I never thought I'd finally become a member of the landlord class.
Chapter 27: Chapter 27: The Long Road Ahead
Two days had passed in a blink, yet the village still wallowed in the grief and anguish of deaths and pillaging by bandits.
As Chen Ku had guessed, under the wise leadership of Old Master Li, the Li Jiyang family had escaped the calamity.
Over these two days, Village Chief Chen had finally played his role, taking several villagers to each household to tally the population, cancel household registrations, and tally the upcoming autumn taxes.
"Bandits have ravaged our lands; this is a man-made disaster. The only thing I can do is go to the township over these next two days to beg for a favor from the authorities and have those who perished removed from the poll tax..."
Village Chief Chen's home had also been raided, but his loss wasn't as great as that of Guo Xiangshen's household. Even so, he had aged by seven or eight years and seemed cloaked in an air of twilight. During these two days, Chen Ku had almost confirmed that his actions were faultless.
He had secretly attacked and killed those behind the bandits, and indeed, he had heard that the bandits had largely scattered now. They were merely a ragtag group without a leader, so this was the only possible outcome.
It's just that, I wonder what kind of people were behind those two I killed? Chen Ku guessed with an uneasy heart. Especially during the autumn harvest and tax season, orchestrating bandits to plunder the villagers' harvests. The result of this would be that, without food to pay their taxes, the villagers would have to sell their land... If you consider who benefits, it is obviously those who try various means to monopolize the land.
Without any leads or clues, it was pointless to think more about it. He was confident in his clean and decisive handling, eliminating all traces, and no one could suspect him, but still, he felt a slight unease.
This is the fear of inadequate strength! Chen Ku looked at his own palm and clenched it slightly. A thousand catties of strength, in this age, is still too weak!
His mind reflected the Transformation Diagram. He chewed over the conditions for achieving the second transformation again. Entry into Force Transformation Martial Arts. Ferocious Beast Level Evil Qi.
All the needs, it seems, can be resolved at Medicine King Hall, but I wonder, what position do I need to attain to be taught Force Transformation Martial Arts? As he pondered these things, a donkey cart suddenly appeared outside the courtyard.
"Ah, it's Guo Wen! These are..." His sister-in-law was cooking, and upon seeing the cartful of grain brought by Guo Xiangshen's son, she was at a loss for words.
Chen Ku walked outside.
Guo Wen looked displeased, "My father asked me to bring this to your family. Just accept it. I'm leaving."
Having said that, he unloaded ten bags of grain and then, without saying anything more, had the cart pull away, not even looking back.
Mother Chen also heard the commotion. Seeing the ten bags of grain in the yard, she stared at her son in astonishment and asked, "Son, what does this mean?"
Recognizing the significance of the ten bags of grain, and having figured it out, Chen Ku smiled at his sister-in-law and mother and said, "Didn't I save Guo Xiangshen's family? He gave us fifteen acres of land, and this happens to be the autumn grain required for those fifteen acres. This Guo Xiangshen... he's truly considerate."
Mother Chen and his sister-in-law looked at each other, dumbfounded.
Was this still the wealthy and feared landlord from the village? Why would he willingly dig so deep for their family? Simply because of the life-saving grace? Or perhaps... They both looked at Chen Ku, dressed in his long robe, vaguely understanding something, yet their plain village wisdom left them unable to articulate it clearly.
"Anyway, let's accept it. We can do so with a clear conscience," Chen Ku said with a smile, then turned and carried the grain to the side house.
Mother Chen watched her son busily handle the situation with ease and hesitantly said, "Son, when do you plan to go to town?"
Chen Ku could feel his mother's concern, worry, and reluctance about him leaving soon. After a moment of silence, he said, "I can leave with peace of mind after our family pays the autumn tax."
Mother Chen cautioned, "So that would be in a day or two. When you're in the county town, don't be too hard on yourself. Remember to visit your brother-in-law frequently. Now that you're doing well, your brother-in-law might look upon our family favorably again. After all, we're family, and he could possibly support you in some ways."
Chen Ku nodded. He still remembered that this body had a sister in the city. However, ever since she married, she had her own family. Although she had offered a lot of help, they sometimes didn't want to bother her too much. Furthermore, her brother-in-law held a clerical position in the county. Before his elder brother had gotten into trouble, the two families had gotten along harmoniously. But since the incident with his elder brother, that brother-in-law had been frequently harassed and attacked by his colleagues. Consequently, he had grown resentful of Chen Ku's family. Therefore, the assistance his sister provided was actually sent in secret.
"I'll handle things once I'm in the city," Chen Ku reassured his mother.
At that moment, another voice was heard outside the courtyard.
"Chen... is Brother Chen Ku home?"
"Brother Chen Ku?"
The voice was hesitant and fearful, but also familiar.
"That voice... it sounds like Guo Fu and Guo Qiang?" His sister-in-law's expression changed; she knew very well what kind of reputation these two brothers had in the village.
Chen Ku, on the other hand, had no particular reaction, although he was curious about what these two were up to.
When he stepped out of the courtyard, he saw not only Guo Fu and Guo Qiang but also two other villagers.
Chen Ku, hearing these two men, considerably older than himself, calling him "brother," guessed their intention, "Is there something you need?"
He looked at the two men.
Guo Qiang, who had been slapped by Li Jiyang because of him, bowed his head, blushing, seemingly at a loss for words.
On the other hand, Guo Fu, whom Chen Ku had kicked, although also bowing his head, spoke up, "My Seventh Master said he has transferred the five acres of land our family rents at the east end of the village to you. Is that true?"
A slight understanding dawned on Chen Ku; he now grasped their purpose. Maintaining a neutral expression, he said, "Indeed. Guo Xiangshen gave me fifteen acres of land, including those five acres you've been farming this year."
Guo Fu asked in a low voice, "Brother Chen Ku, our family has rented those five acres for over a decade. We're experienced in managing them, knowing what to plant, so we would like to continue renting them from you. We won't use the previous rate but will pay the standard rent so as not to shortchange you. Is that okay?"
Guo Xiangshen had over a hundred acres of land in the village, which he naturally wouldn't farm himself. Instead, he leased it to tenant farmers, including his family's nephews. Because they were relatives, they paid less in rent. They were farming prime land. The original rent was seven bushels of grain per acre. However, because Guo Xiangshen was their Seventh Master, he treated it as average land and only required five bushels of grain per acre from them. Their willingness to pay Chen Ku the standard rent showed they likely couldn't bear to part with those five acres. As they said, having farmed those five acres of prime land for over a decade, they knew what to plant and had never gone hungry, even in disaster years.
Once Guo Fu spoke up, the other two villagers who followed also said, "Yes, exactly, that's our thought as well. So we came to ask, Kid Ku, can we continue to rent this land for farming next year?"
The two other villagers were Tian Shuhuai and Sun Youhou. They were honest farmers without any family relation to the Guo Family. They paid the normal rent and had come hoping to continue renting the land.
These words left Mother Chen and Xu Lan in a slight daze.
This, this is truly a turning point. Even when the eldest son was around, times were not bad, but never this good. How could their family suddenly transform into the village's major landowners?
Chen Ku, regarding their intentions, did not refuse.
He smiled and said, "Of course. If you want to keep renting, that suits me perfectly. I'm also worried about how my mother and sister-in-law can handle cultivating these extra dozen acres of land. If you're interested, I have seven more acres that I can rent out to you as well."
The four villagers looked at each other in surprise.
Guo Fu and Guo Qiang's eyes were red. They had been prepared to be ridiculed and leave with nothing achieved, but unexpectedly, Chen Ku agreed so readily. He was even willing to rent out more land.
Mother Chen and Xu Lan, however, grew anxious. Neither of them was incapable of work; why rent it all out?
But they were stopped by Chen Ku.
So, half a day later, Chen Ku and these people went to Village Chief Chen's place. There, they renewed the leasing agreements, and Chen Ku ended up leasing out all of his family's twenty-odd acres of land.
Upon returning home, Mother Chen was extremely puzzled, tears welling in her eyes, and said, "Child, our family members have been farmers for generations. How can we not keep some land for ourselves?"
Chen Ku looked at them and said, "From now on, Mother, Sister-in-law, you'll be living differently. No more farming, just collecting rent—this is what a good life looks like."
His sister-in-law murmured, "Then Mother and I will become like the leisurely wives of a landlord..."
Chen Ku laughed and said, "That's nothing. Once I go to the city, settle down there, and bring our family over, then as city folks, we'll have Hu Zi study. Who knows, my elder brother might even see his son become a top scholar in the future."
Mother Chen and his sister-in-law were both captivated by the beautiful vision Chen Ku painted.
City folk, studying... even becoming the top scholar? These are things people from the countryside dare not even dream of...
Chen Ku smiled and said no more.
Over the next two days, he cherished his time in this home. Then, after watching Village Chief Chen come and collect the autumn grain, Chen Ku's last worry vanished.
「Early on the morning of the third day.」
Dressed in a long gown, he finally and completely walked out of this impoverished village, heading towards Baojiao County.
Looking forward, the road ahead stretched far and shone bright.
Chapter 28: Chapter 28 Butcher Court
Half a month had passed, and once again, he had arrived in Baojiao County.
Chen Ku observed the Inner and Outer City, still as bustling as ever, its people similar to those in Snake Fish Town.
A thought involuntarily crossed his mind: "I've actually managed to jump from a village to a town, and from a town to a county all at once..."
He was aware. The one-year clerkship at Medicine King Hall was just that—one year. If, after a year, he couldn't lay down roots within Medicine King Hall, he would likely have to roll back to his village. But that was for common folk. He, with the aid of the Transformation Diagram, didn't think he would roll back to the countryside either. If he were that useless, he might as well find a corner of the city wall and bash his head against it until he was dead.
He arrived at the entrance to the Inner City. The constables collecting the customs tax at the city gate were inspecting people and allowing passage.
Yet, Chen Ku inadvertently noticed a poster on the city wall.
He was startled. "This major smuggler still hasn't been caught, and the reward has even increased!"
One of the wanted posters on the wall unmistakably depicted "Ni Kun," the same face he had seen on the poster at the entrance of the Medicine and Firewood Market. Only, compared to a month ago when the reward was one hundred taels, it had now astonishingly increased.
A month had passed, and the reward had soared to five hundred taels! A massive reward of five hundred taels of silver was more than enough to buy a quadrangle courtyard in Baojiao County.
As a rule, an increase in the reward usually meant that during the capture attempt, not only was the fugitive not caught, but... "He killed government soldiers? Is he that strong?"
Chen Ku had heard that in the county, while there were colossal forces like Medicine King Hall, Firewood Iron Shop, and the Fish and Dragon Association, the true wielders of absolute power were still the officials at the county Yamen. Since the Martial Path existed in this world, it went without saying that the strongest and most capable individuals would certainly be within the government. Most of the Yamen's officials and constables in the county seat possessed martial arts skills; otherwise, how could they possibly suppress the other forces in the county?
"I wonder what level of expert Ni Kun is? Force Transforming? Or Inner Qi? What exactly did he smuggle?" Chen Ku pondered.
He, too, had somewhat stepped into a gray area, so he naturally felt a sense of needing to be vigilant.
Lost in thought, he passed by the city wall.
The Yamen official at the city gate saw Chen Ku's long robe and the Medicine King Hall servant's waist token he displayed. The official waved him through, exempting him from the city entrance fee.
"Why..."
Chen Ku's ears were sharp. He seemed to hear a hot-headed youth, much like Li Jiyang, complaining in the queue to enter the city. The youth was quickly silenced by someone covering his mouth.
He couldn't help but turn his head to look in the direction of the sound.
It was a middle-aged man with a teenager of about fifteen or sixteen.
Seeing this, Chen Ku felt somewhat dazed.
The middle-aged man, with some reverence, hurriedly pulled his son to nod at Chen Ku.
Chen Ku didn't speak. Instead, he offered a smile, the same kind of smile worn by that Mr. Wang in the long robe outside the Medicine and Firewood Market that day.
After all, his status had changed. He, too, had become an exception.
He reined in his thoughts.
He headed straight for Medicine King Hall.
The huge lintel and the broad hall still filled the place with the scent of medicine.
"Oh, you're the person who offered the Treasure Herb half a month ago, right? Not bad, I still remember you. Come with me to the apprentice quarters; you've been assigned to room sixteen." Upon arriving at the hall and presenting his identity and waist token, he was recognized by Wu Gui, the same attendant from last time.
He had followed Wu Gui through the inner courtyard once before, but this time, Chen Ku noticed they were taking a different path.
The backyard of Medicine King Hall was extremely spacious and vast, much like the large Shanxi manors Chen Ku had seen during his past travels.
"Brother Wu Gui, just how large is Medicine King Hall's compound?" Chen Ku asked curiously, following behind the familiar attendant.
Wu Gui seemed to be very good-natured; if this were Chen Ku's previous life, Wu Gui would be like an enthusiastic senior student. He smiled at Chen Ku and said, "Didn't I tell you last time? There are Three Great Courtyards in total. If we're talking about rooms, all combined, there are fifty-six, and that's excluding the storerooms."
Fifty-six rooms.
"The living quarters for attendants like us are in the Kitchen Courtyard, the rearmost one. Meals are usually served there too. You'll reach it after passing through Butcher Court," Wu Gui said, leading Chen Ku into a large courtyard.
Hmm?
As soon as Chen Ku stepped into this large courtyard, he was hit by an extremely strong smell of blood and foul odors. Crossing the large threshold of the entrance, he saw about seventeen or eighteen rooms arranged around the courtyard, all wide open. Disciples in Medicine King Hall robes were running back and forth, busily engaged.
Some were drying things, others were sifting materials; there were also those grinding herbs, sweeping, and carrying water, giving an impression of orderly activity amidst the bustle.
Most crucially, Chen Ku observed that in this courtyard of seventy to eighty square meters, the items drying on racks were all Deer Antler, Beast Bones, and a whole series of animal-related products.
Sensing Chen Ku's reaction, Wu Gui smiled and said, "All things under heaven can be used as medicine. Butcher Court is responsible for preparing animal-derived medicines, like Deer Antler, Cow Gallstone, Dog Treasure, Bear Gall, Leopard Bones, and so on. There's even Demon Meat."
"Demon Meat?" Chen Ku seized upon the key term.
"Yes, those are beasts that have cultivated Demonic Qi and can be considered Demons. Only an internal qi expert can handle them," Wu Gui patiently explained. "Just yesterday, the hall's Demon Hunting Squad captured a live demon-level 'Bear'... I heard that today, Master Shang Yunfang from Butcher Court will personally handle it to ensure that all the valuable medicinal parts from that demon-level Bear are harvested with their properties maximally preserved..."
Just as Wu Gui was speaking—
ROAR!!!
Suddenly, a deafening roar assaulted the ears of Chen Ku and Wu Gui, a sound so powerful it seemed to shake the very buildings of Butcher Court and reverberated throughout the entire courtyard.
Shortly after, a specially made fine steel cage was pushed out by the attendants of Butcher Court.
Chen Ku watched, slightly moved.
The Bear inside was a full three meters tall, its body pierced all over with steel hooks. Its roars vibrated Chen Ku's eardrums, and he could faintly sense a strange, threatening aura sweeping through the courtyard, making his heart tremble and leaving him breathless.
[System: Diagram Master has encountered a demon-level Bear's Demonic Qi suppression. Hostile intent detected. Quashing it will yield one strand of demon-level Evil Qi.]
Chen Ku's eyes lit up.
Demonic Qi. That special threatening aura he'd felt was indeed Demonic Qi. Clearly, the Demon, enraged at being caged, was emanating its fury mixed with Demonic Qi. Though not specifically targeting him, it had still triggered the Transformation Diagram's awareness.
Just as Chen Ku's eyes burned with intensity while watching the Bear—
HUMPH!
A cold snort, and a figure suddenly emerged from within Butcher Court, instantly arriving before the Bear's cage. With a wave of her hand, the cage door opened.
Chen Ku saw the figure: dressed in a long robe and boots, of a slightly short stature, with her head wrapped in a square scarf, her face obscured. She stepped forward to face the Bear, whose body was pierced by steel hooks and chains.
One hand grabbed the Bear's head—a head that possessed the strength of no less than several thousand jin—as if seizing a mere chick, forcefully and dominantly yanking it upwards.
In her other hand, a dagger as thin as a cicada's wing appeared. It flashed across the Bear's chest with imperceptible speed, and then she held a gourd beneath to collect whatever flowed out.
"That is Master Shang Yunfang of Butcher Court. Others might be able to subdue this demon-level Bear, but only Master Shang's 'Black Tiger Butcher Knife' can so skillfully extract the bile from a live bear without fatally harming it," Wu Gui said respectfully, gazing at the figure's back.
Chen Ku asked softly, "Are many of the animal-derived medicines in Butcher Court from creatures killed on the spot?"
Wu Gui nodded. "Naturally. Haven't you seen the couplet at our hall's entrance? 'Though ingredients are costly, we never dare compromise their inherent quality.' Even with food, freshness from immediate slaughter is prized. So, for animal-derived medicines, those harvested live are naturally the freshest. Many martial arts schools and customers have this requirement. It's one of the hallmarks of Medicine King Hall."
Chen Ku looked at the courtyard, filled with animal parts for medicine—Tiger Bone, bear paws, and the like, a dazzling array. "What a great place," he thought. "It seems my first goal after joining Medicine King Hall is clear now."
That goal was to enter Butcher Court!
This was simply a Holy Land for his development!
Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Uneven
"What are the requirements to enter the Butcher Court?"
Passing by the Butcher Court, Chen Ku looked back several times. He was even more startled to see a living, breathing Fierce Tiger being led into the yard on a chain. He watched with envy, his heart stirring. Without a doubt, the Butcher Court is an ideal place for me, seemingly tailor-made for practicing the Transformation Diagram and accumulating Evil Qi. The prerequisite is that I need to be able to get in.
Curious, Wu Gui turned to Chen Ku and asked, "Do you want to enter the Butcher Court in the future?"
Inside Medicine King Hall, medicinal materials were processed and handled in the Three Great Courtyards. The Butcher Court used animals in medicine, the Hundred Herbs Courtyard used plants, and the Jinshi Academy used metals in medicine preparation. Among them, the Butcher Court was the most laborious. Its butchery and boiling processes required much more physical strength than those of the Hundred Herbs Courtyard. As for the Jinshi Academy, it was the most demanding in terms of a Pharmacist's talent, already delving into the level of Alchemy Pill. Only those with extraordinary talent could enter.
Chen Ku, of course, would not reveal his thoughts, simply speaking without changing his expression, "Just asking out of curiosity."
It had to be said, the Butcher Court gave him an idea. Even if I can't get into the Butcher Court right away, could I find a job as a pig butcher in the county town? Perhaps perfect the Skinny Dog Transformation to 'Transform' Perfection first?
Wu Gui, unaware of Chen Ku's thoughts and without suspicion, thought that Chen Ku was merely curious, having just passed by the Butcher Court. So, he explained in detail, "That's simple. Once you've become an official 'Apprentice,' you've met half the requirements. The other half depends on your preferences and the talent you show. Take the Butcher Court, for instance; you must at least have a talent for butchery—putting it simply, that means... having good Bladesmanship. Like Master Shang Yunfang, his Bladesmanship has reached an extraordinary Realm of virtuosity, allowing him to slice through an ox with ease, as if the knife moved on its own."
"Bladesmanship?" Chen Ku had seen it clearly just now: the skill with which the Bear Gall was extracted. The blade was far sharper than any surgical scalpel from his previous life, and the technique was exquisite to the finest detail. He whispered, "How formidable is Master Shang's Martial Arts? Is he an Inner Qi expert?"
"More than just Inner Qi!" said Wu Gui. "He's beyond that. But I don't know exactly what realm that is because I haven't become a full-fledged apprentice yet and have had no chance to learn those advanced Martial Arts. I only know about the three progressive stages: Strength Training, Force Transforming, and Inner Qi."
Beyond Inner Qi?! Chen Ku silently took note. To enter the Butcher Court, I need to become an official apprentice?
"So how does one become an official apprentice?" asked Chen Ku.
Wu Gui answered, "Either a master in the court takes a liking to you, or you improve in Martial Arts, achieving Perfection in Strength Training and possessing Thousand Jin Force. Naturally, you'll be favored. Even if you go to help out in one of the Three Great Courtyards, having Thousand Jin Force is a significant advantage. Plus, there's a 'monthly exam' about every month or so where different masters come to pick people. You'll find out then."
Is Thousand Jin Force enough? A thought flickered in Chen Ku's mind. It seems I need to seize an opportunity to showcase my abilities.
Before long, they arrived at the Servants' Room where the workers rested, and Wu Gui led him to Room 16. Entering, Chen Ku saw it was indeed a large dormitory room, about six or seven meters long and two meters wide, with four sets of bedding laid out on a heated brick bed.
"You'll stay by the wall there. Everything has been prepared by Medicine King Hall," said Wu Gui, patting Chen Ku's shoulder. "This is what the Servants' Room is like. Get used to it. But if you have the chance to become an apprentice, you'll have your own bed. Not just that, the food you'll get as an apprentice will also be better than what we servants get."
This is simple but clean enough, Chen Ku thought, looking at the dormitory. Still, I miss my old school dorms—at least we had bunk beds there.
"Your roommates will probably get back from work for dinner in a while. As for daily Martial Arts practice, that happens early in the morning. The court assigns a master to provide guidance for one hour in the early morning on the Medicine King Hall's basic Strength Training technique, the 'Spirit Ape Great Strength Skill.' This is a Superior Martial Arts for the Strength Training phase. In the future, even if you leave Medicine King Hall, the Spirit Ape Great Strength Skill could help you become a good hunter in the mountains, providing you with plenty of strength!"
Having said that, Wu Gui continued, "There's not much else to remind you of. I've got to get back to work in the front hall, so I'll leave you to it."
Chen Ku amiably accepted, saying, "I'll treat you to a drink in a couple of days." He now possessed more than one hundred taels of silver and several dozen taels of precious Herbal Medicine, making him relatively wealthy. A meal was nothing to fret over. It was more important to see if Wu Gui was someone worth engaging with further, as he could help Chen Ku understand many aspects of Medicine King Hall.
"Alright." Wu Gui laughed upon hearing this, and his impression of Chen Ku improved even more.
After seeing Wu Gui off, Chen Ku remained in the courtyard. He waited for the other three occupants of his room, all the while pondering his future plans for life at Medicine King Hall.
My Dog Nose's ability to find Treasure Herb... I can't let that go to waste, especially now that I'm in the county town. Medicine King Hall will have even more opportunities to deal with Treasure Herbs. This could help me learn the scents of many I've never encountered. Every Treasure Herb is useful even to an Inner Qi expert, let alone someone like me who is only at the Strength Training phase. That first Treasure Herb I found... I wasn't qualified to use it myself; it just became capital for my advancement. But any Treasure Herb I find from now on, I must use for myself.
As Chen Ku was contemplating these matters, a large bell soon sounded from outside. Then, in just a few minutes, many people returned to the "dormitory" from various places.
Chen Ku watched as a man in his thirties with a small face and a big belly, his eyes somewhat narrow like beans, entered the room. Surprised to see someone, he paused before regaining composure and said with a smile, "You must be the new guy, Chen Ku. Your bedding was prepared half a month ago, and you've only arrived today."
"May I ask your name?" Chen Ku knew this must be one of the fellow servants living with him.
"No need to be so formal. Just call me Zhang Erniu," said Zhang Erniu, who looked to be about thirty and had a friendly attitude towards Chen Ku. Smiling, he added, "It's just about mealtime. Let's go get some food together, shall we? Want to try the Medicinal Meal from Medicine King Hall that's rumored to be so amazing outside?"
Chen Ku asked, "Aren't there two more brothers in this room?"
Zhang Erniu replied, "Oh, you mean Che Ping and Huang Wenbao. They've just gone to help out at a branch shop, collecting herbs and doing odd jobs. They've been gone for a few days but should be back in a couple more."
"Alright, then please lead the way, Big Brother Zhang."
Chen Ku was indeed interested in the Medicinal Meal of Medicine King Hall. Outside, he had heard that even the most common meals for servants were more effective than Muscle Enhancement Powder.
Shortly thereafter, the two arrived at the large dining hall situated behind Medicine King Hall. It was another vast courtyard. However, Chen Ku noticed that there were three long lines in the courtyard, and he smelled an incredibly fragrant aroma in the air, making him ask Zhang Erniu curiously, "Is that the Medicinal Meal? It smells so delicious?"
Zhang Erniu looked at him and shook his head with a laugh. "The scent you're smelling is from the 'Apprentice Meal'..."
Chen Ku was slightly puzzled. "Apprentice Meal?"
Zhang Erniu gestured toward the three lines. "Apprentices are like half-disciples of Medicine King Hall. They line up in the middle during meals. Their standard for meals is two meat dishes and one vegetarian. We are just servants, lining up in the queue on the far right. Though our daily meals also vary, at most we get 'stewed dishes' or 'medicinal congee.' As for the Medicinal Meal, it's only cooked once every seven days. They could afford to cook it daily, but they're just worried we might not be able to digest it..."
Chen Ku looked at the line with the fewest people. "What about that queue?"
Zhang Erniu spoke in a low voice, "That's the 'small kitchen' meal—four dishes and one soup—for the masters. Attendants collect it in meal boxes to deliver personally to them."
Chen Ku fell silent for a moment and then joined Zhang Erniu in the queue. Before long, they reached the large pots where the food was served, and indeed, as Zhang Erniu had said, today's meal for the servants was a 'stewed dish.' It contained pork, cabbage, vermicelli, and radish, with not many slices of meat, just a bit of fat, along with two steamed buns.
In Dachen Village, such a meal standard could be considered "feast-level."
Chen Ku turned his head to look at the apprentices' meal standard: two meat dishes and one vegetable. Today, the apprentices were eating 'bamboo shoot fried with pork,' 'potato stewed with chicken chunks,' and 'green beans with eggplant'...
And the meal boxes for the masters, being sent not far away, seemed to contain seven or eight extravagant dishes.
Three kinds of meals, three levels of quality. From the countryside to the county town... such is the disparity between people, he sighed internally.
Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Mutual Involvement
Late in the afternoon, as the sun was about to set, a golden hue shrouded the shops of Baojiao County. In the dining hall of Medicine King Hall, there were tables, and some people were eating at them, but many workers were accustomed to squatting on the ground to eat.
"Even in long robes, they can't change the habit of squatting to eat; this bunch really shouldn't even dream of becoming apprentices," said Nian Jiao, an apprentice eating at a table, glancing disdainfully at Chen Ku, Zhang Erniu, and other workers squatting nearby, watching them eat messily without concealing his contempt.
"Brother Nian, why bother with those country bumpkins? Better to think about this year's martial exam. Once we pass, even within the hall, we'll be treated just like the masters," said Peng Hanbing, sitting next to Nian Jiao.
They all came from prominent families in the county and were accustomed to eating etiquette and cleanliness from a young age. It wasn't personal bias; it was just scorn within their social circle.
Chen Ku didn't feel targeted by their disdain and therefore didn't notice. He simply squatted on the ground, holding a big bowl of stew, and quickly finished it with two buns in no time. Soon after, he went for another bowl and watched as the old man serving dishes trembled noticeably, dropping several slices of meat before serving him a bowl.
Now possessing a strength of six hundred jin without activating the Skinny Dog Transformation, he needed to eat two bowls of such stew and four buns a day if he hadn't exerted any force.
Recalling the server's trembling hands earlier, he couldn't help but grumble while squatting, The other day, Nong Baosen said my Ghost-Faced Lotus was overpriced and after joining, they'd compensate me. From what I see now, it seems I haven't received anything. Has someone been skimming off the top, or did he simply forget?
After eating, Chen Ku had no particular tasks for the day, so he went around the city, secretly buying himself some supplements and scouting out mountains suitable for gathering herbs.
When he returned, he saw Zhang Erniu in the courtyard, practicing a set of fist stances. He watched for a while. This must be the Spirit Ape Great Strength Skill that will be taught in the courtyard tomorrow. Just by postures alone, I couldn't learn much; I have to see tomorrow's demonstration.
With that, Chen Ku went inside to sleep, not planning to show off the Ten-Section Brocade. Having joined Medicine King Hall, it was best to practice the martial arts of the hall. However, in the middle of the night, when he went outside to relieve himself, he saw Zhang Erniu and other workers from different rooms still practicing fist stances.
Their foreheads glistened with sweat, yet their eyes held a resolute look. As they moved through the stances, they seemed to be silently contending with some invisible foe. Chen Ku could understand their mindset. Coming from humble beginnings, they could only rely on quietly pushing themselves. After all, whether they could stay after a year entirely depended on their accomplishments. So, when others secretly practiced extra at night, it made it hard for anyone else to sleep peacefully. His face turning grim, he felt compelled to join in this mutual struggle.
In some ways, me secretly gathering herbs is me silently pushing myself too... I'm pushing with others now so that later, I can afford not to! Chen Ku silently vowed.
With that, Chen Ku had a good night's sleep, not getting involved in this "nighttime martial training" struggle.
「Until the next morning.」
The master in charge of teaching martial arts arrived and introduced himself, making Chen Ku's heart skip a beat.
"I am Huang Gun. Today it's my turn to teach you. We are only going over some stances and stick techniques. Fight with me..."
The speaker, a man with a handsome face and a robust masculinity, wore an embroidered robe. Chen Ku recalled what Zhang Erniu said: the robe, like that of the apprentices and disciples, was ordinary, but this embroidered type was typically for masters, with just one robe costing seven or eight taels of silver, worth tens of thousands in his previous life.
But what surprised Chen Ku the most was... This man is Huang Ba's distant relative, Huang Gun? What is his cultivation level?
Chen Ku watched as Huang Gun stepped forward, facing a group of workers in the courtyard, and said, "Spirit Ape Great Strength Skill, derived from our Medicine King Hall's Five Beasts Great Strength Technique, is a superior martial art consisting of stances and combat techniques. 'Spirit Ape Stance' for stances, and 'Spirit Ape Knocking Mountain Stick' for combat, embodying both practice and fighting, a testament to superior martial arts. Now, as usual, we'll start with the stances the previous masters taught, and then move on to stick training!"
With that, Huang Gun moved, and suddenly, a one-zhang-long iron stick appeared in his hand. Holding the end of the stick, he began to move around the courtyard, teaching as he walked.
"Lifting a stick is like lifting a cauldron; this way of holding it is the best for building strength, along with stance practice... Remember, keep your footing steady! Have you seen how a monkey grabs the ground with its toes? All ten toes gripping the earth, do you understand?! Keep training like this. I've demonstrated all eighteen stance skills. When you feel your 'bones rise and flesh falls,' that's when you achieve Thousand Jin Force! Next, I'll demonstrate the Spirit Ape Knocking Mountain Stick technique! This stick technique comprises nine moves! But the essence of it, 'Spirit Ape Knocking the Mountain,' is a Secret Fighting Technique under Force Transforming Martial Arts. For now, I can only demonstrate it. Only apprentices will be taught the intricacies. Just watch closely for now!"
Huang Gun, dressed in a robe, with a square face, finished speaking and struck diagonally with a stick in one hand!
BANG!
The iron stick whistled through the air and landed in midair, compressing the air beneath it into a ball before violently exploding! A burst of forceful wind swept around in all directions!
It was just a demonstration, yet he didn't teach how to generate and transform force. It was meant to motivate the workers to cultivate diligently, striving to be promoted and to eventually learn this powerful move.
Chen Ku was shocked by the power of the stick. This stick can produce a piercing sound wave and visibly spin and explode the airflow! Is this what Force Power is? Force Transforming Martial Arts? Taught only to apprentices? With such speed, combined with strength, a strike from this stick would probably turn me into pulp! A severe threat loomed in his mind—if Huang Gun discovered that he possessed the letter about Huang's embezzlement at Medicine King Hall... But at least, I've seen a glimpse of 'Force Transforming Martial Arts.' Becoming an apprentice will allow me to learn it.
After Huang Gun was done training, he looked at everyone and said, "Now practice on your own for half an hour. After that, it's time for work as soon as dawn breaks."
He walked away with his hands behind his back.
Like the others, Chen Ku picked up a four-meter-long white pole and began trying the Spirit Ape Stance and 'Lifting the Big Pole'...
Half an hour later, a realization struck him. The stance techniques in the Spirit Ape Great Strength Skill are more intricate than the Ten-Section Brocade. The same six hundred jin of strength trained here at Medicine King Hall develops more muscles.
Although Huang Gun had left the courtyard, he could clearly observe from a distance the stick technique and posture of dozens of people. It was evident who trained well and who had good Root Bone structure. He inevitably focused more attention on Chen Ku. He has trained in martial arts...
Half an hour later, Chen Ku was assigned his tasks for the day, which were merely to sun-dry medicinal herbs, clean, and fetch tea and water. There was no specific job; he just did what was assigned.
After a busy day, the other two men in his room also returned. That evening, with the stars and the moon high in the sky, Chen Ku watched as Zhang Erniu continued to practice extra at night, while Che Ping didn't participate at all. But Chen Ku joined in because, during the night, he benefited from the enhancement of the Moon-Eating Dog bloodline.
Two or three days passed like this.
Chen Ku, just by helping with the daily drying and processing of medicinal herbs, had already become familiar with the scents of several hundred different herbs. He had also processed several Treasure Herbs. With this information, combined with his understanding of which mountain in the county was suitable for nighttime herb gathering—specifically the Medicine Mountain behind the Firewood Iron Shop, which had business dealings with Medicine King Hall, located in the southern outskirts of Baojiao County, about twenty li away. However, the cost of entering this mountain to gather herbs was exceedingly high. A common person looking to enter would need to pay Eight Hundred Wen.
But for me, this is a business venture that's bound not to lose money. So, while others at Medicine King Hall practiced extra in the evenings, he also began his own unique, unconventional method of pushing himself.
Could a hundred days of extra practice at night compare to the rapid progress brought by a single Treasure Herb?