Chapter 4

0004 ———————————————-

Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng (千年雪蔘)

The first time Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng appeared in the world of martial arts was when I was in my early thirties, about twenty years before my death. At that time, I was steadily building my career as a bodyguard, living day by day, and it was the most peaceful and leisurely period of my life.

The first person to discover the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng was Tan Mu Su (檀木蘇), the young master of the Tan Mu family (檀木世家). The young martial artist, Tan Mu Su, loved to travel through the mountains and rivers. During one of his travels, he accidentally discovered a strange place on Mount Huang (黃山). This place, despite being in the mountains, was said to have ice that never melted throughout the year. It was there that Tan Mu Su collected the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.

The problems began from that moment.

Tan Mu Su was not alone when he discovered the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng; he was accompanied by Wu Long (五龍), a talented young martial artist from the orthodox martial arts community. Wu Long, an outstanding young martial artist, noticed the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng that Tan Mu Su had obtained and soon began to fight for ownership. A life-and-death struggle ensued, and the martial arts sects in the Mount Huang area were also mobilized, causing a commotion that lasted for a whole month.

In the end, the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng became the property of the leader of the Zheng Tian Alliance (正天盟主), and the incident came to a close. I don't know the exact details of how it happened, because I was just a low-level bodyguard struggling to make ends meet.

'But one thing is certain. There is Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng in Mount Huang, and I can find it before anyone else.'

I will be the first to find and eat the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng!

Is there anything in this world more certain and powerful than this?

The Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng is said to instantly increase one's internal energy by a hundred years and guarantee eternal youth and immortality. Considering that even among the top martial arts sects, there are almost no masters who have cultivated for sixty years, it is clear that the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng is worth risking one's life to obtain.

Of course, eating the elixir alone won't make you a master overnight. You need to have a top-notch martial arts technique to back it up. However, if I can eat the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng, becoming a master is only a matter of time, and that's why I was deeply anxious.

'Mount Huang is far away. I need enough money and stamina.'

Mount Huang was about a half-month's ride away. As a teenager, the chances of starving or exhausting myself on the way there were high, and even if I managed to get there, I wouldn't be able to search the entire mountain for the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.

So, there's only one answer: I need to save enough money. Only then can I ride a horse and explore Mount Huang without starving.

Based on my experience as a bodyguard, I estimated how much money I would need. The result was ten taels of silver, a considerable amount. It was a headache to think about what I needed to do to save this much money, as it would take me almost half a year of work as a low-level bodyguard.

I don't know what to do to save money. What should I do in this situation?

'No, let me think about it slowly.'

Historically, Tan Mu Su discovered the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng at least twenty years from now. This means that if I can find it by then, I have a good chance of monopolizing it. I realized that my urgency was driven by my desire to escape this wretched life as a village chief's servant, and I let out a bitter laugh.

"Hmm..."

I'm still in shock. Why did I not die after being hit by an arrow in the chest and instead return to the past? I quickly adapted to the reality and started making plans, but I have no idea what happened to me.

One thing is certain.

I need 'power,' and I need money.

Only then can I uncover the mystery of what happened to me.

I can't achieve this by being content with just making a living as a low-level bodyguard.

I went to the stable and finished cleaning up the cow dung. It took me an hour to finish, and after that, I went to the stream to wash up and lay down to rest. After such hard labor, I was hungry, but the village chief wouldn't give me any food, so I just closed my eyes.

'Going straight to the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng is impossible. First, I need to persuade the village chief.'

Persuading the village chief.

This means negotiating to escape the life of a servant in this household.

As I waited, the village chief's son, Jin Man Jae, came back from the study hall, walking slowly. The study hall was a place where the children of influential families in the region gathered to prepare for the imperial exams, known for having excellent teachers. However, I knew that Jin Man Jae pretended to study there but often skipped classes and drank and ate with his friends. He was a worrying young man who already knew the taste of alcohol at such a young age.

Seeing the pockmarked face of Jin Man Jae, I spoke up immediately.

"Master, I have something to say to the elder. Do you know where he is?"

I was not allowed to leave the stable area, so I didn't know where the village chief's family was. I had no choice but to ask.

"Huh? Did you finish the work I assigned you?"

"Yes, I cleaned the stable."

Jin Man Jae scanned the stable like an inspector and nodded.

"He's probably in the annex. Don't bother me."

He said this and went to his room to lie down. Despite being the same age, I didn't feel angry when I saw him. I knew he would end up as a good-for-nothing who lived off his parents and indulged in drinking and women. I ignored him and headed to the annex where the village chief was.

Fortunately, the village chief was walking leisurely in the courtyard of the annex. As soon as I saw him, I greeted him and said,

"Sir, I have something to say."

"Hmm?"

The village chief was a middle-aged man with a goatee and a cunning look. He squinted his small eyes and tilted his head.

"What do you want, Cow Dung?"

I clenched my teeth.

That's right.

Before becoming a bodyguard, I didn't have a proper name. The village chief's family just called me 'Cow Dung' or 'Dung.' They treated me with contempt and disrespect. After a moment, I clenched my fists and said,

"Sir, I'm not 'Cow Dung.' My name is Bai Xiong (白雄)."

After becoming an independent bodyguard, I lived by the name my parents gave me. The village chief was taken aback by my straightforward answer.

"Tsk! Don't you know your nickname? Stupid boy... tsk."

He clicked his tongue and glared at me. He seemed displeased that I, who had never complained, was now voicing my opinion. But I was the one who was truly upset. The village chief knew my real name but never called me Bai Xiong during the years I worked as a servant. He deliberately treated me like a fool to keep me in a lowly position.

Before he could get angry, I said,

"I want to take the entrance exam at a martial arts school. Can I go to town tomorrow?"

"What?"

The village chief looked stunned.

"Are you in your right mind?"

Taking the entrance exam at a martial arts school!

A martial arts school is a place where martial arts are taught for a significant amount of money, and the goal is to produce outstanding martial artists who can join the major sects in the world of martial arts. There were more than ten martial arts schools in the nearby town.

To enter a martial arts school, a lot of money was usually required. The instructors were often top masters from the major sects or the five great families, and they charged high fees. It was normal for commoners to be unable to learn martial arts even if they wanted to.

However, there was one way to receive martial arts training without paying a large sum of money.

This was to pass the entrance exam and prove your talent.

While martial arts instructors pursued profit, they also had a strong desire to train outstanding disciples to strengthen their sects. If you showed exceptional talent, they would often train you even if you couldn't afford it.

I said quietly,

"Why not?"

"There are many reasons why not. What talent do you have to knock on the door of a martial arts school?"

The village chief laughed and said,

"Tell me which martial arts school you want to take the exam for. It's so amusing, I might let you go once."

"Guanzhong Qinglong Martial Arts School (關中靑龍武館)."

"......!!"

The village chief's small eyes widened. He said in disbelief,

"Cow Dung, do you even know what the Qinglong Martial Arts School is?"

He called me 'Cow Dung' again, but I ignored it.

"Yes."

"What is it?"

"It's a martial arts school founded by Li Guang (李光), a former instructor of the imperial guards. It's the largest and most famous martial arts school in Guanzhong."

Li Guang was a top master in the Guanzhong region, known for his expertise in swordsmanship, spear techniques, and boxing, earning him the nickname 'Three Excellences.' Many martial arts masters admired his skills and character.

"You know well!"

The village chief's face twisted like an angry catfish. He pointed at my forehead and said angrily,

"You, a dung cleaner, want to take the exam at the Qinglong Martial Arts School? Even renowned martial artists struggle to get in, and you think you can?"

"......"

"If you become a laughingstock, I, who raised you, will be ridiculed. Don't have delusions. Go back and sleep."

I grabbed the village chief's arm.

Crack!

"Ah, ah, aah!!"

The village chief screamed as the sudden pressure on his arm startled him. It wasn't enough to break his arm, but it left a red mark. When I let go, he stammered,

"You, you, you dare to... to..."

"Look closely. I have this strength."

I went to a nearby tree and grabbed a thick branch. With a strong push, I snapped the branch, which was as thick as my arm. Even a strong adult would find it difficult, and the village chief's eyes widened in surprise. After nearly half a century of practicing the Three Disasters Technique, even if it was a third-rate martial art, I could exert this level of power.

I smiled and said,

"If I get into the Qinglong Martial Arts School, I won't be a burden to you anymore, and your reputation will improve. Even if I fail, I won't tarnish your name. Isn't it worth a try?"

"......"

The village chief seemed to be thinking, pulling his goatee a few times. He then nodded reluctantly.

"Fine, go ahead. But if you become a disciple at the Qinglong Martial Arts School, you must pay back the money I spent raising you."

"What?"

What did he mean?

I thought I had misheard, but the village chief said calmly,

"Raising you for two years has drained our household. It's only fair, right? If you become a disciple, you should pay back the money."

"Ha... How much do you want?"

"Fifty taels of silver."

Something rose in my throat. To demand fifty taels of silver for two years of living expenses, while making me work in the stable and not giving me proper meals, was outrageous. I realized this man was beyond reason.

But I decided to endure it. I suppressed my boiling anger and smiled.

"Ha ha! I'll go tomorrow."

We'll see.

Once I gain power, I will definitely kill you and your son, Jin Man Jae.

While harboring these vicious thoughts, I pretended to be genuinely happy.

I could kill them now, but I wanted to find a way to survive in this new life.

============================ Author's Afterword ============================

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