Chapter 5

0005 ———————————————-

Millennium Snow Ginseng

The next day, I received twenty taels of silver from the village chief and set off for the Qinglong Martial Hall in Guanzhong. Jinmancai looked at me with a gaze that seemed to say, "What about you, you little brat?" The village chief’s wife, concubine, and the concubine’s children also gave me mocking looks. I tried to maintain a composed expression as I set out on my journey.

‘Hmph. Better than before. Back then, I went to the escort company with not a single coin in my pocket.’

Although the village chief didn’t ask, I knew how to get to Guanzhong quickly thanks to my experience as an escort agent. It would take about half a month on foot, and there was a risk of encountering bandits along the way, but if I could join an escort company’s convoy, the danger could be minimized. The most suitable escort company in this area was the Three Pines Escort Company.

The escort company I had worked for over fifty years, the Plum Blossom Escort Company, was of similar scale to the Three Pines Escort Company. Although they were competitors, there was no real animosity between them, and they maintained a distant relationship. I had heard that the Three Pines Escort Company had many skilled agents, so joining their convoy would make the journey relatively easy.

After a day and a half of walking, I arrived in the city as night fell. The city at night was a place where ruffians roamed and night enemies wreaked havoc, so I quickly headed to the traveler’s lodge. The traveler’s lodge was a temporary accommodation for travelers, guarded by soldiers. Travelers could stay for one night but were safe from bandits.

A few travelers were huddled together in the lodge, preparing to sleep without a word. A musty smell of decay came from the bedding. I silently gazed at the moon once, then tidied up my belongings and went to sleep.

The next morning, I went to the Three Pines Escort Company. The gate with the company’s sign was bustling with agents preparing for a convoy and the workers accompanying them. I approached one of the middle-aged agents.

“Can I join the convoy?”

“Eh? Who are you?”

“My name is Baixiong, and I live in the village across the river. I’m here on an errand for the village chief.”

The agent’s expression changed strangely.

“Hmm… Where are you going?”

“To Guanzhong.”

“A kid like you to Guanzhong… Do you have money?”

“No. But I can do odd jobs, cook, and carry luggage. Please let me join.”

The agent stroked his beard and said,

“Follow me for a moment.”

He led me to where the convoy leader was. The convoy leader, who commanded about ten agents, was usually an experienced agent serving as a middle manager. They were generally more skilled in martial arts than regular agents.

The convoy leader of the Three Pines Escort Company had a face that resembled a horse, with a long lower jaw. He glanced at me while reading a document.

“Hey, who’s this kid?”

“Sir, this kid wants to join the convoy and do odd jobs. His name is Baixiong, and he’s from the village across the river.”

“Hmm…”

The convoy leader scrutinized me and said,

“You seem strong and capable. There’s no problem, so you can manage him.”

“Yes, sir.”

The convoy leader didn’t ask about my identity or destination, leaving that to the middle-aged agent. I was more grateful to the middle-aged agent for taking on this troublesome task.

I followed the agent outside and said,

“Thank you.”

“I have a son your age.”

The agent smiled and said,

“However, we’re not going all the way to Guanzhong. We’ll turn off to Liangyun. You’ll have to find your way from Liuyue Valley. Can you do that?”

“Yes, I can. I’m grateful for your help.”

“Alright. Your job will be preparing meals, washing dishes, and carrying luggage. I’ll tell you more later.”

“Yes.”

The convoy set off soon after. I felt things were going smoothly as I joined the convoy without any issues. On the first day, we walked and rested for about six hours, crossing mountains, and I started doing various odd jobs during meal times. Of course, I had done this for years, so I knew how to do it well without much instruction.

The agents were surprised.

“You’re good at this! How about staying and doing odd jobs for the escort company after this convoy?”

It seemed like a rude question, but it was a good offer. Most children in rural villages were so poor that they often went hungry for days. Getting food regularly by doing odd jobs at the escort company was considered a good life. However, I smiled and replied,

“I’ll think about it after I finish my errand.”

“Alright, alright.”

First, I needed to go to the Qinglong Martial Hall in Guanzhong to test my current abilities.

Could I become a disciple at the Qinglong Martial Hall with the Six Harmonies Sword Technique and the Three Treasures Heart Method I had honed for forty years in my previous life?

I was confident I could, which was why I had left the village. No matter what, the time and experience I had put into training would make me better than other teenagers. I was excited about the prospect of learning top-notch martial arts at the Qinglong Martial Hall, and I couldn’t sleep well.

The convoy journey lasted about ten days. There were no bandits or accidents, and everything went smoothly. The Three Pines Escort Company’s convoy was heading to Liangyun from Liuyue Valley, so I had to leave the convoy and go to Guanzhong on my own.

“Thank you for everything.”

“Wait a moment.”

The middle-aged agent secretly gave me two taels of silver. Surprised by the unexpected amount, I was touched as he scratched his greasy hair and laughed.

“Hahaha. It’s tough for a kid to go to Guanzhong alone. If you encounter bandits, give them the money. You’ll probably survive.”

“…Thank you so much.”

I felt a lump in my throat. Having worked as an agent for decades, I understood his thoughts. Two taels of silver was a significant amount for a regular agent. He must have given it to me out of a paternal feeling.

Moreover, bandits often killed or enslaved children they encountered. At least, if I offered the silver, I could avoid being killed outright. Even bandits, who were often outlaws or runaway slaves, had some sense of humanity.

So, these two taels of silver were not just money but a lifeline.

I wiped my nose and said,

“I haven’t even asked your name. What is it?”

“I’m Zhang Tie of the Three Pines Escort Company. Come visit me later.”

“Yes, I will.”

I made a mental note.

When I gain power, wealth, and fame, I will repay Zhang Tie tenfold for his kindness today.

Liuyue Valley was a place with small villages scattered in gentle valleys. There were several rural villages, and I didn’t see any bandits, possibly because the villagers had formed a self-defense force. I stayed overnight near Liuyue Valley and continued my journey to Guanzhong.

I hoped no bandits would appear.

Just as I was thinking this, about a day’s journey from Guanzhong, something happened.

Swish!

Two bandits emerged from the bushes on the mountain path, wielding ringed blades and wearing animal bone decorations. They were bandits from the Green Forest. I took a step back, and the thin-faced bandit grinned.

“We’ve caught a kid. What should we do with him?”

The one-eyed bandit scratched his chest hair and replied,

“Take everything he has and let him go. The young master doesn’t like to see blood these days.”

“True… Killing a kid would give us bad dreams.”

The thin-faced bandit nodded and said,

“Put down your luggage and take off your shirt! If you behave, we’ll let you live.”

“Yes…”

I had no choice.

Fighting two official Green Forest bandits over a small amount of money was too risky. My martial arts were not weak, but I didn’t have a high chance of winning. Official Green Forest bandits were trained systematically, and they might be stronger than me in my previous life.

I didn’t know what would happen if I fought for my life, but it was better to comply. Besides, I had no weapons, which put me at a significant disadvantage. If I had at least a knife, I wouldn’t have made such a humiliating choice.

The bandits were surprised to find the two taels of silver in my luggage.

“Wow, this kid has quite a bit of money!”

“Let him go. We’ve made a good profit.”

“You’re lucky. Haha… Put your clothes back on.”

The thin-faced bandit playfully hit the back of my head and handed me my shirt. I quickly put on my tattered clothes and left the spot.

‘Damn… This is frustrating.’

If I had been in a body of a late teenager, I might have been able to escape. However, my body was still underdeveloped, and I couldn’t use my full strength. I was lucky to have saved my life.

I wondered,

‘How long do I have to live like this?’

I want power.

Not enough to rule the world, but enough to have self-respect.

I desperately want the power to have self-respect.

With all my belongings and money taken, I had to walk to Guanzhong, hungry and sleeping outdoors. Fortunately, it was only a day’s journey, so I just had to walk hard. When I passed through the city gate of Guanzhong and entered the main street, I felt a glimmer of hope.

I slept outdoors again.

I had been doing this, but the cold morning wind felt especially harsh due to hunger. I dug a hole under a rock and forced myself to lie down. The ground was slightly warmer, making it easier to spend the night.

‘Now I’ll go to the Qinglong Martial Hall in Guanzhong, learn top-notch martial arts, practice, gain strength, and eat the Millennium Snow Ginseng on Mount Huang. This suffering is nothing.’

My future plans comforted me in the cold.

The next day, I found my way to the Qinglong Martial Hall in Guanzhong. As expected of a renowned martial hall, the walls were about ten feet high, and the sign was written in elegant calligraphy. Moreover, a gatekeeper stood at the entrance, which was unusual for a martial hall.

They were probably junior disciples. When they saw me standing in front of the Qinglong Martial Hall, they said,

“Hey, what are you doing here so early in the morning? No begging or asking for alms, so get lost.”

“…”

I sighed at my appearance. I was so tattered and dirty that they mistook me for a beggar. However, I mustered the courage and said,

“I’m here to take the entrance exam for the Qinglong Martial Hall.”

“Entrance exam? Hahaha, what a joke.”

The gatekeepers laughed at me. But when they realized I wasn’t joking, they looked at me with uncertain eyes. One of them asked,

“Are you from one of the Six Great Families in Guanzhong?”

“No.”

“Then did you practice internal energy from a young age?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm…”

The fat gatekeeper smiled cruelly.

“Then, let’s test your internal energy, little one.”

“Be gentle.”

Thud!

The fat gatekeeper stomped the ground forcefully to show off his strength. He then extended his pot-like hand and said,

“Grab my hand.”

When we clasped hands, the fat gatekeeper smiled and aligned our feet side by side, creating a wrestling-like stance.

“If you can stand against me for even a moment, I’ll tell the hall master.”

“What if I win?”

“Hahaha! Win? If you win, I’ll bow to you.”

“Yes.”

Thud!

“…!!”

As the wrestling match began, the fat gatekeeper looked puzzled. My internal energy from the Three Treasures Heart Method started to overwhelm his strength. I concentrated intensely, and with one push, I knocked him over.

Thud!

“Wh… What…”

The fat gatekeeper looked bewildered as he fell to the side, landing on his buttocks. I was sweating and my face was red, but I forced a smile and said,

“No need to bow. Just tell the hall master.”

Even though I had practiced the Three Treasures Heart Method for decades, I wouldn’t lose to a junior disciple of the Qinglong Martial Hall.

============================ Author's Note ============================

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