Changing the Martial Register

"Shh, keep your voice down."

Wu Qi's face remained grim as he listened to Liu Shi's incessant chatter. Seeing that Liu Shi was about to say something inappropriate, he immediately interrupted her and said in a deep voice, "We can't just talk nonsense about this kind of thing. If it needs to be paid, then let's pay it. Yu'er is married now, and our family can still afford to pay."

Speaking of which, Wu Qi turned to look at Wu Ming beside him. Seeing that Wu Ming had remained silent, he sighed inwardly and said, "Ming'er, with the Spring Tax increased, life will be even harder from now on. There won't be much money left. I suppose the dried meat and fine grains at home are almost gone too."

Wu Ming was still two months shy of eighteen. He had originally planned that with the dried meat and fine grains from the Xu family's betrothal gifts, and by gritting his teeth and saving a little more, he could at least hold on for another two months. Even though his hope of becoming a martial artist was now very slim, since he had reached the final stage, he didn't mind enduring these two extra months.

But he never expected that the Spring Tax would increase by four qian of silver per person. For a family of four, that would be one tael and two qian. This amount of money was almost the last straw that broke the camel's back. No matter how frugally they lived, they could no longer afford for Wu Ming to continue practicing.

Perhaps, this was the fate of their old Wu family.

Wu Qi had already decided to take Wu Ming out to work in a couple of days, teaching him his craft little by little, leaving Wu Ming a way to make a living in the future.

"Yes, we're almost out of fine grains and dried meat at home."

Wu Ming nodded in response, his expression unchanged. He naturally understood the meaning behind Wu Qi's words. Without becoming a martial artist, this path would indeed end here. However, since he had already become a martial artist, everything was different.

Previously, because he still needed some time to consolidate his realm and nourish his physique, and he didn't want to let everyone know too early, he hadn't told Wu Qi that he had succeeded. Even Liu Shi didn't know yet.

Just then, the commotion outside was gradually approaching.

Wu Ming's family in the thatched courtyard looked out towards the outside of the courtyard. Not far from the courtyard, a Census Official in a black official robe, holding a stack of household registers, was walking towards them with five or six tax clerks by his side.

Yong Country ruled the world through martial arts, and its martial fortune was prosperous. Therefore, all official government envoys were martial artists. The Census Official in the official robe was burly and strong, with a majestic gaze that ordinary people did not dare to meet.

Clan Leader Wu Qu was also accompanying them.

"Lord Xu, this is Wu Qi's family."

Wu Qu led the Census Official Xu Wei and his entourage to the outside of the Wu family's courtyard.

Xu Wei nodded slightly upon hearing Wu Qu's words, then took out the household register, flipped through it briefly, and murmured, "Household, registered citizen, Wu Qi. Family of four, eldest daughter Wu Yu married on the twenty-first of the first month. Currently, three people in the household, no land or property deeds under their name... Hmm, this Spring Tax requires a total of six taels of silver."

Wu Qu stood by the side, glancing at Wu Qi and Liu Shi, who had weathered faces and graying temples. Seeing that both of them looked troubled, he couldn't help but shake his head slightly.

The sudden increase in the Spring Tax by the imperial court had increased the burden on the entire Wu Village, but he had no way to deal with such matters.

At most, he could offer some assistance to the poorest families afterward, so that they wouldn't starve to death.

"Census Official, please wait a moment. This humble one will go and get the silver."

Wu Qi's eyes were filled with a bit of melancholy, but he didn't say anything more at the moment. He got up and bowed to the Census Official Xu Wei and the others.

However, at this moment.

Wu Ming suddenly stopped Wu Qi and stepped forward, bowing respectfully to Xu Wei. "May I report to the Census Official, according to Yong Country's law, a Congealed Blood martial artist can be registered in the Martial Register, and direct relatives are exempt from head tax and residence tax. I was fortunate enough to achieve Congealed Blood a few days ago and have not yet reported it. I request the Census Official to verify it."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire scene froze. All eyes immediately turned to Wu Ming.

Wu Qi and Liu Shi stood to the side, both looking astonished. Clan Leader Wu Qu was also taken aback and immediately looked at Wu Ming. He saw that Wu Ming was still in a bowing posture, but a scorching, invisible blood energy was rising from him.

The matter of Congealed Blood would eventually be revealed, and now was a suitable time, so there was no need to hide it deliberately.

He actually succeeded?!

Wu Qu was slightly stunned.

Wu Ming's aptitude was not bad, but it couldn't be called strong either. Otherwise, Congealed Blood would have succeeded long ago. After being possessed by a Malevolent Spirit, his body was depleted, which was a great damage to his vitality. With his not-so-brilliant aptitude, suffering such a blow, it would be as difficult as climbing to heaven to achieve Congealed Blood again.

However, in a moment, Wu Qu quickly thought that Wu Ming's elder sister, Wu Yu, had married into Xu Village. Perhaps she had received some benefits from the Xu family, which helped to replenish her body's deficiency, and finally gained a sliver of opportunity to enter Congealed Blood.

The one from the Xu family was more valued in the city than he was, and his future achievements would likely surpass his. His family was well-off, so it was reasonable for them to provide some resources to help Wu Ming recuperate.

"Oh."

A hint of surprise flashed in Xu Wei's originally stern and indifferent eyes.

With his martial arts cultivation, which was even more profound than Wu Qu's, he could naturally judge at a glance that Wu Ming had indeed crossed that threshold and completed Congealed Blood, thus becoming a martial artist.

"Are you Wu Ming?"

Xu Wei glanced at the household register in his hand, then looked at Wu Ming. His originally stern and indifferent face softened slightly, and he asked in a gentle tone.

Wu Ming stood with his head bowed and replied respectfully:

"Yes."

"How long have you been practicing martial arts?"

"One year and ten months."

"Hmm, one year and ten months. It's a bit long, but for you, being born into a poor family, to achieve this level is quite good."

Xu Wei listened to Wu Ming's answer, and a hint of regret flashed in his eyes as he shook his head slightly.

In recent years, the territory of Jingye City had been plagued by demons and monsters more than ever before. Both the Demon Suppression Bureau and the Cautious Punishment Division in Jingye City were trying to expand their personnel. If he could send a talented young martial artist to these two important departments, it would be a merit for him. Unfortunately, judging by Wu Ming's level, his aptitude was at most "below average."

For the two highest-ranking departments, the Demon Suppression Bureau and the Cautious Punishment Division, those with below-average aptitude were only barely qualified to participate in the assessment and were generally not within the selection scope of the two departments.

After a fleeting thought, Xu Wei picked up his brush and made a stroke on the household register. He then handed the register to a tax clerk beside him and nodded slightly at Wu Ming, saying, "Since you are a Congealed Blood martial artist, according to the law, you are not required to pay the Spring Tax. I have removed your family from this Spring Tax. You will be registered in the Martial Register upon your return."

"Thank you, Census Official."

Wu Ming bowed respectfully once more.

Seeing that Wu Ming's disposition was calm and showed no signs of youthful recklessness, Xu Wei's internal assessment improved slightly. His expression also softened as he said, "Although you are not an official, you have condensed your qi and blood and are already a martial artist. There's no need for such formalities."

The tax clerks accompanying Xu Wei looked at Wu Ming with varied expressions. They were all well aware that for someone from a poor background like Wu Ming to condense his blood and qi could be considered a change in fate; not everyone was fortunate enough to achieve this.

A moment later.

Xu Wei and his entourage, accompanied by Wu Qu, departed to continue collecting the Spring Tax from the next household in Wu Village.

After the Census Official Xu Wei, Clan Leader Wu Qu, and the others had gone far, Wu Qi and Liu Shi in the courtyard finally seemed to awaken from a dream. Even though they were both elders who had weathered many storms, their emotions were still turbulent and difficult to calm.

"Good, good."

Wu Qi uttered the word "good" twice, looking at Wu Ming with eyes full of relief.

Back when Wu Ming's grandfather was still alive, he had poured almost all his resources into helping Wu Ming cultivate martial arts. However, Wu Ming had practiced until he was twenty-six, exhausting all sorts of resources without successfully condensing his blood and qi, leaving the family with little wealth.

Wu Ming's current situation was more than ten times more difficult than his own back then. The family's entire savings were only enough for Wu Ming to cultivate for about a year and a half. Furthermore, he rarely ate meat, and had even encountered the calamity of a Malevolent Spirit midway!

They had thought all hope was lost, but unexpectedly, he had succeeded.

Liu Shi walked over, trembling. She was overcome with both excitement and joy. In this world, for poor families like theirs, who wouldn't hope for their descendants to condense their blood and qi, taking that step beyond the reach of ordinary people?

After all, taking that step meant they would no longer be commoners stuck in the mud, but would enter another stratum—a qualitative transformation.