The Past and Future, Martial Arts and Civilization

In the early days of establishing Gao Liu City, powerful martial artists were needed to hold the fort, along with a large number of city-guarding soldiers and martial artists to maintain order.

To this day, martial artists guarding the city remain crucial!

However, the myriad of miscellaneous tasks within the city, including calculations, record-keeping, documentation, communication, and organization, all require literate individuals.

It is said that atop the Sky Gazing Tower in the inner city, there are nearly three hundred literate people, but they are basically all from the inner city.

For the common folk in the outer city, reading and writing are seen as a waste of time. Sitting idly at home is less productive than doing more work, earning silver, and having enough to eat.

Those from slightly better-off families believe that practicing martial arts to strengthen the body and protect their homes and businesses is the most reliable skill in these chaotic times.

This is a concept that has been passed down through generations over long years.

"But my elder brother, early on, broke this ingrained notion. Before he was transferred to Phoenix Perch Prefecture City, he paid to hire an old scribe from the Southern Prefecture's yamen to teach my second brother and me to read and write."

Lin Yan thought to himself, "Actually, throughout history, those who achieved great success in martial arts were not entirely illiterate."

The first hurdle in martial arts: skin, flesh, tendons, and bones.

One might rely on their own physique, working hard and diligently to temper themselves, supplemented by medicinal baths and pills, to achieve this.

But upon reaching the second hurdle of martial arts, which involves Blood Refining and Marrow Washing.

This step requires learning genuine cultivation techniques and comprehending their profound mysteries. It is no longer something that can be accomplished solely by tempering one's own body.

As for the third hurdle of martial arts, which involves the cultivation of the Five Viscera and Six Bowels, it requires extreme caution.

The involved cultivation techniques are profound, complex, obscure, and difficult to understand. They require careful study before one can begin practicing. Otherwise, injuring the internal organs would have unimaginable consequences.

"Ah Yan, you're here?"

A voice came from behind, filled with surprise.

His second brother, Lin Lei, who was holding a chubby baby, quickly placed the child aside.

He strode forward, grabbed Lin Yan, and examined him for a moment before letting out a sigh of relief.

"Second brother slept late yesterday. As soon as I woke up, I heard the whole city was under martial law. Your sister-in-law had already hung the Willow Branch Night-Illuminating Lamps."

"In the middle of the night, I heard the bells and drums ringing, signaling a dire situation. You have no idea how worried I was."

"I went to the old house just now, and you weren't home. If I hadn't seen that your bathwater hadn't been poured out and was still warm, I would have really worried something had happened to you."

"Hmm? Why did you buy Refined Salt? This isn't something we can afford to eat. Later, we'll go to the salt merchant and see if they'll let you exchange it..."

He rambled on, but seeing Lin Yan, his heart settled. He reached out and stroked the little girl's head.

Turning his head again, the little one he had just put down was giggling, crawling on the ground with his hands paddling like he was swimming, chasing after ants.

Lin Yan stepped forward, picked up the little boy, and held him in his arms, then said with a smile, "It was a gift. If second brother thinks it's too extravagant, take it back and exchange it."

"Well, that's a minor matter. It's good that everyone is safe."

Lin Lei said this, a hint of lingering fear on his face. He continued, "Last night, over a dozen people died on the outer street. Among them, two families were wiped out entirely. The city hasn't experienced such a major disaster in many years."

"Your sister-in-law's elder brother was noticed by the District Chief of our Lin Jiang Ward early this year and was promoted to be the village head of the six streets to the west."

"He was transferred this morning to help with the aftermath, clearing rubble and debris, and collecting the bodies. They're sending people to the inner city to dispel the resentment at the Temple, so they don't turn into malevolent spirits."

"Oh, and I heard there are still some Demonic Evils in the city. I don't know where they're hiding. These days will probably be restless. Second brother always feels uneasy and worried when you're alone in the old house. Why don't you move in?"

His second brother said this, then added, "Besides, ever since second brother built this house, you haven't come to live here. The neighbors in the district think we brothers aren't on good terms, which isn't good, is it?"

In these three small tiled houses, the innermost room was the living quarters for his brother and sister-in-law, and also the kitchen. Inside, there was a stove and a water tank.

The middle room had a bed in the corner and a dining table and chairs in the center.

The outermost room was divided in half, with a bed in one half and miscellaneous items in the other.

Outside, there was a small courtyard divided into two sections. One section housed a pig and two chickens, while the other was used for growing vegetables.

Compared to the old house, it was already quite spacious. And within Lin Jiang Ward, it was considered a "mansion" that the surrounding neighbors envied.

"You can stay here today. We'll move tomorrow. You go pick some vegetables from the back, and second brother will cook personally. We brothers will have lunch."

Lin Lei said this and went to the stove to start a fire.

Lin Yan didn't refuse and went to the backyard, casually asking, "By the way, why don't I see second sister-in-law?"

Lin Lei heard this and smiled, "Today, the city is busy with the aftermath of last night's events everywhere. The yamen has mobilized a lot of manpower, and they have to eat! That elder brother-in-law has always taken care of our family, so he had your sister-in-law go help with cooking. The yamen will pay a hundred copper coins for her work..."

Lin Yan heard this and smiled, "Second brother is a manager at the pharmacy, earning less than three taels of silver a month. If you calculate the daily wages, sister-in-law is earning more than you today."

"Heh, don't underestimate your elder brother. Look at the tools in the small courtyard. Every time I come home from the pharmacy, I make some tables and benches in my spare time, and I earn quite a bit too."

Lin Lei said this, looking quite proud. "When you get married, elder brother will personally build you a wedding bed."

However, as he said this, his expression gradually became strange.

He likely remembered the events of the night before last. But the strange look flashed by, and he didn't say anything more.

Lin Yan saw this and understood.

In his impression, his elder brother had always been steady and diligent, but he was also quite intelligent and had a calm disposition.

After learning to read and write, he found a job as a bookkeeper at the pharmacy and was later promoted to manager.

Regarding the events of the night before last, his second brother likely felt they were too bizarre and mysterious. Even if he told his family, it would be useless and only add to their worries, so he didn't mention it.

"It's good to report good news and not bad, though it's well-intentioned. After being bewitched by a Ghoul, his spirit is still somewhat weak. If it's not dealt with soon, he'll eventually fall seriously ill."

"Duke Lu's Evil-Suppressing Talisman will be given to my elder brother later. He'll wear it for a night, and he'll be fine tomorrow."

Lin Yan thought this to himself, but at this moment, he heard voices from outside, quite noisy.

It wasn't close, but the voices were agitated, clearly showing intense emotions.

His second brother, who was about to start a fire, suddenly sighed and put down the firewood.

"That's Uncle Zhou's house."

"A couple of years ago, his son joined the Outer South District City Guard's office. It truly brought honor to the family, and Uncle Zhou could finally hold his head high."

"His family even set up three tables of food and drinks, and I went to give them a gift."

"Later, he was transferred back to our Lin Jiang Ward as a Night Patrol Envoy. I've met him a few times. He's a man who understands etiquette and values relationships."

"In the past two years, the neighbors have respected Uncle Zhou quite a bit, and his Zhou family relatives often checked in on him."

"I heard that last night, he was transferred to guard the city and died on the city walls."

Lin Lei's expression turned somewhat somber. "He looked so promising, with a great future ahead of him. Who would have thought it would all be gone in just one night?"

Lin Yan remained silent.

Last night, on the city walls, he had seen Zhou Ji's corpse.

Then, his gaze turned towards the outside, and he said in a low voice, "What's going on now?"

"They're plundering the family."

Lin Lei sighed and walked outside, saying, "Uncle Zhou treated me well since I moved here. You wait at home; I'll go take a look."

Lin Yan didn't stop him, nodding slightly. Then, he heard the little girl behind him ask in her milky voice, "Little Piggy, what does 'plundering the family' mean?"