When Gao Liu City was first established, it needed powerful martial artists to hold the fort, large numbers of soldiers to defend the city, and Martial Arts practitioners to maintain order.
Even now, martial artists guarding the city remained crucial!
But the city's various affairs—calculations, record-keeping, register compilation, message delivery, sorting, and so on—all required people who could read and write.
It was said that nearly three hundred literate people worked atop the Sky Gazing Tower in the Inner City, but they were basically all from the Inner City.
To the people of the Outer City, studying and learning to read was simply a waste of time. Sitting idly at home was no better than doing more work, earning silver, and filling their bellies.
Those from slightly better-off families believed that practicing Martial Arts to strengthen the body and protect the family business was the most solid skill one could possess in this chaotic world.
That was the belief passed down through many generations over the long years.
"But Big Brother broke that entrenched belief long ago. Before he was transferred to Phoenix Perch Prefecture City, he spent money to hire an old clerk from the Outer Southern Prefecture Office to teach Second Brother and me how to read and write."
Lin Yan thought to himself, Actually, throughout history, those who achieved something in Martial Arts were not all completely illiterate.
The first stage of Martial Arts was the skin, flesh, sinews, and bones.
One could perhaps rely on one's own physique, work hard, temper oneself, and supplement it with medicinal baths and pills to cultivate successfully.
But upon reaching the second stage of Martial Arts, one began refining the blood and cleansing the marrow.
At this step, one had to learn a genuine cultivation method and comprehend its mysteries. It was no longer something that could be completed merely by tempering the body.
As for the third stage of Martial Arts, which involved cultivating the five organs and six bowels, one had to be even more cautious.
The cultivation methods involved were profound, complex, obscure, and difficult to understand. They had to be studied carefully before one could begin cultivating. Otherwise, damage to the organs would bring disastrous consequences.
"A'Yan, you're here?"
A voice came from behind, filled with delighted surprise.
Second Brother Lin Lei was holding a plump baby girl. He hurriedly set the child down at the side.
He strode over and pulled Lin Yan around for a careful look. Only then did he let out a breath of relief.
"Second Brother went to bed late yesterday. As soon as I woke up, I heard that the whole city was under lockdown, and your sister-in-law had already hung up the Willow Branch Night-Illuminating Lamp."
"Then I heard the bells and drums ringing together in the middle of the night, announcing that the situation was critical. It scared me half to death."
"I went to the old house just now, but you weren't home either. If I hadn't seen that you hadn't emptied your bathwater and it was still warm, I would've truly feared that something had happened to you."
"Hm? Why did you buy Refined Salt? How could we afford to eat this stuff? Later, go to the Salt Store and see if they'll exchange it..."
He chattered on and on, but after seeing Lin Yan, he relaxed. He reached out and rubbed the little girl's head.
Then he turned around. The little rascal he had just set down was giggling loudly, crawling all over the ground with both hands paddling like a swimmer as he chased after ants.
Lin Yan stepped forward, picked up the little boy, and held him in his arms. Then he said with a smile, "Someone gave it to me. If Second Brother thinks it's too extravagant, take it and exchange it later."
"Mm, that's a small matter. It's good that you're safe."
When Lin Lei said this, a trace of lingering fear showed on his face. He continued, "More than a dozen people died on the Outer Street last night. Two families among them were wiped out completely. The city hasn't suffered such a disaster in many years."
"Your sister-in-law's eldest brother was taken under the favor of the District Chief of our Lin Jiang Ward at the beginning of the year and promoted to district head of Sixth Street in the west."
"He was transferred there this morning to help handle the aftermath, clear away the broken bricks and rubble, and gather the corpses. They'll be sent to the Inner City, where their resentment will be dispelled in the temple, so they won't turn into evil spirits or ghosts."
"By the way, I heard that some monsters and evil spirits are still hiding somewhere in the city. Things probably won't be peaceful for the next few days. You're alone at the old house, and Second Brother can't help worrying and feeling on edge. Why don't you move here?"
After saying this, Second Brother added, "Besides, ever since Second Brother finished building this house, you haven't come to live here. The neighbors around the ward think our brothers are on bad terms. Wouldn't that be awful?"
Of these three small tiled rooms, the innermost one was where his elder brother and sister-in-law lived. It was also the kitchen, with a stove and a water vat inside.
In the middle room, the bed stood in one corner, while a table and chairs for eating occupied the center.
The outermost room was divided in two. One half held a bed, while the other was used to store sundries.
There was also a small courtyard outside, divided into two sections. One held a pig and two chickens, while the other was planted with vegetables.
Compared with the old house, it was already extremely spacious. In Lin Jiang Ward, it could even be considered a "mansion" that made the surrounding neighbors green with envy.
"Stay here tonight, and move your things tomorrow. Go pick some vegetables from the back. Second Brother will cook personally, and the two of us brothers can have lunch together."
After saying this, Lin Lei went to light the stove.
Lin Yan did not refuse. He headed toward the backyard and casually asked, "By the way, where's Second Sister-in-law?"
Hearing this, Lin Lei said with a smile, "Everywhere in the city is dealing with last night's aftermath, and the prefecture office has mobilized quite a few people. They have to eat too! That eldest brother-in-law of ours has always looked after our family, so he asked your sister-in-law to go help cook. The prefecture office is paying a hundred copper coins for the work..."
Hearing this, Lin Yan said with a smile, "Second Brother works as a manager at the medicine hall and earns less than three taels of silver a month. If you calculate the daily wage, Sister-in-law is earning more than you today."
"Hey, don't underestimate your big brother. Look at all those tools in the courtyard. Every time I return home from the medicine hall, I make tables, chairs, and stools in my spare time. I earn quite a bit too."
Lin Lei was rather pleased with himself as he said this. "Once you get married, Big Brother will personally build you a wedding bed."
But as he said this, his expression gradually grew strange.
He had probably thought of what happened the night before. Yet the odd look on his face flashed by in an instant, and he said no more.
Seeing this, Lin Yan understood.
In his impression, his elder brother had always been steady and hardworking, but he was also quite clever and possessed a calm temperament.
After learning to read and write, he had gone to the medicine hall and found work keeping the accounts, later being promoted to manager.
As for what happened the night before, Second Brother had probably found it too fantastical and bizarre. Even if he told his family, it would be useless and would only add to their worries, so he had chosen not to mention it.
"Reporting good news and not bad news is well-intentioned, but after being bewitched by a hantu, his vital essence and spirit are still somewhat listless. If it isn't dealt with soon, he'll eventually fall seriously ill."
"Duke Lu's Evil-Suppressing Talisman should be given to Big Brother later. If he wears it for one night, he'll be fine tomorrow."
Lin Yan was thinking this when he heard a commotion coming from outside. It was quite noisy.
It was not very close, but the voices were agitated, clearly charged with intense emotion.
Second Brother, who was about to light the fire, suddenly sighed and set down the firewood.
"That's Uncle Zhou's house."
"Two years ago, his boy entered the Outer Southern District City Guard Office. It brought great honor to the family, and Uncle Zhou finally held his head high."
"His family even set out three tables of food and wine, and I went to give them a gift."
"Later, he was transferred back to our Lin Jiang Ward and became a Night Patrol Envoy. I saw him a few times too. He knew proper etiquette and valued human feeling."
"Over these two years, the neighbors all respected Uncle Zhou greatly, and even the members of the Zhou clan often showed concern for him."
"I heard that he was transferred to defend the city last night and died on the city wall."
Lin Lei looked somewhat downcast as he said, "He seemed to have such a bright future ahead of him. Who would have thought that all of it would vanish in a single night?"
Lin Yan fell silent.
He had seen Zhou Ji's corpse on the city wall the night before.
Then his gaze turned outside, and he asked in a low voice, "What's going on this time?"
"They're eating the childless household."
Lin Lei sighed and walked outside. "Uncle Zhou has treated me well ever since I moved here. You wait at home. I'll go take a look."
Lin Yan did not stop him. He nodded slightly, then heard the little girl behind him ask in a childish voice, "Little Piggy, what does 'eating the childless household' mean?"
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