A Strange Feeling

Seeing this uninvited guest, Yi Yun frowned. The man who barged in was precisely the one who had clashed with them during the grain distribution and tried to lay hands on Jiang Xiaorou.

Yi Yun also learned his name: Zhao Tiezhu.

"What do you want!"

Jiang Xiaorou tensed up upon suddenly seeing Zhao Tiezhu barge in. She reached under the bedding, stealthily grasping an arrow she had been hiding there.

"Heh, what are you so nervous about, little girl? I'm here on official business today. Young Master Lian has entered seclusion and will remain there for three full months to attempt to break through to the Purple Blood Warrior realm, preparing for the Tai'a Divine Kingdom's warrior selection!"

"The Chieftain has already issued an order: all tribesmen must go to the mountains to gather herbs to make medicinal baths for Young Master Lian! Each person must submit eight taels of medicinal ingredients daily!"

"Gather herbs? Medicinal baths?"

Yi Yun finally remembered that he seemed to have "fallen to his death" from a cliff face while gathering herbs before.

So, this so-called herb gathering was for making medicinal baths for these warriors.

It was truly pathetic. At such a young age, he risked his life to gather herbs, and for others at that. Not only did he get no compensation for dying, but his grain ration was also withheld.

"Eight taels of medicinal ingredients per person per day? How is that possible?" Jiang Xiaorou's heart seethed with anger. "Besides, if we all go gather herbs, when will we have time to make arrows? Without weapons, how will we trade for grain with the larger tribes next time? Won't we all starve to death?"

"Hahaha! You're still thinking about trading for grain? Once Young Master Lian breaks through to the Purple Blood Warrior realm and is selected by the Tai'a Divine Kingdom, what grain will you need to trade for? You'll all be able to move into the city, and we'll guarantee you plenty to eat and drink!"

The big man said mockingly, glancing greedily at Jiang Xiaorou. This girl was indeed a beauty. If she had better nutrition and a few more years to grow, she'd be a stunner.

"My brother was injured while gathering herbs before. His legs are still not well. You're still making him gather herbs? Isn't that sending him to his death?"

Jiang Xiaorou's voice trembled with anger. Yi Yun had died gathering herbs, and now that he had just come back to life, he was still weak. Yet, he was being made to gather herbs again. This was tantamount to sending him to his death!

Furthermore, there was no benefit to gathering herbs. All the collected herbs had to be submitted to the tribe for free!

The big man scoffed upon hearing Jiang Xiaorou's words. "What is an individual's life compared to the tribe's glory! As long as Young Master Lian breaks through to the Purple Blood Warrior realm and is selected by the Tai'a Divine Kingdom, it will be a matter that brings blessings to descendants and protects the Lian Clan for hundreds of years. At that time, your contributions will be recorded in the tribe's genealogy!"

"You are haggling over such a good deed that benefits future generations. You truly don't know what's good for you!"

"Besides, the Chieftain has already decreed this time that to condition your bodies and boost your morale, the dregs left after boiling the medicinal ingredients will be returned to you for bathing. Previously, these dregs were reserved for the warrior reserve camp members."

The big man spoke righteously, while Jiang Xiaorou tightly gripped the arrow in her hand, her knuckles turning white from the exertion. "What if we can't submit the medicinal ingredients?"

"Can't submit?" The big man's expression turned cold. "Hmph! The tribe doesn't support useless people. If you can't even gather herbs, what right do you have to eat? If you can't submit the medicinal ingredients, your grain will be confiscated. Who knows how many people are waiting to eat!"

As he spoke, the big man glanced at Yi Yun, who was still lying on the bed. He recalled how Yi Yun had embarrassed him in front of everyone before, leading to Lian Chengyu blaming him for incompetence and failing to even handle the simple task of distributing grain.

A surge of anger rose in Zhao Tiezhu's heart. "Kid, stop lying there pretending to be dead. I heard you were injured. Let this old man have a look. Where are you hurt!"

As he spoke, the big man lunged at Yi Yun!

He intended to make Yi Yun suffer, so he struck with great force.

Facing the big man's sudden attack, Yi Yun instinctively wanted to dodge. However, at that very instant, Yi Yun suddenly felt as if everything in the world had slowed down. The fierce big man's every expression and movement was clearly reflected in his eyes.

Including Jiang Xiaorou's tense little face nearby, the arrow in her hand, and the arrangement of the bedding – all of it entered Yi Yun's vision.

It felt as if time had suddenly frozen. Sounds and airflow seemed to have become a part of his own body, clearly perceived by Yi Yun.

Everything slowed down, and only a faint coolness from the Purple Crystal in Yi Yun's chest transmitted, incredibly clear.

Purple Crystal?

The coolness emanating from the Purple Crystal sent a jolt through Yi Yun's body!

Yi Yun even felt that he could, in an instant, duck under the big man's grab, seize the arrow from Jiang Xiaorou's hand, then spring up and use that momentum to stab the arrow into the big man's throat, killing him!

This feeling was incredibly strong. The most perfect trajectory for his body even appeared in Yi Yun's mind, giving him a strong urge to try it.

However, Yi Yun ultimately did not do so. Now was not the time to fall out with the Lian Clan.

Just inciting the masses had already made Lian Chengyu harbor murderous intent towards him. If he were to kill or severely beat a tribal warrior, the consequences would be even more severe. A seemingly weak young man killing a member of the warrior reserve camp – how could this not attract the attention of the tribe's higher-ups? The source of such strength would be impossible to explain!

He watched as Zhao Tiezhu lunged, but subtly retreated a tiny bit, causing Zhao Tiezhu to miss his flesh and only grab his clothes.

Zhao Tiezhu had intended to bruise Yi Yun's flesh, but he didn't expect this little fellow to be so slippery, shrinking back and causing him to miss!

If he were to grab again, Zhao Tiezhu would lose face. He merely snorted, pulled Yi Yun up, and threw him back onto the bed.

"You don't look injured, you little mud monkey! Hand over the medicinal ingredients by sunset tomorrow. For every tael short, ten catties of grain will be deducted!"

After saying this, Zhao Tiezhu turned and left.

"Yun'er, are you alright?" Jiang Xiaorou asked anxiously. Yi Yun, however, was stunned and speechless.

What was that feeling from just now?

Zhao Tiezhu, who was well-trained, suddenly seemed as slow as a turtle in front of him, giving Yi Yun the feeling that he could easily kill him.

If Zhao Tiezhu hadn't suddenly developed senile dementia, could it be... his own movements had become faster?

Could it be... his body...

"Sister Xiaorou, what rank of male was I before?"

Yi Yun realized something and eagerly asked Jiang Xiaorou.

"Why do you suddenly ask that? Yun'er, you didn't even qualify as a male before. The lowest rank, fifth-class male, had to lift a 100-jin stone lock. You could only lift thirty jin..."

"Thirty jin..."

Yi Yun was a bit speechless. However, considering that lifting stone locks overhead was required in the Lian Clan, thirty jin was equivalent to the weight of more than half a bag of rice. It wouldn't be easy for a scrawny child to lift it.

"Where are the stone locks kept in the tribe?" Yi Yun asked again.

"They're in the training grounds behind the village, aren't they? Why are you asking about them, Yun'er?"

"It's nothing," Yi Yun smiled faintly. "Sister, let's get some rest early today. We still have to gather herbs tomorrow."

Night fell, and the inky sky was filled with brilliant stars.

In this era, there were no streetlights, and the poor villagers couldn't even afford to use oil lamps, so the village where the Lian Clan resided was pitch black.

The training grounds behind the village were a vast area, about a li in circumference. This was where the members of the warrior reserve corps usually practiced martial arts. Tonight, a nimble shadow crept into the training grounds, looking around.

"Found them!"

Yi Yun rejoiced inwardly. Just as Jiang Xiaorou had said, a row of stone locks was placed to one side of the training grounds.

They ranged from twenty jin to three hundred jin, and there were even grinding stones weighing five hundred jin, and a large stone roller weighing a thousand jin.

Yi Yun had come here today precisely to test his strength! He wanted to know if his body had truly undergone a change, and what the cause of that change was.

(Some readers have said the protagonist's personality is too weak. Well, just keep reading, everyone. The protagonist actually writes down every instance of being bullied in a little notebook ^_^)