Little Lord Li

Little Lord Li

Lord Li sat facing the great lake, his eyes half-closed as he reclined in his chair.

At the freshwater Canal Transport dock by the lake's mouth, servants and merchants bustled back and forth through the snow, loading and unloading goods.

No matter who passed this Nameless Pavilion, they would slightly bow toward it or offer a salute and call out, "Lord Li."

Lord Li never responded, merely lying there in calm repose.

Li Yuan put away his umbrella and waited quietly.

After a while, the servant brought three people dressed in Blood Saber Sect robes.

There were two men and one woman. They were about Li Yuan's age, perhaps two or three years older, all still youths.

Once all four had arrived, Lord Li, who had been resting with his eyes shut, began calling names.

"Outer Perimeter Disciple 180, Zhao Zhinan."

A youth with a rather fierce aura about him, "7~8" floating at his side, answered, "Here."

"Outer Perimeter Disciple 187, Zhang Yue."

A refined-looking youth with "6~7" floating beside him answered, "Here."

"Outer Perimeter Disciple 197, Li Yuan."

Li Yuan answered as well.

"Outer Perimeter Disciple 198, Wen Xiaoqiao."

The extremely plump girl, nearly the size of two Li Yuans, with "8~9" floating at her side, answered sweetly, "Here."

That name, that figure, that voice... even Li Yuan was briefly stunned.

Before transmigrating, he had read plenty of novels. The women one encountered after entering the martial world were usually beauties, followed by all sorts of flirting. It seemed... that was all fake.

Lord Li continued, "Li Yuan, the other three have practiced saber techniques, but you have not. Is that right?"

Li Yuan said, "Reporting to Lord Li, I am a hunter who hunts in the mountains. I am skilled with a bow, but I have indeed never practiced saber techniques."

Lord Li said, "Draw your bow. Let me see what you can do."

"Yes."

Li Yuan replied, stepped forward, flipped out his bow, nocked an arrow, and slowly drew the string.

The other three watched him silently.

Although Blood Saber Sect disciples were strictly forbidden from killing fellow disciples, they were all competitors. Everyone could be called an opponent, an enemy. Having a powerful enemy around them was ultimately a threat.

Thus, after arriving, the three had even stood slightly apart from one another, cautiously observing each other.

At this moment...

The bowstring slowly stretched.

Amid a series of creaks, the bow was drawn halfway. Its draw strength was roughly between "8~9."

The three wore grave expressions, each lost in thought.

Li Yuan let out a breath and was about to lower the bow when Lord Li suddenly shouted, "Don't hide your strength! The more capable you are, the higher your standing here. What good does concealing it do?"

"Yes."

Li Yuan answered.

Then he drew the bow again, this time raising the strength slightly to "13~14."

The bow became a full moon, giving off a dangerous aura.

All three wore expressions of surprise and extreme gravity.

Lord Li suddenly sat up. He studied Li Yuan for a moment, then said, "Change bows. That thing you bought from a blacksmith's shop does not even meet the sect's basic standards."

As he spoke, he rose and picked through the weapon rack behind the recliner. He tossed over a refined steel bow and a quiver of arrows. "This is the ordinary bow and arrows used by our sect. Try again."

Li Yuan caught the bow.

At a glance, the data floating at his side changed again.

It went from "39~40" to "54~55."

Even he froze for a moment.

Then he raised his hand and slowly drew the bow. This time... he had no choice but to pull it to the "19~20" level.

Lord Li said, "You've become a Ranked Martial Warrior, haven't you?"

Li Yuan's heart skipped a beat.

Before he could speak, Lord Li continued, "It's not bad to be a Ranked Martial Warrior. Among the Blood Saber Sect's Outer Perimeter Disciples in the Black Market, you're the only one."

Li Yuan: ...

Lord Li asked, "How old are you?"

Li Yuan said, "Seventeen."

Lord Li nodded, closed his eyes, and said, "Just now, I heard the servant call you Little Lord Li, so Little Lord Li it shall be. You became a Ranked Martial Warrior at such a young age, and you share my surname. You deserve this empty title.

Whether you can keep it, though, depends on you.

However, the Blood Saber Sect values saber techniques, and saber techniques come with a complete set of corresponding cultivation methods.

You have cultivated another method. If you switch to the Blood Saber Sect's cultivation method now, who knows how much effort it will take.

In that case, the Black Market suits you quite well. Search around here; perhaps you will find martial arts better suited to you.

When your strength is sufficient, even without cultivating the Blood Saber Sect's methods, you can still climb upward."

"Thank you, Lord Li," Li Yuan said.

"You can keep that bow. Replace your piece of junk," Lord Li added.

"Yes," Li Yuan answered respectfully.

The three beside him were dumbfounded for a moment.

They had thought they were all competitors, but this one was directly a Ranked Martial Warrior.

But if he was already a Ranked Martial Warrior, why was he still an Outer Perimeter Disciple rather than an Outer Sect Disciple?

Then they thought of Li Yuan's bow and immediately came up with some explanations.

He used a bow rather than a saber. If he wanted to learn the saber, it would be equivalent to starting cultivation from scratch.

There were conflicts between different cultivation methods and skills; they could not simply be stacked together.

Thinking of this, the three relaxed slightly.

On the other side, Lord Li spoke again.

"Now that Li Yuan's matter is settled, let us move on to official business.

Guarding the Black Market generally takes three years.

After three years, you will be assessed. Those who pass may become Outer Sect Disciples and formally cultivate the Blood Saber Sect's methods.

But before then, you may first learn the Blood Saber Sect's introductory saber technique. An inner sect instructor will come in two days to teach you its mnemonic verses and cultivation method."

"In the Black Market, your monthly pay is ten taels of silver. All disciples rotate in two batches, changing shifts every seven days.

There are three hundred servants in the Black Market, twenty permanently stationed Outer Perimeter Disciples, and ten disciples on the island.

These ten form pairs according to adjacent numbers, making five groups. They patrol the four sides and the center of the Black Market, with each group leading sixty servants."

"You may enjoy some of the benefits of the Black Market, but you must remember three rules."

"First, do not ask where the goods come from. Anyone who has paid and bought a stall or shop may come onto the island.

Second, do not interfere with their business. There will naturally be cheating, deception, and swindling among those on the island. As long as both sides agree, do not interfere, and do not expose them.

Third, do not allow armed fights to break out on the island. If one does, it must be enforced against, and people must be killed. Their goods will be confiscated directly.

Of course, the enforcer may first choose one item from the goods as a free reward."

Perhaps sensing the anticipation hidden beneath the silence of those outside the pavilion, Lord Li added, "Do you know why there are twenty permanently stationed Outer Perimeter Disciples in the Black Market, yet you can still come here?"

The disciple named Zhang Yue stepped forward and said, "Lord Li, I presume it is because of... casualties. If we cannot suppress armed fights on the island, we may die in battle."

Lord Li said, "Good that you understand. The four of you will divide into groups according to the rules. The two vacant areas are East Market and Central Market. Once you have formed your groups, leave immediately. Guard the markets well, and do not let anything go wrong."

"Yes, Lord Li."

The four answered.

Then came the grouping.

By number, Zhang Yue was paired with Zhao Zhinan, while Li Yuan was paired with Wen Xiaoqiao.

Then they drew lots to assign their areas.

Four slips of paper were placed in a small jar, marked "East," "East," "Central," and "Central."

Only if all four drew correctly would it count.

After several attempts, Li Yuan and Wen Xiaoqiao both drew "Central."

Their group and patrol area were thus decided.

"Little Lord Li, please guide me well," the tank-like girl said in a coquettish voice.

Li Yuan was somewhat speechless.

But wasn't a chubby girl still a girl?

He politely replied, "Miss Wen, please guide me as well."

Then he added, "Don't call me Little Lord Li. Just call me Li Yuan."

Being elevated the moment he arrived on the island was not a good thing.

At the same time, it gave him an urgent desire to become stronger.

He had already displayed the strength of a Ranked Martial Warrior, showing everyone "19~20." Was his hidden strength of "54~55" a little too weak?

P.S. Some readers mentioned the issue of developing skills. Well... the author has something to say about that.

For the protagonist to develop a skill, he needs the corresponding tools, enough time, and the right environment.

In short, it is not that easy. (Then again, if a skill is easy to obtain, is it really a skill? Would it be interesting if the protagonist comprehended some divine art after just a couple of days?)

The protagonist already had experience training dogs, and after long-term interaction with the tiger, he developed the Beast Taming Art.

In any case, there will be no shortage of this aspect, but it will not be exaggerated either. The protagonist will not simply stay home practicing without interacting with anyone, then become invincible and steamroll the world.

That is not the theme of this book.

It is more about "a small person struggling to survive in a strange apocalyptic world, while growing increasingly terrifying himself and witnessing the river of time."

As for whether the female lead dies and how that will be handled, the author has plans. But it will not be something like her suddenly dying of old age with no further plot, nor will it be a case of them growing stronger and attaining immortality together. The author will try a third path.