What Makes a Home

The small courtyard was only a dozen or so square meters, its walls low, with bits of rubble exposed through sections of the mud walls.

Three equally dilapidated rooms stood close together within the yard.

The white couplets on either side of the central hall's door were still faintly visible, making the place seem especially rundown.

Even so, the little courtyard had been swept spotlessly clean.

Several garments not yet fully dry hung from a bamboo pole beneath the eaves, while the large water vat below them was more than half empty.

With the memories of his former self fused into his own, to Wu Yuan, this truly felt like the home where he had lived for more than a decade.

In his previous life, he had owned a villa spanning over a thousand square meters, but after his elder sister married, it had become nothing more than a house.

Yet in this life, this tiny courtyard gave Wu Yuan the genuine feeling of home.

In truth, this courtyard was considered rather large for the entire alley.

In Wu Yuan's memories, they had moved here when his father was still alive and the family was at its most prosperous.

Later, after his father died in battle, the family fell into hardship. They still had to support Wu Yuan's martial training at the academy, and had nearly sold the house; how could they spare the money for repairs?

"Mother, Brother is back!" A young, crisp voice brimming with delight drifted over.

Whoosh! A thin, frail-looking girl of eight or nine, dressed in gray cloth, sprang out of a side room. Her little face was flushed red, and she was visibly excited.

"Brother, carry me!"

"Sure." Wu Yuan smiled.

He stepped forward, caught the girl as she leaped up with his right hand, and with a slight exertion of strength, supported her one-handed as he walked into the courtyard.

This was one of the games the siblings played most often.

"Xiao Yi, what did you do today?" Wu Yuan asked casually.

"I went to the cloth shop with Mother! Today, I learned how to make fabric flowers from Sister Xing." The girl answered excitedly.

"Haha, Xiao Yi is amazing." Wu Yuan chuckled.

Yet a faint ache stirred in Wu Yuan's heart.

The cloth shop.

It was the foundation upon which the Wu Clan had established itself in Li City. They operated several cloth shops, and Wuxing Cloth Shop, managed by Clan Chief Wu Qiming, ranked among the top ten of Li City's hundreds of cloth shops.

Of the Wu Clan's several hundred members, more than half depended on this trade. Some handled purchasing or weaving, some dyed cloth, while others sold it.

Wu Yuan's mother was an expert dyer!

Logically speaking, the compensation for Wu Yuan's father's death in battle, the clan stipend, and his mother's wages should have been enough for a family of three to live without worry.

But Wu Yuan's martial cultivation was a bottomless pit that devoured money for a common family!

If not for the clan chief overriding all objections and doing his utmost to support him over the years, Wu Yuan's mother alone would have been unable to keep the family afloat long ago.

Because of this, the various branches of the Wu Clan had plenty to say behind their backs. After all, while Wu Yuan possessed some martial talent, he was not among the best. The clan had poured vast sums into him, yet there was no guarantee those investments would pay off.

They merely did not dare speak too openly because of the clan chief's authority.

This former Wu Yuan trained at the martial academy for years and worked hard, yet only barely reached Eighth-Rank Warrior. Wu Yuan sighed inwardly. If he followed the usual path, it would be difficult to change his fate!

On the Central Land Continent, martial strength reigned supreme.

But if one was merely a lower-third-rank Martial Warrior, one could at most serve as a household guard, courtyard protector, or escort. Even joining the army meant becoming an ordinary soldier and cannon fodder.

Only by becoming a Martial Master could one hope to change one's fate!

The step from a Subordinate Seventh Rank Martial Warrior to a Sixth-Rank Martial Master was a crucial threshold in the martial path of the Central Land Continent.

If one could not reach Seventh Rank before the age of sixteen, then under normal circumstances, becoming a Martial Master in one's twenties was almost impossible.

Martial cultivation was not simply a matter of growing stronger the longer one trained!

In one's youth, one's blood and vitality were abundant, like a rising sun with boundless possibilities. Progress came swiftly.

Once one passed thirty without reaching the stage of Viscera Refining and Marrow Cleansing, Opening Acupoints to Extend Life, even if the body's functions had not yet declined, one's life potential would rapidly fade and breakthroughs would become harder and harder.

The Wu Yuan of the past had little chance of becoming a Seventh-Rank Martial Artist before sixteen.

But now, I am here! Many thoughts raced through Wu Yuan's mind.

If this body had already been eighteen, then even Wu Yuan would have encountered countless difficulties in trying to achieve success in cultivation.

But a body only fourteen years old?

It was precisely the golden age for martial cultivation!

Moreover, although his former self's talent had not been outstanding, he had trained diligently enough, and his physical foundation was extremely solid.

Though I do not know why I came to this world, I will do everything in my power to fulfill your wishes.

As time passed and his memories and perceptions fused further with those of his former self, Wu Yuan sometimes felt as though he were Zhuang Zhou dreaming of a butterfly.

He did not know whether he had transmigrated here, or whether he had experienced the wondrous Technological Federation in a grand dream.

Creak. The hall door opened.

"Yuan'er, you're back." A weary-looking woman emerged from the dim room, holding a pair of fire tongs in one hand as though she had been tending the fire.

A trace of coal ash stained her face. Her cheeks bore a sickly pallor, while the wrinkles on her forehead could not conceal the beauty she had possessed in her youth. Her face was full of smiles.

This was Wu Yuan's mother, Wan Qin.

For years, she had raised the two siblings with her own hands.

"Mother, there's no need to heat food for me. I just returned from the General's Mansion with the clan chief and have already eaten," Wu Yuan hurriedly said.

As he spoke.

Wu Yuan casually set down the fire tongs in his mother's hand, then picked up the wooden bucket beside the water vat and headed out of the courtyard. "Mother, go wash up first. I'll take Xiao Yi to fetch water."

The residences of wealthy families usually had their own wells.

But in Wu Street Alley, it was common for more than ten households to share a single well. That already counted as decent living conditions in Li City!

He supported his younger sister, Wu Yijun, with one hand.

And fetched water with the other.

That might have been difficult for ordinary people, but for Wu Yuan, it was effortless. Every leap carried him more than two zhang, swift as a leopard, making his sister burst into laughter as she repeatedly cried, "Brother, faster!"

Inside the hall, listening to the continual sound of water being poured into the vat and the laughter of the siblings, Mother Wan Qin could not help but smile.

Life was hard, but these two children were her hope and happiness in living!

...As night deepened, his sister had already fallen asleep.

Wu Yuan entered the east wing. An oil lamp burned inside, its light somewhat dim, while Mother Wan Qin was weaving cloth.

"Yuan'er, sit," Wan Qin said.

"Mm." Wu Yuan nodded and sat beside his mother. "Mother, there are some things I want to discuss with you."

"Go ahead." Wan Qin smiled, though her hands did not stop moving.

"I will give up this year's Martial Academy Grand Competition," Wu Yuan said directly.

"What?" Wan Qin's expression changed. Her hands abruptly stopped, and she looked at Wu Yuan with urgency and confusion. "Haven't your rankings in the recent minor competitions been steadily improving? Entering Nanmeng Martial Academy should not be a problem. Why give it up?"

Normally, she trusted her son greatly and did not ask much about his circumstances at the martial academy.

But what mother would not care?

Nanmeng Martial Academy was far inferior to Cloud Martial Hall. One recruited several hundred disciples each year from a single prefecture, while the other recruited only several dozen from three prefectures. Whether in the overall talent of their disciples or their academy resources, they were worlds apart!

But in Wan Qin's understanding, being admitted to Nanmeng Martial Academy was already an excellent outcome.

She could not understand why her son wanted to give up the Martial Academy Grand Competition.

"Mother, I plan to compete next year instead. I have a very good chance of entering Cloud Martial Hall!" Wu Yuan added, "The clan chief and the academy head both support me."

Wu Yuan did not reveal the full story.

Wan Qin was stunned for a moment, but she was still hesitant.

She trusted Clan Chief Wu Qiming deeply, and remembered that the academy head was a kind old man, but this concerned her son's future.

"Mother, if your son can enter Cloud Martial Hall, then in the future I will at least become a Fifth-Rank Martial Artist, perhaps even reach greater heights. If Father knows in the underworld, he will surely be immensely comforted." Wu Yuan said directly. "Even in the worst case, I can still enter Nanmeng Martial Academy next year. Going one year later will not matter."

"A Fifth-Rank Martial Artist?" Wan Qin seemed somewhat tempted.

Because she had always remembered her husband's wish: that their branch of the family might produce a Fifth-Rank Martial Artist.

Besides, she knew very well what a Fifth-Rank Martial Artist represented.

The entire Wu Clan of Li City did not possess a single Fifth-Rank Martial Artist. If one were born, not only would their small family rise greatly in status and power, the entire clan would as well.

In this world, wealth was merely a byproduct of martial strength.

"Yuan'er, since even the clan chief supports you, I will not say more." Wan Qin said, "But never act rashly when something happens. You must always put your safety first."

"Your son understands." Warmth filled Wu Yuan's heart. Parents often wished for nothing more than their children's safety.

"Mother."

"This is the reward issued by the martial academy." Wu Yuan turned his palm over and handed a banknote to Wan Qin.

"One Hundred Taels?" Wan Qin could hardly believe it.

She worked herself to the bone for less than Two Taels of Silver a month. Her yearly wages amounted to only twenty or thirty taels.

One Hundred Taels of Silver was enough to cover the living expenses of an ordinary family of three for several years!

"Mother, the martial academy is focusing on training me. They will issue this every month from now on." Wu Yuan smiled. "Keep it for now."

That was also why Wu Yuan had not taken out all one thousand taels at once.

It was too much!

Seeing it would probably have frightened Mother Wan Qin.

"Yuan'er." Wan Qin looked at Wu Yuan.

For a time, she did not know what to say. She knew powerful martial artists could earn astonishing amounts of money, but Wu Yuan was only fourteen, after all.

"Mother, from now on, I will work hard to shoulder this family with you. Tomorrow, send Xiao Yi to school," Wu Yuan said.

"Mm, send her to school." Wan Qin nodded.

Even if the children of wealthy families lacked martial talent, most were sent to school and then took the civil examinations.

Women could take the civil examinations in this world as well!

Even without the strength to truss a chicken, one could still hope to become a high-ranking official. A Prefect, for example, could make many Fourth-Rank Martial Artists lower their heads.

If the family had not truly been so impoverished, how could Wan Qin have been willing to let her daughter learn cloth weaving at such a young age?

"Mother, from now on, you must not overwork yourself either." Wu Yuan suddenly said solemnly. "Buy more nourishing supplements and properly nurse your body back to health. After some time, I will invite a Pill Master to examine and treat you."

"A Pill Master?"

Wan Qin could not help saying, "That is too expensive! At most, hire a physician to take a look. As long as I rest properly, I'll be fine."

Mother Wan Qin's health was poor. Years of overwork had made her ill. She had fainted twice at the cloth shop, most recently last year.

If Wu Yuan possessed the peak strength of his previous life, he could inspect his mother's body himself. But now? There was nothing he could do!

Only by hiring a Pill Master could he put his mind at ease.

"Mother, your son knows what he is doing." Wu Yuan smiled.

Wan Qin hesitated, but seeing how eager her son was, she did not speak again.

Late at night, the entire alley had fallen completely silent.

Whoosh!

An inconspicuous black shadow slipped out from the west wing. With a light leap, it soared several meters into the air and landed on the roof.

Its landing was soundless, its form like a ghost.

In the blink of an eye, it vanished into the darkness.

Only several dozen breaths later, Wu Yuan arrived at a riverbank two li away, a place of utter seclusion.

The South Dragon River ran through all of Li City. Its waters were broad and gentle. Not far away, tower ships passed to and fro, while the docks blazed with lights.

How marvelous.

I had been wondering what excuse I could find that would let me receive the competition reward while avoiding Cloud Martial Hall. Wu Yuan smiled faintly. Who would have thought that even Heaven was favoring me?

Five Thousand Taels of Silver—ten whole times more than I had expected.

Control my muscles, relax my mind, and one hour of deep sleep will be enough.

It is time to begin today's training. Wu Yuan gave his wrist a slight shake. The muscles and bones throughout his body seemed to tremble and move at once, and the object on his back abruptly flew up.

It was clearly a long saber.

Whoosh! Wu Yuan's fingers were strong and swift as lightning. The instant his five fingers shot out, they closed around the saber's hilt.

Swish! The saber slashed toward one side, then suddenly stopped!

It left the long saber held perfectly level, without the slightest deviation.

"This two-hundred-and-thirty-jin saber is starting to feel inadequate. Do I need to change to another one?" Wu Yuan shook his head slightly, feeling that the battle saber in his hand had become lighter than before.

It was not that the saber had become lighter.

It was simply that Wu Yuan had grown stronger!