Shanbei Village

Shanbei Village, Gan State A humble village in Anbei Prefecture, Muzhou.

Here, mountains rise and fall, and the land is barren. Moreover, because Shanbei Village is located in the wild border region where Gan State, Lu Country, and Zhongshan Country intersect, it was a lawless area neglected by all three before Gan State took control. Consequently, the young people in the village once made a living by smuggling salt and iron.

It wasn't until five years ago, when Gan State took over this area and vigorously developed Hua'an Town, that the people of Shanbei Village finally began to settle down.

Night falls.

Fourteen-year-old Li Mo, with slightly rough skin and a reserved personality, leans against his bed, watching his mother mend his clothes by the oil lamp.

"Your father originally had two brothers. Both of your uncles died fleeing the wars between Gan State and Lu Country. Only your father was fortunate enough to join the salt smuggling team led by the Zhao family at the west end of the village. That's how he married me, and later you were born. Unfortunately, we didn't have many good years before he left us forever. Our lives are so unfortunate, cough cough."

Whenever she reached this point, Zhou Mei couldn't help but shed tears. She smoothed her hair back from her forehead, hiding the tear tracks at the corners of her eyes.

Seeing his mother worn down by hard work, Li Mo felt a pang of sadness. He quickly got up and brought her a bowl of water.

"Mother, when I return from town in a few days, I'll ask Doctor Zhang to prescribe more medicine for you."

Li Mo hated that he couldn't earn more money to pay for his mother's medical treatment.

As an apprentice at Jimin Hall, he only received three hundred Cash per month. Including the year-end bonus, he earned less than four taels of Silver annually. This wasn't even enough to cover his own food. Even with careful saving, his mother still had to supplement his income by two hundred Cash each month.

Now, he could only hope to graduate as soon as possible and become a dispensing Doctor or a Traveling Doctor at Jimin Hall. At the very least, he wanted to become an herb gatherer. This would earn him at least one string of coins per month, plus the year-end bonus, bringing his annual income to fifteen taels of Silver. He would be content if it increased year by year after that.

After drinking the water, Zhou Mei asked Li Mo to put the empty bowl aside.

"Mo'er, we are now citizens of Gan State. We no longer need to live like before, smuggling in the southeastern wilderness to make a living, constantly in danger. Not to mention the chaos of war, we could be eaten by mountain spirits or water monsters without anyone finding our bodies."

As she spoke, she adjusted the lamp wick, dimming the light slightly to save lamp oil.

"You need to make something of yourself. Whatever you do in the future, be diligent, hardworking, focused, and see things through to the end. Don't be half-hearted and achieve nothing. Now that you're Doctor Zhang's apprentice at Jimin Hall, you must learn his skills well. Don't get angry no matter how he scolds or hits you, understand?"

"I understand, Mother."

Li Mo replied earnestly.

Seeing how sensible Li Mo was, Zhou Mei smiled with satisfaction, a look of affection on her face illuminated by the lamplight.

"My son is also approaching the age of capping. It's time to think about getting married."

Gan State law stipulated that a boy's fifteenth birthday was the age of capping, when his braided hair could be unbound and tied into a single knot. He could then focus on his studies and skills, and even arrange a marriage.

Upon hearing this, Li Mo blushed slightly and lowered his head.

Seeing Li Mo's reaction, and to save lamp oil, Zhou Mei quickly finished sewing the garment in her hands and extinguished the oil lamp, plunging the room into darkness.

The next day.

As dawn broke, Li Mo heard shouting outside his window early in the morning.

He got out of bed and saw his mother cooking. He paused briefly by the stove.

Zhou Mei was mixing millet and wheat into boiling water, then adding some wild vegetables and salt. She cooked it until it became a thick porridge, then let it cool, solidify into a block, cut it into small pieces, and served it.

The shouting outside was from Zhang Qin, who was also Li Mo's distant cousin.

Zhang Qin was seven years older than Li Mo. Li Mo had followed him around since childhood. It wasn't until five years ago, when Uncle Zhang used some Silver to secure a constable position for Zhang Qin in Hua'an Town, that they saw each other less frequently.

Later, Li Mo also became an apprentice at Jimin Hall in town, and their opportunities to meet became even fewer.

At this moment, Zhang Qin was holding two stone slabs, honing his strength in the fields. Sweat dripped down his forehead.

"Brother Zhang Qin!"

Li Mo called out in surprise.

Li Mo was usually a quiet person. Only when he was with familiar people did he become so enthusiastic. This was related to his experience of losing his father at a young age. Without a father, he tried to speak less and make fewer mistakes to avoid being bullied, which led to his somewhat reserved demeanor in the eyes of outsiders.

"Little Mo, you're back too!"

Zhang Qin put down the stone slabs and looked at Li Mo with a smile, saying, "You've grown quite a bit since last time."

Li Mo looked at Zhang Qin with envy. It wasn't just because his cousin's constable job earned him at least two strings of official pay per month, but also because of his skills. Zhang Qin had once demonstrated them to Li Mo. After years of training, he could now leap over roofs and run along walls, and he wielded a superb saber technique.

"Brother Zhang Qin, I heard there were monsters in the area of Dagou Village. Is it true?"

Zhang Qin's expression changed upon hearing this.

"I'm not entirely sure, but Heaven's Mandate Bureau has indeed sent some people over. As for whether they are mountain spirits or water monsters, it's hard to say. Such matters are far more difficult to deal with than those wanted criminals who roam the jianghu and commit evil deeds. We are mortals, after all. Even ten years of hard work, cultivating the body and skin, cannot compare to the centuries of cultivation of those demons and monsters who refine their inner energy."

For ordinary people, the existence of demons, monsters, and cultivators who could fly through the heavens and burrow into the earth was not a secret.

As the saying goes, "Externally, cultivate bones and skin; internally, refine vital energy."

Various demons and monsters wreaked havoc in different regions, while cultivators from various immortal mountains and holy lands acted as Inspectors of the Heaven's Mandate Bureau, traveling to different places to slay demons and eliminate evil, combat secret organizations, and counter enemy forces, enjoying a transcendent status. This was an open secret in Gan State.

The Central Plains had always been a land of a hundred kingdoms, with six great powers dominating.

Among them, Gan State, though a latecomer among the six great nations, had been established for over two thousand years. During the reign of Emperor of the Qian Yuan Era, he governed with diligence and wisdom. He disbanded his former sect and established Gan State's imperial system. With his unfathomable cultivation, he repeatedly led Gan State out of crises of extinction, making the nation increasingly prosperous and gradually showing signs of becoming the leader among the six great powers, constantly annexing surrounding smaller states and vying for supremacy with Lu Country and Ling Country.

Thus.

In the hearts of Gan State's citizens, it was no exaggeration to call their ruler a sage, hence the title Emperor of the Qian Yuan Era.

Hua'an Town was a border town.

The people here once lived a life of primitive farming, hunting, and fishing. In the more remote mountains, there were still many wild tribes who ate raw food and lived in ignorance. Now, after only a few years of joining Gan State, influenced by Gan State's officials, merchants, customs, and culture, the people of this region had experienced great convenience. With popular support, everyone proudly identified themselves as citizens of Gan State.

"Mo'er, it's almost Chenshi. You should head to town early!"

"Got it!"

Zhou Mei's voice came from behind. After saying goodbye to Zhang Qin, Li Mo ran back into the house and took the mixed grains, clothes, and pottery jar from his mother.

The mixed grains were cut into chunks by Zhou Mei and wrapped in lotus leaves.

"This pack is for breakfast on the road, and this one is for your afternoon meal. The pottery jar has venison I bought from Butcher Zhang a few days ago. It's already been marinated into a paste. Eat a little if you crave something later."

"Mom."

Li Mo hugged the clothes, mixed grains, and pottery jar, looking at his mother with reluctance in his eyes.

"Cough, cough."

Zhou Mei couldn't help but cough lightly, then used the excuse of the smoke being too strong and patted Li Mo's head.

She looked at her son, who was already half a head taller than her. Although her eyes were also full of reluctance, she sighed, "Hurry up and get going. Arrive at the town early and don't delay your studies. Remember what Mom told you: be down-to-earth and diligent, focus on your tasks, and never be fickle, or you'll end up achieving nothing."

"Got it."

Li Mo composed himself, nodded solemnly in response, and walked away under his mother's gaze.

At the west end of Shanbei Village, lived several families of the Zhao clan. Li Mo's father had once risked his life to join Zhao Chunsheng of the Zhao family in the business of selling smuggled salt.

When Li Mo was seven years old, Zhao Chunsheng's smuggled salt caravan disappeared without a trace. No one saw them alive, and no bodies were found.

Not long after, Hua'an Town, where Shanbei Village was located, was incorporated into Gan State.

Selling smuggled salt was a dangerous business, especially during wartime. The households of Shanbei Village were not surprised by the deaths of the caravan members. Li Mo did not resent the Zhao family because of this. In fact, deep down, he was grateful to Uncle Zhao, as he had prevented his father from starving to death like his two uncles.

Although Li Mo was now fatherless, he could still manage to get by.

However, Zhao Siman, who was around his age, lost the protection of her father, Zhao Chunsheng. The mother and daughter were taken advantage of by Zhao Chunsheng's relatives, who came to their home to seize their assets. They were left with no help, and their situation was extremely tragic.

Now, the mother and daughter had to rely on others and live a hard life.

"Brother Xiao Mo."

A thin, fair-skinned girl, carrying a bundle of firewood taller than herself, slowly walked over from a distance.

Upon seeing Li Mo, she timidly greeted him and then smiled.

The girl wore her hair in two flat buns and a blue-grey linen tunic, which was covered in patches and still had many holes. There was a little dust on her face, faintly revealing her beautiful features.

This was Zhao Siman, Li Mo's best childhood friend and the girl he liked the most.

"Xiao Man."

Li Mo hurried over and helped Zhao Siman put down the bundle of firewood on her back.

"You haven't had breakfast yet, have you? This is the breakfast my mother prepared. Let's eat together."

The firewood on the nearby mountains belonged to others. Zhao Siman had returned with so much firewood so early, meaning she must have gone out very early, walked a long distance, and only returned after chopping the wood.

Compared to Zhao Siman, Li Mo suddenly felt that his own life was not as difficult.

Zhao Siman did not refuse Li Mo's kindness.

She and Li Mo had grown up together, childhood sweethearts, innocent and carefree. Moreover, she was indeed too hungry. She never ate enough every day, and her frail body seemed like it could be blown over by a gust of wind.

The two sat on the stone steps and opened the lotus leaves, eating the still-warm mixed grains inside until they were completely finished. Then, they looked at each other and smiled.

"There's some meat paste left here."

Li Mo shared the precious meat paste from the pottery jar with her again.

Zhao Siman lowered her head, chewing the meat paste carefully while murmuring with tears in her eyes, "Brother Xiao Mo, after my father left, besides my mother, only you have been so good to me."

Whenever she recalled how, after her father's death, her family, lacking a male heir, with only her and her mother relying on each other, was bullied by many relatives who came to their home, forcibly sold their house, land, and livestock, held lavish banquets for three months, wasted all their family fortune, and then left her and her mother to fend for themselves, plunging their lives into hell overnight, Zhao Siman couldn't help but feel a wave of sorrow.

She had prayed countless times, hoping it was all just a nightmare.

However, reality was more cruel than any nightmare.

Hearing this, Li Mo's heart ached for her. At the same time, he couldn't help but recall his mother's words and imagine how wonderful it would be if he could marry Zhao Siman in the future.

Looking at the beautiful, simple, and hardworking girl before him, Li Mo couldn't help but encourage himself again in his heart. He had to be serious in his future endeavors, become skilled as soon as possible, save some money, and then go to her family to propose.

"Xiao Man!"

A shouting voice from a distance made Zhao Siman's body tremble instinctively. She quickly got up and said, "Brother Xiao Mo, I have to go back. When will you return?"

"It will be a month later. I can only have two days off each month, and I'll come back to visit."

Hearing this, Zhao Siman picked up her firewood and said with hopeful eyes, "You must come to see me then."

"Mhm."

Li Mo's response made Zhao Siman's pale and tired face break into a radiant smile. She once again shouldered the heavy firewood and walked step by step towards her home, which had been occupied by her third uncle and third aunt.