New Paths

Chen San Ye's intentions were something Chen Xuan did not yet know, though he could guess a thing or two. At first, he had been torn over whether to hunt a fierce tiger.

It had to be said that Chen San Ye's offer was exceedingly tempting: Silver coins, hints about martial arts and martial halls, even a Strong Bow. Any ordinary mountain village youth would have long since been hooked.

But Chen Xuan was not one.

As a transmigrator, he naturally thought further ahead than an ordinary mountain village youth, not to mention that he possessed a Conceptual Ability.

Chen San Ye's temptations were not such a big deal to him.

The only thing that could draw him in was money.

He needed a sum of money that would allow him to secure a stable foothold in Green Mountain City.

But that was all it did—draw him in.

With his Conceptual Ability, Chen Xuan had more ways to obtain money than through Chen San Ye alone. Once he reached Green Mountain City, he might not be unable to settle down there.

That was why he had been conflicted.

Of course, if not for another unexpected development, Chen Xuan truly had planned to try hunting a fierce tiger for Chen San Ye.

After all, one fierce tiger would not only cover his family's expenses for entering the city, but would also ensure that his mother and younger brother could settle down without him needing to worry about anything else.

A fierce tiger was dangerous, but with the abilities of his Conceptual Ability, safely hunting one would not be much of a problem.

But the key was that through his repeated attempts, Chen Xuan had discovered something different.

His gaze involuntarily turned toward the Conceptual Ability.

Objective: Travel to Green Mountain City and settle the family (pending confirmation)

Configuration complete

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"Loading successful!"

"Path One: Once you leave, Chen San Ye will surely ambush and kill you. Kill Chen San Ye, carry one hundred taels of silver, and reach Green Mountain City; you may purchase a residence in the west of Green Mountain City."

"Path Two: West City Pharmacy in Green Mountain City is recruiting Herb Gathering Boys. Arrive within three days to become a Herb Gathering Boy at West City Pharmacy. With your Skin Refining Realm cultivation, you will be assigned a house where you may settle your family."

"Path Three: The City Lord's Mansion Guard is recruiting members. Join the City Lord's Mansion Guard, and the City Lord's Mansion will assign housing for settlement."

"Path Four: Carry a Tiger Heart and arrive at Overlord Blade Martial Hall in seven days. The Overlord Blade Hall Master will agree to let you cultivate at the martial hall for one year and teach you the Blood Refining Manual, allowing you to settle your family!"

Line after line of text appeared. Looking at the first line, Chen Xuan could not help but sigh.

This was already his twentieth attempt.

Yet all twenty attempts had ended with Chen San Ye ambushing and killing him.

The reason was the same: for the Tiger Heart, and for the money he had given him.

Because of this result, his previous hesitation vanished completely.

Continuing to help Chen San Ye hunt tigers was impossible.

Fortunately, among these paths, there was one even more crucial option.

That was the fourth path.

Compared to Chen San Ye's one hundred taels, Path Four was undoubtedly far more enticing.

There was no need to mention joining a martial hall, but the Blood Refining Manual was immensely important to Chen Xuan.

During this period, Chen Xuan had repeatedly tried to add configurations through the system, hoping to produce a Blood Refining Manual just as he had with Skin Refining. Yet whether because he knew too little or for some other reason, he still could not figure out how to refine blood.

Chen Xuan did not yet know the reason, but clearly, he needed to give it a try.

The best method was to obtain a Blood Refining Manual.

Path Four would not only settle his family, but also allow him to obtain a Blood Refining Manual. The choice spoke for itself.

"Chen San Ye!"

As his thoughts turned, Chen Xuan murmured softly, a glint of cold light flashing through his eyes.

But he quickly suppressed it. As far as he was concerned, Chen San Ye was not something he needed to consider right now.

His gaze fell upon the bow and arrow in his hand.

"Five days!"

"I wonder whether my archery can reach great mastery in five days!"

Chen Xuan murmured, unable to help sinking into thought.

Through his unceasing practice these days, he could clearly feel his archery steadily improving.

Yet this improvement was still clearly some distance from the great mastery he understood.

Shaking his head, Chen Xuan drew his thoughts back.

For now, he would not dwell on it.

After all, this was not some point-allocation system. He could not force archery; he could only wait slowly for the result to come.

As for hunting a fierce tiger—

He planned to set out five days later.

After all, Overlord Blade Martial Hall was seven days away.

Beginning the hunt five days later would be just right.

And time slowly trickled away, second by second.

The days that followed undoubtedly tormented Chen San Ye.

He was even beginning to lose patience.

Inside the room—

Chen San Ye paced back and forth.

A servant beside him waited upon him respectfully.

"That brat refuses to go up the mountain. Do you have any ideas?"

Chen San Ye looked at the servant attending him and asked with a frown.

"Master, should we directly inform Young Master?"

At Chen San Ye's question, the servant spoke with cold light in his eyes.

"Chuan Er!"

Chen San Ye frowned slightly.

"Master, Young Master cannot wait much longer. Why not go all the way and leave no road back? We can have bandits kidnap that brat's mother and younger brother, then make him exchange Tiger and Leopard for them. Would he still dare refuse to go up the mountain? There are plenty of bandits in these times. A little accident would be perfectly normal."

The servant's eyes gleamed with cold light as he spoke in a chilling voice.

Perhaps others did not know, but as Chen San Ye's servant, he knew that Chen San Ye's eldest son had become a bandit.

Over the years, the greatest reason Chen San Ye could afford to support his younger son's martial training was precisely this.

His eldest son had become a bandit and had nearly monopolized all trade traveling from Small River Village to Green Mountain City.

It was fine if villagers carried nothing, but once they brought goods, they would inevitably be robbed. If they were unlucky, they might even lose their lives.

Over time, the entire route naturally fell under Chen San Ye's control.

Small River Village might be poor, but its yearly output was not small, especially the things from the mountains. Whether medicinal herbs or prey, they could all be exchanged for considerable money and grain.

That was what allowed Chen San Ye to support his younger son's martial training at Fierce Mountain Hall.

This was also the main reason he had never entered the city.

"Wait a little longer!"

"Wait a few more days. If that brat still refuses to go up the mountain, then do not blame this old man for being merciless!"

Listening to the servant's words, Chen San Ye's heart stirred, but he quickly suppressed the thought.

This was ultimately a last resort. Unless absolutely necessary, he did not intend to do it. Bandits on the road could still be explained away, but charging directly into the village to kidnap people, then specifically demanding Tiger and Leopard—no matter how one looked at it, it was strange.

No one was a fool.

The chances of people linking it to him were simply too high.

Before he was certain he would leave this place, doing so would undoubtedly sever the roots of his future foundation.

For him right now, it would bring a hundred harms and not a single benefit.

"Yes!"

The servant nodded.