Since ancient times, like attracted like, and people gathered in groups!
Though Guangming City was hardly an ancient city with a deep history by Great Xia's standards, it still had its share of all sorts of people!
The entire city was divided into five districts: East, West, South, North, and Central.
The officials and wealthy merchants mostly lived in the prosperous, lively Central District.
Those with some wealth lived in the bustling East District. The farther west one went from the eastern edge of the city, the more lawless it became.
South City, where Ye Li lived, was a relatively stable neighborhood for commoners.
The far west was entirely under the control of impoverished people who couldn't get enough to eat and the gangs. Conflicts and chaos could erupt at any time.
Of course, the west was so chaotic that he had never gone there. He had only heard about it from his uncle and aunt.
But now, even in the relatively stable South City, Ye Li could make out ragged refugees here and there.
Clearly, the empire's economy had fallen into decline, and with winter setting in, refugees from the west were spilling into this area.
"I have to reach the first realm as soon as possible."
Thinking of the grand promises Instructor Feng had painted, Ye Li grew increasingly anxious.
Reaching the first realm wasn't anything special, but if he managed it within half a year, he could leap straight into the Azure Dragon Gang's core ranks.
Being a core member wasn't just an empty title. The Azure Dragon Gang would genuinely invest in his development.
He would receive two Body Tempering Pills each month as cultivation resources, and could also claim management fees from various shops and territories, while overseeing a dozen or so ordinary gang members.
Those gang members under his command were fellow members who had failed to reach the first realm within six months.
The change in status was like going from a poor peasant to a wealthy landlord in one leap.
A difference of just a few days in breaking through could create a world of difference in status.
Anxious about the future, Ye Li quickened his pace and hurried along with his head down.
Though the streets were crowded and there were refugees in twos and threes, he wore the Azure Dragon Gang's uniform. No one was foolish enough to pick a fight with him.
As he neared home, more and more neighbors appeared.
Some women were gathered together, chatting away. As they watched Ye Li pass, they seemed to want to say something, but held back.
In just half a month, Ye Li had grown an inch taller, and his lean frame had become even more solid.
His skin had also changed from a sallow yellow to a fair, clean complexion. The transformation was so dramatic that his neighbors hardly recognized him.
Ye Li had no desire to chat with them, and simply enjoyed the peace and quiet as he continued on his way.
Only after he had gone some distance did the neighbors look at one another hesitantly.
"Was that the Ye family's boy? He's changed an awful lot since we last saw him a month ago."
"Didn't Ning Qiu say he awakened a green trait and got recruited into the Azure Dragon Gang? What's there to make such a fuss about?"
"That's not what I mean. He used to be an orphan. He got scolded after clashing with my little Wang. If he gets rich someday, what if he comes after me...?"
The speaker looked awkward, and the faces of those around him stiffened as they remembered the conflicts their earlier words and actions had caused.
But a few others pursed their lips dismissively.
"What's there to be afraid of? He just got into the Azure Dragon Gang with a green trait. It's not like he can touch the sky!"
"Exactly. My boy joined the gang four months ago, and he should be coming back today. His trait might not be as good, but he's been willing to work hard since he was little. He's no worse than some people with green traits!"
"Right. We can ask that Jiang family boy how things are going in the gang. Maybe he's doing worse than my boy!"
They said nothing more along the way. Before long, the small courtyard at home came into view.
Ye Li didn't slow down. He raised his voice and called, "Auntie, I'm home!"
"Li'er's home...?" Hearing him from inside the courtyard, a woman hurried out.
But when Ning Qiu saw Ye Li's face, her delighted expression faltered. She was clearly amazed by how much he had changed in just one month.
"Yeah. I passed the gang's assessment at the end of the month, so I came back to rest for a day."
Ye Li grinned brightly. "I've done really well in the gang this month. The instructor said I could become a core member in a few more months."
His words dispelled the awkwardness of a month apart. Ye Ning patted her nephew's shoulder with satisfaction. "Good! You've grown sturdy. You're strong!"
"You're still growing, so Auntie will stew a chicken for you at lunchtime and help you build up your strength!"
Ye Li readily agreed to his aunt's fussing and strode into the courtyard with practiced ease.
Seeing that the water jar was almost empty, Ye Li offered to help with the chores. "Auntie, we're out of water. I'll go fill it up at the well."
Before Ning Qiu could reply, Ye Li grabbed the water jar with one arm and carried it out of the courtyard under her stunned gaze. The jar was wide enough for two people.
At noon, Ye Cunmang returned from work.
Ye Li, Ye Cunmang, Ye Duo, and Ning Qiu gathered around the square table.
Five dishes and a soup covered the table, a lavish spread.
Ye Li held his rice bowl and said, "Chicken!"
Hearing the command, Ye Duo tore her longing gaze away from the colorful pinwheel.
She snatched up her chopsticks and precisely placed a chicken drumstick in Ye Li's bowl.
"Mmm, steamed clams!!!"
As he spoke, Ye Li put the drumstick in his mouth. Before long, he spat out the bone and said, "Greens!"
In the next instant, Ye Duo's Quick Eyes and Swift Hands had her snatching up a bite of greens and passing it over. She earned another word of praise.
"Steamed clams!"
At the table, their uncle and aunt watched the siblings interact with smiles.
Poor families didn't have much leisure time. This was one of the rare moments of respite in their day.
But as they watched the dishes dwindle under their nephew's relentless chopsticks, the two of them did the sums and couldn't help clicking their tongues in amazement.
"With Li'er's appetite, he'll eat at least seven or eight taels of silver's worth of food every month!"
Thinking of this, Ye Cunmang took a few taels of silver from his pocket and pushed them toward Ye Li.
"Your monthly allowance is three taels. You don't need to help support the family. Take this money, so you don't go hungry in the gang."
Looking at Uncle Ye's honest, middle-aged face, Ye Li gave a helpless smile. "Uncle, just put the money away. The gang feeds me! I won't go hungry."
"If I really need money, I'll tell you. There's nothing much to buy in the gang anyway. I can't take this money and gamble at cards with the others. How would I have time to train then?"
Seeing his nephew put it that way, Uncle Ye could only take the silver back with a sheepish look.
Feeling helpless that he couldn't do more for the younger generation, he could only give his nephew a few words of encouragement. Then, with a heavy heart, he got up and went back to his room.
After clearing the table of every last dish, Ye Li handed the pinwheel to Ye Duo, who had been staring at it eagerly.
He watched the girl hop away, then contentedly patted his well-fed belly.
With food and drink in his belly, it was the perfect time to take that "Body Tempering Pill"!
"Ordinary person (416/864)"
"Azure Dragon Force (1424/100)"
Inside an abandoned, empty wooden hut, Ye Li poured a thumb-sized, bright yellow pill from a porcelain bottle.
"I heard one Body Tempering Pill is as good as three days of hard cultivation for an ordinary person. If a genius like me takes one, will it last me three days too?"
Gazing at the fragrant, milky-white pill in his hand, Ye Li recalled some medical tidbits he'd learned while streaming in his previous life.
Oral absorption had a rate of only 25%.
Absorption through an enema, from the bottom up, was actually more effective, with a utilization rate of over 50%. In extreme cases, it could reach 95%!
That was, from a medical standpoint...
It was better to feed it to the bottom than the top. One pill could be as effective as four!
Swallowing it directly might only last three days. But if he took the back entrance, maybe it could last twelve!
So... where should he eat it from?
Ye Li stared at the Body Tempering Pill in his hand and fell silent.