Survival

At Hengjiang Wharf, as the golden scales left on the river by the setting sun gradually faded, the dry, hot wind took on a hint of coolness.

The dockworkers, who had labored all day, were lining up to collect their wages. It was probably the happiest moment of their day.

"Earned another 20 copper coins today. Heh, I'll buy some meat and satisfy my craving."

Zhang Tieniu handed over the twenty-five bamboo tallies in his pocket and received 20 copper coins in exchange.

"I don't know where you get all that energy. You earn around 20 copper coins every day."

Liu Dachun looked at the dozen or so coins in his hand, unable to hide his envy.

The wharf's rules stipulated that a worker had to carry 120 pounds of cargo to earn one bamboo tally. That meant Zhang Tieniu moved around 3,000 pounds of cargo in a day!

He certainly lived up to the name Zhang Tieniu. Liu Dachun didn't have that kind of strength.

Zhang Tieniu gave a simple-minded grin. "I've been saving this money to pay the Martial Hall's tuition. I can't afford to slack off."

Then his gaze fell on Chen Yuan, who was waiting nearby. "I saw A-Yuan carrying quite a bit too. You must have saved up a lot for the Martial Hall, right?"

Chen Yuan just smiled. "I can't compare with you, Tieniu."

In truth, he had carried no less than Zhang Tieniu that day. He had earned thirty bamboo tallies, which he exchanged for twenty-four copper coins—nearly as much as a grown man could manage.

But he knew all too well that in this chaotic world, survival was the only truth. Until he could protect himself, he had to keep a low profile and avoid drawing attention.

Taxes were already harsh, and the local gangs, those bloodsuckers who drained the very marrow from your bones, still clung to you and sucked you dry, refusing to stop until they had wrung out every last drop.

Only by concealing his abilities could he keep a little capital for himself.

So, in the three months since he had transmigrated here, he had quietly taken up his predecessor's identity and worked hard each day, hauling cargo at the wharf. He had shed more sweat than he could count.

He had gradually increased his daily workload from twenty bamboo tallies to thirty. Whenever he handed in his tallies, the foreman would give him an extra look.

But each time, he covered the number of tallies with his hand, then quickly stuffed the copper coins into his pouch, unwilling to show even the slightest bit.

Of course, the reason he had increased his workload by half in such a short time wasn't that his predecessor had been lazy or that he himself had worked especially hard. It was because of the Survival Path Panel that had come with him when he transmigrated:

[Comprehension: 10]

[Physique: 28]

[Cultivation: None]

[Techniques: None]

[Dao of Survival Points: 2]

[Evaluation: You keep a low profile, do no harm to others, and understand the principle of biding your time. You have just glimpsed the way of survival. Daily Dao of Survival Points +2]

As its name suggested, the Survival Path Panel evaluated your actions each day and awarded Dao of Survival Points.

Those points could be used to improve physique and comprehension.

Chen Yuan remembered that when he had first transmigrated, both his comprehension and physique had been at ten points, and ten Dao of Survival Points could raise one attribute by a point.

Three months of accumulation had let him raise his physique from ten to twenty-eight.

After all, he thought comprehension was something too mysterious to grasp, and for now, his mind was sharp enough.

Improving his physique, on the other hand, was more tangible. The change showed directly in the number of bamboo tallies he could earn.

He believed that by the time he had saved enough silver for the Martial Hall's tuition, his physique would be good enough to gain entry.

As for entering the Martial Hall, Chen Yuan had set that goal from the very beginning of his transmigration.

The gangs preyed on one another, the authorities squeezed the people dry. The only way to change his fate was to practice martial arts!

Liu Dachun looked at his two companions, brimming with ambition, and couldn't help sighing.

"Who doesn't know that practicing martial arts can get you ahead? But everyone knows how hard it is too. For people like us, just saving up the apprenticeship fee would take years, never mind the food and medicinal supplements afterward..."

"And how many people actually manage to get started? If you ask me, practicing martial arts is something rich families can think about. It's not for people like us."

His own cousin had insisted on practicing martial arts, drained the family's savings, and still accomplished nothing. After that, Liu Dachun had long since given up on the idea.

"You've got to try." Zhang Tieniu gritted his teeth. How could he not know how difficult it was to practice martial arts? But he had already made up his mind.

Liu Dachun shook his head slightly, then turned to Chen Yuan and advised him:

"I won't bother trying to talk Ox out of it. His father supports him. But A-Qing, you should think carefully. Do you really think your selfish father will pay for you? If he won't, how many years will it take you to save enough on your own?"

After Liu Dachun finished, Zhang Tieniu also gave Chen Yuan a deep look.

He, too, hoped Chen Yuan would enter the Martial Hall alongside him, but he knew what Chen Yuan's family was like.

"There'll always be a way," Chen Yuan replied helplessly.

After parting from the two, he walked home alone, still turning Liu Dachun's words over in his mind.

His father and grandfather were both carpenters in Lotus Lane. They weren't wealthy, but after so many years, they ought to have saved something.

If they were willing to support his martial training, that would be ideal.

But Chen Yuan's mother had died in childbirth, and as soon as the mourning period ended, his father, Chen Dashan, had remarried, taking Li as his wife. A year later, they had a son, Chen Kai.

In Chen Yuan's memories, his father and Li doted on Chen Kai, his half-brother. All the good things went to him first.

Only his grandfather was somewhat fair, looking after Chen Yuan a little, though even he couldn't help being influenced by Li.

Chen Yuan had brought up practicing martial arts at the dinner table once before. Li's face had darkened at once, and she had given him an earful, declaring that he shouldn't indulge in such foolish fantasies.

His father, Chen Dashan, had been just as clear in his attitude. He had coldly told Chen Yuan to stay at the wharf and do his work.

But things had come to this, and Chen Yuan didn't want to argue. At worst, he would save up slowly.

His physique was steadily improving, and he was earning money faster and faster. With what his predecessor had already saved, he could scrape together enough for the Martial Hall in less than a year.

He was only seventeen. If he gritted his teeth, he could afford to wait.

As soon as he pushed open the front door, the aroma of meat wafted toward him before he even saw anyone. They must have stewed some meat.

Chen Yuan raised an eyebrow. He wondered what good fortune had come over the family that they were making such a lavish meal.

Usually, even a little meat in the dishes counted as a treat, and even then, it all ended up in Chen Kai's belly.

He washed his hands and sat down at the table. As expected, there were two or three meat dishes. It seemed he would get to enjoy a taste of meat today too.

When Chen Kai saw his older brother, Chen Yuan, he didn't even greet him. Instead, he pinched his nose, clearly disgusted by the stench of sweat on Chen Yuan.

Chen Yuan was used to it. He turned to Chen Dashan at the head of the table and asked, "Father, what's the occasion today? Why is there so much food?"

Chen Dashan looked fondly at his younger son, Chen Kai. Even his answer to Chen Yuan came with a smile.

"Today, your stepmother took Kai'er to the Green Pine Martial Hall to have his bones assessed. The martial master said Kai'er has Grade D-Upper aptitude. As long as he trains hard, he has a good chance of getting started."

Chen Yuan froze. His goal was to enter the Martial Hall too, so he naturally knew something about aptitude.

Even Grade D-Lower aptitude offered a chance of beginning martial cultivation. Chen Kai had been assessed as Grade D-Upper, so the martial master had indeed told them the truth.

But Chen Yuan also heard the implication in Chen Dashan's words. He asked quietly, "Father, you sent Brother Kai to the Martial Hall?"

Just then, Li came out of the kitchen carrying the last plate of greens, while Chen Dahai, his grandfather, walked in with a pipe clenched between his teeth.

Li had heard Chen Yuan's question and answered first, her voice brimming with smug pride.

"Of course. How revered are martial masters? If he can pass the Martial Examination and become a Martial Scholar, then one person's success will lift the whole family to heaven. Our Chen Family will be counting on Kai'er to bring honor to our ancestors."

Grandfather Chen Dahai set down his pipe. His deeply lined face was full of smiles as he looked fondly at Chen Kai.

"That's right. Kai'er has a chance to practice martial arts and change his fate, and he's set his heart on it too. Naturally, we should give him our full support."

Chen Yuan fell silent, once again feeling his family's favoritism laid bare.

Chen Kai had good bones, so supporting him in practicing martial arts was perfectly reasonable. But Chen Yuan hadn't even been given a chance to have his bones assessed.

Chen Yuan also knew that even if he had his bones assessed, his family might not support him in practicing martial arts.

Now that Chen Kai was beginning his martial training and costing the family money, it was even less likely.

He sighed inwardly and stopped dwelling on it. At worst, he would save up slowly.

On the bright side, thanks to Chen Kai, at least he had some meat to eat today.

But just as he reached for his chopsticks, Li said casually, "Chen Yuan, as the older brother, you should support your younger brother in practicing martial arts. I've taken the silver you kept in your room. From now on, you'll also hand over two qian of silver each month to improve your younger brother's meals. Someone who practices martial arts can't go without meat."