Brotherly Bond, Seeking a Safety Talisman (Please Keep Reading)

Second Brother Wang Chun and Third Brother Zhuo Yilie were both Grade-D House Guards, and their monthly wages were around two hundred copper coins.

A base wage of one hundred and fifty copper coins, plus several dozen copper coins as a full-attendance bonus.

"It's Jiang Yun!"

A sudden commotion rose from the crowd. Zhao Han looked around and saw a tall woman approaching from afar.

The woman had delicate features and proud brows. Her long hair was tied into a high ponytail. When her gaze swept over Li Xian and the other menial workers, she let out a faint snort through her nose, arrogance written all over her.

"Who is Jiang Yun?"

Watching Jiang Yun walk away, Li Xian asked.

Zhao Han explained, "She's a Grade-B House Guard. That woman has always looked down on men. Her Coiling Jade Leg Technique is extremely formidable.

Fourth Brother, if you see her in the future, it's best to keep far away. Don't provoke her."

Wang Chun added, "I heard she has quite a backing. She's related to Qiuyue, Madam Zhuang's personal maid."

"Second Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, let's go over and listen. Let's see how much this woman earns."

Zhao Han could not hide his curiosity.

Li Xian had not cared much about the matter, but he went along with them anyway. They retraced their steps and eavesdropped outside the accounting room.

"Jiang Yun, Grade-B menial worker. Monthly wages: six hundred copper coins, plus one Bearblood Pill."

"There's actually a Bearblood Pill this month. Thank you for the reward, sir."

"If you want to give thanks, thank Madam. Everything in the manor, from top to bottom, belongs to Madam alone, including you and me."

The voices of two people conversing drifted out from the accounting room.

Li Xian secretly clicked his tongue.

Even the money he had received for selling himself had only been five hundred and twenty-five copper coins. It was not even worth one month of her wages.

"Big Brother, what is that Bearblood Pill?" Li Xian asked.

"Bearblood Pill... that's good stuff." Zhao Han smacked his lips and said enviously, "It's a precious pill that increases one's strength. Even if we train bitterly every day, I'm afraid it still wouldn't match the effect of a single pill."

Wang Chun said, "Big Brother, work harder and become a Grade-B House Guard too. Maybe then you'll get a chance to taste a Bearblood Pill."

"Exactly. Even if Grade-B House Guards don't get Bearblood Pills, they can at least receive some Deer Blood Pills every month," Zhuo Yilie chimed in.

"Hard, hard, hard!" Zhao Han let out a long sigh.

Yet a gleam flickered in his eyes. He truly coveted the position of a Grade-B House Guard.

If there was a chance,

then risking everything once might not be a bad idea.

After collecting their wages, the four of them headed back. None of Zhao Han's group had patrol duty that day, so it was a rare occasion for them all to gather together.

Li Xian voiced the question in his heart. "We live in the manor. Even if we have wages, where can we spend them?"

"You can go to Miaodan Pavilion and exchange them for pills. The effect of one pill can equal several days' worth of food."

"You need to know that in martial arts, the most important thing is not training, but eating. Only when you eat well and your physique and strength keep up can you achieve greater attainments in martial arts."

Zhao Han grinned teasingly. "Of course, you can also ask for leave and take a stroll around nearby Qingning County. There are plenty of places to spend money there, as long as you return on time."

Li Xian's heart stirred. "How do I ask for leave?"

"Just tell Commander Pang. What, Fourth Brother, want to go out for a stroll?" Zhao Han nudged Li Xian with his elbow, his expression teasing.

Li Xian nodded. "I do."

"Fine, then. The four of us have nothing much to do today. Why not all ask for leave and make a trip to Qingning County together?"

"After training in martial arts for so long, we should find someone to vent our fire on. Otherwise, we'll burn up our bodies, hahaha."

Zhao Han spoke with great animation. Wang Chun and Zhuo Yilie both agreed. Having collected their wages, they were already looking forward to going out and enjoying themselves.

Li Xian smiled, but what he was thinking about was not venting fire. He simply had not seen his younger brother in a long time.

The school examination was drawing near. His brother should not exhaust himself too much.

Zhao Han was familiar with asking for leave, and he quickly took care of everything.

The four left the manor gates and followed the mountain path into Qingning County.

"I heard there are several great lords in this county, and their family fortunes are quite substantial."

"By the way, suppose some rich young lady in this county took a fancy to you and was willing to spend real gold and silver to redeem you. Would you be willing or not?"

Third Brother Zhuo Yilie suddenly had a whimsical thought.

"Willing or not..." Zhao Han laughed. "That would depend on what the young lady looks like. If she were as beautiful as a celestial maiden, then naturally I'd be more than willing."

"But if she were unbearably ugly, then forget it."

"Big Brother, if she weren't ugly, she wouldn't take a liking to the four of us."

"Oh? So Second Brother, you'd be willing?"

"I'd grit my teeth and endure it. Don't fight with anything, but never fight with money."

"When I, Wang Chun, have money and make my mark, I'll wave my hand grandly and buy each of us four brothers a luxurious residence, then keep a few bewitching beauties."

"As for me, I can only feed myself to the devil. If I do not enter hell, who will?"

"Second Brother... I never thought you possessed such breadth of heart."

The four walked shoulder to shoulder, chatting about everything under the sun. The atmosphere was exceptionally harmonious.

As Li Xian passed an alley, he said, "Big Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, you go on ahead. I won't be going to the brothel."

"Fourth Brother, you..." Zhao Han said in surprise.

"My younger brother is alone at home. It's rare for me to come out, so I have to go see him." Li Xian smiled.

"Fine." Zhao Han waved his hand and said no more. Fourth Brother had always been a loner.

It was nearly noon by then. Thinking of his younger brother, Li Xian could not help quickening his pace.

His younger brother had been sensible since childhood—clever, quick-witted, and simple by nature. After their father had taken his own life, Li Xian had become like a father to his younger brother, taking on the responsibility of caring for him.

The bond between brothers was deeper than anything.

Leaking Bottle Alley.

Before a dilapidated thatched hut, Li Xian called out loudly, "Little brother, little brother!"

After calling three times, a delighted voice came from inside the house. "Brother, is that you, Brother?"

A thin, small figure came running out. He wore the tattered hemp clothes their father had left behind.

His tiny body could not fill those oversized clothes. He was disheveled and grimy, but his eyes were exceptionally bright.

The instant Li Xiaofan saw Li Xian, his eyes reddened. He ran over and tightly hugged his older brother. Li Xian's heart ached for him as well.

His younger brother was still so young, yet he had been left alone in a thatched hut in this cannibalistic, chaotic world.

Li Xian had feared that his clothes would be stolen, his copper coins taken, or that others would bully him. Returning this time and seeing that his younger brother was safe, he finally let out a breath of relief.

"Safe and sound. Good, so good." Li Xian sighed.

"Brother, you've become so much more handsome!" Li Xiaofan said worshipfully, his eyes shining.

"Of course. Your brother is no ordinary man." Li Xian smiled. "Once your brother has money, we won't need to be bullied anymore."

"Brother, I know becoming a menial worker must have made you suffer a lot. I... I asked for a safety talisman. Take it with you." Li Xiaofan pulled out a triangular yellow talisman.

"You went to the Goddess Temple?" Li Xian froze. "That's more than twenty li from here."

"I went to buy books and asked for the talisman along the way." Li Xiaofan smiled.

"You brat, it's still too early to fool your brother." Li Xian lightly tapped Li Xiaofan on the head, his fierce eyes growing a little moist.

"Brother, I'm not stupid either. In this world, it's only the two of us relying on each other. You entered One Accord Manor. Some time ago, I heard that many menial workers in the manor had worked themselves to death."

"I was truly worried. I couldn't sleep no matter which way I turned. The only thing I could do was ask for a safety talisman for you."

Li Xiaofan said this.

"Your brother is a House Guard now. It isn't as hard as being a menial worker." Li Xian gently stroked Li Xiaofan's head. "Don't do such foolish things again."

"Hehe, maybe the safety talisman really did work." Li Xiaofan grinned mischievously.

But a trace of determination flashed through his eyes. "This year's Winter Examination, I definitely won't disappoint you, Brother!"