Beating Bi Hao Senseless, Holding His Head High

Because overseeing the Servant Quarters took several hours, Li Xian and Zhao Dachun first went to the Dining Hall for a hearty meal before heading to the Servant Quarters with something in their stomachs.

Before work began, they needed to coordinate with Luo Fang, the Servant Quarters steward.

"Steward Luo, long time no see."

Seeing Luo Fang again, Li Xian gave a meaningful smile. Their identities and circumstances had already changed.

He could not exactly say he had held his head high, but he had at least vented a little of his anger.

Luo Fang wore a false smile, as though he wanted to speak but held back. Li Xian was now an official guard, and there was truly nothing he could do to him.

"I have Steward Luo to thank for his support. Otherwise, this guard position would have had nothing to do with me," Li Xian said blandly.

"Hahaha, yes." Luo Fang clenched his fists in his palms, vicious resentment surging through his heart. A mere lowborn beast gets a little power, and he dares come back to flaunt himself before me.

Zhao Dachun said, "Steward Luo, organizing the servants is your duty. We are only responsible for keeping watch. Please hurry up, or the work will not be finished."

After a brief handover, Luo Fang struck the bronze gong and assembled the various groups of servants. Qingning County lacked everything except people.

Over this period, Luo Fang had recruited nearly a hundred more servants, keeping their total at around thirteen hundred.

Li Xian's gaze fell upon the ninth group of servants. Yet after only a casual glance, he looked away again.

The servants of the ninth group did not recognize Li Xian. They looked up at him with admiration, envy, and vague familiarity, whispering among themselves that they had never seen such a handsome guard master. He looked so gallant and extraordinary, like a divine being.

At Luo Fang's command,

the servants began transporting timber and stone. Some smaller pieces of stone could be hauled on wooden carts, but timber was far harder to move.

Even the smaller logs stood over ten feet long and required seven or eight people to carry them together, step by step, back to the estate.

The three-mile road was bitterly arduous.

Watching the servants sweat profusely and grit their teeth as they labored, Li Xian felt none of the ease or joy of having escaped the sea of suffering.

Elsewhere,

Luo Fang found Bi Hao. "Good nephew, are your injuries any better?"

Bi Hao's defeat in their previous fight had displeased Luo Fang. From then on, Luo Fang's attitude toward Bi Hao changed drastically, and he would slap him several times at the slightest excuse.

Bi Hao had begun to fear his maternal cousin once removed. His eyes darted about, and when he saw Luo Fang coming, he retreated three steps and raised both hands to shield his cheeks. "C-Cousin Uncle, what is it?"

"Do you want revenge?" Luo Fang asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Revenge? Against who..." A flash of insight suddenly struck Bi Hao, and hatred burst from his eyes. "Could it be that ungrateful wolf, Li Xian?!"

Luo Fang nodded. "That's right. Him."

"You said before that Li Xian's martial attainments were far beneath yours. Was that true?" Luo Fang asked seriously.

"Of course it was true!" Bi Hao slammed his thigh, biting his teeth until they bled. "That little bastard! If I fight him again, I will definitely avenge this grudge!"

"Very good. Your chance has come."

Pointing into the distance, Luo Fang sneered. "That man is Li Xian. After being a guard for a few days, the brat has started looking the part. In a while, go ask him for instruction and challenge him to a fight. Defeat him and make him lose all face. Afterward, I'll work things behind the scenes! Heh heh."

Bi Hao rejoiced. "Then I can become a guard? Wonderful! I've dreamed of becoming a guard."

Luo Fang spat. "Dream on. That brat has already gained a foothold. Unless he makes a mistake himself, he cannot be removed."

Bi Hao was deeply disappointed. Looking toward Li Xian, he could not help but freeze. "Cousin Uncle, is he really Li Xian?" Luo Fang nodded. "Absolutely."

Bi Hao looked at Li Xian's neat clothes and handsome features. He had begun to possess a dashing bearing, and was far taller and sturdier than before.

Then Bi Hao thought of himself. Though his cousin uncle protected him, he was still ultimately a servant. Moreover, his cousin uncle's attitude had changed completely, and he was often beaten and cursed at. His resentment immediately became impossible to disperse. If not for you, all of this would be mine!

"Good nephew, this time it depends on you." Luo Fang patted Bi Hao's shoulder. "Also, remember... don't be careless this time. That brat has achieved Initiation in the Four Directions Fist. Otherwise, he could not have passed the assessment."

"I don't know what Luo Tongyun was doing, but I must get my ten taels of silver back from him!"

"Cousin Uncle, my Three Talents Fist has never failed me either!" Bi Hao said hoarsely.

After the uncle and nephew discussed their plan, Luo Fang waited for the right moment and struck the bronze gong, allowing the servants to rest briefly.

Taking advantage of the break, the two uncle and nephew played off each other, their every word dripping with veiled mockery and barbs aimed at Li Xian. They wanted him to fight Bi Hao once more.

"Oh?" Li Xian looked at Bi Hao. "Brother Bi, are you still unconvinced by our last match?"

"Master Li..." Bi Hao lowered his head. "It is not that I am unconvinced. But as the saying goes, the martial path must be gained through real combat. I have recently made some small gains, so I wished to ask Master Li for some pointers. Of course, if Master fears a mere servant like me, refusing would be fine too."

Li Xian said, "Sparring is good, but fists and feet have no eyes. Once we start fighting, injuries are inevitable..."

"It does not matter. I, Bi Hao, am merely a worthless life anyway. Master need not hold back." Bi Hao immediately pressed his advantage, cutting off every route of retreat.

"Fine, fine." Li Xian shook his head.

Seeing that his scheme had worked, Luo Fang called the servants over to form a circle and watch the two fight.

"You lowborn beasts, you don't get to enjoy such a spectacle every day."

"Watch carefully, all of you."

"If you can learn even a thing or two, and your luck is good enough, perhaps you might become the next Guard Li!"

"Please." Bi Hao clenched his fists and assumed a stance, gathering every ounce of his focus.

After building momentum for a moment, he suddenly stepped forward and threw three feints to test him. Li Xian saw through every one and remained still.

"Good brat, you're putting on quite an act." Seeing that he could not scare Li Xian, Bi Hao immediately hid substance within deception, sending a Ground Fist toward Li Xian's chest.

Li Xian unleashed Mad Bull Charge from the Wild Bull Fist. Inner force wrapped around his fist, and as it shot forth, it brought a wind howl like that of a wild bull. Their fists collided.

This time, Bi Hao's bones cracked.

The force of the Wild Bull Fist appeared gentle, yet it concealed raging waves within. In a straight clash of fists, even the Four Directions Fist could hardly prevail.

Li Xian sneered. "You brought this upon yourself!"

As the force of the Wild Bull Fist ended, he immediately followed with the Four Directions Fist, striking directly at Bi Hao's face. Bi Hao hurriedly raised his hands to defend, only for the fist's path to change and smash instead into his shoulder.

Li Xian threw nine punches in succession. Every punch was strange and unfathomable, driving fist principles to their utmost limit. Amid several loud bangs, Bi Hao had already lost.

This fight alone would leave him bedridden for at least a month.

Li Xian narrowed his eyes. Given the chance, this uncle and nephew will surely take my life. I need not be polite either. His final punch flew toward Bi Hao's throat.

"Uncle..." Bi Hao's face changed in terror. He instinctively knew he was truly about to die.

"You dare!"

Luo Fang flew into a rage, leaping forward in a single step and reaching out to shield Bi Hao. Once Li Xian knew he could not take Bi Hao's life, his body trembled, driving his fist to shift course once more.

It struck Luo Fang squarely across the face.

That punch carried seventy percent of his inner force, swelling Luo Fang's cheek red and causing several of his teeth to loosen.

It was no light blow!

Li Xian frowned and withdrew his fist. His arm felt sore and numb, and for a moment he could not muster any strength. The instant his blow had landed on Luo Fang's face, a rebounding force had rushed back at him.

Luo Fang's martial skill is not weak. I am not his match yet. Li Xian's thoughts flashed, and he smiled instead. "Little Brother Bi, did you gain any insight from my instruction just now?"

Bi Hao was shocked and furious. Instruction? He had nearly lost his life, and that counted as instruction? Luo Fang spoke first. "Many thanks to Guard Li for your instruction. My foolish nephew must have gained greatly."

His voice was somewhat gloomy.

"That is good, that is good." Li Xian smiled.

This time, he had not lost out. He had thoroughly beaten Bi Hao and slapped Luo Fang across the face as well.