Madam Returns, the Vicious Servant's True Face

Night.

Li Xian lay on his wooden bedboard. The servants on either side had already fallen asleep. Snores rose all around him, along with the unbearable stench of sweat and feet.

Servants were not entitled to bathe. Filthy, reeking, and sticky all over, they could only endure it until the twice-monthly bath days, when they could hastily wash themselves.

He remained awake for a long while, turning matters over and over in his mind.

Bi Hao was right about one thing. Even a servant needed some skill to rely on.

If I could learn some cooking or gardening, life in the manor would surely improve greatly. If the chance comes, I should do everything I can to climb higher.

As a transmigrator, that ambition seemed rather small.

But reality was cruel like that.

He pillowed his head on his hands. Moonlight fell across his cheek, and his eyes shone brightly.

I've been here for over half a month now. What exactly is this world like?

No longer dwelling on it, he closed his eyes and went to sleep.

Perhaps because he knew his younger brother no longer lacked food or clothing, his heart was lighter, and he slept especially soundly.

In the blink of an eye, it was the fifth watch. Before dawn had broken, Li Xian woke first, and suddenly something flashed before his eyes.

[Skill: Sleep]

[Proficiency: 2/500 Initiation]

[Description: Since ancient times, who has not slept? Do not wait until eternal slumber to know how precious sleep is.]

Could even something as ordinary as sleep contain hidden mysteries?

Before Li Xian could ponder it, the servant foreman struck the bronze gong.

Clang!

Clang!

"Wake up, wake up. Time to work."

This was the daily wake-up gong. Once it sounded, it meant the day's labor had begun.

Because he had done well pulling weeds yesterday, Bi Hao assigned Li Xian to deal with the backyard of the abandoned house again.

He was specifically put in charge of the weed-pulling area.

This miserable job that no one wanted landed squarely on Li Xian's shoulders.

"Little Li, work hard." Bi Hao tossed out the perfunctory remark before turning and leaving.

Li Xian was happy to have the peace and quiet. This patch of weeds was nothing to him.

Now that he was familiar with the work, it was far easier than other chores. He rolled up his sleeves, bent over, and buried himself in the task.

[Proficiency +1]

[Proficiency +1]

[Skill: Weeding]

[Proficiency: 19/1000 Proficiency]

The more he pulled, the more adept he became. Every time he bent down, there was faintly an air of seamless naturalness to it.

By evening, Bi Hao made his routine inspection. Seeing that the weeds in the backyard had been cleared clean again and the place was neat and tidy, he nodded to himself.

But this time, he did not reward Li Xian with any money. He merely said flatly, "Very good. Tomorrow, go to the house next door and continue pulling weeds."

Several days passed like this.

Li Xian had nothing else to do and was solely responsible for weeding. Outsiders thought he had it hard, but they did not know that he actually had more and more free time.

Clearing all the weeds from one backyard took only half a day. He spent the other half practicing the Wild Bull Fist.

That evening.

[Proficiency Full!]

[Skill: Weeding]

[Proficiency: 0/1500 Minor Accomplishment]

[Description: Pull weeds a thousand times, and its meaning reveals itself. Feel your breathing, and perhaps you may discover its mysteries?]

Following the description, Li Xian focused his attention on his breathing while pulling weeds. He found that the fatigue throughout his body was greatly relieved.

After Weeding reached Minor Accomplishment, it seems to have increased my endurance and resistance to fatigue.

Could this effect come from... breathing?

He discovered that his breathing had gained an increasingly smooth and natural quality. It was difficult to explain, but it truly brought benefits.

[Wild Ox Fist — Remnant Form]

[Proficiency: 139/1000 Proficiency]

Compared to that, his progress in the Wild Bull Fist was somewhat slower, but still quite impressive.

He could feel that the warm current in his lower abdomen had grown stronger, changing from a thin wisp to the thickness of a finger.

His punches had become more powerful as well. These things gave him a small measure of security.

Pulling weeds every day has given me plenty of free time, but... it has done nothing for my standing.

How can I break this deadlock?

Li Xian had no choice but to think. Now that he had entered this deep manor, his only path was to climb upward!

Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out in the courtyard. Rapid footsteps approached from this direction.

"Brother Li, Brother Li! Madam has returned! Master Bi told us to hurry to the manor entrance to welcome her. Whoever is even half a beat late will have his legs broken!"

A servant shouted loudly. His voice grew softer and softer, making it clear that he was rushing to gather everyone as he shouted while running.

"Madam?"

Li Xian had long been extremely curious about this mysterious Madam. He immediately ran out of the abandoned house and gathered with the other servants.

Bi Hao and Luo Fang were both there.

Bi Hao, normally so arrogant and domineering, wore a fawning grin. He hunched his waist and tucked in his stomach, looking exactly like a grandson.

His maternal uncle, Luo Fang, was hunched over as well, not daring to straighten even a fraction. He appeared exceedingly restrained.

Luo Fang was merely a steward. Above him were the accountant, the chief guard commander, the personal maidservants...

Given Li Xian's status, he normally could hardly even see Luo Fang. The chief guard commander and personal maidservants... were existences beyond his reach.

Just one manor, yet its hierarchy is already this strict.

Li Xian blended into the crowd.

Though he was already a slave, with his life no longer in his own hands, his spirit had not been crushed. He was somewhat bolder as well. Though his head remained lowered, he dared to observe with the corner of his eye.

In the distance, on the mountain path, four sedan bearers carried a red sedan chair toward them.

Before it even drew near, a fragrant breeze faintly coiled around his nose.

Good heavens. Such a lavish grand sedan chair—living to this extent is truly glorious.

In a daze, the sedan chair had already stopped before the manor.

"Master." Pang Long, the chief guard commander, stepped forward to welcome her and dropped to one knee.

Luo Fang, Bi Hao, and the others knelt on both knees, bending their waists as low as possible, their foreheads pressed to the ground.

Only in this way could the difference between high and low be displayed.

The many servants, on the other hand, stood farther away because their bodies were dirty and disheveled. All of them had to keep their heads lowered. Not knowing what was happening and with no one directing them, they simply stood there stupidly.

Li Xian did not do anything that would draw attention. He only dared to steal a vague glance from the corner of his eye...

The vermilion-red curtain was lifted, and a woman in a white dress stepped down. Her figure seemed extraordinarily beautiful, her long hair cascading like a waterfall, but he could not see her clearly.

He could only glimpse the hem of her skirt. It was spotless white, made from the finest brocade silk, with gold-threaded floral trim.

"I have returned from a banquet and am somewhat weary. Keep everything simple. There is no need to make such a grand fuss." Madam Zhuang spoke, her voice like the Double Wafting Immortal Tone.

The personal maidservant said, "Master, I have prepared hot water. Would you like to wash up first?"

"Very well." Madam Zhuang nodded.

Madam Zhuang and her personal maidservant left. Then the chief guard commander departed, and only then did Bi Hao and Luo Fang rise.

Television dramas were all lies. When a true great figure stands right before you, you do not even have the right to look at them.

Having lived two lives, Li Xian felt more deeply than others. He gave a bitter, self-mocking smile.

"Madam Zhuang's cultivation seems to have improved again."

"Uncle Luo, what cultivation do you think Madam Zhuang has reached now? Has she entered the legendary Blood-Replacement Realm?"

"Little Hao, what have I always taught you? Madam's affairs are not for us to discuss. But I heard that the Songjiang Sword Sect in Qiongtian Prefecture once invited Madam to serve as a guest elder. Madam refused."

"Madam travels the martial world and has many friends. Her reputation is immense. What a pity that we are lowly as mud, without even the right to ask about such things."

"Little Hao, although you manage the servants for me, you are ultimately still just a servant. For people like you and me, even getting to smell a great figure's fart is an enormous stroke of fortune."

"Uncle Luo, to be honest, I once had the good fortune to smell Lord Pang's fart. That scent... was more fragrant than any wine or meat."

"Hahaha, indeed, indeed."

The uncle and nephew's conversation silently influenced the many servants. They felt that people of such lofty status were stars in the sky—everything they did was right.

"You bunch of little bastards, what are you standing around for? Have you finished your work? Do not wait for my evening inspection, or I'll whip you!"

After bending his waist all day, Bi Hao now puffed out his chest again. He gestured grandly at the servants, brimming with swagger.