Guard Selection Contest, the Day to Rise

[Skill: Weeding]

[Proficiency: 867/1500 Minor Accomplishment]

[Description: Bend at the waist a thousand times; endure biting cold and scorching heat—what then could not be accomplished?]

Li Xian had simply focused on doing one thing, constantly tempering his patience. His stamina and temperament had both improved.

"Though weeding is a minor skill, it can still grant me enhancements."

He was somewhat excited. He had originally thought that no matter how deeply he mastered "Weeding," what could it amount to? At most, he would pull weeds a little faster.

But that was not the case. Weed pulling was merely the surface. As any technique gradually deepened, its hidden layers would be unearthed.

By now, Li Xian's weed pulling had become peerlessly skilled. With a light sweep of both hands, without using much force at all, he could pull an entire bundle of grass from the ground.

This manor had excellent feng shui, and the wild grass rooted deeply into the earth, making it exceptionally difficult to pull. In the entire manor, likely fewer than five people could achieve what he could.

Of course...

Only he would do such trivial chores.

I haven't seen my little brother in a long time. Today, I'll ask Bi Hao whether I can write a letter home.

The sky had not yet darkened, but Li Xian had already finished weeding this area. He hurried back to the Servant Quarters. Just as he was about to knock and enter, he heard voices conversing inside.

Manager Luo Fang's voice sounded first:

"Little Hao, you help me manage all the servants. Though you look impressive on the surface, when it comes to status and standing, you are ultimately only a lowly servant."

There were eleven Servant Quarters here, each housing roughly a hundred people.

Those hundred or so people formed a "shift," and every shift had a shift leader. Li Xian was Number Twenty-Seven of the Ninth Shift, while Bi Hao was the shift leader of the First Shift.

He looked quite grand on the surface, but his status was no different in truth. The only reason he could manage so many servants was because his maternal cousin-uncle backed him.

But the manor's gates ran deep, and Luo Fang himself was hardly anyone of consequence.

"Uncle Luo, you're right. I know that very well." Bi Hao laughed awkwardly, thinking Uncle Luo had come to warn him.

"I came to find you this time because I brought you some news. Lord Pang intends to select a strong and sturdy courtyard guard from among the servants. If you become a courtyard guard, that will be entirely different. You may receive rewards from Madam and cultivate some rudimentary martial arts."

"Uncle Luo, is this true? You must help me!"

A bang immediately sounded from inside the room. Bi Hao had dropped to his knees and begun pleading, then poured a cup of hot tea.

Luo Fang secretly nodded. He accepted the tea, blew away the foam on top, and took a small sip. He put on the airs of a great man while savoring inferior tea leaves.

After letting out a long breath, he said leisurely, "Naturally. This concerns your future greatly. To be honest, I was once a courtyard guard myself. Later, I rose from courtyard guard to manager."

"Though you are my cousin-nephew, if you truly want to rise above the crowd, you can only fight for it yourself! Lord Pang instructed me to spread word of this, so that any interested servants may report to him and prepare for the courtyard guard contest."

"I came to tell you first."

Bi Hao's brows lifted in delight. "What do those lowly beasts have to compete with me? The position of courtyard guard will certainly be mine!"

Luo Fang said calmly, "You cannot put it that way. The courtyard guard contest also values martial talent, natural physique and strength, endurance, and temperament."

"You have some martial foundations, but you have never fought in actual combat. And... those lowly beasts are not fools either. How could they let such an opportunity slip away? They will naturally seize it with their lives, willing to die in the contest if they must. Tell me... are you truly completely certain?"

"Th-this..." Hearing that analysis, even though Bi Hao had been confident, he could no longer be sure.

"Besides, your maternal cousin-uncle's face cannot reach Lord Pang. Should you fail to be selected, this opportunity will have passed you by." Luo Fang's words carried deep meaning.

"Please instruct me, Uncle. In the days to come, I will work like an ox and horse to repay and honor you." Bi Hao kowtowed three times.

"This matter is simple," Luo Fang said. "During this period, focus on practicing your fist technique. Thoroughly master the Three Talents Fist I taught you. Secondly, assign those lowly beasts who look tall and sturdy, full of vigor, to the hardest labor. Drain their strength."

"Uncle Luo, this plan is brilliant!" Bi Hao beamed with joy.

"That is not all." Luo Fang shook his head with a soft laugh. "Lord Pang asked me to release the news. Naturally, I dare not disobey, but I can choose to mention it only at night, when everyone is asleep. The fewer people who know, the better."

Bi Hao knocked his head against the floor three times. "Uncle Luo, I can never repay such great kindness and virtue."

"It is enough that you remember my kindness," Luo Fang said. "There are fifteen days until the courtyard guard contest. Make good use of them."

"Uncle Luo, let me see you out." Bi Hao supported Luo Fang as they walked out of the room.

Li Xian heard every word of their conversation. He was both angry and delighted. Not daring to linger here, he hurried back to the abandoned room.

"That Bi Hao... his strength is clearly not lacking, yet he still insists on using such ghostly tricks."

"But this is good too. Since I know now, I will lie low in secret and quietly register as well!"

Li Xian forcefully suppressed the excitement in his heart.

In the rear courtyard of the abandoned room, he practiced the Wild Bull Fist over and over.

Whether he could stand out this time would depend on this fist technique!

By evening, Bi Hao came on his routine inspection. Li Xian acted as though nothing had happened.

Bi Hao nodded slightly. "Not bad, not bad. You did well today too. Little Li, go to the accounts office and collect three copper coins as a reward."

"Master Bi, I see your face glowing red and your forehead full and bright. You must have encountered some good fortune, haven't you?" Li Xian wiped the sweat from his brow, putting on an utterly exhausted appearance.

"Hahahaha." Bi Hao laughed. "You brat, you have some discernment. As for what good fortune it is, do not ask. It has absolutely nothing to do with you."

"You should just honestly keep weeding these patches. Do it well, and you can earn a little reward money. Thinking about anything else only tires your brain."

His tone dripped with contempt and disdain.

As he spoke, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind, and he looked Li Xian up and down.

This kid was quite tall. He could make light work of such exhausting labor as weeding... his stamina should not be bad.

"Little Li, there are still whole stretches of abandoned rooms and patches of weed-covered land. How about this? Weed one abandoned room a day. Seeing how hard you work, I specially mentioned it to my cousin-uncle. If you do well each day, you can receive three copper coins as a reward." Bi Hao looked exceedingly pleased with himself.

He believed that with just a few words, he could dismiss a rival.

And the other party would even be grateful to him.

Li Xian sneered inwardly, but delight appeared on his face.

"Master... Master Bi, is this true? If I weed one abandoned room a day... I can receive three copper coins? Then wouldn't ten days make thirty copper coins?"

"Hahahaha." Bi Hao laughed loudly, his heart filled with boundless delight. "I did not expect that you little servant are quite good at arithmetic."

After Bi Hao left, Li Xian's expression returned to calm. He secretly clenched his fists. He absolutely had to seize this opportunity!

"Lie low... lie low..."

"During these fifteen days, I will strive to cultivate the Wild Bull Fist to the realm of Minor Accomplishment!"

"On the day of the contest, I will catch Bi Hao off guard. Only then will I have a chance of winning!"

"Lowly servants will never have a day to rise. If I become a courtyard guard... it seems I may even come into contact with rudimentary martial arts!"

A fierce drive welled up within Li Xian, and his gaze was resolute and bright.