Simmering Essence Food, Plans Thrown into Chaos

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

In the back courtyard of the abandoned house, Li Xian threw a fierce punch. His fist carried a terrifying force, grinding against the air, and in a daze, it seemed as though the roar of a blue ox rang out.

[Wild Ox Fist — Remnant Form]

[Proficiency: 412/1000 Proficiency]

[Description: When a wild ox grazes, the key lies in lying low. Sink your breath and guard your spirit; neither arrogant nor impatient, only then can you become something great.]

Hearing footsteps draw near, Li Xian hurriedly withdrew his stance and lowered his head to pull weeds.

Slacking off... he had long since become thoroughly familiar with it. He pulled a patch of weeds, then practiced several sets of punches. This way, he could deal with inspections without anyone realizing that he was secretly practicing his fist technique.

"Another twelve days. At this rate, my Wild Ox Fist will definitely advance another step and reach Minor Accomplishment!"

"Unfortunately, this fist technique is only a remnant form. It is not a complete system."

His greatest opponent was Bi Hao. That man had trained in the Three Talents Fist. Li Xian did not know how formidable it was, but at the very least, it was complete.

If they faced each other head-on, and he could not catch his opponent off guard and defeat him in a single move, Bi Hao would surely be able to hold victory firmly in his grasp by relying on the completeness of his fist technique.

The situation did not look promising. Only through diligent study and bitter training, striving for greater mastery of the Wild Ox Fist, could he seize this opportunity!

"Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles. In a few more days, I'll go secretly watch Bi Hao practice his fist technique."

Once Li Xian heard the footsteps recede, he kicked the weeds aside, spread his legs, and began practicing the Wild Ox Fist again.

[Proficiency +1]

[Proficiency +1]

Bit by bit, he accumulated the capital he needed to turn his life around.

Another three days passed in the blink of an eye. The Wild Ox Fist's proficiency had already reached [seven hundred and twelve]. Reaching Minor Accomplishment before the manor guards' grand competition was practically a sure thing.

What delighted Li Xian even more was this.

His weeding skill had also progressed along the way.

[Skill: Weeding]

[Proficiency: 29/2000 Major Accomplishment]

[Description: After pulling countless weeds, have you still not gained enlightenment? Wild grass cannot be cut away completely; when the spring wind blows, it grows again. The principle of endless life lies within it. You now possess resilience beyond that of ordinary people!]

He had gained insight from weeding.

To Li Xian's senses, he had become steadier. He had endured the dull loneliness and borne the exhaustion, hardship, and cold.

Just when Li Xian thought everything would continue like this.

The following day, at noon.

A burst of gong beats suddenly rang out.

Li Xian frowned. This was the sound used to summon the servants. Anyone who failed to assemble after hearing three gong strikes could be executed according to manor rules.

"What happened? This is the first time I've encountered something like this."

Before the Servant Quarters, over a thousand servants had already gathered, jostling one another and standing packed tightly together.

Everyone spent their days laboring, without even a moment to spare.

They were all grimy and disheveled. Their coarse servant clothes were gray and drab, some of them torn to shreds.

Li Xian was no exception.

As they assembled, Li Xian deliberately looked around but did not see Bi Hao. When he had passed Luo Fang's quarters earlier, he had faintly heard the sound of fists slicing through the air...

It seemed Luo Fang had arranged for Bi Hao to practice martial arts inside his room.

"Luo Fang truly treats Bi Hao well. But he must have something to gain from it too. If Bi Hao becomes a manor guard, Luo Fang's position will become more secure."

Amid the crowd, Li Xian silently pondered.

Luo Fang ordered the foremen of each group to count their men. Only after confirming that no one was missing did he say, "You people are truly lucky. Too lucky."

"I'm telling you, being able to work for Madam Zhuang is an honor, a wonderful thing you couldn't obtain even if you begged for it!"

As usual, Luo Fang lavished heartfelt praise upon that mysterious Madam Zhuang. Only then did he say:

"Madam Zhuang wishes to simmer an 'Essence Treasure.' This Essence Treasure requires a great deal of water to stew. From today onward, you thousand-odd people are to put down all your current tasks and focus entirely on carrying spring water back to the manor from three li away."

"The foremen should already know what to do. I need not explain further. Get started."

With a flick of his sleeve, he left alone.

Li Xian sensed something amiss. He grabbed a servant beside him and asked, "What is this about? Simmering an 'Essence Treasure' really requires over a thousand servants to carry water?"

"You're new here, aren't you?"

The servant sighed.

"The things those great figures come into contact with are beyond our understanding.

We just do as we're told. Asking questions left and right brings no benefit at all."

Still bewildered, Li Xian was swept along by the flow of people out of One Accord Manor. He was assigned to stand some thirty zhang from the manor.

The foreman of Servants' Ninth Group said to Li Xian, "Number Twenty-Seven, wait here. When someone brings water over, take it from them, then deliver it to the next person."

Li Xian understood...

So this water transport used a relay system. Each person carried the water for part of the route, ensuring the flow never stopped.

"What a Madam Zhuang... With a single thought from her, she can make all of us work ourselves to the bone."

Li Xian steadied himself and asked, "Foreman, how long did this sort of thing usually last in the past? Doesn't our manor have water?"

The foreman frowned, revealing his displeasure. Quick-witted, Li Xian slipped three copper coins into the foreman's pocket and added:

"I'm merely curious. I hope Foreman can tell me about it."

After pocketing the reward money, the foreman's expression softened considerably.

"There's no harm in telling you. A person like Madam eats very differently from the likes of us."

"I heard that what is being simmered this time is some kind of unusual meat. It has to be stewed until tender and falling apart before its poison can be removed.

"Conservatively speaking... it'll take three days and three nights. Of course the manor has water, but what if there isn't enough?"

"That's why the moment simmering begins, we must begin transporting water as well. Work hard. Whenever something like this happens, anyone who survives can receive ten copper coins as a reward."

"And you even get to eat your fill. At the very least, you'll get a chicken leg. Tsk, tsk, that taste."

The foreman revealed an expectant expression.

Li Xian's heart lurched. "There's even a risk of death?"

"Of course."

The foreman said irritably, "As long as that Essence Treasure simmers, we have to keep working. We only get a brief half-quarter-hour rest at noon and in the evening. At this intensity, if you don't collapse from exhaustion, you'll be worn to death. You..."

"You look rather frail. Whether you can endure it is truly hard to say."

"This..." Li Xian felt deeply powerless. This sudden accident had thrown all his plans into chaos.

Guarding this spot and transporting water constantly meant he could no longer focus on practicing his fist technique!

"Three days... I hope it can be finished in three days. Then I'll still have a chance!"

Li Xian clenched his fists.

Within these deep courtyards and grand estates, one's fate could not be controlled in the slightest. Yet Bi Hao... was quietly practicing his fist technique at this very moment.

Compared side by side, the gap between them was suddenly pulled wide open.

But since he was here, he had to make peace with it. There were many difficult things in this world and few easy ones. Giving up on himself so easily was never Li Xian's style.

Autumn had now passed, and winter was approaching. After a brief spell of warm wind, the chill in the air grew increasingly heavy.

"Water's here! Those in the back, hurry up and take it!"

"Hey, be careful! Don't spill any, or you'll get whipped."

From the distant hillside, servants carrying a bucket in each hand rushed downhill.

After handing over their buckets, they hurried back up the mountain path to continue receiving and delivering water, repeating the process over and over.

Li Xian gazed into the distance. Every servant was a black dot, and the black dots formed a line...

Like industrious ants, piling flesh and blood into the lofty tower of a martial artist.

And he himself was one of those countless black dots.

"Number Twenty-Seven, what are you standing around for? Hurry and take the water!"

A servant in the distance shouted.

Li Xian quickly ran over, lifted a bucket of water in each hand, and hurriedly delivered them to the next servant.

He possessed Internal Force, and the Weeding skill had also granted him the attribute of unyielding perseverance.

Going back and forth with water was much easier for him.

He should not be worked to death, but it consumed far too much of his time.

[Skill: Water Carrying]

[Proficiency: 13/500 Initiation]

[Description: Carry water, carry water; soak your clothes with splashes and wear down your shoulders. Try carrying it a thousand times, a hundred times over.]