The State of the World

The sky was clear for miles, the blazing sun shining brightly.

With a heavy bamboo basket on his back, Zhang Yuan trudged laboriously along the rugged mountain path.

Bead-sized drops of sweat continually slid down the fifteen-year-old boy's forehead. His light bronze skin gleamed beneath the sun, and the muscles beneath his thin clothes bulged tautly.

After rounding a fork in the road, a mountain village embraced by a Mountain Range appeared in Zhang Yuan's sight.

He raised a hand to wipe the sweat from his face, revealing a faint smile.

Chen Family Village.

Zhang Yuan's home in this life!

Five years ago, in a dazed state, he had broken through the mystery of the womb and gradually recovered the memories of his previous life.

Though he did not understand why he had crossed over into this ancient otherworld, Zhang Yuan had not railed against Heaven and blamed others, nor had he abandoned himself to despair. Instead, he worked hard to learn the skills needed to survive.

By now, he had grown accustomed to life here.

Drawing a deep breath, Zhang Yuan did not head straight home. Instead, he took another narrow trail.

Before long, he spotted a wooden house at the edge of the forest.

Zhang Yuan's expression immediately changed.

In the fenced yard before the wooden house, three youths in fitted martial clothes, each around ten years old, were practicing fist-and-kick Martial Skills with meticulous precision under the guidance of a middle-aged man!

The sight made Zhang Yuan's throat even drier. He pressed his lips together hard and continued toward the wooden house.

Yet the little path he had walked countless times felt especially difficult today.

Before Zhang Yuan could reach the courtyard gate, however, the middle-aged man came out first and blocked his way.

The man was tall and dark-skinned, with a long scar across his left cheek. His gaze was sharp, and his bearing was rather fierce.

The look he gave Zhang Yuan was dark and unreadable.

"Master Gao!"

Zhang Yuan hurriedly took the bamboo basket from his back and said respectfully, "The price of rice in the County Town went up another copper today, so I could only buy seventy-four jin..."

"That's enough."

The middle-aged man cut him off directly and said flatly, "You've worked hard. You won't need to come again in the future."

Though he had been prepared for it, hearing those heartless words still made Zhang Yuan's heart plunge.

He fell silent for a moment, then asked bitterly, "Master Gao, did I do something wrong?"

Among the hundred-odd households and five to six hundred people of Chen Family Village, the two most capable people universally acknowledged by the villagers were Old Master Chen, who was learned and knew a little medicine, and Hunter Gao standing before Zhang Yuan!

After awakening the memories of his previous life, Zhang Yuan had first studied reading and writing under Old Master Chen, then gone to great lengths to curry favor with Hunter Gao.

Hunter Gao was said to have come from the Military Camp. After returning home with injuries and settling in Chen Family Village, he normally made his living by hunting.

The man possessed outstanding martial prowess and had once killed a Black Bear alone. If not for his lame leg, he could easily have found a fine position at the county yamen or in a wealthy household in the County Town.

But Hunter Gao was solitary and cold by nature. He had always lived apart from others and rarely interacted with the villagers, making him exceedingly difficult to approach.

In order to learn his skills, Zhang Yuan had endured cold stares and mockery, racking his brains to serve him.

For instance, today, before dawn had broken, he had hurried to the County Town twenty li away and painstakingly carried dozens of jin of rice back.

As for chores like chopping firewood and carrying water, Zhang Yuan had helped him with them more times than he could count!

After more than three years, even a stone ought to have been warmed by his sincerity. Yet today, he had been doused with a bucket of cold water.

Even with the steadfast will forged over two lifetimes, Zhang Yuan could not help but feel indignant.

Hunter Gao swept him a detached glance. "You've done well, and I know what you're thinking. I had originally considered taking you as a disciple, but..."

He pointed to the three youths in the courtyard. "Yesterday, Chen Deping, Chen Yuanwai, brought his juniors here to become my disciples, and he presented generous gifts. Do you understand?"

Chen Deping, Chen Yuanwai?

Zhang Yuan was immensely astonished—why would a gentry family bring their children to a mountain village to study martial arts?

But whatever the reason, he clearly had no ability to compete with a Yuanwai family's children!

Suppressing the doubts and bitterness in his heart, Zhang Yuan lowered his head. "I understand."

"Good."

Hunter Gao nodded, very pleased with Zhang Yuan's tact.

The middle-aged man reached down, grabbed the bamboo basket from the ground, and limped away. After taking only a few steps, he suddenly turned back, reached into his clothes, and tossed several pieces of broken silver and copper coins before Zhang Yuan. "Go home."

Looking at the scattered silver and coins on the ground, Zhang Yuan unconsciously clenched his fists.

Then he spread his fingers, bent down, and picked up every last coin without missing a single copper.

This was what he was owed!

When Zhang Yuan straightened up again, his gaze happened to meet that of the Yuanwai family's children in the courtyard.

The eldest youth stood with his arms folded, a half-smile on his face. His eyes were filled with contempt and ridicule as he looked at Zhang Yuan.

As though he were looking at a pitiful beggar!

Another youth pulled a face at Zhang Yuan, his disdain plain for all to see.

As if saying: A lowly mud-legged peasant like you—where did you find the nerve to dream of studying under a master?

Zhang Yuan silently turned and left.

He had not gone far when he heard mocking voices behind him. "Big Brother, doesn't that person look like a black monkey?"

"Heh heh, he doesn't know his own limits!"

"Forget him. Let's keep practicing."

"Ha ha ha!"

Zhang Yuan acted as though he had heard nothing.

Zhang Yuan would not shout, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—do not bully the poor youth!" But he would etch today's humiliation deep into his heart and turn it into the driving force that pushed him ever upward!

Missing one opportunity did not matter. He was still young, and countless opportunities lay ahead.

Yet Zhang Yuan never could have imagined that when he returned to his home at the eastern end of the village, he would find three or five people gathered outside his door, while neighboring villagers craned their necks to peek over.

And Zhang Yuan's mother in this life—a frail, elderly woman—was tearfully negotiating with the people blocking the doorway!

"Mother!"

Without thinking, Zhang Yuan rushed forward, his right hand gripping the Firewood Knife tucked at his waist.

"Yuan Baby is back!"

A sharp-eyed neighbor called out.

The people blocking the door immediately turned around. One middle-aged man with a weasel-like face shrieked, "You're Zhang Yuan, right? You've come back at just the right time!"

Zhang Yuan noticed that the man held an account book in his hands, while the attendants at his sides were all strong and burly household guards.

He immediately stopped, releasing the Firewood Knife without betraying any emotion. "I'm Zhang Yuan. Tell me what this is about."

Zhang Yuan had lost his father early in this life and had always depended on his widowed mother in the village. Now that he was fifteen, he was the pillar holding up this household.

"That works too."

The Weasel-faced Advisor stroked his sparse whiskers and said pompously, "The county yamen has assigned Corvée labor. Our Chen Family Village has been allotted thirty households, and your family is on the list. At the start of next month, you must go to the County Town to serve for five months."

Zhang Yuan was startled. "My family already fulfilled Corvée last year. Why is it our turn again this year?"

For villagers, Corvée labor assigned by the county was undoubtedly one of the most terrifying things imaginable.

Corvée service often lasted three to five months, sometimes even half a year or longer. One had to bring part of one's own provisions, and the work was both exhausting and dangerous. It was perfectly normal for a strong man to return reduced to skin and bones or crippled by injury.

That was still considered fortunate. Some went and never returned!

It was no different from the gates of hell.

For his family's Corvée last year, Zhang Yuan's mother had sold the last of her Dowry Jewelry and used silver to pay the required Corvée Silver.

They had thought they could have peace for a few years, yet it had come again this year.

They truly would not let people live!

"Last year was last year, and this year is this year!"

The Weasel-faced Advisor sneered. "Starting this month, the Corvée and taxes of Chen Family Village are under Master Chen's control. If you don't want to serve, then pay five taels of Corvée Silver."

"Five taels?!"

Zhang Yuan's eyes widened. "It was only three taels last year. Why is it five this year?"

"I told you, last year was last year!"

The Weasel-faced Advisor gave a cold laugh. "This year, Master Chen has returned to the village to settle down and plans to rebuild the village ancestral hall. Every household must contribute. Adding two taels to yours is already letting you off cheaply."

"Remember, you must pay within three days. Otherwise, obediently go serve in the county!"

"Let's go!"

Zhang Yuan watched the group leave with their noses in the air, then helped his mother back into their thatched mud house.

Zhang's Mother clutched her son's arm, weeping so hard she could barely speak. "Yuan... Yuan Baby, tell me, what are we going to do? How about..."

She suddenly thought of something, her fingers gripping him tightly. "Run! Run far away by yourself and never come back. Don't worry about Mother!"

"Mother, it's all right."

Zhang Yuan gently held his mother's withered hand and said in a deep voice, "I have a way."

Though he said so, the fury in his heart turned into burning flames, surging violently in his eyes.

This damned world!

PS: New book release. Please bookmark and recommend it. Thank you, everyone! (#^.^#)