Once a man has taken up the saber, why look before and behind? Seize the slave contract and fight for a sky high and sea wide!

Early morning.

The sky was barely light.

Having formed good habits, Duan Chenzhou held his saber aloft in one arm and went through a round of training.

His blood and qi boiled like a cauldron throughout his body. Even a thin layer of "skin membrane" had formed over the surface of his skin, showing outwardly as though he were draped in a garment of immortals.

"This lad..."

"Having his schedule suddenly thrown into disarray has left me a little unaccustomed to it."

He sat boldly on a small stool, dressed in a well-tailored black martial outfit, glancing toward the door from time to time.

No sooner had his mutter died away than—

The copper-and-iron gate was pushed open.

"Hm? Looks like he hasn't slacked off."

"A saber-training seedling this fine is something I've truly never seen in my life. I only hope wind and frost do not grind down his spirit. Otherwise, it would be such a pity."

At the sight of the familiar figure, Duan Chenzhou nodded.

He had little left to hope for in this life. Living in this quiet little courtyard and practicing martial arts every day was merely a habit he had cultivated over decades.

Seeing a promising lad who made obvious progress every day he practiced the saber, and offering him a pointer or two under his own eyes now and then, counted as a bit of amusement.

"Master Duan, I've Entered Force."

"Mhm. Go light the stove first, then make—"

"Wait."

"What did you say?"

When Ji Xiu entered respectfully with his Wooden Saber in hand, Duan Chenzhou initially paid it little mind. He was just about to give orders out of habit when, the next instant—

His eyes sharpened. He slapped the table and rose abruptly, his gaze like a keen blade as he looked up at Ji Xiu.

When Duan Chenzhou noticed that a force seemed to be constantly coursing through the lad's muscles and flesh, building his blood and qi and tempering his sinews and bones, he immediately saw through the mystery:

"Force is drawn from the sinews, like plucking chestnuts from a fire!"

"The first step of tempering sinews is grasping force."

"Your saber technique reached Minor Accomplishment, and yesterday you grasped 'saber force'?"

"Good lad."

His eyes lit up. His black martial outfit flashed as he raised his single arm and kneaded Ji Xiu's thick muscles all over. Finding them indeed impressive, he clicked his tongue in wonder.

"You've truly stepped through the martial man's gate. Good, good."

"Half a month to reach Minor Accomplishment in the Heaven River Saber and cross the threshold of a martial man."

"For those scions of powerful clans and great families, or noble offspring of generals who had built a solid foundation since childhood, such progress would be nothing remarkable."

"But you are merely the son of a poor household, born a stable slave, and yet you found time amid your labors to cultivate to this point."

"If word of this got out, never mind farther places—even the so-called true disciples within Anning County's famed Three Great Gangs and Four Great Halls, five hundred li away, would probably find a block of tofu to smash themselves to death against."

He paced back and forth twice.

Duan Chenzhou saw no trace on Ji Xiu of the arrogance that came from turning one's life around and becoming a martial man.

Instead, he was about to gather firewood and light the stove, able to take things up and set them down with ease.

A gleam flashed in his eyes. He muttered to himself, finding it all the more rare and precious:

"His skill has already taken shape, yet he remains this steady. It is hard to believe he is truly a penniless son of a poor family."

"In ancient times, a sage king rose from the streets walking dogs, while a great Emperor Lord began as a beggar, gnawing bark to stay alive, until his iron fists smashed every crooked path to dust."

"Martial histories record that the more one rises from humble origins, the more resolute one's heart, the greater one's future, fortune, and destiny upon becoming an expert—or even earning a title!"

"If I had seen this lad twenty years earlier, I would have snatched him up as a true disciple even if I had to steal him. What a pity."

His gaze dimmed for a moment, then he steadied his heart and called out to stop Ji Xiu.

"Ji boy, you needn't work today. Breaking through to become a martial man is a great joyous event for you. Now, we need to talk about your future."

"Come here. Sit."

Duan Chenzhou slapped the stone table and spoke earnestly to Ji Xiu.

"Now that you have Entered Force, you need to consider your future."

"The first step of tempering sinews, grasping force, relies on practice and comprehension. Some blocks of elm wood will never learn it in a lifetime. That is perfectly normal."

"But once you pass the Entering Force hurdle—"

"How will you nourish blood and forge tendons afterward?"

"You'll have to spend heavily: eat and train. Only when bright silver is poured out like water will you see results."

"After becoming a martial man, I see that you have neither grown arrogant nor impatient, and can still maintain an ordinary heart."

"That is very good."

"How many people achieve a little and immediately become puffed up with pride, their sights shallow? Such people cannot bear their own weight and will not go far."

"But you are different."

"You fell far behind from childhood. When I first saw you, you were skin and bones."

"You are somewhat better now, but compared to martial men who Entered Force at the same time, eat meat at every meal until their bowls overflow, and grow broad-backed and thick-waisted, you are still far behind."

"So what you need to do is hurry and catch up. Go to the Lin Residence, take your 'slave contract,' go to the yamen and change your registration—change your fate."

"Only after gaining your freedom can you find work in a martial hall or shop, exchange your skills for silver, rise from a mere 'worker' to a 'guest,' until one word from you becomes reason itself!"

Duan Chenzhou's logic was clear, every sentence a pearl, laying out Ji Xiu's future path with perfect clarity.

Ji Xiu's eyes brightened. He rose, lowered his head, and gave a salute.

"Yes, Master Duan. I came precisely to bring you the good news. After this, I was planning to go to the Lin Residence, retrieve my slave contract, and change my lowly registration!"

"Only..."

Remembering yesterday's events, Ji Xiu's heart sank, and he hesitated.

"I have not a coin to my name. If I ask the master for my slave contract and go to the yamen to redeem myself now, would that..."

Smack!

A large hand landed on his shoulder. Duan Chenzhou's brows twisted sharply.

"I told you to preserve your true heart, not to have you look before and behind!"

"At sixteen, fear, fear, fear—what are you worrying about?"

"When I was your age, my saber had already been stained red!"

"The yamen's records are black characters on white paper: those who Enter the Ranks may change to the Martial Register. How can a martial man serve as someone's slave?"

"Be bolder! If you do not press forward with courage and take a chance, how will others know what weight you carry?!"

"If you spend your whole life hesitating without spirit, you will never become a Qi Refining Expert!"

The knuckles of his single arm curled into a claw. He fiercely gripped the great tendon at Ji Xiu's shoulder blade, making him shudder as the exhaustion from a full night of saber practice vanished in an instant.

In that moment—

A fire rose unbidden in Ji Xiu's heart.

That was right.

He was already a martial man, already Entered the Ranks. If he still served as another's slave, that would be the real joke!

And besides—

If the Lin Residence had been calm and peaceful, he could have spent a few more days polishing his saber technique and solidifying his foundation in the stables. But—

Someone was pressing him relentlessly, as though calling for his life!

If yesterday's beating had truly landed—

Then when he returned today, severe punishment would surely be waiting!

In such a desperate situation—

Enduring would mean nothing more than taking a few extra lashes!

"Master Duan, I understand!"

"When I return tonight, I'll light your stove, tend the horses, and cook for you again!"

His blood and qi surged. Ji Xiu took a deep breath, then set off without stopping, his steps swift as flight as he disappeared into the vast fog.

Only once his figure had gone far into the distance did Duan Chenzhou's brow ease.

He sat back down on his small stool, his expression calm as he drank hot tea.

Half a quarter-hour later—

Lu Yu, dressed in brocade and unable to hide the joy in his brows, knocked open the door and strode in impatiently with a laugh.

"Master Duan, I—"

"That Bone Tempering Method of yours has shown results?"

Duan Chenzhou gave him a sidelong glance and calmly continued drinking his tea.

Lu Yu froze for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"As expected, nothing escapes your fiery golden eyes."

"Indeed. My bone tempering bore fruit today, all thanks to Master Duan's guidance!"

"I—"

Before he could finish—

He saw the one-armed martial man in black tap the stone table three times, cutting off his joyous report before speaking leisurely.

"Little Yu, just in time."

"I have something for you to do."

Looking in the direction of the Lin Residence, where Ji Xiu had gone—

Duan Chenzhou's eyes were deep.

Meanwhile—

Before the Lin Residence, servants swept up fallen leaves.

Ji Xiu entered the estate and headed straight for the stables.

Yet from far away, he saw Old Yao and his apprentice bent over, along with—

A cold-faced middle-aged man in blue robes holding a whip, followed by a group of guards. They had come fiercely, and neither their manner nor their words promised anything good.

At once, Ji Xiu's heart tightened.

The mountain rain was coming—

And the wind had already filled the tower!