Tearing Apart the Shackles of the Past, Returning to the Lin Residence—Life's Fortunes Were Never the Same!

Old Yao was drenched in sweat.

His eyes darted about anxiously as he sighed inwardly in alarm:

That kid Ji just won't listen to an old man's advice.

I already told him that the Lin Residence's steward was extremely displeased with him arriving late and leaving early at the stables. Why does he keep running straight into the muzzle of the gun?

And today, of all days, Steward Lin came to inspect the stables. Yet the kid arrived even later than he had the past few days and got caught red-handed.

By the rules, those thirty lashes are unavoidable. Not even the Second Miss could step in to plead for a stablehand she was sheltering.

Alas.

He shook his head.

Taking a whipping was a small matter.

But if this cost him such a fine job and got him sent off to work as a tenant farmer, in the privies, or as a servant—jobs that were bitter, lowly, and brought in no extra profit no matter how hard one worked—

Then his whole life would truly be ruined.

When he saw Ji Xiu arrive late at last, still carrying that Wooden Saber of his,

Old Yao could not help feeling the stifled frustration of mud that could not be plastered onto a wall. Seeing Qin Biao among the three to five guards behind Lin Steward, summoned here like troops being called into formation, he wanted even more to point at Qin Biao's head and curse him.

Why did you have to go telling him about martial men, fists, and sabers?

Now look what happened.

You trained him straight into madness and dragged him into misery!

Qin Biao, too, was groaning inwardly.

Lin Steward served the nobles of the inner residence and the master. Though he was not anyone of real rank, he at least held some authority.

As for guards like Qin Biao, who held no power and had only trained martial arts to a half-baked level,

The moment the man arrived, he could be mobilized at will.

Within the Lin Residence, those managing the master's establishments and businesses—the shopkeepers and the fist masters and martial men stationed over those places—held the highest status.

Next came the stewards who managed sundry affairs such as the stables, kitchen, and tenant farmers. They held some authority.

Below them,

Came guards like them.

In truth, at a great household like this, there usually was no one foolish enough to come knocking at the door looking for trouble.

The greatest use of the guards they kept was to discipline and oversee the servants and tenant farmers beneath them.

If anyone broke the rules, they would be dragged out before everyone's eyes and savagely whipped, serving as a warning and a means of keeping the unruly in hand.

When he followed Lin Steward here, Qin Biao had assumed it would be as usual—teaching some petty thief of a servant a lesson. But the farther they walked, the more something felt wrong.

Only upon reaching the stables and seeing Old Yao did he realize that the person being punished today was Ji Xiu!

But this kid had treated him to good food and drink time and again these past days, and had always been respectful toward him.

Qin Biao had taken a liking to him, so he could not help shrinking himself toward the back, his expression strained.

Especially when he saw Ji Xiu wearing the Wooden Saber at his waist, he bared his teeth.

This kid has really gone mad!

If I'd known, I never would have pointed him toward that path. Doesn't he know what he can possibly learn with that meager family fortune of his? Alas!

For a time, Qin Biao kept his head lowered, afraid Ji Xiu might spot him.

And at that moment,

The blue-robed steward had stood there holding his whip for quite some time. At last, seeing the "main culprit" arrive, he was just about to berate him.

But when he saw that the plainly dressed youth before him had a ruddy complexion and bright eyes, utterly unscathed, his gaze froze in surprise.

"Qiao Jin didn't go deal with him last night?"

Lin Steward frowned, sensing that something was wrong.

By all reason,

That fellow, born a street thug and hardened through years of clawing and scrambling his way up, should not possibly have passed up such easy silver.

Still, he did not dwell on it.

Fine. If Qiao Jin had not dealt with him, then he had not dealt with him. At most, Lin Steward would have to put in a little more effort himself.

The horses Ji Xiu raised were indeed each fat and strong,

But that was simply his duty. It was what he was supposed to do.

Yet no matter how well he raised horses, lacking discipline was a grave taboo!

This brat had handed him a handle to seize.

Now, even if he rewarded him with a whipping, the boy would have nothing to say.

Once he whipped him so badly that he could not get out of bed, he could simply replace him with someone else.

Crack!

The whip snapped, scattering shards of stone!

"Ji Xiu, I already warned you several days ago. No matter your reasons or excuses, you should understand that the master's work is greater than heaven."

Looking at the Wooden Saber tucked at Ji Xiu's waist, the blue-robed steward gave a derisive snort.

"Once you enter the Lin Residence, if you want to free yourself, then even if you sold yourself for only three taels of silver, you must first work ten years, then offer another ten taels, before you can possibly leave clean."

"And even then, whether you are released depends on the master's mood!"

"Day after day, you dream in broad daylight, imagining that becoming a martial man will let you change your registration and rid yourself of your slave contract?"

"Today, I will reward you with thirty lashes and teach you a lesson!"

"I'll make you understand that what you should not covet, you must never raise your head to look upon for the rest of your life."

"Otherwise, should you accidentally peel back a corner of the Heavenly Palace, you will learn what it means to beg for life and be denied it, to beg for death and be denied it!"

"Kneel in this muddy yellow earth and lie there properly. Why haven't you accepted your lashes?"

A torrent of abuse crashed down upon him.

The guards stood in groups of three and five, glaring like tigers watching prey.

Old Yao's pity.

Qin Biao's guilty, lowered head.

The moment Ji Xiu stepped into the stables,

The thousand faces of life all entered his eyes.

Making him sigh inwardly:

This is likely impossible to settle peacefully today.

Originally, he had planned to report to the master and politely resolve the Lin Residence's slave contract.

But

Ji Xiu truly had not expected Lin Steward to act with such thunderous efficiency!

Just because he had caused a slight inconvenience, the man was going to press him so relentlessly and crush a living person into dirt and dust?

Anger could not help staining Ji Xiu's heart, veins bulging across his forehead.

He truly was suited to be a steward.

Every word of that speech stabbed straight into a man's lungs.

Everyone had a father and mother—who was nobler than whom?

Even if one were made of mud, the heart-fire would be shooting skyward at this moment.

Make me kneel and take thirty lashes?

You old bastard, you have bullied me too far!

Ji Xiu's eyes sharpened. His five fingers spread into a palm, and with one great slap, he moved to seize him!

The Lin Residence was, after all, a wealthy household in the county. It was said to have powerful backing, and its master, Lin Zhenhai, was no one to trifle with.

He had come to retrieve his slave contract because he wanted to speak peacefully with the Lin Residence and avoid creating a rift.

If he went directly to the yamen, he could resolve it there as well.

But it would likely take a great deal of effort and be exceedingly troublesome.

But now,

Ji Xiu could no longer endure it.

"What? You're not convinced?"

Lin Steward froze. Seeing the flames surging in Ji Xiu's eyes and the fleeting viciousness within them, even with strength in numbers, he felt his heart begin to pound.

So he frowned and retreated behind the others.

Then he swept his hand forward.

"You lot, go! Hold down this mud-legged wretch who does not know the height of heaven or the depth of earth!"

"Once he was sold to the Lin Residence, he became a slave worth three taels. If he is whipped to death, so what?"

"This old man will compensate the master with a little more silver and find another one!"

The guards surged forward as one, rolling up their sleeves and cracking their knuckles.

This was the moment their purpose became apparent.

Only Qin Biao hesitated. After wavering for a long while, he still gritted his teeth and followed behind them.

Ji, even if I don't step up, the others can still hold you down. It makes no difference.

I still have to make a living in this residence. Don't blame me.

I...

Qin Biao shuffled forward, muttering guiltily to himself.

But before he could come back to his senses—

Smack! Smack! Smack!

Three crisp cracks rang out!

A sight Qin Biao could never have imagined, even in his dreams, unfolded before him.

The several burly guards at the front, who had rushed in close,

Were struck across the face by the young man's great palm, which howled through the air. Their cheeks split and bled, swelling like pig heads!

Ji Xiu's muscles trembled wildly, his great dragon spine driving his waist and hips. As those slaps landed solidly,

Even men weighing a hundred or two hundred jin

Were sent flying outright, spinning in the air before crashing one after another headfirst into the yellow mud!

It was utterly overturning the Heavenly Dipper!

Qin Biao's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

What the hell?

Yet Ji Xiu did not stop walking.

He strode directly up to Qin Biao.

Seeing the great palm rise and cast its shadow, Qin Biao jolted in terror and returned to reality.

"Ji—Ji..."

He trembled, unable to finish his words.

Then he saw Ji Xiu halt, his expression indifferent.

"Guard Qin, the bond between us is settled."

With that,

He passed him by, seized Lin Steward from behind him—the man whose legs were shaking as he prepared to flee—and kicked him through the air without mercy, sending him sprawling to the ground.

His face smeared with yellow mud, snot and tears streaming together, Lin Steward finally realized something was amiss.

"You succeeded? You..."

But before he could finish, a cry of pain burst from him!

Ji Xiu's expression remained cold. He snatched away the whip, then ruthlessly drove a foot into the old dog's spine, stomping him directly into the mud.

"I am a very reasonable person."

"If you want to give me thirty lashes, fine."

"But—"

"I do not mind stepping on your head and letting you taste what it feels like to be pinned in the mud, ground down, and whipped!"

Smack! Smack! Smack!

As the great sun rose, quite a few skilled guards lay groaning on the ground beside the stables.

Old Yao, who had once kept his head lowered, and Qin Biao,

Could only stare blankly, mouths agape, as Ji Xiu lashed Lin Steward—once arrogant enough to look down his nose at everyone, the man in charge of the stables and outer-courtyard affairs—

Until he begged grandfathers and grandmothers alike for mercy, howling so desperately it tore at the heart!

Exactly thirty lashes!

Not one fewer!

Afterward, Ji Xiu tossed away the whip, let out a long breath, nodded to Old Yao, and strode off without the slightest hesitation!

Qin Biao clutched his chest.

His hand

Shook like a sieve.

It was as if he had not yet awakened from a dream.

This kid... he had entered Entering Force!?

First came shock.

Then it was replaced by endless regret.

Why had he been so damned cheap today? Why had he insisted on coming along?

Now look what happened—

He dropped onto the ground, utterly lost and despondent.

More than ten years of bitter training

Could not compare

To another man's single month.

So this world was not without dragons and snakes turning themselves over.

His knowledge had merely been too shallow; he had simply never seen it before.