Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King

Jade City is surrounded on three sides by mountains, with varied and undulating ranges forming natural enclaves. Some of the picturesque peaks have been enclosed and transformed into private estates, with countless pavilions in the mountains, shrouded in mist and rain, presenting an unparalleled beauty. Further away lies the rarely ventured wilderness, a natural bulwark.

Li Xian and Yao Yin left the city from the West Wind Gate. They then shared a carriage heading north. After traveling several miles, they saw villages and small towns outside the city, with terraced fields spreading wide and mountains tens of miles in the distance.

The vastness of Jade City can be seen at a glance.

By dusk, nearing the foothills of the northern mountain range, they found a red pavilion. The two entered the structure to stay, with Yao Yin requesting two upper rooms for a good rest for Li Xian, as they would venture into the mountains the next day.

Going further ahead, there is the "Celestial Screen Mountain Range", named as a heavenly barrier, concealing countless dangers within. However, treacherous mountains often hold true treasures, which is why the people of Jade City and travelers from afar venture into the Celestial Screen Mountain Range to harvest from and live off the mountains. Within, there are numerous spirit mushrooms, miraculous medicines, mountain treasures, and rare ingredients. There are also demons that inhabit these lands, strange beasts that make their nests here, all shrouded in mystery and peril.

There are more than a dozen guests staying in the pavilion, all being "mountain harvesters" set to collect herbs upon the mountains the next day. At the break of dawn the next day, while the sky was still dark, the mountain harvesters lightly dressed and embarked on their journey up the mountain. Indeed, the Celestial Screen Mountain Range is perilous, so the harvesters are eager to enter early and return swiftly.

Li Xian and Yao Yin set off at the hour of Chen. It is said that the ancestors of the "Yao Clan" were once humble "mountain harvesters", holding low positions, until a twist of fate led them to a rare medicinal herb.

This was presented to the city’s master, which brought them fortune, earning the master’s support and nurture. Thus, they rose quickly like Riding the Wind, securing a modest position in Jade City. They later established their home, got married, had children, and after generations of joint efforts, the Yao family began to prosper, taking its first steps towards stability.

In the subsequent centuries, occasionally talented people emerged from the Yao family, growing stronger step by step, deeply rooting itself in the business of herbs and medicine... Among the mountain harvesters, there were those employed by the Yao family. Slowly, they became a part of Jade City’s nobility.

The Yao Clan rose from obscurity, and its descendants achieved today’s glory only after prioritizing family traditions. Thus, within the family, the "exemplary ones", even if accompanied by martial arts and noble birth, must remember the struggles of their ancestors and appreciate their current fortune. This is why, to advance within the family, it is necessary to venture into the mountains and collect the "Mud Body Grass".

Mud Body Grass has little miraculous use, often found on cliff edges and within the depths of the Celestial Screen Mountain Range. Its significance lies in the journey, not the destination.

Yao Yin and Li Xian trekked into the mountain range during the sweltering season. The foliage was dense, vines entangled, making every step a struggle. Li Xian wielded his Horizontal Saber, cutting through trees and vines along the way, carving out a path.

Yao Yin’s forehead was beaded with sweat; raised with privilege, she was not adept at such mountain ventures. Secretly, she felt fortunate to have brought Li Xian along. Li Xian was knowledgeable of the mountain terrain, skilled in the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams Geomancy, able to observe mountains and weather. Having hunted for a living since young, once he inquired about the general direction of the "Mud Body Grass", he took the lead in guiding the way.

Through dozens of miles, treading hidden paths, observing mountain scenery. Li Xian handled everything skillfully and thoroughly. Yao Yin, a daughter of the Jianghu, restrained her innate delicacy, experiencing the hardship of her ancestor’s journey.

On the quest for Mud Body Grass, Yao Clan descendants must "taste creek mud", "eat spicy fruit", "trek over mountains", "cross solitary bridges"... Indeed, there are numerous trials.

"Tasting creek mud" stems from the instance when an ancestor, while collecting herbs, was once attacked by wild beasts, narrowly escaping, but fainted by a creek. Upon waking, famished and parched, they drank from the creek and swallowed the mud beside it.

Thus, future generations must "taste creek mud". The so-called "eating spicy fruit" is in fact a kind of "milky white" fruit called "Funeral Fruit", which contains toxins, causing mild diarrhea and weakness, or even severe intestinal damage.

At first glance, it appears sweet and tempting. Once eaten, the sweet aroma fills the mouth. However, after a moment, a burning sensation emerges, spreading from the mouth gradually outward. The Yao ancestor once mistakenly consumed this fruit, nearly losing their life in the mountains.

Hence, descendants must "eat spicy fruit".

Li Xian accompanied and couldn’t help but sigh: "I used to think that aristocratic families hold countless resources and thus can endure through time. Now I see... that family learning is more precious. Yao Clan’s descendants, having been baptized by family teachings, conduct themselves naturally with confidence and grace."

Thus, for one day, they went through several trials. Truly not difficult, but the experience was extraordinary. At night, Li Xian lit a bonfire and took a rest beside it. Yao Yin, after a day’s journey, was soaked with sweat. Her boots were hot, her stockings were damp and dry, then wet again.

Her delicate face flushed, feeling somewhat embarrassed. Yet her demeanor remained spirited and commanding, using "Yu People" as leverage, making Li Xian busy reaching out to her needs.

Li Xian roasted some fish and prepared a soft bed. After prolonged travelling and outdoor living, these tasks were familiar to him. After finishing many things, he leaped onto a large tree branch, lying horizontally among them.

He exhaled gently, cleansing himself. Seeing the full moon tonight, radiant in the sky, he felt quite poetic. Picking a leaf casually, he played a tune on it by his lips. The melody was light and lively, yet somewhat rustic.

Not long after, he heard another tune arise suddenly. Yao Yin had a hand harp at her waist, and she was quite skilled in music, secretly engaging him in a musical rivalry. She looked on provocatively, seeming to say, "How about a competition?"

Li Xian shook his head with a light smile, disregarding the intention of competing. He continued to play the leaf randomly, only to express the joy of the moment.