Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King

Su Susu said indignantly, "You, a mere death row inmate, how can you be so arrogant? Though you have some strength, don’t you know that without someone’s help, your life hangs by a thread?"

Li Xian thought, "A real man knows what to accept and what not to accept. When in danger, enduring humiliation temporarily to seek escape is most normal. However, I do not care for the charity of Zhao Ranran." He said, "Both of you, please return. If I perish in the valley and end up without a grave, it is my own fate."

Zhao Ranran’s heart was stirred. Seeing Li Xian’s resolute tone, and a hint of familiar mockery hidden within, she kept asking, "Why?"

Li Xian said, "There’s no why, please leave." Zhao Ranran gazed deeply at Li Xian, and Su Susu, unable to bear the situation, pulled Zhao Ranran away.

After taking a few steps, Zhao Ranran was in turmoil, thinking, "I mean well to save him, why does he not accept? Ever since I entered the world, there are too many things I can’t understand. If he can stay alive, why wouldn’t he want it? I didn’t humiliate him. In the future, if I encounter similar situations, should I save or not save? Help or not help?" She returned to the cell and asked, "Allow me to ask once more, why won’t you accept? I only wish to help you, with no other intentions, why..."

Zhao Ranran suddenly remembered ’Nangong Liuli’. When saving him in the past, Nangong Liuli was almost driven to suicide, and later had resentment rather than gratitude towards her. She had not saved many since entering the world, yet the few times she did, it only brought trouble. At the moment, she doubted herself, feeling the world’s complexity was like tangled threads, and asked, "Was it a mistake to help you?"

Li Xian thought, "Zhao Ranran came to save me with good intentions. Although I refuse her help, it’s because our grievances are unresolved, and I don’t want to accept it. Her kindness, if it could help others, would be their fortune. I see she speaks with confusion, indicating a muddled mind. As the Jade Girl, though not needing my guidance, having one more kind person is certainly better than having one more wicked person. As for our grievances, that’s another matter and should be settled when the time comes." He said straightforwardly, "I reject your kindness for my reasons, unrelated to you. People like me in this world, in the end, are alone. If you encounter others in the future and wish to save them, you can go ahead. They are likely to be grateful to you. People like me you won’t meet a second one."

He leaned against the bedside with an air of nonchalance. Zhao Ranran asked, "Then I didn’t do wrong?"

Li Xian wanted to scold Zhao Ranran, but said truthfully, "If you genuinely intended to save, then it’s not wrong." Zhao Ranran gazed deeply and asked, "Then why don’t you accept?" Li Xian irritably said, "You woman, nagging and bothersome. Whether I accept kindness or not, what’s it to do with your right or wrong?"

Zhao Ranran understood partially, and left with Su Susu. The next day, she departed Jade City with Tai Shu Chunfeng. Su Tiexin gifted two fine horses. Zhao Ranran rode to mid-mountain, looked back, and gazed at the rolling mountains hiding the Willing Death Valley.

Tai Shu Chunfeng laughed, "Ranran, if you’re reluctant to leave, when we have dealt with the Candle Sect, we can return to Daoxuan Mountain and then completely unwind and enjoy ourselves?" Zhao Ranran recalled yesterday’s dialogue and remembered hearing from "Yan Nanxun" as a child that in the world, all kinds of charm assess a man’s life, his appearance and family background can be important or not. Ultimately, what matters is the charm and nonchalance in his character.

Yan Nanxun also said, "Nonchalance must be innate, if it’s not in one’s nature, learning it forcefully is merely imitating clumsily. Of course... being too nonchalant isn’t good either."

Zhao Ranran said, "Once the Candle Sect matter is settled, if it’s on the way, coming back to Jade City to take a look is no harm." Tai Shu Chunfeng joyfully said, "Alright!"

The two drove away, shouting a command, and rode their horses out of Jade City.

The future is boundless, the Jianghu path long. Clad in fine clothes, riding spirited horses, the road ahead is full of wonders.

...

...

Meanwhile,

Li Xian refused Zhao Ranran’s assistance and continued to fight to pay off his debts. Winning seventy-four consecutive battles, he was quite renowned in Willing Death Valley. Many seasoned death row inmates, who had been waiting for years, gradually heard the name "Ashamed Sword."

Accumulating twenty-two thousand taels of silver, most of it was used to pay off debts. A few thousand taels of silver remained for emergencies. By the seventy-ninth deathmatch, the situation gradually changed.

Li Xian’s opponent wore Silver Armor, wielded a sharp cold spear, and came well-prepared. The opponent was incredibly strong, and fully protected by Silver Armor, the spear sharp. Li Xian found his Iron Sword shattered instantly upon contact. Ordinary fists and feet couldn’t penetrate the Silver Armor.

After some entanglement in the fight.

Li Xian employed the Jade Palm’s Dark Force, directing the Palm Force into the armor. He shook the opponent to the point where he couldn’t resist and won. His unique style gradually attracted many admirers, who would shower him with golden leaves and silver as a reward. Though the amount wasn’t large, it could cover one or two deathmatches.

Fighting in Willing Death Valley was no longer just about bloodlust and brutality. Seasoned death row inmates, having won dozens to nearly a hundred matches, amassed substantial wealth. To continue winning, they would purchase weapons, armor, ingenious devices, tigers, leopards, exotic beasts, poisons...

With the blessing of Upper-tier weapons, their strength increased significantly. Jade City would sell new ingenious devices in the Willing Death Valley, using it as a testing ground, adding more danger to the fight.

Li Xian, after being in the Willing Death Valley for more than a month and winning one hundred and forty-nine matches, encountered a dangerous situation. The opponent was slim and not particularly skilled in Martial Arts. But having spent thirty thousand taels of silver purchased a "Ingenious Device - Death Shuttle."

It was mounted on a crossbow and activated by an ingenious mechanism. The Death Shuttle shot out rapidly with great killing power. Li Xian, closely observant, detected the opponent’s movements early and dodged swiftly.