Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King

Li Xian shook off his pursuers, hearing cries of anguish echoing behind him across the field, he mused somberly, "After this incident, I suppose my hands are stained with blood. So be it... whether it is a sin or a crime, let them judge. Why should I care, why should I think too much of it."

He extricated himself and fled far away. In one breath, he covered several dozen shuili, encountering a dense water forest. He quickly steered his boat in and, shielded by the leaves, traveled another ten li or so. Confident it would be hard for them to pursue further.

Li Xian gazed into the distance towards the sky, tonight the moon was round as a plate, bright and pure, truly beautiful. He pondered, "After this calamity, they should not chase again. Firstly... the casualties must be severe. The injured need to be treated quickly. Secondly, the ship wrecked and people scattered, making further pursuit a considerable undertaking."

The next day, the lake area was as peaceful as before. Li Xian emerged from the water forest, looking around, contemplating where to flee next. Although temporarily safe, he still needed to guard against the Jingyao Divine Bird.

Currently without a bow, he couldn’t confront the Divine Bird. But since Li Xian once shot it down, it had turned into a wary creature, seemingly very afraid of his gaze, or perhaps fearful of the "Heavy Pupils". A mere glance from Li Xian would cause it to tremble uncontrollably.

"Today, if it dares to appear, it means Zhao Ranran’s malicious intent remains, still seeking my whereabouts. I will intimidate it with a glare, then choose another path to escape. If today it does not appear, it means they have given up on finding me. I will then follow the Water Map to shore."

Li Xian kept an eye on the heights, and did not see the Divine Bird all day. He took out the "Water Map" to examine it. This map was acquired from the eradication of the "Golden Water Nest". Li Xian followed the map, journeying for more than four days, until the black boat reached the shore.

Finally leaving Dongran Lake.

The endless lake regions, full of mysteries. Countless opportunities and adventures buried deep in the shadows.

Li Xian gently patted the hull, knowing that although the boat was ordinary, it was extremely valuable, its material quite unique, he was reluctant to abandon it. But carrying it around was rather strange, and if it attracted attention, it might once again lead to exposure. With no better options, he decided to find a way to hide it, to be used again when needed.

Noticing black mud, weeds, and large stones by the lakeshore, an idea came to him. Firstly, he covered the black boat with black mud, filled it with lake water, and sunk it directly into the lake.

Later, he would just need to pull it out from the lake bottom and wash away the mud. Li Xian dusted himself off, exhaled to rid his mouth of dust, and gazed into the depths of the lake with a deep sigh. The Water Altar, the bee farm, the orchard... all gone, leaving him with nothing.

Li Xian examined the water travel map, which mainly depicted waterways, but also marked the locations of several towns, spotting a town named "Swallowing Water City" to the northwest.

In the past, the Golden Water Nest dominated a region, attacking passing ships, selling the treasures, pearls, and silks to "Swallowing Water City". This city had a unique geographical location, west of Huaiyin Prefecture, north of Huashui Prefecture, and south of Chongling Prefecture. Surrounded by deep waters and high mountains, it nurtured a fierce lifestyle and customs. The government found it difficult to exert control, turning it into a place mixed with all sorts of people, a hub for fencing stolen goods.

Water bandits, mountain bandits, and Red List Fugitives frequented the place. Li Xian thought of his current identity, neither good nor kind, more akin to a fugitive or a villain. Though Swallowing Water City was fraught with dangers, it was perfectly suited for concealment.

He set out as indicated by the map, spending more than a day, crossing over a mountainous forest to finally see a mountain city. The city walls, made of "refined iron stone", were entirely pitch-black and sturdy, towering and imposing. Thirty-four heads hung at the city gate, both male and female, their attire suggesting they belonged to wealthy families.

Li Xian did not rush to enter the city, first observing the comings and goings. Many were dressed in luxurious golden and silver clothes, seemingly extremely affluent, though upon closer look, they exuded a strong bandit air. Li Xian mused: "It truly is Swallowing Water City, an ordinary person entering might not even have bones left."

He picked up some yellow soil, mixed it with water foam, and smeared it on his face. Then he blended into the city. Black Water City was lax in control, the moment he entered, shouts erupted. Both sides of the street were lined with gambling houses, various figures shouting big and small bets with fervor.

Suddenly, a ruckus could be heard from afar, blood flowing everywhere on the ground. Someone had lost all their money, was furious, and started a brawl, hacking several people to death. Later, they were jointly attacked, hacked to pieces with chaotic blades.

Li Xian remained calm, hidden within the crowd, carefully observing his surroundings. Next to the small gambling houses stood a towering jade building, from which sounds of fighting and shouting emanated.

It turned out a mountain bandit leader and a water bandit leader, both fond of raising chickens, were having a cockfight for amusement, betting territories. A fierce mountain bandit, to display his bandit-like ferocity, had made beads from human bones, and wound human intestines around his neck.

Li Xian walked several streets, all lined with gambling houses and brothels... not a single food shop or inn was found. Li Xian appeared somewhat bandit-like, blending in slightly. After searching for half an hour, he found a row of inns, casually stepping into the "Safe and Sound Inn".

He couldn’t help but internally criticize, "Swallowing Water City, water signifies wealth, this is a city that swallows wealth and consumes people. Those who come and go are either bandits or villains, neither virtuous nor good, yet they name it ’Safe and Sound Inn’, how ironic. I have nowhere to settle, so I might as well stay here for the time being."

Entering the inn, he saw the Shopkeeper looking fierce and menacing, with three scars on the left side of his face, a tall and sturdy build, glancing at him out of the corner of his eyes. Li Xian remained calm, renting a room, and ordering two jars of wine and some food. The Shopkeeper sneered twice, too lazy to speak, pointing to a signboard behind him with a nod.

The sign had no words, but illustrations. It indicated: lodging two taels, wine two taels, beef three taels. Bargaining results in broken hands and feet. Li Xian frowned, cursing this filthy inn for its prices, more expensive even than Flying Dragon City. But having already arrived, and with some money at hand, he decided staying two nights would be no trouble.

Li Xian had fled from the Water Altar, knowing he would need gold and silver for future travels in the Jianghu. He carried several dozen taels of silver on him.

At this moment, he took out ten taels, gently placing them on the table. Seeing the silver, the Shopkeeper’s eyes shone with a hidden gleam but did not rush to take it, instead scrutinizing Li Xian. He curled his lips into a cold smile, hoarsely saying, "Pick any spot to sit, food will be served shortly."