Chapter 2: Entry Level
[Name: Lu Yuan]
[Age: 16]
[Cultivation Technique: Breaking Blade Eight Techniques (1213/10,000 Great Success)]
[Tiger Subduing Posture (68/100 Entry Level)]
It had taken him a full six months to travel from Yunzhou to Yan Province. Although most of that time was spent on the road with little opportunity to cultivate, Lu Yuan had still relied on the system to bring his cultivation to the Entry Level. His Sword Skill, in particular, had reached Great Success.
To reach such a level of mastery in any technique would be impossible without decades of grueling experience in the army.
Even though Lu Yuan had only recently reached the Entry Level, with his Sword Skill at Great Success, he was confident he could hold his own even against a Bone Forging expert.
Then, he took out a porcelain vial from a hidden compartment in his bed, opened it, and tipped out an Elixir, which he swallowed.
The Zhang Family, perhaps out of guilt, had given Lu Yuan twenty Body Tempering Pills.
Ordinary disciples in the family were only allotted three of these pills a month.
Giving Lu Yuan over half a year’s supply at once was quite generous.
But even using them sparingly, after six months, this was the last one he had left.
From now on, he would have to rely on himself.
After taking the Elixir, he got on the ground, his body resembling a crouching tiger. His spine was arched, and his chest rose and fell faintly. The movement was slight, but it produced a deep, rumbling sound, like distant thunder.
A moment later, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
Meanwhile, Old Huang sat in the tavern, baring his yellowed teeth. While drinking his wine, he spoke to the proprietress who was wiping down a table, a rare hint of embarrassment in his voice. "Is there... still a chance for us?"
"We were together for a while back then, but you know I had no choice. My child was too young, and a widow and her orphan daughter couldn’t survive alone. You protected me and helped me open this tavern, and I’m grateful for that. So, even though I found you a bit repulsive, I just treated it like being bitten by a dog.
"Now that Xiu’Er is grown up, I don’t want to compromise anymore. Let’s just part on good terms." The proprietress’s voice was flat and direct, her eyes never leaving her work.
It turned out that Widow Li’s husband had died outside the city walls during an attack by the Northern Barbarians. Left alone to raise her ten-something-year-old daughter, she had no way to survive in Icefield City, which was why she had gotten together with Old Huang for a time.
Firstly, he was an old soldier and knew everyone on the streets, so he could protect the mother and daughter. People who knew him understood that while he had a bit of a foul mouth, he wasn’t a bad person. Secondly, he had no sons or daughters—a lifelong bachelor—and the grain from his fields each year could provide them with significant support.
But now, Old Huang was getting old. Two years ago, he had even sold his land to help open this tavern, leaving him with no savings.
Therefore, Widow Li wanted nothing more to do with him.
Lu Yuan had been here for too short a time to know about Old Huang’s history with Widow Li.
"You’re... good in bed, but you’re too materialistic and lack a human touch. I won’t hold it against you, though. But what do you think of that young man who was eating with me just now?
"Let Xiu’Er marry him. I guarantee she won’t have a bad life.
"He lives in Ice Valley Lane now, has a three-room, tile-roofed house, and fifty acres of land." Old Huang didn’t seem to mind her coldness. He took another swig of wine, smacked his lips, and continued.
He was a man who valued relationships and didn’t care much for worldly possessions.
Widow Li said nothing, her expression cold as she continued to sweep the tavern. The harsh scraping and banging of tables and benches echoed intermittently.
A young woman in a red cotton-padded jacket emerged from the back. She had a nice figure and an attractive face, with very fair skin. This was Guo Xiu, Widow Li’s daughter.
Her father had died when she was ten, and she had grown up relying on Old Huang’s support.
She now worked as a maid in the Zhao Family Martial Arts Hall in Icefield City.
Holding a grimy black rag, she walked over to Old Huang’s table. Wiping it down, she said coldly, "Huang, you’re welcome to come here and eat, but don’t bring up anything else.
"The martial arts hall has no shortage of soldiers like him. If I wanted to find one, do you think I’d need your help?
"And when you talk to my mother from now on, don’t be so crude. Or I won’t be so polite."
Her voice was laced with displeasure.
Their tavern now earned enough to support the mother and daughter. Moreover, Guo Xiu had met a few young Garrison Soldiers at the martial arts hall, all from well-off families, so she no longer felt any need to be deferential to Old Huang.
Old Huang shook his head helplessly. The mother and daughter were now dead set on severing all ties with him.
But he hadn’t given up yet and turned to look at Widow Li.
"Just think about it. The boy’s name is Lu Yuan. He’s a good person, and he doesn’t have any family here. If Xiu’Er is willing, I’m eighty percent sure this could work..."
"Old Huang, are you ever going to stop? My family’s business is none of your concern! What future could anyone who hangs around with you possibly have? Marry my daughter to him? In your dreams! Get out!"
Widow Li finally exploded.
She threw the rag on the floor, her thick, carrot-like finger pointing toward the door.
"Sigh... You... I know what you’re thinking. But there are only so many official positions in this city. Would an official really marry Xiu’Er? Even if he did, it would only be as a concubine. Why put her through that? I don’t have any other intentions, I just don’t want to see the child I watched grow up..."
"CRASH!" Guo Xiu couldn’t take it anymore and flipped the table over.
Wine and water splashed all over Old Huang.
She started shoving him toward the door.
In these times, for a woman to run a tavern in Icefield City, she had to be fierce. Guo Xiu had clearly inherited her mother’s ferocity and was quick to resort to violence at the slightest disagreement.
Widow Li also prepared to join in, lunging forward with her arms flailing.
Although Old Huang had not reached the Entry Level, he had been on the battlefield and was not someone an ordinary person could push around. But against this mother and daughter, he was truly helpless.
The two of them didn’t play by the rules; their attacks were vicious and underhanded.
Widow Li started shouting that Old Huang was molesting her, not only tearing at his clothes but also at her own.
Guo Xiu pinned Old Huang’s arms and dragged him outside. In no time, not only were the old soldier’s clothes torn to shreds, but several bloody scratches also appeared on his face. The street wasn’t crowded, but there was no shortage of onlookers.
It was a great humiliation.
In the end, the City Patrols arrived and admonished both parties, bringing the farce to a close.
No one was held accountable, however.
Things like this happened all too often in the Northern Border. There were many widows and many bachelors, and the Government Office couldn’t manage it all.
It was a common sight to see old soldiers getting kicked out.
Old Huang finally went back, his face covered in scratches.
He had only wanted to be a matchmaker; who could have expected it to end like this?
Not only were his clothes torn, but the dozens of copper plates he had inside were also snatched by Widow Li.
Lu Yuan knew nothing of this.
He was currently practicing the Lying Tiger Posture. As time passed, the temperature in the room actually began to rise slowly.
He had long since taken off his shirt, revealing a back even more solid than it was six months ago.
His sweat-covered upper body seemed to be coated in a layer of oil.
His breathing, too, grew deeper and more powerful.
Every muscle twitched faintly in time with his breaths.
As the night deepened, after two hours, Lu Yuan ceased his practice.
[Tiger Subduing Posture (70/100 Entry Level)]
This training session had been quite fruitful. Although he didn’t achieve a breakthrough, he had made significant progress. One Body Tempering Pill had added two points.
But from now on, his cultivation would depend on his own efforts.
He felt for the silver on his person; he had less than ten taels left.
’I need to figure out a way to earn some silver soon,’ Lu Yuan thought to himself as he was about to go to sleep.
But then he heard a commotion outside. The sounds of chaotic shouting were gradually approaching his courtyard.
His hand instinctively went to the hilt of his blade.
Icefield City was a chaotic place. There were always spies from the Northern Barbarians sneaking in to gather intelligence or cause destruction.
Especially at night.