Chapter 5: Stewing essence food, All Plans Disrupted
Three days passed in a flash.
In the backyard of the dilapidated house, Li Xian fiercely threw punches, his momentum terrifying. As his fists rubbed against the air, a faint 'Green Bull Roar' could be heard.
【Wild Bull Fist · Incomplete Form】
【Proficiency: 412 / 1000 Mastery】
【Description: The Wild Bull grazes, focusing on dormancy, calming its Qi and guarding its spirit. Only by remaining humble and unhurried can it achieve great things.】
Hearing footsteps approach, Li Xian quickly stopped his stance and lowered his head to pull out weeds.
Slacking off... he was already skilled at it. He would pull out a patch of grass, then practice a few sets of punches. This way, he could handle inspections, and no one would know he was secretly practicing his fist techniques.
"There are still twelve days left. At this rate, my Wild Bull Fist will definitely advance further, reaching Minor Achievement!"
"It's a pity this fist technique is just an incomplete form, not a complete system."
His biggest opponent was Bi Hao. This person was skilled in 'Three Talents Fist'. He didn't know how good the fist technique was, but at least it was complete.
In a head-on confrontation, if he couldn't take him by surprise and defeat him in one move, the opponent, relying on his complete fist technique, would surely have the upper hand.
The situation was not optimistic. Only through diligent practice, striving for a higher attainment in Wild Bull Fist, could he seize this opportunity!
"Know yourself and your enemy, and you will never be defeated. In a few more days, I'll go secretly watch Bi Hao practice his fist techniques."
Li Xian heard the footsteps move away, kicked the weeds aside, spread his legs, and resumed practicing Wild Bull Fist.
【Proficiency +1】
【Proficiency +1】
He accumulated the capital for his turnaround little by little.
Another three days passed in a blink of an eye. The proficiency of Wild Bull Fist had reached 【712】, making it almost certain that he would achieve the Minor Achievement Realm before the bodyguard competition.
What made Li Xian even happier was that his Weeding skill had also made progress.
【Skill: Weeding】
【Proficiency: 29 / 2000 Major Achievement】
【Description: Countless weeds removed, yet no Epiphany? Weeds cannot be eradicated, they grow again with the spring breeze. The principle of endless life is contained within. You already possess an uncommon tenacity!】
He gained insights from Weeding.
In Li Xian's perception, he had become more composed. He had endured boredom and loneliness, and withstood exhaustion and hardship.
Just as Li Xian thought everything would continue this way, the next day, at noon, a gong suddenly sounded.
Li Xian frowned. This was the sound for gathering Servants. Those who didn't gather after three gong strikes could be executed according to Yihe Estate rules.
"What on earth happened? This is the first time I've encountered such a situation."
In front of the Servant quarters, over a thousand Servants had already gathered, pushing and shoving, tightly packed together.
Everyone was busy with labor during the day, not a moment of leisure.
All were covered in dust, disheveled, their Servant clothes also dull gray, some torn.
Li Xian was no exception.
During the assembly, Li Xian specifically observed and did not see 'Bi Hao'. And when he had just passed Luo Fang's dwelling, he faintly heard the sound of fists...
It seemed Luo Fang had arranged for Bi Hao to practice Martial Arts in his house.
"Luo Fang is truly good to Bi Hao. But he must have an ulterior motive. If Bi Hao becomes a bodyguard, Luo Fang's position will be more secure."
In the crowd, Li Xian pondered silently.
Luo Fang commanded the various squad leaders to count the number of people in their squads. Seeing no one was missing, he then said, "You people are truly lucky, truly lucky."
"I'm telling you, it's your honor to work for Madam Zhuang; it's a wonderful thing that you can't even beg for!"
As usual, Luo Fang sincerely praised the mysterious Madam Zhuang. Finally, he said:
"Madam Zhuang wants to stew 'essence treasure'. This essence treasure requires a large amount of water for stewing. You, over a thousand people, from today onwards, put down all your current tasks and focus on transporting water from the mountain spring three miles away back to the Yihe Estate."
"All the squad leaders must already know what to do. I don't need to elaborate. You may begin."
He waved his sleeve and left alone.
Li Xian sensed something amiss, grabbed a Servant beside him, and asked, "What's going on? Are a thousand Servants really needed to transport water for stewing 'essence treasure'?"
"Are you new here?"
The Servant sighed:
"How can we understand the things that such important figures deal with?
We just do as we're told. Asking questions won't do any good."
In a daze, Li Xian was swept along by the crowd, out of Yihe Estate. He was arranged to stand about thirty zhang from the Yihe Estate.
The squad leader of Servant Squad Nine said to Li Xian, "Number Twenty-Seven, wait here. When you see someone transporting water, go and receive it, then pass the water to the next person."
Li Xian understood...
It turned out that the water transportation was done in a relay format. Each person transported water for a section of the road, thus ensuring continuous water delivery.
"What a Madam Zhuang... her single thought can make us all so busy."
Li Xian composed himself and asked, "Squad leader, how long did this kind of situation usually last before? Don't we have water in our Yihe Estate?"
The squad leader frowned, showing displeasure. Li Xian, quick-witted, slipped three coins into the squad leader's pocket and added:
"I'm just curious, I hope the squad leader can tell me."
The squad leader put away the coins, and his expression softened considerably.
"It's fine to tell you. Important figures like Madam Zhuang have very different food from us."
"I heard that what's being stewed this time is a certain kind of unique meat, which needs to be stewed until very tender to remove its toxicity.
Conservatively estimated... it will take three days and three nights of stewing. We naturally have water in our Yihe Estate... but what if it's not enough?"
"So, the moment the stewing begins, we need to start transporting water simultaneously. Work hard. Every time this happens, those who survive will receive ten coins as a reward."
"And, you'll also get a good meal, at least a chicken leg, tsk tsk, that taste."
The squad leader showed an expectant look.
Li Xian's heart skipped a beat, "There's also a risk of death?"
"Nonsense."
The squad leader said impatiently, "However long that essence treasure is stewed, we'll have to be busy for that long. We only get a short fifteen-minute break at noon and in the evening. At this intensity, if you don't die from exhaustion, you'll die from overwork. You...
"You look quite frail. It's really hard to say if you can make it through."
"This..." Li Xian felt powerless. This sudden unexpected event completely disrupted his plans.
Guarding this spot and constantly transporting water meant he couldn't refine his fist techniques!
"Three days... I hope it's cooked in three days, then I still have a chance!"
Li Xian clenched his fists.
Living in a deep compound, his fate was not his own. And that Bi Hao... was quietly practicing his fist techniques at this moment.
Comparing the two, the gap instantly widened.
But since he was here, he would make the best of it. There were many difficult things in the world and few easy ones. Giving up easily was definitely not Li Xian's style.
At this time, autumn had passed, and winter was approaching. After a short warm breeze, the chill in the air grew stronger.
"Water's coming! Those behind, hurry up and take the water!"
"Oh, be careful, don't spill it, or you'll get whipped."
On the distant hillside, Servants were carrying water buckets in each hand, rushing down the hill.
After handing over the buckets, they quickly climbed back up the mountain path to continue receiving and delivering water, repeating the process.
Li Xian gazed into the distance. Each Servant was a black dot, and the black dots formed a line...
Like diligent ants, they used their flesh and blood to build the high-rise of a Martial Artist.
And he himself was one of those many black dots.
"Number Twenty-Seven, why are you standing there stunned? Hurry up and take the water!"
The distant Servant shouted.
Li Xian quickly ran over, carrying a bucket of water in each hand, and swiftly delivered it to the next Servant.
He had Internal Energy in his body, and because of the tenacious attribute added by the 【Weeding】 skill, transporting water back and forth was much easier.
He probably wouldn't die from exhaustion, but it consumed a lot of his time.
【Skill: Water Carrying】
【Proficiency: 13 / 500 Beginner】
【Description: Water Carrying, Water Carrying, soaking clothes, tiring shoulders, try carrying it a thousand times.】