Chapter 1: Barely Clothed, Sharing a Robe with My Brother
It was late autumn, with continuous rain and gradually freezing temperatures.
In front of the dilapidated thatched hut.
Before dawn, Li Xian was already throwing punches, bare-chested and shirtless. His skin was red from the cold, and he was covered in steam.
He threw punch after punch, as if to dispel the chill in the air, so he wouldn't feel cold.
He wore a pair of coarse cloth trousers, full of patches and slightly loose, with mud caked and dried into grime on the cuffs.
"A-Di, why don't you put on your clothes too? I'm inside, it's not cold. Don't catch a cold."
Inside the thatched hut, a simple wooden window was pushed open, revealing a delicate and youthful face.
His name was Li Xiaofan, Li Xian's younger brother. He was wrapped in a patched long jacket, his body curled up.
"Brother isn't cold. Look, I'm steaming all over. We only have one top between us, and you're weaker, so you wear it."
"Besides, I'm practicing Wild Bull Fist. If I ruin the clothes, we won't have anything to wear."
Li Xian smiled reassuringly, but a bitter feeling rose in his heart.
He knew ancient times were poor, but he didn't know they were *this* poor, unable to even afford clothes!
Half a month ago, he Transmigrated to this world, merging with the original owner, "Li Xian," and their two lifetimes' memories overlapped.
This was the Great Wu Dynasty, Nantian Region, Qiongtian Prefecture, Qingning County.
The original owner's mother died young, and his father, originally a hunter, had his right hand bitten off by a bear. He became despondent, later took to gambling, lost all his family's wealth, and then committed suicide.
All he left for the two brothers was a dilapidated thatched hut... and one piece of clothing, stripped from his father's body!
Winter was approaching, bringing freezing cold... The two brothers didn't know how they would survive.
"A-Di, I'm not going to study anymore. The Lin Manor is hiring Servants. I... I want to sell myself into servitude."
Li Xiaofan's young face showed a maturity beyond his years.
"Not studying anymore?" Li Xian frowned. "You have such good talent; are you just going to waste it?"
"Brother!" Li Xiaofan lowered his head and said sadly, "After Father died, they took everything. We can't hunt, we can't farm. We can't survive."
"The Lin Manor is hiring Servants. My arithmetic is good, so I'm sure I can get a decent job. If I please the steward, he might even give me some silver. Not only will we have clothes to wear, but maybe... we'll even be able to eat meat!"
At this, Li Xiaofan forced a faint smile.
"Stop talking." Li Xian didn't turn his head, punching the Wild Bull Fist over and over, a flicker of irritation in his heart. "If anyone's going to provide, it's your brother providing for you. It's not your turn to provide for me."
"But..."
"No buts."
Blood is thicker than water. The original owner's memories and his own memories merged seamlessly, indistinguishable, and this familial affection naturally continued.
Li Xian was Li Xiaofan's brother, his true older brother.
The boxing method Li Xian practiced was called "Wild Bull Fist," an Incomplete Manual with only three stances.
Each time he practiced, a warm current would surge through his body, strengthening his blood and flesh. It was the only valuable possession left by his gambling-addict father.
"A-Di is right."
"If we could hunt in the mountains, why would my brother and I face the dilemma of starving or freezing to death? This world... hard work doesn't lead to wealth!"
"To survive, we must make sacrifices. A-Di is young, and his exams are approaching. He absolutely cannot give up now!"
"Only if A-Di passes his exams can we truly make a name for ourselves!"
Within dozens of miles of Qingning County, every blade of grass, every tree, every mountain, and every stone already had an owner.
Li's father, while alive, was a hunter for the Luo family, earning a meager profit from hunting in the mountains.
Occasionally, he could cut off some meat from his prey to taste. Unfortunately, before Li's father died, he incurred a large gambling debt, and the Luo family hired other hunters.
A father's debt is paid by his son... The Li brothers still owed a sky-high debt to this day.
The sky gradually brightened.
Li Xian, shirtless, walked out of his house, instructing, "A-Di, I'm going to dig some wild vegetables for breakfast. You study hard and don't go out and get cold."
Li Xiaofan watched Li Xian's retreating figure, his eyes a little moist. His fingernails dug into his palms as he muttered to himself, "Brother, I won't let you down. When I pass the Heavenly Immortal exam, we'll both have good lives! I'll find you a beautiful wife and give you the best!"
...
Li Xian didn't go to pick wild vegetables. Instead, he went to Yihe Estate outside Qingning County.
This Manor covered a vast area, and it was rumored that an extraordinary dignitary lived there. Hundreds, even thousands, of Servants both within and outside the Manor served her alone!
Dozens of people were already gathered there, all barely clothed. Li Xian sighed silently, the world was like this; his two brothers were not the only ones suffering.
"Come, come, those who wish to sell themselves into the Manor, form a line, no pushing. Our Yihe Estate doesn't want ill-mannered brutes."
The Manor gates opened, and a middle-aged man holding a long whip approached. He called out casually, but his voice echoed far.
This man's name was Luo Fang, a steward of Yihe Estate. Behind him followed seven or eight attendants, all tall and neatly dressed.
The crowd jostled, and suddenly one person fell to the ground.
"Crack!"
Luo Fang frowned, cracked his whip, and struck the person. Instantly, skin and flesh tore open, and a large amount of blood flowed out. Without even a scream, the person was knocked unconscious.
Luo Fang cursed, "You dog, I told you to stand in line, didn't you hear me? Carry him away. Letting such a person into the Manor would offend the Lady's eyes!"
Two strong men behind him carried the person away and threw him by the roadside like a stray dog.
Li Xian turned to look, sighing silently. This person was likely beyond hope. The steward and his attendants were all unusually strong.
"In my memories... it seems Martial Artists have great abilities?"
Li Xian didn't think much of it, standing honestly in the crowd.
Luo Fang shouted, "Our Manor doesn't keep idlers. The Lady is compassionate, a Heavenly Immortal-like figure. With winter approaching, she knows many people won't survive."
"Coincidentally, our Manor is short-handed. We're giving you a way to live, and you should cherish it. Miss this village, and you won't find this shop again."
Luo Fang paced back and forth, head high and chest out, his sense of superiority undisguised.
"We are now recruiting thirty Servants. There are over thirty of you here... Hmm... The last few, you can leave. There's no room for you."
Upon hearing this.
A woman at the back fell to her knees with a thud, wailing, "Sir, sir, please have mercy... My child has no milk. As long as you let me into the Manor, I'll do anything, please!"
"Get out. A lowly life, starving or freezing to death, what does it have to do with me?" Luo Fang coldly snapped, driving the woman away.
Li Xian saw the woman's plight, but was powerless and could only watch indifferently.
The remaining people entered the Manor in order, registering their basic information. Even among Servants, there were different ranks.
Servants like Li Xian, who had just entered the Manor, were the lowest of the low. Even Servants who had entered earlier would puff out their chests when looking at them.
"The selling price is five hundred twenty-five copper coins, plus a set of Servant's coarse clothes. Food, clothing, and lodging are all provided within the Manor. In addition, you will receive a monthly stipend of fifty copper coins. If you have no objections, sign the deed of servitude."
The accountant looked at the Servants and said indifferently.
The Servants were overjoyed, scrambling to sign. Li Xian, however, felt a pang of sadness. Human life was so cheap.
Looking at the deed of servitude, he gritted his teeth and wrote his name.
"Oh, your handwriting is quite good." The accountant raised an eyebrow, giving Li Xian a second look.
After signing the deed of servitude and receiving their selling money and Servant's clothes.
"I'm giving you all afternoon. Go home, report the good news to your families. Starting tomorrow, you won't be allowed to leave the Manor without permission."
Luo Fang said to the group of Servants. Feeling it wasn't enough, he cracked his whip in the air, producing a firecracker-like bang.
"Also, don't think about taking the money and running. You won't get away with taking advantage of my Yihe Estate that easily!"
...
"A-Di, I'm back."
Li Xian returned to the thatched hut, shouting a few times.
"Brother, where are the wild vegetables? Why did it take so long to pick them?" Li Xiaofan's slender body was completely wrapped in the long jacket.
The two brothers shared one set of clothes: Li Xian wore the trousers, and Li Xiaofan wore the top.
"What wild vegetables? We're eating some meat today." Li Xian laughed, taking out some pork he had just bought from the market.
It wasn't much, but enough for the two brothers to taste meat.
"Brother! You..."
Li Xiaofan's body trembled, already guessing the reason.
Li Xian chuckled, "I sold myself into Yihe Estate. I got a full five hundred twenty-five copper coins, and a set of clothes."
"It's just that from now on, I can't easily come and go. Let's have a good meal, my brother and I. Father's clothes... I'll take them off for you to wear, and there's the remaining five hundred copper coins."
"You study hard. I'll work at the Manor, and if I have any extra money, I'll find a way to give it to you."
Li Xiaofan's eyes were moist. "Brother... you..."
Li Xian laughed heartily, gently stroking Li Xiaofan's head, "I'm your brother. I have to take on this responsibility. You have a photographic memory, a skill I can't even come close to."
"Oh, and I've had new insights into the Wild Bull Fist recently. I'll demonstrate it a few more times for you. You need to remember it; it's a self-defense technique, after all."
Li Xiaofan wiped his tears and nodded heavily. "Okay."
Li Xian struck a pose in the room, throwing a punch that resembled a wild bull charging.
Suddenly—
【Punching ten thousand times, his will is firm, his intent unyielding. Awakening of Fate: Heavenly Dao Rewards Diligence】
【Every effort will be rewarded.】
【Incomplete Manual of Wild Bull Fist】
【Proficiency: 456 / 500 (Beginner)】
【Description: The fist wind is unadorned, its momentum like a bull, refining blood and flesh. This boxing method has no shortcuts, only 'diligence'.】