Chapter 4: bodyguard Recruitment Competition, A Day to Rise
【Skill: Weeding】
【Proficiency: 867 / 1500 Minor Achievement】
【Description: A thousand bends of the back, enduring the bitter cold, tolerating the scorching heat – is there anything that cannot be accomplished?】
Li Xian simply focused on one task, continuously honing his patience. Both his physical strength and Heart-Nature improved.
“Though Weeding is a minor skill, it can still bring me enhancement.”
He was somewhat excited. He originally thought, what good would it do, no matter how deeply he mastered “Weeding”? It would just mean pulling weeds faster.
However, this was not the case. Weeding was merely the surface. When any technique was gradually delved into, deeper aspects would be uncovered.
At this moment, Li Xian’s Weeding was incomparably skilled. With a light sweep of his hands, without needing much force, a bundle of weeds would be pulled from the ground.
This Manor had excellent Feng Shui, and the wild grass was deeply rooted, making it exceptionally difficult to pull. Among all the people in the Manor, fewer than five could achieve his level.
Of course…
Only he would do such menial tasks.
“I haven’t seen A-Di in a long time. Today, I’ll ask Bi Hao if he can write a letter back.”
It was still early evening, and Li Xian had already finished Weeding this area. He hurried back to the Servant quarters, and just as he was about to knock on the door, he heard conversation from inside.
Steward Luo Fang’s voice was the first to sound:
“Xiao Hao, you manage the numerous Servants for me. Although it seems prestigious on the surface, when it comes to status and position, you are still just a lower-class Servant.”
There were eleven Servant quarters here.
Each Servant quarter housed about a hundred people.
These hundred people formed a “class,” and each class had a leader to manage it. Li Xian was number twenty-seven in the ninth class.
And Bi Hao was the leader of the first class.
He appeared very prestigious on the surface, but in reality, his status was no different. He could manage many Servants entirely because his maternal cousin supported him.
However, the Manor’s gates were deep, and Luo Fang was not considered anything significant either.
“Uncle Luo, you’re right, I understand that very well.” Bi Hao chuckled awkwardly, thinking that Uncle Luo was there to reprimand him.
“I’ve come to you today to bring you a piece of news. Lord Pang is preparing to select a strong and robust bodyguard from among the Servants.
If you become a bodyguard, things will be different. You can receive rewards from the Madam and practice some basic martial arts.”
“Uncle Luo, is this true? You must help me!”
Immediately after, there was a “bang” sound from inside the room.
It was Bi Hao kneeling and pleading.
And pouring a cup of hot tea.
Luo Fang secretly nodded, took the hot tea, blew away the foam, took a small sip, posing as an important figure, yet savoring inferior tea leaves.
He let out a long breath and leisurely said:
“Naturally, this is crucial for your future. To be frank with you, I also used to be a bodyguard.
Later, I transitioned from a bodyguard to a Steward. Although you are my maternal nephew, if you want to truly make a name for yourself, you can only fight for it yourself!”
“Lord Pang asked me to announce this matter, so that any interested Servants can report to him and prepare for the bodyguard competition.”
“I came to tell you first.”
Bi Hao’s eyebrows lifted in delight, “What can these lowly beasts compare to me with? This bodyguard position is definitely mine!”
Luo Fang said indifferently:
“You can’t say that. The bodyguard competition also values martial arts talent, innate bone structure, strength, endurance, and temperament.
Although you have some martial arts foundation, you’ve never had actual combat experience.
Moreover… those lowly beasts aren’t fools either. How could they let go of such an opportunity? Naturally, they will desperately seize it, even if they die in the competition. Tell me… do you really have complete confidence?”
“This…” Hearing this analysis, even with his confidence, Bi Hao couldn’t be sure.
“And your maternal cousin’s Face isn’t enough to sway Lord Pang. If you fail to be selected, this opportunity will be missed.” Luo Fang said meaningfully.
“Please, maternal cousin, guide me. Your nephew will work like an ox or a horse in the future to show his filial piety.” Bi Hao kowtowed three times with a loud thud.
“This is simple.” Luo Fang said, “During this time, you focus on practicing your fist. Practice the Three Talents Fist I taught you until you are proficient.
Secondly, arrange those tall, strong, and energetic lowly beasts for the most arduous labor. Exhaust their physical strength.”
“Uncle Luo, this plan is brilliant!” Bi Hao beamed with joy.
“There’s more.” Luo Fang shook his head and chuckled softly, “Lord Pang asked me to release the news. I wouldn’t dare disobey, but I can choose to mention it a few times at night when everyone is asleep. The fewer people who know, the better.”
Bi Hao kowtowed three times with loud thuds, “Uncle Luo, your great kindness and virtue are beyond repayment.”
“It’s enough that you remember my kindness.” Luo Fang said, “There are still fifteen days until the bodyguard recruitment competition. Make good use of your time.”
“Uncle Luo, your nephew will see you out.” Bi Hao supported Luo Fang and walked out of the room.
Li Xian heard every word of their conversation, feeling both anger and joy. He dared not linger and quickly ran back to his dilapidated room.
“This Bi Hao… his strength is clearly not bad, yet he insists on using such sneaky tricks.”
“But that’s fine. Since I know about it, I’ll lie low in secret and secretly sign up too!”
Li Xian suppressed the excitement in his heart.
In the backyard of the dilapidated room, he practiced “Wild Bull Fist” over and over again.
Whether he could stand out this time depended on this set of fist techniques!
By evening, Bi Hao was on his routine inspection, and Li Xian pretended as if nothing had happened.
Bi Hao nodded slightly: “Not bad, not bad, you did well today too. Xiao Li, you can go to the accounts office and collect three coins as a reward.”
“Master Bi, I see you’re radiant and your forehead is full, you must have encountered something good, right?” Li Xian wiped the sweat from his forehead, feigning extreme exhaustion.
“Hahahaha.” Bi Hao laughed, “You, boy, have some discernment. As for what good thing it is, don’t ask, it definitely has nothing to do with you.”
“You, just honestly weed these wild grasses. If you do well, you can still get some reward money. Don’t overthink other things, it’ll strain your brain.”
His tone was dismissive and contemptuous.
As he spoke.
A thought suddenly flashed in his mind, and he scrutinized Li Xian from head to toe.
This kid was quite tall, and he could do exhausting tasks like Weeding so efficiently… his physical strength should be good.
“Xiao Li, there are still swathes of dilapidated rooms and vast areas of weeds. How about this, you weed one building a day. I see you’re quite tired, so I specifically spoke to my maternal cousin, and if you do well every day, you can get three coins as a reward.” Bi Hao said with great satisfaction.
He believed that with a few words, he could dispatch an opponent.
And the other person would still be grateful to him.
Li Xian sneered inwardly, but on his Face, he expressed joyful surprise:
“Master… Master Bi, is this true? Weeding one dilapidated room a day… and I can get three coins as a reward? In that case, wouldn’t it be thirty coins in ten days?”
“Hahahaha.” Bi Hao laughed heartily, feeling boundless satisfaction, “I didn’t expect you, a mere Servant, to be quite good at arithmetic.”
After Bi Hao left.
Li Xian’s expression returned to calm, and he secretly clenched his fists. He absolutely had to seize this opportunity!
“Lie low… lie low…”
“Within these fifteen days, I will strive to practice Wild Bull Fist to the Minor Achievement Realm!”
“Only by catching Bi Hao off guard on the day of the competition will I have a chance to win!”
“Lower-class Servants will never have a day to rise. As a bodyguard… it seems I can even get access to basic martial Dao!”
Li Xian felt a surge of determination in his heart, his eyes firm and bright.