Chapter 1: Martial Dao

Under the evening breeze of the setting sun, the workers of the Zhang family mine walked out of the pit. Today, they had received their wages, and tomorrow they would have a day off. Happy smiles bloomed on everyone's faces; they felt that a month of hard labor was worth it at this moment.

"I got five hundred copper coins. I'm eating meat tonight."

As he spoke, Zhang Daniu’s sweat-covered face revealed a hint of intoxication. He patted the money bag at his waist hard, already beginning to fantasize about the scene of eating meat.

"You, Zhang Daniu, are truly an ox. To think you could dig so much; I only got less than four hundred."

A flicker of imperceptible jealousy flashed in the depths of He Laosan’s eyes. He, too, had dug with all his might, yet he had received less than four hundred copper coins.

"A-Yang, how much did you get?" He suddenly looked at the silent Xu Yang beside him.

"About the same as you," Xu Yang replied, a faint smile appearing on his weary face.

In truth, the wages he received were more than Zhang Daniu’s—over six hundred copper coins—but he did not want to be high-profile. Letting people know he earned more was not a good thing.

Last month, someone had been robbed and killed on the street that very night because they boasted about their high wages.

Having transmigrated to this chaotic world for half a year, he was very cautious, always keeping a low profile and never seeking the limelight.

Primarily because he had no backing!

In this life, his mother had died early. Although he had a father, after the man hooked up with a widow, he moved directly into her home and stopped caring for him, leaving only a younger sister to rely on.

In this kind of world, a family with only a half-grown boy could be trampled on by anyone.

For the past six months, he had been struggling in secret, hoping to change this status quo.

"Soon, at most one more year."

Xu Yang looked at the Martial Dao Longevity Panel that had transmigrated with him:

【Comprehension: 21】

【Root Bone: 22】

【Cultivation Base: None】

【Technique: None】

【Skill: Mining lv.3 (283/400)】

【Remaining Lifespan: 57】

【Martial Dao Longevity Points: 1】

The confidence to change his fate naturally came from this "Martial Dao Longevity" panel that had arrived with him.

The panel was truly miraculous; as long as his actions were conducive to Martial Dao longevity, he would receive point rewards. These points could be used to increase lifespan, root bone, comprehension, and even techniques and skills.

When he first transmigrated, his comprehension and root bone were dismal single digits, 2 and 3 respectively. After half a year of effort, both had broken through twenty.

It was also because the panel had improved his mining skill that his wages exceeded most people's.

After exploring for half a year, he discovered that only by practicing martial arts could he truly utilize the panel. While mining was a stepping stone for martial arts and longevity, the point rewards were still too few.

Even without the panel, only by practicing martial arts could one get ahead.

With success in martial arts, one could participate in the martial examinations to win fame, or work as a guard to earn money.

Most importantly, in this chaotic world, only by possessing martial strength could one survive.

It was just that the money he had accumulated was still far from enough to begin martial arts training.

Walking out of the mine, Zhang Daniu suddenly spoke: "I won't be coming to the mine anymore. My father found me a trade in the city; I’ll be an apprentice at a blacksmith shop from now on."

As he spoke, his face was full of self-satisfaction. No matter the era, people with a trade were rarely starved to death.

"You two should also make plans early; you can't mine for a lifetime," he warned his two companions.

The mine shafts were dangerous and prone to collapse; every month, a few people died. Unless a family was unable to put food on the table, basically no one would be willing to take risks here.

The two of them had been at the mine for quite some time; there was no need to continue risking their lives here.

He Laosan laughed and said: "You know my situation. I came here to earn money for a bride price, and now it’s almost enough. Once I’m married, I’ll probably take over the family land."

His family had fallen on hard times, but they still had plenty of land, so he wouldn't starve even if he didn't mine.

"Looks like you’re getting married soon. Congratulations."

Zhang Daniu and He Laosan looked at Xu Yang with a smile: "What about you, A-Yang?"

Both of them had a way out, and their parents were still alive. With the elders to help, life was hard but had a future. The most difficult situation was Xu Yang’s.

Although his father was still alive, it was no different from being dead; he couldn't help at all.

"I want to practice martial arts!" Xu Yang said.

Both were stunned. Zhang Daniu laughed: "Don't joke, that was just a game we played when we were kids..."

The three of them had grown up together and once promised that when they grew up, they would practice martial arts together and get ahead.

But as they aged and gained more social experience, he had long ago abandoned the dream of practicing martial arts.

He had originally thought Xu Yang was joking, but looking at Xu Yang’s serious expression, the last word "joke" could no longer be spoken.

"A-Yang, have you gone mad? Have you forgotten the lesson of my eldest brother?" He Laosan widened his eyes, as if he had heard something unbelievable.

Xu Yang shook his head: "I haven't forgotten."

He Laosan’s family had an eldest brother who, in his youth, was also ambitious and determined to practice martial arts to get ahead. The old father of the He family had sold everything to support him.

Yet, all the family’s assets were poured in, and not even a ripple was made.

No! It made a huge ripple.

He Laosan’s brother had spent dozens of silver taels, and although he failed to become a martial artist, he relied on his training to join a gang. Within seven days, he was hacked to death on the street, and the He family’s fortunes declined from then on.

Later, this incident became a cautionary tale for the surrounding villages. Whenever someone wanted to practice martial arts, this story would be brought up.

"Then why are you still thinking about practicing martial arts?" He Laosan shook his head: "Listen to your brother, even if you spend the money at a brothel, don't throw it away in a martial arts hall."

He knew too much about practicing martial arts.

Master fees, dietary supplements, medicinal supplements, and the need to be completely unemployed—any one of these was something Xu Yang could not manage.

Most importantly, one needed talent. His brother was the type without talent; spending dozens of silver taels was of no use.

Xu Yang shook his head: "Don't try to persuade me; even if I wanted to, I don't have the money."

Hearing this, the two remembered that Xu Yang was barely able to feed himself and had no money at all.

"That's right, you don't have the opportunity at all. The best age for practicing martial arts is fifteen to eighteen. You are already seventeen. By the time you earn enough money, you will have missed the best time. Even if you have money then, the martial arts master won't take you," He Laosan laughed.

Afterward, the three did not talk about martial arts again, but Xu Yang keenly noticed that it seemed because of his desire to practice, He Laosan and Zhang Daniu began to distance themselves from him.

Practicing martial arts burned money. Back then, He Laosan’s brother had borrowed money from countless friends and relatives, and it had taken years to pay it off.

When it was time to part ways, the two simply greeted him and left, no longer making plans to hang out the next day as they used to.

Xu Yang shook his head to himself and walked quickly toward home.

"Xu Yang!"

Just as he was about to reach his door, a voice from behind suddenly called out to him.

He turned back to see Li Hu of the Triad Gang walking over with two ruffian-like youths.

The Triad Gang was the local gang. People living here had to pay a monthly "peace fee" to them. If you dared not pay, in a couple of days, your home would either be robbed or set on fire.

If you dared to refuse again, you would encounter bandits on the street who would kill you and take your wealth.

"Oh, it's Master Hu. What wind has blown you here?" Xu Yang put on a humble smile, his head lowered a bit.