Free Web NovelChapter 4: Chapter 4: Death Pledge
In the gloom, Li Family couldn’t see clearly.
She could only feel Chen Cheng’s movements, which were like stirring water—soft and slow.
’This Nourishing Life routine...’
She sighed silently, unable to hide her disappointment.
At that moment, however, Chen Cheng’s heart was already brimming with irrepressible joy.
’Entry Level. This seemingly basic Realm is actually a cornerstone, laid after the Vertical Eye Mark completely deciphered the essence of Health Tai Chi.’
This made his every movement feel as if it had been tempered a thousand times, becoming nearly instinctual. He moved with perfect precision, his limbs an extension of his will.
What he hadn’t expected was that the moment he began, he experienced the Tai Chi True Intent: ’Harmony and unceasing, life ever-generating.’
When practicing the same forms, some people inevitably made mistakes, while others could achieve perfection down to the smallest detail. Some only grasped the superficial form, while others could touch upon the True Intent, mastering both spirit and form.
Because of this, the results gained from each practice session would vary, sometimes slightly, sometimes greatly.
Over months and years, this would result in a world of difference.
After completing one set, he was surprised to find he wasn’t tired at all. Instead, a faint warmth spread through his body.
He concluded the form, returning to his center.
His foot landed softly, like a feather on still water. The thin layer of dust on the ground rippled outward, revealing a perfect, clear circle.
[Health Tai Chi]: Entry Level (1/300), Traits (None), Limit-Breaking (No)
’A single perfect practice session adds one point to my Realm progress... and I have a chance to unlock Traits and even break through its limits?’
’In the long run, as long as I live long enough... I’ll naturally grow stronger...’
’But the problem is... I’m out of time...’
Chen Cheng wasn’t letting the pleasant surprise go to his head.
He knew full well that Lai Tou could show up at any moment, that the Black Wolf Gang would be collecting their "peace coins" in seven days, and that he and his mother still needed to scrape by to survive...
With a blade constantly hanging over his head, he simply didn’t have time to cultivate slowly and grow strong.
And as things stood, although he had reached the Entry Level in Health Tai Chi, it didn’t give him any immediate combat prowess for maiming or killing.
He craved martial arts to survive, to never be bullied again.
To put it bluntly, what he desperately needed were Killing Techniques!
Not a Health Cultivation Skill.
’I still have to find a way to join a Martial Arts Hall... Only by learning real Killing Techniques will I have the power to protect myself...’
Chen Cheng mulled it over and quickly came up with a plan.
"Done practicing?" Li Family asked.
"Like you said, moving around a lot makes you hungry faster..."
Chen Cheng lowered his voice and urged her, "Don’t tell anyone I’m practicing this form."
Li Family nodded emphatically. She understood the gravity of the situation.
"Let’s lie down for a bit..."
The clay candlestick at home was caked in a thick layer of dust, and they had to conserve firewood as much as possible.
Just sitting there wasn’t an option, so their only choice was to go to sleep early.
The wooden bed was cold, hard, and narrow. Mother and son lay on their sides at opposite ends, and it still felt cramped.
The tattered quilt cover was stuffed with straw and hemp fibers, and the constant stench of must and stale sweat assaulted Chen Cheng’s senses.
In this world, even falling asleep was a struggle...
The two of them chatted idly about daily trifles. After some time, they finally managed to fall asleep.
「The next morning.」
Kuhuai Village remained shrouded in the shadow of the city wall, barely touched by sunlight. The alleyways, soaked with frost, grew even more damp, muddy, and cold.
Li Family woke early, carrying an empty wooden bucket to the old well at the east end of the village.
Chen Cheng waited at home for a bit. As soon as he heard the CREAK of the neighbor’s door, he got up and went outside.
"Brother Cheng."
A well-built young man in black training clothes walked out of the neighboring house. Seeing Chen Cheng, he broke into a wide grin and greeted him.
"Xiaolong."
A smile touched Chen Cheng’s face as well.
"Thanks for yesterday, to you and Hu Niu..."
"Hah, we’re brothers who grew up rolling in the mud together. Don’t be a stranger."
Xiaolong waved his hand dismissively.
"Brother, the buns are almost ready! At least have a few bites before you go."
Hu Niu’s voice called out from the separate kitchen.
His family’s life had gotten better and better over the past two years. They had managed to acquire a whole row of five rooms, some rented, some bought.
Besides the two siblings, their parents were also hale and hearty. Not only did they always have enough to eat, but they even had meat every few days.
In Kuhuai Village, their family was living the best life of anyone around.
Everyone was envious.
"I’ll pass! The gang provides meals. You think I’m going to starve?"
Xiaolong called back toward the kitchen. He was about to leave when he noticed Chen Cheng hesitating, as if he wanted to say something.
"Brother Cheng."
Xiaolong’s smile faded, and he lowered his voice.
"Did you... need something from me?"
Chen Cheng nodded.
"Yesterday, I heard Aunt Zhang and the others saying you’ve become successful in your martial arts training and have a great future ahead of you... I wanted to ask you about the Martial Arts Halls in the Outer City."
"You want to train? Have you saved up enough money?"
Seeing Chen Cheng shake his head, Xiaolong couldn’t help but frown.
"I’ve been there. If you don’t have enough money, it’s best to stay away from martial arts... But if you’re really set on trying, there is one place."
"In Anle Village, the Dragon Mountain Martial Arts Hall set up a Lower Courtyard. They specialize in scouting for promising candidates from the slums."
"Anyone with an above-average Root Bone or superior Comprehension can have their gift waived. They even provide breakfast and lunch. The only catch is... you have to sign a Death Oath Contract!"
Xiaolong paused, his tone growing more serious.
"Slum disciples in the Lower Courtyard who can cultivate One Pillar of Blood Qi within six months get promoted to the Middle Courtyard. They get to leave the slums for good, and their status and benefits improve drastically."
"But if you can’t produce One Pillar of Blood Qi in six months, you have to serve Dragon Mountain Hall for five years, risking your life on missions they assign. I hear they’re extremely dangerous!"
’Holy crap!’
’Train first, pay later!’
’This is the granddaddy of all buy-now-pay-later schemes! You sign up, and you’re screwed!’
Chen Cheng was stunned and asked subconsciously.
"If someone dies after just a few days of service, wouldn’t Dragon Mountain Hall be taking a huge loss?"
"Dragon Mountain Hall is one of the most prominent Great Martial Arts Halls in Zhao City. Their Upper Courtyard rakes in a fortune every day. What’s a small loss like that to them?"
Xiaolong shot back as if it were obvious.
Chen Cheng, however, disagreed. ’Anyone who could come up with such a capitalist scheme must be obsessed with maximizing profits. They would absolutely detest any losses.’
’Perhaps...’
’...the dead have other ways of repaying their debts.’
So Chen Cheng thought. Despite his reservations, he had no better option.
"Is it hard to cultivate One Pillar of Blood Qi in six months?" Chen Cheng asked.
"Hard?"
Xiaolong laughed, but it was a laugh of exasperation.
"It took me nearly two years to barely form One Pillar of Blood Qi... Do you have any idea what I went through during those two years?"
Hearing this, Chen Cheng gave an embarrassed smile.
"Go on, laugh! You won’t be laughing once you’ve actually started training!"
Xiaolong teased, then his expression turned serious again.
"Dragon Mountain Hall isn’t that easy to get into... If you really can’t make it at the merchant house, you can come join me in the Qinghe Gang. I can’t promise much, but I can guarantee you’ll get two square meals a day."
Chen Cheng was taken aback.
Xiaolong and his sister Hu Niu had always been straightforward and righteous, even as kids. But for them to still be willing to help him like this, after all their struggles in this dog-eat-dog world, was truly rare.
"I’ll remember your kindness."
Chen Cheng slowly shook his head.
He’d heard of the Qinghe Gang. They weren’t as strong as the Black Wolf Gang, and their territory wasn’t in Kuhuai Village.
If he agreed to join the Qinghe Gang now, not only would it fail to solve his immediate crisis, but it might also attract even more trouble.
"My mother has a gentle nature. If she knew I joined a gang, she’d be on pins and needles every day. I’m afraid she’d worry herself sick again..."
Chen Cheng chose his words carefully to refuse tactfully, so as not to make Xiaolong lose face.
"That’s true."
Xiaolong thought for a moment, then added.
"Why don’t you go find Guang and Bado? They’re doing all right for themselves. We all grew up together. They could give you a hand."
Chen Cheng nodded, a faint, almost imperceptible shadow crossing his eyes.
"I have to get back to the gang. I might not be back for a while. If... you change your mind, you can find me in Qinghe Village."
Xiaolong wasn’t one to stand around. Having talked for so long, he was afraid of being late for his duties. After a quick goodbye, he hurried away.
Chen Cheng nodded his thanks, and they parted ways.
...
Anle Village was considered the best part of the South Outer City’s slums.
It got plenty of sunlight, and the roads were paved with bluestone. Though many stones were cracked and uneven, it was a far cry from the wet, twisted, muddy alleyways elsewhere. The stench in the air was also noticeably fainter.
The area around the Dragon Mountain Martial Arts Hall could even be described as clean—a state that bordered on heresy in the slums.
A long line had already formed in front of the Martial Arts Hall’s black-lacquered wooden door.
It was filled with youths from the slums, all of them in ragged clothes, with sallow, emaciated faces. Their eyes were a mixture of hope and anxiety.
Chen Cheng quietly walked over and took his place at the end of the line.
After a long wait.
The door was finally pushed open.
A young man slowly walked out. He wore black training clothes, with a round, chubby face and a potbelly. His frame was as tall and broad as a small hill.
His eyes were half-closed, his face a clear mask of impatience.
Without a word, he began placing a hand as large as a cattail fan on the shoulder of each boy in line.
"Go to the left... Left... Lef..."
His skin was fair, but his expression was foul. The commands from his mouth gradually devolved into cold grunts.
When it was Chen Cheng’s turn, the moment the large hand touched his shoulder blade, a strange, tingling numbness shot through him, spreading instantly to every corner of his body.
’So this is the bone assessment?’ Chen Cheng thought.
The stout man offered no explanation. Without so much as lifting an eyelid, he just snorted.
"Left."
Silently, Chen Cheng moved to the left.
"Not a single one of them is any good. If you ask me, this whole bone-assessment business is a waste of time."
The stout man sneered, then announced solemnly.
"Next, we test your Comprehension! All of you, open your eyes and watch carefully!
