Lv Laoda’s mind froze for a few monts.
When he ca to his senses, he was so angry his nose went crooked.
In all his years, he had never heard of offering just a penny for funeral money.
Even for a beggar, you wouldn’t give so little!
He was about to head to the courtyard to find Lou Yi, when a neighbor approached.
"Da Lang, my condolences."
Lv Laoda helplessly halted his right leg mid-step and showed the other a sorrowful expression.
In the Lv family courtyard.
Seven or eight round wooden tables were surrounded by people, with ho-cooked dishes on the tables: braised eggplant, cold broccoli salad, scrambled eggs with leeks, etc.
Beside the inner room there was a professional mourner.
She wore white cloth, a white headscarf, bright red makeup, crying and singing while swaying passionately, as if she might collapse at any mont.
"Hus—band—ooh!"
"How could you just—leave your wife and children—uncared for!"
"Left— alone—how am I supposed to live, oh!"
Lou Yi found a seat by a table and sat down, enjoying the performance. He picked up the largest piece of scrambled egg in his bowl and ate it casually, earning a glare from the old man across him.
’Not bad, there’s even eggs to eat, worth the penny.’
Lou Yi began to search for a target, noticing that behind the mourner, a black coffin stood upright inside the room.
A large white cloth with a big black "offering" character hung in front of the coffin.
Additionally, there were three or four wreaths made of small chrysanthemums placed beside the coffin, and even a live rooster tied there, wandering around.
A woman in mourning clothes knelt facing the coffin, her back to the crowd.
Occasionally, she turned, revealing a tear-stained face.
’A bit of charm, indeed.’
Lou Yi’s gaze shifted to a senior figure at the main table, in plain attire, with graying hair, a square face, looking serious and upright—a likely candidate to be Lv Laoer’s father.
But thinking about the gossip from Gao shi and Chang shi about family scandals like "digging out the grey," Lou Yi couldn’t help but feel an odd tickle inside.
Of course, he wasn’t here for gossip.
After wolfing down three bowls of thick porridge, satisfied, Lou Yi proceeded to the hall to pay respects to the deceased.
Kneeling on the prayer mat, he said with a mournful tone, "Lv Second Brother, how could you leave like this?"
"The ti you bought flatbread still vivid in my mind..."
"Hope your next life lands in a wealthy family, free and easy, strolling birds and teasing dogs..."
Seemingly moved by Lou Yi’s heartfelt words, Lv Laoer’s widow paused to glance at him.
"Sister-in-law, my condolences." Lou Yi grasped the chance, "Can I have a close look at Second Brother one last ti?"
Lv Laoer’s widow bewilderedly nodded.
Feigning sadness, Lou Yi walked to the coffin, where he saw the pallid and swollen face of Lv Laoda.
"Second Brother, have a safe journey." Lou Yi internally added, "May you be born into a good family next ti, without encountering such a father and wife again."
Facing away from everyone, he paid respects, while his right hand swiftly touched the other’s leg.
The Attribute Panel instantly popped a notification:
’Energy 1, absorb?’
With a point of energy gained, task complete!
Lou Yi breathed a sigh of relief.
These days, being an actor is really challenging.
Leaving the Lv family, Lou Yi felt relieved, even patting busy Lv Laoda on the shoulder.
"Brother Lv, take care."
Lv Laoda nodded subconsciously, realizing sharply once Lou Yi disappeared into the darkness.
Wasn’t that the rascal who only gave a penny earlier?
...
Lou Yi first rushed to Daihe Village, found Blacksmith Wu’s place, and spent eighty coins on a brand-new shovel.
Then decisively headed ho.
Having accumulated three energy points, the skills for chopping wood and chopping trees both showed a plus sign for upgrade.
Since chopping trees was related to his livelihood, Lou Yi naturally chose to upgrade the tree-chopping skill first.
Focused, he tapped the plus sign ntally; Chopping Trees (Basic 0/3) → Chopping Trees (Proficient 0/10).
The Attribute Panel updated to:
[Na: Lou Yi]
[Age: 19/55]
[Realm: None]
[Skills: Chopping Trees (Proficient 0/10), Chopping Wood (Basic 0/3)]
[Energy: 0]
mories erged in his mind.
The sa mountain lumberjack, resembling Lou Yi by about fifty percent, chopping trees day after day in the forest.
No matter the intense heat or biting cold, wind or rain, thunder or lightning, nothing could deter his resolve to chop trees.
Years passed swiftly.
He no longer obsessed over the act of chopping trees, doing it standing, sitting, with left hand, right hand, single-handedly, with both hands, eyes wide open, eyes closed...
Tree-chopping had long been imprinted as the lumberjack’s instinct.
Simultaneously, a surging heat flow, multiple tis stronger than before, surged in Lou Yi’s body, circulating swiftly through his Eight Extraordinary ridians, organs, limbs, and bones.
Lou Yi was flush red all over, like a fully cooked lobster, and there was even white heat visibly emanating from his body.
No one knows how much ti had passed.
Lou Yi opened his eyes and found his entire physique had expanded outward by a circle; his complexion turned to a healthy wheat color, and the muscles on his body beca increasingly apparent, stretching his clothes tightly.
If one had to describe it in a single phrase, ’strong and mighty’ would likely be the most fitting.
He gripped the edge of the water tank with two fingers and effortlessly lifted it up.
The water in the tank was nearly full, even more than it had been during the last test.
Conservatively estimated, his strength was at least twice that of an ordinary person!
Compared to a typical professional boxer from his past life, he probably wasn’t much inferior.
A deep sense of security welled up in his heart.
Lou Yi grabbed an axe and a shovel, donned a straw hat, dressed in his clothes and pants, opened his door, and strode out.
Walking on the village path, this ti his steps were light, his nerves relaxed, and he had the leisure to listen to the chirping of insects and birds, feeling the fresh air of nature.
What had originally been a fearso night seed not so terrifying anymore.
An hour later.
Lou Yi arrived at the cetery on the east side of Xinxiang, customarily checking if any new graves had appeared.
Although there was no result, this task had to be done daily to ensure the source of energy.
On the way ho.
The moon gradually faded, and the sky began to drizzle.
Lou Yi jogged ho, fearing he would catch a cold from getting wet.
In this era, there are no antibiotics or cold redies; getting sick is no trivial matter.
Upon returning ho, the rain intensified.
’Pitter-patter!’
The sound of the rain on the roof grew louder, irritating and unsettling Lou Yi.
There was even a sound of flowing and splashing, like a continuous stream pouring onto the roof.
The joy Lou Yi had felt from his increase in strength diminished significantly.
"Damn Qi Family!"
The Qi Family house was tall and adjacent to his own, couldn’t have all that excess rainwater just been pouring onto his own roof?
Sooner or later, he would settle this issue!
But currently, his strength was still insufficient.
The thought lingered in Lou Yi’s mind, and his need for energy grew more urgent.
...
Early the next morning, Lou Yi was woken by the noisy sounds from the neighbors.
He opened the door and walked out to see.
He found an eye-catching black horse stopped at the entrance of Qi Family’s three households.
Tall and upright, over two ters high, its whole body with slick black hair, two big eyes revealing a touch of gentleness and agility.
A person sat on the horse, about twenty years old, tall, with fair skin, and handso appearance.
Wearing a black headscarf, dressed in black clothes, with a knife strapped to his waist, cloud patterns adorned the lapels and hems, and a white ’bow’ character embroidered on the back.
Full of energy, his face radiated confidence.
Voices of neighbors discussing constantly reached his ears:
"It’s Qi Hu of the Qi Family, working at the Inspection Bureau in the township, rarely returns, indeed a remarkable man!"
"Truly, the Qi Family has ancestral blessings, both sons are successful, and the third is even more impressive!"
"To give birth to a son like Qi Hu!"
The door of Qi Dalang’s house, closest to Lou Yi’s, opened with a ’creak’, and Butcher Qi, hair half white, yet still robust in physique, walked out with a face full of joy.
"Er Lang."
"Father!"
Qi Hu jumped down from the horse nimbly and respectfully made a kneeling salute to his father.
"Good to be ho, co inside... let’s not make a spectacle for the neighbors."
Butcher Qi stroked his beard, smiling and nodding to the neighbors, speaking modestly while showing imnse pride on his face.
The Inspection Bureau, an auxiliary local official bureau under Tai City, tasked with leading a village.
Though his son was rely an archer, in common people’s eyes, he was considered an exalted officer.
"No, not at all."
"Qi elder is too humble!"
However, when Butcher Qi’s gaze fell on Lou Yi, his expression instantly cooled considerably and directly overlooked him.
Qi Hu seed to have noticed as well and gave Lou Yi a fleeting glance, his eyes filled with indifference.
As for the rotund boy, Qi Si Lang, holding a large yellow dog, he looked at Lou Yi fiercely, with a self-satisfied expression as if saying: My brother is back to back , aren’t you going to move out?
Lou Yi remained expressionless, though his heart stirred slightly.
Your smirk is your own business; just stay out of each other’s way.
If you threaten , know that I am no pushover either!
He hadn’t expected that matters would change rapidly.
That evening, the village chief of Erhe Village rarely visited.
After so polite conversation, when getting to the main topic, Lou Yi’s expression changed.
"A Yi, soone asked to inquire if you would be willing to move away?"
...
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