Outside the Servant Room.
Luo Fang paced back and forth, anxiously waiting.
"Strange, given Bi Hao’s martial arts mastery, even with real weapons, securing the Nursing Ho position should be a sure thing."
"Why do I feel so uneasy? Is it because of that unexpected rascal, Li Xian?"
He pinched his chin, furrowing his brows slightly.
"Alas, I’m overthinking."
"Once Bi Hao becos the Nursing Ho guardian, our uncle-nephew duo will be more stable. Heh heh, as long as we don’t provoke the lady’s friends from Jianghu, life will be quite comfortable."
Thinking of this, a smile appeared on his face. After a mont, footsteps sounded, and soone approached.
But they stopped a few yards away, hiding behind the fake mountain, without coming closer.
Luo Fang shouted, "Nephew? Is that you?"
"Uncle Luo."
Bi Hao’s voice rang out.
"Good nephew, why are you hiding? Hurry and tell Uncle Luo, how did you win?"
"What format was the Nursing Ho competition in? Also... did you earn Commander Pang’s favor?"
Luo Fang followed the voice, the questions leaving his heart before he even saw Bi Hao’s figure.
"The competition... was... a ring match." Bi Hao dodged the question, feeling uneasy.
"Wonderful!"
Luo Fang clapped his hands and exclaid, "Using a ring match is even more to your advantage. I was initially worried that if it were a test of endurance or strength, your martial arts mastery might not be fully showcased."
"I’ve seen your Three Talents Boxing thod; it’s incredibly solid. Hahaha, did Commander Pang show any sign of appreciation?"
"My nephew Bi Hao is truly Nursing Ho material!"
At this point, he finally saw Bi Hao, his head covered in blood and in a disheveled state.
He was montarily stunned.
"Nephew Bi, you... you..."
"Uncle Luo, that Li Xian was too cunning and tore my scalp off in a life-or-death struggle."
Bi Hao’s expression was peculiar, eyes evasive, speaking weakly.
"I told you, those lowly creatures, when faced with a chance to turn their fortunes, will fight to the death to seize it," Luo Fang laughed heartily, unconcerned, "It’s a bit embarrassing, but as long as you won, it’s all good, it’s all good..."
"Didn’t win." Bi Hao’s voice was as quiet as a mosquito buzzing.
"Didn’t..." Luo Fang’s expression froze, incredulous, "Didn’t what?"
Bi Hao decided to go all in, closing his eyes and speaking truthfully, "Uncle Luo, actually I... I didn’t win, it was Li Xian who won."
"Didn’t win!?"
Luo Fang advanced three steps, his gaze fierce. The usual warmth was completely gone.
"Say that again. Good nephew, don’t joke about this. It’s no joke."
"Uncle Luo, really... really didn’t win."
As soon as he finished speaking, a slap landed on his face.
Instantly, his ears rang.
Before he could react, a kick hit his abdon, sending him flying a yard away.
Luo Fang, without a word, slapped Bi Hao twenty tis in a row. His cheeks were swollen, and a few teeth fell out.
"Useless trash!"
"You drank my precious soup, and you tell you didn’t win!"
"Can’t even beat a servant."
"I really want to kill you, you little bastard. Damn it, how could your mother give birth to such a worthless thing as you."
...
"Li Xian, lives in Leaking Bottle Lane, Qingning County?"
Pang Long walked in front, recalling information about Li Xian.
"Yes." Li Xian nodded, his steps light, making no unnecessary noise.
Pang Long nodded gently and said:
"You’ve passed the Nursing Ho competition, and from now on, you’re no longer a servant but a formal guardian of Yihetang Manor."
"But there’s one thing I must remind you. Although we as guardians have better treatnt and benefits than servants, at the end of the day, we are still the lady’s slaves."
"We must remain loyal and diligent, not arrogant or domineering. Can you do this?"
Li Xian said, "Of course I can."
In his heart, however, he thought, these rules are good, but the human heart is complex. rely this one point of ’not being arrogant or domineering’ is sothing very few can achieve.
"After the fight, you must be hungry. I’ll first take you to the Guardian Mansion’s Vegetarian Restaurant and slowly introduce the rules to you."
Pang Long’s tone was gentle.
He showed great interest in the frail Li Xian.
If he hadn’t mistaken, during the ring match earlier, Li Xian deliberately played weak, causing the opponent to underestimate him, and then won in one fell swoop at the last mont.
Even he was fooled at first, thinking he was just a servant with brute strength and no skill.
After walking for over a mile, they arrived at a pavilion.
On the plaque, it was written: "Vegetarian Restaurant."
This building was exclusively for the guardians, so there were many guardians passing by.
"Commander Pang."
...
The assembled guards respectfully greeted, and Pang Long nodded slightly.
After taking his seat, Pang Long gently waved and said, "Bring two portions of the D-class al."
"Master Pang, you also eat the ’D-class al’?" the cook asked.
"Naturally," Pang Long nodded.
It was not long before two plates of food were brought to the table.
Li Xian looked on, salivating; there were three dishes and a soup, one at dish, and two vegetable dishes.
The at dish was "braised pork cubes," each piece about two fingers thick, with three pieces in total.
It wasn’t lean at but rather pork belly with layers of fat and lean, shining with oil.
Ordinary servants would never get to eat this in their lifeti.
The two vegetable dishes were boiled bean sprouts and stir-fried radish green shreds. They looked ordinary, but with plenty of "oil" and "salt," glistening with oil.
Very hearty strength!
Not really gourt delicacies.
But in these tis, having such a al was already quite rare.
"Eat up, this is the regular al for the nursing ho,"
"Nursing ho...nursing ho, frankly speaking, is to help the madam look after the residence. Without so martial arts, it would be hard to guard a place."
"So, by joining the nursing ho, you won’t have to do any manual chores in the future. But you’ll also need to practice martial arts; for a martial artist, food is not sothing to skimp on."
Pang Long took a pair of wooden chopsticks, dumped the rice and at dishes into the soup.
He mixed it, then slurped it around the edge of the bowl, eating the soup, rice, vegetables, and at all at once.
Within just a few breaths, he had eaten half.
Li Xian didn’t rush to eat but asked, "Practice martial arts?"
Pang Long didn’t reply directly, instead, he downed the food in one go, as if drinking water, which was quite a peculiar way of eating.
Like a whirlwind sweeping through a cloud, yet with a touch of elegance. The bowl was emptied, spotless as new, not even needing a rinse.
He then answered:
"Every newcor is interested in martial arts."
"I have no obligation to clear your doubts about martial arts, but since you’re new, I’ll allow you to ask three related questions."
Pang Long added, "Ask whatever you want as long as it’s related to martial arts."
Li Xian’s eyes brightened; this Commander Pang was different from Luo Fang and the others.
At least for now, he seed quite different and adhered to principles.
"Three questions, huh?"
Li Xian thought that since Pang Long said to ask freely, there was no need to be too restrained, so he asked, "Does practicing martial arts increase longevity and allow one to live long?"
Li Xian, new to this world, was in a difficult position, how could he dare to seek immortality?
The question was purely to swiftly understand the martial arts frawork.
Pang Long was montarily stunned, looking at Li Xian in surprise, curious why such a question would co from the mouth of a servant.
"This boy is truly interesting, being a servant, with not enough to eat or warm clothes. Becoming a guard, and the first question he asks is whether martial arts can lead to immortality?"
Pang Long replied, "Naturally."
He didn’t elaborate further but observed Li Xian’s expression. Seeing no fanatical or excited look on his face, he confird that Li Xian was not overly ambitious.
It was simply pure curiosity.
Li Xian pondered for a mont, "Within ten miles, is there a way to enter?"
Pang Long’s gaze was complex, and this ti, he neither said "yes" nor "no" but replied, "It’s as difficult as ascending to heaven."
"You have one last question left."
After asking his two questions, Li Xian had a rough outline of martial arts in this world.
Extraordinary, mysterious... and that manor lady had grasped its essence.
For the last question, Li Xian let his imagination run wild, recalling countless storybooks from his previous life.
They invariably shared a common trait, enhancing one’s power by absorbing so energy from the air.
Be it primordial energy, fighting spirit, spiritual energy...
Could this world be similar? Does the air contain so similar substance that can be harnessed through breathing to strengthen martial artists?
So he asked, "Is the so-called martial arts about sensing and utilizing so invisible power in the air?"
"Cough, cough." Pang Long looked at Li Xian peculiarly, "I have no idea where your thoughts co from."
"But I can clearly answer you. Your idea... is very far-fetched. Air is just air, where would there be any mysterious power?"
As he spoke, he nearly burst into laughter.
This kid sure is interesting, with such different, lively thoughts.
Li Xian pondered deeper, "Without spiritual energy, primordial energy, then where do extraordinary power and longevity co from?"
His heart was filled with curiosity.
He recalled the Essence Treasure brewed in the manor so ti ago.
Is this related to the extraordinary?
Unfortunately, that level was too far from his reach for now.
Fortunately, he had moved past the servant status; the days ahead would be better!
One must take one step at a ti!
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