Chapter 7: Weak

The Next Day.

After breakfast, Xu Lian arrived at the mining site full of energy.

Zhang Yuan looked at him with curiosity. “Brother Lian, why does it feel like you grew taller overnight? Before, you only reached my ear, but now we’re the same height. And your sickly complexion is gone; you look radiant, like a whole new person.”

“I’ve been this tall for a long time; you just didn’t notice,” Xu Lian replied casually, not bothering to explain further.

After all, becoming a Skin Refining Stage martial artist, eating beef, and consuming Xiya – how could his complexion not improve?

At that moment, the faint sound of an argument came from the kitchen, where the steward and the cook were arguing. It was likely that they’d discovered the missing cowhide and leg.

Before long, steward Han Du emerged from the kitchen, his face dark. With his hands clasped behind his back, he ordered the miners to gather for a reprimand.

“You have been taken in to work in the mine and earn food – this is an act of mercy. You should know your place. Keep your hands clean! If anyone dares to steal from the kitchen again, I’ll kill them on the spot!”

The miners exchanged confused glances, unsure of what had happened. No one dared to speak.

Xu Lian stood in the back row of the group, his expression calm and unreadable. Naturally, he wouldn’t be foolish enough to step forward. The beef? Yeah, I took it. Come and get me if you dare.

After the gathering dispersed, the miners went back to work.

“Brother Lian, take these 15 taels of silver and go buy a donkey for the mine. I’ve arranged for you to take on the job of stone transporter,” Liang Yan said.

In front of the jealous miners, Liang Yan handed Xu Lian the silver, patted him on the shoulder, and spoke loudly.

Xu Lian accepted the silver, puzzled by the scene. “Thank you, Brother Liang, for taking care of me.”

“Go ahead and buy it,” Liang Yan said with a wave of his hand.

Xu Lian asked, “Do I buy the donkey now?”

“The sooner you buy it, the sooner you can start transporting stones. More work, more food, right?”

“Brother Liang is right.”

Tucking the silver into his pocket, Xu Lian headed toward the marketplace.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yuan followed Liang Yan, eagerly calling him “Brother Liang” at every opportunity.

Annoyed, Liang Yan said, “Didn’t I tell you? Wait until I have some silver to spare. For now, keep moving the stones.”

Reluctantly, Zhang Yuan retreated.

On his way to the market, Xu Lian pondered, “Liang Yan lent me silver and promoted me to a stone transporter. What’s his game?

No matter what his motives are, I’ll buy the donkey first and take on the transporter job. Earning food comfortably sounds good. Besides, as a martial artist, I can deal with whatever tricks he tries.”

Suddenly, he heard faint noises coming from the bushes ahead. Being a Skin Refining Stage martial artist meant more than just toughened skin-his hearing, vision, and overall senses were far sharper than an ordinary person’s.

Without revealing his awareness, Xu Lian continued walking as if nothing was amiss.

As expected, three burly men armed with knives jumped out of the bushes, surrounding him with hostile glances.

“Hand over your silver, kid, or I’ll stab you to death!”

“Make it quick!”

Xu Lian chuckled. “How did you know I was carrying silver?”

The three men froze and exchanged awkward glances – they had slipped up.

Xu Lian calmly reached for the dagger tucked into his waistband and gripped it in his hand. “Liang Yan sent you, didn’t he?”

The men’s faces changed slightly as they approached.

“Who is Liang Yan? I have no idea who you’re talking about.”

“Just hand over your things!”

Xu Lian remained still, his gaze sharp as he observed their every move. With his heightened senses, he could track their actions as if they were laid bare before him.

“Even if you won’t admit it, I already know. Liang Yan lent me silver and then sent you to rob me. Once you take it back, he’ll demand repayment. If I can’t pay, he’ll force me to offer Sister Xiya as collateral, right?”

Three burly men stared at Xu Lian, their faces darkening. Without another word, they lunged at him with their daggers.

Xu Lian moved.

It was as if he had eyes in the back of his head. With a slight sidestep, he evaded the dagger aimed at his back. In a swift counter, he thrust his own blade into the chest of his attacker, killing him instantly.

Next, he caught the wrist of the man to his left who had lunged at him with a dagger. Like snapping a sugarcane, Xu Lian broke the man’s wrist with a crisp snap. The attacker fell to the ground, screaming in pain and completely incapacitated.

At that moment, the third attacker’s blade was inevitable. Xu Lian didn’t flinch, allowing the dagger to pierce his side. However, the blade barely penetrated – it was stopped by the toughness of his refined skin.

With a swift turn, Xu Lian swung his dagger and slashed the third man’s neck. Blood sprayed out as the man clutched his throat in terror, futilely trying to stem the flow of blood that poured between his fingers.

“Weak,” Xu Lian muttered.

“Far too weak.”

Unimpressed, he pulled the dagger from his side and flung it toward the man writhing on the ground with a broken wrist. The scream ceased abruptly as the dagger found its mark.

The forest fell silent.

Only three lifeless bodies remained, their eyes wide with terror, unable to rest in peace.

It wasn’t hard to imagine their last thoughts: a stream of curses directed at Liang Yan. That bastard sent us to rob a martial artist?!

Martial artists, even those at the lowest Skin Refining Stage, were like adults confronting children when facing ordinary people. There was no competition. Only overwhelming numbers, suicidal resolve, and complete encirclement could hope to wear down a Skin Refining Stage martial artist.

Xu Lian rummaged through the corpses, finding a few taels of silver and some copper coins, which he pocketed. After scanning his surroundings to ensure that no one was watching, he quickly left the scene.

“Killing and looting really is faster than earning a living,” he mused, feeling the weight of the coins in his pocket. The idea of giving up honest work and turning to a life of banditry briefly tempted him.

But after a moment’s reflection, he dismissed the notion.

In chaotic times like these, the key to survival was to use only as much strength as necessary – always keeping some in reserve.

The faster the money came in, the greater the risks. A single misstep – like running into a stronger martial artist – could spell disaster.

“Better to work honestly in the mine,” Xu Lian thought. “The worst I’ll encounter there are people like Liang Yan and Zhang Yuan, who I can handle with ease.”

He smiled at the thought and quickened his pace toward the market.

At the marketplace, after some bargaining, he spent 12 and a half taels to buy a small black donkey. Its low price was likely due to its young age and male gender.

He spent another half tael to equip the donkey with a cart. The donkey brayed loudly, clearly displeased with the new arrangement, but Xu Lian gave it a few lashes with the whip and it soon quieted down.

When Xu Lian returned to the mine with the donkey cart, Liang Yan’s pupils contracted, a hint of confusion flashing across his face.

What’s going on? Liang Yan thought. Where are the men I sent to intercept him? Have they been delayed by something?

Of course, Xu Lian could guess what Liang Yan was thinking. With a bright smile, he said, “Brother Liang, I’ve brought back the donkey cart. Please assign me to work on the stone transporter.”

Liang Yan was momentarily dazed by Xu Lian’s cheerful demeanor, but quickly recovered. “Of course… Come with me. I’ll take you to the registration office.”

Under the envious gazes of Zhang Yuan and the other stone haulers, Xu Lian led his donkey cart and followed Liang Yan to the mine steward, Han Du.

Liang Yan spoke a few words to Han Du, who stroked his mustache and inspected the cart.

“The donkey is young and can’t carry much stone,” Han Du said to Xu Lian. “I can only pay you the equivalent of two bowls of grain.”

“Thank you, Steward Han. I’m already grateful to receive two portions,” Xu Lian said with a bow.

According to the rules of the mine, stone haulers earned one portion of grain per day – about 1.5 pounds. Transporters with donkey carts earned three portions, or 4.5 pounds, while those with ox carts earned four portions, or 6 pounds.

Xu Lian’s two portions amounted to 3 pounds of grain, just enough to feed a family of three. Of course, the donkey had to be fed as well, so he would have to cut wild grass and save some grain for the occasional meal.

“Get to work,” Han Du said, marking Xu Lian’s name off the stone hauler roster and adding it to the transporter list.

Xu Lian expressed his gratitude to both Han Du and Liang Yan before cheerfully heading off to begin his work.

As he watched Xu Lian’s retreating figure, Liang Yan’s expression darkened, deep in thought.

Xu Lian didn’t need to look back to know what Liang Yan was thinking. Are you full of questions now, little friend?