4: Chapter 4 Top-Notch Servant

Chu Sheng looked at the simulation screen, his heart feeling heavy.

Xiao Huan was dead, leaving only him and that wrinkled little thing.

[The rice jar in the dilapidated woodshed was empty, and the child was crying from hunger.]

[He could only thicken his skin and go beg the old woman in the kitchen.]

["A jinx who killed his wife, and he's even dragging along a burden."]

Chu Sheng: "I fucking..."

Chu Sheng himself had also undergone changes.

Although he still couldn't understand the words in the "Turtle Breath Retention Art," practicing those breathing diagrams for a long time actually showed some results.

When he was exhausted from work, following the diagrams for a few rounds of breathing would make his fatigue vanish faster.

Combined with the basic martial artist talent he had gained back, his current strength and endurance already surpassed those of an ordinary strong man by a significant margin.

There are nine grades of Mortal Martial Artists; he was now firmly at the Second Grade Strength Training level.

Although he was still at the bottom, at least he was no longer a soft persimmon that anyone could squeeze.

[Then Liu San came again.]

[Liu San drawled, his rat-like eyes scanning the room. "My hands are itching again, little brother. How about lending me some money to spend?"]

[Chu Sheng blocked the bed. "Brother Liu San, I really have no money left. The child needs milk, I..."]

["Cut the fucking crap!"]

[Liu San spat. "The matter from last time isn't over yet! You said you didn't hide anything? Then what were you looking at under the lamp at night? Practicing calligraphy? How many words do you even know?"]

["If you don't give me an explanation today, I'll turn this dilapidated house upside down!"]

["Liu San."]

[Chu Sheng looked up, his gaze changing. "Get out."]

[Liu San was stunned.]

["Oho? Grown a temper, have we? Now that your wife is dead, your courage has grown fat?"]

[He reached out to shove Chu Sheng's chest.]

[And then, he went flying.]

[Chu Sheng himself was momentarily stunned.]

["You... you dare to lay a hand on me?!"]

[He paused, saying each word deliberately: "If you touch my son one more time, I'll kill you."]

["Fine... Fine, you, Chu Sheng!"]

[Liu San scrambled up, cursing as he retreated.]

["Just you wait! I'm going to tell the manager right now that you're secretly learning martial arts and hiding forbidden items! You..."]

["Go then," Chu Sheng interrupted him. "Search all you want. Look for it."]

[He had long since disposed of the items; that tattered book and the spirit stone were buried under an old locust tree on the back mountain.]

[Even if Liu San dug up the whole mountain, he wouldn't find them.]

[Liu San left, grumbling and cursing.]

[As expected, Liu San went to complain, adding embellishments about Chu Sheng secretly learning martial arts and hiding items forbidden by the manor.]

[Steward Steward brought men to search, turning the dilapidated woodshed upside down.]

[There was absolutely nothing.]

["Liu San, are you playing me?" Steward's face was dark.]

["M-Master Fu, I really saw him looking at something under the lamp at night..."]

["Looking at what? Looking at how to raise a child?" Steward kicked Liu San. "Get out!"]

[Word of this reached Lin Hao's ears.]

[This concubine-born young master was bored out of his mind; hearing that a servant dared to resist and was suspected of secretly learning martial arts, his interest was piqued.]

["Interesting," Lin Hao said, waving his fan. "Bring him to see me."]

[Chu Sheng stood in the courtyard. In front of him were Steward and several guard captains, while Lin Hao stood to the side, waving his fan and watching the show.]

[Liu San was also in the crowd, his gaze venomous.]

["Chu Sheng?"]

[Steward narrowed his eyes. "The one from the West Courtyard? I heard your wife died and you're raising the child yourself?"]

["Yes."]

[Lin Hao sneered, snapped his fan shut, and pointed at Chu Sheng.]

["Oh, isn't this the Trash who couldn't even brew tea properly back then? You're a father now?"]

[He strolled up to Chu Sheng, looking him up and down. "I heard you even beat up Liu San? You've certainly grown some skill."]

[Chu Sheng lowered his head and remained silent.]

[Lin Hao suddenly laughed and spread his legs. "How about this: crawl through here, and I'll give you a job. I heard you're strong; how about I make you a guard, hmm?"]

[A burst of laughter erupted.]

[A critical choice point appears]

[1. Endure the humiliation and crawl through]

[2. Refuse in anger and turn to leave]

[3. Neither servile nor overbearing, argue your case]

[4. Settle for the next best thing and voluntarily request a lower position]

Chu Sheng stared at the screen.

The choice wasn't difficult.

Chu Wang was still young and needed stability.

While being a guard paid well, it was also conspicuous, and trash like Lin Hao would surely continue to find trouble.

Besides, rather than being targeted here, it would be better to find another job.

"Select 4. Take a step back, and the world opens up."

[Simulation continues]

["Master Fu, the Young Master is right."]

[Chu Sheng's voice was calm. "This lowly one is not very brave and has a family to support. I fear I would be unable to handle the heavy responsibility of a guard and would fail the manor's trust."]

[He paused. "This lowly one only asks for a stable job. Night patrol, guarding the warehouse, or working on a farmstead—anything will do."]

[Lin Hao was taken aback.]

[He had thought Chu Sheng would either crawl or get lost; he didn't expect the man to just lie flat.]

["Boring," he curled his lip, waved his fan, and walked away.]

["The farmstead needs a Manor Servant to handle miscellaneous chores."]

[Steward said, "The work is varied, but room and board are provided. The place is remote and quiet. It's suitable for you to take the child there."]

[Chu Sheng's eyes lit up. "Thank you, Master Fu!"]

[A few days later, Chu Sheng arrived at the Linjiagou Farmstead, carrying Chu Wang in his arms and a simple pack on his back.]

[There were over a dozen Tenant Farmer households and dozens of acres of poor fields. The manager was a kind-looking old man.]

[In the evening, Chu Wang fell asleep.]

[Chu Sheng sat on the threshold, looking at the dark silhouette of the Liuyun Mountain Range in the distance.]

[The breath in his chest was slowly circulating.]

[He had only recently begun to get the hang of the second diagram of the Turtle Breath Retention Art.]

[Combined with the martial artist talent gained back, he was now firmly at the Second Grade Mortal Martial Artist level, touching the threshold of the Third Grade.]

[Although he was still at the bottom, at least there was now something to look forward to.]

[He looked back at the sleeping Chu Wang on the bed and spoke softly.]

["Son, your father will raise you. Even if I am a Trash forever, I will forge a path for you."]