15
"Aah! Finally, a peaceful day."
When Bo Qin woke up to the sound of birds chirping instead of the usual tolling of the bell, he couldn't help but smile. After days of sweeping floors and scrubbing everything clean, today was a rare day when he could finally relax.
When Bo Qin first heard about the recruitment of servants by the Ji family, he hadn't placed much hope in it. He joined on a whim, thinking it wouldn't amount to much. But who would have thought that he somehow got lucky enough to be selected?
At the time, he had been filled with ecstasy. He even believed that it was due to the good deeds from his past life otherwise, what were the odds?
He wasn't one to harbor lofty ambitions; all he desired was food and shelter. He had heard about the conditions servants faced in the Long and Cai families and was even prepared to do hard labor, as long as it meant he'd be fed.
But to his surprise, the treatment here at the Ji family was far beyond his expectations. Not only did they provide separate rooms for each servant instead of cramming five people into one space, but they also gave a day off. For Bo Qin, this felt like the pinnacle of his life. Even if the Ji family ever decided to let him go, he wasn't willing. He'd rather die on their doorstep than return to his previous life of poverty. Because of that, he made sure to carry out every task meticulously, leaving no room for complaints.
"Where should I go today?" He stretched his arms with a lazy grin, pondering his options. He wanted to visit the market, to go to the famous Red building but with how little money he had, he doubted he could afford even a single drink, let alone the company of those beautiful fairies inside. Dreaming about them was the closest he could get.
But for how long could a man burn with desire? It was the same for Bo Qin. Back when he was a beggar, all he thought about was his next meal. At that time, luxury was a foreign concept, and he had no room to think of anything else. But now, with a full belly and a comfortable bed, his mind began to wander. And where did it wander to? The brothel, of course.
"But... where do I get money?" The more he thought about it, the more restless he became. The flames of desire raged inside him, and the only way to douse them was to earn money and spend a night in that fabled place. But the problem remained—where could he get the money?
Closing his eyes, Bo Qin sat deep in thought. There were a few underhanded methods he could try, but he wasn't willing to risk his newfound life. He knew one wrong move could lead to disaster, leaving him with almost no options.
"Wait..." Suddenly, a thought struck him like lightning. "The herbs!"
The Ji family allowed or even encouraged, their servants to venture into the mountain behind the manor to search for wild herbs. Servants assigned to herb gathering only had to hand over three herbs per week, and those with other duties could still gather herbs on their day off, as long as they sold them to the Ji family. But the rules said nothing about using the herbs on the spot for martial arts practice.
"If I can find some herbs..."
With his excitement building, Bo Qin jumped out of bed and rushed outside. He was eager to head straight to the mountain but paused after taking a few steps. He stopped in front of the door of his only acquaintance, Lin Kai.
"Brother Lin, are you there?" He knocked several times, waiting for a response, but after hearing nothing, he sighed heavily.
"Forget it." He had hoped to invite his new friend along, but with Lin Kai nowhere in sight, it seemed he'd have to go alone.
"What should I look for in herbs?" As he walked, Bo Qin couldn't help but frown in frustration. His excitement had gotten the better of him, and he'd decided to go to the mountain without any knowledge of herbs. He knew nothing about what to look for.
After thinking for a while, he clenched his teeth and hurried toward the library. Even though he couldn't read, he hoped he might find some guidance there.
Bo Qin spent a long time searching in the library, hoping to stumble across something or receive help from those studying there. But most of them simply ignored him. A few even shooed him away like he was a stray dog.
Helpless, he continued searching on his own. By noon, when he still hadn't found anything useful, he decided to take a gamble and head for the mountain anyway.
But just as he left the library, he stopped in front of the old man guarding it. After a moment of hesitation, Bo Qin decided to ask the old man. And to his surprise, the old man didn't turn him away, instead, he gave him a knowing smile and handed him a small piece of coarse leather with drawings of various small plants.
Receiving such a gift out of the blue, Bo Qin felt like jumping in excitement but restrained himself. Bowing in thanks, he turned and headed for the mountain.
By the time he arrived, the area was quiet, with only a few guards posted nearby. Herb gathering was a lucrative endeavor, but it was equally dangerous. Inside the Ji family's estate, they were protected, but out in the wilderness, who knew what kind of creatures they might encounter? As for people who were willing to take risks, they certainly wouldn't waste their time like Qin Bao and wait till noon. After all, the best way would be to go in the morning, otherwise, they wouldn't even have time to climb the mountain properly before it gets dark.
Bo Qin didn't enter immediately. He stood at the base, hesitating. Should he risk it? What if he encountered something dangerous?
But at the same time, the allure of discovering a precious herb was too tempting. What if he got lucky? With the money he gets after selling the herb, he would be able to spend a night with those beautiful ladies.
Qin Bao was still hesitating about what to do. He could get lucky, but what if he got injured? He had only one life. Was it worth betting his life on just to spend a night in the brothel? What if he dies or even worse; gets crippled for life... Or perhaps badly injured like the boy running towards them in front of him. What if his fate is even more miserable than him? That young boy... that familiar young boy...
"FUCK. BROTHER LIN?!"
Bo Qin screamed at the top of his lungs and rushed forward to stand in front of him.
"HISSSS..." Seeing Lin Kai's miserable state, Bo Qin couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath.
Lin Kai was covered in dust, his clothes torn to shreds, and one of his legs was drenched in blood as if it had been crushed under a heavy rock. But that wasn't the worst of it. When Bo Qin reached out to support him, he was horrified to see Lin Kai's back, bruised and covered in cuts from head to ankle, the wounds already turning a sickening shade of blue.
Not only was Qin Bao shocked, but even the guards were alarmed by the sight of Lin Kai's injuries. Since the Ji family had been established in the town, it was rare to see someone in such a miserable condition.
One of the guards stepped forward, his face showing concern. He held a small, egg-sized red stone in his hand and brought it close to Lin Kai. As soon as it neared him, the stone began to emit a dim glow.
"You've found a herb!" the guard exclaimed, surprise evident in his voice. It was incredibly rare for a newcomer to find such a precious herb on their first attempt.
"Please, hand it over so we can evaluate it," the guard added, not giving Lin Kai any room to argue. The rules were strict, and every servant had to follow them, no matter their status or condition.
'These bastards,' Lin Kai cursed silently, his face tightening with frustration. Here he was, badly injured, and all they cared about was the herb! Gritting his teeth, he reached inside his robe and pulled out the Moonlight Grass. Unfortunately, it had been crushed into a pulp during his desperate fight with the wild boar.
"This..." The guard's eyes widened in surprise, and Qin Bao, who was supporting Lin Kai, was left speechless. The guards were stunned at the herb's ruined condition, while Qin Bao was amazed that Lin Kai had even managed to find such a rare herb on his first try. For a moment, Qin Bao almost let go of Lin Kai, overwhelmed by the situation.
"Despite its condition, its medicinal properties are intact," the guard said after examining the crushed herb closely. He then looked at Lin Kai and offered him two choices. "You can either take three silver coins or one silver coin along with a healing pill. The choice is yours."
It was clear the guard was recommending the healing pill, considering Lin Kai's terrible state.
Lin Kai, however, was furious inside. He had wanted to absorb the Moonlight Grass himself to improve his strength. Even though he didn't know its exact value, he was certain it was more precious to him than to others. But now, with no other option, he had to make a choice.
"The healing pill," Lin Kai muttered through gritted teeth. As much as he wanted to absorb the herb, his injuries were too severe to ignore. He had no idea how effective the healing pill would be, but since the guard recommended it, it was probably his best option for now.
"Please return to your room. Someone will deliver the items to you shortly," the guard instructed, waving the red stone over Lin Kai once more to confirm he had no other herbs. With a nod, he signaled Lin Kai to leave.
"Brother Lin," Qin Bao said softly, looking at him with concern. He wanted to say more but held back. Lin Kai's current state had left him rattled. Though he didn't say it aloud, Qin Bao silently swore never to accompany this little ancestor on any adventure again. Trouble seemed to follow this guy wherever he went. First, they almost offended that mysterious middle-aged man, and now this. For a moment, Qin Bao was grateful that they didn't go searching for herbs together. Otherwise, he was sure his situation would have been just as bad, if not worse.
After escorting Lin Kai back to his room, Qin Bao didn't linger. After offering a few words of comfort, he quickly left.
Alone in his room, Lin Kai endured the pain for what felt like an eternity. Earlier, the adrenaline had dulled his senses, but now that it had worn off, the pain hit him in full force. His entire body ached, especially his back and his leg, which had been nearly crushed by the boar.
"Aaah…" he groaned, feeling feverish. His body grew hotter by the minute, and his vision blurred as he struggled to stay awake.
Thankfully, a guard soon arrived to deliver the promised items. Without much ceremony, the guard handed Lin Kai a small, round white pill and a single silver coin before leaving.
Lin Kai who was still struggling to keep his eyes open ignored the silver and picked up the pill, intending to take it. But the moment he touched it, his eyes opened in a flash and his breathing hastened. In front of him at the moment was a small window...
[Absorb Healing Pill?]
[Yes/No]