Chapter 2: Martial Artist in the Mansion, Opportunity to Become Stronger

A day's work ended swiftly.

The sun soon set, and as darkness enveloped the sky, it became night.

The farmers all returned to their quarters, where the steward had already prepared some porridge and steamed buns, and distributed them.

This Liu Family from County of Skyfire was considered a local gentry, born from salt merchants, with substantial wealth. Liu Manor had a dining hall built specifically for family servants, tenant farmers, maids, and other lower-class workers.

In front of him were two steamed buns and a bowl of clear rice porridge.

Han Ye hadn't started eating yet, pondering over the "Strength of an Ox" that appeared in his mind.

"Strength of an Ox (10/100): Tremendous strength, equivalent to the strength of a cartload, with endless stamina."

After absorbing the attribute, he indeed felt a significant increase in strength.

In the past, working all day left him exhausted.

But today, he was surprisingly not feeling very tired, and his physical strength recovered especially fast!

This was still the incomplete version of Strength of an Ox.

To obtain the true Strength of an Ox,

he had to wait until the attribute was fully collected?

It seemed he needed to continue picking up attributes.

But how exactly do these attributes drop?

Could it be a random drop?

Han Ye suddenly recalled that when Wang Da Niu was moving wheat ears, the attributes did not drop at the start, but after he added a few more bags of wheat ears, they just fell directly.

Could it be that triggering the attribute makes it drop?

Han Ye's eyes lit up.

He felt it was very possible.

As long as Wang Da Niu triggered Strength of an Ox, the attribute would drop, and he could take the chance to pick it up.

With this realization, Han Ye's heart suddenly understood and he was also somewhat excited.

If he could directly pick up other people's attributes, then he might become strong very quickly, right?

This was the power of Strength of an Ox, with unending stamina!

Incredibly useful.

He had to figure out a way to collect this attribute fully in these coming days.

After setting his goal, Han Ye found his appetite had greatly improved.

He immediately bit into a white steamed bun and took a sip of the rice porridge.

Even though the taste was bland, he savored it, reminiscing about the delicious fast food of his previous life, especially his favorite Luosifen and Pig's Trotters Rice.

At the same time, he was slightly surprised.

Did the landlord grow a conscience today?

Actually giving out white steamed buns.

"Guys, look! Today we've got not just white steamed buns, but there's also meat soup!"

Excited voices of a few farmers immediately followed.

"Wow, it smells so good!"

Hearing this, Han Ye's gaze immediately shifted.

Indeed, he saw a pot of meat soup with floating oil in the center of the dining hall, and the top layer was full of meat crumbs.

"I heard that the young lady from Liu Manor returned from martial arts training today, needed to replenish her body, and this is the leftover pig bones and fat boiled down."

"We should really thank this Miss from the Liu Family, but no matter, I'll drink to salute her first!"

"I want some too!"

A crowd of people went over in a rush, all vying for a bowl of meat soup.

Quickly, the pot of soup was emptied out in no time.

Han Ye, sipping his porridge, sighed.

Meat soup was indeed good, but after toiling a whole day, competing with a crowd of smelly rough men for it was too difficult.

"Brother Han, aren't you having some soup?"

Suddenly, a hearty voice came from beside him.

Han Ye looked up and a smile immediately appeared on his face: "It's Da Niu."

Wang Da Niu chuckled heartily, sitting down in front of Han Ye, and placed a large bowl he held.

It was a bowl of meat soup with floating bits of meat.

"I grabbed an extra bowl, can't finish it all, just right to share with Brother Han."

Han Ye warmed inside, smiling, "Then I'll be unceremonious."

He had been in this world for several months, and it had been a long time since he had any meat.

Having a bowl of meat soup was already an extravagant affair.

Drinking the greasy pork bone soup warmed him up quite a bit, and it felt like he replenished some of the day's depleted energy.

Seeing Han Ye enjoy the meat soup, Wang Da Niu asked expectantly, "Are you still going to tell the children of the village the story of Journey to the West tonight? I'm really eager to hear what happens next to Sun Wukong."

Han Ye smiled gently: "No rush for the story, I have some things to do tonight, let's do it tomorrow, tomorrow night I'll tell you."

He planned to spend the evening pondering how to pick up more attributes.

Although Wang Da Niu showed disappointment, there was nothing he could do. He nodded and said, "Since Brother Han has things to do, I won't disturb you. But if you need help with anything, make sure to call me, I won't hesitate to lend a hand."

"Sure thing."

...

Night covered the sky, and moonlight shone like splendor.

After dinner, Han Ye went for a walk. This was the simple life in the village: after the sun set and dinner was finished, it was time for bed, since the next morning required an early rise.

Even after all this time, he still wasn't used to going to bed at this hour.

Han Ye roamed around Langlang Village, thinking about how to pick up the most attributes.

Suddenly, he heard unusual noises coming from inside a house.

Listening to the rapid breathing of a man and a woman, Han Ye's gaze turned strange.

He remembered, this seemed to be Widow Liu's house in the village.

Widow Liu was also one of the wealthier residents of Langlang Village, with a wealthy father in the county who managed some business. Her husband, who had moved into her household, died early, which left her unrestrained, flirtatious, always unsatisfied, like a ravenous wolf.

Any young man would be targeted by her.

Han Ye thought to himself what bad luck and wanted to leave quickly.

Just then, a white sphere of light dropped under the eaves of the house's window.

Han Ye was stunned to see this.

Well now, attributes can drop from that too?

I've got to see what this is all about.

Han Ye sneaked to the corner of the wall, where the sounds by his ear seemed to grow louder; still, he resisted the discomfort and picked up the attribute.

"Attribute Picked: Friend of Women +3"

"Absorb?"

What's this?

Friend of Women.

Han Ye was stunned for a moment.

What's the use of this attribute?

He immediately checked it out.

"Friend of Women (White): Charm towards married women doubled, elderly women tend to have a higher fondness for you."

Damn!

Han Ye's complexion turned somewhat unsightly.

What's the use of this thing.

Charm towards married women doubled?

What use do I have for this!

Han Ye was speechless for a moment.

But then he thought.

Although the attribute is useless now, who knows, it might come in handy in a certain scenario in the future.

Like, say, for establishing good interpersonal relationships?

After all, it's still an attribute.

Why not pick it up if it's free?

Pick up.

With this thought, Han Ye silently chanted and absorbed the white orb of light directly into his mind.

The panel before his eyes slowly changed as well.

"Name": Han Ye

"Cultivation": Mortal

"Destiny": Accumulate Thinly, Release Thoroughly

"Owned Attributes": Strength of an Ox (Green), Friend of Women (White)

"Strength of an Ox (10/100): Great strength, equivalent to a cartload, endless stamina."

"Friend of Women (3/50): Your charm towards married women is doubled, elderly women tend to have a higher fondness for you."

It seems this attribute is also graded.

The green light is above the white light.

The white grade attribute only needs fifty points to max out, what changes will occur once it's full?

After picking up the attribute, Han Ye couldn't bear the noise above his head anymore and turned around to leave.

"Whoosh!"

Another white orb of light fell.

"Whoosh!"

And then another.

Han Ye was stunned.

"Attribute Picked: Friend of Women +1"

"Attribute Picked: Friend of Women +2"

"Attribute Picked: Friend of Women +1"

...

And so, Han Ye stayed in the corner for the time of an incense stick burning.

He didn't just stand there idly, instead, he started doing one-handed push-ups right on the ground, numbing himself.

During this time, he picked up more than ten attributes.

It's fair to say he picked up quite a haul.

"Friend of Women (25/50): Your charm towards married women is doubled, elderly women tend to have a higher fondness for you."

Han Ye checked the progress, his heart becoming more and more excited.

Just four or five more times and it would be full.

Meanwhile, the noise inside the house finally stopped, replaced by snoring sounds.

Only then did Han Ye stand up, glanced at the window screen, and slowly shook his head:

"Truly no restraint."

...

When Han Ye was about to go back to the tenement house designated for tenant farmers, he noticed that the Liu Manor was still brightly lit inside.

This struck Han Ye as odd.

The Liu Manor was usually very quiet.

So, he sneaked in through the hidden dog hole in the back door of the courtyard.

He heard the "huff" and "puff" sounds coming from the inner courtyard, accompanied by the "bang bang bang" of fist winds.

Then, a stern and severe voice rose.

"Even if you have returned to the Manor, you cannot slack off, train diligently, the Triennial Assessment starts in just six months, and you don't have much time left!"

Han Ye hid among the artificial mountains and bamboo forests of the Inner Mansion and saw a figure dressed in dark green martial robe, standing out among the crowd with a valiant bearing.

He immediately remembered what the farmers had said during dinner.

It looks like the young miss came back from martial practice today.

"Is that the Liu Family's young miss?"

Watching the bulky family servants swing their fists, causing vibrations in the air, each stance solid with vicious movements.

Han Ye couldn't help but wonder.

Would they drop some more powerful attributes from their bodies?

For a moment, Han Ye anticipated.

He watched these practicing martial artists, hoping they would drop something interesting.

...