boyutpedia Chapter 3 Life is Like a Floating Cloud
Chapter 3 Life is Like a Floating Cloud
Being in a foreign land, enslaved and servant, freedom is a luxury.
Song Shen longs to go home, but he doesn't have that freedom.
He can only move around for half a day a month.
With a few days left until the end of the month, Song Shen didn't know what the outcome would be, but fortunately, he was calm and knew that the most urgent thing now was to practice hard, and he was just waiting for that half-day that came once a month.
【Hun Yuan Zhuang (Beginner Level 25%)】
"This is just the beginning; the ability to sense qi and blood is still a long way off."
Gradually, Song Shen became inexplicably anxious. There were definitely other levels after he entered the sect. Several days had already passed, and he couldn't help but feel impatient. To be honest, if more medicinal soup could be supplied, his progress might double.
Only with sufficient supplementation can training continue; otherwise, forcing yourself to practice will only ruin your health.
I heard that Liu Zhan has reached a level far beyond the beginner level, and can already lift a hundred-pound stone lock. Although he has not yet reached the level of capturing qi and blood, qi and blood are indeed transforming his body. Otherwise, a boy of this age, apart from being born with superhuman strength, could never do such a thing.
Even Liu Zhan himself couldn't do it before.
Many curious young men went to ask him what this feeling of qi and blood was like.
Liu Zhan simply smiled enigmatically and said only that there was a warm current.
A warm current...
It really makes one's mind wander.
Several young men began to surround him, automatically becoming his followers. Now they were following the powerful servants, and who knows, one day he might be able to give them a ride.
Lu Shan, another person Zhang Long was paying close attention to, also replicated this achievement. Needless to say, he was surrounded by many servants.
……
……
……
It's almost time to get to the end of the month; next month will be the last month.
"Comparison is the thief of joy."
Looking at Liu Zhan and Lu Shan, who were still practicing diligently in the arena, Song Chengzong sighed. In recent days, the two boys had visibly grown taller and had gradually transformed from half-grown boys like them into adults.
After all these days of hard work, Song Chengzong's martial spirit had basically died. What kept him going was seeing his best friend Song Shen still practicing so intently, and he simply couldn't and didn't want to give up.
"How's your training going?"
Song Chengzong looked at Song Shen.
Song Shen looked at the panel in front of him.
【Hun Yuan Zhuang (Beginner Level 55%)】
"good."
Seven days passed.
Song Shen secretly thought that he would have to practice more that night, and the thought of going out tomorrow made him feel even more anxious.
time does not wait.
That's right, tomorrow is that half-day of freedom.
Song Chengzong observed Song Shen for several days and knew that what he said was indeed true.
Song Shen is indeed making progress. Compared to those two, it is not particularly noticeable, but compared to the average person, Song Shen's progress is still obvious.
As they were talking, the two people under the corridor saw a group of people gathered together over there. Lu Shan and Liu Zhan were surrounded by several teenagers, and there were several bowls of nourishing soup in front of them.
Song Shen was slightly taken aback and asked, "What's going on? Didn't Master Zhang say we can't steal?"
Song Chengzong said indifferently, "Master Zhang said we can't steal, but he didn't say we can't give it away voluntarily."
Song Shen's face was filled with surprise: "Huh? You gave it to me willingly?"
Could there really be such a despicable person?
Song Chengzong smiled wryly and said, "After practicing for so many days, who doesn't know their own limitations? It seems that Liu Zhan and Lu Shan are likely to succeed. Sending them now is like sending charcoal in snowy weather. When they become successful in the future, they can take care of them a little. Anyway, it would be a waste for me to drink it."
Song Shen was stunned when he heard Song Chengzong say, "Liu Zhan and Lu Shan's family or relatives have given them some support when they heard that they actually have martial arts talent. Anyway, Instructor Zhang has said that they don't need to work anymore and can just focus on training."
This is indeed a done deal.
Song Shen secretly thought that if he had this kind of support, he could also make great progress, but unfortunately, he didn't have enough resources at the moment, and he was really trapped by poverty.
Even a hero can be brought down by a penny.
Silent all night.
The next day.
Finally, noon arrived, and Song Shen went out. Before he left, the butler said to him, "You know the rules, right?"
Song Shen nodded and said, "I understand."
The steward nodded: "You are servants of the Cao family. If you dare to run away, and are caught, the government will not care even if you are beaten to death."
Song Shen said in a deep voice, "I know what's what."
"Alright, go ahead."
The Cao family wasn't worried about these servants running away. After all, they had connections everywhere and could catch even a grasshopper in Xinyu City, let alone a living person. Threatening them was just a formality.
As Song Shen stepped out of that dog-hole-like side door, his heart was filled with mixed emotions.
The property belongs to the owner; even if someone is killed, the government will not care.
They've really become like cattle and horses; when they can't work anymore, they eat meat, and when they can still work, they work themselves to death.
With these indescribable feelings in mind, Song Shen hurried along the address given to him by Song Chengzong.
The sky was high and the clouds were light.
It was autumn, and a desolate smell was spreading through my nostrils.
As the sun began to set, Song Shen arrived at the outskirts of the city. By the river, under the trees, stood a teahouse without a name, but its prime location attracted quite a few customers.
"Sir, your tea is here!"
A child's sweet voice spoke as he brought tea to a table, and Song Shen stepped forward.
"Would you like some tea, sir?"
The child looked up at Song Shen with a completely unfamiliar expression.
This must be the eldest brother's son. He was only a few days old when Song Shen was sold, so it's normal that he doesn't recognize himself.
Song Shen smiled and said, "I don't drink tea, I'm looking for the boss."
The child stood there dumbfounded for a long time. He only knew how to serve tea and water, and didn't know how to respond to other instructions. After a while, a slightly aged voice said, "Sir, what would you like to order?"
Song Shen glanced to the side and was immediately stunned.
The aged face bore a resemblance to his own, and was that of the body's biological father.
The old man looked at Song Shen, a complex expression on his face. "Shen... is that you?"
Song Shen opened his mouth, then said somewhat speechlessly, "Father."
Old Man Song was also a little embarrassed. He had three sons and two daughters. His youngest son had been sold to a wealthy family for many years and he hadn't seen him much. Now that he suddenly saw him, he really didn't know how to react.
"Ah Zhao, go pour your third uncle a bowl of tea."
The child glanced at Song Shen, a little confused about the title "Third Uncle," and could only listen to his grandfather.
Old Man Song led Song Shen to the table by the door, smoking his pipe and saying in a low voice, "We sold our land and moved here. Your eldest and second eldest brothers live nearby and work in the city. I was thinking of telling you and Zhen'er sometime, but I haven't found the right opportunity yet."
Song Shen listened to the conversation and chatted with the old man for a while, then suddenly said, "Father, I have an opportunity to learn martial arts at the Cao family mansion."
"Learn martial arts? You can't do it." Old Man Song shook his head like a rattle drum. "Our family has been farmers for generations, and we've never produced a martial artist. Your brother tried before, but he couldn't do it at all. Don't waste your time."
Song Shen bit his cheek, feeling a sense of powerlessness for the first time, and thought to himself that coming here was really a strange coincidence.
"This is the only chance..."
Old Man Song said in a muffled voice, "If you're here for this... then don't ask anymore. I don't have any money to burn for you. After all, you're a member of the Cao family, and you'll have food to eat your whole life. Why are you making such a fuss? You should be content."
Many families in the village who were originally quite well-off were corrupted by the evil idea of practicing martial arts. Without exception, they all ended up with nothing to show for their efforts, wasting their wealth and even ruining their health.
Old Man Song was utterly disdainful that his youngest son had such inappropriate thoughts, and thus his words lost their usual politeness and warmth.
The Song family is going through a tough time right now. They've just started to have some money; their eldest son owns a restaurant, and their second son has built a new house and is about to get married. Even if they have some savings, they can't possibly give them to Song Shen.
Selling his youngest son and daughter back then did give his family a chance to survive, but since it concerned Old Song's family, he couldn't give them a single penny.
"Besides, our family doesn't have much money left. Your eldest brother just had his second child, your second brother just got married, and the house has only just been built. If you were sensible, you should send some money to my family instead of asking me for it."
That's really unnecessary.
When Song Shen was turned away, he secretly thought that he had overestimated the so-called family affection.
Human relationships are as thin as gauze.
Moreover, given my own situation.
"Okay. It's getting late, I'm going back."
Song Shen stood up.
Old Man Song opened his mouth, intending to say that he wanted to stay for dinner before leaving.
But he didn't say it out loud, afraid that his youngest son would ask him for help again, which would make him look bad.
The autumn wind is blowing.
As Song Shen walked quickly, he realized that he was like a floating cloud in the sky, truly without roots or feet.