activa-t Chapter 4 My Solitary Journey
Chapter 4 My Solitary Journey
Each layer of autumn rain brings a layer of chill.
After two rain showers, the leaves on the trees fell one after another. After the rain, they were cleared aside and eventually burned, making a crackling sound.
Song Shen had almost forgotten that he had gone to see his family. After returning, he cultivated like a madman.
[Hun Yuan Zhuang: Minor Success (20%)]
"Is this what it feels like to have Qi and blood?"
Song Shen gradually felt that warm feeling. Although it was just a feeling and couldn't be grasped, it was still a valuable step forward.
Before we knew it, it was already late.
Song Shen sat in the courtyard with Song Chengzong, slowly drinking the nourishing soup he ate once a day.
After a brief commotion, Liu Zhan and Lu Shan also entered. These two men had several bowls of medicinal soup every day because more people were offering it to them.
As the training period lengthened, more and more people realized that they had no talent, so they simply gave it away as a favor.
This is called resource abundance, where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
Song Chengzong muttered to himself, "You've really improved quite a bit, I can see it."
Song Shen's body has also become stronger these days, and he has become more powerful in his daily work. This is obviously the result of his martial arts training. However, he is still far inferior to those two guys who are gifted and have resources to support them.
"You're pretty good at it too," Song Shen said casually, then suddenly remembered something and added, "Wait, where's your bowl?"
Song Chengzong gave an awkward smile, suddenly appearing somewhat embarrassed.
"Haha, I drank it all! You thought!"
Having lived two lives, how could Song Shen suddenly understand all of this?
Song Chengzong's smile froze on his face. Even if he was slow to notice, he could tell that Song Shen had figured it out.
These days, Song Chengzong has also been intentionally getting close to Liu Zhan. Needless to say, Liu Zhan and Lu Shan must have made a promise to these young men that they would not forget each other if they became rich and powerful.
It goes without saying that Song Chengzong's bowl of medicine is now in Liu Zhan's stomach.
"Shen, you won't blame me, will you?"
Song Shen laughed heartily: "It's just a bowl of medicine, how could I blame you! Everyone has the right to pursue their future. As long as you know what you're doing, you're not a fool."
Damn it, this guy is so calm and collected. Compared to him, how filthy and cowardly I am, giving up on the future and suffering a crushing defeat in the competition he was secretly competing with Song Shen.
Thinking of this, Song Chengzong fell silent, while Song Shen silently drank his medicine, his mind preoccupied with how to improve his cultivation.
After a long while, Song Chengzong stood up without saying a word and slowly walked over to Liu Zhan, joining the group of boys surrounding him.
Song Shen will fail just like me.
Song Chengzong seemed to have foreseen the outcome, feeling annoyed by that pointless persistence, yet powerless to stop it.
Song Shen didn't say much. He sat alone, digesting his medicine, seemingly unaware of Song Chengzong's change.
……
night.
Song Shen carried his rice bowl to the usual spot, but he was almost finished eating and his sister Song Zhen hadn't arrived yet. Just as Song Shen was about to leave, Song Zhen finally arrived late.
"Are you in such a hurry to leave?"
Song Shen smiled and said, "I still need to cultivate."
"I know," Song Zhen said softly, "You went home, but didn't you get anything?"
These words silenced Song Shen. It wasn't that he got nothing at all; he still received glares and scolding.
Song Zhen took a small cloth bag out of his bosom and tossed it to Song Shen.
"Give."
Song Shen took it; it was rather heavy, containing copper coins and loose silver.
"Sister, how could you...?"
Song Zhen said softly, "After all, I work for Madam, so I sometimes get some rewards. Plus, I haven't spent money recklessly, so I've saved up a little."
Song Shen felt that the money was too heavy and that he shouldn't have taken it.
"Fool, ever since we were sold here, I've considered myself as if I have no family. You're my only relative in this world. What use is this money to me if you're not doing well?"
Song Zhen rolled her eyes at Song Shen. "I don't blame my family for selling me here, but I have nothing to do with them anymore. I have no objection if you want to go find them, but I will never get involved with them."
Anyone who isn't a complete idiot like Song Shen knows what Song Zhen's money means.
This means she's half dead.
If Song Shen turns out to be useless, then he won't be the only one who's doomed; this woman will be too.
"I'm sure I can do it, I promise," Song Shen said in a low voice.
"Yes, I believe you."
……
……
……
The sun is rising.
The small courtyard was home to many of the Cao family's servants. These children had been bought and raised by the Cao family since they were young, so they knew them inside and out and trusted them completely.
Ever since the incident where a traitor emerged from the family's guards, the Cao family has been very wary of their own servants and guards, deeply aware of how difficult it is to find a loyal and capable servant.
On this day, many servants were somewhat surprised to see Zhang Long, who was usually so smug, standing in front of a tall man like a little brother. His usual imposing manner was completely gone, and now he only had a fawning expression on his face.
"Brother Li, what brings you here in person?"
When the man entered, Song Shen immediately noticed him.
He had a long face, thick eyebrows, and a pair of narrow eyes beneath them. He wore a neat robe, and every move he made gave people a sense of simplicity and strength.
However, what Song Shen noticed first was the family crest on it, indicating that this person was a first-class guard.
The man, without a smile, scanned the group. "Young Master seems quite interested in this training program. Are there any promising talents?"
Zhang Long asked, somewhat taken aback, "Could it be that the eldest young master wants to...?"
The man surnamed Li nodded: "If they have some talent, the young master will consider taking them on. You know that last time that son of a bitch caused trouble within the family, the manor values its own people very much. By the way, are there any promising talents among these few?"
Zhang Long immediately replied, "Those two are not bad."
"Oh?" The man surnamed Li looked at Zhou Shan and Liu Zhan. "You two, come here!"
Liu Zhan and Lu Shan had never seen such a person before. Their legs trembled for a moment, but upon hearing this, they quickly stepped forward, their posture upright.
"I am Li Zhenghui, sent by the eldest young master to see you. Do not be alarmed, I am here to examine your physical attributes."
After saying that, he reached out and began to feel the bones of the two boys. The two boys felt as if their whole bodies were being gripped by a large iron clamp, and they were sweating profusely from the pain, but they kept their faces straight and acted as if nothing was wrong.
Now, even if they get stabbed, they won't be able to scream.
"Hmm, not bad. I didn't expect that among these kids from Dongyuan, you two have such good potential. You, come with me later."
Li Zhenghui pointed at Liu Zhan.
"Me? Me?"
Liu Zhan could no longer contain himself and finally revealed a huge surprise on his face.
The turning point in fate can come so suddenly.
Originally, he was destined to be a beast of burden for the rest of his life, ordered around like livestock. But this sudden change allowed him to become a martial artist and follow the young master. Not only could he become a human being in the future, but he might even become a master.
How can I not be overjoyed and shed tears?
Lu Shan, left behind, looked dejected.
He'd be crying his eyes out tonight for missing out on such a golden opportunity.
Li Zhenghui laughed and said, "Don't be discouraged, someone will come to take you away later."
Lu Shan looked bewildered.
Li Zhenghui smiled mysteriously and led Liu Zhan across the door.
Zhang Long and Lu Shan were left standing there, stunned.
A moment later, another man entered the courtyard, and Zhang Long immediately followed him, shamelessly asking, "What, Brother Zhang, you're here too?"
All the children in the courtyard turned to look, and it turned out to be yet another top-tier bodyguard.
"Damn it, that bastard Old Li got here before me? Did he take everyone with him?"
Zhang Long finally understood why Li Zhenghui had said that. "It's nothing, Brother Li just left one."
"Where are you? Get over here. If you still have talent, I'll take you to the Second Young Master."
Zhang Long laughed heartily, "Lu Shan, get over here right now!"
Lu Shan caught up with him in three quick steps.
The man performed his routine bone-reading, then laughed after a moment, "Old Li is a decent man after all. He left me a good prospect. I can finally report back. Come with me, and you won't have to be treated like livestock here anymore. Go eat and drink well with me."
Another lucky person has passed away.
The entire courtyard became deserted. This runner-up match had finally come to an end, and everyone felt a sense of emptiness.
Those who had volunteered in the past were especially filled with indescribable emotions. They wondered when they would ever receive a reward for their past flattery and dedication.
Perhaps never.
But what is certain is that, just as the man said, they can only continue to be treated like livestock here; the opportunities they once had were never meant for them.
Zhang Long also lost his previous enthusiasm. Without those two talented young men, he had no more ideas.
As the month drew to a close, the small training courtyard gradually became deserted, and Zhang Long arrived later and later. In the end, the courtyard was almost empty.
But only one person still arrives on time every day to practice alone.