Chapter 5: What Makes A Home

The small courtyard house was a mere ten square yards in size, and its low walls were constructed with mud. The years had peeled back the layers of mud in several parts of the walls, revealing the gravel beneath.

Surrounding the courtyard were three buildings, similarly weathered and aged. On either side of the main house, faded white couplets could still be seen. However, the courtyard was immaculately clean. A few items of clothing, not quite dry, hung from a bamboo pole by the eaves. Beneath it was a large, half-filled water barrel.

As the memories of his body’s previous occupant merged with his own, Wu Yuan began to regard this house as a place he had lived in for over a decade, a place he called home.

In his previous life, he owned a sprawling villa spanning over a thousand square meters. But ever since his sister's marriage, it felt like nothing more than a place to stay. Whereas in this life, this small courtyard house gave Wu Yuan a true sense of belonging.

Among the courtyard houses in the neighborhood, this one was relatively spacious. In Wu Yuan’s memory, their family had moved in when his father was still alive. He was still a child then, and their family had prospered.

Later, his father was killed in battle and the family fell into decline, struggling to support Wu Yuan’s training at the martial academy. They were almost forced to sell the house. Needless to say, they had no spare funds for repairs.

"Mother, big brother is back." A youthful voice rang out happily.

Shortly after, a slender girl of around eight or nine years old bounded out from a side room. She was dressed in gray fabric and her face beamed with excitement.

"Brother, carry me!"

"Of course," Wu Yuan replied with a grin.

With a single stride, he effortlessly scooped up the girl with his right arm and carried her into the courtyard. This was a game the siblings played frequently.

"Little Yi, what did you do today?" Wu Yuan casually asked.

"I was with Mother in the fabric shop! I learned how to create a flower arrangement with Sister Xing today," the girl responded excitedly.

"Haha, Little Yi is truly skilled." Wu Yuan chuckled. However, his heart ached.

The fabric business was the primary enterprise of the Wu Clan's Li City branch, which operated numerous fabric shops throughout the city. Among these, the Wu Xing Fabric Shop, founded by their chieftain Wu Qiming, ranked among the top ten in a city teeming with hundreds of such establishments.

The livelihoods of more than half of the hundreds of Wu clansmen were heavily reliant on this industry. Some were responsible for procurement and weaving, while others managed dyeing processes, and some focused on sales. Wu Yuan's mother was a skilled dyer.

Normally, the pension from Wu Yuan's father who had died in battle combined with the clan’s annual income and the wages of his mother, were enough for a family of three to live comfortably. However, Wu Yuan's martial arts training was a money devouring pit for an ordinary family!

If not for the Chieftain suppressing the dissent from the other clansmen, as well as providing them with unwavering support over the years, the family would have been unable to sustain itself by relying on the efforts of Wu Yuan's mother alone.

Consequently, there had been much gossip circulating among the various Wu Clan households. After all, while Wu Yuan possessed some martial arts talent, he was not exactly a top-tier prodigy. The future returns from the clan's heavy financial investment in him were uncertain.

Only the Chieftain's authority prevented numerous clan members from voicing their opinions publicly.

The previous Wu Yuan toiled in the martial academy for many years. Yet, I'm still a mere eighth-grade martial novice.

It’s difficult to alter my destiny by following the conventional path!

In the vast Middle Land, martial artists were well respected. But as a martial novice, someone in the bottom three grades, the best prospects one could hope for would be to become a domestic servant, a guard, or a bodyguard. Even in the army, one would serve as little more than cannon fodder.

To alter one’s destiny, one had to become a martial virtuoso at least!

Transitioning from a seventh-grade martial novice to a sixth-grade martial virtuoso represented a significant milestone in every martial artist's path within the Middle Land.

If one did not reach the seventh grade by the age of sixteen, it was almost impossible to become a martial virtuoso in their twenties under normal circumstances.

When it came to martial arts cultivation, skill did not rise proportionally to the length of training. In youth, individuals possessed abundant qi and vitality. Just like the rising sun, their unlimited potential facilitated rapid progress.

Anyone above the age of thirty who had yet to reach the Viscera Cultivation and Marrow Cleansing phase would see their potential decline rapidly. Even if their physical faculties remained intact, achieving breakthroughs would grow progressively more challenging.

The previous Wu Yuan would have struggled to become a seventh-grade martial artist before the age of sixteen.

But now, I am here!

If this body was already eighteen years old, even Wu Yuan would find it difficult to make any significant cultivation progress.

But a physique merely fourteen years old? It was precisely the golden age for martial arts cultivation!

Moreover, although the former Wu Yuan was not extraordinarily gifted, he had practiced diligently, building an exceptionally sturdy foundation for his physical abilities.

Although I don't understand why I've arrived in this world, I will strive to fulfill your wishes.

With the amalgamation of the previous Wu Yuan's memories and emotions, Wu Yuan occasionally found himself straddling the boundary between reality and dreams, unsure whether he had transmigrated, or if the technological Federation was nothing more than a long dream.

Creak~

The door to the main house opened.

"Yuan'er, you're back." A fatigued-looking woman emerged from the dimly lit room with a fire poker in hand, seemingly in the midst of kindling a fire.

Her face was streaked with a smudge of coal dust and her cheeks displayed a sickly pallor, but even the wrinkles on her forehead were unable to hide the beauty of her youth. A gentle smile graced her features.

This was Wu Yuan's mother, Wanqin. For many years, she had single-handedly raised him and his sister.

"Mother, there's no need to warm up my food, I've just returned from the general's manor with the chieftain. We've already eaten," Wu Yuan quickly said.

As he spoke, Wu Yuan gently took the fire poker from his mother's hand, picked up the wooden bucket by the water barrel, and walked out into the courtyard. "Mother, you go freshen up first; I'll go fetch water with Little Yi."

Wealthy households often had private wells. However, along the Wu family’s street, it was common for ten or more families to share a single well. Given the standards of living in Li City, this was considered quite decent!

Balancing his sister, Wu Yijun, in one arm, he drew water from the well using his free hand. This was a challenging feat for an ordinary man. But for Wu Yuan, it was a breeze. With a single leap, he could cover a distance of more than two zhangs. His cheetah-like agility incited peals of laughter from his younger sister, who cheered him on. "Brother, go faster!"

The sound of water flowing into the barrel, intermingled with the siblings' laughter, elicited a subtle smile from their mother who remained inside the main house.

Despite the hardships they endured, her children symbolized her hope and happiness, the very reason she continued to live.

...

As the night deepened, and his sister fell asleep, Wu Yuan made his way to the east building. A single oil lamp cast a dim glow, illuminating his mother, who was weaving.

"Yuan'er, please have a seat," Wanqin said.

"Mm," Wu Yuan nodded and took a seat next to his mother. In a low voice, he said, "Mother, I have something to discuss with you."

"Go ahead," Wanqin smiled, her hands continuing their work.

"I will be withdrawing from this year's martial academy major tournament," Wu Yuan did not beat around the bush.

"What?" Wanqin's expression shifted and her hands froze abruptly. She looked at Wu Yuan with a mix of confusion and urgency, "In the past few minor tournaments, haven't you been constantly improving? You should have no problem getting into Southdream Martial Academy. Why would you forfeit?"

Normally, she trusted her son and didn't pry too much into his affairs at the martial academy.

But how could any mother not feel concerned?

The Southdream Martial Academy was far less prestigious than the Cloud Martial Hall. One admitted hundreds of students a year from a single province, while the other took in only dozens from three provinces. Whether one compared the innate talent of the disciples or the resources of the martial academies, the contrast was staggering!

But in Wanqin's view, it would already be a great accomplishment if her son could gain admission into the Southdream Martial Academy. She couldn't comprehend why he would choose to forgo participating in the martial academy major tournament.

"Mother, my plan is to compete in next year's major tournament, where there's a high chance I'll be accepted into the Cloud Martial Hall!" Wu Yuan explained further, "Both the chieftain and the headmaster have shown support for my decision." He did not reveal the specifics.

Hearing this, Wanqin was taken aback, her emotions wavering. She had great faith in the chieftain, Wu Qiming, and remembered the headmaster of the martial academy as a kind old man, but this matter concerned her son's future.

"Mother, if I can enter the Cloud Martial Hall, I will become a fifth-grade martial artist in the future at minimum, with hopes of reaching an even higher grade. When Father hears of this in the afterlife, I'm sure he will be incomparably relieved." Wu Yuan continued, "Besides, I can always enter the Southdream Martial Academy next year. Even if my admission is delayed by a year, it won't be too late."

"A fifth-grade martial artist?" The words seemed to touch something in Wanqin's heart.

That was because she never forgot her husband's last wish -- for their family to produce a fifth-grade martial artist.

Moreover, she understood very well what a fifth-grade martial artist signified. There was not a single fifth-grade martial artist in the entire Wu Clan's Li City branch. If they could produce one, it would elevate not only their modest family, but also the entire clan's status and influence considerably. In this world, wealth was just a byproduct of martial strength.

"Yuan'er, since the chieftain supports your decision, I won't dwell on it," Wanqin said, "However, when you encounter challenges, don't act impulsively; always prioritize your safety."

"I understand." Wu Yuan felt a rush of warmth in his heart. Most parents had a singular wish: for their children to remain safe.

"Mother, this is a reward I received from the martial academy." Wu Yuan turned over his hand, presenting a silver note, and placed it beside Wanqin.

"100 taels?" Wanqin could hardly believe it.

She worked hard every day, but her monthly wages did not even amount to two taels. Her yearly earnings were only 20 to 30 silver taels. 100 taels of silver could sustain an ordinary family of three for several years!

"Mother, the martial academy has decided to invest heavily in me, so I will receive a similar allowance every month," Wu Yuan said, flashing a proud grin. "Take this for now."

This was why Wu Yuan didn't take out all 1000 taels at once - it was too much! His mother would likely be overwhelmed by such a sum.

"Wu Yuan," Wanqin looked at her son, finding herself momentarily at a loss for words. She knew that powerful martial artists could easily rake in great sums of wealth, but Wu Yuan was still only fourteen.

"Mother, I will work hard to support this family from now on. Tomorrow, please enroll Little Yi in school," Wu Yuan declared.

"Yes, we'll enroll her in school," Wanqin nodded in agreement.

In affluent families, even if their children lacked martial arts talent, they often received an education and went on to take the Civic Competency Exam. In this world, women were permitted to participate in Civic Competency Exams.

Even if one lacked physical strength, one could still achieve a high position such as county mayor, becoming a figure even fourth-grade martial artists obeyed and respected.

If not for the family's dire poverty, would Wanqin ever wish for her child to learn weaving at such a tender age?

"Mother, from now on, you should stop working so hard as well." Wu Yuan said solemnly, "Go buy more nourishing tonics for yourself and take good care of your health. In time, I will invite an alchemist over to give you medical attention."

"An alchemist?" Wanqin could not help but exclaim, "That's too expensive! Let’s just have a physician look things over at most. All I really need is some proper rest.."

Wanqin's health was not faring well. Her accumulated fatigue had led to sickness, and she fainted twice at the fabric shop, the most recent incident happening just last year.

If Wu Yuan had the capabilities of his previous life, he could have examined his mother's health. But now? He felt utterly powerless! Only an examination by an Alchemist would put his mind at ease.

"Mother, fret not. I have it all planned out." Wu Yuan said with a reassuring smile.

Wanqin hesitated for a moment, but witnessing her son's determination, she did not say anything more.

...

Late into the night, the entire street quieted down completely.

Whoosh!

An inconspicuous shadow slipped out from the west chamber. With a light leap, it soared several meters high, above the eaves of the roof. It landed without a sound, like a phantom. In the blink of an eye, it melted into the darkness.

After a mere ten breaths, Wu Yuan found himself standing on a secluded riverbank two Li away.

The Southdragon River was a vast waterway running through the entire Li City with a tranquil and leisurely current. Now and then, a houseboat drifted by, and the pier was brightly illuminated.

What a fortunate turn of events. I was wondering what kind of excuse I should come up with to win the prize from the major tournament without having to enter the Cloud Martial Hall. I didn't expect the heavens to favor me so. 5000 taels of silver, that’s ten times more than what I was hoping for.

By controlling the muscles and relaxing the mind, two hours of deep sleep is more than sufficient. It's time to commence today's training.

Wu Yuan shook his wrist slightly. All his muscles seemed to vibrate in unison as the object on his back shot up abruptly. It was a long saber.

Wu Yuan's fingers moved with great agility. In an instant, he reached out and gripped the hilt.

Swish!

He thrust the saber to one side, then brought it to an abrupt halt. The long saber was perfectly level with the ground, not a single degree slanted.

A 230-catty saber no longer seems adequate for me; do I need to find a replacement already?

Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. In his estimation, the saber in his hand felt lighter than it used to.

It wasn’t the saber that had gotten lighter. Wu Yuan had simply gotten stronger!