Chapter 16: Tenant Rent

After a tearful explanation from the young lady, Wu Ming finally managed to understand the situation.

The root of the problem could be summarized in three words—”Eating the heirless household”!

With both of Li Xiuyun’s parents deceased and no male heirs to inherit the family business, villagers regarded her family as having no descendants, making them legitimate targets for exploitation.

To make matters worse, the Li family had modest wealth. Considering the sum Wu Ming had previously deposited with them, there were indeed many people with vested interests eyeing their assets.

If Li returned home, losing her family’s property would be the least of her worries. She might suffer both financial and personal losses, and might even end up sold off to some unknown place.

“Oh! So you’re safe here… Oh right!”

Wu Ming slapped his head, finally recalling his status as a privileged aristocrat.

Previously, after killing Lin Qi, despite the seriousness of the crime, not a single constable had dared to visit for questioning in all these days. The audacity and arrogance of the Wu family were thus evident.

With Li sheltering under the Wu family’s protection, and rumors circulating that she was the young master’s concubine—even if she was merely a servant-concubine hybrid—she was beyond the reach of common villagers.

“Please, Young Master Ming, don’t cast me away! This humble servant will repay your kindness in the next life by tying grass around her neck like a grateful bird!”

After finishing her plea, Li Xiuyun knelt tearfully before Wu Ming, making him feel quite awkward.

“Alright… You may stay as long as you like!”

Wu Ming waved his hand dismissively, thinking that the Wu family was wealthy enough not to worry about feeding an extra mouth.

Besides, this Li girl had rosy lips and white teeth, a charming air about her, and a rather attractive figure. The previous wastrel had indeed had good taste.

As if sensing Wu Ming’s gaze, Li Xiuyun blushed deeply, the redness spreading all the way down her neck.

According to the prevailing customs, Wu Ming, as the household master, could do anything to her, and it would be perfectly justified and acceptable. However, Wu Ming simply walked past her without another word.

“But… I shouldn’t entirely believe her account. I’ll keep her as an act of charity, but I should still assign someone to watch her, just in case…”

Li Xiuyun, with her back to Wu Ming, didn’t see the cold glint that flashed in his eyes as he turned away.

…

On the training ground, Feng Han was dressed in martial attire, his expression stern:

“What I practice is the Golden Bell Great Eagle Claw technique! This martial art has widespread origins and many schools. I belong to the ‘Sky Hawk’ branch, whose secret transmission is the ‘Thirteen Sky Hawk Strikes.’ When fully mastered, it is as if an eagle circles and dives, striking with extreme ferocity!”

He extended his hands: “Come and take a look!”

Wu Ming stepped forward and saw that Feng Han’s hands were knotted with thick tendons and bones, dark and hardened, elongated and deformed like chicken claws. Wu Ming couldn’t help but shiver inwardly: “I hope I don’t end up like this too.”

“Haha! Of course not! Young Master, you are practicing supreme internal techniques, cultivating from within outwardly, which develops naturally without the need for soaking your hands in medicinal solutions or pounding them repeatedly.”

Feng Han sighed wistfully. Ever since Wu Ming had casually mentioned teaching him the Tortoise Hibernation Method and the Spirit Tortoise Breathing Technique, he had held nothing back from Wu Ming.

After all, although Feng’s meridians were already set, making changes time-consuming and inefficient, he could still benefit his descendants, so he dared not slack off in the slightest.

“I’ve already imparted all the secrets of the Golden Bell Great Eagle Claw technique. What remains is practice—hard practice! Start by grabbing sand, then stones, and finally iron filings. When fully mastered, your hands will be both soft and hard, capable of shattering anything!”

“Understood!”

Dressed in training gear, Wu Ming looked vigorous and spirited. He began practicing earnestly in front of a basin of sand.

“Golden Eagle Pounces on a Lamb!”

“Eagle Strikes the Vast Sky!”

…

On the training field, the breath was subtly restrained, and the claw wind was oppressive, prompting Feng Han to nod repeatedly: “I thought he was just a wastrel, but I never expected him to possess such perseverance and foundation…”

Feng Han knew clearly that with such a starting point, as long as Wu Ming had half the effort he once did, his future achievements would surpass his own by far. This was the rule of the world—cruel and unforgiving! For every bit of effort by the aristocratic youth, the poor scholar must expend ten or even a hundred times as much to catch up!

His expression distant, as if lost in thought, Feng Han fell silent for a moment, glanced at the sun, and then said, “Enough! Young Master Ming, you’re just starting out. If you don’t want to damage your muscles and bones or end up deformed, you should stop for today!”

“No! I can feel it… I’m nowhere near my limit yet!”

Suddenly, Wu Ming rushed to the center of the training ground, his claws slashing like the wind, fierce and imposing. He grabbed both sides of a wooden dummy, his breathing deep and steady, his nasal passages vibrating with sound. With a twist of his hands: “Predator Rips the Lamb!”

Crack!

With two loud noises, wood chips flew everywhere, and the puppet’s two arms were torn off directly by Wu Ming.

“This… this… the Golden Bell Great Eagle Claw has reached a minor level of mastery! And his breathing…”

Feng Han stepped forward, seeing Wu Ming’s hands, white and jade-like, without a single callus, like the most delicately cared-for hands of a wealthy young master. He couldn’t help but show a look of shock.

Of course, he knew that Wu Ming’s hands were now maintained with supreme internal techniques, unscathed and highly refined. When unleashed, they possessed a power that could not be resisted.

This was the ultimate realm Feng Han had pursued, yet Wu Ming had achieved it so effortlessly.

Such a stark contrast left him feeling deeply discouraged, his self-esteem greatly wounded.

“Breath of Tortoise Hibernation! Long and steady breath… Young Master, you’ve actually reached the pinnacle of the Spirit Tortoise Breathing Technique! Truly incredible!”

Feng Han’s eyes gleamed with admiration: “This technique brims with vitality and is superb for health, making it the perfect complement to the fierce and ruthless Eagle Claw technique! It nourishes the hands without any risk of injury… Congratulations, Young Master Ming—the Pre-natal Realm is now within your grasp!”

In fact, after Wu Ming had mastered the Spirit Tortoise Breathing Technique, he had known that advancing to the Xiantian Realm would pose no obstacle.

For martial artists, the True Qi Realm involves generating true qi, while the Innate Realm is simply the process of filling the entire body with true qi, nourishing the root, and returning to one’s innate nature.

At this point, Wu Ming could circulate true qi into his hands to nourish muscles and bones, clearly indicating that he had taken a crucial step forward!

“After attaining the Xiantian state, the next stage is External Gang Qi (external force aura)! One can project Xiantian true qi up to three inches outward, injure opponents from a distance, and shatter even the unbreakable! Following External Gang Qi comes Internal Gang Qi, where the force aura permeates the entire body, including internal organs and bones, forging both inside and outside into a single, steel-like entity! Martial artists of this caliber could effortlessly defeat hundreds of soldiers single-handedly on the battlefield! Even an ordinary civilian could be promoted to the ninth junior rank, securing a military position with ease! Unfortunately…”

Feng Han sighed.

He himself had reached this level, so obtaining an official rank was not difficult, but aspiring further to the eighth or seventh ranks was as hard as climbing to the heavens!

After all, aside from family background, such military officers were also expected to possess high levels of strategic knowledge and military tactics. As a commoner, reaching such martial prowess was already a stroke of luck—where would he find time to study military strategy? Without a foundation, he had practically no hope of rising through the ranks.

Such a person, without connections, would at best remain a deputy for life, or become a hired enforcer for noble families or powerful officials.

“If there’s an opportunity for recommendation, Wu Ming will certainly not forget Master Feng!”

Wu Ming made the promise, and as he exchanged glances with Feng Han, everything was left unspoken.

…

Seasons shifted from summer to autumn, and before anyone realized it, over a month had silently slipped away.

During this time, Wu Ming remained quietly in the fortress, diligently practicing martial arts every day, while cautiously extending his reach to the outside world, trying to understand the overall and regional situations.

Over these months, his martial arts skills and knowledge had greatly improved.

Firstly, he had completely sorted through and absorbed the memories of the wastrel, now confident enough to face anyone without revealing any inconsistencies.

In martial arts, he had attained the pinnacle of the True Qi Realm, with his meridians, acupoints, and dantian brimming with true qi. All he needed was a single opportunity to achieve complete mastery and return to the Innate Realm.

(Note: I’ve translated “真氣境” as “True Qi Realm,” “丹田” as “dantian,” and “先天境” as “Innate Realm,” which are commonly accepted terms in wuxia/xianxia translations. The phrasing maintains the original meaning while ensuring readability in English.)

Moreover, his skill in the Golden Bell Great Eagle Claw technique had become highly refined, prompting Feng Han to repeatedly marvel, saying that aside from battlefield experience and adaptability, there was nothing more he could teach.

Autumn harvest, winter storage!

For any farmer, autumn is the most crucial time of the year, directly tied to the family’s livelihood.

In an ancient agrarian society, the harvest season even significantly affects the nation’s fortune and is of utmost importance.

With the arrival of this season, as the public face of the Wu family, Wu Ming could not remain idle. He had to go out daily to inspect the fields, at least for appearances’ sake.

After all, the fertile farmland surrounding the fortress and even in nearby villages all belonged to the Wu family, and most of the farmers were Wu tenants.

Although the underlings, led by Butler Wu, had already taken care of most matters, Wu Ming still needed to make appearances.

“Ah, the harvest looks good this year!”

Wu Ming strolled along the field ridge with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the abundant millet and wheat, and remarked.

According to his calculations, each mu of land yielded about one to two dan of grain, which was quite meager compared to his past life. However, by local standards, it was considered a good harvest year.

“All thanks to the young master’s blessings!”

Beside Wu Ming stood an old farmer, hunched over but sturdy, with rough, cracked hands and eyes gleaming with the shrewdness typical of mountain folk. He rubbed his hands together and smiled.

“It’s also thanks to you, Old Sun, for being such a capable overseer!” Wu Ming smiled at Old Sun: “Go ahead, tell me what else you need…”

“Master… This year’s harvest is indeed good, but last year’s drought left the villagers without enough food for winter. This year, one of the village’s oxen died, so all the work for digging the irrigation channels had to be done by people, which was quite laborious…”

Old Sun continued, almost shedding tears: “What about the rent this year?”

“Hmph… Well then, let’s just go with the usual.”

Wu Ming stared at Old Sun for a while, smiling without speaking, until the old man had broken out into a cold sweat on his forehead, before finally saying with a smile.

“Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!”

Old Sun was overwhelmed with gratitude, feeling as if a heavy burden had been lifted. Looking at him, he almost dropped to his knees to kowtow to Wu Ming. Then he forced a smile and said: “Master, please take a rest for a while. The lunch is already being prepared. We started stewing the old hen last night, and there’s fresh game just brought in from the mountains. It’s just simple country fare, but do try some…”

Wu Ming responded with indifferent hums and haws, his heart filled with a vague sense of sadness.

The usual practice had always been half—fully fifty percent! That meant the farmers toiled from dawn to dusk, working the land for an entire year, only to find half their labor was for nothing.

Even so, being a tenant of the Wu family meant they were exempt from government levies and taxes, which was considered a great “benevolent policy.” They were willing and happy to be exploited.

“This is what they call luck; otherwise, if I had been reborn into the lowest class, struggling for food and shelter, that would truly be a chilling thought!”

Wu Ming shuddered inwardly.