Chapter 1: The Woodcutter Boy
thoughts naturally relaxed a lot."No need, just give them all to Senior Yuan. There's still a bottle of pills in here, which might be of some help for Senior in breaking through the bottleneck." Lu X...In the northern lands, a thousand miles of icebound territory and ten thousand miles of snowy scenery blanketed everything in white. In Beiliang Country, where towering mountains stood, there were few birds or beasts to be seen at this time. Most wealthy families had already retreated indoors, warming themselves by burning charcoal fires. However, at the foot of a mountain east of Qingzhuxian County, a group of young boys dressed in black single garments were wielding their long swords over and over again in the bitter cold.
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On the high platform, a middle-aged martial artist with hawk-like keen eyes watched the disciples of the sect undergoing trials in the training ground.
Lu Xia Tian wore a grey fur-lined coat, with a cleaver at his waist, and envied the disciples of the Lei Dao Men practicing their sword techniques on the school grounds.
"Come on, hurry up! Don't dawdle. If we don't chop enough firewood today, there will be no dinner!"
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The man behind him, also dressed in a gray thick padded coat, with a middle-aged appearance, pretended to be stern and scolded.
“What did you say Say it again!” At this moment, a young man who was more than half a head taller than Lu Xiaoteng strode towards the outer hall. Hearing the middle-aged man's words, he coldly rebuked.
"Stone Big Brother!"
Lu Xiaoxiao heard the sound and his face lit up. The person who came was Shi Qing Shan, also from Hu Yang Village. However, Shi Qing Shan was the pride of Hu Yang Village. At a young age, he was selected by Lei Dao Men as an outer disciple. Due to his outstanding talent, in less than a year, he became an inner disciple.
Before, in Hu Yang Village, he was closest to Shi Qing Shan. Last year, when the mountain village suffered a drought and his family had gained a brother and a sister, their meager farmland could no longer support so many people. Shi Qing Shan took him to Lei Dao Gate, but because he lacked talent for martial arts, he became a handyman at Lei Dao Gate, doing chores such as fetching water, cooking, and chopping firewood. Although it was hard work, it allowed him to survive in this poor and chaotic world.
“原來是內門的師兄，小的失禮了，不知小天是這位師兄的熟人，得罪之處，還請師兄和小天見諒！”平時在雜役中耀武揚威的趙管事麵色一白，連忙向石青山與陸小天兩人賠禮道。彆說是內門弟子，便是他，也不過一個雜役管事，並不是長久的，便是外門的上層弟子，他也得罪不起。
"Brother Shi, Zhao the manager is also worried that I won't be able to chop enough firewood within the given time. He doesn't mean any harm, Brother Shi, please don't blame him."
Lu Xiaoteng interceded for Zhao Guan, saying, "He has been in the servant's quarters for so long. Although he doesn't have any martial arts skills, he is much more adept at human relations than Shi Qingshan. It's fine that Shi Qingshan offended Zhao Guan, but he will still be working under him for a long time in the future. If it were someone else in Zhao Guan's position, they might not be as lenient, and life would be much harder then."
“Fine, since Xiao Tian spoke up for you, I’ll let it slide this time. But next time I see you bullying Xiao Tian, you’ll regret it. Now get out of here.” Shi Qing Shan glared at Zhao Guan with a menacing look on his face.
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“Yes, yes, I won’t dare again.” Zhao Guanxi nodded repeatedly, looking embarrassed and helpless, he fled like a wolf.
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"The Hall of Punishment is too strict. I've practiced the Splendid Wind Blade Technique to the third layer this time, and only then did my master let me out to rest for two days, so I just now had time to see you." Stone Green Hill apologized slightly towards Lu Xiaodao after chasing away Zhao Guanxi.
"That's great, Brother Shi, the more capable you are, the less people dare to bully me over at the servant quarters." Lu Xia Tian said with a delighted expression.
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"No way, who dares to bully Xiaotian I'll make him beg for mercy." Shi Qingshan said with a mighty air.
As the two were talking, a pair of young men in white sportswear and another girl who was exceptionally beautiful walked over to Shi Qingshan who was standing not far ahead. They waved to him and said, "Shi senior brother, why are you still standing there Come on, we're going to town."
Lu XiaTian saw someone waiting for Shi QingShan, so he said, "Big brother Shi, someone is waiting for you ahead. You go take care of it first. I'm going to chop some wood. I still have to finish my task today."
"Just so happens I have nothing to do today, I can chop some wood for you." Shi Qing Shan shook his head.
"No need, I go there every day anyway, and it doesn't take much time. Elder Shi, you rarely get two days off, don't waste your time on such trivial matters as chopping wood." Lu Xiaoteng pushed at Shi Qingfeng, but Shi Qingfeng, who had practiced martial arts for years, was strong and healthy, and couldn't be pushed over.
"Alright, then I'll head out now. I'll bring you some delicious food back." Shi Qing Shan was also a bit tempted; after all, he was still a young man. While he usually dedicated himself to martial arts training, he also wanted to take a stroll through the bustling county town during his free time.
"Well, then I'll take my leave, Brother Shi."
Lu Xia Tian waved his hand and turned to head towards the back mountain, taking deep and shallow steps in the snow. Looking back, he saw Shi Qing Shan and the other two junior brothers and sisters walking away laughing and talking. The smile on Lu Xia Tian's face suddenly vanished, replaced by a sense of loneliness. This was the difference between a martial artist and a menial worker, they were living in two completely different worlds.
But it's probably destiny. I have no talent for martial arts, no matter how hard I try, I'm just still a handyman. I better think of ways to chop more firewood and get my work done.
In a few days, it would be payday. Thinking about the two silver beans he had saved, a smile unconsciously appeared on his face. Every once in a while, he would send some money back home, but he had also saved some for himself. When he had enough money, he planned to go to the city and learn a trade. Whether it was carpentry or blacksmithing, although the Lei Dao Sect was good, being a handyman would always just be the role of an underling. Even if he couldn't become a warrior, he didn't want to remain forever as someone who had to look at people's faces.
Clutching the two silver beans in his palm, he felt as if he were holding his own dreams. He thought that even the snowy ground, which was usually difficult to traverse, didn't seem so bad now. The back mountains of the sect were a vast, dense forest with rolling hills stretching endlessly into the distance.
Lu XiaTian walked into the forest, but instead of going straight to chop wood, he took out a patched fishing net from a hidden cave and set it up between some trees. Then he took a bag of corn from his bosom and threw it on the snow beneath the net.
He clapped his hands together, and then with a satisfied grin, drew out his cleaver. After walking for a while, he came to a forest filled with trees and found a slightly decaying tree trunk. He swung his cleaver at it.
The sharp hatchet chopped again and again at the not-too-thick tree trunk. Snow from the branches fell intermittently, Lu Xia Tian shaking off snow flakes from his clothes before hacking again.
After chopping over two hundred times, the not-too-thick trunk crashed to the ground with a deafening roar, splattering him in the face with icy snow.
Even in such bitter cold, the repeated hacking of his sword produced a wisp of heat from his body. After nearly two hours, Lu Xiaotian put the chopped firewood into his knapsack. He estimated that it was time to check the traps he had set.
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During this time, he was able to constantly provide for his family and even save some money. Besides living frugally, he mostly relied on catching wild animals in the mountains. Although he couldn't hunt large beasts, a few wild chickens or mountain sparrows were enough to make him happy for a while.
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Goo goo...
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From afar, he heard the calls and flapping sounds of pheasant. Lu Xiaoteng's heart leaped with joy. The noises suggested more than one bird; today seemed to be a bountiful harvest indeed. Motivated by the sounds, Lu Xiaoteng's steps became lighter and quicker than usual.
However, a low growl was enough to make Lu Xia Tian, who was striding forward, suddenly feel his hair stand on end.
Lu Xia Tian gripped the handle of his broadsword tightly, his eyes searching every crevice in the forest, while his back rested against the trunk of a large tree.
Soon, a blue wolf the size of a calf slowly walked out from the woods. Its eyes glinted fiercely, and it bared its sharp teeth. With a low growl, it took step by step towards Lu Xiaoteng.
With the appearance of the Dire Wolf, Lu Xiaotian's joy at capturing the wild chicken vanished. In its place was a deep sense of anxiety and fear. Even his father, a seasoned hunter, would find himself in great danger if he encountered such a monstrous wolf in the mountains. And now, Lu Xiaotian was just a boy barely over ten years old.
Lu Xia Tian couldn't help but regret that he hadn't brought Shi Qing Shan over earlier. If Brother Shi, who was already a martial artist, had been there, they could have stood a chance against this blue wolf. Now, he could only wave his axe and shout threats at the lone wolf in front of him.
No, not a lone wolf, on the right side of the forest, another slightly smaller blue wolf appeared. Lu Xiaoteng's heart sank in despair. Just one, he was already hard-pressed to escape alive. Now that a second one appeared, it was truly a death sentence!hem before they escape.Lei Guankong, with a calm and composed expression, said, "The opponent has repeatedly broken through the predicament, which must have taken a toll. Now, it all depends on who ca...