Living and eating with the estate guards, along with a monthly salary of one tael of silver, brought a wave of quiet joy to Chen Yi. It seemed his decision to teach the young master medical texts had not been in vain. His original plan had been to wait until Old Master Gong tested the young master again, let the master discover the gaps in the boy's knowledge, and then prompt the young master to improve his standing.
While a stroke of sheer coincidence had brought this about now, the outcome was thoroughly satisfactory.
Aside from lacking the monthly medicinal decoction to nourish Qi and Blood, Chen Yi’s treatment was now virtually identical to that of the estate guards. Sharing quarters was of little consequence; dining at the guards' mess hall meant meat dishes at every meal, with all the staple food one could possibly eat—and three meals a day at that!
For Chen Yi, this was of paramount importance.
At fifteen years old, Chen Yi was as thin as a bamboo pole. In his past life, he would have been instantly diagnosed with severe malnutrition. If he hadn't started eating well soon, the damage would have been irreversible within a couple of years.
Moreover, a monthly stipend of one tael of silver may not have seemed like much, but it completely separated him from the rest of the domestic servants. Only hired long-term laborers and estate guards received a regular allowance. Within the Gong Family, his status as a bondservant holding such a privilege was entirely unique, virtually matching the treatment of a guard.
Yet Old Master Gong remained tight-lipped regarding Chen Yi's bondservant status.
Chen Yi had no intention of rashly demanding his freedom from servitude just yet. First, he needed to eat his fill, practice martial arts, and build up his physical strength; he would look for an opportunity to address his servitude later. In truth, as long as it did not hinder his martial arts training and advancement, being a bondservant wasn't all that crucial. After all, it was said that when immortals occasionally descended to the mortal realm to seek disciples, they only looked at Spiritual Root aptitude and paid no attention to one's background. Bondservants weren't necessarily excluded from the path of cultivation.
After the evening's commotion died down, everyone dispersed. The young master patted Chen Yi twice on the shoulder and said in a low voice:
"Xiao Chen, thanks to you, well done!"
"You flatter me, Young Master. It's really because you memorized your medical knowledge well and stood up to the test. I merely pointed out the details Old Master had overlooked."
"Hahaha, right, right! You really understand me. My mind went blank back there; as soon as Dad started cross-examining me, I panicked and threw you right under the bus. Heh, don't take it to heart."
"I wouldn't dare, Young Master. It's getting late, and we still need to get up at the fifth watch tomorrow to practice our Stance Skill. Let's get some sleep."
"Ugh, having to practice martial arts before dawn is such a pain. Sleep it off, then."
Chen Yi first escorted the young master back to his room, then prepared to head to his own quarters. On the way back, with his cotton-padded jacket properly fastened and his hands tucked into his sleeves, a figure suddenly emerged from a dark corner and called out softly:
"Brother Yi?"
"Hmm?" Chen Yi turned his head. "Oh, it's Caiyun. Is something the matter?"
With reddened eyes, Caiyun stepped forward, drew close to Chen Yi, and spoke in a hushed tone:
"Brother Yi, the Master has demoted me to Madam's quarters. You're full of ideas—is there any way you can help me get transferred back to the young master's room?"
Chen Yi shook his head. "The master made the decision. How could a servant like me have any say?"
"Brother Yi, I'm begging you to help me! If this works out, I'm willing to pay you ten taels of silver as a reward!" Caiyun clenched her teeth and whispered.
"Hmm? I'm not a person driven by money. Still, my advice to you is to work hard in Madam's quarters for a while, keep a low profile, and be steady. After the young master makes progress in his martial arts and enters the Force-Entering stage, we can find a way to smooth things over then, and you'll naturally be able to return."
The girl had her wits about her. Ten taels of silver might sound like a lot, but it wouldn't last more than a few years. However, if she could become the young master's favored bedchamber maid, she wouldn't have to worry about the rest of her life.
"Thank you, Brother Yi. Also, since you're close to the young master, could you help me keep an eye on things? If that girl Zhuiyue tries anything, could you give me a heads-up in advance...?" Caiyun asked with a trace of embarrassment.
"Sorry, I don't meddle in other people's romantic affairs." Chen Yi refused.
"Brother Chen, take these three taels of silver first to buy some meat and build up your strength." Caiyun gritted her teeth again and shoved several pieces of silver into Chen Yi's hand.
Feeling the cold, hard silver in his hand, Chen Yi figured that as long as it didn't violate his own principles, going along with the flow wouldn't hurt. He pocketed the silver without changing his expression and said:
"The Gong Family's rules are strict. Until the young master reaches the Force-Entering stage in martial arts, he will definitely not break his chastity. I can only try my best to ensure that much."
"That's enough, that's enough! Thank you, Brother Yi!"
Caiyun let out a sigh of relief and returned to the young master's room to pack her belongings. Today, she had nearly changed her fate, only to be outmaneuvered by Zhuiyue. If she didn't find an opportunity to pay her back in the future, she would never swallow this bitter pill.
In truth, Chen Yi hadn't really promised much. But faced with silver—and while strictly adhering to the Gong Family's rules—helping the young master preserve his chastity before reaching the Force-Entering stage was nothing objectionable.
***
Early the next morning, on the martial arts practice grounds, Chen Yi and Gong Qingyun practiced their Stance Skill.
Li An instructed:
"The young master can now hold the stance for a full quarter of an hour and complete the first eighteen movements. Your progress is very good. Keep practicing every day, and in less than a month you'll be able to grasp your Qi and Blood, at which point you can truly begin learning boxing."
As for Chen Yi, Li An glanced over at him. He had initially assumed Chen Yi would soon fall behind the young master's pace. But looking at him now... well, it was passable?
This morning, Chen Yi had managed to hold on for a little under a quarter of an hour. Although he was still far behind the young master, this rate of progress was barely acceptable.
*Hmm, decent talent.*
*What a pity his frame is far too frail. Even with good fortune and the ability to grasp his Qi and Blood, against a normal martial artist of the same tier, the sheer disparity in mass means he'll still be struck down with a single blow.*
Li An shook his head and shifted his focus back to the young master.
***
After the morning practice concluded, Chen Yi made his way to the mess hall for the guards and martial arts apprentices—a single-story house of some sixty square meters, filled with the rich aroma of meat.
The moment Chen Yi stepped through the door, he saw two or three dozen hot-blooded youths and young men wolfing down their food. They were robust, full of vigor, and glowing with health. Moreover, they were all dressed either in the black uniforms of the estate guards or the cyan short-sleeved training outfits of the martial arts students.
Chen Yi alone was dressed in a gray servant's uniform, as thin as a bamboo pole. The moment he walked in, he stuck out like a crane among a flock of chickens, instantly drawing a flurry of gazes.
Having lived two lives, Chen Yi knew that as long as he kept a steady mindset and progressed step-by-step, these people would be nothing more than a fleeting glimpse in his life.
Steadysing his mind and recalling the posture of the Stance Skill, he walked steadily up to the counter.
"Greetings, Elder Brother. My name is Chen Yi. The Master told me to come eat at this mess hall starting today," Chen Yi said politely to the steward dishing out the food.
"Ha! The little skinny pole. I've heard about you. Eat up!"
With that, the steward scooped a generous helping of braised pork onto Chen Yi's plate—scrapings from the very bottom of the pot. The dark red meat broth came with glistening, quivering chunks of fatty meat.
Chen Yi's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard, fighting back saliva.
"Kid, Caiyun is a distant cousin of mine. If you get the chance, put in a good word for her in front of the young master," the steward murmured quietly while dishing out the meat.
Chen Yi caught the drift instantly, understanding the reason for the choice cuts in his bowl. He gave the steward a subtle nod.
*I will remember the kindness of this meal.*
A satisfied smile spread across the steward's face as he gave a grand wave of his hand. "Go on! The steamed buns and porridge are all you can eat!"
Chen Yi thanked him once more, grabbed three fist-sized white steamed buns, ladled out a bowl of millet porridge, and found a seat in a corner.
Looking at the long-awaited, soft, white steamed buns and that bowl of mouth-watering braised pork, Chen Yi felt as if he had crossed into another lifetime.
Tears welled up in his eyes, blurring the bowl before him into two shimmering circles of light.
For the past half year, he hadn't seen a single scrap of meat, starved down to skin and bones. Now, at last, he could eat his fill and see meat!