Lǐ Xián, relying on his memory, endured the pain in his body and headed towards the Tang Family. He was bruised and swollen, his bones feeling as if they were broken. Brother Leopard's kicks earlier had been heavy, truly stomping and kicking him to death. He had also fought with the Cat Demon for a while, completely exhausting his body's energy.
The Tang Family was a martial arts family in Fengyang City, and one of the four major families. Their strength was the lowest among the four, always facing the risk of being encroached upon by the other three families.
However, the Tang Family's status was much better than that of ordinary people. By associating with the Tang Family, one wouldn't starve to death. This was also why the original owner was willing to marry into the Tang Family.
The original owner was a scoundrel and vagrant in Fengyang City, orphaned and addicted to gambling. However, with his good looks, he caught the eye of Táng Shīyǐng, a woman from a collateral branch of the Tang Family. She then took him as her son-in-law, which was like ascending to heaven.
But the original owner's nature was hard to change. Every so often, he would like to take the family's money and gamble it away. Today, he had gambled particularly recklessly, stealing one hundred taels of silver from Táng Shīyǐng's parents, wanting to make a big profit. Who knew he would lose it all.
He was filled with fear and wanted to win back his losses, so he borrowed one hundred taels of silver, only to lose it all again. Thus, he borrowed more and more, continuously borrowing five hundred taels of silver, all of which he lost completely.
When the original owner wanted to borrow more, the casino refused and beat him out, forcing him to repay the money quickly. This led to the scene just a moment ago.
Lǐ Xián finally returned home.
This was a courtyard with two entrances and two courtyards, also property of the Tang Family, where Táng Shīyǐng's family lived.
Lǐ Xián sneaked in, and no one saw him, which made him breathe a sigh of relief.
Back in his room, his wife, Táng Shīyǐng, was sitting there. She glanced at the bruised and swollen Lǐ Xián and said coldly, "Lǐ Xián, how many times have I told you not to gamble? Did you lose again this time and get beaten up?"
Táng Shīyǐng was a delicate beauty, only nineteen years old, with a slender figure and skin as white and tender as jade. Although not an unparalleled beauty, she was very pleasant to look at.
Lǐ Xián was only eighteen years old, about the same age as in his previous life.
The two had been married for half a year. Marriage ages in ancient times were generally lower. Táng Shīyǐng, at nineteen, was considered to be of a marrying age, and if she delayed any longer, she might not find a husband.
Lǐ Xián forced a smile and said, "I went out to play for a while, then I had a conflict with someone and got into a fight."
How could Lǐ Xián dare to mention owing five hundred taels of silver? The damned original owner still made him clean up his mess. Wouldn't it be better to live obediently with this beautiful wife? Why did he have to gamble?
If his soul hadn't occupied this body, Lǐ Xián would have wished to chop off the original owner's hands.
Such a gambling addict should have his hands chopped off so he wouldn't take money to gamble.
Lǐ Xián also didn't dare to mention being beaten half to death, as it was not only embarrassing but also difficult to explain. At this time, the less said, the fewer mistakes.
The money owed to the casino could only be figured out by himself.
Táng Shīyǐng said, "Don't go next time. If you dare to go again, don't come back into this house."
"Yes. I won't go again in the future," Lǐ Xián replied.
"We are from a collateral branch of the Tang Family, and our status is not high. Many people are watching us with amusement. If anything happens, others will take advantage of our misfortune. With the slightest carelessness, we might be expelled from the Tang Family and never be able to establish ourselves there again," Táng Shīyǐng said.
"I know."
"You can stay in the side courtyard for the next few days. With your appearance, I don't want to share a room with you," Táng Shīyǐng frowned and said.
"Alright." Lǐ Xián was eager to go to the side courtyard. He had just transmigrated and hadn't adapted to many things. He also didn't want to reveal anything to Táng Shīyǐng and make her suspicious.
And there was the matter of his panel, which he hadn't figured out yet.
Lǐ Xián turned to leave.
"Wait a moment," Táng Shīyǐng took out a bottle of medicinal wine and handed it to Lǐ Xián. "You're all bruised and swollen, go and apply it yourself."
A warm feeling surged in Lǐ Xián's heart, and he said, "Thank you!"
Lǐ Xián carried the medicinal wine to the side courtyard and, wincing, applied it to himself. The cool sensation of the medicinal wine felt very comfortable on his skin. Smelling the scent of the wine, he lay down on a wooden bed in a room and stared at the ceiling, lost in thought.
Lǐ Xián was exhausted and soon fell asleep. After an unknown amount of time, he slowly woke up.
Lǐ Xián felt refreshed, his fatigue completely gone. He brought up his panel and looked at the prompts.
[Current Ultimate Skill: Lǐ Family Swordplay (Beginner)]
[Current Vital Energy: 1000 cards]
[Note: Infuse Vital Energy into martial arts to hone them and improve their strength.]
Lǐ Xián thought for a moment and mentally chanted to infuse Vital Energy. The system began to prompt for Vital Energy consumption.
[You infused 50 cards of Vital Energy to cultivate Lǐ Family Swordplay. Lǐ Family Swordplay showed no improvement.]
[You infused 100 cards of Vital Energy. Your Lǐ Family Swordplay improved slightly. You gained a glimmer of understanding of the swordplay.]
[You infused 300 cards of Vital Energy to cultivate Lǐ Family Swordplay. Your Lǐ Family Swordplay reached the threshold of proficiency.]
[You infused 500 cards of Vital Energy to cultivate Lǐ Family Swordplay. You had some insight, and your Lǐ Family Swordplay reached the Minor Accomplishment stage.]
Lǐ Xián was somewhat delighted. Consuming Vital Energy had actually allowed his Lǐ Family Swordplay to reach the Minor Accomplishment stage. This was a huge improvement.
[Current Martial Art: Lǐ Family Swordplay (Minor Accomplishment)]
[Current remaining Vital Energy: 50 cards]
[Current Cultivation/Level: Early Spirit Gathering Realm]
Lǐ Xián glanced at the panel. He hadn't expected that he had also broken through to the Early Spirit Gathering Realm. The original owner had practiced Lǐ Family Swordplay since childhood, but after so many years, he had only reached the Beginner stage. His talent was ordinary. Later, after getting involved in gambling, he completely abandoned it and never practiced again.
The Vital Energy of the Cat Demon obtained by the system was actually useful, allowing someone with ordinary talent like him to break through to the Spirit Gathering Realm and enter the path of cultivation.
As for Brother Leopard, the owner of the casino, his Cultivation/Level was likely in the Middle Spirit Gathering Realm, much stronger than ordinary people. This was also why he could open a casino and establish himself in Fengyang City. Without some strength, his casino would probably not have lasted.
Therefore, as long as his Cultivation/Level reached the Middle Spirit Gathering Realm, he wouldn't have to fear him. These casino owners were all dishonest. The reason the original owner lost so much money was probably because the other party was cheating.
He must reach the Middle Spirit Gathering Realm as soon as possible. Then, when he encountered him, he would have the strength to fight him.
Lǐ Xián was slightly invigorated and no longer felt so dejected and powerless.
A few hours ago, he had felt despair. Having owed so much money, he probably couldn't even repay it by selling himself. An ordinary person could not contend with powerful and influential people like the casino boss.
His top priority now was to improve his strength as quickly as possible.
Since killing demons could improve his strength, he had to find demons of the same Cultivation/Level to kill.
The system also had an advantage: it could detect the Cultivation/Level of demons.
With that in mind, Lǐ Xián got out of bed, picked up a rusty iron sword, left the side courtyard, and walked towards a secluded street.