Cultivating by picking up attributes, I accumulate my strength!

Chapter 18: Chapter 16 Breathing Technique, The County Official Gets Promoted

Translator: 549690339

Han Ye pondered over the events with the White Fox and fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, he got up early to visit his mother’s grave.

The tombstone was overrun by weeds.

The weeds had grown as tall as a man.

Most of the villagers of Langlang Village would be buried in these mountains and forests after their births, aging, sickness, and death. Apart from Han Ye’s mother’s grave, there were many others here.

Han Ye first removed all the weeds from the grave, then lit the prepared incense and placed it in front of the tombstone. He took out the paper money, burning and paying his respects as he did so.

Staring at the words on the tombstone, he prayed silently:

“Mother, oh Mother, if your spirit is well in heaven, please bless me to ascend to immortality and pay homage to my ancestors.”

The world’s human emotions can be cold or warm, the state of the world can be bitter or cruel, being insulted is nothing strange.

But only when love is abused, it seems unbearable.

Whether it’s romantic love or familial affection.

Han Ye did his duty and showed filial piety on behalf of the original owner.

After watching the three incense sticks burn out, he bundled up and left quickly.

However, after Han Ye’s departure.

Under the shadow of the trees, a young girl in a green gauze dress, standing tall and straight, her face fair, her eyes and teeth bright, stood on a tree, watching Han Ye slowly descend the mountain.

The girl was about eighteen or nineteen, her face so beautiful it was indescribable, her eyes with a pair of green vertical pupils that were especially striking, which quickly turned back to the typical black of a normal girl.

Her entire aura had an irresistible beauty that made people want to cherish her immensely.

“Daughter, are you sure you want to repay him?”

At the side of the trees, a large white fox stood up, speaking in human language.

The woman nodded and said, “I’ve made up my mind. This man is filial and his character is good. He also helped me shift my form. I must repay him.” “Besides, didn’t mother say it herself? This man has a special scent on him that’s very attractive to you, different from other humans, right?”

The large white fox revealed a thoughtful expression similar to that of a human and said, “Yes, I felt an indescribable affinity towards this man the moment I saw him yesterday. It’s very bewitching.”

“Mother has a keen sense and understanding of Buddhism. Her intuition has never been wrong. I believe in Mother.”

So said the woman.

“In that case, be careful when you shift your form and descend from the mountain this time. In addition to repaying your debt, you’re also cultivating your mind. Those cultivation sects don’t welcome the Demon Race to the human world. Be wary.”

“Understood.”

In the afternoon, Han Ye returned to Liu Manor.

The heavy snow had stopped, but it had left icicles hanging from the eaves of Liu Manor, sparkling brightly.

“Brother Han is back?”

Gao Qichang, a wandering martial artist who had been out on errands and was holding a stack of red paper, had come back from the outside and just happened to meet Han Ye. He greeted with a smile.

“Yes, Brother Gao, what is this…”

Han Ye looked at the red paper in the other’s hand and couldn’t help asking.

“Ah, isn’t the New Year’s coming up? The village is bustling today. They’re planning to release some lanterns, and I thought of folding a few to join in the fun.”

“Oh, I see.”

“I’ll go ahead then.”

After two months of interaction, Han Ye had become friendly with Gao Qichang and others.

Gao Qichang had integrated himself into the life of Langlang Village.

After dinner, as normal, Han Ye started practicing his internal martial arts, followed by soaking in a medicinal bath and engaging in controlled breathing practices for the next two days.

Such self-discipline had gone on for two months.

However, today was different. Han Ye could feel clear streams of warmth flowing in his Dantian. It was clearly devoid of anything, but the energy was palpably there.

This stream of energy was as gentle and delicate as the first rays of the rising sun.

Han Ye’s face lit up with joy and he was excited, “This is the Qi sense, I can finally sense the existence of Spiritual Qi!”

“Once you can sense the Spiritual Qi, things will become easier. After that all that remains is waiting for sufficient Spiritual Qi to transform into True Qi. It’s always the hardest to go from zero to one. Once the first step is taken, won’t the rest be easy?”

Seeing the fruits of his hard work, Han Ye was filled with joy.

His efforts in enduring the winter training had not been in vain.

“Brother Han, Brother Han!”

At that moment, Wang Da Niu’s robust voice shouted from outside the archway. When he saw Han Ye inside the courtyard, he said with a smile:

“As I thought, you’re here. The old master has given us a task to escort something to the County of Skyfire overnight.”

Han Ye was puzzled, “Why are we going out so late?”

“I wouldn’t know.”

“Let’s go.”

Han Ye was left without a choice but to follow Wang Da Niu.

He noticed that Liu Manor was still brightly lit in the evening, with a wagonload of goods ready to be transported and the horses well-prepared. “Hurry up! The Liang County Magistrate is leaving his post and getting promoted tomorrow noon. If we don’t rush tonight, we won’t even get to see him tomorrow.”

Liu Xinglong was still directing his household servants to load the goods, even at this late hour.

Upon hearing this, Han Ye was somewhat taken aback.

Leaving his post to get promoted?

The Liang County Magistrate is being promoted?

His perception of the Liang County Magistrate was quite favorable.

Aside from the personal favor he showed him, such as willingness to write a petition for him, he didn’t seem like those magistrates who exploited the common people, nor those officials whose oppression provoked the common people into rebellion.

On the contrary, he was kind and close to the people internally, and exterminated the bandits from the mountains externally. He was a good official.

“Master Liu, if there’s anything I can help with.”

Approaching, Han Ye was ready alongside Wang Da Niu, one tall, one short, waiting for their orders.

It wasn’t that he was short, but that Wang Da Niu was tall and burly.

Liu Xinglong instructed, “Within tonight, escort these goods to the County of Skyfire. The Liang County Magistrate is supposed to take office in Xiangnan Prefecture tomorrow.”

“Xiangnan Prefecture… Understood.”

Han Ye nodded in response.

Even among counties, there were ranks. The County of Skyfire was considered a major county, its annual taxes were equivalent to those of three to four other counties.

County, Prefecture, Province, State.

The Liang County Magistrate was now promoted to be a Prefect, his future position would certainly be high-ranking.

With the Liang County Magistrate’s rapid rise in rank, Liu Manor was following customary practice in giving him farewell gifts.

Though it made sense upon thinking.

Power and wealth naturally went hand in hand, it was impossible for them not to know each other.

As a significant taxpayer, Liu Manor must be quite familiar with the government office.

Reflecting on the words of the Liang County Magistrate that day, Han Ye seemed to have gained some insight.

He truly wanted to persuade Master Liu, hoping he could break free from the shackles of servitude.

Now that the magistrate had been promoted and moved away, there was no point in thinking about it anymore.

“Give this Green Phoenix Spirit Jade to the Liang County Magistrate on my behalf, tell him we shall meet soon and that my Liu Manor will eventually move back to Prefecture and State.”

Liu Xinglong walked over to Han Ye and handed him a delicate jade token.

“Alright.”

Han Ye nodded and accepted it respectfully.

– Whoosh!

A glowing green ball appeared under Master Liu’s feet.

[Acquired Attribute: Great Wealth and High Rank +1]

[Great Wealth and High Rank (Green)]: Wealth is Rolling, Booming Business, status varies with wealth, making more money from money, compound interest at work.

Well then.

Upon seeing this attribute,

Han Ye had only one thought in mind.

The rich are always rich.

The winter night’s snow was strikingly chilling.

The moonlight was serene, shining brilliantly.

Han Ye and his party set out, traveling through the mountains at night, onto the Road of Black Night.

Normally, this was quite a dangerous task, prone to unexpected dangers, like hungry wolf packs, restless spirits, highway bandits…

Luckily, this time they were escorted by a number of well-equipped martial artists, he felt extremely safe.

Halfway through their journey, Han Ye didn’t encounter any trouble.

This was something he was extremely grateful for.

However, in reality, it wasn’t so.

Within the unseen mountain forests,

A graceful white fox loomed on the hill, stepping on the body of a gray wolf. Amidst the surrounding woods, several pairs of crimson-red eyes watched silently, not daring to approach.

Only when Han Ye and his party had moved far away,

Did the white fox slowly follow after.