The northern country is covered with ice for thousands of miles, and the scenery is covered with snow and white. In the Northern Liang Kingdom, among the vast mountains, birds and animals were rare at this time. Most wealthy households were already hiding in their homes, warming themselves by charcoal fires. However, at the foot of the mountain to the east of Qingzhu County, a group of teenagers were wearing black single clothes, waving their long knives over and over in the severe cold.
A middle-aged warrior on the high platform looked at the disciples who were practicing on the school field with sharp eyes like an eagle.
Lu Xiaotian was wearing a gray fur coat with a hatchet stuck in his belt. He looked enviously at the Thunder Sword Sect disciples who were practicing their sword skills on the school grounds.
"If you don't hurry up and keep going, if you don't chop enough firewood today, you won't have dinner!"
A middle-aged man behind, also wearing a gray thick coat, scolded with a dignified expression on his face.
"What did you say? Try saying it again!" At this time, a young man who was more than half a head taller than Lu Xiaotian strode towards the door of the outer hall. Hearing the middle-aged man's words, he shouted coldly.
"Brother Shi!"
Lu Xiaotian's face lit up when he heard the voice. The person who came was Shi Qingshan. Like him, he came from Huyang Village. However, Shi Qingshan was the pride of Huyang Village. He was selected as an outer disciple by Thunder Blade Sect at a young age. Because With outstanding talent, he became an inner disciple within a year.
In Huyang Village, he had the best relationship with Shi Qingshan. Last year, the mountain village suffered a drought, and a younger brother and younger sister were added to the family. The only fields were unable to support so many people. Shi Qingshan took him to Lei Dao Sect, but since he had no talent for martial arts, he worked as a handyman in Lei Dao Sect, doing chores such as carrying water, cooking, and chopping firewood in the mountains. Although it is hard work, I can survive in this troubled world of poverty.
"It turns out to be a senior from the inner sect. I'm sorry. I didn't know that Xiaotian is an acquaintance of this senior. Please forgive me for offending me!" Manager Zhao, who usually showed off his power in chores, turned pale. , and quickly apologized to Shi Qingshan and Lu Xiaotian. Not to mention the inner disciples, even he is just a handyman in charge, and he will not last long. Even the upper-level disciples of the outer sect cannot afford to offend him.
"Brother Shi, Manager Zhao is also worried that I can't cut enough firewood within the stipulated time. If there is no other malicious intention, Brother Shi shouldn't blame him."
Lu Xiaotian excused Manager Zhao by saying that after staying in the miscellaneous room for so long, although he had no martial arts skills, he was much more skilled in human relations than Shi Qingshan. It didn't matter that Shi Qingshan offended Manager Zhao, but he would be in the future. I have to work for Manager Zhao for a long time. If Manager Zhao is replaced, there may not be a more cunning and mean manager in the future, and life will be difficult.
"Forget it, since Xiaotian intercedes for you, let's forget it for today. Next time I see you bullying Xiaotian, you will feel better. Get out of here." Shi Qingshan glared at Manager Zhao with a fierce expression.
"Yes, I don't dare to do it anymore." Manager Zhao nodded repeatedly and left in a panic, as if running away.
"The punishment hall is too tight. I have practiced the Splitting Wind Sword Technique to the third level this time, and the master just let me out to rest for two days, so I didn't have time to see you until now." After driving away Manager Zhao, Shi Qingshan said to Lu Xiaotian apologetically.
"Great, Brother Shi, the more powerful you are, the less anyone will dare to bully me in the miscellaneous room." Lu Xiaotian said happily.
"No, whoever dares to bully Xiaotian, I will beat him until he kneels down and begs for mercy." Shi Qingshan said with great pride.
While the two were talking, a pair of young men also wearing white outfits and another particularly beautiful girl stood not far in front, waving to Shi Qingshan and saying, "Senior Brother Shi, why are you still there? Come on, we’re going to visit the county town.”
Lu Xiaotian saw someone waiting for Shi Qingshan, so he said, "Brother Shi, there is someone waiting for you in front. You go ahead and do your work. I am going to chop firewood, and I have to complete the task today."
"I happen to be free today, so I'll help you chop wood." Shi Qingshan shook his head.
"No, I have to go every day. It won't take long. Brother Shi, you finally have two days of rest. Don't spend it on trivial matters like chopping firewood." Lu Xiaotian pushed Shi Qingshan and said, but Shi Qingshan was practicing martial arts. Over the past few years, he has become strong and healthy, but it is not something he can push.
"Okay, then I'll go out first and bring you some delicious food." Shi Qingshan was also a little moved. After all, he is a young man. He usually practices martial arts hard. Now that he has free time, he also wants to go shopping in the bustling county town. .
"Okay, then I'll thank Brother Shi."
Lu Xiaotian waved his hand, turned around and walked towards the back mountain, stepping on the snow with one foot deep and one foot shallow. Looking back, looking at Shi Qingshan and the other two junior brothers and sisters walking away talking and laughing, Lu Xiaotian, who originally had a smile on his face, suddenly felt lonely. This is the difference between warriors and handymen, they are in two completely different worlds.
But it may be fate that he has no talent for martial arts. No matter how hard he works, he will still be just a handyman. I'd better think about how to cut more firewood and go back to work.
There are still a few days until his salary is paid. Thinking about the two silver beans he had saved, he couldn't help but have a smile on his face. Every once in a while, he would send some money back to his family, but he also saved it himself. After saving enough money, he went to the city to learn a living skill. Whether he is a carpenter or a blacksmith, although the Thunder Blade Sect is good, the handyman will always be just a servant. Even if he cannot become a warrior, he does not want to always be just a servant who looks at people's faces.
Carrying the two silver beans in my arms is like carrying my own dreams. He felt that the snow that was usually difficult to walk on was not that difficult. The mountain behind the sect is a vast jungle, with undulating mountains that can't be seen to the edge.
When Lu Xiaotian walked into the forest, he did not immediately cut firewood. Instead, he took out a mended fishing net from a hidden stone cave, spread it between several trees, and then took out a fish net from his arms. The millet was thrown on the snow under the fishing net.
After he clapped his hands, he took out the hatchet with satisfaction, walked for a while, found a rotten tree trunk in the forest full of trees, and chopped it down with the knife.
Card!
Card!
The sharp hatchet slashed the tree trunk that was not too thick one after another. The snow on the tree fell from time to time. Lu Xiaotian knocked off the snow slag on his body from time to time, and then swung the knife again.
After slashing more than two hundred times, the tree trunk, which was not too thick, suddenly fell to the ground, splashing the remaining snow on his face.
Under such severe cold, a trace of heat emerged from his body as he repeatedly swung the knife. Nearly two hours later, Lu Xiaotian put the chopped firewood into the basket and packed it. I guess I can check the traps I have set up now.
During this period, he was able to continuously support his family and save some money. In addition to being frugal, he also mostly relied on catching some wild animals from the mountains. Although he couldn't catch big beasts, some pheasants and tits were enough for him. It’s been a while.
Gu Gu
He heard the cries and flapping of pheasants in the distance. Lu Xiaotian felt happy. There were more than one pheasants. It seemed that today was a great harvest. Lu Xiaotian gained extra motivation when he heard the noise, and his steps were a little brisker than usual.
However, a low roar made the hair on Lu Xiaotian's body suddenly stand up as he was walking quickly.
Lu Xiaotian held the handle of the hatchet tightly with both hands, his eyes searched every gap in the woods, and at the same time, he leaned his back against the trunk of a big tree.
Soon, a green wolf about the size of a calf slowly walked out of the woods, its fierce eyes gleaming with a pair of sharp canine teeth. He growled and approached Lu Xiaotian step by step.
With the appearance of the green wolf, Lu Xiaotian's joy at catching the pheasant disappeared, replaced only by inner tension and fear. Even for an old hunter like his father, it would be very dangerous to encounter such a giant wolf in the mountains, and he was now only a boy in his early ten years.
Lu Xiaotian couldn't help but feel annoyed that he didn't ask Shi Qingshan to come with him just now. If Brother Shi, a martial artist who had already started, was there, he would be able to fight against this green wolf. Now he could only wave the hatchet and scream to threaten the lone wolf in front of him.
No, it was not a lone wolf. On the right side of the jungle, there was another slightly smaller green wolf. Lu Xiaotian felt despair. It was just one, and he could no longer escape. Now a second one appeared, and even more. It’s ten deaths and no life!
