Chapter 488: Niuxin Village

Chapter 488: Ox Heart Village

On the open field in Ox Heart Village where the rice was spread out to dry, a group of village soldiers were training. Gao Zhijian sat on a large stone with his brows furrowed, watching the men practicing martial arts before him, yet his mind remained preoccupied with thoughts from earlier.

“All my fellow disciples don’t believe a word I say.”

Logically speaking, he should have been furious, but Gao Zhijian wasn’t. Even he himself could not fully trust the fragmented memories slowly awakening within him.

It was likely true that he was the Emperor—his memory told him he lived in the palace, surrounded by many people, and whatever he desired, he could obtain.

Yet that memory was incomplete, broken into gaps, which were filled with strange deaths and experiences vastly different from life in the imperial court.

His mind’s recollections seemed not like those of one person, but rather like a patchwork stitched together from fragments of varying sizes.

This made Gao Zhijian deeply suspicious—were all these chaotic memories fabricated? Or perhaps, just like Brother Li, was he also a madman?

Logically, he should be searching for the truth behind everything, trying to distinguish between reality and delusion among these confused recollections, seeking the real self hidden beneath.

But if it weren’t necessary, he didn’t want to go back. He preferred staying here. He decided this moment was good enough. Because he liked Ox Heart Village, and he liked the name Gao Zhijian—he was simply Gao Zhijian.

Then, a furry silhouette flashed through his mind, and a gentle smile crept onto his face.

Living together, peaceful and carefree, while the past, even if it had been the golden halls of the palace, though well-fed and warmly clothed, felt cold and uncomfortable in his memory—he did not like it there.

In this world, it's better to be blissfully ignorant than to know too much. Living in the present was enough. In any case, in his memories, there was nothing worth chasing after.

Gao Zhijian sat there pondering many things when he suddenly realized that the dozen or so villagers were slouching around, waving wooden spears carelessly. These fellows were taking advantage of his distraction to slack off.

"Hmm?" Gao Zhijian picked up a small stick and walked over. Wherever he saw improper form, he struck it gently—enough to sting but not to harm—a skillful technique.

These men were too thin; they needed to build strength, cultivate spirit and vigor, before they could begin studying military arts.

His current task was to train a company of village soldiers for Ox Heart Village, as instructed by Brother Li.

Time passed in sighs and groans from the soldiers, and dinner came. Their heavy labor turned them all into voracious eaters, devouring their meals hungrily.

They endured such hardship without a single one wanting to run away—not only because of the daily white flour, but also due to the monthly payment of a hundred coins.

The evening meal was soy sauce fried rice—greasy and salty, loaded with pig fat, perfect for replenishing lost energy and easy to prepare.

Not seeing Chun Xiaoman eating among the crowd, Gao Zhijian quietly took note.

After dinner, he went to the kitchen, lit a fire, fried two soft-boiled eggs, placed them atop the soy sauce fried rice, and carried the bowl and chopsticks toward the Bai Family Ancestral Hall.

When he arrived at the main hall below the ancestral hall, he saw Chun Xiaoman leading several others reciting the divine chant words of the White Lotus Sect.

"Eat," Gao Zhijian offered the bowl to her.

"Heh! Big guy, you’re really something. You bring food for just one person, right? We haven’t eaten yet!" Lü Xiucai complained bitterly beside him.

But Gao Zhijian didn’t even look at him, placing the bowl again before Chun Xiaoman.

Chun Xiaoman stopped, said to the others, "Let’s stop here today. Let’s go eat dinner first."

The four girls nodded respectfully and followed Lü Xiucai, who looked disgusted, up the stairs.

Once they were gone, Chun Xiaoman held the bowl, eating while asking, "How are things going on your end? Are those people still obedient?"

"Still... still... still okay!"

"Ah, mine isn’t going well. These divine chant texts—few people in the whole village can memorize them, and even fewer have the insight to understand them. Those lacking insight can’t get anything from reading them."

"They're all people, yet why do some differ so much? If we were to learn them all, when would that end? Hey, you won’t believe this, but the most insightful person is actually that scoundrel Lü Xiucai. You wouldn’t believe how smug he gets."

Gao Zhijian silently stood aside, listening quietly to Chun Xiaoman’s endless chatter.

After she finished venting her grievances, her bowl of soy sauce fried rice was also finished.

Just as Gao Zhijian reached to pick up the empty bowl, Chun Xiaoman’s voice rang out from behind. "Zhijian, you don’t need to bring me food anymore. The kids will leave some for me in the kitchen."

With a complex expression, Chun Xiaoman pursed her lips and finally spoke, "I once vowed to remain unmarried forever, a self-ordained maiden. I still hold no intention of changing that. So do you understand what I mean?"

"Mm."

"Don’t blame me for being blunt, but we’re all brothers and sisters who’ve shared life and death. I just want to say it clearly now, so we don’t end up losing even our sibling bond. And I’ll tell Zhao Wu the same thing."

Gao Zhijian stood silently, only he knew how much pain his heart carried. His empty bowl cracked in his grip.

Chun Xiaoman walked beside him, looking directly into his eyes and saying seriously, "In this chaotic world, it’s hard for us cripples to find such a stable home. We must cherish it all the more."

"You should know that elsewhere, we are sold, beaten, treated like demons—barely considered human. So Zhijian, let’s focus on what matters and protect this home with all our might."

"Mm." Holding the empty bowl, Gao Zhijian nodded solemnly and turned to walk up the stairs.

Watching his back, Chun Xiaoman felt sorry for him, but she believed it was better to speak sooner rather than later.

Chun Xiaoman sat cross-legged again, picking up the books on the ground and reciting them once more.

Though these divine possession rituals and spirit-medium practices couldn’t compare to Brother Li’s supernatural powers, she studied them earnestly.

Her insight wasn’t as good as Lü Xiucai’s, but diligence could make up for it. If six hours a day wasn’t enough, then seven or eight hours would do.

Persistence pays off—she could now barely perform some simple divine chants.

She would never return to the time when her own father sold her, powerless to resist.

As Chun Xiaoman concentrated fully, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the staircase.

Soon, Lü Xiucai rushed down, panic-stricken. “Quick, quick, quick!! Something’s happened! A gang of bandits has attacked our village! They kill anyone they see! Several people are already dead!”

Yesterday was tiring, so today there’s only one update.

(End of Chapter)