Chapter 0001: The Foolish Young Master
It is said that many renowned doctors in the clan have been sought to treat that fool, but to no avail; truly, there is no remedy for him.
The stone tablet may have developed numerous intricate and fine cracks due to its age
The news of the Du family recruiting guards immediately attracted the attention of countless people. As a newly emerging prominent family within Shicheng, they have gained significant power over the years, positioning themselves among the five major families of Shicheng, and they continue to exhibit strong momentum. Naturally, every move they make draws the attention of the entire city.
A breath of turbid air was exhaled from his mouth, and a faint smile appeared on Du Shaofu's face. He let out a gentle long sigh and said, "After ten years, I have finally comprehended the first form!"
It is already the thirteenth day, so that fool should be gone by now. The highest record before was only ten days. I bet he is no longer here
Who could have imagined that the entire Du family, who were called fools this time, would actually break the record again, standing before that stone tablet without sleep or rest for thirteen days
No one in the Du family would be interested in the stone tablet, and since it is located on that ominous desolate mountain, it has been completely ignored by everyone
A desolate mountain resembling a dead land, devoid of any vegetation, completely barren, with the ground covered in sand and stones
The winner is happy, while the person who lost five Xuan coins naturally cannot be happy.
Among the crowd of onlookers, a burly man with a stubbly face, slightly dark skin, and a robust physique shared a mysterious smile with a few companions beside him, lowering his voice to say: "I will secretly tell you all, as long as one can become the captain of the guard, it is possible to cultivate some of the martial arts techniques of the Du family. At that time, it would not be impossible to completely become a member of the Du family."
Hehe, tomorrow I must join the Du family as a guard
Since that time, the Du family, which was originally a third-rate family, began to rise in Shicheng, further reinforcing the belief that the desolate mountains were an ominous place, and fewer and fewer people dared to approach them
Several strong men, upon witnessing this, felt the previously tense atmosphere dissipate significantly. They urged their horses to gallop faster, all eager to find out whether the member of the Du family was still present at that moment.
Although that is the case, the master is still the master. No matter how useless or foolish that person may be, they still carry the blood of the Du family. You must be clear about your position; otherwise, you are destined to suffer great losses in the future. Du Qi glared fiercely at those men.
Several fine steeds raised their hooves, stirring up a cloud of dust along the way, exuding an extraordinary momentum. At the forefront rode Du Qi, the deputy commander of the official Du family guard, mounted on a steed known for its sweat and blood.
At dusk, thick clouds and mist linger in the sky above the stone city, while the sun near the horizon resembles a fireball on the verge of extinguishing, shooting out streaks of crimson hues through the gaps in the clouds, and then descending upon the mountains.
Seeing this, Du Qi's expression softened a bit. He then turned his head and glanced sideways at the burly man who had first stirred up the commotion, saying: "Five Xuan coins, right? Add five more Xuan coins for me as well. I bet that person will still be standing there."
The Du family is recruiting guards, and this is indeed a great opportunity. Being able to join the Du family as a guard might even allow one to learn the Du family's martial arts. At that time, it would truly be a chance to stand out. The Du family rarely recruits guards, making this a valuable opportunity
Haha, the deputy commander has also placed a bet
It would be better for you to first seek the blessings of the gods and pray that you can pass the examination tomorrow to become a guard for the Du family. Although the younger generation of the Du family is not very old, each one of them is exceptionally formidable. There are likely not many who can withstand even three moves. As for the innate realm, you might as well dream on; that level is not something just anyone can reach
You few should take note, although that individual is not favored within the clan and behaves rather oddly, do not blame me for not having warned you. After all, he is the young master of the Du family, your superior. If one day you find yourselves in trouble because of this matter, I will not be able to protect you.
In the deep blue night sky, stars gradually emerge, and a crescent moon, like a curved blade, radiates a bright, white light from the depths of the firmament
That fool is still standing there, hasn't it been thirteen days? He is getting more foolish by the day
Beside the bustling streets of Shicheng, several imposing men dressed in vigorous attire posted a large crimson notice on the city wall. Instantly, a large crowd gathered in front of the wall, whispering and discussing among themselves.
On the sweat-blood horse, Du Qi glared at the several big men, his expression quite stern
At last, the ancient stone tablet that had stood for countless years began to crack wider, with the light within growing increasingly brilliant, transforming into a radiant curtain that enveloped Du Shaofu. Suddenly, the entire stone tablet shattered violently, turning into a pile of dust and debris that accumulated on the desolate mountain.
Among several imposing figures, the leader, a robust man, rode a magnificent horse with a dark red coat, adorned with two horns, and a strong, muscular build, exuding an overwhelming presence. He looked at the gathered crowd and said: "Tomorrow morning, my Du family will be recruiting guards. Anyone who can exchange three moves with the younger generation of my Du family will qualify to become a guard. Those who can defeat or draw with any of the main lineage youths of my Du family will be eligible to become the captain of the guard. There are twenty positions available, first come, first served."
I have lost half a month's wages again, and the remaining days of this month will be difficult. Please lend me some living expenses for emergencies when the time comes
Call!
Half of a stone tablet protrudes from the desolate mountain, and it is indeed quite massive, standing a full 3 zhang high. The entire surface is mottled, and it is uncertain how many years it has existed. At least in the present Du family, no one knows how long this stone tablet has been there. It is said that it has existed since the time of the ancestors.
Shicheng is located close to the Barbarian Beast Mountain Range, situated on the border of the empire, where demonic beasts frequently appear. The mingling of various sects and professions has fostered a martial spirit among the inhabitants nurtured by this land, making them particularly fierce. Among them, the five prominent families are especially known for their cultivation of both martial and scholarly pursuits.
The Du family, one of the five prominent families of Shicheng, is located in a grand and magnificent building. However, a desolate mountain situated beside the entrance of the Du family stands out particularly in front of the imposing and majestic Du residence.
Five dark coins constitute the wages of an ordinary guard for half a month, yet these several burly men seem quite interested. It appears that this type of wager is not their first experience, as they all promptly took out five dark coins and handed them to the first man.
The ancient stone tablet stands tall, appearing particularly eerie under the shroud of moonlight
The guards of the Du family receive a monthly salary of 10 Xuan coins, while the captain of the guard earns 50 Xuan coins, which is considerably better than the compensation offered by other families
Stomp!
Kaka
Du Qiming withdrew from the stone tablet on the desolate mountain, letting out a faint sigh. Tomorrow's recruitment of guards is, in fact, a small exercise for the younger generation of the Du family, serving a dual purpose. However, the young master on the desolate mountain, although also a member of the Du family, will have no connection to this exercise tomorrow, and perhaps will never have any connection at all. Both are young masters and young ladies, yet this is the difference.
"You actually have relatives from the Du family, then it is settled for tomorrow." Upon hearing this, several people around immediately looked at Heizi with envy
Behind Du Qi, a burly man slightly raised his head to gaze at the sky, then smiled at the several people on horseback beside him, saying: "On the thirteenth day, shall we bet whether that fool is still around? How about five black coins for a one-to-one wager?"
Hiss!
Du's family is currently recruiting twenty security guards, requiring candidates to be at least sixteen years old and physically strong
Boom
That fool seems to be getting more foolish lately, perhaps he is still around, I bet he is still here
In the stillness of the deep night, the entire Du family was fast asleep, and no one would pay any attention to the young man on the desolate mountain.
As the light curtain vanished, Du Shaofu, standing before the stone tablet, suddenly opened his tightly shut eyes. Two beams of brilliance shot forth from his gaze, resembling lightning in the night. An ancient aura surged forth from his slender figure, causing the surrounding space to tremble.
Damn, that fool... that person is still here, and it's already the thirteenth day.
Understood, Deputy Commander
That was the man known as the "Black Son" who patted his chest and assured, "A distant relative of mine is from the Du family; how could I possibly deceive you?"
The only thing that is somewhat special about the stone tablet is the storm that occurred ten years ago. The renowned Young Master Du Shaofu of the Du family stood dazed before the stone tablet when a bolt of dry lightning struck it. As a result, the stone tablet remained unscathed, while Du Shaofu, who was in front of the tablet, was knocked unconscious by the lightning for three days and three nights before he recovered
As the voice fell, several individuals behind the burly man swiftly turned and leaped onto their horses, standing in line beside the leading figure, their movements precise and brisk, before they rode off into the distance
It is said that the main entrance of the Du family originally faced the nearby hillside, but due to the existence of that ominous place, the members of the Du family forcibly relocated the main gate to the front several years ago
The one riding the汗血蛟马 in front is none other than Du Qiang, the deputy leader of the Du family. It is rumored that he has already reached the innate realm of cultivation.
That desolate mountain is quite strange; it is barren year-round, with not a blade of grass growing, no birds alighting, and no snakes, insects, or ants approaching. It resembles a dead land, to the extent that the Du family believes the place is inauspicious and avoids it at all costs
Suddenly, on the ancient stone tablet, the originally intricate cracks began to emit a faint glow, the fissures continued to widen, and the entire desolate mountain gently trembled for a moment. Yet, no one witnessed this; otherwise, they would have been utterly astonished.
Let us go, it will soon be dark. Tomorrow, there will be quite a few young masters and young ladies participating in the recruitment trial for guards, and we must not allow any mistakes to occur
On the desolate mountain, there stands half of a stone tablet, while the remaining half is likely buried within the barren mountain
The young man is named Du Shaofu, and he possesses a commendable appearance. If he were not from Shicheng, it would be truly difficult to understand why he is referred to as a fool
It is said that strong individuals from the Du family had previously examined that stele, which was nothing more than an ordinary stone tablet, devoid of any special characteristics.
Before the stone tablet, a young man in a purple robe sat cross-legged, appearing to be around fifteen or sixteen years old. His face, slightly less youthful than his peers, bore a few more traces of determination and ambition. His slightly closed eyes were framed by thick eyebrows that resembled swords.
The burly man who had initially stirred up the commotion felt a bit intimidated under Du Qi's piercing gaze. His eyes flickered, and then he forced a smile, saying, "Deputy Commander, right now, everyone in the Du family, and even the people of the entire Stone City, are calling him a fool behind his back. Besides, he is indeed both useless and foolish. It shouldn't be a problem for us to call him that privately, should it?"
As the sun sets in the west, before the gate of the Du family, several strong men gaze at the slender figure of a young boy standing before the desolate mountain and stone tablet, momentarily stunned, and then their expressions shift between joy and disappointment.
It is not easy, the Du family is finally going to recruit guards
"Heizi, you are not deceiving us, are you? Can the captain of the guard cultivate the techniques and martial arts of the Du family?" The several companions beside the man were immediately taken aback, and then envy surged in their eyes
Several men immediately trembled awkwardly and nodded in agreement, as they naturally understood the reasoning put forth by the deputy commander
The robust man on the steed exuded a sense of pride and arrogance through his sharp gaze. The Du family holds a significant position in the entire Shicheng, and as a member of the Du family, he naturally possesses a pride that surpasses that of ordinary individuals
If only I could reach the innate realm, then within this Stone City, I could walk freely without concern, and see who would dare to show me a disrespectful face in the future
At the Du family residence, many passing servants and maids would occasionally cast a glance towards the desolate mountains ahead, their eyes reflecting a sense of regret and lamentation. A young master who should have been living in luxury and comfort has unexpectedly become so foolish.
The sky grew increasingly dark, dusk gradually passed, and a faint blush lingered in the west where the sun had set. As the last rays of twilight faded, the world also dimmed.