Chapter 1, The Flavor of Beef

The Taizu Changquan is entirely a form of external martial arts characterized by its straightforward and robust techniques. Through diligent practice, although one may not become a master, the benefits of strengthening the body and enhancing agility are always present. Additionally, with "Uncle" bringing in some meat every day, Liang Xin's body grew strong and healthy. Although not towering, he was solidly built with a sturdy physique.

Before he could finish speaking, Liang Xinwa burst into tears, and the recently awakened Liang Shi also silently shed tears

Mr. Liang finally regained his composure, his expression shifting from surprise to hesitation, and ultimately to determination. Suddenly, he pulled Liang Xin along and knelt before the little ghost, stammering, "You are a ghost, you must have other abilities. Please, I beg you, for the sake of the ancestors of the Liang family, take the child away..."

The little soldier did not dare to confront the captain, awkwardly chuckling twice before turning to leave. The captain then reached out to stop Liang, who was still eager to pounce, maintaining a cold expression: "If you fight desperately, the child will also fight desperately, then none of you will have to live."

Later, there was an occasion when Lord Liang encountered an assassin. In the fierce battle, I was also affected and fell into a deep injury, sleeping for three hundred years. When I awoke, Lord Liang had already transformed into a celestial being. After much effort, I finally discovered that he had offended the Emperor later on, was punished and executed, and his descendants were forever marked as criminals. In my quest to find you, I do not know how many places I have traveled. Fortunately, the King of Hell showed mercy, allowing me to come and repay my gratitude

Feng looked just as timid as the last time we met, his expression filled with self-reproach. However, compared to our first meeting, he was even more hunched over, and he had lost a whole left arm.

That manual of martial arts is not a profound technique; it is the most ordinary "Taizu Changquan" in the Central Plains.

This person is approximately in their forties, with a face that exudes a sense of humility. Their physique is notably thin and small, resembling that of a consumptive individual, and there is a large patch of chloasma on their face, making them particularly striking.

Liang Xin stared at the other person and asked hesitantly, "Are you really a ghost?"

Liang Xin suddenly froze, his eyes fixed intently on the paper bag held by the consumptive, filled with astonishment and greed: "This... this is meat?" The oiled paper bag wafted an extraordinary aroma, causing an inexplicable increase of saliva in his mouth, and even his stomach began to rumble!

Six years of hard labor, followed by three years of rest; thus, the lives of the convicts repeat in this cycle. However, most people are not so fortunate, as they cannot endure more than two or three "six-year" terms. Liang Xin's father, for instance, succumbed to illness and died from coughing up blood during the second six-year term.

Liang Xin's eyes grew brighter as he asked in succession: "Lord Liang? Was my ancestor a high official? Could he fend off the ghostly messengers? Was he a deity?"

"Then who are you?" Liang Xin was not particularly disappointed

When the specter of tuberculosis floated into the room, the two women even forgot that there was a little ghost guest, who was foolishly smiling and tearing the piece of meat into small strips, desperately stuffing them into each other's mouths

On this night, eight-year-old Liang Xin encountered a ghost for the first time, tasted meat for the first time, and heard about his family's ancestral matters for the first time

Liang Xin was astonished

Liang Xin hurriedly brought the little ghost home. As soon as they entered the house, Feng Xixi quickly took out a roasted chicken from his bosom, followed by a thin notebook with a portrait on it, his face beaming with smiles: "This is the boxing manual!"

As midnight approached, Liang Xin, in a state of half-sleep and half-wakefulness, suddenly felt someone gently shaking him. Upon opening his eyes, he saw Feng Xixi carefully standing in front of him.

The ghost of illness hurriedly replied: "I am the personal attendant of Liang Yier, who is your family's ancestor"

Feng Xixi shook her head gently, responding with a sense of self-reproach: "I cannot find this out; my magical abilities are too weak, and I cannot enter the government office"

Sometimes, Liang Xin would also insist on telling Feng Xixi stories about his ancestors from three hundred years ago. At such times, Feng Xixi would smile wryly and shake his head, not because he did not want to speak, but because he truly did not know much.

Liang Xin's difficult days suddenly became much more substantial. Aside from sleeping and eating, he devoted all his time to practicing martial arts and studying. In his spare time, he would engage Feng Xixi to tell him stories from the outside world

Uncle Feng awkwardly rubbed his palms together: "I do not have the surname Feng. The name Feng Xixi was bestowed upon me by Lord Liang back in the day. I am the ghost servant of the Lord, and naturally, I have inherited the surname of the Liang family."

Liang Xinmeng awoke from his daze, his gaze filled with both excitement and grievance. Before he could say anything, Feng Xixi nervously said, "Please let the young master wait for me; I don't want to disturb his sleep..."

The neighing of horses and the barking of dogs, the cries of children and the calls of mothers, at this moment under the great flood, the thirty-one provinces of the Nine Regions are in chaos, with every street in the cities filled with criminals in disarray

Their family has been labeled as criminals for three hundred years, and no one knows what heinous acts the ancestors of the Liang family committed, which have caused their descendants to suffer such hardships

Liang Xin hurriedly sat up: "Mother, what is it?"

Liang Xin turned to look at his mother, while Liang Shi shook her head. She was also unaware that the family had such an ancestor, nor had she ever heard of this tuberculosis specter

Feng Xixi is merely a lowly spirit with limited abilities, unable to even defeat an ordinary person, let alone escape with Liang Xin and her son. He only dares to appear at night, as the sunlight during the day is extremely harmful to him

On the fourth day, Liang Xin had already decided not to wait any longer, but by nightfall, he still couldn't help but climb up to the roof

As soon as the words fell, Liang Xin suddenly bent his knees and earnestly knelt before Feng Xixi: "I am not the young master, I, I..." Liang Xin was not very articulate, and after stammering for a long time, he could not express himself clearly. In the end, he had a sudden flash of inspiration: "You are my father! That godfather."

Liang Xinting was puzzled; he did not recognize this person, and he should not be from the main street of the criminals. However, apart from the officials and soldiers, there should be no outsiders coming in here. He nimbly crawled down from the roof and said, "You have the surname Liang; what do you want with my family?"

After carefully tearing off a small strip and putting it into her mouth, Liang Xin suddenly exclaimed, clutching the marinated beef and books, and rushed into the house, vigorously shaking the deeply asleep Liang family, who had long been exhausted from years of toil

The tone of the ghost of tuberculosis is always so timid, and when speaking, they do not dare to look into the eyes of the other person: "More than three hundred years ago, I died unjustly. Because my resentment was too deep, my soul could not disperse. My enemy was right before me, yet I was powerless to take revenge, only able to use a bit of my magical power to continuously torment them. Unexpectedly, this provoked the pursuit of the underworld officials. Just as I was about to be scattered, Lord Liang happened to pass by, saved me, and helped me clarify my grievances, personally avenging my enemy. From then on, I vowed to serve the Liang family forever, and the lord gave me a name: Feng Xixi... My enemy was right before me, yet I was powerless to take revenge, only able to use a bit of my magical power to continuously torment them. Unexpectedly, this provoked the pursuit of the underworld officials. Just as I was about to be scattered, Lord Liang happened to pass by, saved me, and helped me clarify my grievances, personally avenging my enemy. From then on, I vowed to serve the Liang family forever, and the lord gave me a name: Feng Xixi..."

The captor coldly remarked: "We are all born of mothers and raised by fathers, so there is no need for this soldier to be too arrogant!"

Liang Xin's voice echoed from outside the door: "Mother, wait for me to come back and pick you up"

Once again, dawn has broken. Moments ago, the gentle breeze had already departed. Liang Xin practiced his boxing for a while and was just about to go to bed when suddenly, a resounding clatter of hooves echoed from the street outside

The turmoil lasted for less than an hour, and all the streets of the criminals fell into a heavy silence. Young boys over the age of twelve were taken away by the ferocious soldiers, while the ugly mothers appeared dazed and bereaved, each one collapsing onto the street, their eyes filled with sorrow as they gazed at the end of the street corner

After a crude lunch, Liang Xin crawled back into bed and slept until the sun set in the west, fully recharging his energy in anticipation of the gentle breeze's return

The cold-faced captain unexpectedly let out a laugh: "Good lad!" He then stepped forward, pointing at Liang Xin, and said to the other officers and soldiers, "No one is allowed to hit him!"

In recent years, the wind has quietly taken refuge among the graves during the day, and at night, it comes to teach Liang Xing his lessons and assist the Liang family with their work, remaining oblivious to external matters, smiling cheerfully every day

Liang Xin opened his mouth and laughed: "With the gentle breeze, then... Uncle!"

The ghost of tuberculosis replied cautiously: "I am not looking for your family, I am looking for someone with the surname Liang"

Liang Xinman nodded gratefully and asked, "Who exactly are you, and what do you want with our family..." Following this, he seemed to recall something, and a genuine joy suddenly blossomed on his small face as he stared at the sickly figure and exclaimed loudly, "Are you my father?!"

The next day, Liang Xin woke up in a daze, still unsure whether the events of the previous night had been a beautiful dream. However, when he opened his eyes, he found Liang Shi sitting beside him, looking at him with a worried expression.

Zuihu Street is isolated from the outside world, completely unaware of what major incident has occurred, and even less understanding of what the term "kaishan posha" mentioned by the officials actually means

The tuberculosis patient was taken aback, blinking for a moment before suddenly realizing: "That makes sense!" As he spoke, he suddenly leaned forward, almost pressing his face against Liang Xin's, carefully scrutinizing his features. On his troubled face, there was a hint of hesitation: "Upon closer inspection, there is indeed a slight resemblance..."

As the seasons changed and the stars revolved, four years passed by unknowingly. Liang Xin transformed from an eight-year-old child into a twelve-year-old youth. In terms of appearance, there was nothing particularly remarkable; his skin was quite dark, his eyes were not large, and he looked much like an ordinary village boy, exuding a sense of simplicity and honesty.

Feng Xixi was an ordinary person in his lifetime, having only attended a few years of private school, barely able to teach Liang Xin to recognize characters. However, he was unable to teach him martial arts. Fortunately, there were annotations in the martial arts manual. Liang Xin, coming from a difficult background, was not afraid of hardship and practiced diligently according to the manual.

Liang Xin is a young child. During the day, Liang Shi works exceptionally hard, and by late at night, the mother and child can no longer hold on and fall into a deep sleep. Feng Xixi, busy and chatty, first tidies up the house, then mends military boots and washes military uniforms to share the burdens of labor with Liang Shi, only disappearing from sight when dawn approaches.

Uncle Lao was so delighted that his dry face blossomed like a flower, eagerly nodding in agreement

One can understand without asking anyone that the phrase "opening the mountain and breaking the evil" is even more terrifying than the arduous tasks of mining, guarding the borders, and quarrying, which often yield little to no return

Liang Xin couldn't help but chuckle: "In the dead of night, I sit on the roof of the Liang family watching the stars, so of course I am a member of the Liang family"

The specter of illness was even more terrified than Liang Xin, with a face full of fear, its hands trembling like chicken claws: "Do not be afraid, do not be afraid, I will not harm you, I cannot harm you... Besides, you are already like this, what could I possibly do to harm you."

The Liang family is also of a criminal background; apart from incessantly working, they have had no contact with the outside world, and possess neither knowledge nor opinions. When speaking, their tone is somewhat hesitant: "The wind is gentle, and it's a little ghost; if it finds you, I fear it may bring misfortune..."

The little ghost replied honestly: "Lord Liang is a high-ranking official, and his abilities are quite remarkable. Compared to deities, I believe he is not inferior at all. However, he is still a mortal, and ultimately, he only has a lifespan of about a hundred years..."

Mr. Liang stared in astonishment at a table full of dishes he had never tasted, seen, or even imagined, momentarily at a loss for words

The tuberculosis patient seemed very nervous, his gaze flickering, and he did not dare to make eye contact with Liang Xin. Whenever he glanced over, he quickly averted his eyes. Coupled with his sallow complexion and the three wisps of greasy hair on his chin, he appeared both pitiable and laughable

Liang Xin eagerly pressed on with the question: "What crime did my ancestors commit?"

Liang Xin was also dragged away from his mother's embrace by the officials and soldiers. Liang's family desperately rushed forward, and just as an official soldier raised his foot to kick, he was stopped by a punch from a constable of this jurisdiction.

The disease spirit is merely a minor ghost of no significance; if it were to reveal itself, it would not escape the blows of mortals. However, if it remains invisible, it cannot grasp anything from the human realm

That night, Liang Xin sat on the rooftop, waiting for shooting stars as usual. Suddenly, a faint voice came from below: "Child on the rooftop, is the family beneath you by the surname Liang?"

From the moment Liang Xin was born, he was marked as a criminal. He was unqualified to eat meat, unqualified to wear new clothes, unqualified to attend school, and even more unqualified to step outside the designated street for criminals, to catch a glimpse of the vibrant world.

The specter of illness opened its mouth in laughter, revealing a few uneven teeth that resembled a disordered collection of books: "My magical power is too weak; I was discovered while stealing this food."

Looking at Liang Xin's expression, the tuberculosis patient's eyes were somewhat murky as he gently said: "This is meat. The braised beef from Ju Fu Lou, meant for eating, to gain strength." As he spoke, he stuffed the braised beef into Liang Xin's small hand.

Following behind, the officers and soldiers entered the Criminal Household Street under the guidance of the yamen's constables, systematically apprehending individuals from house to house according to the registry, with all boys aged twelve and above being taken away

Sometimes, Feng would also gather some herbs, which he would brew outside and bring back to Liang Xin to nourish his health. Of course, these were not any precious medicinal materials, but they did have some nourishing benefits for the growth of children

Moreover, moreover! The wind was blowing so gently that it almost brought tears to my eyes: "I went to steal the martial arts manual, so that the young master could practice his skills. Once he has the ability, he will have the chance to escape..." When he was alive, he was an honest person, and after becoming a ghost, he understood loyalty even more. Three hundred years later, he found the descendants of Liang Yier to repay his kindness.

This person is floating over, the kind that has both feet off the ground

Apart from a bit of martial arts skills, Liang Xin also has some understanding of external matters, and can even write a somewhat crooked book review, which delights his uncle and mother greatly

The Great Flood Dynasty unified the world for over 300 years, enforcing strict laws, and there was even the term "criminal households".

From that day on, the wind would come to Zuihu Street every night, always carrying some food. In addition to helping the Liang family share the burden of hard labor, it would also teach Liang Xin to read and recognize characters

Although Feng Xixi is Liang Yier's ghost servant, his magical powers are limited, and he cannot withstand the authority of the yamen. Although he is nominally a servant, he has few opportunities to serve by his side

Liang Xin took the fist manual, stained with large patches of grease, from his hand, but his gaze was fixed on the empty left arm of Feng Xixu: "What happened to you"

Liang Xin remained relatively calm, carefully picking up a chicken leg from the table and holding it in front of his mother: "Your face ... ... "

Liang Xin was startled and looked down to see a short, thin person standing not far away, timidly gazing up at him.

Liang Xin has now vaguely understood the fate that awaits him, but with the innocence of childhood, how can he bear such a heavy burden? He remains cheerful every day, sitting on the rooftop each night, gazing eagerly at the night sky. Whenever a shooting star streaks by, he hurriedly makes a silent wish.

The Street of Criminals was suddenly thrown into chaos. Since the founding of the Great Flood, the rule for over three hundred years has been that criminals must serve hard labor only after turning fourteen, but this time it has been changed to twelve.

With the ability of the gentle breeze, one can only steal such a martial arts manual

Eating meat is something that sinners dare not even think about. As for Liang Xin, from the moment of birth until now, he has never seen what meat looks like

The ghost of tuberculosis took a deep breath, turned around, and left. After a while, when he returned, he was bruised and battered, but he carried a sizable bundle on his back. Upon returning to the Liang family, he spread the bundle on the table: roasted chicken, soy sauce duck, marinated eggs, lamb offal, and beef face.

The riders on horseback are all officials from the yamen, galloping through the streets of the criminal households and the library, continuously shouting: "Imperial decree issued, the criminal households are to be punished, those aged twelve and above are to respond immediately to the summons. May Heaven bless the great flood!"

His wish, which began as: "I want to achieve a great accomplishment, so that my mother and I will no longer be sinners," was gradually simplified to: "Achieve merit." Yet, a shooting star always flashes by in an instant, appearing without any warning, and even the wish encapsulated in those two words remains unfulfilled.

The wind blew gently, startling the ghostly face into a pale hue. It immediately knelt down, desperately bowing to Liang Xin and her son, saying: "I, I do not possess such great abilities, I cannot save you, I am sorry, I am sorry! However, I will always guard you, stealing meat for you to eat... Once the young master recovers, he will be able to endure the hardships."

A child and a ghost argued for a while, and in the end, they both took a step back. Liang Xin referred to Feng Xixi as 'uncle,' while Feng Xixi thereafter directly called Liang Xin by his name

The breeze was gentle yet chaotic, and I hurriedly whispered to comfort him: "Um, young master, I am in a state of despair; a broken arm is just a momentary pain, it is not a serious matter"

Those who commit heinous crimes will have their entire family punished, and their descendants will forever be labeled as "criminals." Females will serve as servants, and males will be subjected to forced labor. Unless they achieve immortal merits for the country, they will have no hope of rising in status.

As he spoke, the consumptive man flipped his hands and, as if performing a magic trick, produced an oiled paper package, which he carefully and quietly opened.

However, on that day, the gentle breeze did not arrive as expected. Liang Xin sat on the rooftop, waiting until the dawn broke, before wearily returning to his small bed, his eyes filled with deep disappointment

Liang Xin chuckled and stretched lazily, saying, "What could be more inauspicious than now!" Following that, she comforted the Liang family a bit more, then got out of bed, washed her face, and started helping her mother with chores

The ghost of tuberculosis smiled and cautiously nodded: "Do not be afraid, my powers are limited, I definitely cannot defeat you, cannot defeat you, and cannot harm you either"

Liang Xin is eight years old this year. When he turns fourteen, he will be assigned by the authorities, either to guard the borders or to work in stone quarries, mines, or to cultivate wasteland... In short, it is a grueling task fraught with peril... According to the Great Flood Law, if he can survive until the age of twenty, he may return for three years, seek a daughter from a family of offenders, marry, and have children. After that, he will be assigned to labor for another six years... According to the Great Flood Law, if he can survive until the age of twenty, he may return for three years, seek a daughter from a family of offenders, marry, and have children. After that, he will be assigned to labor for another six years...

After standing up again, Liang Xin was filled with joy and called out to the little ghost, "Uncle Feng!"

Ghost! Liang Xin only felt his hair stand on end, and he cried out in alarm as he took a few steps back, ultimately falling to the ground.

It is not! Both Liang and the little ghost exclaimed in unison, both startled.

The breeze was gentle, and I felt somewhat embarrassed: "I had to sneak the martial arts manual from those who practice martial arts, but most of them are strong and vigorous. My own abilities are quite lacking, making it a bit difficult to steal. That's why I arrived late. In the end, I was discovered by them, and to escape, I had no choice but to leave behind an arm. However, I did manage to steal the manual."

For three consecutive days, the wind had not returned, and Liang Xin refused to sleep at night, waiting in anguish. The already frail child appeared even more haggard and pitiable.

At that moment, Liang Xin realized that the other person was half a head shorter than him

The little ghost was so frightened that it floated chaotically around the room, repeatedly shouting that it was not allowed to do so