Chapter Sixty-Three: Oh, Master

At present, his own strength was too low; Su Yang was eager to make swift progress and raise his prowess to the sixth rank. He summoned Ma Han and two other common household servants from home, and with great fanfare, began purchasing male servants—anywhere from sixteen to forty years of age—for high prices.

Walking through the filthiest alleys of Yanggu County, he indeed found many willing to become household servants in order to feed their families. Yet, most of these men possessed the most dismal, fifth-grade aptitude. Only occasionally would one with fourth-grade aptitude appear.

Fortunately, by afternoon, after weaving through street after street, he had managed to purchase nine servants with fourth-grade aptitude and returned home. Including Ma Chao and Wang Han, there were now eighteen men gathered in one courtyard, apart from two ordinary household servants. Except for Ma Chao and Wang Han, every one of them looked withered and yellow-skinned, as if a gust of wind might blow them down. Su Yang reckoned that, left as they were, these men would soon starve to death.

They regarded Su Yang, their benefactor, with eyes as bleak and lifeless as withered wood.

“From the moment you entered the Su household, you are severed from your former families. You have signed death contracts—do not think of leaving. Any who attempt escape will be killed, not punished.”

“Your families have received enough grain to survive the hardest days. You may set your hearts at ease.”

“Now that you belong to the Su family, your old names are no longer needed. I will give you new names.”

“Starting with you—your names shall be Fourth One, Fourth Two, Fourth Three, and so on!”

As he had done with the maids, Su Yang assigned them numbers according to their aptitude, from Fourth One to Fourth Sixteen.

“Do you understand the names I bestow upon you?”

“Yes, sir,” the servants answered weakly, their spirits heavy—perhaps from longing for their families, or perhaps from the difficulty of accepting names reduced to mere numerals.

“Do you wish to see your families again?” Su Yang asked.

The sixteen household servants looked at one another, then bowed their heads, none daring to speak.

“You surely wish to see them—how could you not?”

“But what use is there in seeing your families now?”

“Weep in each other’s arms, only to starve together?”

After speaking, Su Yang swept his gaze over the sixteen servants, who were on the verge of speaking but fell silent.

“I can offer you a chance. If you can seize it, you may soar to great heights and change your fate.”

“From today, train in martial arts under Wang Han and Ma Chao. If you can become ninth-rank martial artists, I will allow your families to move into the manor and grant you a portion of food.”

“At the same time, your former names may be restored. What do you say?”

As soon as Su Yang finished, all the servants lifted their heads and stared at him in astonishment.

“Master, didn’t you buy us to serve as household servants? Why let us train in martial arts?”

“That’s right, master!”

“Is it really true? Will we truly be able to bring our families here?”

Suppressing their excitement, the servants pressed him for answers.

“Indeed, I bought you as servants, but my requirements are higher than most…”

“To become martial artists, you will need techniques, a teacher, and meat—I can provide all of these. But you will also be implanted with a parasite.”

“If you ever betray me, with a single thought, I can have the parasite devour your heart and end your life instantly.”

“If you do not wish to be implanted, you can remain as ordinary servants. Now, those willing to train and accept the parasite, step forward.”

After some hesitation, all sixteen stepped forward in the end, choosing to take the gamble.

If not for the master buying them, they would have starved within days, their families with them. Better to take a risk; if they reached the ninth rank, their families would be secure and their own futures brighter. If not, they would remain household servants, losing nothing. As for the parasite, no one cared—betrayal was out of the question; the master had saved their lives.

Now, Su Yang himself possessed seventh-rank strength, though he publicly claimed to be eighth rank. Shen Lian, who had joined the household, was also eighth rank. Ma Han and Ma Chao were ninth rank.

At last, the household had begun to take shape, at least enough to be held for the time being.

The sixteen new servants were given ample food, all the pork and mutton they could eat. Their bodies would soon recover, and the family’s progress would continue. Advancement to the lowest rank could not be rushed; ordinary men needed long periods of accumulation to reach it. Of course, with old medicinal herbs, the process would be much quicker.

Hu Shi had just traded some white fat “Lifespan Fungus” from the county office—these old herbs were of great help for ordinary men seeking advancement. With all these men possessing fourth-grade aptitude, they were one in tens of miles.

After entrusting the new servants to Ma Han and Ma Chao, Su Yang made his way to the rear courtyard. Peach Blossom, Plum Blossom, and Xi Chun were all with child and unable to serve. Fortunately, there was the newly arrived Golden Vase—plump and alluring, her body needed no further care.

In her room, a delicate fragrance floated in the air, wisps of smoke curling upward. Golden Vase was dressed in a sheer robe, her waist as slender as a willow branch, her frame petite—more delicate than Peach Blossom, barely one and a half meters tall, her feet especially tiny and encased in red embroidered shoes, easily held in one hand.

If one were to caress them, they would indeed be exquisite.

Her eyes brimmed with emotion, her gaze infinitely seductive. She hurried forward and clung to Su Yang’s arm, saying, “Master, you’ve finally come to see me.”

Su Yang seized the moment and drew her into his arms; her fragile, boneless body nestled against his chest, fitting perfectly.

“Isn’t that why I came to see you today?”

“Master…”

Golden Vase lifted her head, gazing up at Su Yang as he held her close. “From now on, I belong to you…”

“Master…”

Last night, the rain came in sudden gusts, and even deep sleep could not dispel the lingering wine. If one were to ask the one tending the yellow chrysanthemums, she would say the crabapples are just as before. Do you know? Do you know? The wind and rain come unannounced, and the song goes on and on…

“Master, if I am to become your concubine, must I bear you a child?”

“That is the custom.”

“Then… then I shall do my best…”

“Master…”

Silkworm and Heaven Bean