The young servant awoke groggily to find Fu Xi Yan staring at the ceiling beams with a pair of panda eyes, questioning his entire existence. “Impossible. I was a science student!”
Could it be—
A flash of inspiration struck Fu Xi Yan, and his whole body trembled. Not only had he been a science student, he had also been… a terrible science student?!
As a transmigrator, if he could not even produce something as basic as soap, then he could forget about advanced technologies such as pistols, cannons, and steam engines.
“Am I really reduced to relying on ‘Three Hundred Tang Poems—Become a Plagiarizing Dog’ to build my reputation as a transmigrator?” Fu Xi Yan contemplated this woodenly for a moment, then lowered his head. “Sorry. I overestimated myself. Forget three hundred poems—I can’t even guarantee I’d remember thirty correctly.”
Without thinking much about it, the young servant consoled him, “Young Master, why upset yourself over such a minor craft? Pig-pancreas soap works perfectly well. If you think it isn’t fragrant enough, why not add more perfume to it? Or perhaps think of another method?”
Fu Xi Yan clutched his head without saying a word.
It was not as though he had no other formulas.
Decolorizing brown sugar was even easier, but its simplicity was also its greatest weakness: others could easily discover the method. There was an enormous price difference between brown and white sugar. If he sold it at the price of white sugar, then when the truth eventually came to light, everyone would point at his back and condemn him. If he sold it at the price of brown sugar, his competitors would kill him first. After thinking it over, he could only set the idea aside and save it for an emergency.
Among the few transmigrator skills for which he possessed some vague idea of the process, soap had distinguished itself for good reason. It already had cheaper substitutes, was not a necessity, and could be packaged as a niche luxury product with a high profit margin, thereby avoiding excessive attention from those in power.
Therefore, despite his repeated failures, he still placed great hopes upon it.
Once he successfully made soap, he could ask his father for permission to open a shop. He would become a happy shopkeeper who raked in money hand over fist, then use his accumulated wealth to develop his scientific enterprise. From that point onward, he could sing loudly, “Fame and fortune—what are those things? It turns out they’re all my things…”
Merely imagining it filled him with delight.
Seeing that he could not be persuaded, the young servant suggested, “Why don’t I find some saltpeter so you can make ice again?”
Fu Xi Yan: “…”
Producing ice had been his first experiment after transmigrating. Fu Fu had long since presented the method to the emperor, and it was now one of the imperial family’s businesses. In exchange, Fu Xuan had received his position as Assistant Commander of the Yulin Guard. But that had been Fu Xi Yan’s accomplishment from five years ago.
He thought worriedly: could his scientific career and martial career both be like fireworks in the night sky—brilliant but fleeting?
No. Martial arts belonged to this lifetime, so it could not be helped if he lacked the talent. Science, however, came from the knowledge of his previous life. Even if he failed temporarily, he remained closer to the truth than anyone else in this era.
Having made up his mind to continue trying, he was about to begin again when his uncle’s voice floated in from outside, warm and affectionate with the faintest thread of menace. “Little Fourth?”
Fu Xi Yan shuddered and hurried eagerly to open the door. “Coming, honored guest!”
Although his uncle had always treated him with affection and had never once struck him, Fu Xi Yan had heard that his uncle was different from his father. His father judged a beating according to his own stamina and stopped when he grew tired. His uncle judged it according to the other person’s life and stopped as long as they still had one breath remaining.
There was no need for Fu Xi Yan to verify such truths through personal experimentation.
When Fu Xuan saw him emerge with unsteady footsteps and a listless expression, his eyelid twitched. Suppressing his impatience, he said, “What were you messing around with all night? Hurry and change your clothes. We’re leaving immediately.”
Fu Xi Yan clutched his chest and cautiously tested the waters. “Ah, I don’t seem to be feeling well today. Could we go tomorrow instead?”
Fu Xuan’s expression cooled. “Where do you feel unwell?”
“…Knowing that I’ve worried Uncle makes my heart feel unwell! Please wait a moment, Uncle. I’ll be ready immediately.” Fu Xi Yan turned and fled.
With Fu Xuan waiting outside, Fu Xi Yan did not dare waste time. He rinsed his mouth, wiped his face, and changed his clothes, taking no more than five minutes altogether. Only then did the ice on Fu Xuan’s face thaw. He smiled and said, “Mm. Once you tidy yourself up, you really are a fine-looking young talent.”
Fu Xi Yan muttered, “Shouldn’t that be an entire crowd of fine-looking talents?” At his size, he counted as three men all by himself!
Fu Xuan stared at his nephew, who was ruthless enough to mock even himself, and remained speechless for a long time.
After fermenting overnight, the result of the duel between the two Assistant Commanders had already become common knowledge. The Fu faction, which had always been the weaker side, instantly gained momentum. Fu Xi Yan’s employment procedures went extraordinarily smoothly; after only a few sentences, his name had already appeared on the duty roster.
The Fu faction’s display of goodwill struck Fu Xi Yan like a bolt from a clear sky. What poor student would not curse when registration and the first day of classes happened on the same day?!
Fu Xuan, however, was delighted by their attitude. He patted Fu Xi Yan’s shoulder approvingly. “Follow Zhu Yu Da for now and familiarize yourself with the surroundings.”
Fu Xi Yan gazed tearfully at his own uncle, looking exactly like a small child being abandoned at kindergarten on his first day. His uncle proved their close blood relationship through his actions: the moment he finished speaking, he strode away with the wind beneath his feet, never once looking back.
Zhu Yu Da secretly compared their physiques. “I’ll try to borrow a uniform that fits you. For now, follow me and familiarize yourself with the place. In a few days, we’ll arrange for you to join the palace guard’s night watch.” Zhu Yu Da was one of Fu Xuan’s direct subordinates and treated Fu Xi Yan with considerable warmth.
Fu Xi Yan whipped his head around, his face filled with shock. “Night watch?”
Zhu Yu Da beamed. “General Chu is indisposed and recuperating at home. General Fu currently calls the shots in the Yulin Guard.”
Fu Xi Yan’s mind filled with the physical harm caused by reversing one’s days and nights. Without hesitation, he asked, “Suppose I resign… What is the procedure for petitioning to retire and take my old bones home?”
Zhu Yu Da fell silent for a moment before answering, “First, survive until you’re old.”
Fu Xi Yan: “…”
Fine. Before his soap entered the market, he would lie low for a while.
It was only standing guard, patrolling, taking night shifts, and protecting the imperial palace like a security guard. How difficult could it possibly be?
On his first day, Fu Xi Yan followed Zhu Yu Da around the imperial palace. They walked and walked, then walked some more, and he did not finish work until both his legs were trembling. However, Zhu Yu Da told him that he would not need to walk nearly as much the following day.
Thus, on the second day, Fu Xi Yan went to work cheerfully, filled with hope that he could begin slacking off while collecting his salary.
…
Indeed, he did not have to walk as much.
Instead, he had to lift weights and stand guard.
Possessing True Origin but no true qi, Fu Xi Yan endured the long day using nothing but his thoroughly mortal flesh.
Before they finished work, Zhu Yu Da told him that he would not have to lift weights the following day.
Still wary, Fu Xi Yan asked, “Will I have to patrol or stand guard?”
“Neither.”
On the third day, Fu Xi Yan went to work with considerable doubt and discovered that Zhu Yu Da was an honest man. He truly did not need to patrol, stand guard, or lift weights. Today’s training consisted of weapons practice—drawing bows and shooting arrows, followed by wielding sabers and brandishing spears.
What had happened to “Rest assured, I will be there”? Was this it? Was this all?!
A cry from the depths of his soul burst forth:
Was this how a privileged yanei should be treated?
Would Gao Yanei approve of this?
Elio’s Notes: Yanei (衙内) originally referred to the son of a high-ranking official and later came to imply a spoiled, privileged young master who relied on his family’s status. Fu Xi Yan jokingly calls himself “Fu Yanei” while comparing himself to Gao Yanei from Water Margin.
…
Gao Yanei might approve, but Fu Yanei absolutely did not!
Absolutely not!
On the fourth day, the stubborn Fu Yanei was bedridden with illness beneath a tall bedframe and soft pillows.
Whenever the young servant approached, Fu Xi Yan rolled his eyes back and began convulsing. His sickly performance was remarkably convincing.
Burning with “anxiety” to save his nephew, Fu Xuan immediately hauled him to a medical clinic and had all the physicians take turns inserting needles into him.
Setting aside how deeply the needles penetrated or how much they hurt, the mere sight of a circle of needle tips surrounding him was enough to awaken his childhood nightmare—Nanny Rong. Without even bothering with a tactful transition, Fu Xi Yan sprang upright like a carp, obediently climbed into the carriage, and enthusiastically waved at Fu Xuan, who was paying the consultation fee. “Hurry, Uncle! We’re going to be late for work.”
Fu Xuan: “…”
On the way there, Fu Xi Yan had already prepared himself mentally to undergo another heavenly tribulation. Unexpectedly, the moment he arrived at work, he was informed that before today’s training began, he would be attending a welcoming ceremony for a new recruit.
He stared silently at Zhu Yu Da, his dark eyes radiating the fiercest interrogation—
What?! Did entering through the back door mean he had been depreciated and classified as secondhand? Was he not entitled to a welcoming ceremony? Explain yourself! Go on! Let’s hear how you explain this!
Fu Xi Yan crossed his arms and tilted his nostrils toward the sky.
For the first time, the straightforward Zhu Yu Da successfully followed the path of his thoughts. He explained, “This welcoming ceremony was specially arranged for a new member of the Chu faction.”
…
They had only held the advantage for a few days, yet they were already displaying the smug faces of petty villains drunk on success and wielding factional suppression with impressive skill. Tsk, tsk.
While criticizing them inwardly, Fu Xi Yan happily clasped his hands behind his back, swiftly adjusted his position, and stepped forward with the practiced gait of a veteran. Speaking with the solemnity of an old man, he said, “Mm. As a senior, I naturally ought to give the new junior a proper welcome.”
In his imagination, the next scene would unfold like this: a group of wicked old soldiers would surround a fresh and inexperienced newcomer and take turns making things difficult for him. First, they would unleash the ultimate move—“The newcomer must report his measurements.” Then they would declare that it was not enough and demand that he distribute a round of respectful red envelopes. Finally, the ceremony would conclude with the tone-deaf, physically uncoordinated newcomer singing and dancing for everyone’s amusement.
Reality once again developed in a manner completely contrary to his expectations.
The Chu faction’s new recruit displayed none of the bashfulness expected from someone entering the workplace for the first time. He walked openly to the center of the training field and addressed the people examining him. “I possess some knowledge of all eighteen traditional weapons. You may choose any challenge you wish.”
Look at that attitude. Listen to that tone. He carried the unmistakable arrogance of a king preparing to crush bronze-ranked players.
Although both sides wore equally ugly expressions, Fu Xi Yan felt that his faction’s petty-villain smugness had lost.
He was not the only one who thought so. Anyone in the Fu faction with the slightest discernment could see that the newcomer had arrived with hostile intentions. It made sense. With the competition between the Chu and Fu factions reaching its fiercest point, how could the Chu faction possibly send over some weak-kneed pushover? The intimidation the Fu faction had planned to give him had instead become an opportunity for him to display his abilities.
Remaining calm, Zhu Yu Da asked, “Judging by your extraordinary bearing, you cannot be an unknown figure. May I ask your honored name?”
The new recruit cupped his fists. “This junior is Chu Shao Yang. I am merely an inexperienced latecomer and do not deserve such excessive praise.”
His surname was Chu.
The Fu faction immediately seized upon the crucial information.
Someone from the Fu faction muttered softly, “I heard that Chu Guang has a nephew who is a direct disciple of the Wangshun Mountain branch of the Qinling Sect. They say his talent is exceptional.”
How exceptional was he?
No one knew.
A discerning observer might be able to determine whether someone practiced martial arts, but the true extent of that person’s skill could only be known once it was displayed. Chu Shao Yang appeared to be around the same age as Fu Xi Yan. Generally speaking, reaching the True Origin Stage at that age was already considered excellent. To be described as exceptional, he would have to be at least at the Bone Forging Stage. Anything beyond that would make him a monstrous prodigy like Lou Wu Zai.
The others in the Fu faction could not accurately judge him, but Fu Xi Yan was certain that Chu Shao Yang could not possibly have reached the Vajra Stage. Chu Guang himself was only at the Vajra Stage. Why bring in another person at the same level? Was competition for positions not already fierce enough?
Yet what purpose could Chu Shao Yang, who was at most in the Bone Forging Stage, serve by joining the Yulin Guard now, when people of the same realm were everywhere?
To slap someone’s face?
Whose face?
A faint unease rose within Fu Xi Yan.
Chu Shao Yang watched the members of the Fu faction whispering among themselves and exchanged a knowing glance with those from the Chu faction. He theatrically swept his gaze across the entire field before fixing it firmly on Fu Xi Yan’s face. Smiling, he said, “I heard Brother Fu also joined only recently. Why don’t the two of us exchange a few moves? We can limit ourselves to unarmed combat.”
Well, well. His target really was Fu Xi Yan!
Every gaze converged upon him, instantly making Fu Xi Yan the other center of attention. Yet he felt no panic. Instead, he experienced the peculiar relief of finally hearing the second high-heeled shoe drop from the floor above.
Zhu Yu Da frowned and was about to speak when Hu Yu suddenly approached and stopped him with one hand.
Hu Yu was a Commander’s Adjutant. With Chu Guang and Fu Xuan absent, he was the highest-ranking officer present.
Smiling pleasantly, Hu Yu said, “I unfortunately missed the earlier exchange between Generals Chu and Fu. Now that their own nephews can take their uncles’ places and display their skills, I can finally make up for that regret.”
Zhu Yu Da’s pupils shook violently.
He had never imagined that Hu Yu, whom everyone had always believed to be neutral, actually belonged to the Chu faction!
The Chu faction immediately began cheering and shouting, while the members of the Fu faction exchanged glances and hesitated to step forward.
First, the Chu faction had suppressed the Fu faction for so long that its accumulated authority still inspired fear.
Second, sparring matches were commonplace among martial artists. Martial artists revered the strong, but they respected the courageous even more. Actions such as “attempting what one knows cannot be done” or “knowing there is a tiger on the mountain yet choosing to climb it anyway” might appear incomparably foolish to some, but martial artists considered them fearless advances against the current. Climbing toward the pinnacle of martial arts was itself a narrow bridge upon which the courageous defeated the timid. Since Chu Shao Yang had clearly stated that cultivation realms were irrelevant, that they would compete only in unarmed techniques, and that he would claim no unfair advantage, Fu Xi Yan absolutely could not refuse if he wished to establish himself within the Yulin Guard.
However, to a martial artist, the difference between two major cultivation stages involved far more than cultivation alone.
Experience, presence, confidence… Even one’s martial techniques could determine victory or defeat.
It appeared that the Chu family was determined to recover through the younger generation the face Chu Guang had lost, even if they had to resort to increasingly unscrupulous methods.
Although Fu Xi Yan had no desire to cling to the Yulin Guard’s iron rice bowl, he also did not wish to drag Fu Xuan down and allow the Chu faction to celebrate. He turned and whispered several words to Zhu Yu Da. Zhu Yu Da looked at him in astonishment, but when he saw that Fu Xi Yan’s expression remained calm, he finally murmured his agreement, pushed through the crowd, and walked away.
Chu Shao Yang’s eyes flickered. Did Fu Xi Yan know he could not win and send someone to summon reinforcements?
Unfortunately, distant water could not extinguish a nearby fire!
He was about to provoke Fu Xi Yan further when Fu Xi Yan calmly adjusted his sleeves and slowly stepped through the crowd. “Since you claim proficiency in all eighteen weapons, let us compete in archery.”
This was essentially the same as saying: since you excel morally, intellectually, and physically, let us compete in beauty.
Chu Shao Yang lowered his eyes, his gaze sweeping across Fu Xi Yan’s smooth, flawless palms. Then he smiled. “As you wish.”
Seeing that the contest had been successfully arranged, Hu Yu unobtrusively retreated several steps and blended into the crowd, concealing both his achievement and his name.
Futile Devices Scans 
Leave a comment