I bear witness to immortality in the human world.

Chapter 10 Change of Residence
"Shh, keep your voice down."

Wu Qi listened to Liu's rambling with a sullen face. Seeing that Liu was about to say something inappropriate, he immediately interrupted her and said in a deep voice, "We can't just talk about such things. If we have to pay, then let's pay. Yu'er is married off, and our family can still afford to pay."

At this point, Wu Qi turned to look at Wu Ming beside him. Seeing that Wu Ming remained silent, he sighed inwardly and said, "Ming'er, with the spring tax increased, life will be even harder from now on. We won't have much money left, and the dried meat and fine grains at home should be almost gone."

Wu Ming was still two months away from turning eighteen. He had been thinking that with the dried meat and fine grains provided by the Xu family as part of the betrothal gifts, he could grit his teeth and save a little more to last for another two months. Even though the hope of Wu Ming becoming a martial artist was already very slim, he was already at the final stage and didn't care about enduring two more months.

Unexpectedly, the spring tax increased by four qian of silver per person, which meant one liang and two qian for a family. This sum of money was almost the last straw that broke the camel's back. No matter how much they tightened their belts, they could no longer afford to support Wu Ming's continued training.

perhaps,

This is the fate of the Wu family.

Wu Qi had already planned to take Wu Ming out to work in a couple of days, teaching him his skills little by little and leaving him a way to make a living in the future.

"Yes, we've almost finished all the refined grains and dried meat at home."

Wu Ming nodded in response, his expression unchanged. He naturally understood the meaning behind Wu Qi's words: if one had not yet mastered martial arts, this path would indeed have come to an end. But now that he had mastered martial arts, everything was different.

Previously, because he needed some time to consolidate his realm and nourish his body, and did not want to make it known to everyone too early, he had not told Wu Qi about his success, and even Liu Shi did not know.

at this time,

The noise outside was gradually getting closer.

The Wu family, living in the fenced courtyard, looked out and saw a clerk in a black official robe carrying a stack of household registers, accompanied by five or six tax officials, walking towards them.

Yongguo ruled the world with military might, and its military fortunes flourished. Therefore, all the officials in the court were military men. The clerk of the Household Department, who wore an official robe, was tall and strong with a dignified look. Ordinary people did not even dare to look him in the eye.

Clan chief Wu Qu simply stood by and accompanied them.

"Lord Xu, this is the Wu family."

Wu Qu led Xu Wei, the Registrar, and his party to the outside of the Wu family compound.

After listening to Wu Qu's words, Xu Wei nodded slightly, then took out the household register, glanced through it briefly, and muttered: "Household, People's Register, Wu Qi, four people in the family, the eldest daughter Wu Yu got married on the 21st of the first month, there are currently three people in the family, no land or land deeds under their name... Hmm, this spring tax is a total of six taels of silver."

Wu Qu stood aside, glancing at Wu Qi and Liu Shi, whose faces were weathered and whose temples were gray. Seeing that both of them looked worried, he shook his head slightly.

The imperial court suddenly raised the spring tax, which increased the burden on the entire Wu Village, but there was nothing he could do about it.

At most, they would offer a little help to the poorest families afterward, so that those families wouldn't starve to death.

"Please wait a moment, Lord Revenue Officer. I will go and fetch the money right away."

Wu Qi's eyes were somewhat troubled, but he didn't say much at this moment. He stood up and bowed to Xu Wei, the Registrar of Household Affairs, and the others.

however,
Just at this time.

Wu Ming suddenly stopped Wu Qi, stepped forward, and bowed respectfully to Xu Wei, saying, "Lord Revenue, please allow me to report that, according to the laws of Yong Kingdom, martial artists who have achieved blood coagulation can be registered in the martial arts register, and their direct descendants are exempt from the head tax and settlement tax. Some time ago, I was fortunate enough to successfully achieve blood coagulation, but I have not yet had time to report it. I would appreciate it if Lord Revenue could verify this."

Upon hearing this, the entire room paused for a moment, and all eyes immediately turned to Wu Ming.

Wu Qi and Liu Shi stood aside, both showing astonishment. Clan leader Wu Qu was also taken aback and looked at Wu Ming. He saw that Wu Ming was still in a bowing posture, but a hot, invisible blood energy was rising from his body.

The matter of blood clotting will have to be revealed sooner or later, and now that the time is right, there is no need to deliberately hide it anymore.

It really happened?!

Wu Qu was slightly stunned.

Wu Ming's aptitude wasn't bad, but it wasn't particularly strong either; otherwise, he would have already achieved blood clotting. His body had been weakened by an evil spirit, severely damaging his vital energy. Given his less-than-stellar aptitude, this ordeal made achieving blood clotting seem impossible. However, Wu Qu quickly recalled that Wu Ming's older sister, Wu Yu, had married into Xu Village. Perhaps she had received some benefits from the Xu family, which allowed her to replenish her deficiencies and ultimately gain a sliver of opportunity to achieve blood clotting.

The Xu family's son is more highly regarded in the city and will likely achieve more in the future. His family is well-off, so it's reasonable for him to use some resources to help Wu Ming improve his health.

"what."

A hint of surprise flashed in Xu Wei's normally dignified and indifferent eyes.

With his martial arts cultivation being even more profound than Wu Qu's, he immediately realized that Wu Ming had indeed crossed the threshold, completed the blood condensation, and was now a martial artist, just by watching Wu Ming circulate his qi and blood.

"You're Wu Ming?"

Xu Wei glanced at the household registration book in his hand, then turned to look at Wu Ming. His originally stern and indifferent face softened slightly, and he asked in a gentler tone.

Wu Ming stood with his head bowed and responded respectfully:

"Yes."

"How long have you been practicing martial arts?"

"One year and ten months."

"Hmm, one year and ten months, that's a bit long, but for you, born into a poor family, to have achieved this much is not bad."

Xu Wei listened to Wu Ming's answer, a hint of regret flashed in his eyes, and he shook his head slightly.

In recent years, the demonic disturbances in Jingye City have become much more serious than before. The two important government offices in Jingye City, the Demon Suppression Office and the Penal Office, are trying to expand their manpower. If they could send a talented young martial artist to these two government offices, it would be a great achievement for them. Unfortunately, judging from Wu Ming's level, he is at most a 'below average' talent.

For the two highest-ranking government agencies, the Demon Suppression Division and the Penal Division, those with average or below-average qualifications barely meet the threshold for participation in the assessment and are basically not within the selection scope of the two agencies.

After a thought flashed through Xu Wei's mind, he picked up his pen and made a mark on the household registration book. Then he handed the book to the tax collector next to him, nodded slightly to Wu Ming, and said, "Since you are already a Blood Condensation Martial Artist, you are not required to pay the Spring Tax according to the law. I have already crossed out the Spring Tax for your family. After we go back, we will change your registration to Martial Artist."

"Thank you, Lord Hucao."

Wu Ming bowed again.

Seeing that Wu Ming was calm and composed, without any signs of youthful arrogance, Xu Wei's opinion of him improved slightly, and his expression softened. He said, "Although you are not an official, you have already cultivated your qi and blood and are a martial artist. There is no need for further formalities."

The tax collectors following Xu Wei looked at Wu Ming with different expressions. They all knew that for someone like Wu Ming, who came from a poor background, to be able to condense blood energy was already a remarkable achievement, and not everyone had such luck.

After a while.

Xu Wei and his group then left, accompanied by Wu Qu, to continue collecting spring taxes from the next household in Wu Village.

After Xu Wei, the head of the household, and Wu Qu, the clan leader, and their entourage had gone far away, Wu Qi and Liu Shi in the courtyard finally woke up as if from a dream. Even though they were both old people who had seen many storms, their emotions were as turbulent as the storm.

"well."

Wu Qi simply said "good" twice, looking at Wu Ming with eyes full of satisfaction.

Back when Wu Ming's grandfather was still alive, he devoted almost all his resources to helping him learn martial arts. However, he practiced until he was twenty-six years old and still couldn't condense his blood qi despite using all sorts of resources, so much so that his family didn't have much wealth left.

Wu Ming's current situation is more than ten times worse than it was back then. All of his family's savings are only enough for Wu Ming to cultivate for a year and a half. Moreover, he can hardly eat meat on weekdays, and he even encountered evil spirits along the way!
I thought all hope was lost, but it actually worked out.

Liu walked over shakily, feeling both excited and joyful. In this world, who among the poorest families like theirs doesn't hope that one of their descendants will be able to refine their blood and qi and take that step that ordinary people can hardly overcome?
After all, taking this step means no longer being a poor person trapped in the mud, but stepping into another class, a qualitative change.

(End of this chapter)