From bone collectors to the supreme ruler of humanity

The rain gradually subsided, turning into a light drizzle.

Lin Yan waited a while longer, until the rain had mostly stopped, before carrying his bamboo basket and walking out of the cave.

After the rain, the air in the mountains and forests is crisp and moist, filled with the scents of earth and vegetation.

The sky was still overcast, but it was no longer an obstacle to walking.

With increased awareness, the slippery areas, including potential dangers, gradually become clear.

Lin Yan carefully chose his path and continued his search.

Perhaps because the rain washed away many traces, the afternoon harvest was even better than the morning one.

Lin Yan found another deer antler of good quality and several pieces of bone with patterns.

Even at the base of an old tree, you can find a small string of badly rusted copper coins. They may not seem very valuable, but they are still a windfall.

Lin Yan did not begin his journey home until the sky was completely dark and the outlines of the mountains and forests were blurred.

The basket on my back was heavy; I estimated that I would earn close to eighty coins today.

This far exceeded expectations, and Lin Yan couldn't help but feel a long-lost sense of relief.

Upon entering the city, we still went to the old bone shop first.

When Manager Hu saw the wild boar tusk and bird bone, he slightly raised his eyelids and examined them carefully for a long time.

"The fangs are in decent condition, but unfortunately a bit is broken. Fifteen coins. Bird bones are quite rare. Here's eight coins for you. And these odds and ends..."

As he spoke, he fiddled with the abacus, "It adds up to fifty-seven coins for you."

Lin Yan quickly calculated in his mind that if he added the few rusty coins and the oddly colored pebbles in his pocket, he might be able to gather about sixty-five coins.

However, he didn't show it on his face, only saying:

"Shopkeeper, I'll keep two pieces for my little sister to play with from the odds and ends. How about you give me the rest, sixty coins?"

Manager Hu glanced at him and gave a low hum:

"You're quite the shrewd fellow. Alright, your stuff today is indeed quite good. Sixty coins."

Lin Yan took the copper coins, a thick little string of them.

He didn't take it all out; he only counted out forty coins and put them in his outer bag, hiding the rest close to his body.

He then specially reserved a few pieces of bone of slightly lower quality, along with the few rusty coins, and wrapped them up separately, not planning to sell them all today.

Caution is the boat.

The brocade pouch, however, was pressed against his chest, its presence clearly felt.

This thing must not be exposed for a period of time.

When I stepped out of the shop, it was already completely dark.

Most of the street vendors have packed up and closed, leaving only a few lights on.

Lin Yan bought some coarse salt and gritted her teeth to buy half a pound of the cheapest mixed grain flour.

My mother needs to eat some refined grains, and my younger sister is also growing.

With the remaining thirty-odd coins and the bag of grain in his hand, he hurried out of the city and disappeared into the dark night.

It was already late at night when we returned to the Black Wind Ridge cave dwelling area.

A faint light shone from their own cave dwelling, making it especially warm on the cold night.

Pushing open the door, I saw my mother mending clothes by the firelight, and my younger sister curled up in the corner of the kang (a heated brick bed), already asleep, still tightly clutching the sugar figurine stick that had been licked down to its last tiny shape.

"Mother, I'm back," Lin Yan said softly.

Mrs. Chen looked up, a relieved expression on her face, and put down her needlework: "I left some hot water in the pot for you, quickly wash your face, have you eaten yet?"

Lin Yan told a little lie, saying, "I ate in town."

He took out the mixed grain flour, "I'll cook some porridge for Mother and Xiuer tomorrow."

Chen looked at the small amount of fine grains, her lips moved but she didn't say anything, only her eyes softened.

She noticed the exhaustion on her son's face and said softly, "You must be tired. Take a rest. As for the donation... take it slow, don't push yourself too hard."

Lin Xiu was startled awake by the voices. She rubbed her eyes and sat up. Seeing her brother, she smiled and said, "Brother!"

"Did I wake you?" Lin Yan walked over and gently stroked his younger sister's dry, yellow hair. "Go to sleep."

After settling his mother and sister to bed, Lin Yan carefully counted the copper coins he had earned that day by the light of the last embers of the charcoal fire.

The forty coins left in the outer bag, plus what was left over from before and what I got from selling odds and rusty stones today, now I have a total of eighty-three coins in my pocket.

Adding the remaining thirty coins from yesterday, I've accumulated one hundred and thirteen coins in just two days.

This speed even startled Lin Yan himself.

If it could be maintained... no, it cannot be maintained.

If you can reap such rewards every day, you're bound to attract attention.

There were many envious people in the refugee community, and Zhou Dahu and his gang were no pushovers either.

One must be cautious, act only occasionally, and spread out one's actions.

He calculated that there were still more than twenty days until the end of the month.

If I could go into the mountains seven or eight more times, each time conservatively estimated at thirty or forty coins, I might actually be able to collect three hundred coins.

Lin Yan looked at the pile of inferior bone material that hadn't been sold that day in the corner, and the cold brocade pouch in his arms.

The former is a backup plan.

The latter... is an unknown variable.

"Keep it for now and observe," Lin Yan told himself again.

The embers were blown out, plunging the cave into darkness.

The only sounds were the mother's slight cough and the sister's even breathing.

My body, exhausted from a long day, was screaming in pain, but hearing my family's voices and seeing their faint silhouettes in the darkness...

Lin Yan felt it was worth it.

The next day, Lin Yan decided to change direction and go to the sparsely visited low forest on the west side of Shanxi.

It is said that an ancient tomb collapsed there, leaving many broken bones, but the terrain is complex and there are many snakes and insects, so few people go there.

Just as I reached the crossroads at the entrance of the village where the refugees gathered, I ran into four or five young men squatting on the earthen embankment by the roadside, basking in the sun and laughing and talking nonsense.

The leader was a young man named Wang Agou, in his early twenties, with a roguish look. He was a well-known thug in the area and was said to have some connections with a small gang in town.

Seeing Lin Yan walking over with a bamboo basket on his back, Wang Agou narrowed his eyes, chewed on a stalk of grass, tilted his head and smiled:

"Hey, isn't this Lin Yan from the Bone Collector's Clan? He's been really diligent lately, heading into the mountains every day. What stroke of luck has he run into?"

A skinny, monkey-like henchman immediately chimed in:

"Yeah, I thought I smelled meat when I passed by their cave dwelling yesterday. Looks like they're doing pretty well!"

The group burst into laughter, their eyes darting maliciously over Lin Yan and his basket.

Lin Yan didn't want to cause trouble, so he lowered his head and quickened his pace to try to go around to the side.

"Hey! I'm talking to you, are you deaf?"

Seeing that he was being ignored, Wang Agou felt he had lost face, so he stood up abruptly and blocked the way.

"Just because you found a treasure, you think you're all that?"

Another lackey stepped forward, pointed at Wang Agou, and shouted at Lin Yan:

"Kid, be smart. My older brother is a martial arts practitioner; he learned moves from the martial arts master in town. If you're honest, apologize quickly, or else..."

He clenched his fist, making a soft cracking sound. "I'll make you crawl back!"

Lin Yan stopped in his tracks.

Looking at Wang Agou's unsteady stance, he knew that this man's so-called martial arts training was probably just a few farming moves to scare the refugees.

If it really comes down to it, I've been climbing mountains and collecting bones for years, so my strength and endurance might not be inferior to his.

But the other side has more people, so getting entangled with them would be disadvantageous.

A head-on confrontation is unwise.

If you keep backing down, you'll only be targeted more in the future.

In a flash, a thought crossed his mind... Lin Yan raised his head, the expression on his face fading, replaced by a slightly ingratiating smile, and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Wang Agou:

"Brother Wang, so you've practiced martial arts before! I really didn't recognize your talent."

He paused, his voice lowering, becoming seductive.

"I was lucky yesterday and managed to catch some wild game. So, I'll treat you to some meat in return. Could you... teach me a couple of moves from your martial arts? Just a few self-defense techniques will do!"

Wang Agou was stunned.

He had anticipated Lin Yan's fear and pleas for mercy, or his resistance, but he hadn't expected the other party to pull this stunt.

Will you treat me to meat? Or will you teach me martial arts?

He subconsciously swallowed.

Meat...it's been so long since I've had a proper meal.

Looking at Lin Yan's sincere expression, and glancing at the eager eyes of his followers beside him, his vanity and craving for meat instantly took over.

He puffed out his chest, then cleared his throat, feigning composure:

"Hmph, you've got some taste, kid. My martial arts skills are the real deal. Treat me to some meat... and I might just teach you a trick or two."

His eyes lit up: "However, just one meal of meat isn't enough to show our sincerity."

Lin Yan immediately replied, "Of course! As long as Brother Wang is willing to give me guidance, I will definitely not forget to show my respect if I gain anything from my future trips into the mountains!"

He deliberately described his gains vaguely, leaving room for imagination.

Wang Agou was satisfied and waved his hand.

"Alright, seeing how savvy you are, I'll protect you around here from now on. Tomorrow... no, tonight, bring the meat over. Under the old tree at the village entrance, I'll teach you a couple of useful tricks!"

"Thank you, Brother Wang!" Lin Yan cupped his hands in thanks again, his smile unchanged, but his mind remained calm.

The meat was simply half of that dried wild rabbit.

At this cost, we can temporarily appease this thug and perhaps even glean some insights into the so-called art of martial arts, even if it's just the most rudimentary stance. It's worth a try.

Furthermore, will there be any new changes to the [Skills] panel as a result?

He stopped looking at Wang Agou and the others, picked up his bamboo basket, and turned to walk towards the mountain path on the west side of Shanxi.

Behind him came Wang Agou's smug boasting and the echoing voices of his followers.

Lin Yan walked steadily, his gaze fixed on the distant, vast mountains and forests.