Diligence Makes Up for Shortcomings in the Cultivation World
At the twilight of the dynasty, foreign cults were on the rise, gangs waged war against one another, and the world grew increasingly harsh. Chaos spread, and the common folk endured lives of suffering and turmoil. Born to humble origins, Yang Xing awakened the destiny known as "Diligence Makes Up for Lack." Destiny: "Through diligence, shortcomings are overcome, and success is inevitable." Relying upon this fate, Yang Xing, though insignificant as a blade of grass, advanced step by step toward immortality.
Diligence Makes Up for Shortcomings in the Cultivation World
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Central Prefecture, Wu Kingdom, Liyang County.
It was the heart of winter.
Bang!
With a violent crash, the battered wooden door of the sundry shop was kicked open.
A burly, powerful man in his thirties strode in, flanked by two henchmen. "Well, Axing, why is your shop closed in broad daylight? Not doing business anymore?"
"Master Cheng!"
On the other side stood a delicate-featured boy in a coarse, short jacket. His name was Yang Xing. Seeing Master Cheng enter, he hurriedly rose from behind the counter, plastering a smile on his face. "The wind's fierce today, so I shut the door. Was just waiting for you to collect this month's payment."
With that, Yang Xing fetched three rough cloth sacks from behind him.
This so-called "first payment" was, in plain terms, protection money.
Master Cheng reached into a sack, letting white rice grains slip through his fingers, speckled here and there with bits of bran. He could immediately tell the quality. "Starting this month, the quota’s gone up by three jin."
"Three jin!?"
Yang Xing's face tightened. He drew a deep breath, then said, "Master Cheng, we've run out of fine grain. Could we substitute with coarse instead?"
Taxes and the gang’s dues were always collected in fine grain. Most people mixed their meals with coarse grains, sometimes even replacing grains entirely with wild vegetables.
Master Cheng frowned. "Nine jin of coarse grain."
