Временные трудности / Temporary hardships: Глава 10

Chapter 10, in which the hero learns the underside of the world and then decides to turn it inside out

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 17:14

* * *

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 17:14

A month! A whole month, a dozen days less, a dozen more, it took Han, now Feng, to realize reality. He, like one of the great Emperors of the past, who liked to dress up in the clothes of a commoner and walk among his subjects, was able to live among ordinary, except slightly more pathetic and insignificant, peasants. But unlike the Emperor, Feng did not possess heaven-shattering techniques, nor could he turn a band of brigands into a bloody paste with a wave of his hand in his stitched sleeve, make a vast clearing in the forest, or turn a corrupt official's house into dust, along with the official himself and the gang of thugs he had hired to cover his affairs.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 17:15

Also, the Emperor always had the option of returning to the palace, and Feng... For a month of hunger and hard work from dawn to dusk, he pondered his options. The further he went, the more and more he disliked the option of waiting for the next rebirth. As much as he wanted to deny it, he had to admit that he had been foolish in the sanctuary. No matter how great the offense, no matter how much misery his father's oath had brought, he should not have renounced the Nao family, especially not with the words "and in the next lives."

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 17:31

The vindictiveness and pettiness of the spirits came as a deadly unpleasant surprise, but alas, it was not to be expected. The guardians of the Nao family were beings of immense mystical power, both in terms of spiritual merit and radiating powerful qi. And they were the ones who could make sure that Han's next few rebirths would be anything but good. He was also, as much as he wanted to spit at the word, lucky. Remembering a past life after a rebirth was extremely rare. He suspected that the guardian spirits had done their best to teach him a lesson because what good would it do if Han suffered in this life and didn't even realize it could be any other way? Well, in the next lives, he would forget everything, even if he found himself in a place where such a village would seem like a prosperous capital of the Empire.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 17:32

Feng had spent many a sleepless night on his bed of rice straw and on the wooden block that served as a pillow for the peasants, but he could not think of a way out of his current situation. There was no way out. Neither to leave, nor to escape, nor to rise. After all, the pinnacle of any peasant's dreams was the post of headman, and he had enough of his children. The potter and the blacksmith were also honored and respected, but in Feng's eyes, a life spent in a forge or picking at sticky clay was no different from working in the fields, even if the ability to forge metal could be of some use.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 17:33

He was sorry. Very sorry for what he'd done. He should have stayed, clenched his teeth, and waited for the moment. Perhaps he should have left home and moved to the capital - not as a nameless commoner but as the son of a great general. Alas, his cold mind told him so. His heart told him that he could not live in a world where Mei lay in that bastard's arms. Now Mei was gone, or maybe she was a profound old woman, or maybe she was just as young and beautiful even after dozens and hundreds of years of using qi. But now they were in different worlds, and even if Mei Lin was still alive, Feng would find someone better! That night, Feng remembered where he found himself and what level of 'better' was available here. He screamed and threw a temper tantrum, for which he received a good slap from his waking parents and brothers, after which he walked with his head askew for three days.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 17:36

It seemed what could be worse than the hopeless situation of an orphan forgotten by the gods in a distant beggarly village? As it turned out, a great many things. After several nights of sobbing and silent hysterics, Han realized what was causing him the most pain. As it turned out, it wasn't even the loss of his family, Mei's betrayal, or the worst meal of both his lives. No, what hurt the most...

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 17:37

//"You'll never be like me!"

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 17:37

The bastard's words were prophetic. Han died and became Feng and Feng... Feng was doomed to a lifetime, which rarely lasted more than three or four dozen years here, by his example, epitomizing his righteousness. Making sure the master's smug, demonically disgusting face did not just spew insults but stated the truth, as holy and unshakable as the Emperor's decree. Perhaps, in time, Feng would be able to come to terms with his situation. But for Han, it meant that all the suffering, all the torture he had gone through, was now in vain. That evil was triumphing, and he... and he. and he was really just a silly tadpole, an egg lying in the swamp mud. And that at every insult and every humiliation, the bastard spoke the truth. During the day, the thoughts receded under the weight of daily chores, but when Feng went to bed ...

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 17:39

"I'm to be like you!" he jumped up in the night with a deafening heroic shout.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 17:40

Alas, no one in the Shirong family appreciated it, so Feng was slapped again. This time, he was beaten by everyone - his brothers, his father, his mother, and even his sister Aimin, who slapped him. But now the beatings were strangely weak, careful. Obviously, the superstitious peasants were afraid of beating the madman because that would catch his madness.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 17:41

Battered, exhausted by labor and lack of sleep, Feng lay on the straw, curled up in a ball. But this time he was not crying, he was giggling quietly and madly. For a new and marvelous idea had come into his brilliant head. And the longer he looked at it, the more attractive it seemed.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 17:42

"I won't become like you," he whispered in a low whisper so that no one would hear him, laughing as he covered himself with a rice mat. "I'll become you! I'll steal everything from you - techniques, skills, feats, and abilities! And you... and you. You're the one who showed me the way!"

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 17:42

He coughed up another stifled laugh, trying not to wake the sleeping household. You wanted a duel of the minds, you stupid, self-righteous master? Only in your pride and arrogance, you didn't realize you'd given me a way out! Yes, one such way out was an unmarked grave after a short, agonizing, hopeless life. But there was another way - the way of strength and power when a lowly commoner had no right to be told what to do by anyone but the Son of Heaven himself! And this idiot, this self-righteous carp who fancied himself a dragon, did not notice that he had not only taught Han how to command qi but had also let him see thousands of scrolls that could conceal even the most powerful techniques! Moreover, Han's intelligence and talent in his new life were combined with Feng's diligence and habit of hard work, a combination that would make the Heavens shudder! And even if there was nothing useful in those scrolls...

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 17:44

"I have qi," Feng whispered, "and that's enough!"

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 17:44

* * *

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 17:45

As it turned out, he had no qi. No matter how much his master talked about how qi pierced the entire universe, how it was contained in every living thing and inanimate object, the grim and despairing truth was that it was one thing to talk about it and another to actually control it. Feng thought that if he had succeeded before, in his previous life, he would succeed now.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 17:48

Big mistake. He got into stances, used concentration gestures, and even tried to stand on his head. The only feelings he experienced were the familiar hunger and a slap from Father Shirong, who disliked Feng doing nonsense instead of work.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 17:49

Unfortunately, he couldn't remember very well how he had first felt qi back then, the first time. At that time, all he cared about was his own pain and suffering, hunger, and hatred for the villainous master. However, nothing had changed in this life - he hated the master even more, and pain and suffering were abundantly provided by peasant life. He knew that the knowledge he needed was in his head, and it wasn't even very difficult to summon it by reliving it all over again. All one had to do was to focus on the right moment in his life and.... circulate qi. This vicious circle made him want to scream.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 17:50

And the scream was the only thing Feng remembered from the waking process. The scream and the dabu stance.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 17:51

"I hate you! I hate you, ma~aster!" Feng yelled.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 17:52

He stood in a stance, fully immersed in himself, gathering every bit of inner power. He closed his eyes and used one of the concentration gestures, as if he were slowly pushing an invisible balloon away from his chest with his hands and index fingers poking upward.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 17:52

"Hey, guys, look at this! The idiot's yelling again!" shrieked one of the stupid peasants.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 17:55

"Ha-ha-ha-ha! And stands as if he gonna poop!" echoed another voice.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 18:45

"You know nothing! All generals do that!" A third person joined in.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 18:45

Feng once again tried to ignore those idiots. He always chose the most secluded corner on purpose, but as soon as he started practicing, the whole village would come to watch as if they had nothing to do.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 18:46

"Feng, you bastard!" Father's menacing voice sounded. "Get back to work!"

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 18:47

Feng sighed and opened his eyes. Another training session had failed. And he saw the only reason why. The spirit-body-mind triad needed to manipulate qi was missing something. While the spirit and mind were still as powerful as Han's in his previous life, the frail and emaciated body had been inherited from Feng. This was a problem that needed to be dealt with immediately.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 18:47

* * *

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 17:45

"It's easy to say but not easy to do," Han-Feng grumbled, bent over.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 18:48

The sack pressed and buckled against the ground, drops of sweat dripping off his face, falling into the dust and soaking into the dry, cracked earth. His bare feet, covered with abrasions and mud, looked ... too peasant and, therefore, disgusting.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 18:48

"Hey, Feng, why aren't you stinging like a wolverine?" He heard a mocking voice.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 18:49

"And you don't flutter around like a pig?" a second voice said.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 18:49

"He'd better show his sting!" A third one joined in.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 18:50

Feng continued dragging the sack, trying to ignore the taunts. If someone with a head full of pig dung had heard these quotes about the art of combat and warrior philosophy, he would have surely appreciated their wisdom and taken them as a guide to action. But, alas, it was the not-too-clever elder sister who first heard them and immediately spread them to such dullards as herself! Now Feng was being laughed at by the whole village. He wasn't surprised by this behavior - what else would you expect from those who had spent their lives picking at the ground like pigs? It was foolish to expect them to understand the greatness of the sublime inspiration of battle!

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 18:51

"Great warrior Feng, we have found you a worthy opponent!"

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 18:51

And just think of the pigs! There was laughter, squeals from the children, and the grunting of Aunt Zhao's huge pig. Han Feng involuntarily raised his head. Sure enough, it was Tsu and Mu, the two restless pranksters, and now, like heroes in crystal who had conquered a mighty mystical beast, they were fearlessly perched on the pig's back. The pig grunted unhappily and charged at Feng like a huge living battering ram.// "Pork on ribs," Feng thought to himself as he felt his stomach rumbling. But spurred on by the flexible bars, the pig whizzed past him, hitting him with the ham, so instead of the coveted pork meat, he ate dirt.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 18:52

"You bums! You mountain demon and dung fly bastards!" Auntie Zhao's shrill voice rang out. "A spiked stick under your tongue!"

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 18:53

Everyone got hit, including Feng, which was the most frustrating of all. He picked up the fallen sack, put it back on his shoulders, and moved on. Now, it was not only drops of sweat but also tears of resentment were falling into the dust. He was so hungry that his stomach was twisting with hunger, his head was buzzing from the stench, dirt, and dust, and the weight of the sack on his back was bending him to the ground more and more as if it embodied the weight of Feng's current situation.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 19:00

And it was not an enviable one. A foster child in a foster family, a seven-year-old starving wretch living in the poorest and most miserable corner of the Empire. Few people ate enough in this village, and certainly none of the simple peasants, which included the Shirong and Zenzen family that had taken him in, had ever had enough to eat. All this was supplemented by hard work, beginning in the dark and ending in the dark, from early spring to late fall. In winter, there was little to do, but this light respite was of no use, for the lessening of the hardships was accompanied by a great saving of the already meager food - Feng's memories spoke of this with terrifying clarity.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 19:04

Every day was an enormous amount of effort - so boring, exhausting, and monotonous that even the master's training seemed almost like a pleasant pastime in comparison. To work so there would be enough food to eat until the spring, to plant and harvest so he would not die or get sick and die, to sow and harvest, and to pay the taxes, which, unlike everything else, were collected faithfully. Did you work badly? Get slaps! Outraged by the blows and bad food? Eat more slaps!

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 19:08

Such injustice and hopelessness made him want to howl as much as a pack of wolves. Even if Feng had been a hero, like the impetuous Bao Xiao, he would not have been able to change the situation. No enemy could be defeated with a star blade, no monsters that could be defeated with heaven-shattering techniques, only abject poverty, and rampant uneducation. And the only way out, as Feng was convinced for the umpteenth time, was to get out of here, to run away.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 19:09

* * *

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 17:45

"Why are you lying down?" The voice of the foster mother Zenzen sounded.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 19:11

Shriveled and wrinkled, prematurely aged by constant childbirth, she had a nasty, grumpy temper. Half of Feng's siblings had died from such a life of constant work and lack of medicine, some in infancy and some in childhood. This was considered a good result, as the Shirong family were lucky to have so many laborers!

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 19:12

"Get the wood, you bum!" A stick fell on Han-Feng's back as he lay on the sack.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 19:12

There was laughter and more mockery of the "general's son," but the mother didn't appreciate it. She raised her stick again, this time hitting everyone, including Aiming. She shrieked and immediately ran twice as fast. //"That's it," Feng thought gloatingly. - There's no need to act like this! So what if she got an adult name!"

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 19:13

"Wot tak wot!" He grinned, remembering his hated teacher's saying.

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 17:46

"Hey, don't play the aristocrat!" His mother shouted, delivering another painful blow. "It's true what they say. You've become a total fool!"

Camrad_RIP 13.01.24 в 17:46