"Huh!?" Lin Kai wasn't the only one left in shock. The others standing beside him were equally stunned. At first, they thought the old man must have been playing a prank on them. After all, who had ever heard of servants from large families getting a day off? At least not in this city.
But as the old man walked away without another word, they stood rooted, lost in their thoughts. Glancing at each other in disbelief, they all slowly made their way back to their respective work areas. Even if the old man was telling the truth, they needed to confirm it with their own eyes.
Lin Kai wasn't much different from the others. The surprise lingered in his mind, but in reality, it didn't matter much to him whether he had a day off or not. Unlike the others, he could complete his task in mere seconds. With a deep breath, he made his way towards the clearing, planning to see if it was true—and absorb one more bamboo along the way.
Upon reaching the clearing, Lin Kai found it eerily desolate. Unlike other days when there would be a handful of people working, today, the place was entirely empty. Even the middle-aged man, who usually sat in the middle with his eyes closed, was nowhere to be found.
"It really is..." Lin Kai muttered under his breath. Scanning his surroundings and confirming the absence of anyone else, he didn't hesitate anymore.
He walked straight into the bamboo forest, chopped down one Iron Bamboo, absorbed it, and made his way back toward his room. He still had the entire day ahead of him.
After thinking it over for a moment, Lin Kai decided not to head straight home. It had been a week since he joined the Ji family, and he hadn't yet had a chance to explore the place fully. Though certain areas were strictly off-limits for servants like him, there were still many places where he could roam around. And today seemed to be the perfect day for it.
With that thought in mind, Lin Kai started walking, taking in the scenery around him. He had to admit, the air here was so much fresher and purer than in his previous life. The scent of soil and freshly cut grass filled the air. If he closed his eyes, he could almost feel the fragrance of wildflowers carried on the breeze. The absence of cars and machines created a sense of serenity he hadn't experienced before. Instead of the constant noise of engines and honking horns, he could hear only the soft sounds of birds and the distant murmur of people.
It's often said that a person's surroundings mold their personality, and Lin Kai could feel that in himself. In his previous life, he'd often get angry at the smallest things, always stressed by one thing or another.
But here... here, everything was peaceful. This was the life he had always dreamed of—no petty arguments, no crushing debts, no annoying salespeople knocking on his door. It was just quiet. Peaceful.
Lost in his thoughts, Lin Kai wandered aimlessly. And before he knew it, he found himself standing in front of the Ji family's vast farmlands. To the left, nestled against the foot of the mountains, stretched enormous fields, as far as the eye could see. He couldn't tell how large the farms were, but a constant stream of workers came and went, busy with their daily tasks.
After a moment of observation, Lin Kai moved on, his curiosity guiding him. Eventually, he found himself in front of a medium-sized building, distinct from the rest. Unlike the other structures, this one was built entirely of stone. A chimney rose from the roof, billowing smoke into the sky. Looking around, Lin Kai quickly realized this was the kitchen where the servants' food was prepared. After giving it one last glance, he turned and continued on his way.
After more wandering, Lin Kai arrived at the top of a small mound, offering him a bird's-eye view of the entire Ji family estate. From there, he could see many exquisite buildings, some still under construction. The carefully laid stone pathways connected the neatly arranged buildings, and off in the distance, he spotted several training grounds. Though he couldn't make out the details, he could see figures practicing on them—children training on one, guards sparring on another, and on the last, women practicing with intense focus.
The gentle breeze tousled Lin Kai's hair as he gazed down, lost in thought. It had been a long time since he had seen something so serene, and the sight reminded him of his village—the one he never got to visit as an adult.
He stood there for nearly an hour, just watching. A few servants passed by, giving him puzzled looks, but nothing eventful occurred.
Finally, after much hesitation, he decided to head back to his room. Even though it was his day off, he didn't have anywhere else to go. For a brief moment, he considered heading to the city market, to look for something he could absorb. But then reality hit him—he didn't even have a single coin on him. Even if he found something useful, he wouldn't be able to buy it. Instead of frustrating himself with pointless hopes, it was better to stay put. For now, his top priority was absorbing four more Iron Bamboo to reach the required number. He wasn't sure what would happen after that, but he was certainly looking forward to finding out.
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"Oh! You're here too?" As Lin Kai reached his residence, a voice greeted him. A young man lounged on a wooden chair just outside the building, lazily basking in the warmth of the sun.
"Hmm…" Lin Kai just nodded before heading inside his room and pulling out a chair to sit beside the man. Since they had joined the Ji family on the same day, instead of remaining strangers, it was better to get to know others. Who knew when he might need their help?
"Where are the others?" Puzzled, Lin Kai looked around, hoping to find the remaining three. But no matter how long he looked, he couldn't even see their shadows.
"Heh..." To Lin Kai's question, the man just chuckled, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. His eyes gleamed with amusement as he looked off into the distance, as though recalling something funny.
"They went to check if it was really a day off. And guess what?" His smile widened into a mischievous grin, and his excitement was barely contained.
"What?" Lin Kai asked, genuinely puzzled now. Something interesting must have happened for him to be so eager to share.
"Well," the man leaned forward, lowering his voice, "Unlike you and me, those three work in the kitchens, on the farms, and with the cattle. When they went to ask their stewards if it was truly their day off, guess what they were told?"
Lin Kai raised an eyebrow, waiting for the punchline.
"Since you're already here, there's no need for a day off. Just go ahead and do your work." The man imitated the stewards' stern voices, before bursting into laughter, practically doubling over with amusement at their misfortune.
Lin Kai's lips twitched. He was thankful he hadn't come across anyone in the clearing earlier, or he would've been stuck working too. Even though he could finish his tasks in seconds, he wouldn't have enjoyed wasting his day there in boredom.
"Hahahahaha…" The man's laughter echoed around them. After a moment, he wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, catching his breath.
"Ahem," he cleared his throat, composing himself. He straightened up, glancing at Lin Kai with a sudden change of demeanor. "I never introduced myself. My name's Bo Qin."
Bo Qin waited, watching Lin Kai expectantly. Though the boy in front of him was younger than himself, he didn't mind making friends with him. After all, those older in age are usually stoic and have many hidden thoughts.
"I am Lin Kai." Straightening his back, Lin Kai too gave his short introduction.
"Hey... what about that guy who was taken after we tested out martial arts talent?" Lin kai suddenly asked this question. Of the six people who entered together, one was taken by the steward, while the rest of them were assigned as servants here. He wanted to know what his situation was right now. It wasn't because he was worried about him, but just to satisfy his curiosity. It would be nice to know what became of him.
Bo Qin's expression darkened momentarily, jealousy flashing across his face. "Oh, him? He was recruited as a Ji family guard."
He paused before continuing, a bitter smile creeping up his face. "I heard his treatment is a million times better than ours. Not only does he get to eat meat every day, but they're also teaching him martial arts."
Bo Qin couldn't help but let out a rueful chuckle. It stung, knowing that just because the man's talent was a little better, he was living a life leagues above theirs.
It wasn't that Bo Qin was ungrateful. Compared to his previous life—wandering the streets as a beggar, struggling to fill his stomach—the treatment at the Ji family was like a dream. But still, jealousy was only natural when someone who once stood beside you was now leagues ahead.
"I see." Lin Kai nodded thoughtfully, but unlike Bo Qin, he felt no envy. If he wanted, he could easily reveal his strength as an eighth-grade martial artist. By then, his treatment would surpass even that of the guards. But there was no need for that. Lin Kai had learned to rely on himself. For now, he had no intention of exposing his abilities.
In his previous life, he'd been eager to display his programming talent from a young age, and in the end, it had only led to exploitation. In the end, he was exploited till his death.
He wasn't going to make the same mistake in this life. Everything was perfect now—he didn't have to worry about food or shelter. He could complete his daily tasks in seconds and spend the rest of the day relaxing. If anyone discovered his true strength, those peaceful days would be over.
With those thoughts in mind, Lin Kai leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and basked in the warmth of the sun, savoring the quiet, unhurried life that he had always longed for.