Beside the thatched cottage, a clay pot simmered with steam on the stove.
A thick herbal aroma wafted through the small courtyard.
Standing by the stove, Zhang Yuan watched the medicine brew to the right consistency, grabbed the pot by the handle, and poured the dark medicinal liquid into a bowl beside him.
He then carried it into Mother Zhang's room.
"Mother, you need to drink this while it's hot. Let it cool for a bit first, and then you can have it."
He blew softly on the steaming medicinal liquid and placed it on the small table by the bed.
This was herbal medicine Zhang Yuan had specifically bought for his mother from the county town's pharmacy earlier.
Due to excessive labor, Mother Zhang's health had deteriorated significantly, leading to prolonged weakness and illness.
Although a doctor had previously prescribed medicine, they never had enough money to buy the expensive ingredients; they just dragged on like this.
Fortunately, it didn't worsen into a severe illness.
Now that Zhang Yuan had come into some unexpected money, he naturally wanted to find a way to restore his mother's health.
Mother Zhang leaned against the bed with a faint smile: "Yuanwa'Er, I can still manage. You should save the money and buy more grain and rice."
Zhang Yuan had a large appetite from a young age but had seldom eaten a full meal over the years.
When Zhang Yuan finally managed to support the family, Master Chen suddenly arrived in the village, demanding labor and repairs to the ancestral hall, mercilessly exploiting outsiders.
It looked like life was going to be difficult again.
Although Mother Zhang didn't know where Zhang Yuan had acquired silver taels for conscription and medicine,
she instinctively wanted to save for her son.
"I've also bought grains and oil."
Zhang Yuan explained: "Don't worry, Mother, I've found a way to make money, and we won't go hungry anymore!"
A sense of bitterness welled up in his heart.
It had been five years since memories from his past life awoke, and only now had he solved the issue of having enough to eat.
It was truly a helpless situation.
"Yuanwa'Er!"
Mother Zhang suddenly sat up and tightly grasped Zhang Yuan's wrist.
Her eyes were filled with tension and heaviness as she said solemnly, "Do you remember the Zhang Family's ancestral motto?"
"Of course, I remember!"
Zhang Yuan replied firmly, "Starve rather than steal, die poor rather than serve as a slave. The Zhang Family's ancestral motto has always been in my heart."
He gently patted his mother's withered hand and softly said, "And I've never committed a crime!"
Seeing Zhang Yuan's resolute stance, Mother Zhang finally sighed with relief, unable to resist lifting her hand to touch his face: "Child, you've suffered so much all these years."
Zhang Yuan smiled and said, "It wasn't that tough."
He picked up the medicine bowl from the small table, blew on it a few more times, and handed it to his mother: "It should be ready now, be careful, it's hot."
"Hmm."
Mother Zhang took the medicine bowl and drank the herbal liquid, one sip at a time.
The medicine tasted very bitter.
But she felt none of it; instead, it was like drinking sweet nectar.
After drinking the medicine, Mother Zhang quickly closed her eyes and leaned against the headboard, falling into a deep sleep.
Zhang Yuan carefully helped his mother lie down, then quietly left the room.
The moment he stepped into the small courtyard outside, he heard noisy commotion coming from outside the door—someone had come!
Zhang Yuan's eyes flashed, and he immediately opened the door to go out.
There, Steward Zhang was approaching the door with two household servants, almost running into him.
"Hmph!"
Steward Zhang halted and let out a cold snort, asking with a forced smile, "Zhang Yuan, the three-day limit is up. Have you gathered the silver taels for conscription?"
He gazed at Zhang Yuan with a sinister look, like a venomous snake staring at its prey.
Sending a chill down one's spine!
Zhang Yuan responded calmly, "I've gathered it."
He turned back to his room, fetched a cloth bag, returned to the door, and handed it to him: "Count it."
Steward Zhang, surprised, took the money bag, weighed it, and then poured all the silver coins inside out to count them.
He was evidently thrown off, not expecting Zhang Yuan to have really collected five taels of conscription silver.
As if re-evaluating Zhang Yuan, Steward Zhang said scornfully, "Consider yourself wise."
He signaled to the household servants beside him: "Let's go!"
"Wait!"
Zhang Yuan suddenly spoke to stop them.
Steward Zhang's expression changed instantly, and the two household servants' eyes turned fierce.
Oblivious to their reactions, Zhang Yuan asked sternly, "Steward, aren't you forgetting to give me a receipt?"
Without a receipt, how could anyone prove he'd paid the full conscription silver?
There were no villagers present to bear witness!
Steward Zhang was momentarily taken aback, then laughed, "Oh, my memory!"
He took paper and pen from one of the household servants and quickly wrote a receipt for Zhang Yuan, sealing it with a stamp.
It appeared quite formal.
Zhang Yuan took the receipt and watched as the group of jackals left.
He was well aware that if they decided to be dishonest, then the receipt would be as good as waste paper.
But clearly, Steward Zhang didn't intend to cause further trouble; perhaps yesterday's eerie incident had left him apprehensive, deterring him from overreaching within the village.
This ordeal was finally over.
But only for the moment!
Zhang Yuan watched the receding figure of Steward Zhang, a sharp killing intent flashing in his eyes.
Yet, Steward Zhang was unaware that he was already on Zhang Yuan's must-kill list. After walking some distance, he remarked coldly, "Who would've thought this lad could really come up with five taels of silver."
One of the household servants beside him said, "I heard from villagers that he went to the county town this morning to sell Zhang Clan's dowry jewelry."
"Hmm!"
Steward Zhang sneered, "So, there's still some richness. We're not in a rush; we'll squeeze him slowly over time."
The two household servants exchanged knowing smiles.
To them, Zhang Yuan was like meat on a chopping block, destined to be devoured until nothing was left, not even bones.
Everyone admired Steward Zhang's methods.
A bunch of mud-legged villagers couldn't stand against him!
The trio headed for the next household.
The strange and eerie only evoke fear when infiltrating the village; otherwise, there's nothing to fear.
Failing to complete Master Chen's tasks is what's truly terrifying!
Standing at his doorstep, Zhang Yuan heard the pleading and crying from not far away.
It was another household on the conscription list.
He closed the door expressionlessly.
Zhang Yuan clenched his fists.
The desire to grow stronger had never been so intense and overwhelming!
He opened the Divine Nest panel.
[Host: Zhang Yuan]
[Divine Nest: Level 1 (15%)]
[Host: Level 2 Black Giant Ant (6%)/Fourfold Strength]
[Qi Blood: 72/75]
[Source Material: 0]
The Divine Nest's first host, the Black Giant Ant, had upgraded!
Relying on all the Source Material previously invested, it had evolved from Level 1 to Level 2, its innate ability becoming Fourfold Strength!
Zhang Yuan, who was already strong, could lift over two hundred pounds, and with the empowerment from the Level 1 Black Giant Ant, he could exert a force of four to five hundred pounds.
This was the key reason he could kill Nurse Sun, the Entering Force Martial Artist.
And now, with the Black Giant Ant's upgrade, Zhang Yuan's explosive strength could reach eight or nine hundred pounds or even close to a thousand.
Could he be stronger than a Tier One Light Force Martial Artist?
There was no way to measure it for now.
But his confidence soared!