The Dà Hóng Dynasty had unified the realm for over three hundred years, and its laws were strictly enforced; the ‘Convict Household’ system was a testament to this.
Those who committed heinous crimes had their entire clan implicated. Their descendants, generation after generation, became Convict Households: women served as slaves, men as laborers. Unless they achieved great merit for the nation, they would never be able to rise again.
Liang Xin had been a member of a Convict Household since birth. He had no right to eat meat, no right to wear new clothes, no right to attend school and learn to read, and even less right to leave the path specifically designated for Convict Households by the yamen, to see the bustling world outside even once.
Liang Xin was eight years old this year. When he turned fourteen, he would immediately be assigned by the yamen, either to serve as a soldier guarding the frontier, or to break rocks, mine, clear land… In short, all were extremely dangerous and grueling tasks with a high mortality rate. According to Dà Hóng law, if he could endure until the age of twenty without dying, he could return for three years, find a female Convict Household member, marry, and have children, after which he would resume forced labor for six years…
Six years of labor, three years of rest – a Convict Household member's life would repeat in this cycle. However, the vast majority did not have the good fortune to survive past their second 'six-year' term. Liang Xin's father, in fact, died during his second 'six-year' term, succumbing to an illness from prolonged hardship, spitting blood.
Their family had been Convict Households for three hundred years. No one remembered what heinous crime the Liang family ancestors had committed to implicate their descendants and condemn them to such suffering!
Liang Xin now vaguely understood his future fate, but he used his childlike innocence to mask this heavy burden. All day long, he would laugh and chatter happily. Every evening, he would sit on the rooftop, his eyes fixed on the night sky. When a shooting star streaked across, he would hastily make a silent wish.
His wish, originally: "I want to achieve great merit so that Mother and I don't have to be Convict Households anymore," gradually simplified until it became: "merit." But shooting stars only flashed by and disappeared, and their appearance gave no prior warning. Even a two-word wish was too quick to utter.
Tonight, Liang Xin sat on the rooftop as usual, anxiously waiting for a shooting star to appear. Suddenly, a faint voice drifted up from the ground: "Child on the roof, is the household below you the Liang family?"
Liang Xin started. He looked down. A short, thin person stood not far away, looking up at him timidly.
The person was approximately forty years old. His appearance was humble, and his body was so thin and small, like a consumptive. On his face was a very large, coin-shaped birthmark, making him seem uglier the more one looked.
The consumptive-looking man seemed very nervous. His eyes darted about; he basically didn't dare to meet Liang Xin's gaze. Occasionally, he would glance at him, then quickly look away. In addition, his face was sallow and pale, and three sparse strands of beard remained under his chin, making him appear both pathetic and comical.
Liang Xin felt puzzled. He didn't recognize this person; he surely wasn't from the Convict Household district. But apart from officials and soldiers, no outsiders were allowed to enter this place. Nimble-limbed, he climbed down from the rooftop: "Yes, it's the Liang family. What do you want with us?"
Only then did Liang Xin realize that the other person was half a head shorter than him.
The consumptive-looking man replied very cautiously: "I'm not looking for *your* household; I'm looking for *the* Liang family."
Liang Xin couldn't help but laugh. "In the dead of night, I'm sitting on the roof of the Liang family house, stargazing. So of course, I'm a member of the Liang family!"
The Tuberculosis Ghost blinked in surprise, then after a moment, suddenly realized, "That makes sense!" With that, he suddenly glided forward, almost pressing his face against Liang Xin's, carefully scrutinizing his appearance. A hesitant look appeared on his sorrowful face. "Looking closely, there's a resemblance...!"
"A ghost!" Liang Xin felt his hair stand on end. He shrieked, stumbled back a few steps, and finally collapsed onto the ground.
This person had flown here, gliding without his feet touching the ground...
The Tuberculosis Ghost was even more frightened than Liang Xin, his face filled with panic. His gnarled arms flailed desperately. "Don't be scared, don't be scared, I won't hurt you, and I can't hurt you anyway... Besides, in your state, what could I possibly do to harm you?"
Liang Xin stared at him, trembling as he asked, "Are you really a ghost?"
The Tuberculosis Ghost offered a placating smile, cautiously nodding. "Don't be afraid, my magic power is very weak. I absolutely can't beat you, can't beat you, much less harm you."
With that, the Tuberculosis Ghost flipped his hands, producing a package wrapped in oil paper, and fumbled to open it.
Liang Xin suddenly froze, his eyes fixed on the oil-paper package in the Tuberculosis Ghost's hands. His gaze revealed surprise and greed. "This is... This is meat?" A wondrous aroma wafted from the package, making his mouth suddenly water, and even his stomach rumbled loudly!
Seeing Liang Xin's expression, the Tuberculosis Ghost's eyes softened slightly. He said softly, "This is meat, braised beef from Ju Fu Restaurant. Eating it will increase your strength." With that, he pressed the package of braised beef into Liang Xin's small palm.
Liang Xin was utterly stunned.
Eating meat was something even the poorest households dared not dream of, let alone Liang Xin, who had never even seen meat in his life, much less tasted it.
After carefully tearing off a small piece and putting it into his mouth, Liang Xin suddenly cried out in alarm. He clutched the package of braised beef, turned, and ran into the house, vigorously shaking Liang Shi awake. She had long since fallen into a deep sleep from years of arduous labor.
When the Tuberculosis Ghost glided into the house, the mother and son, having even forgotten about their little ghost guest, were giggling foolishly, tearing off tiny pieces from the meat and feeding them to each other...
The Tuberculosis Ghost took a deep breath, turned, and left through the door. After a long while, he returned, his face bruised and battered, but carrying a sizable sack on his back. Back at the Liang family home, he set the heavy sack from his shoulder onto the table, revealing: roasted chicken, braised duck, stewed eggs, goat salad...
Liang Shi, who was extremely plain-looking, stared wide-eyed and open-mouthed at a table overflowing with food—things she had never seen before, let alone imagined. For a moment, she didn't know what to say.
Liang Xin was comparatively calmer. He cautiously stepped in front of his mother. "Your face..."
The Tuberculosis Ghost curled his lips, revealing a few uneven, crooked teeth. "My magic power is too weak. I was discovered when I stole these foods."
The Tuberculosis Ghost was merely a petty, low-level ghost. If he manifested, he couldn't avoid the fists and kicks of mortals, but if he remained invisible, he couldn't pick up anything from the human world.
Lương Tân's face was full of gratitude. He nodded and asked, "Who exactly are you, and what brings you to our home...?" Then, as if something occurred to him, a look of heartfelt joy suddenly bloomed on his small face. He stared intently at the Tuberculosis Ghost and asked loudly, "Are you my father?!"
"No!" Lương-shi and the little ghost exclaimed in unison, both startled.
"Then who are you?" Lương Tân, surprisingly not disappointed, continued to ask.
The Tuberculosis Ghost hastily explained, "I am a retainer of Lương Nhất Nhị, and Lương Nhất Nhị is your family's ancestor."
Lương Tân turned to look at his mother. Lương-shi immediately shook her head. She had no idea her husband's family had such an immortal ancestor, nor had she ever heard of this Tuberculosis Ghost.
The Tuberculosis Ghost's tone was timid and shy from beginning to end. When speaking, he didn't dare to look the other person in the eye:
"Over three hundred years ago, I died unjustly. Because my resentment was too deep, my soul could not dissipate. Seeing my enemy right before me, yet powerless to take revenge, I could only use my meager magic to constantly torment them. But unexpectedly, this led to the pursuit of ghost-messengers. Just as my soul was about to be scattered, Lord Lương happened to pass by, saved my life, helped me clarify my injustice, and personally slew my enemy. From that moment on, I swore to forever be a part of the Lương family. Lord Lương gave me a name: Feng Jiji (Gentle Breeze)..."
Lương Tân's eyes grew brighter and brighter as he asked in quick succession, "Lord Lương? My ancestor was a high-ranking official? He could even repel ghost-messengers? Was he an immortal?"
The little ghost Feng Jiji honestly replied:
"Lord Lương was a great official, and his abilities were very high. Compared to an immortal, I don't think it's an exaggeration to say he was just as capable. However, Lord Lương had a mortal body, and ultimately, only a hundred years of life... Later, Lord Lương encountered assassins. I was affected by that fierce battle, severely wounded, and fell into a deep sleep for three hundred years. When I awoke, Lord Lương had already ascended to immortality. I spent a great deal of effort to finally discover that Lord Lương had later offended the Emperor, was sentenced to death by beheading, and his descendants were forever branded as 'Criminal Households' (Tội Hộ). To find you all, I wandered everywhere, and finally, thanks to King Yama's grace, I was able to come and repay my debt of gratitude." Feng Jiji's voice, which had started out mournful and distressed, then became joyful and comforting.
Lương Tân hastily pressed, "So what crime did our ancestor commit?"
Feng Jiji shook his head, his face full of self-reproach, and replied, "I couldn't find that out. My magic is too weak; I can't enter the yamen."
Lương-shi finally regained her composure. Her expression shifted from astonishment to hesitation, and finally to determination. She suddenly pulled Lương Tân down with her to kneel before the little ghost, stammering, "You are a ghost, you must have other abilities. Please, I beg you, for the sake of your loyalty to the Lương family ancestor, take this child away..."
Phong Tap Tap was so scared his ghostly face turned deathly pale. He immediately knelt down, kowtowing desperately to Liang Xin and his mother. "I, I don't have such great power. I can't save you. I'm so sorry, so sorry! But I will always be by your side, secretly stealing meat for you to eat... If Young Master's health improves, he can survive the suffering. And, and!" Phong Tap Tap was on the verge of tears. "I'll steal martial arts manuals for Young Master to practice kung fu. Once he has the skills, he'll have a chance to escape... He was an honest man in life, and as a ghost, he was even more devoted and sincere. After three hundred years, he still painstakingly searched for Liang Yiyi's descendants to repay his debt of gratitude."
Phong Tap Tap was just a low-level ghost with meager abilities. He couldn't even defeat a mortal, let alone lead Liang Xin and his mother to escape. He only dared to appear in the middle of the night; the daytime sun caused him immense harm.
That night, eight-year-old Liang Xin saw a ghost for the first time, tasted meat for the first time, and heard stories of his ancestors for the first time.
Liang Xin was just a child, and Madam Liang toiled all day. After midnight, the mother and son couldn't hold on any longer and fell into a deep sleep. Phong Tap Tap immediately set to work. First, he cleaned the room, then took the clothes and military boots to wash and mend, sharing some of Madam Liang's chores. He only concealed his form and vanished when the morning light appeared.
The next day, Liang Xin woke up in a daze. He was still a little unsure if the events of the previous night had been a beautiful dream. When he opened his eyes, he saw Madam Liang sitting beside him, looking at him with a worried expression.
Liang Xin quickly sat up. "Mother, what's wrong?"
Madam Liang also came from a family of convicts. Apart from endless labor, she had basically never interacted with the outside world, nor did she possess any knowledge or opinions of her own. Her voice was a little hesitant as she spoke: "Phong Tap Tap is a minor ghost. For him to seek you out, I'm afraid it might be a bad omen..."
Liang Xin chuckled, stretching his back as he said, "What could be worse than our current situation!" He then comforted Madam Liang with a few words, got out of bed, washed his face, and prepared to help his mother with her work.
After a crude lunch, Liang Xin went to bed and slept until sunset, refreshed for Phong Tap Tap's arrival.
But today, Phong Tap Tap did not come as promised. Liang Xin sat on the roof, waiting until dawn. Exhausted, he returned to his small bed, a deep disappointment in his eyes.
For three consecutive days, Phong Tap Tap did not appear. Liang Xin stayed awake every night, waiting in agony. His already frail body became even more emaciated and pitiful.
On the fourth day, Liang Xin decided not to wait anymore. But that night, he still couldn't resist climbing onto the roof to sit.
It wasn't until midnight, as Liang Xin drifted between sleep and wakefulness, that he suddenly felt someone gently shaking him. He squinted his eyes open and saw Phong Tap Tap standing timidly before him!
Liang Xin forcefully pulled himself out of his daze and back to full awareness. His eyes showed both joy and a touch of grievance. Before he could say anything, Phong Tap Tap spoke in a flustered, fearful tone: "To make Young Master wait for me, to make Young Master lose sleep..."
Phong Tap Tap was still as timid and shy as he had been at their previous meeting, his expression filled with self-reproach. However, compared to their first encounter, his body was even more tattered, and he had even lost his left arm!
Liang Xin hurriedly led the little ghost into the house. As soon as they entered the room, Phong Tap Tap hastily fumbled in his chest and pulled out a roasted chicken, then took out a thin booklet with human figures drawn on it, his face beaming with joy: "This is the martial arts manual!"
Liang Xin took the greasy martial arts manual from his hand, but his gaze was fixed on Phong Tap Tap's missing left arm: "What happened to you?" Phong Tap Tap smiled somewhat awkwardly and said, "The martial arts manual could only be obtained from martial artists, but most martial artists are robust and full of yang energy. Well, my spiritual power is too weak, so I had to try my utmost to get it, which is why I'm late. As a result, they discovered me, and to escape, I had no choice but to sacrifice an arm. But at least I managed to steal the manual in the end."
Before he could finish speaking, Liang Xin burst into tears. Liang Shi, who had just woken up, also silently shed tears.
Phong Tap Tap flusteredly and hurriedly whispered words of comfort and reassurance: "This, young master, I am a yin-body spirit. Losing an arm only hurts a little; it's nothing to worry about."
Chapter 1: The Taste of Beef (3)
As soon as he finished speaking, Liang Xin suddenly knelt before Phong Tap Tap: "I am not a young master, I, I..." Liang Xin didn't know how to express himself, and for a long time, he couldn't quite articulate that "I." Finally, an idea flashed through his mind: "You are my father! Be my foster father!"
The little ghost was so startled it flew wildly around the room, unable to utter a single sound.
The child and the ghost argued for a long time. In the end, each side took a step back: Liang Xin called Phong Tap Tap "Shu," and Phong Tap Tap would henceforth call Liang Xin by his given name.
After standing up again, Liang Xin's heart was filled with joy. He called out to the little ghost: "Uncle Phong!"
Uncle Phong awkwardly rubbed his palms together: "My surname isn't Phong. The name Phong Tap Tap was bestowed upon me by Lord Liang. I am the Lord's ghost servant, so naturally, I also bear the surname Liang."
Liang Xin happily opened his mouth and said: "Liang Phong Tap Tap, then that means... Old Uncle!"
The Old Uncle was overjoyed, his withered face blooming with joy. He hurriedly and continuously nodded in agreement.
From that day on, Phong Tap Tap came to the Sinners' Quarter every night, always carrying some food in his chest. Besides helping Liang Shi with some of the heavy chores, he also taught Liang Xin to read and write.
Sometimes, Phong Tap Tap would also pick some herbs from outside. After cooking them, he would give them to Liang Xin to nourish his body. Of course, they weren't precious medicinal ingredients, but they had some nourishing effect on the child's development.
Liang Xin's miserable days immediately became much richer. Apart from eating and sleeping, all his remaining time was dedicated to practicing martial arts and reading. When he had a little free time, he would cling to Phong Tap Tap, demanding stories about the outside world.
When Phong Tap Tap was alive, he was an ordinary person who had only studied at a private school for a few years. He could barely teach Liang Xin to recognize characters. However, he couldn't practice martial arts himself. Fortunately, someone had carefully annotated the martial arts manual. Liang Xin, having come from hardship, wasn't afraid of a little more difficulty, so he diligently practiced according to the manual.
This martial arts manual wasn't considered profound; it was 'Taizu Long Fist', one of the most common martial arts widely circulated in the Central Plains. Based on Feng Jiji's abilities, he could only manage to steal this kind of common martial arts manual.
Taizu Long Fist is an external martial art, purely about punching and kicking, building thick skin and strong bones. Although hard training in it wouldn't make one a master, it still had the effect of strengthening the body and improving agility. Furthermore, since his uncle brought him meat to eat every night, Liang Xin's body developed healthily. Although he wasn't burly, his muscles were well-defined and solid.
Sometimes, Liang Xin would pester Feng Jiji to tell him stories about his ancestors from three hundred years ago. Whenever this topic came up, Feng Jiji would shake his head with a wry smile. It wasn't that he refused to tell, but rather that he genuinely didn't know much.
Although Feng Jiji was Liang Yiyi's ghost servant, his spiritual power was too weak. He couldn't withstand the yang energy of the yamen, so while nominally master and servant, he didn't have many opportunities to serve by his side.
Seasons came and went, stars rotated, and four years passed in the blink of an eye. Liang Xin transformed from an eight-year-old child into a twelve-year-old youth. He grew up without any particular distinguishing features: dark skin, small eyes. He looked much like other village children, even showing a hint of simplicity and good nature.
Besides a bit of martial arts skill, Liang Xin had also gained some understanding of the outside world. He could even write a few wobbly, crooked sentences expressing his thoughts, which delighted his uncle and mother endlessly.
For the past few years, Feng Jiji had hidden in desolate graves during the day. At midnight, he would come to teach Liang Xin and help Liang Shi with her work. He neither listened nor inquired about matters of the outside world, smiling happily all day long.
One early morning, Feng Jiji had left just minutes before. Liang Xin had finished his fist routine and was about to go to bed when suddenly, the thunderous sound of horse hooves echoed from the main road!
The riders were all yamen runners. They galloped continuously through the Criminal Households district, shouting loudly: "By imperial decree, Criminal Households are conscripted for 'Mountain-Opening and Slaughter-Breaking'! All those exactly twelve years old must report immediately! Heaven bless Da Hong!"
Following this, a large contingent of soldiers, led by yamen constables, entered the Criminal Households district. All boys exactly twelve years old were taken away.
The Criminal Households district immediately erupted in chaos, like a shattered bird's nest. For over three hundred years, since the founding of Da Hong, the rule had been that criminal households were only conscripted for forced labor at fourteen years old, but this time it had changed to twelve.
The Criminal Households district, isolated from the outside world, had no idea what major event had truly occurred. Nor did they understand the true meaning of 'Mountain-Opening and Slaughter-Breaking' from the yamen runners' mouths.
There was no need to ask; everyone could understand. These four words, 'Mountain-Opening and Slaughter-Breaking', were even more terrifying than mining, serving as border guards, or quarrying—tasks from which nine out of ten never returned!
Horses neighed, dogs barked, children cried, mothers called out. At this moment, across Da Hong's nine prefectures and thirty-one commanderies, every Criminal Households district in every city was thrown into utter chaos!
Liang Xin was likewise pulled away from his mother's arms by the soldiers. Liang Shi desperately rushed forward. A fierce-looking soldier raised his leg to kick her, but a constable swung his fist to stop him.
The constable said coldly, "We are all born of mothers and raised by fathers. This soldier should not be so overbearing!"
The young soldier didn't dare argue with the constable; he chuckled awkwardly twice, then turned and left. The constable bent down and reached out, holding back Mrs. Lương, who was still trying to rush forward. He said coldly, "You'll die, the child will die, and none of you will live."
Lương Tan's shout echoed from outside: "Mother, wait for me to come back for you!"
The constable, whose face was usually stern when making arrests, unexpectedly broke into a smile. "Good lad!"
He then quickly stepped outside, pointed at Lương Tan, and said to the other yamen runners and soldiers, "No one is allowed to hit him!"
The commotion and struggle lasted less than an hour. The entire criminal household district fell into a heavy silence. All youths aged twelve and above were dragged from their homes by the fierce, wolf-like soldiers. The plain-faced mothers sat dazed and bewildered on the street, their eyes fixed on the end of the road…
Lương Tan, along with countless other young criminal citizens, was escorted by the soldiers towards the west. They didn't know where they were going, nor what they would be made to do.
However, for these youths, the initial fear and panic gradually gave way to curiosity about many new things. This was the first time they had left the Criminal Household District and seen the wider world.
It was springtime, the world was a blend of green and red hues, with white clouds and gentle breezes, and lush scenery everywhere.
Along the way, they continuously merged with other groups from criminal households, and their numbers grew steadily… Later, however, another contingent from the Criminal Households arrived to join them, but their numbers were extremely small, and almost everyone was injured.
Upon inquiry from the curious, they learned that this contingent, while fleeing, had coincidentally encountered two Eight-Part cultivators battling. When immortals fight, mortals suffer. The original group of nearly a thousand people was ultimately left with just over a hundred survivors. Those who died had been caught in the immense power of flying swords, magical artifacts, and divine spells, perishing without a burial place.