"Slaughter the pigs! Slaughter the pigs!"
A cheerful chant echoed through the weed-covered courtyard.
After a peaceful night, Fang Ling woke up early the next day.
His patched shirt was stained with blood, and the strong stench made it too frightening to wear outside.
So he wore a cotton-padded jacket instead.
It was springtime, and though the chill hadn't completely left, it wasn't too warm for such clothes either.
After eating and drinking his fill, he immediately headed toward the butcher shop.
When he arrived, the fat butcher was still unloading goods.
"Fatty, I'm here to see you again," Fang Ling approached, smiling and waving.
"Who is it?" The butcher wiped the sweat off his forehead with a cloth tied around his neck and turned around in surprise.
"Oh! Isn't this... uh…"
The butcher searched his memory and realized he didn't actually know this crippled little beggar's name.
He'd always just called him "cripple," but that wouldn't do now, since the kid might become a soul master.
"I've named myself Fang Ling," the boy said softly.
"Fang Ling, right!"
The butcher nodded vigorously, his face lighting up with a big smile. "Young Fang, are you here because you finished those two pieces of meat?"
Seeing the butcher about to cut him another portion, Fang Ling quickly stopped him.
"No, thank you. I did come here for a reason, but not for meat."
Not for meat, then for money?
The butcher looked a bit nervous and held his breath. Fang Ling continued, "I want to work at the slaughterhouse. I was hoping you could help me get in."
"The slaughterhouse, huh."
The butcher breathed a little easier but still found it strange.
"You've got level one soul power, you can become a soul master in the future. Why work in a filthy place like that instead of focusing on cultivation?"
"I've got no money."
Fang Ling spread his hands.
"I may be a beggar, but I've got dignity. I can't keep coming to you and freeloading meat forever."
"I don't mind…" the butcher began.
"But I do. I don't like owing people too many favors. I'll feel better earning money through labor."
Fang Ling explained his reasoning.
"Besides, I want to become a battle soul master. Thinking about the fights I'll face in the future gets my blood pumping. It's better to get used to blood early on."
His hand clenched into a fist, and the torchlight reflected in his dark eyes, as if he were solemnly making a vow to himself.
Seeing his determination, the butcher couldn't bring himself to refuse.
After a moment, he said, "I'll take you."
"Thank you, Fatty! I'll definitely repay your kindness in the future!" Fang Ling said gratefully.
"Heh, but you can't go like that. Change your clothes first," the butcher nodded, wiping the grease off his hands and tugging distastefully at Fang Ling's ragged coat.
"It doesn't need to be fancy. Just some coarse cloth will do, it's dirty work anyway."
"But not beggar rags."
Fang Ling gave an awkward smile. "I don't have any other clothes."
"I'll take you to buy some."
"You watch the shop," the butcher said, summoning a helper from the back room. He then waved to Fang Ling, "Let's go. I'll take you now."
Fang Ling was moved to tears and couldn't help but bounce a little with excitement. "Thank you, Fatty! When I become a strong soul master, I'll definitely repay you!"
"Let's hope so. If you become a great soul master, just don't forget about this old butcher."
The butcher didn't know much about soul masters, but he knew they were ranked from level one to ten.
Level one was the lowest. Other than level zero, there wasn't anything worse.
But even so, it meant you had the potential to become a soul master.
And besides, this crippled little beggar had a light in his eyes, what if he really made it?
Helping him get into the slaughterhouse cost nothing. Why not do it?
"Don't worry, I won't forget!"
They bought a set of coarse cloth clothes that fit Fang Ling. Though it was rough, he was absolutely thrilled.
After checking in with the city gate guards, the butcher led the newly dressed Fang Ling outside the city.
"Because of the strong smell and for easier trade, the slaughterhouse is located outside the city. Mainly pigs are slaughtered there, with some cattle and sheep."
"Since this is a trade hub between two countries and lots of people pass through Notting City, they have to kill at least dozens of pigs a day to meet demand."
"With your skinny frame, you'll probably only be able to do some odd jobs."
"That's fine. Helping out is good enough," Fang Ling said, knowing his current weakness, thin and not very strong. He wouldn't be killing many pigs himself.
But over time, he could still build something up.
Plus, his stats increased on their own each year, and with hard training, his level would rise fast.
Outside the city, near the slaughterhouse.
Before they even got close, the familiar stench reached Fang Ling's nose.
It was a nauseating yet strangely thrilling smell of fresh blood.
There was also the pungent scent of fermented soil and hay, horse manure.
The mixed odors were overwhelmingly foul.
Worse than the ruined courtyard he'd been living in.
The butcher instinctively waved his large hand in front of his nose.
Of course, it did nothing.
As a meat vendor, he was used to the smell from coming here daily.
They passed several carts loaded with goods. The butcher smiled and greeted a skinny old man, "Uncle Liu."
The old man was sitting nearby, drinking water from a bowl. When he heard the voice, he looked over in surprise.
"Fatty? Didn't you already pick up your meat for the day? What are you doing back?"
He glanced at Fang Ling and pointed a finger, "Why'd you bring a kid here?"
The butcher leaned in and said, "Uncle Liu, this young man has level one innate soul power. He wants to become a battle soul master and asked to work here, to see some blood."
"A soul master? In our place?"
The old man clunked his bowl down and looked at Fang Ling with curious eyes. "A work-study student?"
Soul masters were precious and used to being above others.
Only broke, background-less work-study students would be willing to work in a place like this.
"Yes, a work-study student!"
"A cripple wants to be a battle soul master?"
The old man smacked his lips and took a pipe from the wall.
"What's wrong with being a cripple? Cripples can become soul masters too! I may be like this now, but I'll be amazing someday!"
Fang Ling raised his arm and struck a bodybuilding pose.
He showed off his not-so-impressive biceps.
The old man laughed. "You're a funny kid."
"Grandpa Liu, would you be willing to take me in?" Fang Ling asked with hopeful, nervous eyes.
"Can you endure hardship?"
Uncle Liu knocked the pipe against the wall and couldn't hide his smile when he heard that respectful "Grandpa Liu."
"I can! Of course I can!"
Fang Ling didn't dare claim much else, but when it came to suffering, he was confident.
"I used to be a beggar, what kind of hardship haven't I endured?"
"Good kid. Then follow us."
He patted Fang Ling on the shoulder encouragingly, then waved the butcher away. "Alright, Fatty, get lost. I'll show him around."
"Thank you, Uncle Liu. I'll leave young Fang to you, then."
The butcher bowed and grinned, giving Fang Ling a fist pump for encouragement before turning to leave.
"What's your name? Just awakened your martial spirit?" Uncle Liu squatted down to look at the undernourished Fang Ling, who barely stood a meter tall.
"My name is Fang Ling. I just awakened my martial spirit."
Fang Ling smiled at him and summoned his scythe. The sharp metal glint made Uncle Liu nod in approval.
It looked deadly, a good spirit indeed.
"What do you want to do here?"
"Of course, slaughter pigs!"
"There's a whole process, fasting, restraining, slaughtering, bleeding, dehairing, and cleaning…"
Fang Ling's eyes sparkled. "I'm going to be a battle soul master. I'll be killing people. I want to slaughter!"
"Good kid! From beggar to soul master, you really are something special!"
Uncle Liu's usually squinted eyes opened wide, and he let out an approving exclamation.
"There'll be some pigs to kill soon. I'll show you the tools we use first."
He knocked out the ash from his pipe, exhaled a puff of smoke, hung the pipe back on the wall hook, and slowly walked off in a direction.
"Alright, thank you, Grandpa Liu."
Fang Ling followed him, clenched his fists, and took a deep breath.
In his heart, he was thrilled: "Point accumulation plan, success!"
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