Chapter 4: Better to Die Poor than Live as a Slave
In the stillness of the night, Zhang Yuan tossed and turned on his bed, unable to sleep.
It wasn't the heat that kept him awake, but the intense internal heat surging through his body, causing his blood to boil and sweat to pour.
Earlier that evening, Zhang Yuan had eaten an entire can of braised venison—his first time ever experiencing the feeling of eating so much meat he was full.
Venison has a warming, dry nature. Combined with Zhang Yuan's naturally strong internal heat and his overeating, the outcome was predictable.
Unable to sleep, Zhang Yuan got up quietly and left his room.
He went to the small courtyard outside, glanced around under the moonlight to ensure nothing was amiss, and then activated the first parasitic host of his Divine Nest—the Black Giant Ant.
In the next moment, a strange power surged from his left hand, coursing through his organs and spreading to every corner of his body.
Zhang Yuan let out a muffled groan as his muscles bulged, thick tendons surfaced under his skin, and his bones crackled in unison.
His body grew taller and bulkier.
This was the extraordinary power granted to him by the Black Giant Ant host of the Divine Nest.
He stepped forward, stretched out his now burly arms, and hugged the stone mill placed in the corner of the courtyard.
"Heh!"
With a low exhale, Zhang Yuan lifted the 400–500-pound stone mill with raw strength.
To avoid waking his mother asleep in the house, he kept his voice low, but his power was undiminished.
Carrying the heavy mill, he walked five laps around the courtyard.
Previously, he couldn't have even lifted the mill, let alone carry it around.
Only after his strength began to wane did Zhang Yuan gently place the stone mill back where it belonged.
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[Host: Zhang Yuan]
[Divine Nest: Level 1 (15%)]
[Parasitic Host: Level 1 Black Giant Ant (1%) / Strength x2]
[Vital Energy: 10/75]
[Primordial Essence: 0]
According to the Divine Nest panel, Zhang Yuan's vital energy had dropped to a dangerously low level.
This was normal. Activating and maintaining the parasitic host's abilities consumed a significant amount of vital energy.
He estimated the duration of the doubled strength to be about five minutes—clearly limited by his energy reserves.
To prolong his power, he would need to raise his maximum energy. That meant learning real martial arts and growing stronger.
Zhang Yuan's determination to become a warrior had never been so firm!
After all this exertion, the heat within his body had mostly dissipated with the sweat.
He rinsed off with cold water in the courtyard and went back to bed. This time, he fell asleep easily.
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By the time he woke up, it was broad daylight. The crowing of roosters in the village roused him.
"Crap!"
Realizing he had overslept, Zhang Yuan cursed and hurried to wash up.
He only had three days to gather five taels of silver to fulfill a county labor levy. Now, only two days remained!
After devouring the breakfast his mother prepared, he grabbed his hunting bow, machete, and water pouch, and rushed out to hunt again in Qianfeng Mountain.
But to his surprise, he hadn't gone more than a dozen steps outside his home when he encountered the same rat-faced steward from the day before, now accompanied by two attendants.
Zhang Yuan stopped and said coldly, "The three days aren't up yet."
The rat-faced steward chuckled, eyes squinting. "Zhang Yuan, you're in luck. Our young master has taken a liking to you. Sign this contract, and not only will this levy be waived, you'll never have to do forced labor again."
He handed Zhang Yuan a yellowed piece of paper. "If you can't write, just leave a fingerprint."
Zhang Yuan took the contract and quickly read it.
Fury surged in his heart—it was a slave contract.
If he signed it, he would become a servant of the Chen family's young master with no end date.
The steward continued enthusiastically, "Not just anyone gets to serve the Chen family. We offer monthly pay, clothes, and food—you won't want for anything."
"If you serve well, maybe the young master will let you learn martial arts and rise in the world."
Zhang Yuan sneered inwardly.
The so-called young master must have been one of the boys training at Gao the hunter's place yesterday—the same one who looked down on him with folded arms.
If Zhang Yuan became his servant, he'd most likely be a living punching bag, used for martial arts practice.
No matter how sweet the talk or tempting the offer, Zhang Yuan would never fall for it.
He expressionlessly returned the contract and said, "Thank the young master for his kindness, but my family's code is: 'Better to starve than steal, better to die poor than live as a slave.'"
"So I must decline."
Even without the Divine Nest, Zhang Yuan would never agree to such servitude.
The steward's face darkened as he took back the contract. "Think carefully, Zhang Yuan. Do you understand the consequences of refusing our young master?"
Zhang Yuan said nothing, walking past them toward the village outskirts.
Seeing this, the steward's whiskers twitched in anger. "Bold brat!"
"Sir, shall we?" one of the attendants asked, miming a slashing motion.
"No need," the steward said through gritted teeth. "A worm like him isn't worth the trouble. He'll be the one begging us in a couple of days!"
In his mind, he already imagined Zhang Yuan on his knees, pleading desperately because he couldn't pay the levy.
He let out a few sinister chuckles, plotting cruel ways to torment him.
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Meanwhile, Zhang Yuan had already left Chenjia Village and was moving quickly through Qianfeng Mountain, retracing his steps from the day before to the stream in the woods.
But this time, he didn't search for prey right away.
Instead, he waited in place, eyes scanning the area.
Before long, a flurry of wings echoed through the trees, and a black crow landed on a tree ten paces away, watching Zhang Yuan with blood-red eyes.
Zhang Yuan's gaze sharpened. He spoke in a deep voice: "You help me, I help you. You eat the guts, I eat the meat."
The sinister crow tilted its head as if pondering the offer.
After a moment, it suddenly flapped its wings and flew to the right.
Zhang Yuan didn't hesitate—he grabbed his hunting bow and followed.
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The human heart is more treacherous than monsters.
He would rather ally with a deadly crow than bow to the Chen family.
He would never become a slave!
(End of Chapter)
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