Refuse to rent? That meant cutting off his only means of survival. He could only watch himself starve to death, without even a chance to struggle.
Even if he got lucky and caught some fish, if he wanted to set up a stall on the shore to sell them, he'd have to pay a hefty stall fee, and the Fishery would still take twenty to thirty percent of his earnings.
If he dared to sell them privately, he'd likely be cornered by a Fishery Tyrant and robbed of everything...
Those vicious Fishery Tyrants were nothing more than attack dogs kept by the Fishery.
And the Fishery in Cyan Yang County had been firmly in the grip of the Blood Saber Sect for many years.
This group was savage and cruel, sucking the very marrow from the fishermen's bones. Who knows how many people they had driven to their deaths over the years.
Chu Fan went down to the river before dawn and only returned after sunset. Even though he caught a good amount of fish, he still lived hand-to-mouth.
Anyone in the martial world who had even heard of such a vicious and unrestrained gang would turn pale at the mention of their name.
How could Chu Fan ever stoop to joining them?
As for the other two major gangs...
The Iron Armor Sect specialized in gambling dens and brothels. The whole sect was a cesspool of petty thieves and crooks. He wouldn't consider them unless he had absolutely no other choice.
That left only the Seven Stars Gang. While not entirely righteous, they were originally a Horse Gang that traveled far and wide. They placed some importance on the codes of the martial world, making them seem a bit more "upright" compared to the other two.
These gangs and families fought endlessly over the smallest profits, their clashes of steel unceasing. An ordinary member who joined would likely end up as cannon fodder.
That was why the children of common families would rather sell themselves into servitude in a wealthy household—enduring orders and beatings—than take a single step into one of these gangs.
But Chu Fan couldn't afford to be so picky now. He just hoped to get into the Seven Stars Gang, step onto the path of the Martial Dao, and fight for a slim chance of survival.
'With the "Map of Mountains and Rivers," anything is possible!'
'He remembered trying and failing to join the Seven Stars Gang before. But now, if he could practice the "Firewood Splitting Saber Technique" to the Transformation Realm in the next few days, perhaps he could use this skill to knock on the gang's door?'
At this thought, Chu Fan's heart filled with a mix of apprehension and anticipation.
After a short rest, he picked up his Firewood Splitter and chopped up all the remaining wood in the yard.
The blade flashed, and wood chips flew...
Every piece of firewood was split until it was extremely fine, almost into thin threads.
...
[Spiritual Essence: 0.1]
[Progress: (49/300)]
Glancing at the Map of Mountains and Rivers, Chu Fan suddenly felt a jolt. His gaze froze on the "Map of Mountains and Rivers"...
'The Spiritual Essence was clearly 0 before. When did it become 0.1?'
'Where did this 0.1 Spiritual Essence come from?'
He thought back carefully. He hadn't seen it increase while chopping wood. 'Could it be because of that bowl of fish congee from earlier?'
In any case, this small amount of Spiritual Essence couldn't do much. After a moment of thought, Chu Fan got up and left.
A cold wind hit his face. He tightened his clothes, walked to a small courtyard, and knocked on the door. "Granny Wang, are you home?"
"Who is it?" a frail voice came from inside.
"Granny, it's me, Fan."
Before long, a white-haired old woman shakily opened the door. "Oh, Fan, did your fishing go well today?"
"I caught a few big fish, but that bastard Liu Da stole them. But let's not talk about that..." Chu Fan said. "Granny, it looks like it's going to snow soon. How much dry firewood have you prepared? I came over to help you chop some."
"That Liu Da is truly a menace..." Granny Wang shook her head repeatedly, then said with delight, "Oh my, what a good child! Come in, quick!"
Granny Wang grew some napa cabbages in her yard. She and her husband were old and had no children, so they made a living by selling vegetables.
Ever since Chu Fan's parents passed away, Granny Wang would often give him leftover cabbage leaves she couldn't sell.
So, when Chu Fan thought of chopping firewood, her home was the first place that came to mind.
Staring at the mountain of firewood piled in the corner of the yard, a sharp glint flashed in Chu Fan's eyes, as if he were looking at a priceless treasure.
"Fan, have a sip of water first..." Granny Wang turned to pour some water.
"Granny, no need to trouble yourself. I just had some water at home." As he spoke, his eyes never left the pile of firewood.
It was as if that wasn't ordinary firewood, but a staircase to the peak of the Martial Dao.
...
The gap between the rich and poor in this world was immense, even down to what they used for heating.
Common folk mostly used firewood, while only the wealthy could afford to use refined charcoal.
As winter approached, every household had to stock up on firewood. But Granny Wang and her husband were old and frail, unable to go up the mountain to chop wood themselves. They had to trade the vegetables they grew with their neighbors for it.
Chopping the thick logs was incredibly difficult for the old couple. They usually used the thinner pieces first, saving the thick ones for last.
Without waiting for Granny Wang's invitation, Chu Fan grabbed a small stool and sat down.
The rust-spotted Firewood Splitter in his hand seemed to have a Spirituality of its own.
When he first started practicing the "Firewood Splitting Saber Technique," it would take him several strikes to split a single log.
Now that his Saber Technique had reached Small Success, he could split one in a single strike eight or nine times out of ten.
However, as his Saber Technique improved, gaining each point of experience became harder. It often took six or seven strikes just to see an increase.
Still, Chu Fan was very satisfied with this speed.
'Just a little over two hundred more experience. It won't take too long, and it won't be too tiring.'
To be able to see himself improving bit by bit, to see every ounce of effort yield a reward... who could refuse such a temptation?
Many people don't work hard, or are unwilling to, ultimately because effort doesn't guarantee reward, nor does it guarantee success.
In his past life, Chu Fan had also worked very hard. He'd started multiple businesses, poured his heart and soul into them, and in the end, only succeeded in racking up a mountain of debt.
But now, the Map of Mountains and Rivers was irrefutable proof, ensuring that his every effort was rewarded. Even a menial task like chopping firewood left him utterly engrossed.
[Firewood Splitting Saber Technique Experience Points +1]
With a flash of the blade, the firewood split with a CRACK.
Chu Fan felt his wrist growing steadier and his Saber Momentum becoming more precise.
What was even stranger was that after his experience passed one hundred and fifty, it actually became easier again. He would often gain a point with a single strike.
'The progress of this "Firewood Splitting Saber Technique" is advancing by leaps and bounds!'
[Firewood Splitting Saber Technique Experience Points +1]
[Progress: (199/300)]
Before the sky turned completely dark, Chu Fan finally pushed his progress to 199 once more.
'Just 101 points left!'
Chu Fan put down the Firewood Splitter and stood up, suddenly feeling a sharp pain in his palms.
Lifting his hands, he saw that two blisters had already broken, seeping traces of blood.
But he had been so immersed in improving his "Firewood Splitting Saber Technique" that he hadn't noticed at all.
"Granny, it's getting late. I'll come back tomorrow to help you chop more wood."
Chu Fan stood up, feeling a bit reluctant to stop.
"You've worked hard, child..." Granny Wang shakily brought over two sweet potatoes and a few cabbage leaves.
If it were just for these two sweet potatoes and cabbage leaves, the reward would not have been proportional to the effort Chu Fan put into chopping the wood.
But he hadn't come to Granny Wang's house to chop wood for these things in the first place.
The sweet potatoes and cabbage leaves were just an unexpected bonus.
"Sweet potatoes..."
Chu Fan blinked, looking at the sweet potatoes in Granny Wang's hands.
The writing and language of this world were the same as in the ancient times of his previous one.
They even had sweet potatoes.
But Chu Fan was certain that this was definitely not the ancient past of his previous world.
He raised his head and looked at the moon in the sky.
A Blood Moon, as large as a millstone and crimson as blood, hung there like the single eye of a Demon God from the nine hells, coldly looking down on all living things...