Becoming a god starts with one certificate becoming eternal.

The fog in the Silent Alley did not dissipate even at dawn.

Mist rose from the cracks in the ground, climbed up the walls, and pressed down on the entire Third Alley, as if someone had pressed a wet cloth firmly over the head of this poor street.

The room was even darker.

When Ye Xiao woke up, his back was so stiff it felt like he had slept on a stone slab all night. When he turned his head slightly, his neck bones made a soft cracking sound.

Last night, he intended to lean against the wall to regulate his breathing and then continue practicing his boxing, but due to his physical condition, he fell asleep halfway through.

The empty space on the chest remains; it hasn't been filled in.

However, the dangerous momentum that had been expanding outwards in the past few days has slowed down somewhat, as if it has been forcibly pressed into a position that is still bearable.

"elder brother?"

A clear, crisp sound rang out softly.

Xiaoxue sat on the edge of the bed, holding a faded rag doll. Her hair was messy from sleeping, but her little eyes were bright as if they were glistening with dew.

That was a rag doll that Ye Xiao had picked up, and it was also her most cherished treasure.

"Why are you sleeping on the floor again? It's cold on the floor."

Xiaoxue said cautiously.

Ye Xiao moved his numb arm: "It's okay."

As he spoke, his gaze swept across the room.

The fire in the small stove in the corner had gone out, and the pot contained the leftover thin porridge from last night, with a thin skin forming on the surface.

Xiaoxue followed his gaze, and as if suddenly remembering something, she jumped off the bed and put the doll away.

"I'll go heat up the porridge! It'll be quick!"

She tiptoed to start the fire, her movements so light as if she were afraid of crushing the air, just so as not to disturb her mother.

Children from poor alleys learn to be independent early.

The mother on the bed coughed for a while, her coughs so low they seemed to be trying not to startle them.

After noticing that his mother was awake, Ye Xiao went over to her and asked, "Mother, did you not buy your own medicine at all?"

The mother's eyes darted away: "These are all old ailments, and they can't be cured anyway, so it's better not to waste money."

"Mother, you don't need to worry about the money."

Ye Xiao's tone betrayed his helplessness: "I can afford to spend the money I earn in Beilu. Once I become an inner disciple of the martial arts school, I'll only earn more."

"You should also buy better food. This is not only for your health, but also for my martial arts training. We must not skimp on it."

The mother wanted to say "spend money frugally," but when she heard the words "practice martial arts," she swallowed her words and simply nodded.

She didn't know how well Ye Xiao was progressing in his martial arts training, but she knew in her heart that he was the family's only hope for a better life.

The sound of porridge gently bubbling came from the small stove, and a faint warmth filled the room.

"Brother, the porridge is ready."

Xiaoxue carried the bowl over, her steps as steady as if she were walking on a rope.

She handed the bowl to him, but didn't let go immediately.

She looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of seriousness and fear:

"Brother...you look so pale."

Ye Xiao looked down and saw that her fingertips were icy cold. He said softly, "I'm fine."

Xiaoxue took a soft breath, as if she had mustered all her courage...

"Then... wait a bit before you go out, okay? Eat a few more bowls of porridge first. Mother said that if you don't eat breakfast, you won't have any energy."

This is something my mother once said, and she remembers it very well.

Ye Xiao paused for a moment, then took the bowl.

Xiaoxue visibly breathed a sigh of relief, then hugged her doll tightly, as if to make sure her brother wouldn't suddenly collapse.

Ye Xiao raised his hand and gently rubbed her messy hair. The force was very light, but it was as if to say, "I'm really fine."

He finished his first bowl of porridge in a few bites, and then ate several more bowls: "I'll go buy the medicine later."

The mother looked up, her eyes weak: "No rush... You go to the martial arts school first, isn't there an assessment tomorrow?"

Upon hearing about the assessment, Xiaoxue's eyes immediately lit up: "Is it the kind of person who, if you pass the exam, will have everyone giving way to you on the street?"

She had no concept of the outside world, only that...

If you go up, you can leave this drafty, dilapidated house.

Ye Xiao shook his head and chuckled: "You're talking about the martial arts exam. Tomorrow's exam is just an internal assessment for the martial arts school; it's not the same thing."

Xiaoxue protested: "But everyone at the alley entrance says that the inner disciples of the martial arts school are amazing."

The mother frowned: "Xiao'er has only been in the martial arts school for a short time. Don't put pressure on him. The assessment is just for participation, not for winning."

Xiaoxue looked at Ye Xiao: "Brother, will you participate in the assessment?"

Ye Xiao paused, then shook his head: "No."

Xiaoxue was stunned: "No way? Then...does that mean all those benefits are gone?"

She gripped the hem of her skirt tightly, her slender fingertips crumpling the fabric into a ball.

She didn't dare ask that one question...

Does that mean we're going to live here forever?

There will be other opportunities for assessment in the future.

Ye Xiao said calmly, "Besides, not participating in the assessment doesn't mean you can't become an inner disciple."

Xiaoxue bit her lip and remained silent.

The mother looked worried: "It's better if you don't participate. Your complexion has been getting worse lately. Have you overdone it with practice?"

"I'm just tired, I'll be fine after a rest."

The mother sighed, "As long as you're still alive, you can get through this. You have to take good care of yourself."

She paused, her voice even softer, as if afraid her words would weigh heavily on him:

"If you stop practicing someday... that's okay, don't force yourself."

As soon as she spoke, she turned her eyes away, as if afraid to look at him and see if he would waver.

Ye Xiao did not respond.

In the Silent Alley, enduring hardship is the cruelest form of tenderness for the poor.

He knew very well that simply enduring it all...

Nothing will change.

Ye Xiao stood up: "I'm going out for a bit. I won't be going to the martial arts gym or practicing my boxing today."

Xiaoxue was stunned: "Then where are you going?"

"Take some...whatever you need."

Ye Xiao said calmly, "These next few days, people might come into the alley from the brothel. If it's noisy outside, close the door and don't make a sound."

A flicker of panic crossed Xiaoxue's eyes: "They really are coming?"

It will come sooner or later.

Ye Xiao offered no words of comfort, simply stating the truth: "Just don't go to the alley entrance to join the fun. Anyone who dares to go and watch the excitement is fearless."

Xiaoxue nodded obediently and hugged her doll tightly.

Ye Xiao glanced at his mother and Xiao Xue, then pushed open the door and went out.

The cold, damp air seeped in through the crack in the door, only to be kept out by the closed door panel.

The moonlight outside the door spread across the alleyway like cold water, making the road surface appear white, but it couldn't warm people.

……

After leaving the third alley of the Silent Alley, the wind became stronger, and the flavor became milder.

As the wind blew, a corner of the sky seemed to be lifted. The light wasn't warm, but it was brighter than any oil lamp in the Silent Alley, making it clear that... the rules outside the Silent Alley and the rules inside were never the same thing.

Ye Xiao did not head towards the martial arts school, but instead went in another direction.

Before long, he arrived at the south main street of the inner city.

At the street corner, there is a stone wall covered with notices of varying ages, the edges of which are curled up by the wind.

It concerns taxes and corvée labor, and it concerns prohibitions.

The taxes in the Silent Alley have long since turned into even more ruthless alley fees, and they are like two rays of sunlight that do not shine on the same land, unlike what is written here.

Today, there is a brand new wooden sign.

Notice regarding the Level 3 Martial Arts Examination at the Chengnan Martial Arts Examination Office.

Sunlight shone on the new wooden sign, making the lettering so bright it was almost blinding. The lettering was so new, it looked like it had just been nailed on.

"Anyone under the age of twenty-five who has reached the Muscle/Tendon Realm is eligible to register for the Level Three Martial Arts Examination..."

Those who pass the exam will receive a military badge, be exempt from all taxes and corvée labor, be registered in the city register, and be recognized as military scholars.

"A fee of ten taels is required to register."

A group of people were gathered in front of the stone wall, looking up in twos and threes.

"Ten taels...that's no small amount. Isn't it too extravagant to just buy one spot?"

"You don't understand. Ten taels of silver can buy you a path to success. The benefits you gain from standing out in the third-level martial arts exam are beyond the measure of money."

"I heard that for this Level 3 martial arts exam, the major escort agencies in the south of the city will all send people to keep an eye on people."

"For us lower-class scholars, Wu Xiucai is indeed a hot commodity, but in the eyes of those powerful families in the upper-class city, Wu Xiucai is just a dog that can be easily ordered around."

People whispered among themselves.

Some people disagreed and said:

"Don't put it so harshly... Didn't there be a kid a couple of years ago who got a good ranking in the Level 3 Martial Arts Exam and was picked up by that big escort agency in the south of the lower city? I heard he went in and out of the upper city with the escort team, and his monthly allowance was frighteningly high."

Someone nearby immediately chimed in, "That's just luck; someone has to be interested. For us, just watching the show is enough."

A few casual words turned the Level 3 martial arts exam on the wooden sign into a path that was nowhere near being found.

Ye Xiao stood at the edge of the crowd and glanced around a few times.

Muscle realm.

He had already reached that point.

But now...

All the money he had left was simply not enough, let alone enough to pay the registration fee.

Medicine, mother, light snow, alley money.

One thing after another.

The new wooden sign seemed somewhat unreal to him; reality prevented him from thinking about it for the time being.

Ye Xiao lowered his eyes, turned and left.

……

The further west you go along the main street of the inner city, the more dilapidated the ground becomes.

The muddy water reflected a grayish-yellow light. Along the roadside were tattered vegetable stalls with a thin layer of vegetable leaves spread out, and stalls selling cold steamed buns that couldn't fetch a good price. The stall owners yawned wearily.

At the alley entrance, someone was shouting and cursing while holding up their sleeves. Several thugs from the Green Owl Gang strolled past from a distance, weapons at their waists, their eyes scanning the surroundings as they walked.

Some people instinctively looked down, while others pretended not to see.

Ye Xiao turned his gaze back and headed west along the street, passing through the busiest section of the main street, until he arrived at the pharmacy street.

Deep in the alley, there was a half-dead oil lamp.

Under the lamplight, there was a half-open door with the word "medicine" written on it, barely legible. It was the smallest pharmacy in the area.

He was here before.

That time, the old man inside held up five fingers and said, "Five times the market price," which forced him to turn back.

Ye Xiao stood at the doorway, his knuckles lightly tapping the copper coin.

He still can't come up with five times the price.

but……

He still raised his hand and pushed open the door.

The door hinge made a crisp "creak," as if a crack had opened somewhere.

The pharmacy was incredibly damp, with all sorts of medicinal smells mixed with the musty smell, like a pot of overcooked bitter soup.

Behind the counter, the old man was still leaning back in his chair, his eyelids drooping, looking drowsy.

Upon hearing footsteps, those eyes immediately snapped open.

His gaze fell on Ye Xiao, slowly sweeping over his shoulders, arms, and posture, then lingering on his finger bones and the back of his feet, as if he were re-evaluating him.

"It's you again."

The old man spoke slowly, "Have you raised the five-fold price?"

Ye Xiao stepped into the dim light, his voice not loud: "I can't gather them all."

The old man chuckled: "Then what are you doing here? Just standing here smelling the medicine?"

I don't have five times the price.

Ye Xiao spoke calmly, his gaze fixed on the old man's face: "But since you've offered such a price that no one would buy, it means that what you really want... isn't money."

A strange light appeared in the old man's eyes, and his eyebrows twitched slightly.