Be a proper Taoist priest in The Condor Heroes

The street where the Su family lived was relatively tidy, but there were often homeless people huddled in the corners of the walls, their eyes numb. When they saw people passing by, they would stretch out their withered hands to beg, muttering "Give me some coarse food," their clothes tattered like autumn leaves falling.

Su Yan's worldview was also turned upside down when he first saw the scene, but he could hardly protect himself, let alone care about the lives of others. The little boy who was serving water was the result of his kindness. Two days ago, after burying his father, he returned home and found the boy had fainted from hunger in front of his house, just to beg for a bite to eat.

Su Yan had just stepped outside and witnessed this hell on earth, his worldview shattered, and he was completely dizzy. When he saw this scene at his doorstep, he didn't care about anything else, carried him into the yard, and fed him a bowl of leftover porridge.

This led to a gathering of refugees in the streets and alleys in front of his house. In order to find a way to survive, some even climbed over the wall and entered his yard. Fortunately, the original owner had left behind an iron sword, and after a confrontation, he quietly retreated. This made him realize more clearly that this world was not the peaceful era of his previous life.

Here, risking one's life for a bite to eat is commonplace, and living hand to mouth is not an exaggeration.

When Xiao Nianba woke up, he knew what had happened. He was naturally very grateful to Su Yan and wished he could pay with his life for her.

This is not modern times. At this time, a meal is more valuable than gold and silver. Since Su Yan has saved him, there is no reason for him to turn him away, even though he himself is short of food.

But ultimately, it's the modern soul that's causing all the trouble.

Of course, there were also things to be happy about. Along with him came a cheat code: a visual data panel.

Host: Su Yan

Age: 16

Skill: Rank E - Su Family Swordplay (Minor Mastery, 242/300) [Stamina/Inner Force Consumption -10%, Armor Penetration Increase +10%, Skill Pressure +15%]

Realm: None

This was a panel that Su Yan knew all too well. He had died from overworking this game in his previous life, and he never expected that he would bring this with him when he transmigrated.

The panel's function is actually very simple yet powerful: it allows you to see your progress. As long as you practice, you will inevitably gain something, and the martial arts techniques you have practiced will not decline due to the decline of your physical functions.

It's like having a permanent certificate. Although this effect seems useless in the game, it's actually very powerful in real life. Many martial arts practitioners, when they get old, their qi and blood decline, and they can no longer exert their original level and power, but this doesn't exist for Su Yan.

As for the amplification effects mentioned later, it's unclear whether they are additional amplifications or inherent amplifications from practicing swordsmanship. He is currently practicing swordsmanship based on his own memories, and there is no one else to compare with.

As for the Su Family Swordplay, it is a rudimentary martial art passed down in the Su family. It is said that the Su family ancestors served in the army and obtained an incomplete version of the Imperial Guard Swordplay. Later, they returned to their hometown and perfected it generation after generation, thus forming the Su Family Swordplay as it is today.

Su's father's younger brother, Su Yan's second uncle, also relied on this set of sword techniques to gain a foothold in several nearby towns, so that he would not be harassed on his business trips, and even the bandits in the mountains would give him some face.

Su Yan had seen his second uncle practice swordsmanship in his memory, and in his opinion, its power was quite remarkable.

However, I didn't expect that this sword technique was only rated as E-level on the panel. But when I thought about the top martial arts in this world, I felt relieved. In addition, without the matching internal energy, it was just some rudimentary skills in the martial arts world.

To the untrained eye, it may appear fierce and imposing, but to the expert, it is full of flaws.

It's just a haphazardly cobbled-together sword technique, good enough to deal with some mountain bandits.

However, if they encounter disciples from families or sects with a genuine, systematic lineage, they will be beheaded within five moves.

Although it's set in the world of The Condor Heroes, very few people practice martial arts.

The saying "the poor study literature, the rich study martial arts" is not just a joke. Not to mention that we are currently in a chaotic world where the lower classes live hand to mouth and go hungry.

Even in prosperous times, only a handful of people could afford to practice martial arts. Most people from lower classes were already struggling to make ends meet, let alone have the spare money to practice martial arts.

What challenges do ordinary people face when practicing martial arts?

One must have the right training methods, possess certain qualifications, have an ample supply of fine food and meat, and occasionally require exclusive secret medicines and medicinal baths. For some external martial arts styles that cause more serious injuries, it is also necessary to prepare additional high-quality healing medicines to treat hidden injuries.

For most people, the very first step into learning martial arts is a dead end.

This is a real, bloody world, not as beautiful as described in the book.

Su Yan took out a token he always carried with him from his bosom, so it wasn't like there was absolutely no way out.

The token is engraved with the words "Quanzhen" on the front and "Changchun" on the back. The last thing Su's father did in his life was to use all his family property to support the Quanzhen Sect. However, before he could even make a move, the Jurchens came to his door, seriously injured him, and he eventually died on his sickbed.

In this era of war, there were still righteous people who stepped forward. As the orthodox sect of Taoism, Quanzhen Sect used its influence to set up secret agents in various prefectures and counties. In the past, these agents were used to transmit intelligence, but now they have become strongholds that often provide relief to refugees.

In addition, there was the Beggars' Sect, the largest sect in the Central Plains. Its intelligence network and number of members were even more terrifying than those of the Quanzhen Sect. Its role was not to be underestimated. It burned grain supplies, launched surprise attacks, waged guerrilla warfare, and created all sorts of trouble for the Mongol army, keeping them busy. At the same time, it also actively recruited some refugees and righteous people to fight against the Jin.

This inevitably led to a mixed bag of members in the Beggars' Sect. The Quanzhen Sect, on the other hand, was extremely strict in its selection of disciples. Not only did they require members to have a clean background, but they would also send special personnel to investigate and determine if the members were of good character and met the age requirements before giving them a chance.

Of course, there is another type, like Su Yan, who made certain contributions to the Quanzhen Sect and donated a certain amount of money, and thus received appropriate leniency. Su's father exhausted his family's wealth to obtain this qualification.

Once you arrive at Chongyang Palace in Zhongnan Mountain and present the token, you can join the Quanzhen Sect as a lay disciple and survive under its protection. However, this is only surviving; as a modern person, the horrific scenes in the city constantly push the boundaries of his understanding.

How could a person do such a thing?

He admitted he had a bit of a saintly heart, still harboring compassion in this precarious world. But as a modern man, having returned to this chaotic era, it seemed fate wouldn't allow him to do nothing. At least in his memory, having witnessed the bright prospects of the 21st century, looking at the world now...

A sudden, inexplicable ambition spread like wildfire, which seemed to be the very meaning of his time travel.

However, the immediate priority is to protect oneself and successfully reach Chongyang Palace, and then proceed gradually.

Arriving at Chongyang Palace smoothly sounds simple and easy, but don't forget the era we live in. It's nearly 1,600 li from Taiyuan Road General Administration to Zhongnan Mountain. It would take more than a month for people to travel on foot. Along the way, you would often encounter Mongol troops, bandits, refugees, and even poisonous snakes and wild beasts.

It's unclear how many detours they'll take; it will likely take at least a month and a half to arrive. This arduous journey is why Su Yan hasn't set off immediately.

Host: Su Yan

Age: 16

Skill: Rank E - Su Family Swordplay (Minor Mastery, 242/300) [Stamina/Inner Force Consumption -10%, Armor Penetration Increase +10%, Skill Pressure +15%]

Realm: None

Although the Su family sword technique is mediocre, it's still better than nothing. If he practices it 58 more times, in half a day at most, he will master the Su family sword technique. At that time, it will be safer to set off again.

only...

Su Yan turned her gaze to the little wilted baby bustling about in the kitchen.

As if sensing Su Yan's gaze, Xiao Nianba turned to look at him. Her little face, covered in dust and soot, revealed a happy smile, her eyebrows curving. Only when she smiled could Su Yan see the gentle grace of a young woman.

"Brother Yan'er, the food is ready, you can eat now."

I placed two bowls of mixed grain porridge, one large and one small, on the table in the room. The small bowl was clear and watery, so clear that you could see your reflection in it, while the large bowl was full of mixed grains.

Su Yan sighed, walked to the table, and scooped half of the mixed grains from the bowl into a small bowl.

Just as the little boy was about to open his mouth to speak, Su Yan stretched out his finger.

"Have a meal!"

Although the words were not harsh, Xiao Nianba's heart was bubbling with heat, like water boiling on a stove. She hurriedly lowered her head and ate the mixed grains in her bowl, but tears kept falling from her eyes.

This was a feeling she had never experienced before. She thought of the hot baths she took when she was very young, her whole body feeling warm, just like now.

At this moment, she felt that it would be worth dying right now. This was a feeling she had never had with her mother. She chewed and swallowed the mixed grains, which were soaked with tears, one by one, determined to taste the flavor of every single grain.

She was afraid that this feeling of being in paradise would be as fragile as the paper windows in a dilapidated temple, easily broken at the slightest touch. She hadn't had a proper meal in a very, very long time, and she couldn't quite remember when it was last time.

Ah yes, I went with my mother to a place with lots of big trees and lots of people. Although the green leaves were hard to eat, it was the only time she ever ate her fill.

Su Yan watched the little girl slowly chewing her food while tears streamed down her face. The already tough mixed grains were even harder to swallow, yet Su Yan ate them with relish, even though they were so unpalatable. One could only imagine what kind of life she had endured before.

The grains here are completely different from modern grains. Su Yan looked at the rotten grains and wheat husks in the bowl.

That's right, this is what they call mixed grains.

Would pigs eat that in modern times?

He didn't know; he had never raised them, but they probably didn't eat them.

He recalled a news story he had come across: a woman fed her abusive husband pig feed, even though pigs have their own special feed.

But here

Humans are worse than pigs and dogs.

In my memory, what did the refugees eat? If there were no coarse grains, they ate grass roots, tree bark, and leaves. Some even ate clay. When they were starving, they would drag fresh corpses from the mass graves outside the city, or prey on lone children and women inside the city.

Don't ask him how he knew; he even dug an extra three feet deep pit for his deceased father because of it.

He's gone. Will little wilted baby survive?

He didn't know that those people could endure for days without eating people.

It could be three days, five days, or even ten days.

But this journey of 1600 li (approximately 800 kilometers) will take nearly a month and a half. Can her body, which has barely had a full meal, really hold out until she reaches Zhongnan Mountain?

He swallowed the mixed grains in the bowl whole; even the cooked wheat husks still scratched his esophagus painfully, but he needed energy.

By setting the large bowl down, a decision has already been made, perhaps a decision was already made long ago.

"This afternoon, let's dry all the edible grains and then go... find a way to survive."

Let's go. It's better than watching her die here. If we follow him, as long as we don't encounter bandits with martial arts skills, mountain bandits, or Mongol cavalry of the rank of 10 or higher, they can basically protect her.

The Mongol army was organized into groups of five, ten into a squad, fifty into a puliyan, one hundred into a mouke, and one thousand into a mongan.

Su Yan touched the token in his arms.

If you encounter more than one Mongol cavalry unit, you can only pray that the Quanzhen Sect has a sufficiently large reputation.

It's always good to be prepared for the worst.

Little Nian'erba stared at Su Yan with teary eyes, opened her mouth but said nothing.

He simply nodded heavily.

Born in this era, she was not a child who knew nothing. Girls are naturally precocious, especially girls from poor families.