Jiang Chen's stomach growled loudly. Even with his Body Tempering Stage 2 power, his body still needed food. "Scraps," the loud voice had called out, a word that made him feel small and angry. He pushed himself off the straw mat. His muscles ached a bit—a good ache, showing his new power, but not enough to stop the shame of eating leftovers.
[Host, remember this rule: A full belly gives you energy, but a smart mind beats those who want to hurt you. Go to the mess hall carefully.] The System's voice rang in his mind, sounding a little amused.
"Easy for you to say," Jiang Chen mumbled, stepping into the dim hallway of the servants' area. The air felt heavy with the smell of unwashed bodies and the faint, unappetizing smell of thin porridge. Other servants, thin and bent, moved like shadows, their faces tired. No one looked up; they knew how to stay unseen.
The mess hall was a large, cold room, poorly lit by weak oil lamps. Long, rough wooden tables were already half-full. Big, tough overseers, who were low-level students of the Outer Sect, walked around, their faces hard. At the far end, two big pots bubbled, sending up thin steam and that same bad smell.
Jiang Chen quickly looked around the room. His eyes caught a tall, strong figure near one of the pots – Young Master Li. His loud, proud laugh filled the air as he playfully pushed a smaller servant, who tripped and almost dropped his bowl. Li was with his usual group of friends who always agreed with him.
[Bad guy found. Young Master Li, in his usual spot. He likes to show he's in charge during meal times. He enjoys making servants feel small.]
"Just great," Jiang Chen grumbled softly, stepping around a wet puddle. Food, not a fight, was what he needed. He moved through the crowded tables, staying in the darker parts, trying to make his already small body even smaller. He saw an empty spot at a table near the back, with a small, bent bowl already there. He walked towards it carefully.
Just as he reached the table, a foot suddenly shot out.
Jiang Chen's new senses, thanks to his Body Tempering Stage 2, reacted fast. He didn't just see a blur; he saw the mean look, the exact path of the kick. It was Guo, one of Young Master Li's helpers, known for being mean.
Without thinking, Jiang Chen moved. It wasn't a real dodge yet. It was a smooth, tiny shift, a quick move from his increased Agility that let his body twist just enough. Guo's foot, instead of hitting his ankle hard, just brushed against the side of his old boot.
Guo's eyes grew wide in real surprise. Most servants would have fallen, giving them a good laugh. Jiang Chen just stumbled a step, then stood steady. His eyes met Guo's for a second. There was no fear in Jiang Chen's look, no servant's apology, just a calm, strange glint that seemed to take away Guo's small show of power.
[Good small dodge, Host! Your new body strength is working. Reaction time improved by 1.2 seconds. Not super fast yet, but good for a beginner at Body Tempering Stage 2. Guo's ego: a little hurt.]
Guo quickly got his anger back. His face twisted into an angry snarl. "Watch where you're going, little bug! Are you blind and useless?" His voice, louder than he meant, drew attention.
Young Master Li, who had been laughing, turned his head. His eyes narrowed, instantly seeing Jiang Chen. A cruel, dangerous smile spread across his face.
"Well, well, if it isn't Ming," Young Master Li said, his voice loud and full of scorn. "I thought you were hiding in your hole. Or perhaps practicing your rat moves, hmm?" He took a slow, sure step forward, his friends chuckling nervously behind him.
Jiang Chen felt a cold knot in his stomach. He was totally outnumbered, outranked, and much weaker. Young Master Li was Qi Gathering Stage 3, a huge jump in power that Jiang Chen, even with his System, couldn't match yet. This wasn't just about a small fight; it was about showing who was boss, completely.
"I am sorry, Young Master," Jiang Chen said, his voice flat, showing no real feeling. He chose to act respectful for now. This was not the time to be a hero.
"Apologies are for weaklings," Young Master Li sneered, getting closer. His hand shot out, grabbing a handful of Jiang Chen's thin clothes, pulling him forward roughly. "You dared to lock your door this morning, didn't you? You went against my will."
A spark of sharp anger lit up in Jiang Chen's eyes, but he quickly, strongly pushed it down. He remembered the System's earlier note: fighting power is still very low. He couldn't fight. Not yet. He wouldn't show weakness, but he wouldn't foolishly rush to his death.
[Danger noticed. Young Master Li is about to hit you. Choices: A) Try to fight back (useless). B) Use Basic Stealth Technique to quickly get away (hard to do). C) Act polite and give in (carefully). D) Use Body Hardening Art (Basic) to lessen the hit.]
"Let me go," Jiang Chen said, his voice low, almost a whisper, but it had a dangerous feel under it.
Young Master Li's grip got tighter, pulling Jiang Chen closer until their faces were very near. He smelled of cheap perfume and strong dislike. "What was that, worm? Did you just give me an order?" His other hand came up, ready to slap.
This was it. Jiang Chen's mind raced, thinking about the choices. Giving in completely wouldn't work; Li would just push harder. Getting away with stealth was impossible while being held. Fighting back was suicide.
[Recommendation: Choice D. Use Body Hardening Art (Basic). Aim: Left cheek. Uses very little Qi. Will make pain less and keep your face from showing too much bruising, making you seem tough. A small tilt of your head before the hit is good for best effect and to seem like you're accepting it.]
Without thinking twice, Jiang Chen sent his new Qi to his left cheek. He felt a faint warmth, a tiny bit of energy, making his skin and muscle a little harder. He added the small head tilt, just a split second before the hit.
SMACK!
The slap was loud, ringing through the mess hall. Jiang Chen's head snapped hard to the side, his teeth biting into the inside of his cheek. The hit sent a sharp shock through his head, making his ears ring. But the pain, while strong and sudden, wasn't crippling. There was no burning pain, no blinding flash. It was a dull throb, hurting but manageable.
He swayed, but he didn't fall. He didn't even make a sound. Slowly, with purpose, he turned his head back, his eyes meeting Young Master Li's. The look in his eyes was cold, steady. No fear. No tears. No begging. Just a deep, strange calm, a silent promise of payback later.
Young Master Li's sneer faded. He had expected the usual fall, the whines, the pleas for mercy. This blank, brave look, this total lack of reaction, was unexpected, even worrying. "You... you don't even beg?" he mumbled, a flicker of real discomfort crossing his face. He checked his palm, as if Jiang Chen's surprisingly firm cheek had hurt him.
[Damage report: Small bruise. Pain reduced by 60%. Face looks fine. Young Master Li's confidence: a little shaken. Current goal: Survive meal time without more hits, and maybe make him feel a bit scared.]
"Next time, Young Master," Jiang Chen said, his voice quiet, almost a whisper, but it carried a hidden danger, "make sure I stay down." He gently pushed Young Master Li's hand away from his clothes. The unexpected bold move made the young master let go by instinct.
Young Master Li blinked, his eyes wide. He stared at Jiang Chen for another long moment. His earlier amusement was replaced by a strange mix of confusion and anger. He had clearly, dangerously, misjudged this servant. "You… you rude little bug!" he finally gasped, raising his hand again, pure anger in his eyes.
"Young Master Li!" A firm voice cut across the mess hall. One of the overseers, a big man with a scar on his forehead, was walking quickly towards them. "Enough. The head elder needs to see you now."
Young Master Li scowled, dropping his arm. "This isn't over, Ming," he whispered fiercely, glaring at Jiang Chen, a new, unsettling hate in his eyes. Then, with a last, angry huff, he spun around and stormed out of the mess hall, his friends hurrying to follow.
Jiang Chen watched him go, a shiver going down his spine. The danger was real. But so was his progress. He had taken a slap from a Qi Gathering Stage 3 cultivator and remained standing. And he had managed to make Young Master Li feel uneasy, however small, planting a seed of doubt in the proud young master's mind.
He picked up the small, meager bowl from the table. Porridge. It looked as bad as always. But as he ate, the warmth in his belly wasn't just from the food; it was from the faint stirrings of Spirit Qi inside him, the promise of power still to come. The first big problem was over. Many more lay ahead, and he was no longer just 'Ming.'