C20 A Sense of Urgency

"No, she came over to our house this morning, and then Lee Laoen showed up right away. He started berating me with a lot of harsh words as soon as he arrived. Of course, I couldn't just stand there and take it, so I talked back to him. That's when he hit me, and we got into a conflict," Fong Chao explained timidly.

He wondered if his father decided to punish him, should he run away? Surely, he couldn't just stand there and take a severe beating, could he?

"Father, I think Qingxiang was the one who started it. She's taken a liking to our Chao because he's handsome! I don't think we're to blame. They should either keep a closer eye on Qingxiang or we could all sit down and talk about joining our families. Qingxiang isn't half bad; she's well-endowed, looks like she could bear children well. If she gives us a couple of grandsons, our family won't be so vulnerable," his mother defended Fong Chao.

"Hmph! What do you know? Our family is small, and the Lee family has several brothers. Fong Chao has hit Lee Laoen, and I'm sure the Lee family won't just let this slide. They're bound to seek revenge! But I, Fong Huayu, am not someone they can push around! If they think they can bully me, they've got another thing coming!" his father declared.

Despite his words, there was a trace of fear in his eyes. In rural areas, the strength of a clan was paramount. A thriving family often lived more dominantly, while those with fewer members were more likely to be oppressed, a reality that mirrored the survival of the fittest in nature.

Feng Chao's house had only carried on through three generations, and although there were some distant relatives, they weren't very close. As a result, their family was seen as vulnerable by some villagers.

"Dad! I'm here too! If they dare to bully us, I'll show them what I'm made of!" Fong Chao said to his father.

"You might as well forget it! You're not even of age yet. If they come to bully us, your best bet is to stay out of sight and avoid confrontation," his father commanded authoritatively.

Fearing retaliation against Fong Chao, his father didn't allow him to go out to herd sheep after breakfast. Instead, he insisted that he stay indoors.

Upon returning from the fields, the family brought back plenty of tender grass for the sheep, making it no issue to skip a day of grazing.

Fong Chao was pleased with this, seeing it as an opportunity to hunker down at home and write more chapters.

He spent the whole morning fervently writing in his room, and after three hours, Fong Chao had churned out nearly 13,000 words.

By the time it was past eleven o'clock, Fong Chao was feeling dizzy from exhaustion. He paused his writing and slid the finished manuscript under his bed before stepping out for a drink of water.

Back in his room, worry crept back in. Fong Chao feared that if his family and the Lee family were to engage in a major conflict, he and his father would be at a disadvantage.

In his previous life, his relationship with Lee Qingxiang led to his father being attacked twice by the Lee family, with one incident leaving his father severely injured and bleeding from the head.

Fong Chao realized he needed to acquire some genuine martial skills to strengthen himself. While Slingshot Specialization was decent, it wasn't the ultimate technique.

Resolved, he decided to visit the Skill Point Shop again and try his luck with a few more draws, hoping to win some valuable items.

With 140 Skill Points at his disposal, he could afford to draw ten times.

Fong Chao stepped into the Skill Point Shop once more.

"Welcome, esteemed host!" Meimei greeted him cheerfully at the door.

"I'm here for the lottery," Fong Chao declared as soon as he entered.

"Of course, host!" Meimei promptly initiated the lottery system. This time, however, the process had changed. A lottery box materialized before Fong Chao.

"Host, you'll need to spend 20 Karma Points for each draw this time," Meimei informed him with a smile.

"What? The price went up again?" Fong Chao exclaimed in surprise.

He had already felt the pinch when the cost was 10 Karma Points per draw. Now, the price had unexpectedly risen.

"Dear host, there's a good reason for the increase," Meimei assured him with a smile.

"Is there any justification for raising the price? What's going on here? Meimei, are you hiking up the price because you saw I earned a few more Karma Points?" Fong Chao complained.

"Host, this time the lottery box is filled with martial arts skill awards. It gives you a better chance to win a major prize that's right for you," Meimei explained.

"Really? I hope you're not deceiving me," Fong Chao said.

"Host, just give it a try and you'll see. The price increase is worth it for the value of what you could win!" Meimei assured him with a sweet smile.

"Fine, I'll give it a shot," Fong Chao conceded reluctantly.

"Great! Host, please proceed with the draw. I've already collected the 20 Karma Points for the lottery fee," Meimei informed him.

Fong Chao reached into the lottery box, rummaging around before pulling out a paper ball. He unfolded it with care.

"Thank you for participating. Maybe next time you'll hit the jackpot," read the message on the paper.

I didn't win?

"I'm so sorry, host, you didn't win. It's truly unfortunate," Meimei sympathized.

Inside, Fong Chao was howling with frustration.

Damn it!

20 Karma Points, that's a lot of small good deeds to accumulate!

And now they're just gone.

Fong Chao felt as if his heart were bleeding.

"I'm trying again!" Fong Chao declared, biting his lip.

The Karma Points might be gone, but he could earn more. Right now, he desperately needed to possess a powerful martial arts skill.

Without it, he felt vulnerable!

"Okay! Another 20 Karma Points have been deducted. Please go ahead with your next draw," Meimei said, her smile radiant as she gestured for him to continue.

With a resigned glance at her cheerful expression, Fong Chao reached into the lottery box once more. He pulled out another paper ball and carefully unfolded it.

"Sorry, host! You didn't win the lottery. I'm truly sorry, but I believe your luck is bound to change with the next draw," Meimei consoled him before Fong Chao could fully read the message.

Fong Chao was on the verge of passing out from sheer frustration.

He noticed the message on the paper was identical to the previous one: "Thank you for participating. Maybe next time you'll hit the jackpot."

"Meimei, what's this all about? You just told me I was certain to win this time," Fong Chao said to Meimei.