I ONLY HAVE TRICKS TO DEFEAT MY ENEMIES

Chapter 3

We eat in silence. After eating, Seeley and I immediately clean the table.

“Uncle Jiang, how is the household fund right now?” I asked while drinking some tea. I scan our house, it’s been a day since we had settled here. We are quite fortunate for we bought this land and courtyard in just 30 coins of silver. Based on the story of the Village Chief, the previous owner of this house is an old married couple who recently passed away. They had a child and now he is living quite well in the county city so they immediately want to sell the house and leave all the household tools.

 “We only have 1 silver coin and 2 strings of copper coin” We have spent almost everything while we are on the run for the last month. Adding the fact that we didn’t manage to get money when we escaped.

“Hmm” I need to find ways to earn money or we might not survive this coming winter.

“Big Brother Allardy let’s go to the mountain” The life ahead is full of wonders and also, we live in an era where resources are abundant.

“You can’t” they all forbid me. 

“Why can’t I?” My lips formed a thin line as I look at them

“ I’m the only one who knows what herbs and wild plants to eat, can you?” I reason out.

“We cannot dilly dally in our things, we need money, we need food, we need to survive okay? Adding the fact that I’m not a fragile little miss in a boudoir that knows nothing.” Luckily, the previous owner of this body was talented because she had been learning medicine since young from her mother.

“You know that from time to time I was nowhere to be found because I’m in seclusion training” It is not a secret to the family that she had become a disciple of a powerful sage and in later years, she just came because my Shifu left.

“But…your body? Can you endure walking?” Seeley asked

“I had been poison but I already detoxified it and…” my voice is continues declining as I speak

“and?” Big Brother Allardy asked probingly

“and also I’ve been training in martial arts and cultivating internal energy since I learned to walk” Yes, unknown to them, our mother was secretly training me. We don’t know anything from our mother’s background. All I know is that she has a mysterious background and is a skillful orphan.

“Huh?—wait, what?” “Come again, you know martial arts?” I can see astonishments in their eyes. Our father, although an official, had astounding talent in martial arts. He made sure that all of his sons undergo training.

“Yes, mother wants me” I pursed my lips.

 “I don’t know why but I’m happy to train” We all sigh weakly, how we greatly missed our parents. 

“So that why no need to worry about me going to that mountain and besides I can really stand eating course powder anymore”

PEH! “Your right” Big Brother sighs and puts the weaved basket on his shoulder. Seeley was already getting up when I stopped him “You can’t go” 

“Why? I can protect you too” He grabbed my hand “I will go too” Cree cried out.

“No,” I sternly said.

 “Both of you need to stay” I looked at them for a while. They look like cute little puppies that don’t want their mother to leave them. I mentally laugh, so how can I be hard on them knowing that they are always thinking for my sake.

I softly speak to them “Bal, I need you to stay so that you can gather firewood '' There is a massive bamboo grove at the back. “So that we can have fuel for later” I speak while holding his hands. 

Cree was nodding his head. “That’s right, Second Brother, trust me and Eldest Brother Allardy. We would be enough protecting Elder Sis” he spoke while imitating a matured man patting his chest. His actions gather a lot of laughter.

“Why are you laughing at me? You don’t believe in me” He spoke looking like an aggrieved little puppy that earned another round of laughter. His face crumbled as the whole world offended him and mist started forming in his cute little eyes.

“HA?! Who doesn’t believe in you?” I pat his head “Yo-You! Elder Sis! Elder Sis? You also laughed. You don’t believe in me too?

“Of course I believe in you, our little mighty protector” 

“But you didn’t want me to go?” 

“The reason I need you to stay is you need to protect Uncle Jiang and our home. I only trust our little mighty Cree to that, so can you do that for me?” I consoled him. HAHA. His eyes grew wide and shone a bright light like the beginning of spring.

“HA! Don’t worry Elder Sister, I would not let you down!” 

“HEH! Did you hear that? You heard that! Jie Jie Only trust me!” He spoke proudly that some may think that he was trusted with something that is a life-and-death matter

“HAHA” We all laughed “Okay okay, that’s enough” Uncle Jiang hummed. 

“Off you go” He gave us a hoe and another basket.