Chapter 4: Hardship

The efficiency of ancient civil servants was quite mediocre; just completing the handover procedures to leave the city took nearly half an hour.

Once the bailiffs had herded the exiles out of the city in a single file, they began urging everyone to pick up the pace.

Exile in ancient times was no joke; the route was usually pre-planned by the government.

For their current journey, they were headed to the frozen lands of the far north to support construction, a total distance of nearly five thousand *li*.

The escort officers had to strictly follow the plan, passing through multiple post stations and checking in by specific deadlines.

If they arrived late, the consequences were unpredictable.

Calculating at fifty *li* per day, completing the entire journey within the hundred-day limit was a very tight schedule.

After all, roads in ancient times were repaired in patches here and there, and most were just dirt tracks—not the smooth, flat highways of the modern era. The journey involved climbing mountains, crossing gullies, scaling slopes, and wading through water; the conditions were complex and ever-changing.

Therefore, experienced bailiffs would push the exiles to exceed their daily quotas right from the start. After all, the further they went, the more exhausted they would become, and whether they would even survive to reach the destination was truly a matter of chance.

They hadn't even walked two *li* before someone in front began to wail in agony, complaining incessantly.

Xin Nian turned a deaf ear. While she appeared to be obediently looking down and walking, she was actually silently absorbing the power of nature.

The good news: this body was ethereal and pure, far more surprising than she had imagined. It absorbed external natural energy quite rapidly. Coupled with her over ten years of experience in practicing supernatural abilities, her energy circulation was already becoming slightly proficient.

The bad news: the pampered young lady of the Duke’s mansion had lived a life of luxury and never exercised. After just two *li* of brisk walking, her face was flushed red, her legs were trembling, and she could barely catch her breath!

If she weren't currently focusing on absorbing energy and converting it for her own use, she might have already collapsed from weakness and been treated to the bailiffs' whips...

What a disaster!

However, this fourteen or fifteen-year-old young lady of the Duke’s mansion had encountered this catastrophe just after her coming-of-age ceremony. In the modern era, she would only be a middle school student; it was truly pitiful.

Xin Nian understood this well. Back before the apocalypse broke out, she had also been a pampered little princess who only knew how to eat, drink, and play.

She was even less worldly than this young lady; before college, she was a little good-for-nothing who had never lifted a finger.

Yet, in order to survive, people were forced to grow step by step.

Thinking of this, she felt even more sympathy for the original owner.

The original owner was even more miserable than her; at least she had spent her previous life carefree and leisurely until college.

Xin Nian pondered while focusing on absorbing energy. As the energy entered her body and circulated, the sense of fatigue eased slightly.

Xie Ninglan turned her head to look at her daughter from time to time.

Seeing her daughter suddenly look up and nod slightly at her, she couldn't help but feel a surge of joy.

Had she succeeded? As expected, she was worthy of being her daughter. In such a short time, she had already grasped the knack of drawing energy into her body and successfully harmonizing with this new vessel.

The whole family knew exactly how strong her daughter was.

Back then, it was her daughter who had first discovered a better method for energy circulation, which allowed their family to always remain in the top tier of the world's supernatural users.

Of course, the reason her daughter’s abilities progressed faster than ordinary people was also due to her being a rare healing-type supernatural user.

Her healing ability was very special; not only could she heal as she pleased, but she could also assist others in increasing their own cultivation speed.

The strongest healing-type and space-type, a peak dual-ability user—this title wasn't something they had given themselves; it was an honor bestowed by the World Supernatural Association.

Now that her daughter had signaled that the energy absorption and circulation were fine, her own rise to power again was only a matter of time.

Xie Ninglan had a blind confidence in her daughter. Although the whole family was unlucky enough to be exiled, her daughter was formidable, and the family would surely escape their predicament sooner or later.

Thinking this, her heart calmed down significantly. Xie Ninglan followed her daughter’s lead, looking down as she walked and secretly absorbing energy.

The natural power here was quite abundant; she barely had to exert any effort, and a continuous stream of energy flowed into her body according to her will.

After all, she was someone with a lifetime of experience in supernatural cultivation; picking it up again was twice the result with half the effort.

Xin Nian gradually realized that the more exhausted the body was, the more effective the cultivation became.

Because the body needed the supernatural energy to fill its void like a trickling stream, over time, the body formed a natural reaction, and the absorption and circulation of energy became increasingly smooth.

Xie Ninglan also discovered this mystery and quickly made a few simple gestures to her husband, who was looking back at them.

The couple was separated by a distance and could only communicate through gestures.

Xin Wenyuan, whose pampered body was gasping for air after walking just a few *li*, had been extremely worried about his wife and daughter.

Now that his wife told him that absorbing and converting energy could help the body recover, his heart couldn't help but relax.

The road after leaving the capital was at least a flat official road; the fear was that they would soon have to take dirt paths, which would only become increasingly treacherous and difficult to traverse.

He had to adjust this weak, pampered body as quickly as possible; if he couldn't help, he at least couldn't be a burden!

"Hurry up! We must reach Shili Slope before noon, or no one gets to eat or rest!"

"Remember, you are the ones slowing down your own time. If you can't arrive on time, you'll have to sacrifice your meal and rest time to make up for it!"

A few words from the lead bailiff immediately triggered a chorus of wails.

Someone in front cried out in tears, "My lord! We aren't fed enough; how can we continue walking in the afternoon?"

The bailiff sneered, "That’s your own business! If you slow down the schedule, you are responsible. Even if you don't eat or drink, you must arrive at the next location on time."

"Grandmother, Grandmother." Xin Ruoyu’s slightly breathless voice rose.

The poor old lady had been walking for half a day, and now she was swaying and could barely stand.

Xin Ruoyu could hardly support her, and as it looked like she was about to fall along with the old lady, Xie Ninglan quickly stepped forward and used her body to prop them both up.

Xin Nian opened her eyes and quickly followed, grabbing her mother’s arm and pulling the old lady and Xin Ruoyu up.

The four of them, along with the third branch’s fourth daughter, Xin Mengxue, were all tied to the same chain. If the old lady fell and wasn't supported in time, she would drag everyone else down, and it would be a disaster if they all rolled into a heap.

"Grandmother, how are you?" Xin Ruoyu looked at the old lady with tears in her eyes, feeling incredibly anxious.

Xin Nian held the old lady’s hand with an expressionless face and secretly took her pulse.

Fortunately, it was just excessive fatigue and nothing serious. It was also because she never exercised; it was inevitable that she would feel weak after suddenly walking such a long distance.

In the modern era, fifty-five was only considered middle-aged, and seventy-year-old ladies danced happily in the square every day.

But ancient noblewomen had been carried in sedan chairs since childhood, and even climbing slopes was done by others. They spoke in soft, weak voices and lacked stamina; they could not be compared to the energetic modern elderly.

Just as the few of them stopped, two bailiffs came over with whips, looking fierce and menacing, and scolded, "What are you doing? If you don't walk properly, are you waiting to be whipped?"

The old lady hurriedly cupped her hands to beg for mercy, "My lord, please forgive me. It is just that I am old and have difficulty moving."

The bailiff was furious and, without a word, lashed out at Yu Shi with his whip, "Dawdling and slowing down the schedule—I think you're just looking for trouble."