"Damn pauper! You have three more days, if you don't pay this month's land tax! I'll send you to meet King Yama!"

In a thatched cottage, a soldier in armor was standing menacingly with his foot on a young man in coarse clothes.

The young man plucked up courage, "But... I already paid for next month, at the start of this... "

"Bang!"

Before the youth could finish, he got a kick to the face from the soldier. A few teeth were kicked out, his face bleeding heavily.

"No more back talk! Listen up, if you don't pay your land tax in three days, I'll kill you!"

The soldier threatened icily, turned around and left for the next household to collect their land tax.

The young man clenched his fists, his body trembling, not from fear, but from anger.

His name was Jiang Pingan, fourteen years old, living in Daher Village, a place where his family has farmed for generations.

Life was tolerable until the start of the war a few years ago when the country began to levy heavy taxes.

Land tax, poll tax, city-entrance tax... all simply put, money is needed everywhere.

His mother died from overwork, and his father was eaten by a tiger in the mountains while hunting.

Now, he was the only one left in their family, yet these people still refused to let go of a mere fourteen-year-old child.

He was so tired, he wished for death, but his parents had repeatedly urged him to live on.

He didn't know what the meaning of living on was, but if he had to have a goal, it was to kill these damn oppressors.

However, he was just fourteen, with long-term malnutrition. His body was weak, he simply couldn't stand up to these soldiers who learned martial arts. There were even rumors that some soldiers possessed powers akin to immortals.

Jiang Pingan stood up with a limp. He hadn't eaten all day, coupled with a beating, his body was on the verge of breaking down.

The thatched cottage was empty. Tables, chairs, anything salable had been sold off.

Jiang Pingan's gaze fixed on the old basin by the hearth.

It was the only item left in the house, a bronze basin that his father picked off the river bank, covered with cracks, usually used to hold water, just slightly bigger than his head.

Hobbling over to the cracked bronze basin, Jiang Pingan realized it was the only possesstion he could possibly sell, though he had no idea how many copper coins it could fetch.

Regardless, he decided to sell it anyway, trade it for a few baked buns. Even if he was to die, he would die on a full stomach.

Just as he picked up the bronze basin, a drop of fresh blood fell onto it, and a dazzling green light flashed from within the basin.

Jiang Pingan was taken aback, what was happening? Why was the bronze basin glowing?

Could he be hallucinating from the beating?

"Brother Pingan!"

A chubby-faced little girl appeared at the doorway. The girl was about eight, her patchwork clothes barely covered her body.

"Little Tiger," Jiang Pingan responded almost instinctively.

Her real name was Li Yueyue; 'Little Tiger' was a nickname.

Li Yueyue ran in swiftly, opened her small, pale hand and quickly placed a copper coin into the basin held by Jiang Pingan, she said in a childish voice:

"Brother Ping An, this is what I stole from my dad. You better get your tax summed up quickly."

After that, she tugged out a warm half bun from her pocket and stuffed it into his hand, "Eat quickly, I just saved it from my meal."

"No, this money..."

Before Jiang Ping An could finish his words, Li Yue Yue happily ran off.

Staring at the copper coin and half a bun in his hand, Jiang Ping An, who was ever so resilient even when being beaten by soldiers, had tears welling up in his eyes.

The world is never short of fair-weather support; what's lacking is help when things get tough.

In such a desperate situation, knowing that there was still someone who cared about him, was a feeling too hard to put into words.

Suddenly, a beam of greenish light flickered in the bronze basin.

Following that, an astonishing scene happened. A bunch of copper coins suddenly appeared in the battered bronze basin.

He froze for a moment then shivered, cautiously quanting the door.

Reevaluating the bronze basin, the copper coins were still there!

An illusion? No, absolutely not!

With trembling hands, Jiang Ping An reached into the bronze basin and collected the coins inside.

Excluding Li Yue Yue's coin, there were a total of ten!

Why?

Why had so many copper coins appeared suddenly?

He was abruptly reminded of the stories his father used to tell him about the celestials, saying they were extraordinarily powerful and capable of controlling the wind and rain as well as conjuring money with ease, not worrying about food and clothing.

Some celestials even possessed some formidable magic treasures that could produce money, such as the Wealth Accumulating Basin. Put money into it, and it would keep generating money.

Could this be the celestial's Wealth Accumulating Basin?

Jiang PingAn was young of age, but he had a strong adaptability. He confirmed this idea shortly, his heart throbbing with excitement.

With this magic treasure, he would never worry about money again! He could even pay his taxes!

Jiang PingAn tossed in another copper coin, prepared to duplicate more coins.

Yet there was no sign of any change with the coins inside after a long while.

"Can it only duplicate once? Or does it need a certain time interval?"

If it could only duplicate once, that would be torture.

Jiang PingAn had half the bun given by Tiger Girl, but it did not satiate his hunger, making him even hungrier.

Holding the ten copper coins in his hand, it was just enough for the land tax.

Jiang PingAn decided to fill his stomach first and planned to exchange the coins for some food.

He wanted to carry the bronze basin outside, but he was afraid of attracting attention and having someone snatch it.

Leaving it at home, of course, bore the risk of getting it stolen.

Before, I didn't know the power of the bronze basin, so I just kept it at home. Now that I know this thing is a treasure, I feel it's unsafe wherever it's kept.

The bronze basin in my hand seemed to have sensed something. It turned into a green light and zoomed into my body.

I was frightened and hurriedly felt my body for a check.

"What's happening? Where's my bronze basin?"

Just as this thought emerged, the bronze basin turned into a green light and appeared in my hand.

I was stunned for a while, seemingly understanding something, and said, "Put away."

The bronze basin turned into a green light and disappeared into my body.

"Come out."

The bronze basin reappeared on my hand.

I was overjoyed. Indeed, just as I had expected, I could put it away at will.

After trying a few more times and completely letting my guard down, I became even more certain that this treasure is definitely not a one-time thing!

I couldn't stand the rumbling of my stomach anymore and hastily grabbed some money and ran to Uncle Li's house next door.

At this moment, Li Min was scolding Li Yueyue, "You little brat, you've even started stealing money! Who taught you that?"

"Nobody taught me, I just didn't want Brother Ping'an to get beaten," sobbed Li Yueyue, clenching her tiny hands.

"You..." Li Min picked up a stick to hit, but seeing Li Yueyue's pitiful look, he ultimately didn't bring himself to do it.

At the same time, he also caught sight of Jiang Ping'an at the door.

Li Min said coldly, "Get out."

Jiang Ping'an hastily said, "Uncle Li, I'm here to pay back the money."

"No need, just get out." Li Min continued to reprimand.

His own family wasn't affluent either, having been looted several times, and there wasn't much left. But he knew that Jiang Ping'an was even poorer.

Li Min pitied him yet didn't want to have too much contact with him, taking on more responsibility.

Jiang Ping'an didn’t leave. Instead, he opened his palm to reveal five copper coins.

"One for you, and with the remaining four, I want to buy four buns."

Li Min was taken aback, "How come you have so much money?"