They All Took the Pills

After sitting down in the main hall, Shen Jingchuan looked at the three of them and spoke first.

"I'm asking you, why aren't you in Yuxi Prefecture? Why have you all come back to the mountain stronghold?"

"How's it going in Yuxi Prefecture?"

Hu Tieniu chuckled and moved forward a little.

"Young master, it's alright, everything's fine over there."

"We've recruited quite a few new people lately, but the weapons and equipment are far from sufficient; we can't gather enough in a short time."

"I'm here today to discuss something with my two older brothers from the Lin Household."

"I plan to bring all these people down the mountain. From now on, Azure Cloud Stronghold will belong to the Lin Household and you, young master."

"I'll leave you a thousand strong men to guard the mountain."

Hu Tieniu scratched his head and said again.

"I wanted to take those two machine guns off the stockade wall, but my two older brothers absolutely refused to let me."

"Young master, please do me a favor?"

Lin Yue, standing to the side, snorted.

"You took all those machine guns with you; we still have to defend this village."

"If you leave me with only a thousand men and no machine guns, how can I feel at ease?"

Shen Jingchuan listened but didn't rush to reply. Instead, he asked another question.

"Tieniu, you just said, how many soldiers have you recruited?"

"Fifty thousand people."

Hu Tieniu stretched out his hand, but his expression showed little joy.

"There are already 50,000 people."

Shen Jingchuan raised an eyebrow.

"So fast?"

"Young master, you don't know."

Hu Tieniu sighed.

"Since last year, there has been a drought, which has continued into this year. Many families are struggling to make ends meet."

"Those Government Army are still looting grain everywhere, ravaging the surrounding villages. Too many people are starving to death; in some places, they've even started cannibalism."

"We captured Yuxi Prefecture and opened the granaries. Guess what happened?"

"As long as there is grain, a simple call to action will bring forth a multitude of followers."

"These 50,000 people were handpicked by me, the strongest and healthiest. More than half the population of Yuxi Prefecture has gathered here. It's just... the food supply is a bit tight."

Shen Jingchuan nodded and waved his hand.

"Alright, you don't need to worry about weapons and equipment."

"I've brought everything for you this time. I'll give you more when I get to Yuxi Prefecture."

Upon hearing this, Hu Tieniu knew Shen Jingchuan's methods and was overjoyed, quickly expressing his gratitude.

"Thank you very much, young master!"

Then, he looked at Lin Yue, thought for a moment, and spoke.

"How about this?"

"For the stockade, one machine gun is enough."

"You're mainly in Yuxi Prefecture now. Have Tieniu dismantle that one."

He looked at Lin Yue.

"Besides, don't you still have submachine guns? That's enough to handle most things."

Lin Yue pondered for a moment, and although somewhat annoyed, he finally nodded.

"Alright."

"Then let him take one away."

With the matter settled, Shen Jingchuan didn't rush to continue. He raised his hand, took out three porcelain bottles from his Ring, and placed one on the table for each person.

"Inside is a pill called the Life-Extending Pill."

"If an ordinary person eats it, it can extend their lifespan by fifty years; however, they can only eat one pill in their lifetime."

"All three of you ate it in front of me."

The three of them picked up the porcelain bottle, somewhat surprised. They uncorked it and poured out a pill the size of a longan, round and smooth, with a pure medicinal fragrance.

The Lin Shan Lin Yue, held the pills but didn't rush to put them in their mouths; they exchanged a glance.

Lin Yue hesitated for a moment, then looked up at Shen Jingchuan with a somewhat hesitant expression.

"Young master, such a fine item..."

"My father, my mother, them..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but instead gripped the pill tighter, thinking to himself, if all else fails, he'll give his share to his father.

As for his wife, he didn't dare mention it, as it was too precious.

Lin Shan, standing to the side, shared the same thoughts, keeping his head down and remaining silent.

Shen Jingchuan looked on, understood, and smiled.

"Alright, I understand what you're thinking."

"Don't worry, I've prepared enough for your parents' needs."

"Your family members will also be included; just eat what you need."

Upon hearing this, Lin Shan and Lin Yue finally breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.

Hu Tieniu was overjoyed. Who wouldn't want to live a few more years, let alone fifty? He never dreamed of such a thing, and immediately knelt down.

"Thank you, young master! I..."

Before he could finish speaking, Shen Jingchuan lifted him up from the air.

"Alright, Chief Hu, stop being so polite. Hurry up and eat."

Hu Tieniu swallowed it without hesitation, and the Lin Household brothers also swallowed the pill without further hesitation.

The pill melted into a warm liquid as soon as it entered my mouth, flowing down my throat and instantly warming my entire body.

The three of them felt an indescribable sense of comfort. The fatigue and aches of the past few years had all dissipated, and they felt as if they had become several years younger, with much more energy.

The three of them sat there, carefully observing the changes in their bodies, and no longer had any doubts about the efficacy of the pill.

Who but immortals could perform such a feat?

Shen Jingchuan looked at them and spoke slowly.

"This thing can do more than just prolong life."

"Your health will also improve; old ailments and hidden injuries will gradually heal."

"As long as you don't abuse your health, living to over a hundred years old without illness or disaster is not difficult."

Upon hearing this, the three were both surprised and delighted, and got up to express their gratitude.

Shen Jingchuan quickly waved his hand, stopping them.

"Alright, alright, no need to thank me."

"Since I have the opportunity to obtain this item, and you three are among my most important people, I naturally won't leave you out."

"I got quite a lot this time, enough to go around."

Lin Yue clicked his tongue, his expression filled with emotion.

"Young master, although I have never seen anything from the Immortal Realm, I know that even in the Immortal Realm, pills that extend lifespan by fifty years are probably not commonly seen."

Lin Shan nodded and looked at Shen Jingchuan with a solemn expression.

"Brother-in-law, you're making us eat this in front of you; we understand what that means."

"We really don't dare keep this thing in our possession."

"If word gets out, it will surely lead to my death, and countless people will be eager to seize it."

"Now that I've eaten it myself, I feel much more at ease."

Hu Tieniu was a straightforward person. After hearing what Lin Shan said, he realized what was going on and nodded emphatically.

"Yes, yes, it makes me feel at ease."

Shen Jingchuan smiled, said nothing more, then straightened his expression and began to make arrangements.

"Tieniu, take your men and get on with your business. Take care of things up and down the mountain first."

"I'm going to see my father-in-law."

He winked at Lin Shan and Lin Yue.

"Come on, let's go to the backyard."

Hu Tieniu responded and was about to leave when Shen Jingchuan remembered something and called out to him.

"Oh, right, bullets."

"Leave 50,000 rounds for the village; take the rest with you."

"A major battle is bound to break out in Yuxi Prefecture sooner or later, so it won't hurt to prepare more supplies."

"I'll go over there tonight too."

"You guys go first."

Hu Tieniu patted his chest, responding loudly.

"Alright, young master!"

He stood up, feeling full of energy, as if he had wings on his feet, and as if he had become more than ten years younger.

My heart is filled with warmth.

Back then, when he became an outlaw, he was captured by the young master, who not only spared his life but also supported him all the way to this day.

This kindness is heavier than a mountain.

He turned around, faced Shen Jingchuan, solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute, and his eyes were a little red.

"Young master, I have nothing more to say."

"My life, Hu Tieniu's life, has long belonged to you, young master."

"From now on, I will be ready to face any danger, even death, if necessary!"