Jade Spirit Pill, Lesser Restoration Pill

Seeing that Qin Shuang remained silent, Ling Weifeng assumed he was still angry. He then took out a small ceramic bottle from his bosom. "This is a secret medicinal pill from our Tianshan Sect, made with Tianshan Snow Lotus. It's called the Jade Spirit Pill. It can heal wounds, detoxify, and also increase one's power. Take it and see how everyone's injuries are, and if it's useful!"

"Oh, but how can I accept this!" Qin Shuang had served in the Dragon Guard's Yu Unit for many years. His Commander, the Military Sima Yang Yuncong, was the eldest disciple of the Tianshan Sect and Ling Weifeng's senior brother. Given Qin Shuang's relationship with Yang Yuncong, he naturally knew how precious the Jade Spirit Pill was. So, while saying he couldn't accept it, he had already taken the medicine bottle and put it in his embrace. "Uncle Ling, you're our savior, there's no need to be so polite!"

After a brief exchange of pleasantries with Ling Weifeng, Qin Shuang saw that the battle was over and the Dragon Guard had begun clearing the battlefield. He hurried to check on the condition of his team members.

Having personally experienced the battle, Qin Shuang had a deep understanding of its brutality and had mentally prepared himself for potential casualties.

However, to Qin Shuang's surprise, although everyone was injured in this battle, the vast majority of the injuries were not life-threatening. Only Li Panggui and Jin Dashuai had unfortunately perished.

Li Panggui died protecting Li Fu Sheng, and Jin Dashuai had been severely wounded by a sneak attack from the Imperial Guards earlier, failing to survive this time.

To date, in this mission, Qin Shuang's team had lost eight members: Li Panggui, Jin Dashuai, Chen Bu Ding, Feng Bu Ba, Kang Tong, Lan Kun, Zhang Yan, and Hao Hao. Destroy Ghost God was severely injured, resulting in blindness, and it was unknown if he would recover. Qu Xiu was killed for violating discipline. By this count, an entire squad had been lost.

It was more than a month later when everyone returned to Chaoge City. Along the way, with the assistance of the Dragon Guards from various prefectures and counties, Qin Shuang and his group traveled smoothly, encountering no more foolish individuals who dared to attack them.

As Qin Shuang walked into the familiar hall of the Dragon Guard Yamen's Yu Unit, he couldn't help but feel a sense of daze, thinking to himself how much more comfortable it was to handle cases and apprehend people in the past.

Commander Yang Yuncong was still in his usual red-trimmed black brocade military uniform. He looked at Qin Shuang with satisfaction and said, "Brat, you turned a simple search mission into such a huge event – destroying Peerless City, clashing with the Imperial Guards, capturing Western Xia and Northern Yuan spies, luring and killing martial artists from the two states of Tai and Qing... I don't even know if I should criticize you or praise you?"

Before he could finish speaking, Yang Yuncong burst into laughter himself.

"Uncle Yang, don't laugh. Do you know how heavily my team suffered this time!" Qin Shuang sighed.

Yang Yuncong's laughter stopped upon hearing this. He turned serious and said, "I've already read your report and know that you went through hardships and faced mortal danger this time. It's also my fault for not considering things thoroughly. Knowing that your team only had three Innate Realm experts, I didn't arrange for reinforcements and support in time!"

"How can this be blamed on Uncle Yang? You were in Chaoge City, how could you possibly look after such a distant area! Besides, many things are sudden, and no one can predict them in advance." Qin Shuang was not an unreasonable person. "However, the rewards and compensation from the higher-ups should be given properly. We can't let our brothers' hearts grow cold!"

"You can rest assured. I will not be stingy with merits and rewards for those of you who are alive. For those who sacrificed their lives, their pensions will be fully distributed to their families. The Dragon Guard will never mistreat its own people!" Yang Yuncong said with no room for doubt.

Qin Shuang nodded upon hearing this. "Then I'll thank Uncle Yang on behalf of everyone!"

"Brat, that's good. Prioritizing your subordinates in your actions and decisions shows you have the makings of a leader!" Yang Yuncong nodded with satisfaction. "I've already reported your merits truthfully to the Mysterious Unit's Fire Division. Besides that, what other rewards do you want?"

"After this mission, I deeply realized the importance of strength. I now urgently wish to improve my own power!" Qin Shuang replied truthfully.

"Good. Having this awareness shows that this mission was not in vain. However, the path of martial arts requires patience and accumulation. Remember to avoid arrogance and impatience. As long as you persist in your daily cultivation, with your talent, improving your strength will be a natural progression!" Yang Yuncong advised Qin Shuang, nodding, fearing that he might lose patience due to temporary impetuosity and ruin the most important foundation of martial arts practice.

Of course, Yang Yuncong didn't just offer words of encouragement; he also supported Qin Shuang with practical actions.

He took out a brocade box about the size of his palm and handed it to Qin Shuang. "This is the Lesser Restoration Pill from the Shaolin Temple. For martial artists below the Innate Realm, it strengthens yang, fortifies muscles and bones, warms the dan tian, and benefits the spirit. It's a sacred medicine for consolidating the foundation and cultivating the root."

Qin Shuang happily took the brocade box and opened it. Inside were ten red pills. He couldn't help but sigh at Yang Yuncong's generosity. However, despite his thoughts, he showed a troubled expression on his face. "Uncle Yang, there are only ten pills. How am I supposed to divide them when I go back?"

"What do you mean 'only ten pills'! Do you know how precious the Lesser Restoration Pill is?" Yang Yuncong was annoyed.

"It's not about whether it's precious or not, it's about fairness. My team has so many people, how am I supposed to divide them when I go back?"

"Then what do you want?"

"How about giving me three more boxes, so I can have forty pills?" Qin Shuang asked tentatively.

"Get lost!" Yang Yuncong kicked him. "Do you think this Lesser Restoration Pill is something you can buy at the market? Three more boxes? I'll give you three kicks!"

"Ah, let's talk civilly, no hitting! No kicking!" Qin Shuang jumped aside and said shamelessly, "Uncle Yang, you just praised me for considering my subordinates, and now you're scolding me?"

"Are these the same thing?" Yang Yuncong found himself unable to argue with Qin Shuang.

"Uncle Yang, just tell me what else you can give me!" Qin Shuang pressed on.

"Sigh, I have four Lesser Restoration Pills left here. One has to be saved for Lanzhu, and the remaining three are all yours!" Yang Yuncong said helplessly.

Qin Shuang knew that the Lanzhu Yang Yuncong mentioned was his daughter, Yi Lanzhu. He was deeply touched that Yang Yuncong would give him so many Lesser Restoration Pills. "Thank you, Uncle Yang!"

"Oh, and by the way, I'll give you a heads-up. The higher-ups are very satisfied with your success in bringing back Ni Pusa this time. They're planning to promote you to Garrison General. You can promote two Squad Leaders yourself, and I'll arrange for forty men to be assigned to you. You can still recruit a squad of ten yourself!" Yang Yuncong clicked his tongue and exclaimed, "An eighteen-year-old Garrison General! If not unprecedented, then certainly unparalleled. You're a good lad, bringing honor to our 216 hereditary families!"

"Ah, I'm a Garrison General already?" Upon hearing Yang Yuncong's words, Qin Shuang was greatly surprised. He knew his mother, Qin Hongmian, was only a Garrison General. He was now on the same level as her? He had only been promoted to Squad Leader a few months ago!