"Boss!"
Cao Yongxiang, who had remained silent beside Li Dingguo all along, suddenly showed a trace of resolve in his eyes after Tang Guangqiang led his people away.
Leaning close to Li Dingguo's ear, he whispered, "Judging by the situation, the Eight Great Kings will definitely withdraw from this county town when the government army arrives two months from now."
"Boss, what will happen to Little Bean Sprout and the others then?"
With deep worry, he continued in a low voice, "I've heard those government soldiers are even more ruthless than us Rebel Army soldiers when it comes to burning, killing, looting, and plundering!"
"Besides, I've heard that a large number of government troops often kill innocent people and claim them as military achievements!"
At this, Cao Yongxiang's expression changed. He softly suggested, "Little girls like Little Bean Sprout and the others have no ability to protect themselves at all. Once they leave us, how could they possibly survive?"
"Boss..."
He seemed to have made some sort of decision. Lowering his voice until only he and Li Dingguo could hear it, he quietly said, "There's no rule saying girls can't cultivate martial arts!"
"Why don't we start today? We can set aside some time and secretly teach Little Bean Sprout and the others the Basic Fist Technique for martial body tempering."
"Perhaps among girls like Little Bean Sprout and the others, some might become Martial Artists through diligent cultivation and a bit of luck?"
"That way, even if we can't take them with us when the time comes, they'll at least have some ability to protect themselves. Maybe they'll survive, and it may not be impossible for us to meet again someday."
"As long as we're careful, don't let those boys who were eliminated from the Martial Soldier selection find out, and keep it hidden from the Eight Great Kings, it'll be fine."
Though Cao Yongxiang was a closed gourd, he held deep, pure feelings for these orphaned girls who had once lived alongside him day and night.
When he thought that, two months from now, they might very well be unable to take Little Bean Sprout and the others out of Dingbian City with them, leaving their lives and deaths uncertain, his heart felt terrible.
Although the Eight Great Kings, Zhang Xianzhong, had emphasized that the cultivation techniques and skills taught to them could not be passed on privately, Cao Yongxiang could no longer care about that much if it meant sparing these little girls from the misfortune that awaited them.
"Mm."
Li Dingguo had already harbored the same thought. Hearing this, he nodded slightly and quietly instructed Cao Yongxiang, "Don't tell anyone else about this idea of yours. Only the two of us can know."
"Especially the orphan boys here who were eliminated from the selection. They absolutely cannot be allowed to find out."
"The human heart is impossible to fathom. Once the secret leaks and the King learns of it, the consequences will be unpredictable."
Having endured society's countless beatings in his previous life, Li Dingguo—who had luckily come from that era where everything was turned upside down to this wondrous great world—understood only too well how treacherous people could be.
The dozen or so young Martial Artists in his squad, as well as the orphan beggars here who had been eliminated from the Martial Artist selection, might all be people whose backgrounds were known inside and out.
But in his previous life, Li Dingguo had seen "good brothers" stab one another in the back so often that they were beyond counting.
In the twenty-first century of his previous life, he had seen that under the lure of profit, or due to vile human nature such as envy, jealousy, and hatred, there was nothing that could not be sold out.
Kicking a man when he was down was common; offering charcoal in the snow was rare.
Through this matter, Li Dingguo also came to fully understand the pure and kind nature hidden inside Cao Yongxiang, this closed gourd. If he had the chance in the future, he would certainly value this fellow even more.
Like Little Bean Sprout, he was, for now, undoubtedly one of the only two companions in this world whom Li Dingguo could trust.
"Xiangzi, this matter must be handled slowly. You mustn't act rashly, and you can't be too anxious either, lest haste make waste."
Seeing Cao Yongxiang beside him nod gravely, Li Dingguo added in a low voice, "Martial Artist cultivation requires more than just techniques. It also requires all kinds of cultivation resources."
"I've already considered it. Our only way to obtain cultivation resources in the near future is when our squad leaves the city to carry out missions."
"When that happens, I'll look for an opportunity to temporarily leave the squad and kill one or two Level One Demon Beasts alone, then hide them somewhere relatively safe and secluded!"
"I've heard Demon Beasts differ greatly from ordinary wild beasts. Even a Level One Demon Beast is at least twice the size of an ordinary beast of the same kind!"
"Also, I've heard Demon Beast meat tastes excellent and contains abundant spiritual energy. It's vastly different from ordinary meat."
"As long as we roast the Demon Beast meat in small pieces, pack it into clean bamboo tubes or other clean, non-toxic containers, and seal them up, it should keep for at least ten days without spoiling."
He laid out his plan. "As long as I take the opportunity to kill one or two Level One Demon Beasts every ten days or so while carrying out the King's assigned missions, it will be enough to meet Little Bean Sprout and the others' cultivation needs."
"As for how many among Little Bean Sprout and the others have sufficient cultivation aptitude and can awaken Qi and Blood Power to become Martial Artists, that will depend on their own talent. It cannot be forced."
"I only hope Little Bean Sprout and the others have better luck."
For the moment, this was all Li Dingguo could do. In the end, it would still depend on Little Bean Sprout and the others' innate aptitude.
"Boss, that's wonderful!"
As soon as Li Dingguo finished speaking, Cao Yongxiang's worry turned to joy. He quietly said, "Your plans are far more comprehensive and thoughtful than anything I had in mind!"
"Starting tomorrow, the King will take us through practical combat training. Before long, he should let our young Martial Artist squads carry out various practical training plans on our own."
"As the leader of the Rebel Army, the King has far too many large and small Rebel Army matters to deal with. He can't possibly keep leading us personally forever."
"Just as he said, the path of Martial Artist cultivation depends not only on strength, but also on everyone's luck."
"If a Martial Artist's luck isn't good enough, then even if he's a genius youth, death is simply death. It all depends on whether one's fate is hard enough."
The two quickly settled the matter, then said no more so as not to attract attention.
Li Dingguo turned and walked over to Little Bean Sprout, who stood not far away watching him. He told her roughly what he had experienced during this time, clearing up some of the doubts in her heart.
More than a quarter of an hour later, the Martial Artist squad led by Tang Guangqiang had finished their purchases, carrying large and small bundles as they returned.
Immediately afterward, Tang Guangqiang and Cao Yongxiang took charge of distributing the white-flour steamed buns they had bought, handing them out one by one to the companions gathered here.
Only after everyone had eaten and drunk their fill did Li Dingguo lead the several dozen people here, carrying the various odds and ends they had just bought, briskly toward the Land God Temple in the eastern part of the city, not far away...
Before you continue