Probing

Four hundred catties of strength is already the level of a Bone Binding middle-stage martial artist. Yet Lin Xuan is only fifteen, an age just beginning martial training. To possess such power at this stage is truly shocking.

With such aptitude, stepping into the Breath-Connecting Realm is merely a matter of time; he may even have the chance to touch upon a higher realm that ordinary people dare not covet—Blade-Condensing.

Qin Lie stood stunned for a long moment before slowly coming to his senses. Suppressing the turbulent waves in his heart, he said to Lin Xuan in a deep voice, "Verbal estimates aren't accurate. Come, follow me to the training grounds. We'll use the Training Lifting Stone to test it properly, and then we'll know the true limit of your strength."

The Garrison is actually quite small. Aside from the residential area for military households, there is only the training ground and the internal farmland, so the two of them arrived at the training ground quickly.

There were not many people on the grounds at this time. The children of military officers have largely become decadent; aside from the ten days each month when they are required to drill, they spend their time fighting dogs, cockfighting, playing with crickets, or loitering in the county's pleasure houses.

The Training Lifting Stones are square blocks of high-quality bluestone, polished smooth, with grooves on both sides for hands to grip. To count as a successful lift, one must raise the object to the waist and abdomen and hold it suspended for a period of time.

After all, being able to lift something and being able to maintain the hold are two different things.

There are seven or eight specifications for the Training Lifting Stones, generally increasing by one hundred catties each, with a cap of nine hundred catties, as that level has already stepped into the Breath-Connecting Realm, a feat few in all of Liang City can achieve.

Lin Xuan walked directly to the stones. Carved onto them were mythical beasts like white tigers and qilin, along with the weight of each stone.

The one he chose was a Training Lifting Stone weighing four hundred catties.

Lin Xuan took a deep breath and then loosened his joints, which popped with a crisp sound.

He placed his hands into the grooves and exerted strength throughout his entire body, hoisting the four hundred-catty stone until it hung at the level of his waist.

The muscles in his arms bulged, veins stood out, and his physique appeared rigid and firm, displaying immense, surging power.

Qin Lie watched from the side, growing more pleased by the moment.

After several breaths, Lin Xuan showed no signs of exhaustion, keeping the stone held steadily at the initial height without the slightest waver.

Qin Lie nodded and waved his hand at Lin Xuan, signaling for him to set it down. "Alright, alright, put it down. I've seen enough to know your strength."

Lin Xuan lowered the stone slowly and steadily, showing no signs of relief or the urge to carelessly toss it aside.

Being able to steadily lift four hundred catties would make one a peak human on Earth, but here, it is only the beginning; there is still much training to be done.

Qin Lie sighed with emotion, "Just as you said, not a word of exaggeration! With this level of strength, I recommend you use the Twelve-Strength Bow."

Compared to the Six-Strength Bow he had been using, the lethality and range of the Twelve-Strength Bow are nearly doubled.

The scout who had been tracking him earlier was about one hundred paces away; with his old Six-Strength Bow, it would have been nearly impossible to inflict effective damage.

But with the Twelve-Strength Bow, that distance would be more than sufficient.

This was the reason he chose not to act outside the city earlier.

Lin Xuan asked curiously, "What is the current market price for a Twelve-Strength Bow?"

Qin Lie looked up at Lin Xuan and quoted the honest price: "At the Military Craftsman Shop in the Garrison, a proper, usable Twelve-Strength hard bow costs three taels of silver.

If you want to include thirty armor-piercing arrows, that will be another tael."

Lin Xuan did the mental math. He had just earned over seven taels from selling bear meat, and he had nine taels left at home; it was more than enough to buy the bow and arrows, so he nodded immediately.

"What about a military saber?" Lin Xuan asked right after.

Qin Lie replied, "A finely forged Goose-Feather Waist Saber costs two and a half taels of silver, while a master-crafted one goes for over ten taels.

However, I imagine you won't need a master-grade saber in this place; after all, this is the interior of Great Jin, with neither barbarians nor bandits."

Lin Xuan took out the silver: "Then, could I trouble Uncle Qin to help me procure a set with the Twelve-Strength Bow and a fine Goose-Feather Waist Saber? I'm new to the Garrison and unfamiliar with the place; I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to negotiate a good price."

There were ten taels of silver in the pouch.

Qin Lie took the silver and weighed it in his hand: "This must be over eight or nine taels, right? It's too much."

"It's not too much, Uncle Qin. I can't have you running errands for me for nothing; please just accept this as a token of my appreciation."

Qin Lie offered a polite refusal: "Oh, nephew, don't say such things. Since you and Sheng'er call each other brothers, I naturally view you as my own junior. Why bother with such formalities for a small matter?"

Lin Xuan chuckled, "It is precisely because you are my elder that showing respect is what a junior ought to do."

Qin Lie was taken aback by these words, then stroked his beard and smiled. He tucked the silver into his robe, his eyes filled with approval as he looked at Lin Xuan.

He glanced around, and finding no one nearby, he spoke again:

"Nephew, are you currently betrothed? I have a daughter, similar in age to you, with a gentle temperament. If you are not yet promised to anyone, I intend to betroth her to you.

If our two families unite, I will naturally do my utmost to promote you in the Garrison, and even the hundreds of acres of fertile land belonging to the Qin family could be handed over for you to manage."

Lin Xuan's heart tightened. He immediately bowed and replied with a sincere and firm tone:

"I appreciate your kindness, Uncle Qin, but I must decline. My family already has a child bride, Lin An. We have been together since childhood, sharing both hardship and joy; she treats me with the utmost sincerity and kindness. I have no reason to take another wife. I hope you can forgive me."

"What does that matter? She can simply be demoted to a secondary wife. My daughter is gentle and peaceful; she certainly wouldn't mistreat her."

Seeing his persistence, Lin Xuan continued: "Uncle Qin, Lin An is the woman who has shared my life and death. There is no reason to demote her to a secondary wife. As long as she does not fail me, she will always be my primary wife. I would rather live in poverty for a lifetime than betray her."

Once these words were spoken, Qin Lie did not feel slighted; instead, he felt even more appreciation for Lin Xuan.

This was because he had said this intentionally. He had spoken with his son earlier and learned about Lin Xuan, knowing he already had a wife.

He said this now primarily to see if Lin Xuan would betray his principles for the sake of his future, whether he was a man who valued profit over righteousness, and whether he was someone easily bought or used—in short, whether he was worth the Qin family's true support.

If he were willing to abandon his wedded wife for a bit of profit, what would be the point of supporting such a person?

Sooner or later, he would betray his own family for profit as well.

He had rehearsed this in his mind; if Lin Xuan had agreed, he would have found some excuse about their "astrological signs not matching" to call it off.

Because if such a person were to rise in power, there was no telling if they would betray him or even swallow his family whole. If that were the case, it was better not to offer support in the first place.

But Lin Xuan's words made him feel that he and his son had judged the man correctly.

"Good, good! Come, I'll take you to the workshop. We must have the craftsmen produce the best quality bow and saber!" Qin Lie walked toward the direction of the artisan workshops.

Seeing that Qin Lie was not angry but instead looked at him with admiration, Lin Xuan stood stunned for a long moment, then pondered slightly, guessing what the other man had been thinking.