Sacrifice Target: Cultivating Savage Bull Strength

[Sacrifice Target: Accelerate Savage Bull Strength cultivation.]

[Sacrifice Cost: 2 taels of beef tendon, 10 jin of beef bone, 20 jin of beef blood, 30 jin of beef. Reduce lifespan by half a year. Proceed with sacrifice?]

Inside the Auxiliary Barracks tent, Jiang Che slowly opened his eyes, his brow furrowed in a serious expression.

The cost presented by the Heavenly Stele was a significant challenge for him at the moment.

Firstly, there was the matter of obtaining the ingredients. Unlike pork, which could be bought freely, cattle were forbidden to be killed. Even wealthy families needed to concoct an excuse, such as a "fatal fall," to obtain beef.

However, he couldn't leave the barracks, and he had already made an enemy of Gou Buyi, making it difficult to find a way to acquire beef.

Secondly, there was the money.

The silver he had was from selling off his assets, and he had paid Gou Buyi a 30% premium for it. He was left with only a few small pieces of silver. Not only could he not afford expensive beef, but he couldn't even afford two jin of pork.

Yet, he had to find a way.

Liu Zhi's intentions were clear: only by displaying his talent could he gain favor and protection. Otherwise, he wouldn't be qualified to have an auxiliary soldier like him offend a powerful commander on his behalf.

Once he lost Liu Zhi's protection, given his current status and strength, let alone escaping on the way to the border, he wouldn't even survive until the camp broke.

All it would take was a plausible excuse for him to be executed.

Therefore, no matter how difficult it was, he had to find a solution.

As for practicing it himself, it wasn't that he hadn't considered it. In fact, after leaving Liu Zhi, he had tried. However, not only could he not even get started, but without guidance, he couldn't even hold the correct stance for the basic exercises.

He could only rely on his golden finger.

Sleepless in the middle of the night, Jiang Che pondered how to solve the problem. After a long while, he finally fell into a deep sleep.

The next day.

After the training session ended, Jiang Che found his target. The man was his fellow villager, sleeping in the same tent. He was considerably older than Jiang Che and not outstanding in any particular aspect, but he did have one strength.

He was adept at socializing and gathering information. He was well-connected with many people in the Auxiliary Barracks and would often share interesting anecdotes during his leisure time.

"Brother Jiang Che, what do you need me for?" Xu San'er asked, his hands tucked into his sleeves. He was slightly hunched over, and his attitude towards Jiang Che was somewhat fawning. Defeating a veteran from the main camp and being invited for drinks by the commander were events that instilled fear in auxiliary soldiers like them.

He was even inwardly calculating if he had ever had any disputes with Jiang Che. Being called over suddenly made him somewhat uneasy.

"I wanted to ask Brother Xu something." Jiang Che said in a low voice.

"Go ahead..." Hearing that it was about asking for information, Xu San'er breathed a sigh of relief and unconsciously straightened his back.

"Does anyone in our Auxiliary Barracks have a way to get some rare items?"

"Rare items... What exactly does Brother Che mean?"

"Things from a cow."

"From a cow..." Xu San'er paused, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Jiang Che didn't rush, waiting patiently for Xu San'er to think.

After about a dozen breaths, Xu San'er shrugged his shoulders and lowered his voice, saying:

"It's not easy for ordinary people to find a way to get their hands on a draft animal. If anyone in our Auxiliary Barracks had that ability, they wouldn't be serving in the army. However, if there's anyone who might know a way, I think there's one person."

"Who?"

"Geng Dabiao from Barracks A."

Jiang Che's memory of this person was a bit vague. After thinking for a moment, he continued, "What makes you say that?"

"A while ago, I was chatting with a brother in the barracks, and he mentioned him. This guy was originally an illegitimate son of the Geng family in Tai'an Prefecture. It seems that because of a dispute over family property, he displeased the eldest young master of the Geng family, so they found a way to make him serve in the army.

And this Geng family is quite influential. They are said to run restaurants. Not to mention pigs and cattle, they can even get rarer items.

Since he's a member of the Geng family, he might have a connection."

Xu San'er quietly recounted some of Geng Dabiao's affairs.

"Are you sure about this?"

"My brother sleeps in the same tent as Geng Dabiao, so he heard it directly from him. It should be accurate."

"Alright, thank you, Brother Xu, for your guidance." Jiang Che said, expressing his gratitude.

"Heh heh... It's nothing. I, Old Third Xu, might not be able to help with other things, but when it comes to gossip, there's hardly anything in the Auxiliary Barracks that I don't know."

Hearing Jiang Che call him brother, Xu San'er felt an inexplicable sense of accomplishment for some reason.

Having identified his target, Jiang Che didn't hesitate. While queuing for food, Jiang Che held his bowl and looked around. Seizing an opportunity, he squatted down next to Geng Dabiao.

After approaching and observing the man, he finally understood the source of his vague sense of familiarity. The man was one of the individuals who had stood out during yesterday's sparring session.

He was powerfully built, over 1.9 meters tall. Wearing a padded cotton jacket in winter made him appear even bulkier, which explained why he could remain undefeated. Just his physique alone made him someone not easily moved.

Geng Dabiao merely glanced at Jiang Che's arrival and didn't pay him much mind. He rapidly shoveled the mixed grain and wheat into his mouth with his chopsticks, though he still seemed unsatisfied after finishing.

He stood up, ready to leave.

"Brother Geng, please wait."

Jiang Che quickly called out.

Geng Dabiao frowned slightly and asked in a deep voice, "Do you need something from me?"

Jiang Che smiled and pushed half of the barley porridge from his bowl into the other man's bowl:

"I don't have a big appetite. Brother Geng, would you help me eat some?"

Although Geng Dabiao appeared simple and honest, he wasn't foolish. He spoke directly:

"I saw you in action yesterday, and you clearly have considerable strength. This food probably isn't even enough for you. Speak, what do you want from me?"

"I heard that Brother Geng comes from the Geng Family in Tai'an Prefecture. I'd like to ask for your help with something."

"Who told you that?"

Geng Dabiao stared intently at Jiang Che, a hint of ferocity even showing in his eyes.

"That's not important. What's important is whether you can help me, and in return, I can offer you something you desire." Jiang Che got straight to the point.

Geng Dabiao snorted coldly:

"Putting on airs."

Saying that, he prepared to turn and leave.

"Brother Geng, if you were framed, don't you want revenge?"

Jiang Che said in a deep voice.

Geng Dabiao froze, then turned around with a look of suspicion and disdain:

"You can help me get revenge?"

The Geng Family, while not a prominent household in Tai'an Prefecture, was still respectable. Jiang Che, on the other hand, was just a minor auxiliary soldier. For him to make such a bold claim was like treating him like a fool.

A spark of anger ignited within him.

"I can't help you get revenge directly, but I can give you an opportunity for revenge."

Jiang Che met Geng Dabiao's gaze, his eyes firm.

"What do you mean? Don't beat around the bush."

Geng Dabiao said with a cold expression.

"I know you want revenge, but you're about to be sent to the frontier. That journey is fraught with peril, and I can find a way to have you transferred out of the Auxiliary Barracks."

Jiang Che appeared very confident, as if he truly possessed such capability.