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Inside the Beef Offal House, Lu Yuan and his group had just entered when Wei Yong was the first to rush in. After finding a suitable spot, he wiped down a chair with his sleeve and said fawningly to Lu Yuan, "Sir, please sit."

Widow Li happened to witness the scene.

Her thick lips parted slightly, surprise appearing in her eyes.

In her eyes, Wei Yong was already an outstanding man, someone with a strong sense of responsibility.

Yet before Lu Yuan, he was so humble.

Lu Yuan did not stand on ceremony and sat down at once.

He did not know much about the matters here. After taking his seat, he patted the spot beside him and said, "Old Huang, sit quickly."

"Alright!"

Old Huang answered and sat down as well.

The wounds on his face had already scabbed over, though he still looked rather blotchy.

Once he had settled in, the others took their seats one after another.

Just then, Zhang Gun called out, "Madam, bring us a huge pot of beef offal. Pick out whatever other wine and dishes you see fit—just fill the table. Later, have your Guo Xiu come over and offer our sir a cup of wine."

"Alright, the wine and dishes will be here shortly," Widow Li answered.

Then she headed to the back kitchen to hurry them along.

Zhang Gun leaned close to Lu Yuan and said, "Sir, the proprietor's daughter, Guo Xiu, is Wei Yong's sweetheart. Have her offer you a cup of wine later."

As soon as he finished speaking, nervousness appeared on Wei Yong's face.

Old Huang merely raised his head and glanced at the two of them, saying nothing.

Back then, he had thought Lu Yuan was a good man and that entrusting Guo Xiu to him would have been most suitable.

But now, it seemed A-Xiu simply did not have that fortune. Lu Yuan probably would not take a liking to her either.

At this point, there was no need for him to say anything more.

A short while later, Widow Li and her daughter brought over the wine and dishes. In an instant, the entire room filled with a mouthwatering aroma.

Guo Xiu stood where she was, holding a wine cup somewhat awkwardly as she said to Lu Yuan, "Sir, let me offer you a toast."

She spoke with great caution.

Lu Yuan nodded and took a small sip of the wine.

Then he turned and teased Wei Yong a few times.

Guo Xiu tactfully withdrew.

The connections she boasted of were only enough to bully old veterans like Old Huang. When she truly encountered someone like Lu Yuan, she did not even have the courage to speak loudly.

After returning to the back kitchen, a trace of disappointment rose in her heart.

Widow Li poked her daughter and said, "What are you thinking about? That Lu Yuan is an outsider, after all. He may have become a Squad Leader now, but that does not mean his foundation is stronger than Wei Yong's. He looks impressive today, but who knows what will happen later.

Don't eat from the bowl while eyeing the pot. Holding on to Wei Yong is what matters."

After hearing that, Guo Xiu nodded.

Outside, Wei Yong watched Lu Yuan's calm, unruffled manner and finally let out a full breath.

Lu Yuan truly had no interest in Guo Xiu.

At the same time, he marvelled at how quick-witted Zhang Gun was.

Just then, Lu Yuan took a sip from his cup and looked at everyone. "There are still seven or eight days until our next rotation. Are you going out again?"

With the gains from this expedition,

he would not let go of another chance to leave the city. Supplies and official rank—Lu Yuan wanted them all.

If he wanted to live well in the future, he had to gain a foothold in the Northern Frontier.

"We'll follow your lead, sir," Zhang Gun immediately said.

Though he had not reached the Entry Realm, he was close to his limit. In the past, he would never have imagined that he might one day enter the Body-Tempering Realm. But following Lu Yuan, he had realized it was not impossible, so naturally he wanted to give it a try.

The others nodded as well.

"Good. Once we finish drinking, go back and make your preparations. We leave at dawn tomorrow. Let's take this chance to earn a little more."

After saying this, Lu Yuan drained the wine in his cup in one gulp.

Elsewhere, Zhou Xiong arrived at the Captain's Mansion clad in armor. Gone was his usual brash manner; instead, he stood somewhat stiffly in the main hall. Seated in the place of honor was a woman in red.

Her long hair was tied behind her head. Her phoenix eyes were strikingly beautiful, and her skin, white as snow, was almost translucent, giving off a faint crystalline glow. She had a delicate jade-like nose, and the corners of her cherry-red lips held a barely perceptible smile.

Below that rose and fell a pair of mountains so perfect they defied description. Though she wore soft armor over her upper body, it could not conceal her ample endowment in the slightest.

Her straight posture revealed her tall, slender figure. She was dazzlingly beautiful, yet possessed a heroic air.

She was Zhou Hongling, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Zhou Family's main branch. In her early years, she had cultivated in an immortal sect. Though still young, her cultivation had already reached the peak of the True Origin Realm. She was now Icefield City's Red Tassel Captain.

She commanded three thousand men and held the rank of Subordinate Sixth Rank.

Though Zhou Xiong was her clan uncle by seniority, he appeared quite restrained before this young lady.

"My lady, I have someone to recommend."

Zhou Ruowei set down the scroll in her hand, accepted the documents Zhou Xiong passed over, and scanned them a few times. "A sixteen-year-old at the Body Tempering Realm—nothing remarkable. But mastery of the saber art is worth noting, and his understanding of military formations is also decent. We can meet him."

The Zhou Family had long dominated Yan Province. Every year, they had their clansmen select talent from the lower ranks and recommend them upward. This was one reason their Lineage had flourished without decline for so long.

After all, how could such an enormous enterprise be supported by their own family members alone?

"I'll go bring him here at once," Zhou Xiong hurriedly said.

"Mm. I happen to be free today. Have him come over."

After Zhou Ruowei spoke, Zhou Xiong cautiously withdrew.

By then, Lu Yuan had also eaten and drunk his fill.

When afternoon arrived, everyone broke up the drinking party and went home to prepare.

After all, they still had to leave the city tomorrow.

Lu Yuan had drunk quite a bit. As he staggered to the mouth of the alley, he saw Zhou He waiting there.

His cheeks were somewhat flushed, clearly showing that he had been waiting for quite some time.

When he saw Lu Yuan, he strode forward and said, "Come with me, quickly."

"Is something wrong?"

"Of course there is, and it's something big." As he spoke, he grabbed Lu Yuan and pulled him back out of the alley.

Only along the way did he begin explaining. "Because our Northern Frontier has been fighting the Northern Barbarians for years, there are quite a few military families here. My Zhou Family is one of them, and in Yan Province, we can still speak with some weight.

I said plenty of good things about you to my old uncle. Today, he went to see the Captain, and she agreed to meet you. This is an opportunity. If she takes a liking to you, you'll become a disciple of my Zhou Family.

So long as you earn enough merit, you definitely won't be buried away. Perform well later."

Lu Yuan raised his brow upon hearing this.

But he did not dislike the idea. In a place like this, what one feared most was that nobody would recognize one's worth. Besides, he truly needed someone to rely on. The matter of the Yun Province General had always left him uneasy.

Lu Yuan had heard a little about that man's son's temperament. He was known for avenging every slight. Zhang Zhe had his Lineage protecting him and had a mutually beneficial relationship with the Yun Province General, so both sides were willing to compromise, leaving the man unable to do much to him. But when it came to Lu Yuan, he would have far fewer scruples.

If he could truly join the Zhou Family Military Gate, then at the very least, he would have another layer of protection.

Thus, he nodded. "Thank you."

Those words came from the bottom of his heart. Lu Yuan knew that for someone who had spent years muddling through the army, becoming attached to a military family would be of immense benefit to his future.

At the very least, after earning merit, he would not be shelved. There were indeed many opportunities to earn merit in the Northern Frontier, but while there were many people with merits, there were few positions. Thus, even if many reached the merit threshold for Centurion, they could only endure and wait in line until an opening appeared before they could fill it.

Most of the time, their treatment was merely improved, and they were given an honorary post without any real authority.

But becoming a disciple of the Zhou Family was different. They would receive care and could quickly obtain real power.

Of course, in exchange, once you had grown strong, you also had to repay them.

Yet countless people still surged forward like waves, hoping to join a military family and become their disciples.

In short, for lower-ranking officers, the advantages absolutely outweighed the disadvantages.

"What are you thanking me for? The main thing is that you have what it takes, which is why you have this opportunity. Forget Squad Leaders—among the Captain's more than thirty Centurions, not a single one has mastered their saber art. With that kind of talent, you deserve this chance.

The Zhou Family's ancestors followed the founding emperor in conquering the realm. Later, they were granted Yan Province and stationed in one corner of the Northern Frontier. After operating here for so many years, it isn't just anyone the family will take a liking to."

Worried that Lu Yuan might doubt the weight carried by the Zhou Family Military Gate, Zhou He gave him a quiet reminder.

"Mm, I know." Lu Yuan nodded.

As they spoke, the two had already arrived outside the Captain's Mansion.