Huge Harvest

"Squad Leader Lu, the count is in. You killed twenty-one ordinary scouts, eight of whom had entered the realm, totaling fifty-three taels of silver and twenty-nine merit points."

The quartermaster looked up, his face etched with astonishment.

He continued, "You killed twenty-eight Iron Sparrowhawks. Each head is worth ten taels, totaling two hundred and eighty taels of silver. Each is worth five merit points, totaling one hundred and forty merit points."

"As for the warhorses, each is valued at thirty taels. Twenty-eight fine Northern Barbarian steeds are worth eight hundred and forty taels. Including the weapons and armor, how does one thousand two hundred taels sound for the lot?"

In this single outing, Lu Yuan alone had earned such a fortune. It could be said that after this battle, his status had skyrocketed. Most importantly, his merit points had broken the hundred mark.

This meant he was now eligible to serve as a Centurion.

This position was crucial for Lu Yuan at this stage. Becoming a Centurion meant he would have more energy and time to cultivate, and he would be able to lead more troops when deployed.

For him, this was an absolute blessing.

"Whoa!"

A roar erupted from the crowd. Lu Yuan had become famous overnight; killing over twenty Iron Sparrowhawks single-handedly was a terrifying display of combat prowess.

"I heard that Young Tiger only killed seven or eight Iron Sparrowhawks and returned wounded himself. Lu Yuan has really made a name for himself this time."

"Who's to say otherwise? Once his strength improves, I fear the Northern Frontier will see the rise of a great general."

The surrounding discussions swelled.

"Make way, make way."

Just then, someone pushed through the crowd, and several figures squeezed their way in.

It was Zhou Hongling. Although she was a woman, she stood out from the crowd like a crane among chickens; only a few others could match her height.

She arrived at the table, flipped through the nameplates, and after carefully examining the heads, she turned and said, "These are indeed Iron Sparrowhawks. Who killed them?"

Zhou Ming, standing beside her, also looked over with an urgent gaze.

To be able to kill so many Iron Sparrowhawks—this talent and strength were undoubtedly top-tier.

In an instant, everyone's eyes turned toward Lu Yuan.

The man himself bowed and cupped his fists. "My Lady, it was my brothers and I who did it."

"Lu Yuan!"

Zhou Hongling's voice rose involuntarily.

Then, with a hint of disbelief, she asked, "Was it just you and your own men?"

"Yes, My Lady. We were originally meant to deal with a group of Northern Barbarian scouts, but we didn't expect to run into this unit of Iron Sparrowhawks. Of the brothers in my squad, only a few of us are left," Lu Yuan said in a deep voice.

Only then did Zhou Hongling begin to examine him closely. Although he was only sixteen, his body had fully matured; he was no shorter than her, and he looked even more imposing in his armor.

His appearance was bright and rugged, and his entire being exuded a heroic spirit.

Zhou Ming also looked over. He was equally surprised. Was this the Lu Yuan his niece had mentioned to him?

After observing him for a moment, he said, "You are only in the Body Tempering Realm, right? How could you possibly kill so many?"

"My Lord, everyone's combat capability is different, and I have studied military formations somewhat."

Lu Yuan spoke softly. He did not know this man, but since he could stand alongside Zhou Hongling, he was clearly a person of high status.

Zhou Ming fell into deep thought, a flicker of fervor appearing in his eyes as he looked at Lu Yuan.

"The fact that you could kill so many is proof enough. We aren't questioning you; we were just curious. You've just returned today, so take your reward and get some rest. Come to the Captain's Mansion tomorrow morning," Zhou Hongling said, her lips curling upward after watching Lu Yuan for a moment.

Her subordinate had finally achieved something worth bragging about.

Lu Yuan bowed in acknowledgment, then took the silver he had just exchanged and headed to the nearby Armory with Wei Yong and the others.

It contained many cultivation resources, all of which he currently lacked.

"You've all earned a fair amount of silver. Pick out some pills; if you can enter the realm, it will be of great benefit to your future progress," Lu Yuan said to Zhang Gun and the others while eyeing the cultivation resources on the table.

"Aye, as you say, sir." Zhang Gun responded and began to choose carefully.

Lu Yuan fixed his gaze on a bottle of pills labeled "Tiger Soul Pill."

It was the best pill currently available in the Armory for those in the Body Tempering Realm. There were only three in a bottle, but their efficacy was exceptional.

It cost fifty merit points per bottle, or one hundred taels if paying in silver.

After a quick glance, Lu Yuan did not hesitate and used his merit points to purchase two bottles. They were highly effective not only for the Tiger-Subduing Stance but also for the Golden Bell Cover.

They were specifically designed for martial artists specializing in physical refinement.

Once he finished these, he would likely be able to break through.

After exchanging for the pills, he bid farewell to Wei Yong and the others, who were still selecting their resources, and left.

He was carrying too much; it was best to put it away as soon as possible.

Along the way, many people cast glances his way. Lu Yuan was now completely famous; within half a day, there wasn't a soul in Ice Plain City who didn't know his name.

Although they knew his satchel was bulging with silver, no one dared to harbor any ill intentions. Not only was he a squad leader of the City Guard, but his strength alone was enough to deter anyone from having any ideas.

After returning to the alley, he opened the door and entered the house.

Lu Yuan tossed his belongings onto the floor and began to light the stove; after being away for two days, the lack of a heater made the cold feel intense.

It was not yet summer.

In this place, the Northern Frontier, things only got better during the summer.

"Creak."

Just as he finished lighting the stove and had taken off his armor and dirty clothes to change into fresh ones, the door was pushed open.

It was Xiao Hua who had entered. Her eyes brightened the moment she saw Lu Yuan, and she said, "Brother Yuan, you're back."

"Just got back. The room is a mess, so take a seat. The hot water will be ready in a moment," Lu Yuan said with a grin.

Xiao Hua did not stand around; instead, she began to stoke the fire for the heated brick bed in Lu Yuan's room.

Once the room was warm again, she gathered up his armor and dirty clothes and headed toward her own home. "I'll wash these for you first; they should be dry by tomorrow."

"Then I won't stand on ceremony," Lu Yuan said with a wide grin.

Xiao Hua rolled her eyes at him before walking out the door.

Lu Yuan boiled some hot water, preparing for a proper bath. After two days of fierce fighting, he was not only physically exhausted but also covered in filth.

Next door, as soon as Xiao Hua returned to her room, she noticed something wrong. She hadn't looked closely on the way back, but after spreading the items out, she realized that Lu Yuan's armor and clothes were riddled with tears.

Furthermore, they were soaked through with blood.

"Oh no, Brother Yuan is hurt."

Her mother noticed the armor and clothes as well and said with concern, "He took more than one heavy blow from a blunt weapon; I fear his injuries are not light. That boy is pushing himself too hard."

She then glanced at Xiao Hua, whose eyes were welling up with tears, and after a moment of contemplation, said, "Have him come over tomorrow. I need to have a serious talk with him. His life is his own; how can he be so reckless?"

Her expression was stern as she spoke.

Xiao Hua said nothing, merely nodding before she began preparing a wooden tub to wash the clothes.

At that moment, Wei Yong and the others had just finished selecting their medicinal pills when they were intercepted by people from the Captain's Mansion and summoned before Zhou Hongling.

A short while later, they were separated into different rooms and questioned by different people about the details of the battle.

It wasn't that Zhou Hongling suspected anything.

It was simply that what Lu Yuan had accomplished this time was far too unexpected, and she wanted to know the specific details.