[Name: Lu Yuan] [Age: 16] [Techniques: Blade-Breaking Eight Styles (34191/50000, Force-Entry Realm)] [Tiger-Subduing Stance Body-Tempering Realm (28412/30000, Perfection)] [Golden Bell Cover (10231/50000, Force-Entry Realm)] [Wolf-Chasing Archery (9428/10000, Great Accomplishment)] [Arrowhead Formation (43618/50000, Force-Entry Realm)]
Looking at the figures above, a smile tugged at Lu Yuan's lips. Tiger-Subduing Stance was just one step away from breaking through.
Wolf-Chasing Archery and Arrowhead Formation were also on the verge of advancing.
"Whew."
After exhaling a long breath of stale air, Lu Yuan grabbed a couple of bites of dry rations and got up to head for the Captain's Mansion. Zhou Hongling had told him to come by yesterday, so she must have plans for him.
He also meant to buy a few things, such as a bow and arrows. Although he had an Iron-Core Bow now, his archery skills had outgrown it.
The Armory held plenty of fine equipment. Now that he had silver, he might as well get himself some.
He left and headed straight for the Captain's Mansion.
Quite a few people greeted him along the way.
"Squad Leader Lu, heading out?"
"Morning, Squad Leader Lu."
Most people on the street served in the military, and Lu Yuan had made a name for himself there.
So plenty of people knew him as he walked down the street.
When he reached the entrance to the Captain's Mansion, one of the guards glanced at him and said with a grin, "Squad Leader Lu, you're here. The Captain said you could go straight in when you arrived."
Clearly, Lu Yuan had become the darling of Sai City. That was simply how the military worked: as long as you were strong, you earned respect. Sometimes, rank had very little to do with it.
Lu Yuan nodded and went inside. Someone led him through the courtyard toward the one where Zhou Hongling was staying.
When he reached the middle courtyard, a servant said, "The Captain is inside. Please go in."
Lu Yuan nodded and went in.
The moment he entered, he saw Zhou Hongling eating breakfast in the wide-open reception hall. The table was spread with all sorts of delicate dishes.
Lu Yuan had rushed over after a hasty breakfast, and the food made his mouth water.
Hearing footsteps, Zhou Hongling looked up and saw him. She smiled and set down her chopsticks. "Sit down and eat with me."
People in the military were never ones to fuss over formalities. If you had what it took, people would naturally raise you up.
Unlike the first time he had come here, Zhou Hongling's attitude toward Lu Yuan had clearly changed.
Lu Yuan hesitated for a moment, then sat down.
He didn't hold back. He took a bowl from one of the maids and started wolfing down the food. He'd only eaten a little dry ration that morning, so his stomach was far from full.
"You've reached Great Accomplishment in Body-Tempering, haven't you?" Zhou Hongling asked softly.
Today, she wore a long black dress, with the same white bearskin cloak draped over her shoulders. Her hair was loosely pinned up, and her skin was so fair it seemed to glow.
Her curvaceous figure was a striking blend of maturity and youthful softness; her beauty was beyond compare.
But Lu Yuan didn't dare entertain any improper thoughts.
He knew the woman in front of him hadn't risen so far through the ranks by being as simple as she appeared.
"Reporting to the Captain, I've reached Perfection," Lu Yuan said quickly, getting to his feet. He was close to breaking through anyway, so there was no harm in telling Zhou Hongling.
Sure enough, her eyes lit up the moment she heard him.
Reaching Perfection in Body-Tempering was no ordinary feat.
Even the finest scions of military families could do no better.
A talent like this was top-tier.
After all, those scions had access to pills and techniques that helped them suppress their cultivation and push themselves to their limits. Lu Yuan had none of that, which made his achievement all the more remarkable.
"Good. Perfection is good. You're still young, so there's no need to rush your breakthrough. Laying a solid foundation is what matters most." Zhou Hongling was glad she'd found a treasure.
Then she waved a hand. "Sit down and talk. There's no need to stand. We don't have so many rules in the military."
Lu Yuan took her advice and sat down, continuing to eat heartily. Many of the dishes on the table were unfamiliar to him, and they had clearly been cooked with precious medicinal ingredients that would greatly aid his cultivation.
After he ate the knuckle of some animal he couldn't identify, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
Zhou Hongling continued with a warm smile. "You've earned quite a bit of military merit this time, and your combat strength meets the requirements for promotion to Centurion. But your cultivation hasn't broken through yet, so I can't promote you for now. It's a strict rule of the court, and there's nothing I can do about it.
"But don't rush your breakthrough just for a promotion. Building a solid foundation is what matters most. Sharpening your axe won't delay the work of chopping wood.
"Although I can't promote you to Centurion, I've decided to raise your benefits to a Centurion's level. I'll also assign you ten more men, all capable fighters in the Entry Realm, to serve under you.
"If you leave the city, you can choose anyone from your Hundred-Household Office and take a full hundred men with you.
"You won't have any fixed duties. You can take any assignment you like from the Merit Pavilion. What do you think?"
This was an enormous reward. Officially, he would still be a Squad Leader, but in Sai City, he was already a Centurion in all but name.
More importantly, he wouldn't have to take responsibility for anything. The message was clear: all he needed to do was cultivate, and when he had time, go outside the city for a stroll and earn military merit.
That was the military for you. If you had the strength, everyone would fawn over you.
It was all on display right now.
Lu Yuan immediately stood and said, "Thank you, Captain."
"I told you there's no need to stand. Why are you in such a hurry? Sit down and keep eating. There's one more thing I need to tell you," Zhou Hongling said softly.
"Please, Captain."
"It's like this. You made a name for yourself by wiping out that band of Iron Sparrowhawks. Quite a few people may want you to become their disciple. What do you think about that?"
"I only know that you were the one who promoted me, Captain. I don't know anyone else," Lu Yuan replied firmly.
Zhou Hongling was clearly pleased with that answer; her smile grew even wider. "Good. You don't need to worry. If you want to take a master in the future, I'll find a suitable teacher for you. I won't let you down."
"Thank you, Captain." This time, Lu Yuan didn't get up. He simply continued to enjoy the food on the table.
Zhou Hongling nodded repeatedly. It was good that he didn't stand on ceremony with her.
Just then, a figure hurried in. It was Zhou Ming. The moment he entered the courtyard, delight spread across his face.
He strode over, not even bothering to acknowledge his niece, and addressed Lu Yuan instead. "You must be Lu Yuan. What a strapping young man.
"Has your formation reached Great Accomplishment or Perfection?
"Show it to me, would you?"
This high-ranking member of the Zhou Family smiled warmly at Lu Yuan.
Zhou Hongling, standing to one side, looked wary.
Still, she introduced him to Lu Yuan. "This is my third uncle, the Left General under General of Yan Province."
"Greetings, General. My formation has reached the Force-Entry Realm," Lu Yuan said quickly, making no attempt to hide it.