[Name: Lu Yuan]
[Age: 16]
[Technique: Blade-Breaking Eight Styles (38021/50000 Force-Entry Realm)]
[Tiger-Subduing Stance Body-Tempering Realm (35193/30000 Perfection, break through?)]
[Golden Bell Cover (28918/50000 Force-Entry Realm)]
[Wolf-Chasing Archery (10324/10000 Greater Mastery, break through?)]
[Arrowhead Formation (46819/50000 Force-Entry Realm)]
Looking at the stats, Lu Yuan chose to break through without hesitation. The next moment, his body underwent an astonishing transformation.
After his flesh and skin were reforged, every inch of his muscles grew stronger once more. His cells became more active, as if they were storing tremendous energy.
Every movement grew more powerful, with greater destructive force.
[Tiger-Subduing Stance Body-Tempering Realm (5193/50000 Spirit-Nurturing Realm)]
At that moment, every part of Lu Yuan's skin held a divine aura, imbued with divine substance.
His defensive power had increased by an immeasurable amount.
He didn't know what changes had taken place in his body, but he understood that he had embarked on a path no one else could even glimpse.
Although his realm hadn't advanced, he was certain that if he encountered a Tendon-Refining expert now, he could kill him within a few moves—even if that expert was the Iron Sparrowhawks' Centurion.
There would be no chance for his opponent to escape.
Next, Lu Yuan felt the strength in his arms and chest and abdomen increase once again.
His arms, in particular, were many times steadier than before.
[Wolf-Chasing Archery (324/30000 Perfection)]
With two techniques breaking through at once, Lu Yuan's combat strength surged again, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
The next time he went out of the city, he would earn even more military merits.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Just then, someone knocked at the door.
Lu Yuan rose and went out into the courtyard. As soon as he opened the gate, he saw Xiao Hua standing outside.
When she saw Lu Yuan, she couldn't help crying out, "Ah!"
He had just finished training and wasn't wearing anything on his upper body. His muscular, sharply defined torso was right there in front of her, and a blush immediately spread across her face.
Though women in Great Yong were relatively open, Xiao Hua was still just a young girl.
Lu Yuan hadn't expected it to be her. He hurried back inside to put on a shirt before coming out again.
Xiao Hua was still standing prettily in the courtyard. The bashfulness from a moment ago had vanished, and now she was eyeing Lu Yuan with interest.
"Brother Yuan, come over for dinner tonight."
With that, she turned and ran out of the courtyard.
Lu Yuan gave a wry smile, locked the gate, and headed outside.
Xiao Hua and her mother didn't have much income, and he ate a lot—one meal of his could feed them for several days.
Besides, although Xiao Hua was a girl, she had looked after him quite a bit.
So Lu Yuan decided to buy some things before going over.
First, he went to the grain shop and bought a sack of fine rice and flour, then had them cut him a big piece of meat.
He also bought some braised meat before heading to Xiao Hua's home.
When he entered the courtyard, Xiao Hua saw all the things he was carrying and hurried over. "Brother Yuan, why did you buy so much?"
"I earned some silver on my last outing, so I bought some food for myself and picked up some for you, too."
As he spoke, Lu Yuan carried everything into the house.
The meal had already been laid out on the table: a plate of stewed roe deer, a plate of cold tofu, and a dish of wild greens.
Beside them sat a small basin filled with coarse-rice steamed buns.
For Xiao Hua and her mother, this was already the finest meal they could manage.
Early spring was the lean season, when old supplies ran out before new crops came in. Fortunately, the Northern Frontier received generous government subsidies, so people weren't starving to death.
In other places, who knew how many people wouldn't make it through even a single winter?
Xiao Hua's mother didn't stand on ceremony. "A-Yuan, set those things down and sit."
She came over to the table as she spoke.
As the weather gradually warmed, her cough had eased considerably.
Xiao Hua brought out a jug of wine from the inner room. She filled Lu Yuan's cup and served him a piece of meat.
"Brother Yuan, eat up."
Lu Yuan nodded and didn't hold back, digging into the food in his bowl.
Just then, Xiao Hua's mother spoke softly. "A-Yuan, eat your meal. Just let me ramble for a bit."
Lu Yuan straightened up at once. "Please, Auntie."
"Ah, there's no need to be so formal with me. You eat," Xiao Hua's mother said, waving a hand.
Lu Yuan nodded and kept eating as he listened.
"A-Yuan, the Northern Barbarians and Great Yong have been locked in a standoff for many years. Countless people die in battle every year. Military merit is important, but your life is your own, so take care of yourself.
"From your face, I can tell you're blessed. You'll surely have noble people to help you, and one day you'll soar to great heights. You really don't need to risk your life over a little military merit."
Hearing Xiao Hua's mother, Lu Yuan understood that she meant well, and he was touched. To keep him from going out of the city, the old woman had even resorted to reading his face. She was really going out of her way.
But he still replied earnestly, "Don't worry, Auntie. I'll take care of myself."
After a moment's silence, he gave a bitter smile. "As for noble people, what kind of noble person do you think would take an interest in someone like me? Even my own family abandoned me without a second thought and pushed me out to take the blame.
"Without strength of my own, even if I did meet a noble person, they might throw me away again someday."
Lu Yuan shook his head and drained the wine in his cup.
Xiao Hua's mother hadn't known he had been through such things, and she was about to say more.
He continued, "Auntie, I know you mean well, but I still have to do what I must. I want to make something of myself.
"I want to become someone useful. I don't want to be cannon fodder anymore.
"Once I've earned some more silver, I'll find a good doctor to cure your cough.
"Then you won't have to suffer through the winter anymore.
"I have no family here. You and Xiao Hua are my family, and I'll remember what you said."
When he finished, he poured himself another cup and downed it.
As Xiao Hua listened to Lu Yuan, she lowered her head without saying a word. Her mother's face was full of heartache.
In the end, she sighed and said no more. She could tell he was a man with a mind of his own.
After the meal, Lu Yuan left and returned home.
He planned to go out of the city in a few days, not only to improve his strength but also to accumulate military merits.
Once he killed a thousand people, he could be promoted to Chiliarch.
By then, if he also raised his strength, he could rise straight into the ranks of the upper echelons. At the very least, no one would be able to discard him so easily.
Ever since his clan had thrown him out to take the blame, his only thought had been to climb as quickly as possible and keep his fate from being controlled by others.
Meanwhile, at the Zhang Clan residence in Yun Province, Zhang Hong and his second younger brother, Zhang He, sat in the living room. The former lifted his teacup, took a sip, and said slowly, "I had a drink with the Yun Province General today. He said A-Zhe still lacks some military merits and experience before he can be promoted to Chiliarch.
"The fastest and best way is to go to the Northern Frontier and earn some distinction. If he spends a few months there killing Northern Barbarians, this matter should be settled once he's transferred back.
"What do you think?"
"Which fortress?" Zhang He asked.
He wasn't at all confident in his son. His talent was one thing, but sometimes he simply didn't listen.
"Yellow Sand Fortress, a garrison town in the Northern Frontier controlled by the Helian Clan. The Yun Province General has good ties with the Helian Clan's military family and is willing to make the introductions.
"Don't worry. This isn't a punishment; it's just a regular change of posting. He won't suffer over there. It's only to earn him some distinction."
Worried his younger brother might refuse, Zhang Hong immediately tried to persuade him.
Cultivating clan members within the army was a major move he had made, and it was also a necessary step for the Zhang Clan to break through its current impasse.
Zhang He nodded. "All right. Since you've arranged everything, I'll leave it all to you, Big Brother."
A smile appeared on Zhang Hong's face. "Good. When you get back, talk to A-Zhe and have him get ready over the next few days."
"Mm," Zhang He replied. Then he rose and left.
Watching him go, Zhang Hong breathed a sigh of relief.
He knew the military was a difficult path, but if the Zhang Clan wanted to rise another step, they had no choice but to enter it.
And this first step mattered. The firmer they made it, the better.