Cultivation Methods

Meanwhile, in the City Defense Battalion's main courtyard, Old Huang stood rooted to the spot, at a loss. Lu Yuan had left, leaving him alone.

Under Wei Yong's gaze, and Zhang Gun's beside him, he did not dare raise his head.

After watching Lu Yuan leave, Wei Yong first frowned slightly, then gave Zhang Gun a look.

Zhang Gun walked over to Old Huang and clapped him hard on the shoulder. "Old Huang, you're an old hand at this garrison post too. It's not that Brother Wei is deliberately trying to make things difficult for you. Think about what you've done. Mind yourself from now on, or there'll be worse trouble waiting ahead."

Zhang Gun's words made Old Huang's face twitch.

His voice hoarse, he said, "Is this because of the Beef Offal House?"

"You're not completely stupid, are you? Stay away from that place. Why are you worrying about Widow Li's daughter? From now on, go there to eat if you want, but don't say what you shouldn't say or do what you shouldn't do. Understand?"

His rough palm scraped across Old Huang's split cheek.

"Did she have you warn me?"

"What do you think? Widow Li has already promised her daughter to Brother Wei. Him becoming Squad Leader is as certain as a nail driven into a board. Don't go looking for trouble." Zhang Gun smiled, but his hand pressed down even harder. The scabs on Old Huang's face were rubbed away, exposing the tender flesh beneath.

"No wonder that old hag has gotten so fierce lately. I understand." Old Huang nodded obediently.

Only then did Zhang Gun lower his hand. He glanced at the blood on his fingers, wiped them on Old Huang's clothes, and continued, "Look at that face of yours, all smeared up. Go wash it. Someone who didn't know better might think I'd bullied you."

Old Huang nodded without another word. He went over to a pile of snow, scooped some up, and scrubbed his face with it.

Only then did Wei Yong's expression improve somewhat.

He then asked Zhang Gun, "What's the background of that newcomer? Why did the Centurion summon him?"

"Who knows? I heard what happened in Ice Plain Alley last night was near his home. Maybe they were asking about the situation. We drank quite a bit last night—otherwise, we could've gone over and joined the excitement." Zhang Gun squatted on the ground, leaning on his saber.

Smack!

Wei Yong slapped him across the head. "What the hell do you know? Join the excitement? Do you know how many people died yesterday? The news is still being sealed off. Is Northern Frontier a place where you can go sticking your nose into things? You could lose your head over it."

Zhang Gun rubbed his head and said nothing.

The army had always revered the strong. In his eyes, Wei Yong was unquestionably formidable, and he admired him from the bottom of his heart.

"Enough. Don't go asking around about this either. We'll just pretend we know nothing."

While the two were talking,

Lu Yuan had begun choosing a cultivation method. There were many manuals on the shelves, but all of them were sealed. Only their names and brief descriptions were displayed outside, which disappointed Lu Yuan. He had hoped to record those methods in the system and practice them slowly.

It seemed that plan would not work.

Thus, he could only focus on choosing a method.

In the end, he selected a copy of Golden Bell Cover. It was a method that improved defense and could also increase strength, making it a fairly good external art. Once cultivated to completion, it could withstand blades and swords. Combined with armor, it would be nearly impossible for an ordinary person to break through its defenses.

When Zhou He saw his choice, he frowned slightly. "Brother, don't say I didn't warn you. Golden Bell Cover is a good method. They say that once mastered, the body will not decay and blades will struggle to wound it. But after being issued in the army for so many years, no one has ever mastered it. It can raise defense and strength a little in the early stages, but it gets harder and harder later on. It's easy to learn but hard to perfect.

"You'd be better off picking something easier to practice. Then you might still have a chance of cultivating it to great mastery."

Though he knew Lu Yuan was talented, Golden Bell Cover truly was difficult to cultivate.

He hoped Lu Yuan would consider it carefully.

After thinking for a moment, Lu Yuan said, "This one. I want to try it."

Others might fail to master it, but that did not mean he would. He had the system—there should be no problem.

"Fine, have it your way." Zhou He said helplessly.

Those with some talent were usually like this. Once they ran into a wall later, they would naturally understand.

"Take this too. Once you become a Squad Leader, you need to learn some basic formations. This Arrowhead Formation is a required course for our border army. Take it back and have the men under you get familiar with it."

Lu Yuan accepted the thin booklet and nodded.

Great Yong had established itself through military might. Cultivation methods and military formations were both extremely precious things, generally controlled only by the imperial family and Lineages. The method Lu Yuan had chosen today, along with the formation given to him, were opportunities that were hard to come by.

For some people, perhaps this was the only opportunity they would ever receive in their lives.

After putting away the two booklets, Zhou He said, "All right, let's go out and meet everyone."

Lu Yuan nodded, and the two walked side by side out of the armory.

After locking the door, they headed toward the front courtyard.

Old Huang and the others were still gathered together in a cluster.

These people were City Guard stationed at the city gates, along with Garrison Soldiers taking their turns on duty.

When Zhou He arrived, everyone turned to look.

"All right, stop standing around. Meet your new Squad Leader. From now on, Lu Yuan is the Squad Leader of North Gate. Let me make this clear—settle down, all of you. Don't go thinking about becoming thorns in his side.

"If you get put in your place, you'll only have yourselves to blame."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone looked over. When they saw Lu Yuan, they were first taken aback.

None of them had expected this newcomer to become Squad Leader.

Still, most of them bowed and said, "Greetings, sir."

Wei Yong and Zhang Gun also bent at the waist. But upon closer inspection, there was a trace of discomfort on Wei Yong's face. Still, one rank higher could crush a man to death.

He did not dare show his dissatisfaction.

Old Huang, on the other hand, wore a look of delighted surprise.

"From now on, we are comrades in arms. I've only just arrived, so I hope you'll all look after me." Lu Yuan clasped his fists.

Everyone hurriedly exchanged pleasantries.

Once Zhou He saw that the time was about right, he called out, "All right. The Centurion said that today's main matter was to announce the new Squad Leader for North City Gate. Now that it's done, everyone can go back."

As his words fell, everyone gradually dispersed.

Their expressions varied. Some were envious, some jealous.

Lu Yuan took all of it in.

Then he called out to the crowd, "Old Huang, stay behind."

Old Huang immediately stopped, grinning.

Lu Yuan turned to Zhou He. "Come on. I'll treat you to drinks at noon."

"I was only joking. You're really treating me? In that case, I won't stand on ceremony." Zhou He said with a laugh.

Lu Yuan tugged him along. "Why be polite? It's only right."

Then he said to Old Huang, "Come with us. We're going to the Beef Offal House."

Without giving either of them a chance to refuse, he pulled them both toward the camp gates.

North City was not large, but there were not many affordable eateries. The Beef Offal House was definitely one of them.

By the time Lu Yuan and the other two arrived, there were already quite a few people inside.

With a glance, he spotted Wei Yong and his group there as well. Several dishes sat on their table beside a jar of liquor; they had clearly already started drinking.

After Lu Yuan and the others found an empty table and sat down,

he called toward the back, "Three jin of stewed beef offal, a plate of braised beef liver, a plate of beef head meat, and a jar of Sweet Potato Liquor. Hurry it up."

When Widow Li heard his voice, she immediately looked over, then could not help but freeze.