What the Hell, Who Are You?

Though there were only a hundred of them, if they all awakened their bloodlines, it would be a formidable force.

Who wouldn't want to keep such power firmly in their own hands?

Yet Lu Chen had Ji Wushuang build it, and even had them awaken under her command.

Did he not understand what that meant, or what?

"N-No, you don't want to hold this force in your own hands? Martial Dao Cultivators with awakened bloodlines!"

Ji Wushuang asked in shock.

Lu Chen shook his head. "Why would I control them? I have no interest in fighting for supremacy. Besides, I may not remain in Great Yan for long. Once this is settled, I want to go out and make my way in the world!"

Peerless Princess's hand trembled.

His ambitions did not lie in Great Yan!

After a long silence, she said, "But have you considered Yun Niang's feelings? Great Yan is riddled with holes and beset by dangers on all sides. Do you think she would leave me and follow you out into the world?"

Lu Chen frowned. "She's merely one of your maids. What use could she be?"

"I don't know how much use she can be, but she is not only my maid—she is also my confidante. Even if I let her go, she would not leave. At the very least, she would wait until Great Yan's situation has stabilized."

"Mm... how about this? Stay and assist me, or help her stabilize Great Yan's situation before you leave. What do you say?"

"Th-This..." Lu Chen was dumbfounded.

For fuck's sake, was stability something they could achieve just because they wanted it?

Inside, Tianyu Academy and King Yanbei were stirring up trouble. Outside, the three great dynasties watched like tigers eyeing their prey. It was trouble within and threats without. What year and month would it take before things stabilized?

"Since you like Yun Niang, you should help her cast off her worries and solve her troubles. Don't tell me you've been scared off?"

Peerless Princess teased.

"That won't happen. It's just... when will this ever end?"

"Man proposes, heaven disposes, does it not? Besides, you are a citizen of Great Yan as well. Surely you cannot watch it be swallowed up by another country?"

"Besides, I have the authority to draft you into the army."

Lu Chen's scalp went numb, and he hurriedly waved his hands. "Your Highness, don't joke with me. I can't stand that kind of restraint. I can help, but enlistment? Forget it!"

"Forget it? It sounds as though you've enlisted before!"

Lu Chen opened his mouth.

He had enlisted before crossing over. Now that he had come to another world, he did not want to live the same life all over again.

"Then help me. That amounts to helping Yun Niang as well. I'll give you full authority over the awakened ones' unit. Do whatever you want with it."

"Great Yan's future rests on your shoulders. Can you do it?"

Lu Chen's heart twitched violently.

What the hell was this?

But he still could not bear to leave Yun Niang behind, so he would do it.

Going out into the world would be an adventure too.

He might as well stabilize things here first. In the future, when he was tired and weary, he would still have a place to return to.

"Fine, I accept, Your Highness. But let's be clear—Yun Niang has to come with me!"

"I'm afraid that will be difficult to agree to. She is my right-hand woman, and the army still cannot do without her. But I promise you, as long as you will not be gone for too long, I will definitely have her stay by your side."

"Thank you for granting this, Your Highness. Then hurry and eat. Once we're done, we'll go pick people!" With that, Lu Chen picked up his chopsticks.

"The people have already been selected. Just eat in peace. I'll wait for you!"

"Then together... no, why are you still wearing a veil? Take it off. How else are you supposed to eat or drink?"

"You're sure you want me to take it off?"

"What? Is there some rule about that?" Lu Chen froze.

"Only my husband may remove my veil."

Cough, cough...

Lu Chen nearly fainted. Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, he said, "What kind of bizarre rule is that? Forget it. I'll go take a look after I finish eating."

They discussed a few more details. Gradually, Lu Chen formed some ideas of his own.

They had selected a full hundred people, but could all of them awaken their bloodlines?

Obviously, it would not be so easy.

Even with royal bloodlines, they were far too diluted, making awakening no simple matter.

Lu Chen would not take out Blood Marrow to awaken them. He could only use blood jade.

But even if they awakened, they might not necessarily become qualified subordinates.

They needed to be screened.

Screening before awakening, and elimination after awakening.

But they were all royal descendants. When had they ever suffered the hardships of Martial Dao Cultivator training?

Besides, cultivators usually meditated in seclusion. Unless necessary, they would never go out looking for suffering for no reason.

Let alone the young masters and young ladies of royal or princely families?

When they arrived at the Imperial Guard camp and saw the group of slack, loose-limbed descendants waiting there, Lu Chen's head spun.

Damn it, the first impression was awful.

They had no proper posture sitting, no proper posture standing. This was the Imperial Guard camp?

They did not even show the barest respect for the guards.

His face darkened at once.

For no apparent reason, even Peerless Princess was affected by his mood.

"Fall in!" Lu Chen roared.

Many of them froze. They looked at one another, and some even looked toward the Young Marshal.

None of them knew what kind of fit this man was throwing. He could just speak if he had something to say. Why was he shouting?

"Three breaths. If you cannot assemble by then, get the hell out!" Lu Chen said coldly.

"One!"

Some people got up and walked toward him, while others grinned as they watched.

"Two!"

Lu Chen's voice grew colder and colder.

A few more people walked over.

But most of them remained sluggish, looking half-dead.

"Three. You few, stay. The rest of you, get lost!"

"Fuck, what's that supposed to mean? And who the hell are you?" A young master tilted his neck as he strode over, his face full of rage.

"Are you screwing with me? You called me here just so you could lecture me? Who the hell do you think you are?"

Whoosh!

Slap!

In a flash, one slap straightened the young master's crooked neck.

A palm print appeared on his face. The crisp sound made everyone shudder.

"Get out!" Lu Chen grabbed his neck and hurled him far away.

"Get lost!" He turned and roared at the others, who were still standing there in a daze.

The others all looked toward Peerless Princess.

Peerless Princess waved her hand. "Take them away!"

"W-Weren't we called here to awaken our bloodlines? How did it turn into this?" A woman protested indignantly.

Peerless Princess snorted coldly. "Do I owe you something? Awakening you is for you to serve the nation and obey orders, not to raise useless trash. Get out!"

The woman shuddered.

She withdrew resentfully with the others.

"You, take them and run a hundred laps around the field. Anyone who cannot finish, or fails to meet my requirements, will be eliminated. Now!"

At his roar, all thirteen of them trembled.

One lap was a thousand meters. A hundred laps was one hundred thousand meters—ten kilometers.

As they began running laps around the field, Lu Chen carefully asked Ji Wushuang about the army's training methods. Combining that with memories from his previous life, he came up with a preliminary plan for selecting members.

The assessment would focus on strength, speed, and endurance.

Anyone possessing a bloodline could not escape these three categories.

Those selected would have an easier time awakening than those eliminated, greatly reducing the waste of blood jade.

After they awakened, he would take them out for practical training.

The process would be tedious and complicated, and it had to remain absolutely secret. No one could guarantee that every person would be completely loyal.

But they could not refuse to act because of that.

"We must select people strictly according to this method, without leaving room for the slightest luck. Better lacking than indiscriminate. Are ten days enough?"

Lu Chen asked gravely at last.