As the two were talking, a militiaman suddenly came outside to report:
"Commander, the Flying Feather Gang has arrived, carrying five boxes. They say they've come to give you gifts."
Wu Shuangren raised an eyebrow and exchanged a glance with Mo Zhengxing:
"Take them to the council hall."
Before long, several members of the Flying Feather Gang carried five heavy wooden crates into the hall.
Inside the lobby, Wu Shuangren, Mo Zhengxing, and Bai Jinhuan were all present.
The burly man at the head of the group clasped his hands in a fist salute to Wu Shuangren, who sat at the main seat, and said, "Master Wu, I am Liu Chang, the leader of the Flying Feather Gang. My gang leader said that since you brought your men to this stronghold today, my brothers were in such a hurry to leave that they didn't have time to check carefully, and some things didn't belong to our gang. The men below took the wrong items. So the gang leader specifically ordered me to deliver them back to their rightful owners!"
He then gestured for his men to open the box.
The lids were lifted, revealing two boxes with neatly stacked silver ingots in the front, and three boxes in the back. Two of these boxes contained strings of copper coins, while the other box was filled with various gold and silver jewelry, jade pendants, and agate rings, piled up haphazardly, gleaming with precious stones.
Mo Zhengxing looked at the five boxes and immediately smiled.
These items must have been looted by the Flying Feather Gang from this stronghold. Now, fearing repercussions from the Fist Academy, they have returned them all.
Wu Shuangren looked at Liu Chang with a half-smile, "Did you take these by mistake?"
Liu Chang's expression remained unchanged; he simply bowed his head and said, "This is a token of the gang leader's sincerity; please accept it, Master Wu."
"Take the things back."
Wu Shuangren's voice was calm, yet brooked no argument.
Liu Chang looked up in astonishment. "Master Wu, this..."
Tell Luo Heng.
Wu Shuangren interrupted him, "If he's truly sincere, make him offer up thirty Internal Skill, including the one he himself has practiced."
Liu Chang looked troubled. "Master Wu, thirty Internal Skill... this is really..."
Wu Shuangren: "Internal energy cultivation Internal Skill for adults are also acceptable."
Upon hearing this, Liu Chang immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
If Flying Feather Gang were to provide thirty Internal Skill that could be practiced from childhood, they truly wouldn't be able to produce them.
Because among all the martial artists in the entire gang, there are fewer than thirty who have practiced Internal Skill since childhood.
I will certainly convey your message.
Liu Chang waved to his men to close the lids of the boxes, then lifted the five large boxes of valuables that were the envy of everyone, and slowly withdrew from the council hall.
After he and his men left, Mo Zhengxing looked at Wu Shuangren and asked, "What does the leader need so much Internal Skill for?"
Wu Shuangren didn't mention Xu Yu, but said, "Among our militiamen, there are bound to be some with martial arts aptitude. In the future, if they feel they can accept the consequences of cultivating Internal Skill and want to take it a step further, we can pass on these Internal Skill techniques to them."
Bai Jinhuan, who was standing nearby, spoke up, "I've heard that there are similar things in the army, with Internal Skill specifically prepared for soldiers who have martial arts talent and outstanding performance. Some people choose to cultivate it in order to advance their careers."
While Internal Skill after adulthood has many drawbacks, it is a good choice for some people.
Wu Shuangren also wanted to prepare such an option for his militia.
As for the idea of everyone cultivating Internal Skill, that's definitely out of the question.
Even if everyone had the aptitude for martial arts, Wu Shuangren couldn't afford to support so many martial artists.
He simply wanted to provide his militia members with another avenue for advancement.
Mo Zhengxing said regretfully, "Actually, even if you, the leader, accepted those boxes of valuables and then asked the Flying Feather Gang for Internal Skill cultivation techniques, they wouldn't dare refuse."
Wu Shuangren nodded. "I know, but if we force them like that, I'm afraid they might tamper with our Internal Skill energy, which would be a loss. Now that I've taken the initiative to back down, Luo Heng of the Flying Feather Gang, unless he's stupid, should know how to reciprocate."
Mo Zhengxing and Bai Jinhuan exchanged a glance and smiled at each other.
Wu Shuangren looked at the two of them strangely. "What's wrong?"
Mo Zhengxing said, "We are simply amazed that, despite your young age, you act with such maturity and composure, as if you were born with this knowledge. It's truly..."
He couldn't think of a word to describe Wu Shuangren for a moment.
Wu Shuangren smiled and then discussed the defensive details of the fortress with the two of them.
Where to set up hidden sentries, where to deploy deer antlers, where to stockpile rolling logs and stones...
He also discussed the militia's training subjects with Bai Jinhuan.
Wu Shuangren didn't intend to train all of these thousand militiamen into spearmen; he wanted some to become swordsmen and shieldmen, and others to become archers and crossbowmen...
As night deepened, bonfires were lit throughout the village.
Shadows swayed about; this newly acquired stronghold resembled a gradually growing behemoth, exuding a chilling aura!
Early the next morning.
On the training ground of the walled city, thousands of militiamen were training.
The new recruits practiced basic drills such as marching and standing in formation, while the veterans practiced spear and shield formations.
Wu Shuangren was also practicing his skills on the training ground.
He kept moving his feet, his center of gravity fluctuated, his breathing rhythm changed constantly, his blood and qi surged like a river, and white vapor rose from the top of his head.
Suddenly, he leaped forward repeatedly, each leap covering at least ten feet!
After taking a dozen or so steps, Wu Shuangren stopped, looked back at the distance he had jumped, and then walked to the nearby high platform.
The platform was more than six feet off the ground. Wu Shuangren stood still and used his strength to easily jump onto the platform.
He nodded in satisfaction.
According to the examination criteria for determining the rank of a martial arts candidate, which I learned from Hou Huai, the most important aspects of the examination for Seventh Rank martial artist are as follows:
The challenge is to lift a stone weight twice one's own body weight ten times consecutively within a specified time.
Leap, ten consecutive leaps, each leap covering at least one zhang (approximately 3.3 meters).
Leap, a standing jump, can reach a height of seven feet.
Wu Shuangren's left shoulder injury had not yet healed, so he did not lift the stone weight, but he was confident that he could now meet the requirements for the Seventh Rank.
In addition, there are some assessment items such as eyesight, hearing, endurance, and body balance, none of which are difficult. Wu Shuangren knew he would be fine without even trying.
Before he came to West River Market, his Internal Skill cultivation was already close to the Seventh Rank.
In the great battle of West River Market, he defeated a powerful enemy, destroyed the Xie Clan, wiped out the West River Gang, and eliminated the pent-up emotions in his heart. His mind became brave and vigorous, and his Internal Skill naturally improved as well!
Having tested it now, Wu Shuangren is quite certain that once his injuries have healed, he will be able to pass the Seventh Rank examination in one go if he participates in the martial arts examination.
After upgrading [Match for One Person], although the efficiency of defeating enemies increases, the increase only applies to the efficiency of defeating strong enemies.
If Wu Shuangren faces an opponent weaker than herself, [Match for One Person] will still not provide any additional enhancements.
He wondered if upgrading the Traits again would solve this problem.
But at least for now, the higher his actual combat strength, the faster he can clear out the enemy troops.
From a lowly constable to a militia leader commanding thousands of soldiers, Wu Shuangren rose through the ranks in just a few months.
This is what the outside world sees.
What the outside world doesn't know is --
From an ordinary person to Seventh Rank martial artist, Wu Shuangren only took a few months to complete the journey that others might take more than ten years to complete!
95 The enemy is here again!
On the training ground, Wu Shuangren was still practicing when a militiaman ran over to report:
"Commander, the Flying Feather Gang is here again."
"Bring them in."
A moment later, inside the council chamber.
"Master Wu, as you instructed, all thirty Internal Skill are here."
Liu Chang pointed to the books on the table, "The one on top, ' Light Feather Flying Swallow,' is the Internal Skill that the leader himself practices."
Wu Shuangren picked up the book "Light Feather Flying Swallow" and glanced through it. It had illustrations and text, and the book showed signs of frequent use, so it didn't seem to be newly written.
Perhaps Luo Heng sent the original book directly!
"Master Wu, my boss also said that the internal Internal Skill he practices isn't actually that powerful; he only got to where he is today by chance."
Liu Chang bowed and said.
Wu Shuangren glanced at the other person. "I'll accept the things. Go back and tell Luo Heng that we can visit each other more often in the future."
Liu Chang visibly breathed a sigh of relief and bowed deeply, "Thank you, Master Wu! I will certainly convey your message."
After saying that, he led his men out of the hall quickly.
Mo Zhengxing looked at Wu Shuangren: "Does the leader plan to cooperate with the Flying Feather Gang in the future?"
Wu Shuangren flipped through the booklet in his hand and casually said, "Cooperation is out of the question. If the Flying Feather Gang knows what's good for them, we can consider taking them in as an external force. After all, we won't stay in West River Market forever."
Mo Zhengxing nodded, finally understanding why Wu Shuangren hadn't shown any interest in the five boxes of valuables last night.
It turns out that our leader wasn't after the wealth that the Flying Feather Gang had given up, but rather the entire Flying Feather Gang!
Inside the council hall of the walled city, torches crackled, casting Wu Shuangren's shadow on the wall, swaying with the firelight.
He sat behind a long table, with thirty Internal Skill manuals spread out in front of him, the pages yellowed and the ink stains varying in shade.
He spent nearly a day reading through all thirty manuals on Internal Skill.
These Internal Skill seem far too rudimentary compared to the "Nine Rivers Suppressing the Mountain" technique he practiced!
From breathing techniques and visualization methods to the medicines and stance training used, nothing can compare.
Wu Shuangren didn't even need to practice; he could tell the difference just by glancing at him.
This shows just how big the gap is.
'So this is the quality of Internal Skill practiced by most people in the martial arts world?'
'My mother says the * Nine Rivers Suppressing the Mountain * she taught me is a superior Internal Skill, but just how superior is it?'
Wu Shuangren was momentarily curious.
He collected all the booklets on the table, picked one up, got up, and left the council hall to find Xu Yu.
Under the cover of night, Xu Yu was still practicing his long-handled sword on the training ground.
He was shirtless, sweat dripping down his back, each strike accompanied by a whistling sound.
Wu Shuangren could tell that Xu Yu was serious and hardworking, but he could only grasp the form.
"Xu Yu, stop now."
Wu Shuangren shouted.
Xu Yu sheathed his sword, panting heavily, and looked at Wu Shuangren nervously. "Did I not practice well?"
"It's not your fault," Wu Shuangren. "It's the method that's wrong. Come with me first."
The two arrived at a secluded courtyard. Wu Shuangren asked Xu Yu to sit cross-legged, and then sat opposite him.
Wu Shuangren handed over the booklet. "Try practicing this ' Metal and Stone Qi ' technique."
He spent a day selecting this particular Internal Skill from thirty Internal Skill because it clearly stated one point at the Internal Skill:
"Those with strong constitutions naturally possess different Qi and blood than ordinary people. If guided by ordinary methods, it's like trying to guide a torrent through a thin pipe; not only will it not strengthen the body, but it can easily harm it. This exercise is only suitable for those with naturally strong constitutions. If ordinary people try to practice this exercise, they will achieve half the results with twice the effort..."
Compared to other Internal Skill, Wu Shuangren felt that the "Metal and Stone Qi" technique was the most suitable for Xu Yu.
"You're starting to Internal Skill now, it's a bit late, but you have a strong natural constitution, so you might still succeed."
Wu Shuangren said.
Xu Yu took the booklet and said timidly, "I can't read..."
Wu Shuangren paused for a moment, then took the booklet, opened it, and said softly, "It's alright, I'll teach you."