In fact, they were all a few years older than Wu Shuangren, but standing in front of Wu Shuangren, they looked like children looking at highly respected elders.
"Since you few can't endure the hardships of military service, then follow Chief Steward Mo and learn properly."
Wu Shuangren looked at his relatives and said, "If you can't even handle this, then get back to Bo County!"
"Yes!"
The group almost instinctively stood at attention.
Even though they had only received a little over ten days of training, their awe of Wu Shuangren had become an instinct.
Wu Shuangren then looked at Mo Zhengxing and instructed him, "Scold these people if you need to. If you really can't control them, or if they don't do a good job, just tell me."
Mo Zhengxing nodded. "Don't worry, Commander-in-Chief, I'm sure I can train them well."
After Mo Zhengxing and his men left, Wu Shuangren walked towards Xu Yu, a smile finally spreading across her face.
"One thousand four hundred and thirty-two strings of cash!"
This means I can recruit more soldiers!
"Big brother."
Xu Yu interrupted Wu Shuangren's thoughts, "I think I just used my Internal Skill."
"Real?"
Wu Shuangren was overjoyed.
He had been having Xu Yu practice "Metal and Stone Qi" for Xu Yu, and the other party quickly mastered the breathing method; after taking the medicine for more than ten days, he was able to enter a state of excitement without the aid of drugs.
During this period, Wu Shuangren had Bai Jinhuan and Luo Heng, experienced martial artists, examine Xu Yu's body almost every day to see if there were any hidden dangers caused by Internal Skill.
So far, Xu Yu is in good health and there are no hidden dangers.
"Do it again so I can see."
Wu Shuangren said to Xu Yu.
Xu Yu nodded, assumed a posture, and began to change his breathing rhythm.
Immediately afterwards, he began walking on the cones.
Soon, his whole body became hot, his eyes were excited, and his every move was full of power!
"Indeed, you've entered the basics of Internal Skill!"
Wu Shuangren told Xu Yu to stop, and then sent someone to fetch Bai Jinhuan.
After Bai Jinhuan arrived, he skillfully grabbed Xu Yu's wrist, placed his fingertips on her pulse point, and closed his eyes.
A moment later, he opened his eyes, asked Xu Yu to turn around, placed his palm on Xu Yu's spine and pressed down segment by segment, asking Xu Yu how he felt.
Then he pressed Xu Yu acupoints on Xu Yu's body with his fingers and asked Xu Yu to adjust his breathing and regulate his qi and blood...
"How?"
Wu Shuangren asked with concern.
"The pulse is deep and steady, and the flow of qi and blood is smooth without any stagnation."
Bai Jinhuan said to Wu Shuangren, "The most common hidden dangers for adults Internal Skill are threefold: stagnation of qi and blood, misalignment of tendons and bones, and damage to the five internal organs."
"And him?"
He has none of those three things!
Bai Jinhuan looked at Xu Yu with surprise in his eyes, "Perhaps there are some subtle hidden dangers that I can't see, but as long as there are no major problems, he should have no problem Internal Skill."
Wu Shuangren smiled.
Today is truly a day of double happiness!
102 Just like that moment
"Good."
Wu Shuangren patted Xu Yu's head, "Practice hard from now on, go eat."
Xu Yu grinned, hoisted his longsword, and hurried to the cafeteria.
Bai Jinhuan watched Xu Yu's retreating figure and sighed, "He's truly a born martial artist. This is the first time I've seen someone cultivate Internal Skill into an adult without any hidden dangers. It's a pity he started late. If he had started training from a young age, he might already be First Rate top-tier master."
Looking at the [Lean Tiger] Traits Xu Yu Yu's head, Wu Shuangren smiled and said, "It's not too late to start practicing now. I believe he won't be any worse than First Rate- tier expert in the future."
Xu Yu hadn't Internal Skill, yet his strength was already comparable to that of a top-tier Fourth Rank martial artist.
Once the opponent masters the "Metal and Stone Qi" technique, they will surely be able to rival top -First Rate tier masters in the future!
Bai Jinhuan cupped his hands towards Wu Shuangren and said, "Congratulations, Commander!"
After speaking, he hesitated for a moment and asked, "Commander, recently many people have been asking when we will go out to fight again?"
Wu Shuangren looked at Bai Jinhuan and smiled, "Is it the people below who want war, or do you want war?"
Bai Jinhuan was a little embarrassed. "I have them all, I have them all... hehehehe."
From the battle of West River Market to the ambush on the Grand Canal, this former military commander, who could only talk about war on paper, truly experienced the thrill of leading troops into battle!
He's only had a month of free time, and he's already getting restless.
"No rush, there will be plenty of opportunities later."
Wu Shuangren said to Bai Jinhuan.
Bai Jinhuan's eyes lit up, and he leaned closer to ask in a low voice, "Commander, are we going to make a move against the Zhang Clan?"
Wu Shuangren smiled. The fact that the other party could ask this question meant that they had really been thinking about war.
Now that they have established a firm foothold in West River Market, they have two options if they want to continue expanding.
Either take your men back to Bo County, confront Mist Hidden Temple head-on, eliminate this major threat, and then develop your business in Yi Province.
Either continue developing in Xi Province, or the next step will definitely be to go to West River County.
If they want to expand towards West River County, the Zhang Clan is the first obstacle they need to eliminate!
Although they had defeated the Mist Hidden Temple's forces in the ambush on the canal, Bai Jinhuan felt that it was too risky for them to take the initiative to attack the Mist Hidden Temple with their current strength.
Therefore, he judged that Wu Shuangren's next move would likely be to target the Zhang Clan.
Wu Shuangren did not give an answer, but simply told Bai Jinhuan to wait.
"Yes."
Bai Jinhuan dared not ask any more questions and obediently left.
West River County, Zhang Prefecture.
Zhang He hasn't slept well for several days in a row.
He sat in his study, a pot of cooled tea on the table, the teacups still full.
These days, the spies he sent out have been returning one after another, and the news they bring back makes him more and more uneasy!
"A chamber of commerce has been established in West River Market, and all the merchants have joined."
"Business at West River Market is booming, and the merchants are all applauding."
"..."
Every message felt like a needle piercing Zhang He's heart!
The Zhang Clan had been operating in West River Market, a lucrative market, for over a decade. Starting from a small stall at the dock, they grew their business to include more than a dozen shops, two warehouses, and over a dozen large houses.
There wasn't much money to be made in West River County to begin with, so the business in West River Market was the Zhang Clan's most profitable industry.
But now, it's all gone!
Now, seeing West River Market more prosperous and lucrative than before, Zhang He felt increasingly resentful!
Cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents, and Wu Shuangren not only cut off the Zhang Clan's financial path, but also Zhang He's future.
Without the profits from West River Market, the Zhang Clan simply couldn't afford to support so many militiamen; continuing down this path would only mean reducing the size of the militia.
This is Zhang He absolutely cannot accept!
"Master."
A sound came from outside the study; it was the Zhang family's steward.
"Come in."
Zhang He looked towards the doorway.
The steward pushed open the door and entered respectfully, saying, "Master, we just received news that the county government has sent someone to West River Market."
Bang!
Zhang He slammed his hand heavily on the table, knocking over the teacups and spilling water, startling the butler.
"Are these people really that impatient?!"
Zhang He was furious.
The butler lowered his head, not daring to speak.
"... Has there been no reply from Mist Hidden Temple yet?"
Zhang He asked, looking somewhat tired.
The butler shook his head. "Not yet."
I refuse to believe it.
Zhang He gritted his teeth, "Can Mist Hidden Temple swallow this? Kongzheng is dead, they can't possibly—"
Before he could finish speaking, hurried footsteps came from outside the door.
A servant rushed in, holding a letter in his hand, the envelope sealed with sealing wax.
"Master, a reply from Mist Hidden Temple!"
Zhang He stood up, stepped forward, snatched the letter, and tore off the sealing wax.
The letter was only a thin sheet of paper with a few lines of writing on it. Zhang He's eyes swept over the words, and his expression changed from gloomy to excited.
"Okay, okay!"
He gripped the letter tightly, looking in the direction of West River Market, "Let you be smug for a little while longer!"
The thirty-seventh day since Kongzheng was killed.
Just after Chen Shi (7-9 AM), a message came from the sentry outside the city gate—someone was requesting an audience with Militia Commander Wu, claiming to be a clerk from the West River County government.
Wu Shuangren was personally leading his personal guards in running and physical training on the training ground.
Upon receiving the news, he ordered the other party to be brought to the council chamber.
A moment later, Wu Shuangren entered the council hall.
A middle-aged man quickly stood up, bowed, and said, "My name is Zhou Zhengqing, a clerk in the West River County government. I have come to pay my respects to Militia Commander Wu on the orders of the County Magistrate."
Wu Shuangren this man closely. He was in his early forties, thin and frail, wearing a long blue cloth robe, a square turban on his head, and a neatly trimmed goatee on his chin.
Wu Shuangren nodded. "Please have a seat, Adviser Zhou."
He walked to the head seat and sat down, during which Zhou Zhengqing was also quietly observing him.
"It is said that heroes emerge from among the young. It is truly admirable that Militia Commander Wu has achieved such a great feat at such a young age."
Zhou Zhengqing said with a smile, "Compared to him, I've truly wasted my life!"
Wu Shuangren remained calm and said indifferently, "Adviser Zhou, you're too kind."
Zhou Zhengqing carefully observed Wu Shuangren's expression, but could not detect the slightest arrogance or smugness on his face.
This surprised him somewhat.