Although he didn't have any top -First Rate tier experts under his command at the moment, after fighting against First Rate- tier experts twice, his hunger was far greater than usual, and he ate several times more food afterward!
Therefore, Wu Shuangren felt it was necessary to prepare these kinds of things in advance.
Now that he knows his mother is First Rank- tier martial arts master, he naturally wants to seize the opportunity to ask her questions.
Upon hearing Wu Shuangren's question, Xu Nanzhi shook her head. "Mother has never taken any pills or supplements intended for martial artists."
P. S.: It's the weekend, so I'll take a break and this chapter will be shorter.
113 Mad Osprey!
"Never taken any elixirs or dietary supplements?"
Wu Shuangren looked at Xu Nanzhi in surprise.
Xu Nanzhi nodded and explained, "It's because Mother uses a secret technique that can conserve her qi and blood and vitality. She keeps most of her qi and blood locked away, minimizing loss. As long as she doesn't use Internal Skill, her food needs are similar to an ordinary person. That's why you used to see Mother eating so little."
Wu Shuangren's eyes lit up; he immediately realized the value of this secret technique.
One of the biggest weaknesses of martial artists is their dependence on food. They need to replenish a lot of food when using Internal Skill, and even when they don't use Internal Skill, they still need more food than ordinary people on a daily basis.
Internal Skill cultivation changes the way martial artists generate power, and it also subtly alters their physical constitution. Therefore, the higher the level of Internal Skill cultivation, the greater the energy expenditure.
If I can learn my mother's secret technique, I can act like an ordinary person without using Internal Skill. In the future, when I have more martial artists under my command, the logistical burden will be much lighter.
"Mother, can you teach me this secret technique?"
Wu Shuangren asked with an expectant look on his face.
Xu Nanzhi gently shook her head, simply saying, "This secret technique is not suitable for you to learn, nor is it suitable for others to learn."
Wu Shuangren sensed that Xu Nanzhi seemed to have something difficult to say and was reluctant to discuss the topic, so he did not press her further.
He pointed to Xu Yu beside him. "Mother, there's something else. Xu Yu, like me, only started practicing Internal Skill after he came of age. Could you take a look and see if he has any hidden problems?"
Although Bai Jinhuan, Luo Heng, and the others had already seen it, Wu Shuangren wanted Xu Nanzhi to take another look so that he could be completely at ease.
Xu Nanzhi gestured for Xu Yu to reach out and grasp his wrist, placing her fingertips on his pulse point.
After a moment, she had Xu Yu turn around, placed her palm on his spine, and pressed down segment by segment from top to bottom...
Afterwards, Xu Nanzhi went back to get her needles and needled dozens of acupoints all over Xu Yu's body, observing his physical reactions.
Wu Shuangren looked at her. "How is it?"
"Indeed, no hidden dangers were left behind."
Xu Nanzhi looked at Xu Yu with admiration, "This child has excellent aptitude and extremely high talent! If he can reach the First Rank in the future, the extent of his physical transformation will far surpass that of other martial artists. The First Rank will be a Fish-Dragon leap for him!"
Xu Yu didn't quite understand what "the transformation of Fish-Dragon" meant, but he knew Xu Nanzhi was praising him. He scratched his head and grinned.
He also felt a sense of kinship with this woman who shared the same surname as his mother.
Upon hearing this, Wu Shuangren looked at the [Lean Tiger] Traits above Xu Yu's head and became more convinced than anyone else that the other party would definitely be able to step into the First Rank realm in the future.
Xu Nanzhi judged that Xu Yu would undergo a Fish-Dragon transformation after entering the First Rank realm, at which point, coupled with Xu Yu's divine power and the bonuses from his Traits...
I've struck gold!
Wu Shuangren also laughed happily.
West River County, County Government Office.
When Zhou Zhengqing entered the study, Guo Jiwang was sitting by the window reading a book. The setting sun shone obliquely in from the window, and the wine pot on the table was empty.
"Grown ups."
Zhou Zhengqing cupped his hands and said, "The news from Zhang Clan Village has arrived."
Guo Jiwang put down the book in his hand. "Speak."
"Wu Shuangren led a thousand men to surround Zhang Clan Village, challenged Zhang He to a duel in front of the enemy lines, and beheaded him with a single stroke. He then forced the surrender of over four hundred local militia members, taking the village without losing a single soldier..."
Zhou Zhengqing recounted the intelligence he had gathered in detail.
"Zhang Clan Village was captured without losing a single soldier."
Guo Jiwang shook his head, "This Zhang He is even more useless than I imagined!"
Zhou Zhengqing looked at him cautiously and asked, "Is this Wu Shuangren worth your bet, sir?"
Guo Jiwang laughed, "Whether it's worth it or not, we'll know after we meet and talk."
He paused, then asked, "Has Wu Shuangren entered the county town yet?"
Zhou Zhengqing shook his head. "No, we already informed them at the city gate, but we didn't see anyone."
Guo Jiwang said confidently, "He will definitely bring people to see me today. Let's make preparations."
Zhou Zhengqing cupped his hands and said, "Yes."
However, Guo Jiwang until evening but Wu Shuangren did not appear.
"It's one thing if you don't come yourself, but you didn't even send a message or a word?"
Inside the room, Guo Jiwang picked up the wine pot and poured himself another cup.
"Hmph, youthful arrogance. To have achieved such a great feat at seventeen, it's no wonder you're so proud!"
He snorted coldly and downed the wine in his glass in one gulp.
The next morning, at West River Market Village.
Wu Shuangren and Xu Yu escorted Xu Nanzhi out of the market and onto the main road.
Xu Nanzhi was worried that Wu Dongrong would be concerned, so she was going back today.
Li Quan and Zhao Laosi, who were sent by Wu Dongrong, arrived in West River Market yesterday.
After inquiring with both sides, it was finally confirmed that Sun Yong, who was previously responsible for delivering the letter, had not come to West River Market. This meant that Sun Yong might have been killed, Mist Hidden Temple had arranged for someone else to disguise themselves as a militiaman from Bo County and deliver the letter to the person in West River Market who was to receive it.
To prevent similar incidents from happening again, Wu Shuangren and Xu Nanzhi agreed on several codes last night. All future correspondence between the two places must use these codes correctly to ensure the accuracy of the information.
"Mother, be careful on the road."
Wu Shuangren said.
Xu Yu waved to Xu Nanzhi, somewhat reluctant to part.
Xu Nanzhi mounted her horse, looked at her son and Xu Yu, and smiled, "You too."
After saying this, she gently spurred her horse and rode away along the official road.
After seeing Xu Nanzhi off, Wu Shuangren told Xu Yu to continue recuperating from his injuries, while he put on a set of iron armor that had been captured the day before and rode off to Zhang Clan Village with fifty personal guards.
Actually, he had broken his ribs and his arrow wounds hadn't healed, so he should rest.
But there was no other way; he had to personally handle the matter in West River County, so he could only rely on his good physique after practicing martial arts to grit his teeth and bear it.
More than half an hour later, Wu Shuangren arrived at Zhang Clan Village with his personal guards.
"Commander-in-Chief."
Bai Jinhuan them out.
"How's the situation here?"
"I have interrogated the entire Zhang Clan, questioning them about various aspects of their Zhang Clan, and I have recorded everything."
"Well done."
Wu Shuangren didn't dismount. "I'm going to West River County. You'll come with me."
"Yes."
Bai Jinhuan asked, "Commander, how many men should we take into the city?"
"Including you, there are twenty people."
"Master Tuan, aren't twenty people too few?"
"That's enough. The Zhang Clan doesn't have many people left in the city."
"Yes."
Bai Jinhuan didn't try to persuade him any further. He was already used to Wu Shuangren's way of doing things; he always meant what he said!
The county seat of West River County looks more impressive than that of Bo County. The city wall is made of blue bricks and is about four zhang high. There are guards on duty at the city gate.
Wu Shuangren and his entourage rode to the city gate. The lead guard trotted over, his attitude respectful. "Are you Militia Commander Wu? The county magistrate has already given instructions. Please come in, please come in!"
Wu Shuangren nodded and gestured to Bai Jinhuan behind him. Bai Jinhuan took out a money pouch from his pocket and tossed it to the leading guard. "This is a small token of appreciation from Militia Commander Wu for the brothers."
"Thank you very much, Militia Commander Wu!"
The lead guard took the money bag with a delighted expression and thanked him repeatedly.
The group thus entered the county town without incident.
All twenty-one people were riding horses. Among them, Wu Shuangren and Bai Jinhuan were wearing full sets of iron armor, while the rest were wearing leather armor. They looked imposing and naturally attracted a lot of attention.
The Zhang Clan quickly received the news, and the key figures gathered to discuss it.
"He only brought twenty men into the city. Should we make a move?"
Zhang Yuan, the person in charge of the third branch, proposed this.
Zhang Yan from the second branch shook his head. "The one surnamed Wu is First Rate top-notch expert. How can the number of people we have in the city be enough?"
Zhang Ming from the fourth branch of the family looked worried. "What if he leads his men to storm into the Zhang Clan?"
"This is a county town. If he dares to kill people directly within the town, that's tantamount to rebellion!"
Zhang Yan said sternly.
Just as the group was discussing their strategy, a servant came to report, "Wu Shuangren led his men directly to the county government office, and the county clerk Adviser Zhou, personally led him inside!"
"..."
The lobby fell silent.
The Zhang Clan family leaders looked at each other, suddenly feeling utterly drained.
At the entrance of the county government office, Zhou Zhengqing came out to greet them.
Wu Shuangren dismounted, removed his helmet, and handed it along with his Mo Dao to the guards behind him. He only wore a Fish-Dragon Saber at his waist and walked alone into the county government office.
Zhou Zhengqing led the way, taking him to the side courtyard behind the county government office, and then to the entrance of a main hall.
"Please wait a moment, Militia Commander Wu; the County Magistrate will be here shortly."
Zhou Zhengqing said.
Wu Shuangren stepped across the threshold and entered the lobby.
The place was simpler than he had imagined, with blue bricks paving the floor, several wooden chairs on each side, a long table in front, and a grand chair behind the table.
A landscape painting hangs on the wall, depicting a river in the mist and rain, a lone boat, and a fisherman sitting alone at the bow.
Wu Shuangren did not sit down, but stood in the center of the hall, looking around at the furnishings.
A moment later, footsteps sounded behind them.
Guo Jiwang was not wearing his official robes today, but only a blue robe and a crown, as he strode into the main hall.
Wu Shuangren turned around, and the two met for the first time.
Guo Jiwang Wu Shuangren up and down. He was indeed very young, with no childishness on his face and less arrogance than he had imagined. Instead, he seemed very composed.
Wu Shuangren was stunned the moment she saw Guo Jiwang; her attention was completely drawn to the two characters above Guo's head.
After Xu Yu, he finally met the second person who possessed Traits!
Guo Jiwang also had two blood-red characters above his head—
[Mad Osprey].