Chapter 27: Divine Containment
[Name: Lu Yuan]
[Age: 16]
[Cultivation Technique: Breaking Blade Eight Techniques (38021/50000, Entering the Stance)]
[Tiger Subduing Posture Body Tempering (35193/30000, Perfection. Breakthrough?)]
[Golden Bell Shield (28918/50000, Entering the Stance)]
[Wolf-Chasing Arrow Skill (10324/10000, Great Success. Breakthrough?)]
[Arrowhead Array (46819/50000, Entering the Stance)]
Looking at the data, Lu Yuan chose to break through without hesitation. The next moment, an astonishing change occurred in his body.
After his skin and flesh transformed, every inch of his muscles was strengthened once more. His cells grew more active, seeming to store a vast amount of energy.
This made Lu Yuan’s every movement more powerful, his destructive force even greater.
[Tiger Subduing Posture Body Tempering (5193/50000, Divine Containment)]
At that moment, every part of his skin was suffused with a divine charm, now possessing a Divine Substance.
His Defense had increased by an immeasurable amount.
He didn’t know what exactly had changed in his body, but he understood that he had embarked on a path that others could not perceive.
’Even though my realm hasn’t advanced, I’m certain that if I were to face a Tendon Refining expert now—even that Iron Kite Centurion—I could kill him within a few moves. He would have absolutely no chance to escape.’
Then, Lu Yuan felt the strength in his arms, chest, and abdomen increase once again.
His arms, in particular, were countless times steadier than before.
[Wolf-Chasing Arrow Skill (324/30000, Perfection)]
With two techniques breaking through simultaneously, Lu Yuan’s combat power surged again. A satisfied look appeared on his face.
’Next time I leave the city, I’ll earn even more military merits.’
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
Just then, a knock came from outside.
Lu Yuan got up, walked into the courtyard, and opened the gate to find Xiao Hua standing outside.
When she saw Lu Yuan, she couldn’t help but gasp, "Ah!"
He had just finished training and was shirtless. His lean, well-defined upper body was on full display, and a blush instantly crept onto her face.
Although the women of Dayong were relatively open-minded, Xiao Hua was, after all, still a young maiden.
Lu Yuan hadn’t expected it to be her. He immediately went back inside to put on a shirt before coming out again.
Xiao Hua, however, remained standing charmingly in the courtyard. Her earlier shyness was gone, replaced by an interested gaze as she sized up Lu Yuan.
"Yuan, I’m inviting you to dinner tonight. Come over in a bit, okay?"
After saying her piece, she turned and ran out of the courtyard.
Lu Yuan gave a wry smile, then locked his gate and headed out.
’Xiao Hua and her mother don’t have much income, and my appetite is huge. One of my meals could feed them for days.’
Besides, though Xiao Hua was just a girl, she had taken good care of him.
So, Lu Yuan decided to buy some things before going over.
First, he went to the grain shop and bought a bag of high-quality rice and fine flour, and also had a large piece of meat cut for him.
Then he purchased some braised meats before heading to Xiao Hua’s house.
After he entered their courtyard, Xiao Hua saw him carrying so much and immediately ran out. "Yuan, why did you buy so many things?"
"I earned some silver on my last trip out. I was buying some food for myself, so I just bought some for you as well."
As he spoke, Lu Yuan carried the items into the house.
The table was already set with dishes: a plate of stewed roe deer meat, a plate of cold-dressed tofu, and a small dish of wild vegetables.
Next to them was a small basin filled with coarse-grain steamed buns.
For Xiao Hua and her mother, this meal was already the best they could afford.
Spring was the lean season between harvests. It was only because they were on the Northern Border, where the imperial court provided substantial subsidies, that people weren’t starving to death.
In other places, a single winter would claim an unknown number of lives.
Xiao Hua’s mother wasn’t overly formal. "Yuan, put your things down first and have a seat."
After she spoke, she also came to the table.
As the weather gradually warmed, her cough had eased considerably.
Xiao Hua brought a pot of wine from the inner room, filled Lu Yuan’s cup, and then picked up a piece of meat for him.
"Yuan, eat up."
Lu Yuan nodded and didn’t stand on ceremony, starting to dig into the food in his bowl.
Just then, Xiao Hua’s mother said softly, "Yuan, you go on and eat. Just listen to me ramble for a bit."
Lu Yuan immediately sat up straight. "Auntie, please speak."
"Ah, no need for that. You just eat," Xiao Hua’s mother said, waving her hand.
Lu Yuan nodded and continued eating while he listened.
"Yuan, the Northern Barbarians and Dayong have been in a standoff for so many years. Countless people die in battle every year. Military merit is important, but your life is your own. You must take care of yourself.
"I can tell from your features that you are a fortunate person. A benefactor is sure to help you, and you will soar to prominence one day. There’s really no need to risk your life for a little bit of military merit."
Hearing her words, Lu Yuan knew she meant well and was touched. ’To convince me to go out of the city less, the old lady is even bringing up face reading. I’m really putting her on the spot.’
But he still replied seriously, "Don’t you worry, Auntie. I will definitely take care of myself."
Then, after a moment of silence, he gave a bitter smile. "As for a benefactor... what kind of benefactor do you think would ever take an interest in me? Even my own family gave up on me just like that, throwing me out to be a scapegoat.
"If I have no strength of my own, even if I do meet a benefactor, who’s to say they won’t just cast me aside again in the future?"
Lu Yuan shook his head and drained the wine from his cup in one gulp.
Xiao Hua’s mother hadn’t expected him to have such a past and wanted to say more.
But he continued, "Auntie, I know you mean well, but what I have to do, I must do. I want to make a name for myself.
"I want to become someone of use. I don’t want to be cannon fodder anymore.
"After a while, once I’ve earned some more silver, I’ll find a good doctor to cure that cough of yours.
"Then you won’t have to suffer during the winter.
"I have no family here. You and Xiao Hua are my family. I will remember your words."
After speaking, he poured himself another cup of wine and downed it.
Xiao Hua listened to Lu Yuan with her head lowered, not saying a word, while her mother’s face was filled with heartache.
In the end, she sighed and didn’t try to persuade him further. She could see he was a man with his own mind.
After the meal, Lu Yuan left and returned to his own home.
He planned to leave the city again in a few days, not only to improve his strength but also to accumulate military merits.
’Kill a thousand enemies, and I can be promoted to Thousand Men Commander. By then, if I raise my strength further, I can achieve it all in one step and be considered part of the upper echelons. At the very least, I won’t be so easily discarded.’
Ever since his family had thrown him out to be a scapegoat, his only thought was to climb the ranks as quickly as possible so that his destiny would no longer be controlled by others.
Meanwhile, in the Zhang Family residence in Yunzhou, Zhang Hong was sitting in the living room with his second brother, Zhang He. The former took a sip of tea and said slowly, "I had drinks with the General of Yunzhou today. He said that for Zhe to be promoted to Thousand Men Commander, he’s still lacking some military merit and seniority.
"The fastest and best way is to send him to the Northern Border to burnish his credentials. After a few months of killing some Northern Barbarians, he can be transferred back, and the matter should be settled.
"What do you think?"
"Which Sai City?" Zhang He asked.
He was not at all at ease about this son of his. His talent was decent enough, but he could be disobedient at times.
"Yellow Sand Pass. It’s a Sai City on the Northern Border controlled by the Helian Family. The General of Yunzhou has a good relationship with the Helian General’s Mansion and is willing to pull some strings.
"Don’t worry, this isn’t exile. It’s just a normal garrison rotation. He won’t be at a disadvantage there; it’s just to burnish his credentials."
Zhang Hong, worried his younger brother would disagree, quickly tried to persuade him.
Cultivating their family members within the military was a major move in his grand strategy, and a necessary step for the Zhang Family to break through their current situation.
Zhang He nodded. "Alright. Since you’ve already arranged everything, I’ll listen to you, Big Brother."
A smile spread across Zhang Hong’s face. "Good. When you get back, let Zhe know. Tell him to get ready in the next few days."
"Mm," Zhang He grunted in acknowledgment, then stood up and left.
Watching him leave, Zhang Hong breathed a sigh of relief.
He knew the path within the military was difficult, but if the Zhang Family wanted to climb higher, they had to take it.
And this first step was crucial. The more solid, the better.