Chapter 016: Warrior Soldiers, The Fundamentals of Infantry, and Framing

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Xia He, however, fell into thought.

Of the first three realms of martial cultivation, one had to reach the Skin Tempering Realm to become a military soldier.

From that alone, it was obvious that only after becoming a military soldier could one obtain more advanced martial arts.

Otherwise, a manual like the Basic Soldier Manual in his hands would be nothing more than common merchandise. Anyone who enlisted would receive a copy.

Even Wang Erpang’s father would not have casually let him read it.

Still, this basic cultivation method should not be underestimated. Reaching the Skin Tempering Realm would be enough for now. After all, a meal had to be eaten one bite at a time.

“And do you know this, Brother He? Truly powerful martial arts techniques can allow one person to fight a hundred!”

“You’ve practiced one?”

Wang Erpang immediately looked embarrassed.

“No, I haven’t. I only heard it from my old man.”

“Right.”

After chatting a little longer and memorizing the location of the cookhouse, Xia He said goodbye to Wang Erpang and prepared to return home.

On the way, he made up his mind. Within a month, he had to reach the Skin Tempering Realm and become a military soldier!

Otherwise, he would spend the rest of his life as a camp cook. That would truly be the end of him. On the battlefield, he would either serve as cannon fodder or remain in the rear cooking for the troops.

His talent for martial arts shouldn’t be particularly poor, should it?

Once he returned that evening, he would memorize the entire Basic Soldier Manual!

Before he even reached his own courtyard, Xia He could smell the aroma of food drifting from inside.

Ever since crossing into this world, his family’s life had visibly improved.

In the past, they could not even afford the poorest millet. Now, they were able to eat meat every few days.

All of this was thanks to the skills awakened on his status panel. If practicing martial arts could awaken a skill as well, then he would have nothing to fear from the examination a month later.

At the dinner table, Xia He asked, “Lan’er, I wasn’t home during the day. Did those ruffians come back?”

Li Huilan shook her head, but then suddenly brought up the missing Song Bao.

“Brother He, the people from the gambling house seem to be searching everywhere. I heard that the gambling-house owner, Tiger Brother, even captured quite a few people.”

“Anyone he suspected was beaten half to death. Aunt Liu next door had a son who merely resisted a little, and they broke his legs and chopped off several of his fingers. It was terrifying.”

Xia He’s expression turned cold.

This Tiger Brother was far too overbearing!

He was surely looking for Song Bao. After all, Song Bao was his brother-in-law. Now that the man had been missing for several days, suspicion was only natural.

The only question was whether he would also come under suspicion.

Just then, a series of urgent, violent knocks came from outside, accompanied by arrogant curses.

The instant Li Huilan heard those familiar voices, her face turned deathly pale. Clearly, she was terrified.

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“Brother He, i-it’s… those ruffians.”

Seeing her condition, Xia He hurriedly comforted her in a low voice. “Don’t be afraid, Lan’er. I’m here. I’ll go take a look.”

With that, he rose and reached for the long saber lying on the table—the weapon he had received from the military camp not long ago. Calmly, he walked toward the door.

Bang!

The door was shoved open with tremendous force, sending the ruffians who had been knocking flying backward.

“Damn it! You—”

The leader, one hand still wrapped in bandages, climbed to his feet with an enraged expression and was about to start cursing.

“Is there a problem?”

Xia He stood alone in the doorway, dressed only in a single robe and holding a long saber.

The vicious expressions on the ruffians’ faces instantly changed.

They were astonished to discover that the long saber clenched in Xia He’s hand was clearly a weapon used by the army.

Combined with his fearless expression and the faint murderous aura radiating from him, the group’s hearts skipped a beat.

Could this fellow have already enlisted?

The leader was the same man whose arm Xia He had crushed at Li Huiying’s home a few days earlier.

This time, he had come under the pretext of investigating the disappearance of Tiger Brother’s brother-in-law, Song Bao, while secretly looking for an opportunity to take revenge.

After all, Song Bao had harbored improper thoughts about Xia He’s wife and had made quite a few obscene remarks behind his back. Many people knew about it.

The man had visited Xia He’s home from time to time before. Now that he had suddenly disappeared for several days, it was only natural for those who already resented Xia He to grow suspicious of him.

Thus, they had immediately brought people over, intending to beat Xia He severely before forcing him to answer their questions.

After all, in this small town, apart from the military households, who would dare offend them? Who would dare offend Tiger Brother?

But after seeing the saber in Xia He’s hand, they no longer dared act recklessly.

If Xia He were merely an ordinary civilian, dealing with him would be as easy as turning over one’s hand.

But if he had truly joined the army, everything would be entirely different.

Every soldier was registered with the military.

If someone were killed here, or injured and then made to disappear, the military camp would certainly refuse to let the matter rest.

Once an investigation began, everyone involved would likely be doomed.

At that thought, the ruffians exchanged glances.

“Damn it, we’re too late!”

Xia He’s expression grew colder. Seeing the changes in their faces, he immediately understood what they had come for.

“W-We’re here to ask whether you’ve seen Song Bao.”

“Song Bao? I haven’t seen him. What happened to him?”

Xia He looked genuinely puzzled. Since his expression did not appear false, the ruffians were bewildered as well.

Had they made a mistake?

“He… he’s missing. Tiger Brother ordered us to find him.”

“Oh, he’s missing, so why didn’t you go look for him? What are you doing at my house?”

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Xia He’s tone was hostile. He glanced at them again, clearly finding their behavior strange.

“Uh…”

“Y-You really enlisted?”

“If I hadn’t, what else would I be?”

Xia He raised the saber in his hand and sneered.

“What? Do you want to try me?”

For some reason, although Xia He merely looked at him calmly, the man’s legs suddenly went weak. For a moment, he could hardly remain standing.

“Since you haven’t seen him, forget it. We only came to ask.”

“Let’s go!”

The ruffians fled as though they were escaping for their lives.

But when they reached the entrance, the fear in the leader’s heart suddenly dispersed, replaced by humiliation and fury.

“Damn it! Why was I afraid of him?”

“Brother Hu, that kid has joined the army. He won’t be easy to deal with now!”

“Not easy to deal with? Who does he think he is? Go back and tell Tiger Brother about this. I’m certain Song Bao’s disappearance has something to do with him! He might even be the one who did it!”

Hu Da’s heart hardened, and his hatred for Xia He deepened.

He had already made up his mind. Even if Xia He had nothing to do with the matter, he would exaggerate everything before Tiger Brother and heap the blame on him.

Once Tiger Brother was angered, Xia He would have to pay dearly, no matter what!

“Brother Hu… Tiger Brother has gone out. He won’t be back until tomorrow.”

“Then we’ll look for him tomorrow!”

Clutching his aching arm viciously, Hu Da limped away.

Xia He remained standing at the doorway, watching the ruffians depart. Seeing them whispering among themselves, together with the venomous expression on Hu Da’s face, a flash of killing intent appeared in his eyes.

“I can’t let him live.”

He was not afraid of those ruffians, but dealing with Tiger Brother from the gambling house would be troublesome.

Although he had enlisted, he had yet to become a military soldier.

If Tiger Brother were merely a gambling-house owner, that would be one thing. But rumor had it that every year he offered half the gambling house’s profits to the officers in the military camp, and that he maintained close ties with them in private.

Moreover, if he really was the one who had caused the blood plague, then he was clearly relying on the power of others. The waters surrounding this matter ran far deeper than they appeared.

Xia He glanced at the darkening sky outside, then turned and said to his wife in the room, “Lan’er, lock the door securely. I have something to take care of.”

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