The First Sage of Military Strategists

Chapter 21 Recruiting Bodyguards
in the afternoon.

As usual, Han Qing arrived at the Minglu Hall courtyard. After Zhao Teng demonstrated the Nine Yang True Skill fighting method, he sat down on a stool and took a nap.

Han Qing turned and went to a quiet corner to calmly study the Nine Yin Manual.

An hour later, he had memorized the martial art from beginning to end. The panel then recorded the martial art as "not yet mastered, proficiency 1%".

However, with so many people around, it was really inconvenient for him to practice this martial art. Otherwise, others would surely guess that he had already perfected the Nine Yang Manual. He didn't know if it would be good or bad if the news got out, but he vaguely felt that unless there was a huge benefit, it was best not to make it too shocking.

Achieving mastery in two months is not unprecedented in Sichuan; some exceptionally talented scions of prominent families have been able to do it.

However, even if the two months are complete, it might take hundreds of years for such a person to be born in the vast land of Shu.

Once the news gets out, Baiyun County will definitely be shaken.

"Try practicing the Zhige Jing (a classic text on stopping warfare)," Han Qingxin said.

The "Stopping War Sutra" requires entering a meditative state and calming the mind. He needs to sit cross-legged on the ground, motionless. From the outside, there is nothing unusual, and no one can judge from such an ordinary movement that he is learning the Soul Refining Method.

So Han Qing tried it out, constantly recalling the introductory visualization diagram in his mind. As the figure of the black-armored warrior was gradually outlined, in an instant, the warrior leaped out of the diagram and landed in the void of his mind, as if he had come back to life.

Han Qing also successfully entered a meditative state, and his murderous intent was once again stirred up.

Han Qing did not suppress it intentionally, but let it be released and occupy his mind, while maintaining a certain degree of rationality and restraint.

This is a unique skill he has developed over three years of battling a strange illness; it allows him to control and restrain the impact of his murderous intent on himself to a certain extent.

Then he felt his thoughts soaring upwards at breakneck speed, and many illusions appeared.

"Kill, kill, kill!"

Fueled by murderous intent, Han Qing's heart was filled only with the desire to kill, and no illusion could shake his mind.

As the illusions shattered one after another, the murderous intent grew purer and purer until it finally became a single, unadulterated murderous intent, which soared into the spirit temple.

Han Qing opened his eyes and slowly exhaled: "One meditation session takes a quarter of an hour and can only condense a wisp of spiritual thought. This Spirit Refining Technique is indeed difficult to refine."

This was only because he had the help of his strange illness; if it were any other martial artist, they would likely be trapped in one of the illusions and unable to escape.

During this process, the martial artist's spirit is constantly depleted, eventually leading to extreme fatigue and making it difficult to enter a meditative state.

The resulting spiritual energy will be extremely complex and fragile, resulting in a very slow rate of power increase.

There is another point here, which is the difference in the quality of the methods of refining the spirit.

Han Qing pondered for a whole day and finally figured it out.

The higher the level of the spirit-refining method, the more delusions are eliminated during the process of thoughts ascending to the spiritual temple, and thus the purer the righteous thoughts are formed.

The reason why the Zhige Jing is called the supreme method of military strategy is because it can condense pure military killing intent.

Of course, not everyone can do this; it requires an extremely strong killing intent.

Different schools of soul-refining methods have different focuses on the requirements of mind and character. For example, Confucianism and Taoism require benevolence and the cultivation of a righteous spirit, while the agricultural school requires being as generous as the earth and cultivating the life force of life.

"continue!"

Han Qing rested for a while, closed his eyes slightly, and continued to concentrate his spiritual power, visualizing the black-armored warrior in his mind.

A quarter of an hour later, he opened his eyes, and another wisp of Dharma thought appeared in the temple.

Many people in the compound noticed that he had been meditating with his eyes closed all afternoon, and they all found it strange.

As is customary, Han Qing is very diligent. He starts cultivating as soon as he arrives at the compound, unwilling to waste a single moment. But today is quite unusual.

However, in their eyes, Han Qing was already a reclusive and eccentric person, so his behavior was not surprising. Therefore, they did not consider the possibility of him using the Refining Spirit Technique. The Refining Spirit Technique was not something ordinary people could access; most people had never even heard of it.

Han Qing had been in this world for three years and had never heard of it until he awakened the Seven Killings Stele.

One afternoon.

Han Qing remained motionless, while the others practiced with great enthusiasm.

Luo Ying's gaze kept sweeping over Han Qing, and a cold smile would occasionally appear on her face.

As dusk was about to fall, Luo Sheng suddenly arrived at the Minglu Hall courtyard.

"Han Qing, come here, I need to talk to you!"

Han Qing opened her eyes, got up and followed Luo Sheng to the entrance of the Minglu Hall courtyard.

Luo Sheng turned around, his face stern, his gaze deep and unfathomable as he stared intently at Han Qing.

"Small success?"

"Yes." Han Qing's gaze was calm. He guessed that Luo Shengding had learned this news from Luo Ying, but it wasn't quite accurate.

He hesitated for a moment about whether to lie and say that he was only proficient, but after thinking about it for a while, he gave up.

Whatever Luo Sheng says goes. Silence is the best policy at this moment; the more you say, the more flaws you'll reveal.

“You’ve achieved minor success in three months, making you a rare martial arts talent in Baiyun County. However, you’re unlucky. Four spots have already been reserved, and all the rest of you can only compete for the position of axe-wielder. But I am Luo Ying’s second uncle, and I have already reserved this spot for him without his consent. Do you disagree?” Luo Sheng said in a deep voice.

Han Qing remained silent.

Luo Sheng sneered: "I'll give you a choice. On the day of the assessment, you just need to pretend to be sick and not go. Afterwards, I'll give you ten taels of silver, and your family's Xinglin Hall business can continue."

Han Qing remained silent. Suddenly, a loud shout came from behind Luo Sheng.

"Luo Sheng, what are you doing? Trying to force Han Qing to give up the assessment?" Yang Wu strode over.

"Squad Leader Yang, you're joking. I wasn't forcing him; I was just trying to persuade him to make a wiser choice," Luo Sheng said indifferently.

"I don't care what rules the constables and the speedsters have, but the police must be fair and impartial," Yang Wu said in a deep voice.

Luo Sheng shook his head: "Yang Wu, you've still got the same temper after all these years. Never mind, Han Qing, I believe you know what to do."

After Luo Sheng finished speaking, he didn't argue with Yang Wu and turned to leave.

Yang Wu watched his retreating figure, then turned his head and said in a deep voice, "You don't need to pay attention to Luo Sheng's words. The Luo family's influence doesn't extend to my yamen. You have me above you, and I have Magistrate Qi above me. How can he do whatever he wants?"

As Yang Wu spoke, he reached out and patted Han Qing's shoulder, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

"With such strong bones and muscles, could it be that the Nine Yang True Skill is about to be perfected?"

Han Qing nodded slightly; this matter couldn't be kept secret.

"Good, there is indeed hope. Han Qing, in six months, General Qi Wufeng of Shu will be recruiting personal guards. The age must not exceed eighteen years old. The most important thing is physical constitution, followed by temperament, and then comprehension."

General Qi is an all-powerful figure in Shu. Even Governor Zhang treats him with utmost respect. If you can become his personal guard, Luo Sheng will have to personally come to apologize to you. You must not let your guard down. In my opinion, you have a very good chance.

"Since your Nine Yang True Skill is nearing completion, you should have no problem with the assessment in a few days, but you still need to work even harder afterwards," Yang Wu said.

"Okay." Han Qing nodded.

Qi Wufeng is a name known to everyone in Sichuan. He is so powerful that he can cover half the sky with his hand, and the earth trembles when he stomps his foot.

(End of this chapter)