With the rise of my family, I can summon the Daoist Soldiers' Nest.

At Lin Qiang's command, several ships immediately changed direction and slowly approached the waters where the monster was located.

The ship's escort had already prepared specially made poison sacs containing a mixture of potent paralyzing poison powder and a pungent medicinal liquid used to exorcise demons.

Once it enters the water, it can quickly spread into a poisonous mist that can both stimulate the senses and corrode the gaps in the scales.

"Get ready to throw! Aim for the water around it!" Lin Qiang shouted.

Two teams of crossbowmen and pitchers simultaneously mounted their poison sacs on the launchers and aimed at the rippling water.

With a series of low, whistling sounds, more than a dozen poison sacs shot out, some crashing onto the water's surface and exploding into a thick, bluish-black medicinal mist, while others fell directly into the eddy near the snake's shadow.

In an instant, the waters were shrouded in poisonous fog, with a pungent and acrid smell that could be detected even by those on the boat.

However, after waiting for a long time, the monster continued to swim slowly in the poisonous fog, its huge serpentine body rising and falling in the water, showing no signs of pain or slowing down.

It even poked its head out of the water to look at the fleet, as if mocking the futility of the attack.

A third-rate captain frowned and said, "No, this poison won't work on it! Its scales are dense, so the poisonous mist in the water might not be able to penetrate it. Besides, it is poisonous itself and may have resistance to similar toxins."

Another person chimed in, "The poison we brought is only effective against ordinary monsters; it's simply not enough against second-rate monsters."

Lin Qiang stared at the giant snake that was still swimming calmly in the distance, his face grim.

They originally thought that fighting poison with poison would work, but the monster's defense and resistance to poison far exceeded their expectations.

The poisonous mist on the water's surface was gradually washed away by the current, but the snake's shadow remained clear.

Everyone fell silent for a moment.

This second-rate monster is not only incredibly strong and fast, but also has such high resistance to poison. If we rashly go into the water or engage in close combat, there will likely be more casualties.

Everyone looked at Lin Qiang.

Lin Qiang stood at the bow of the boat, watching the huge snake-like shadow slowly swimming on the water.

He knew that everyone was waiting for his decision: whether to continue testing the waters or to leave immediately.

Lin Qiang took a deep breath, and could only utter a resentful sentence:

"Let's go back to the dock, find out what kind of monster it is, what its weaknesses are, and then come back to kill it."

Upon hearing this, everyone remained outwardly calm, but inwardly they all breathed a sigh of relief.

It wasn't that they weren't afraid of death; it was just that as third-rate martial artists, their status and treatment made them more aware of the importance of weighing life and death.

One of their comrades had already died in the previous battle, and no one wanted to try their luck again.

Moreover, once it gets dark, the monster will have an advantage underwater, and if it launches a surprise attack, the consequences would be unimaginable.

The fleet immediately turned around and retreated at a steady speed along the route they had come from.

Meanwhile, in Linjiawu, the fortress became much quieter after the guards left.

The reconstruction of the county town is not something that can be accomplished overnight. What can be done right now is to arrange for those who are willing to move in to do so gradually. Construction can only begin once there is sufficient labor.

With these matters entrusted to Lin Yi, Lin Ye was freed up to focus on martial arts training every day.

In the training ground, he practiced his spear techniques and footwork again and again, incorporating his experience in fighting the gargoyles in their lair into his movements, striving to further improve his speed and responsiveness.

Occasionally, he would spar with Wang Qing to test his own shortcomings in offense and defense.

Early in the morning, Lin Ye was preparing to practice his sword moves one last time when a servant rushed in to report, "Young Master, Madam has arrived."

He sheathed his sword, turned around, and saw Li leading her younger brother Lin Chuan and younger sister Lin Xiu into the training ground.

"Mother, what's wrong?" Lin Ye looked at the three of them, somewhat surprised.

Li looked anxious and pulled his arm to walk outside: "Quick, come with me! I've looked at three girls for you, all of them are top-notch, and they happen to be in the fort today."

"You're not getting any younger, and you're a nobleman, yet there's not a single person in your room. It's outrageous! I have to go see him today, no matter what. Mother is waiting to hold her grandson!"

Lin Chuan and Lin Xiu covered their faces and laughed. Lin Chuan teased in a low voice, "Brother, Mother has made all the arrangements. You can't escape it."

Lin Xiu smiled, pursing her lips, "Yeah, brother, it's not a loss to go and take a look."

"Okay, okay, I'll go see her today." Lin Ye sighed, knowing that he couldn't refuse today.

He knew his mother Li's temper well; once she set her mind on something, she would drag it out until dark if she didn't get it done.

Moreover, he understood that he was now the Baron of Xiang County, and his status was different from before. The continuation of his lineage was indeed important. His mansion could not be without a mistress or concubines, lest it become a source of gossip.

Furthermore, to be honest, I've actually wanted to enjoy myself for a long time. What man wouldn't want to taste the soft, warm fragrance of a woman? I'm not really a martial arts fanatic.

The group walked through the eaves and arrived at the small garden of the fortified village.

Li led Lin Ye to a stop beside the pavilion, smiling and gesturing with her hand: "Ye'er, these are the three of them."

Three young women stood in the pavilion, each with a beautiful appearance and elegant demeanor.

The man on the left has striking features and a graceful demeanor;

The woman on the right has skin as white as snow and a gentle expression;

The woman standing slightly to the right of center was taller than other women her age, with a slender waist and long, straight legs.

Her features are delicate and beautiful, with a touch of heroism and liveliness in her eyes, making her unforgettable at first glance.

Lin Ye's gaze swept across the three faces, and he was involuntarily drawn to the tall, long-legged girl.

She seemed to sense his gaze, lowered her eyes slightly, and couldn't help but peek up again, a hint of shyness and curiosity flashing in her eyes.

Seeing this, Madam Li smiled and nudged Lin Ye, saying, "This is Miss Zhang from the Zhang family, named Zhang Ruozhu. She's sixteen this year, straightforward, and intelligent. You two can chat."

Lin Ye composed himself, stepped forward, and cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Miss Ruozhu, my name is Lin Ye."

Zhang Ruozhu's cheeks flushed, and she gently curtsied in return, her voice clear and bright: "Lord Lin... Lord Lin."

The two walked slowly side by side along the garden path.

Lin Ye made a few small talk, asking her what she liked to do on a daily basis.

Zhang Ruozhu said shyly that she likes to practice swordsmanship and tend to flowers and plants in the courtyard, and also loves to listen to people tell interesting stories about the outside world.

Actually, Zhang Ruozhu had been feeling a little uneasy.

She knew she was there to see the Duke, and worried that he might be a stern, rigid, and boring person, and that the meeting would only be awkward and uncomfortable.

What made her even more uneasy was that she was taller than the average woman, and she was afraid that Lin Ye would think she was "too tall" or "not petite enough" and would look down on her.

After chatting for a while, Lin Ye suddenly started telling a few jokes that were popular in his previous life.

For example, "Someone practiced swordsmanship until midnight. The next day, when a neighbor asked him why he was swinging his sword, he said he was practicing 'meditation.' The neighbor then said that he was 'disturbing the peace.'"

There was also "a martial artist who claimed to be a first-class aquatic fighter, who could scream for help after only three seconds underwater, and said he was training in a 'crash course in underwater breath-holding'."

These novel and funny remarks made Zhang Ruozhu pause for a moment, then she couldn't help but burst out laughing. The more she listened, the more she felt that the lord in front of her was not only unpretentious, but also very witty.

The initial tension and restraint were instantly dispelled by laughter, and the light in her eyes became even brighter.

Seeing her smile happily, Lin Ye admired her even more.

Influenced by his previous life's beliefs, he has always preferred this tall and slender figure and the sleek beauty of long legs.

The two hit it off as they chatted, and a faint sense of affection shone in each other's eyes.

The two walked and chatted along the garden path, talking about flowers and plants, interesting stories, and their own hobbies, completely unaware of the passage of time.

It wasn't until the distant sound of a servant announcing "Lunchtime" that Zhang Ruozhu suddenly realized that she and Lin Ye had been in the garden for the entire morning.

Her heart skipped a beat, her cheeks flushed, her bright eyes instantly turned shy, and even her steps became a little flustered.

She lowered her head and straightened her skirt, saying softly, "Young Master Lin... it's getting late, it's time to have dinner. I was very happy to talk to you today, but... I'm too tall, I'm afraid you're only interested today..."

Seeing her sudden embarrassment, Lin Ye couldn't help but chuckle and said earnestly, "Miss Ruozhu, I'm not just looking at you for a fleeting moment. What I like is your figure; being tall has its advantages, and it's quite rare in my eyes."

Hearing this, Zhang Ruozhu felt a warmth in her heart, but she still didn't dare to stay any longer. She said softly, "Then... then I'll come back to talk to you again tomorrow, okay? I'll take my leave now."

After saying that, she hurriedly curtsied, turned around, lifted the hem of her skirt, and walked away quickly. Her back was straight, but it carried a hint of fleeing in panic.