A veteran of the frontier army, after marrying a wife, fought his way through the northern border.

The two girls also learned very well.

He practiced the close combat moves "Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl" (eye gouging), "Kicking the Groin" (groin extinction), and "Finger Strike to Seal the Throat" with impressive skill.

Although the techniques used are not up to par.

However, when faced with a life-or-death crisis, self-preservation should be the top priority.

He has mastered the three sword techniques: diagonal slash, upward slash, and horizontal slash very well.

Qin Hongxiu erected a wooden stake in the courtyard, and the Su sisters would practice together whenever they had free time.

Luo Yunxiao was very satisfied and praised the two women for their martial arts talent.

That day, Su Yunshang held the fifty-year-old wild ginseng and said to Luo Yunxiao, "Husband,"

This ginseng root has been dried; shall we take it?

Luo Yunxiao glanced at it and nodded in satisfaction: "You handle it. Remember to divide it into four portions, so we can all try it."

"Okay, this kind of earth treasure needs to be simmered over low heat in a double boiler for an hour and a half to maximize its effects."

Su Yunshang explained.

An hour and a half passed quickly, and the four of them closed the door and sat around the table.

Su Yunshang opened the steamer, and a rich aroma of herbs filled the air.

This gave Luo Yunxiao a jolt of excitement!

It felt like every cell in my body was being activated by the fragrance.

Inside the pot were four ceramic stewing pots, each containing a small piece of old ginseng.

To enhance the flavor, Su Yunshang added some Solomon's seal and jujubes for seasoning.

Seeing that the three women dared not move, Luo Yunxiao took the lead and picked up a stew pot: "Let's share this good fortune together, don't be shy, let's drink together."

So he drank the ginseng soup in a few gulps.

The three women each took small sips and finished their drinks.

In an instant, Luo Yunxiao felt his mind clear and his vision bright, and a warm sensation spread through his lower abdomen.

It felt as if two warm energies were slowly rotating between the two kidneys, like a vortex.

Wonderful.

Ding!

The system panel has changed.

Host: Luo Yunxiao

Spouses: Su Yunshang, Su Yushang, Qin Hongxiu

Lifespan: 59 years

Combat Strength: 110 points (Mid-stage Martial Master, equivalent to the combat strength of 30 late-stage Samurai!)

Innate Skills: Night Vision (40 zhang), Treasure Hunting (40 zhang), Combined Cultivation Technique (Level 1), Scout Intuition (150 zhang)

Technique: Border Defense Technique (Second Level)

very good!

Life expectancy increases by two years.

Combat strength has been increased to the mid-stage of Martial Master.

All innate skills have also been upgraded by one level.

Luo Yunxiao felt that if he encountered the Beggar Gang again, he would be in trouble.

Let alone thirty-five people, even fifty people, I'm confident I can wipe them all out!

But why hasn't the most important technique of combined cultivation been advanced?

It seems that the requirements for advancement have not yet been met.

Su Yunshang, Su Yushang, and Qin Hongxiu all made progress in their cultivation.

The Su sisters are already at the late stage of Martial Apprentice!

Qin Hongxiu has also advanced to the mid-stage of Martial Master!

The three women exchanged glances, their faces beaming with joy.

Luo Yunxiao thought to himself.

Consuming ginseng that is over fifty years old is just as effective as marrying a new wife.

I'll go back up the mountain tomorrow and look again; maybe I can dig up a few more.

There are currently three known methods to increase lifespan and enhance combat power.

The first type is to marry a wife and consummate the marriage.

The second method is to consume aged ginseng from old mountains.

The third method is to cultivate the Border Defense Technique.

Now, having three wives isn't too much, and he's already received all the rewards he deserves from them.

If there are no new rewards, I'll have to find a way to marry a few more men with longevity.

Fifty-year-old ginseng is a rare find, and it depends on fate.

While practicing the Border Defense Technique can lead to advancement, it requires frequent practice to strengthen one's body and bones.

Quantitative change leads to qualitative change.

It takes a long time.

It won't be easy to find a new bride anytime soon.

Let's go into the mountains and see if we can find any more old ginseng from previous years.

So the next day, he once again carried his medicine basket deep into Qingshiling.

By afternoon, relying on his forty-foot treasure-hunting skills, he had only found two twenty-year-old wild ginseng roots.

Ginseng that is over fifty years old is indeed a rare find!

The other medicinal herbs found were common herbs such as honeysuckle, polygonatum, and yam.

Before dark, I dug up some wild vegetables and brought them home.

The next day, Su Yunshang stewed a 20-year-old ginseng.

After taking it, Luo Yunxiao only felt a slight warmth in his dantian.

My internal energy increased slightly, but the system didn't react.

It seems the number of years is insufficient.

So be it.

When you have more money in the future, go to the pharmacy and see if they have any ginseng that is over fifty years old!

For the remaining days, Li Dachui personally led patrols.

Li Haishan, the second-in-command of the Beggars' Gang, was indeed ruthless. Upon learning that Wang Tu had been killed by Luo Yunxiao, a villager from Chenjia Village, he vowed to slaughter everyone in Chenjia Village to avenge his elder brother.

So, four days after Wang Tu was executed, he gathered twenty-five of his underlings and launched a night raid on Chenjia Village.

As a result, the entire army was wiped out by the combined resistance of Li Dachui and Luo Yunxiao.

Li Haishan was beaten half to death by the guards and then taken to the county government for imprisonment.

Chenjia Village was once again commended by the county magistrate.

Luo Yunxiao's fame soared, and he became a prominent figure in the surrounding area.

October 30th arrived quickly, the day Luo Yunxiao was to report to the auxiliary military camp.

Thirty grown men from the village, along with their wives, packed their bags.

They gathered at the village entrance, bid farewell to their relatives and friends, and prepared to head to the county town camp.

Of the thirty men, twelve, like Luo Yunxiao, had married women who were criminals and were required to bring their female relatives with them when they reported for duty.

Others, including Zhao Dayong, Niu Dabiao, Wang San, Zhao Yaodi, Ma Liu, and others, were assigned to the combat battalion.

And you don't need to bring your wife to do manual labor.

Because their wives were all from respectable families and had clean backgrounds.

Because Su Yunshang and her sister, along with Qin Hongxiu, were labeled criminals, they were forced to serve as laborers and do logistical work for the army.

Only if Luo Yunxiao performs meritorious service in the military camp can they be exonerated from their criminal records and become innocent women.

Luo Yunxiao carried a horse-slaying saber and had a short sword slung across his waist.

The short spear had already been given to Qin Hongxiu, who placed it at her feet.

The three wives placed bedding and luggage in the car, ready to depart.

Luo Yunxiao's armor was placed in a locked bamboo box on the donkey cart.

Two days before leaving, Luo Yunxiao asked Chen Er, a widower in his sixties, to help look after his five mu of poor land.

He was given 500 coins as a trusteeship fee and was responsible for planting the following spring.

He then entrusted Zhao Dezhu to find some bricklayers and carpenters after he left to renovate his house and add a side room.

After the war, they will return to live a peaceful and prosperous life.

He considered it and decided to renovate the house and build a new one.

The total cost for labor and materials is five taels of silver.

Luo Yunxiao gave him six taels.

The extra amount is considered a service fee.

Zhao Dezhu readily agreed.

The group set off at Chenshi (7-9 AM), taking two breaks along the way.

Before noon, when passing through Pinglu County, Luo Yunxiao stopped by the blacksmith's shop.

Master Li has already crafted ten throwing knives and embedded them in the knife case.

Luo Yunxiao drew a throwing knife; it was small, sharp, and of moderate weight, which satisfied him greatly.

.

Ten miles north of Pinglu County lies the border military camp of Liuhebao.

At this time, the camp was bustling with people, with at least six hundred people coming from various villages and counties to report for duty.

Once inside the military camp, everyone realized that the combat troops and auxiliary troops were separate.

The auxiliary troops were located north of the main force troops.

In the event of war, the auxiliary troops will face the first wave of attacks from the Tartars.

This is why the auxiliary troops were called the trench-filling troops.

The two camps were separated by a wide expanse of farmland.

Niu Dabiao and Zhao Dayong said goodbye to Luo Yunxiao.

"Old Luo, although you were assigned to the auxiliary battalion, you have a history of merit in suppressing bandits."

With a letter of recommendation from the county magistrate, he will surely rise through the ranks in the future.

We brothers are waiting for you at the combat camp!

Niu Dabiao had great confidence in Luo Yunxiao.

Zhao Dayong chimed in, "That's right, they must have been blind to make Uncle Luo their assistant."

"Alright, you can go report for duty now. See you later."

Luo Yunxiao bid farewell to everyone.

Along with several elderly and infirm villagers, they lined up at the auxiliary military camp's registration desk to register.

When it was Luo Yunxiao's turn, he saw two officials in charge of registration.

He took out the letter of recommendation from his pocket and handed it to one of the registrars.

The two looked at each other, paused for a moment, and realized they were acquaintances.

The person in charge of registration was still that bearded constable.

"Luo Yunxiao, it's you."

"We have met several times, but I have yet to ask your name, sir."

"Xu Changyou".

"So it's Lord Xu."

"Don't call me sir, just call me Lao Xu."

"Zhao Junhou has ordered you to wait a moment."

Xu Changyou whispered a few words to the constable next to him, and the man left a moment later.

A person wearing black iron scale armor walked into the registration office.

This man was burly, with a full beard and sharp eyes like a hawk; he was probably in his early forties.

He was accompanied by two attendants.

Upon seeing this man, Xu Changyou quickly stood up and said to Luo Yunxiao, "Luo Yunxiao, quickly greet the Military Commander."

"This humble subject greets Your Excellency, the Military Commander."

Zhao Polu was stationed at the strategic pass from Liuhebao to Bailang Mountain, a location of great importance.

He had 550 men under his command, 50 more than a typical large camp.

Ostensibly a military officer, but due to the army exceeding its authorized strength by fifty men, he was actually an acting captain.

He took Luo Yunxiao's letter of recommendation and looked at it.

When he saw the letter that read, "Luo Yunxiao killed the leader of the Beggar Gang and wiped out more than 30 bandits. He is exceptionally brave and capable of great use," he raised a thick eyebrow.

"You're Luo Yunxiao, the one who killed Wang Tu? You don't look like the kind of ruthless character who could kill dozens of bandits."

"It is I."

Luo Yunxiao replied neither humbly nor arrogantly.

He turned to Xu Changyou and said, "Is this the forty-nine-year-old veteran you were talking about?"

Zhao Polu looked at Luo Yunxiao with a puzzled expression.

She's not nearly as old as the rumors say; she looks to be only about thirty-five or thirty-six.

Since Luo Yunxiao's lifespan was extended, his appearance has indeed returned to that of a young man.

"Reporting to the Marquis, he, he is indeed forty-nine years old."

Xu Changyou dared not hide it and forced himself to speak.