Go and capture those thirty-six fierce villains.

The two left the yurt but didn't go far. They casually found a corner, squatted down, and started chatting.

"This man is just a soldier and doesn't know much. He said he received orders the evening before last and set off from Baiteng Fort. They've been searching for small tribes on the grasslands, and we're the first one they've found."

As the burly old man spoke, his wrinkled face showed little expression, but his large, knuckle-thick fist remained clenched tightly.

"Baitengbao?" Qin Ning unconsciously bent the blade of grass in his hand.

"Yes, it's one of the many small forts in the border towns of Daxia, usually garrisoned by about a hundred people."

Outside the border towns and passes of the Great Xia, there are numerous fortresses and garrisons scattered like stars in the sky. Although many of them are named after fortresses, their size varies greatly due to their different locations.

The smaller ones only have a hundred or even a dozen people.

Larger ones would have garrison commanders or commanders of a thousand men stationed there, with the number of soldiers reaching several thousand.

Blood Rain Fortress, for example, is a large castle garrisoned with as many as 3000 soldiers.

This knowledge was all acquired by Qin Ning during casual conversations with Feng Hanying.

"So that means these bandits were actually soldiers from the Great Xia border army in disguise... Did you get any other information from them?"

The burly old man shook his head: "We've tried everything, but he's just a soldier and doesn't know much."

Qin Ning threw the grass leaves on the ground and stood up.

"Please trouble the chief to inform Miss Feng about this matter. Also, I heard that the Morigen tribe is about to set off tomorrow. I wonder if you could prepare some horse rations or something..." As Qin Ning spoke, he did not notice the little black cat perched on his shoulder, whose two small eyes, one blue and one yellow, flashed a thoughtful look.

"Don't worry, Doctor Qin, you are practically my savior..."

The burly old man patted his chest and assured him, then expressed his gratitude profusely.

The two parted ways.

As evening approached, the stench of blood in the tribe faded with the drop in temperature.

Qin Ning lay in his tent, pretending to be asleep with his eyes closed, but his attention was actually on the [Thirty-Six Great Ferocious Talismans] floating in his mind.

The golden tree appears no different from ordinary deadwood. When nourished with blood and flesh, it will grow three golden leaves daily; thereafter, one more leaf will grow every seven days, and the nourishment must be continuous. When it has grown thirty-three golden leaves in a single day, the golden tree withers, and a vengeful spirit arises...

[A ninth-generation infant, a spirit, possessed by someone who has an abnormal craving for maternal love; a typical symptom is chasing after people and calling them "Mother"...]

"...What kind of junior brother is this reincarnation?"

Qin Ning couldn't help but mutter a curse in her heart, and continued flipping through the pages.

The Mist Demon, though called a demon, is not truly a demon; its true form is a stubborn rock. Ordinarily unremarkable, it only reveals its extraordinary misty phenomena when it rains...

[The shadow in the film...]

[Water monkey...]

Qin Ning flipped through a few pages, sat up from the couch, and a thoughtful look flashed in his eyes.

When he first saw this ominous talisman, he assumed that the ferocious creatures described on it were all living beings. His subsequent encounters with the Taotie and the plague herb further solidified this belief.

Now that I finally have time to look through them, I find that the minor omens on the blank pages are all kinds of things, including plants, animals, spirits, and even objects, and it seems that anything can be called an omen of misfortune.

"I remember there are demons in this world... but there's also a ferocious beast like the Taotie. So... what exactly qualifies as ferocious?"

Qin Ning thought for a moment and then gave up, deciding to ask the Dao Lord properly the next time they met.

He got up and walked towards the tent, intending to take advantage of the bright night to begin his first cultivation in this strange world.

While subduing ferocious creatures can increase one's cultivation level, it's not the only way to do so.

"If I can quickly fill my dantian with the life essence and advance to the eighth rank of the Daoist sect, I'll have more means of self-defense. At least... when I encounter minor ferocious creatures that require talismans to deal with, I won't be at a loss."

Qin Ning came outside the tent, intending to find a secluded corner to enjoy a good time under the bright moon.

But they found Aman and Aqu standing by a yurt not far away, seemingly arguing about something.

"Hey."

His sudden appearance startled the two boys.

"Brother Qin, Aman wants to become your apprentice, but he's too shy... Hey, why are you covering my mouth?" The barefoot boy immediately spoke up as soon as he saw Qin Ning.

"Brother Qin, don't listen to his nonsense." Aman's eyes were sincere, and she pressed her companion down as if she were pressing down a little lamb.

Qin Ning looked at the two of them with great interest.

"Release him." With that, he chuckled softly and addressed the barefoot boy, "So, is it Ah Man who wants to become my disciple, or do you want to become my disciple?"

"Hehe..." Hearing that his little secret had been exposed, the barefoot boy scratched his head sheepishly. "I wanted to become your apprentice. But when you saved my mother, you said we were even."

"So, you want Ah Man to worship me, and then have him teach you?"

Qin Ning stared at the two boys, one strong and one thin. Their personality differences were as obvious as their physical appearance.

The barefoot boy looked embarrassed, lowered his head, stared at his toes, and said nothing more.

"I can't take on any apprentices. But I do owe you a favor, Ah Man. I was planning to visit you before we parted tomorrow. Since we've run into each other tonight... let's talk about it tonight."

Having saved the Morigen tribe, he was naturally grateful for the burly old man's help.

Qin Ning had no intention of shirking his gratitude to the two boys for saving his life.

"I can give you some gold and silver..." Qin Ning didn't have any cash on hand right now, but he had the Yin-Yang Array Flag and Feng Hanying. "Or, I can ask your leader to teach you some methods to strengthen your body."

The burly old man was an eighth-rank martial artist in his youth, but with no hope of further advancement, he learned some miscellaneous techniques from the grasslands. He had Feng Hanying verify all of these.

A hint of hesitation flashed in Aman's bright black eyes. Although his family was better off than the barefoot boy's, the mother and son were living off their savings because there was no father in the family.

Whether it's gaining some money or learning a way to strengthen their body, it would provide them with more security in their lives.

But... there's something even more important to him.

"Brother Qin, can I choose neither of these? I'd like to ask you for a favor." A-Man crossed her hands, her fingers intertwined.

Curiosity flashed in Qin Ning's eyes: "Tell me."

"I would like to ask you to help me find my elder sister. A year ago, she left with an old nun who was passing through our tribe. Since then, she has been sending us letters and money every month, saying that she has entered into spiritual practice and has even obtained an official position in the city. She said that once she saves up some more money, she can buy Xia people's identities for me and my mother."

"But two months ago... my sister's letters suddenly stopped. My mother and I are very worried about her safety," the boy said anxiously.

Qin Ning: "Did she mention where she was?"

"My sister said that because of her special official position, she had to travel frequently and did not have a fixed residence. However, she once mentioned Kangning County. I asked Miss Feng about it, and she said that place belonged to Beian City."

You told Feng Hanying... then why didn't you ask her for help... oh, she must charge you for it.

Qin Ning: "Do you still have those letters your older sister sent?"