My name is Wei Qing, and I want to fight the Xiongnu.

Can it go down further?

If the price drops to around a few hundred gold, it should be enough to arm the border soldiers on a large scale, right?

It is said that among the Xiongnu barbarians, each warrior possessed at least two mounts that had gained sentience.

This resulted in the human race only being able to defend itself when fighting against the Xiongnu barbarians.

If the human race could also form such an army, I wonder if it could reverse the current situation.

After thinking it over, Wei Qing decided to buy a Flying Cloud Steed first.

Liu Yangxin meant that even if we don't ask for anything too good, there's no need to buy such a common mount.

The Flying Cloud Steed is indeed very fast, but when it encounters a larger beast on its own, it is often so frightened that its hooves go weak, making it unsuitable for riding to dangerous places.

However, it is said that a large number of Flying Cloud Steeds can often run with overwhelming momentum, and even powerful beasts dare not provoke them easily, which is somewhat similar to the legion.

Individual soldiers are usually helpless when they encounter strong opponents, but quantitative changes lead to qualitative changes. With a qualified general in command, they can often turn the tide and defeat those strong opponents.

But Wei Qing still felt that those powerful mounts wouldn't be of much help to him, so he might as well buy a Flying Cloud Steed and ride it; who knows, he might get some unexpected surprises.

And so, Wei Qing purchased the Flying Cloud Steed for five thousand gold coins.

Because they are not of royal blood, even though they can understand human speech, they cannot speak.

Just as they were about to leave, a roar of a strange beast suddenly rang out in the distance!

And one could also faintly hear the girl's panicked screams.

Judging from the sound, it shouldn't be far from here.

What the hell? A monster rampage? Murder?

No way, what a coincidence?

Could it be that I, Wei Qing, am also prone to misfortune wherever I go? That shouldn't be the case!

Upon hearing this, Steward Xiahou's expression shifted between light and dark, but he didn't show any signs of Jiao Lu's anxiety, as if he knew where the problem lay.

"Your Highness and Young Master Wei are too kind. It must have been that bear cub's prank. I'll be right back."

After finishing his sentence, Steward Xiahou mounted his horse and galloped off in the direction from which the girl had screamed.

Wei Qing and Liu Yangxin exchanged a glance, both seeing curiosity in each other's eyes.

what happened?

Wei Qing pulled Liu Yangxin over to a staff member who was explaining something to a customer.

"Honorable guest, there's no need to worry. This little world is home to all sorts of exotic beasts, including a spotted bear cub. Spotted bear cubs are quite attractive, and many young women always want to buy one to keep as a pet."

As it turned out, this bear cub had a rather volatile temper, so whenever this happened, it would summon other strange beasts to scare away the persistent girls. It wasn't that any of these beasts actually ate people.

The beast next to him also complained listlessly, "I don't know why you humans like bear cubs. They're not imposing at all, and they're incredibly lazy. They're good for nothing, but eating is their specialty."

Anyway, you don't need to worry about the monsters here eating people. The appearance of monsters here is recorded, from their wives and children to their ancestors for eighteen generations.

Anyone who dares to eat people will have their wife, children, and elderly parents implicated.

Besides, what's the point of cannibalism? Wouldn't it be better to find a job, get paid, hire a chef at a restaurant to cook for you?

The system of collective punishment, I understand.

These hired beasts are among the more intelligent ones that have gained sentience; some are even capable of speaking human language.

Since they are intelligent beings, they naturally have a concept of family.

Humans provided them with jobs, but to prevent accidents, the entire tribe, young and old, was treated as hostages.

In this way, the beasts will not turn hostile unless absolutely necessary.

..........

I have two things to say. One is that the book will be available this Friday, and the word count will definitely reach 150,000. The other is that the book may be given a title soon, and this title is really too unrealistic.

Chapter 59: The Meatball Who Was Unwilling to Be Ordinary

Wei Qing asked with some curiosity, "If that bear cub doesn't want to be hired, why is it still here?"

Wei Qing was familiar with the Flower Bear, this strange beast.

In its juvenile stage, it is very deceptive, but the adult flower bear is quite powerful and ordinary beasts are no match for it.

Unfortunately, their numbers are relatively small, and coupled with their lazy nature, they are not suitable for conscription.

The strange beast glanced at Wei Qing and said, "Just freeload. Going out is dangerous, and nobody feeds you. Unlike here, even if no humans hire you for the time being, you don't have to worry about three meals a day, and you don't have to worry about encountering danger or being captured and sold by humans or dragons and phoenixes."

Besides, the guys inside are all very talented, and they have such nice words. If it weren't for the fact that we have such a large tribe to feed, we wouldn't want to go out and ride with you humans. It's so much more comfortable here.”

"Does Steward Xiahou really allow that kind of strange beast to freeload here?"

The strange beast said, "It's definitely not allowed, but that bear cub is a special case. When the Xiongnu barbarians invaded the human world, its parents fought against them in Pingyang County and died in battle. So even if it stayed to freeload, no one kicked it out, let alone sold it."

Son of a martyr? Or a fellow villager?

When the fellow sees the fellow, tears well up.

Wei Qing immediately became interested and called Liu Yangxin over to take a look, after all, it was one of the four great joys in life.

Liu Yangxin nodded and summoned Luanfeng. In a short while, he found Steward Xiahou in the phoenix carriage.

Steward Xiahou was holding a small bear cub in one hand, pointing at it and starting to scold: "How many times this month has this happened? Can't there be a limit to pranks? What if you scare people?"

Even if you're not terrified, what if you develop a psychological trauma? Oh no, what if word gets out and we can't do business here anymore? If we don't do business, we won't have money. Who will support you? You're lazy and good-for-nothing all day long, and you're so young but have such a big temper. You even want to fight the Huns to avenge your parents?

If you have the same abilities as your parents, I won't stop you.

But what about you, this fleshy ball lying on the ground with your four legs not even touching the ground?

A day has twelve two-hour periods. You sleep for four hours, eat for seven hours, and spend the last hour lying on the grass sunbathing!

You'd be snatched away by wolf cubs as soon as you reached the Xiongnu territory, so what could you possibly do?

We're telling you to take advantage of your youth and cuteness, find a wealthy family to live with for a couple of years, and save up some money for a wife. This is for your own good.

Look at you, like a bear eating rotten meat—you don't know what's good for you.

To be honest, this bear does look quite cute. It's only about a foot and a half long, and it's really fat, almost like a ball.

When going downhill, if you don't step firmly, you can roll down the slope.

The black and white creature was caught in the air and dared not refute Steward Xiahou's words, looking pitiful.

Wei Qing walked over and looked at Steward Xiahou, saying, "Is this the bear cub?"

When Steward Xiahou saw Wei Qing and Liu Yangxin, he bowed and said, "Young Master Wei, Your Highness, I'm sorry to have made you two laugh."

As soon as Steward Xiahou let go, the bear cub fell directly onto the grass, landing belly-first, its four little legs being too short.

It tried to stand up, but found its front paws were too short, so it simply rolled over and sat down on the grass, saying aggrievedly, "What does this old geezer know? How can you grow up if you don't eat? Only when you grow up will you have the strength to fight. Don't look down on us just because we can't beat anyone now. When we grow up, we can definitely slay eighteen gangs."

Wei Qing grabbed the bear cub by the back of its fur, lifted it up, and asked, "When will you grow up?"

The bear cub, held in the air, didn't struggle, but just kept sniffing: "Sniff sniff sniff, it stinks!"

"Smelly?"

"Stinky blood."

Wei Qing took out the wood-chopping knife, looked at the bear cub, and said, "This stench?"

The bear cub recognized the blood of the Xiongnu barbarians on Wei Qing's sword. It excitedly exclaimed to Wei Qing, "Sniff, sniff! It's this stinky blood! It killed so many big barbarian devils! Boss! From now on, you'll know who our boss is!"

"Boss, take me out here! Let's slay those savage demons together. Don't underestimate us now, brother. Wait a few years, when we're older, and we encounter those demons again, we'll tear a hole through their hearts with one claw. We'll avenge our comrades!"

The bear cubs' aggressive movements, devoid of any majesty, only added to their cuteness.

Some of the girls nearby clenched their fists, practically ready to scream.

Unfortunately, Wei Qing was neither a young girl nor did she have a girlish heart. She shook the panda cub a couple of times and said, "Aren't you afraid of death? You may have the skills, but won't you cower in fear if you encounter the Xiongnu barbarians?"

The bear cub thought Wei Qing's question was stupid: "Of course I'm afraid of dying! Does that mean I won't do it if I'm afraid of dying?"

Does being afraid of death mean you shouldn't do it?

I have to go!

Hearing this answer, Wei Qing smiled with satisfaction.

Fear of death is human nature, and this applies to other intelligent life as well.

The difference is that intelligent life knows how to restrain its desires; "survival" is also a desire.

Life is what I desire; righteousness is also what I desire. If I cannot have both, I will give up life for righteousness.

Wei Qing turned to look at Steward Xiahou and said, "Steward, let me take it away from here."

"But..."

"Once the Flower Bear reaches adulthood, it is considered quite formidable among the beasts; it is not weak at all."

The bear cub jumped up and waved its two little paws, saying in a childish voice, "Yes, yes, when we grow up we'll be really strong, and we'll make those big barbarians cry for their fathers and mothers."

Steward Xiahou was in a dilemma; he was genuinely reluctant to part with it.

Even if you raise a dog, you'll develop feelings for it over time, let alone a strange beast like this.

The bear cubs have been here for five or six years now, and Steward Xiahou has watched them grow up.

Therefore, if possible, Steward Xiahou still hopes that it can stay with a wealthy family and live a peaceful life, rather than risking its life with someone like Wei Qing who is a killer.

However, in the end, Steward Xiahou did not refuse.

According to regulations, once an agreement is reached between the employer and the employee, the employer has no right to stop it.

The beasts in the mercenary market are there to work; they are not their personal possessions.

Well, as they say, children and grandchildren have their own blessings, let alone a strange beast that has nothing to do with me.

Steward Xiahou waved his hand, which was taken as a nod of agreement.

And so, a black and white fleshy ball appeared behind Wei Qing.

Stepping onto the phoenix palanquin, Liu Yangxin asked Wei Qing, "Should we take it to the Imperial Academy or leave it in Yangxin Prefecture? I've heard that bear cubs spend a lot of time eating and sleeping every day, which is a way for them to grow quickly. It wouldn't be very convenient to take it to the Imperial Academy, so it would be better to leave it in Yangxin Prefecture for now. Besides, if we really take it to the Imperial Academy, it won't be of any help and could easily become a burden."