Chapter 12

Huh! Huh! Huh!

On the training ground, Yuan Fang punched out like the wind, diligently practicing the Tiger Step Fist that Zhu Ling had taught him.

With each punch, he moved the large muscles in his body, and Yuan Fang felt his body growing stronger and more powerful every day.

Holding his breath, he pressed his fists to his abdomen and then thrust both fists forward in a move called "Tiger Pouncing on Sheep," exhaling forcefully as he did so, producing a roar like a tiger.

The two fists shot out and struck the two-inch-thick wooden board in front of him. With a "crack," the board split into two pieces.

This board was made of hard chestnut wood, which Yuan Fang had specifically found to test his strength.

"Hmm, this Tiger Step Fist is indeed a fine boxing technique. I've only been practicing it for a month, and my strength has increased so much. With my current strength, even if I were to fight Yuan Xi again, I would surely win..."

After breaking the wooden board with his fists, Yuan Fang looked at his hands and his increasingly solid body, closed his eyes, and felt a deep sense of joy.

He focused on the sensation in his limbs, waist, abdomen, chest, and back, and casually performed a few moves from the Tiger Step Fist. Yuan Fang discovered that each movement seemed to connect all the large muscles in his body.

Each punch could channel the strength of his entire body.

Yuan Fang did not stop, continuing to practice the Tiger Step Fist, making the most of every minute to improve his martial arts.

After an hour, Yuan Fang was drenched in sweat, panting like a bull, and finally had to stop.

"Master, don't overwork yourself. Come in and rest. I have already prepared a pot of mutton as you requested."

At the edge of the training ground, Xiao Cha looked at the sweating master with concern.

Yuan Fang, feeling exhausted, dragged his tired body back to the central tent, where the rich aroma of meat greeted him.

"Master, eat while it's hot." Xiao Cha placed a large bowl of mutton in front of him.

Yuan Fang sat down and began to eat voraciously, as if he hadn't eaten for days.

According to Zhu Ling, martial arts practice must be gradual. Two hours a day was the limit, and one should not overdo it to avoid damaging the body.

However, Yuan Fang could not afford to waste time. His body had been idle for twenty years, and he needed to make up for the lost time and improve his martial arts as quickly as possible.

Therefore, he practiced like a man possessed, at least four hours a day.

Such intense training was extremely hard on the body, but fortunately, Yuan Fang's body had an extraordinary self-repairing ability, allowing it to recover quickly from any damage.

It was this ability that allowed Yuan Fang to practice martial arts in a near "self-mutilating" manner.

However, this self-repairing ability did not come without a cost. Each repair consumed a significant amount of energy, which is why Yuan Fang felt hungrier than the average person and needed to eat a large amount of food, especially meat, to replenish his energy.

Before long, the entire pot of mutton, including the broth, was devoured by Yuan Fang.

Xiao Cha looked at the empty pot in amazement, knowing that it was enough for at least three people, yet Yuan Fang had finished it all by himself.

"Master, your appetite has become unusually large over the past month..."

While Xiao Cha was still amazed, Yuan Fang had already stood up and walked out of the tent with large strides.

After eating the pot of mutton, Yuan Fang's strength was quickly restored, and he felt no fatigue, ready to practice his boxing again.

"Since Master's legs were healed, he seems to have changed into a different person."

Watching the young master practicing his boxing, Xiao Cha's eyes, filled with surprise, also showed a hint of relief and admiration.

Just as he finished a set of boxing, Hao Zhao hurried over, his face showing a hint of excitement.

"Master, there is news from Ye City. The third prince suffered a defeat in Shangdang at the hands of the Black Mountain Bandits led by Zhang Yan, losing the first battle." Hao Zhao whispered.

"Let's go inside and talk." Yuan Fang was not particularly surprised, stopped his practice, and calmly returned to the tent.

Hao Zhao followed and detailed the process of Yuan Xi's defeat.

It turned out that Yuan Xi, relying on his well-equipped and well-fed troops, wanted to quickly capture Bing Province. He launched a large-scale attack on Shangdang, where the Black Mountain Bandits were based, just a few days after his troops set out.

However, Yuan Xi's blind advance led to his defeat. Zhang Yan, with only seven hundred cavalry, outflanked him and inflicted a major defeat, costing Yuan Xi over three thousand soldiers.

"They underestimated the Black Mountain Bandits, thinking they were just a bunch of remnants from the Yellow Turban Rebellion. Zhang Yan is not someone to be taken lightly," Yuan Fang said with a cold smile.

Hao Zhao, seeing that Yuan Fang was not surprised at all, as if he had anticipated Yuan Xi's defeat, felt a deep admiration for Yuan Fang's foresight.

In fact, Yuan Fang had indeed foreseen Yuan Xi's defeat.

Yuan Fang knew from history that the Black Mountain Bandits were not easily defeated even when Yuan Shao took control of the four provinces of Hebei. It was only after Cao Cao conquered Hebei that Zhang Yan surrendered with the Black Mountain Bandits.

Such a formidable force would be difficult for even Yuan Shao to handle, let alone Yuan Xi.

"Yuan Shao, you thought it would be easy for Yuan Xi to take Bing Province, thinking the Black Mountain Bandits were easy prey. Now you must be regretting it..."

Yuan Fang sneered inwardly and immediately ordered increased vigilance along the Geling line, closely monitoring any suspicious individuals.

Yuan Fang estimated that with Yuan Xi's defeat, he would likely try to sabotage him.

Hao Zhao, following the order, increased the number of personnel and set up checkpoints on all major roads, closely inspecting any passersby, especially those coming from Ye City and heading to Pingyuan County.

On the evening of the fourth day, while Yuan Fang was practicing, Hao Zhao hurried over again, reporting that he had intercepted a suspicious individual while patrolling the checkpoint.

"Who is this suspicious individual?" Yuan Fang asked curiously.

"This person is named Guo Huai, and he serves as the Prefect of the Wei Commandery. According to my knowledge, he is one of the first prince's men," Hao Zhao said with certainty.

Guo Huai!

A name that, while not as famous as some, still evoked many historical memories for Yuan Fang.

If Yuan Fang's memory served him correctly, this person later served as the Governor of Liang Province in the Wei Kingdom during the late Three Kingdoms period, successfully repelling several invasions by the Shu Kingdom, making him a formidable general.

At this time, however, Guo Huai, like Hao Zhao, had not yet made a name for himself and was only a minor official.

"Are you sure this Guo Huai is one of Yuan Tan's men?" Yuan Fang asked.

Hao Zhao nodded emphatically. "I have a photographic memory, and I can guarantee that this Guo Huai is indeed one of the first prince's men."

Yuan Fang nodded slightly, his fingers gently stroking his chin, a look of suspicion in his eyes.

As the Prefect of the Wei Commandery and one of Yuan Tan's men, Guo Huai's presence in Qinghe and his intention to travel east were indeed suspicious.

Yuan Fang quickly connected the dots, suspecting that Guo Huai's appearance likely involved some plot by Yuan Tan.

After a moment of contemplation, Yuan Fang said with a cold smile, "Bring this Guo Huai in. Be a bit more polite; I want to have a good talk with him."

Hao Zhao bowed and left, returning shortly with Guo Huai.

Yuan Fang sized him up, noting that Guo Huai was a few years older than himself, with a very composed demeanor and a hint of maturity in his features.

"Your subordinate greets the second prince," Guo Huai said respectfully, bowing.

Yuan Fang nodded and gestured for Guo Huai to be seated. Once he was seated, Yuan Fang asked, "Guo Boji, as I understand it, you are the Prefect of the Wei Commandery. Why are you here in Qinghe?"

"Indeed, recently the Yellow Turban rebels have resurfaced in Qing Province, and their numbers are considerable. I have been ordered to investigate the situation in Qing Province," Guo Huai answered promptly.

Qing Province was vast, with its western counties controlled by Gongsun Zan and its eastern counties, including Beihai, governed by the imperial-appointed Inspector Jiao He. Guo Huai's reason seemed plausible.

If Yuan Fang did not know that Guo Huai was one of Yuan Tan's men, he might have believed it. However, now, no matter how reasonable Guo Huai's explanation, Yuan Fang would not be convinced.

"Your subordinate has been given an important mission and must hurry to Qing Province. If the second prince has no further instructions, I will take my leave," Guo Huai said, rising to take his leave.

After a moment of thought, Yuan Fang had made up his mind.

"There's no rush to go to Qing Province. What's the hurry? I have long heard of your talents, Guo Boji. Since we have met by chance today, we should have a few drinks and discuss the affairs of the world."

Without waiting for Guo Huai's response, Yuan Fang laughed and ordered, "Bring wine quickly. I want to have a long conversation with Guo Boji over drinks."

Guo Huai's brow furrowed slightly.

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