Chapter 8

"Does the venerable father-in-law really intend to offend the head of the Dugu family for this person? Just because of a few insightful words?"

On the Wuchuan Tower in the distance, Li Yuan asked his father-in-law Dou Qing in a puzzled whisper.

Dou Qing gazed far into the distance at Zhang Xuan, who was practicing sword techniques with Wang Boyang on the training ground. He smiled and shook his head, "I am not favoring him just because of a few insightful words. I actually admire his courage."

"Courage?" Li Yuan's eyes became even more puzzled.

Dou Qing smiled faintly, "If I am not mistaken, Li Mi was killed by this person!"

Li Yuan was greatly surprised, "How could that be?"

Dou Qing glanced at Li Yuan, "My son-in-law, don't forget that I have people in Yuwen Shu's army. I received news that one person escaped from the battlefield where Yang Xuangan was ambushed. This person is the one who killed Li Mi, and I believe it is this Zhang Xuan."

"Since that's the case... why does the head of the association still want to use him?"

"Perhaps because he helped me solve a problem!"

Dou Qing sighed lightly, "I have long discovered Li Mi's wolfish ambitions. I fundamentally disagreed with sending Li Mi to Wagang, but Dugu Shun insisted, and I had no choice. Fortunately, Li Mi died in time, removing a thorn from my heart. However, the person who killed Li Mi is no ordinary individual!"

Li Yuan felt a heavy weight in his heart. He forced a smile to hide his inner unease.

"Killing Li Mi and daring to come and report it, it seems this person has some courage. Why doesn't the venerable father-in-law let him go to Wagang with Jiancheng?"

Dou Qing slowly shook his head, "Wagang is a secret of the Wuchuan Prefecture, and I cannot let him participate for now. Moreover, I need to observe him further. If he truly satisfies me, perhaps I will find a way to arrange for him to do something significant."

"Can't you see? He has an unusual obsession with martial arts."

Dou Qing muttered to himself, "Perhaps I will help him achieve his goals!"

Li Yuan looked at Zhang Xuan, who was humbly seeking guidance in the distance. His mind was a blur, and he could not fully understand his father-in-law's profound words.

...

Zhang Xuan lived in a small courtyard on the eastern side. This was a guest room in Wang Boyang's home, and only Zhang Xuan lived there.

The room was simply furnished. A bed that had been used for over a decade was placed in the center, still very sturdy. The bed was covered with new fine hemp bedding and a bamboo pillow. Beside the bed was a shiny bamboo chest, and in the corner was a table and a sitting couch.

At that moment, Zhang Xuan stood by the window, lost in thought as he gazed at a ginkgo tree in the distance, which was laden with white fruits. A few bare-bottomed children from the next door were climbing the tree, using bamboo poles to knock down the golden fruits.

Zhang Xuan seemed to see nothing, appearing somewhat restless. He was still reflecting on what Wang Boyang had said at the Wuchuan Prefecture about the foundations, muscle transformation, and bone washing, up to the point of great accomplishment. He now understood how far away he was from reaching Yuwen Chengdu's level.

Not to mention Yuwen Chengdu, even Wang Boyang's martial arts seemed to belong to another world.

Zhang Xuan had been passionate about martial arts since childhood. At the age of six, he was selected for a youth martial arts class and followed his teacher to learn from various masters. He had a natural obsession with martial arts.

At eighteen, he joined the army, and his solid martial arts foundation made him stand out to the special forces instructor. From then on, he underwent two years of brutal training. Two years ago, he was sent to the Army Academy for further studies, but even during his studies, he had an extraordinary love for martial arts, as if it was a natural talent.

Finding himself in the late Sui Dynasty, his first thought was to learn martial arts. After all, in the chaotic era of the late Sui, strength was the truth. He lacked the literary skills to become a civil official or strategist, so he had to choose the path of martial arts.

Moreover, this era had Li Yuanba, Yuwen Chengdu, Pei Yuanqing, Luo Cheng, Qin Qiong, and many other mighty generals who would appear before him. A few days ago, he had dreamed of becoming one of them, but now... he felt a bit hopeless.

Wang Boyang had tactfully explained the difference between martial skills and martial arts to him. Martial skills were just techniques and moves, while martial arts were about strength.

At 1.9 meters tall, he could not wield a 50-pound spear, while Wang Boyang, who was half a head shorter, could use a 60-pound spear, let alone Yuwen Chengdu's 200-pound Phoenix Wing Gold Halberd.

He had underestimated the martial arts of this era.

At that moment, a small, round head appeared at the door, smiling at Zhang Xuan, "Uncle Zhang, Father sent me to give you a sword and a sword manual."

The little boy ran in, placed a sword and a scroll on the table, and pulled out a porcelain bottle from his pocket, "And this!"

Zhang Xuan curiously took the bottle and opened it. Inside were ten red pills, the size of grapes, with a fragrant aroma.

"What is this?"

"These are Foundation Building Pills, our Wang family's secret medicine. I am taking them too, hehe! But you can only take one a day. Once, I took two and almost burned to death."

Zhang Xuan patted his little head and smiled, "I don't even know your name! What's your name?"

"I am Wang Yuanzhi. Father says a man should have lofty aspirations, but Mother always calls me Xiaowulang. What's so small about me?" The little boy pouted,不服气地说道.

Zhang Xuan couldn't help but laugh, patting his back, "Being called Xiaowulang isn't bad. Where is your father?"

"My father went out. I heard him tell Mother he was going to buy some water jars and would be away for a few years. Mother cried."

Zhang Xuan was stunned. He immediately understood that it wasn't water jars but the Wagang stronghold. Historically, Wang Boyang had followed Li Mi to Wagang.

But... Li Mi was killed by him! Why was Wang Boyang still going to Wagang? He was truly puzzled.

Although Zhang Xuan knew from the beginning that Li Mi would become the leader of Wagang, he did not want to follow Li Mi because he knew Li Mi would ultimately fail. More importantly, Li Mi had been plotting to eliminate him from the start. Following Li Mi would mean certain death.

Since he knew the history of the late Sui Dynasty, infiltrating Li Yuan's camp in advance seemed to be the wise choice. However...

Zhang Xuan thought about martial arts again. He had initially believed that his special forces training and the strategic knowledge he learned at the military academy were his strongest assets. But now, he realized that his martial arts were not even considered top-notch in this era. What could he use to attract Li Yuan? Would the people of the Sui Dynasty understand the strategic knowledge from his time?

Zhang Xuan was startled out of his thoughts and found that the little boy had already run off.

Zhang Xuan picked up the sword on the table, the same one he had used to practice with Wang Boyang in the afternoon. It was a Sui army saber, very suitable for him. He couldn't help but think about what Wang Boyang had said.

"You don't need to be discouraged. With your height and strong build, your tendons and muscles are not inferior to mine. This is your natural talent. As long as you can draw out the energy from your dantian, I believe your achievements will far surpass mine. You are a late bloomer."

A surge of passion welled up in Zhang Xuan, and he began to regain confidence.

Zhang Xuan picked up the scroll and slowly unrolled it. His heart began to race. The yellowed silk inside was filled with vivid illustrations of a person practicing sword techniques, a total of eighteen images, each with a few lines of explanatory text.

Zhang Xuan flipped to the end and saw a note from Wang Boyang.

"This is the Wang family's Foundation Building Sword Technique. There are many types of foundation building methods, each with its own strengths. The Wang family uses sword techniques as the entry point, supplemented by medicine, and can achieve success in a year. Although you are past the age for foundation building, your natural talent may be different from ordinary people..."

Zhang Xuan took a pill from the bottle, held it in his palm, and gazed at it. The red pill glowed strangely in the light. Without hesitation, he put the pill in his mouth, chewed it, and swallowed it.

Zhang Xuan stared at the first image for a long time, then closed his eyes and meditated. Suddenly, he felt a surge of heat in his chest and abdomen. He let out a low cry and swung the bright saber with a swift motion.

...

Zhang Xuan, exhausted, sat down on the steps, drenched in sweat. An hour earlier, he had practiced the sword technique Wang Boyang had given him like a madman.

The pill had made his internal organs feel as if they were burning. Even dousing himself with well water did not help. Only by practicing the sword technique Wang Boyang had taught him did he find a way to release the heat, exhausting himself completely.

Zhang Xuan panted heavily, his body aching, and he no longer had the strength to hold the sword. At that moment, Wang Boyang's son, Wang Yuanzhi, sat beside him, looking at him sympathetically, "It's really hard, isn't it?"

Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly and patted his head, "How do you endure it?"

"I take off my clothes. If it gets too hot, I drink some medicine, and it feels much better."

"What medicine?" Zhang Xuan asked urgently, suspecting that Wang Boyang had forgotten to give him another medicine.

"It's a green liquid, very hard to drink, like a puppy's urine. I refused to drink it, so Father pinched my nose and forced it down. But after drinking it, I no longer felt hot."

Zhang Xuan thought for a moment. Wang Boyang had not told him to take the medicine today, and he had taken it on his own. Perhaps Wang Boyang had run out of the medicine. If that was the case, he had made a big mistake.

"Brother Zhang, you don't need to take the Loosening Powder!" Wang Boyang's voice came from the courtyard entrance.

Zhang Xuan looked up and saw Wang Boyang standing at the gate, smiling at him. "Father!" Wang Yuanzhi quickly ran over.

Wang Boyang lovingly patted his son's head and walked over to Zhang Xuan, smiling, "Because the child is too young and cannot withstand the intense heat, I gave him the Loosening Powder, which greatly affects