Chapter 38. The Twelve Generals Strategy Guide

While staying at the Black Cat Hall, I trained my subordinates rigorously every day without fail. I did not expect their skills to improve immediately. I only hoped that their mental state would become that of a demon, a devil, a demon, an elite, or a demon hunter.

Their misconception was that I would overlook their mistakes to some extent. I had no intention of doing so from the beginning.

The name "Black Dao" implies that one has committed abnormal acts. In the spirit of atonement, I practiced, the officers practiced, and the subordinates repeated training that felt like their bodies would shatter. I was no exception.

External cultivation is inherently painful, just like life itself is inherently painful.

I often trained my body with my subordinates. When the leader personally trains, how can any subordinate dare to complain?

I thoroughly immersed myself in the Black Dao through this method. Whether I was originally the leader of the Xiaowen Sect, the leader of the Black Cat Hall, a waiter, or a training instructor, I was so engrossed in practice that I could hardly remember.

We are the scum who, in order to kill the mad monkeys of the Great Demon Sect and the Black Line Hall, spend our days eating and defecating, and practicing martial arts.

After finally finishing the morning training and resting in the main hall, the long-absent Chief Bi approached me with a stack of documents.

"Lord, I have something to report."

I looked at the stack of documents in Chief Bi's hand and replied.

"Why so many?"

"I will explain."

Chief Bi sat down and explained the documents. In summary, they were neatly organized records of financial transactions, personnel status, and business conditions. However, I was not particularly interested.

When would I have the time to look at these?

But to comfort Chief Bi's efforts, I showered him with praise.

"Truly remarkable. Our Chief Bi is a genius, a strategist, an administrator, and a logistics expert of the Black Cat Hall. You are so talented that you could even serve as a logistics officer in an army. We should add that position to your title. It's a waste to let such talent go to waste as just a chief."

I exaggerated as much as I could.

After a few casual compliments, Chief Bi's face was beaming with joy. I was also taken aback by his reaction.

"Thank you, Lord. I was able to organize everything happily because you exempted me from physical training."

I nodded.

"Hmm, so that was it..."

But Chief Bi had something else to report.

"Please take a look at this. I summarized it into a single volume with great care."

I opened the book Chief Bi handed me and was genuinely surprised. The title alone was extraordinary.

"The Twelve Generals Strategy Guide (攻掠集)"

"..."

A "集" (collection) usually refers to a book of poems or essays. Thus, the title implies that it contains useful information, methods, and recommended strategies for dealing with the Twelve Generals. I read the strategy guide with a serious expression and was repeatedly impressed. It wasn't just text; there were also detailed illustrations, making it as well-crafted as the secret manuals of famous martial arts sects.

"Chief Bi, your drawing skills are truly remarkable."

Chief Bi explained the strategy guide with a pleased expression.

"I thought you might be curious about the Twelve Generals' physiques, the appearance of their masks, and the characteristics of their martial arts and weapons, so I compiled all the information I knew and included illustrations. It would have taken a long time to write only text, but since my hobby is drawing, I didn't have much difficulty organizing it."

While listening to Chief Bi, I read through the strategy guide. The Twelve Generals were depicted like the generals in "Water Margin" or "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," and their weapons, martial arts, and personalities were described in detail.

I have a lot of information, but since the Twelve Generals were not closely intertwined with me in my previous life, there was quite a bit I didn't know. In particular, I didn't know that Hong Shen (Red Monkey) was a woman.

"Hong Shen is a woman?"

"Yes, as I organized, she hasn't been able to correct her thieving habits and is still stealing somewhere. Hong Shen is a special disciple who steals items for the Great Demon Sect and learns martial arts in exchange for the commission. She is a general who focuses solely on lightness techniques, and Lord, you should be cautious. Although she ranks lower than you, no general underestimates her lightness skills."

"So, she's very fast?"

"Occasionally, there are geniuses in a particular field. It seems Hong Shen is a natural talent in lightness techniques."

At this moment, as Xiao Junping poked his head into the main hall, I said,

"Xiao Chief, you will oversee the afternoon training. I will listen to the music here."

Xiao Junping replied,

"Understood."

After Xiao Junping closed the main hall door and left, Chief Bi said,

"Lord, I will speak out of turn."

"Go ahead."

"It seems we are finally seeing a Black Dao that truly resembles the Black Dao. I have been working happily recently."

I chuckled inwardly and replied,

"Indeed, Chief Bi is excellent. Today, I will thoroughly study this strategy guide. By the way, is the information on the Great Demon Sect also organized like this?"

Chief Bi replied with a proud expression,

"The leader usually organizes it at the end. It's at the end."

"Indeed, the leader is at the end. Good. I will grant you a gold ingot. Twice the amount Xiao Junping received."

"Thank you, Lord. I didn't organize it to receive such money, but I will use it for household expenses."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chief Bi and I burst into laughter.

"Ha ha ha ha..."

I never expected the Black Cat Hall to have such talent. Such talent should be actively utilized. After finishing the document organization, I gave Chief Bi his next assignment. Since it was a very important matter, my tone naturally became serious.

"Chief Bi, I have a task for you."

"I will listen."

"I am a man with great ambitions. Chief Bi, you are like Zhuge Liang to Liu Bei, Guo Jia to Cao Cao, and Lu Su to Wu. You are truly outstanding."

Chief Bi bowed and replied,

"You flatter me."

"Spending money is not a problem. Hire more people to gather information, then organize the current status of the forces surrounding our Black Cat Hall, a map of the forces, a list of key experts, and their characteristics. Furthermore, organize a grand strategy for me to become the dominant force in the region. The key is to organize it freely. There's no need to strictly follow any format or structure. Write freely and draw freely. I will make the judgment. I am not a man who believes in information definitively, but your skills will be a great help."

Even after I finished speaking, Chief Bi did not immediately respond, still smiling.

"Why are you smiling again?"

In response to my question, Chief Bi finally replied with a proud expression,

"I am already preparing it."

I let out a sigh of admiration, as if I had just had a drink, and clapped.

"Good. That's enough for today. Oh, when hiring people—"

"Yes."

"Bring them from Yiliang County. There are many idle people there."

That's why one's hometown is always a problem.

"I have that much flexibility. I will do so. I will report back soon."

After Chief Bi left, Lady Sun, who had been waiting nearby, spoke with a tense tone.

"Lord, this is Lady Sun."

"Yes, what is it, our Lady Sun, the beautiful and eloquent Lady Sun?"

"There is a masked person outside looking for you, Lord."

"What kind of mask?"

At this moment, the main hall door opened, and Xiao Junping, who had come to report, said,

"Lord, Hong Shen (Red Monkey) has come to see you."

"Understood. I will go out soon."

Before leaving the main hall, I quickly skimmed through the Hong Shen section of the strategy guide.

- Obsessed with lightness techniques

- Known to have a pathological stealing habit. Estimated to have considerable wealth.

- Became a disciple later and quickly rose in rank by defeating some generals.

- When in a disadvantage, uses lightness techniques to escape and claims a draw.

- Rumored to have accumulated internal energy quickly by stealing medicinal herbs.

- Contracted with the Great Demon Sect master to receive desired martial arts manuals in exchange for stealing items.

- Estimated to have lightness skills on par with the Four Generals.

I slowly closed the strategy guide with a cold smile.

"Strategy guide memorized."

Indeed, there was no element of defeat for me.

* * *

I looked at Hong Shen, who had boldly come alone to the dais.

Hong Shen was wearing martial arts clothing with a red hue, topped with a thin outer garment. Of course, she wore a monkey-shaped mask, so it was impossible to tell if her actual face was as ugly as a monkey.

However, the curves of her body and her hips revealed that she was a woman.

Hong Shen spoke in a stiff tone from behind the mask.

"Senior Miao, how are you?"

I replied without much thought, following the strategy guide.

"Thief, it's been a while."

"Excuse me? Calling me a thief is very unpleasant."

This didn't work. I briefly put my hand inside the mask and scratched my chin.

"I've been tired from training lately, so my words came out wrong. Understand."

In any case, from her sharp tone alone, I could easily tell that Hong Shen was a woman with many desires, a strong competitive spirit, and a closed-off heart.

"By the way, did you come to challenge me?"

"I came to pay my respects. Why? Are you afraid I might challenge you?"

I tilted my head.

"Afraid?"

Hong Shen spoke confidently.

"You will soon face the foul-tempered Senior Bai Yu, so it's understandable to be afraid. If you give me a generous allowance like last time, I will leave today."

I realized that Hong Shen's method of extorting money was very strategic. She seemed to know that I shouldn't overexert myself before the battle with Bai Yu.

"..."

The idea of a junior extorting money from a senior is absurd. The Black Dao is indeed a mess.

Hong Shen crossed her arms and said,

"After all, Senior Miao and I are of similar strength. You will soon face Senior Bai Yu, and if you get injured fighting me, the Four Generals will be in trouble again. Isn't that right?"

"Are you broke? Why are you so focused on money?"

"You are being too harsh today. Well, I guess I will have to properly challenge you today."

Hong Shen arrogantly clasped her hands together, making a cracking sound from her knuckles.

"Are you ready?"

"Junior, how much did you find out?"

At my question, Hong Shen's tone changed instantly.

"Well, Senior Miao does make a lot of money..."

"Is this how you extort money from your seniors?"

Hong Shen tilted her head and said,

"Senior Miao, your tone is really unpleasant today. Your voice sounds unfamiliar too."

I blurted out,

"I recently learned a Yang martial art, and I couldn't control the internal energy, which damaged my throat and caused a fever. That's why my voice is like this."

"Is that so?"

Indeed, this woman was remarkable. Only her eyes were visible behind the mask, but they were smiling. She seemed pleased to hear that I was injured.

Hong Shen suddenly changed her stance.

"Since I came all this way, I have to challenge you. If you don't want to, I will take thirty silver ingots. I won't bother you for a while. You know I can't be caught by your subordinates, no matter what orders you give them."

I chuckled and relaxed the muscles around my mouth.

"Junior Monkey, how did you interpret my words? About learning a Yang martial art?"

"What does it matter? Master said to use any means to become stronger. I congratulate you on learning a new martial art."

"The Yang martial art I learned is literally fire. It can engulf anything it touches. Your thin outer garment and your tight red martial arts clothing will burn, revealing your naked body. It will be a spectacle for my subordinates. You dare to challenge me? Is that right?"

At the threat of burning all her clothes if she challenged me, Hong Shen glared at me for a while before saying,

"What do you want?"

The nearby subordinates also looked at me with hopeful eyes.

'What are you going to do? We will cheer for you.'