Chapter 39

"Liu Wenpeng..."

Wang Wu sneered, almost grinding his teeth.

From his fragmented words, Yang Yu learned what had happened when Wang Wu met Liu Wenpeng.

It was nothing more than the usual lack of funds, supplies, and manpower for the anti-bandit campaign.

But...

"Why did you take on this arduous task of anti-banditry, Sir?"

Yang Yu was somewhat puzzled.

The Ming Dynasty's control over local areas only extended to the county level, with most villages under the control of clan autonomy. The stronger bandits often hid deep in the mountains.

The weaker ones mostly hid in the villages, becoming civilians during farming seasons and bandits during idle times, making the anti-bandit campaign extremely difficult, beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

Especially since Liu Wenpeng, under the pretext of searching for his son, provided no rations or pay, and even no compensation for those who died.

Such a harsh task would not be taken on unless there was no other choice.

"Do you think the Lian Sheng Sect only has influence in the outer city?"

Wang Wu sneered.

"The villages are the most severely affected by the Lian Sheng Sect. If the bandit problem is not resolved, once the Lian Sheng Sect acts, Black Mountain will be overturned in an instant!"

"Is it just for the Lian Sheng Sect?"

Yang Yu's eyes flickered, half-believing, half-doubting.

Putting himself in Wang Wu's shoes, if he were the head of the constabulary, encountering a county magistrate like Liu Wenpeng, it would be a great feat just not to quit.

It would be even more impossible to take on such an anti-bandit task.

Especially since Wang Wu was not the head of the constabulary in Black Mountain County, and Liu Wenpeng had no authority over him. Under such harsh conditions, he should not have agreed to it.

Are there really selfless people in this world?

"There are other reasons, of course. But you..."

Wang Wu glanced at Yang Yu, patted his belly, and stopped talking.

"What other reasons could there be?"

Yang Yu's mind raced, with a faint sense of worry.

The Lian Sheng Sect had deep roots, infiltrating both the inner and outer cities. It was not surprising that many small gentry like the Yang family had defected.

What he was most worried about, however, was this Liu Magistrate.

From what he had seen and heard over the past year, he did not believe that this Liu Magistrate had any principles or bottom line. If the Lian Sheng Sect offered enough, it was not impossible for him to defect.

If he also defected to the Lian Sheng Sect...

At this thought, Yang Yu felt a great sense of urgency, feeling the storm was about to come, making it hard for him to breathe.

"Clap~"

Wang Wu patted his belly: "What, are we just going to stand here and talk?"

"Sir, you haven't eaten yet, have you? Why don't we eat while we talk?"

Yang Yu came to his senses and pointed to a nearby tavern.

Liu Wenpeng was so stingy that it was unbearable. Giving some fruits was already a great effort, and he certainly would not keep everyone for a meal.

It was already midday, and both of them were indeed hungry.

As soon as they entered the tavern, Yang Yu regretted it. He suddenly remembered that this Head Constable Wang Wu had an incredibly large appetite.

But it was too late to regret it now, so he had to tough it out and order a large table of food and drinks.

Watching Wang Wu devour enough food and meat to satisfy seven or eight strong men, he was still somewhat amazed.

"Sir, your appetite is truly astonishing."

Yang Yu's mouth twitched, and he put down his chopsticks.

For martial artists, having an appetite two or three times that of ordinary people was normal, and he was no exception.

But Wang Wu's appetite was ten times greater than his.

"Martial artists naturally have a larger appetite. For those who have undergone blood replacement, their qi and blood are like that of an ox, and their arms can lift a thousand catties. If their diet does not keep up, their qi and blood will eventually be depleted."

Taking advantage of the break between courses, Wang Wu picked his teeth and said:

"The external hard qigong you practice does not increase strength, but if you can circulate your qi and blood throughout your body, you won't laugh at my large appetite!"

"Qi and blood like an ox?"

Yang Yu's eyes brightened: "The Five Foundations of Cultivation?!"

In the "Old Mother's Breath Control Record," there were a few words mentioning that "qi and blood like an ox" belonged to the so-called "Five Foundations of Cultivation."

"Qi and blood like an ox, like a tiger, like an elephant, like a dragon, like a furnace. These are the commonly mentioned Five Foundations of Cultivation."

After eating and drinking to his heart's content, Wang Wu's mood improved. While thinking about the anti-bandit campaign, he casually said:

"The so-called thirteen blood replacements and five foundations of cultivation. What, did your teacher never tell you?"

Thirteen blood replacements, five foundations of cultivation?

So that's what it's called.

Yang Yu's heart stirred, and he thought of the recipe in the Cauldron of Gluttony.

He remembered that the recipe was called "Nine Oxen and Two Tigers"!

"Enough, enough, if you have more questions, ask your teacher. I've said enough to you."

Seeing that Yang Yu seemed to have more questions, Wang Wu waved his hand impatiently:

"Go back and prepare. We will leave the city for the anti-bandit campaign in seven days. Don't be late."

The anti-bandit campaign was never simple, especially in a place as complex as Black Mountain. Intelligence, maps, and other preparations had to be made.

Seven days of preparation was already very tight.

"I must hurry..."

After bidding farewell to Wang Wu, Yang Yu muttered to himself.

He did not go home directly but turned to the blacksmith's shop. An hour later, he returned home with a large bag.

Seeing his hurried appearance, Grandma Yang was worried. Yang Yu comforted her a few times, and the old woman finally relaxed, bringing him some food.

In fact, she had noticed the changes in Yang Yu over the past few months.

He had grown taller and stronger, standing tall and robust, exuding a vibrant energy.

Because of these changes, she had suppressed her worries and watched Yang Yu soak in the large tub every day.

After a quick meal, Yang Yu returned to his room, closed the windows and doors, and carefully took out a cloth bag from his chest.

"This cost me a lot..."

Yang Yu's eyes were full of pain.

This bag of gold beads had used up all his two gold ingots.

If it weren't for the sudden anti-bandit campaign, he would never have melted his hard-earned two gold ingots.

Gold, silver, and copper could be called upon, but gold was the most valuable, followed by silver, and copper was the least valuable.

One tael of silver was worth a thousand coins, which was the official price, but in reality, due to the widespread private minting, copper coins had severely depreciated.

It often took two or three thousand coins to exchange for one tael of silver.

Gold was similarly overpriced.

The gold he had just received was gone before it even warmed up. How could Yang Yu not feel heartache?

"I hope it's worth the gold."

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he placed the gold beads within reach, then slowly closed his eyes and entered the Cauldron of Gluttony.

He reached out and grasped the large executioner's sword.

With the decades of sword techniques passed down from his grandfather, and the perfect fit of the decapitation sword technique during the refinement process, Yang Yu's progress was much faster than with other ingredients.

However, due to the insufficient energy storage in the Cauldron of Gluttony, it had held him back.

By his estimation, relying solely on the iron beads he consumed daily, it would take him at least two months to completely refine the large executioner's sword.

"Seven days..."

For the next seven days, Yang Yu put aside all other matters and returned to his reclusive state.

Even the stove for boiling medicinal liquid burned continuously for seven days.

Finally, after eating all the gold beads and the medicinal herbs at home, on the seventh day, Yang Yu completely refined the large executioner's sword.