Ye Yujian rubbed his head and muttered softly, "It’s so unfair. The heir of Prince Xiao’s Mansion probably isn’t as talented as Brother Xiao, but just because of his high birth, he gets to push Brother Xiao out."
"You’re still talking?" Zhao Wei raised his hand.
"That’s enough." Xiao Mo waved his hand dismissively, smiling with the air of a big brother. "It’s nothing that can’t be said. We just need to do our work and not worry about others. Do you all understand?"
"Yes, Brother Xiao!" the group responded in unison.
"Alright, let’s get so sleep. We have to wake up early for training tomorrow," Xiao Mo said.
"Alright, Brother Xiao."
Everyone returned to their beds. The candle was blown out, and the bright moonlight spilled through the window, illuminating each of their faces.
The simple life in the barracks, combined with the day’s training, had them falling asleep the mont their heads hit their pillows.
But Xiao Mo didn’t fall asleep so quickly.
Lying on his bed, Xiao Mo thought to himself, ’Even though we had a bit of friction at the start, it wasn’t a big deal. Their characters are actually pretty decent.’
’After we part ways in seven years, when they enter the main army or beco court officials, they could be useful contacts.’
’Of course, the most important thing is...’
’...that everyone, including myself, can survive until then.’
The next morning, as a horn sounded, everyone shot out of bed like arrows loosed from a bow.
Imdiately after, Xiao Mo heard Master Chang shouting from outside the Twelve Earthly Branches’ barracks, "Thirty, twenty-nine, twenty-eight, twenty-seven..."
To the sound of Master Chang’s countdown, the group frantically threw on their clothes, brushed their teeth, and washed their faces before running out of the barracks.
"You little brats, you didn’t all assemble until the last five seconds! My grandma would be more nimble than you!"
Master Chang jeered at them.
"Now, start by running a few laps around the training grounds."
"Master Chang, how many laps is ’a few’?" Zheng Qi asked.
"Good question." Master Chang nodded. "Let think... The sun isn’t up yet, so just run until the Hour of the Rabbit ends."
The group: "..."
"Did you not hear ? Get running! Are you looking for a kick?" Master Chang motioned as if he was about to kick them.
Xiao Mo quickly started running, and the others naturally followed.
By the ti the Hour of the Dragon arrived, everyone except Xiao Mo was drenched in sweat.
After a break shorter than the ti it takes an incense stick to burn, Xiao Mo and the others began basic Martial Dao training, such as practicing horse stance and Step Techniques while carrying weights.
Because Xiao Mo’s Realm was too high, he required special treatnt.
The weights Xiao Mo carried were made of Profound Iron, which even had the effect of suppressing his Realm.
At noon, they finally got an hour-long break for rest and lunch.
Led by Zhao Wei and the others, Xiao Mo made his way to the Iron Tiger Army’s ss hall.
The ss hall was absolutely massive, filled with the flesh of Fierce Beasts and Spirit dicines used to replenish Spiritual Power and Blood Qi.
Recruits could receive different tiers of food based on their Realm.
And everyone could eat as much as they wanted within their designated tier.
This included the dicinal ingredients for body tempering, which were also free and unlimited.
Of course, no one would be foolish enough to continuously temper their body, unless they had a death wish.
But it had to be said that in the two most crucial aspects for a Martial Artist—nourishnt and body tempering—the Qin Kingdom was not the least bit stingy, but rather, extrely generous.
After lunch, Xiao Mo and the others drew a bucket of water for a quick wash, then lay down on their beds for a nap.
But they hadn’t been asleep for long before the horn sounded again, and training resud.
As new recruits, all their training revolved around the fundantals. Even though Xiao Mo’s fundantals were already solid, he still had to train along with everyone else.
Xiao Mo didn’t mind. ’My training is already intense enough with the Profound Iron weights,’ he thought. ’Plus, so of the Iron Tiger Army’s Step Techniques and movents have their rits. I might be able to learn sothing new by drawing parallels.’
’After all, there isn’t just one school of martial arts in the world; every school has sothing to offer.’
’Besides, everything I’m doing right now is an effort to "forget" the Godslaying Spear Technique anyway.’
The day’s training didn’t end until it was well into the Hour of the Rooster.
Those who were illiterate had to go learn to read.
Those who could read had to attend military strategy classes.
This continued until the Hour of the Pig.
Drained of their last ounce of strength, Xiao Mo and the others took a hurried, cold shower and collapsed onto their beds.
The next day, the sa grueling routine began all over again.
...
「anwhile, in the Qin Kingdom Royal Palace.」
Qin Siyao furiously pushed open the doors to the Imperial Study and stomped toward her father like a feisty little hen.
"Father! You lied to !"
Qin Siyao shouted at her father, her lips pouted.
The Sovereign of Qin, who was in the middle of reviewing morials, looked up and smiled at his daughter. "Who would dare lie to my daughter? Your father will have him arrested and severely punished!"
"It was you, Father! You!" Qin Siyao ran to her father’s side and pumled his shoulder with her small fists.
"Oh? Did I?" The Sovereign of Qin feigned ignorance. "Then I have been greatly wronged. I barely have enough ti to dote on my Siyao, how could I possibly lie to her?"
"Yes! You did!" Qin Siyao’s rosy cheeks puffed out. "You clearly promised you’d get Xiao Mo into the Imperial Guard! I only just found out today that not only did he not go to the Imperial Guard, he went to the Iron Tiger Army! You lied!"
"About that... I really didn’t lie to you, my daughter."
The Sovereign of Qin began his well-rehearsed explanation.
"Didn’t I tell you that I would consider it, check the Imperial Guard’s roster, and if there was an opening, I would definitely arrange for Xiao Mo to join?
"But there was nothing to be done. The Imperial Guard is currently full.
"Besides, almost all of the soldiers in the Imperial Guard are selected from the Iron Tiger Army.
"Think about it, daughter. If I pulled strings to get Xiao Mo into the Imperial Guard, he would surely be ostracized by the others. He’d have a very difficult ti there.
"And I can tell that boy, Xiao Mo, has a strong sense of pride. Tell , if he knew he only got into the Imperial Guard because of his connection to you, would he really be willing to stay?"
"Well..."
The young girl, just entering her teenage years, was left speechless by her father’s words.
Although she felt sothing was off, what her father said did seem to make sense.
"I don’t care!" Qin Siyao shook her head, continuing stubbornly. "It’s one thing for you not to put him in the Imperial Guard, but the Iron Tiger Army... I heard from Sister Hua Sheng that barely anyone who goes in cos out alive!"
"That won’t happen, that won’t happen. I think very highly of Xiao Mo. Besides, daughter, joining the Iron Tiger Army requires his parents and him to sign off on it. Xiao Mo himself is confident, so you shouldn’t worry."
The Sovereign of Qin patted his daughter’s head.
"I give you my word. When Xiao Mo cos out of the Iron Tiger Army in seven years, not only will I let him join the Imperial Guard, but I’ll even give him a grand reward. How about that?"
"Hmph! I don’t believe you. Sister Hua Sheng was right, you’re the best at making empty promises! I’m not talking to you anymore!"
With that, Qin Siyao clutched the hem of her skirt and ran out in a huff.
"That Hua Sheng... why does she only teach my daughter bad habits?"
After Qin Siyao had left the Imperial Study, the Sovereign of Qin sighed and said helplessly.
"But my daughter, I truly haven’t lied to you this ti."
The Sovereign of Qin stroked his chin, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile.
’When Xiao Mo gets out of the Iron Tiger Army in seven years, I will give him the greatest reward in all the land!’
...
"Stupid Father! Stupid Father!"
"Big liar! Big liar!"
Qin Siyao returned to her chambers and began angrily punching her pillow.
After punching for a while, she plopped down on the bed like a duckling, bit down hard on her quilt, and her eyes glinted with determination:
"If you won’t let go, I’ll go myself!"
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