Chapter 0002: The Strength and Status of Warriors

The middle-aged thief looked at the items placed on the cart and stopped, saying: "Wait, I feel there is something suspicious about this matter. You should come back with me to investigate further."

Lin Ze was taken aback after hearing this. His cheap father, a fourth-rank official at the age of 20 and a fifth-rank official at 26, seemed even more impressive than he had imagined. As for Wu Bo's frequent insinuations about marrying down, it is not certain that the Wu An Jun's residence is filled with fools.

Lin Ze immediately asked curiously, "Wu Bo, what rank of martial artist are you?"

Wu Bogang was about to respond when a sudden sound of hooves approached, causing him to frown. He saw a group of 12 armored soldiers surrounding him, led by a middle-aged squad leader.

After Wu Bo finished speaking, he suddenly exuded a powerful aura, startling the two soldiers who approached. Most of this imposing presence bore down on the middle-aged thief, who trembled and said in a quavering voice, "A fourth-tier expert." Meanwhile, Lin Ze recalled a time in his sophomore year when he visited the zoo and saw a lion going wild, its image overlapping with that of Wu Bo's back.

As the local authority, Zhou County Magistrate directly led them to the best private room on the third floor, accompanied throughout by the restaurant manager

Wu Bo raised his cup in return, responding slowly: "The residence of Lord Wu An, Intermediate Steward Wu Qing, accepts the apology of the County Magistrate, and this matter is hereby settled."

Wu Bo looked at the bearded man and said coldly: "I see that your cultivation is not easy, but there are some people you cannot provoke. It is still not too late to leave now." If it were not for the concern of harming the young master, he would have already killed him without hesitation.

Wu Bo clasped his fists and said: "I am a native of Chang'an, entrusted by the head of my family to escort my young master to Chang'an. The bandits have been slain by me, and you may proceed as you wish." Having said this, he intended to set off.

Wu Bo smiled sincerely here: "That kid, it was worth it for me to advance two quarters of resources to him. Last month he broke through to the third rank. You must know he is only 20 years old this year. If he keeps this up, he has a chance to become a master"

One could not help but glance at the county magistrate Zhou a couple more times. Wu Bo sat next to Lin Ze, followed by the middle-aged thief and the two assistants brought by county magistrate Zhou. The other soldiers were seated on the second floor, enjoying their meal.

Under the leadership of Wu Bo, Lin Ze experienced the taverns of this world for the first time, officially named Yangshuo Tavern. It is a three-story independent building; the first floor is almost empty, supported only by a few columns. The second floor features several painted screens that divide the space into distinct areas, while the third floor is partitioned into private rooms.

The carriage was slowly making its way through the forest when suddenly a group of bandits emerged from the trees, surrounding the carriage. The leader, a man with a bushy beard, brandished a large steel knife and shouted at Wu Bo, "Old man, if you know what’s good for you, hand over all your valuables obediently. I might show a bit of mercy and spare your life, otherwise, your old bones might not even be enough for me to take a single swing at."

Lin Zeyi heard this and thought, well, the position of a thief catcher is equivalent to that of a modern-day police station chief

The middle-aged official entered and clasped his fists in salute: "I am Zhou Yu, the county magistrate of Yangshuo. Regarding the matter involving my wife and brother-in-law, I apologize on their behalf to both of you. I hope you, esteemed officials, will overlook the transgressions of a petty person and grant forgiveness."

Lin Ze, upon hearing this, inquired with great interest: "How is it? What rank does your grandson hold now?"

However, a scar-faced man beside him said: "Boss, we have inquired, and this old man and young boy are going to Chang'an to seek refuge with relatives. They might have some connections. The old man is said to appear unsteady on his feet, likely not of high rank, while the other is just a little child. If we kill them, we can sell this fine horse, and everyone will have provisions for the winter this year."

Each person took their seats according to the order of importance. The main seat was occupied by the official representative of the local power, Zhou County Wei. The secondary seat was originally meant for Wu Bolai, but Wu insisted that Lin Ze take it instead; otherwise, he would stand rather than sit. With no other option, Lin Ze reluctantly took the secondary seat

The middle-aged man spoke, saying: "I am Yang Ziting, a thief hunter, here to pursue robbers. Who are you?"

The bearded man was equally taken aback; wasn't he supposed to be just an old fool? So fierce, he shouted, "Let's go together," directing others to charge forward while he slowly retreated towards the entrance of the woods

The owner of the restaurant is a stout man, but his vitality is vigorous, clearly indicating that he is a third-rank martial artist. However, at this moment, he is smiling like a lucky cat in front of the county magistrate and Wu Bo. Under the owner's invitation, a variety of dishes, mostly meat dishes, are soon served.

As the dishes were served, County Magistrate Zhou first raised his cup towards Wu Bo and said: "This matter was indeed not handled properly by my wife's younger brother. I apologize to you once again, esteemed brother. May I ask where you hail from?" His words clearly inquired about the origins of Wu Bo and his servant, yet Zhou County Magistrate had only now chosen to ask, which shows he possessed a certain level of shrewdness.

In theory, given Wu Bo's strength at the fourth rank and his age, which is nearly at a point of no further advancement, there seems to be no need for him to continue working for the Lin family; he could comfortably retire under the patronage of the Marquis of Wu. Indeed, with Lin's father's current position and martial arts cultivation, it is difficult to find a fourth-rank retainer. It is said that Wu Bo is one of the 'brides' accompanying the Marquis of Wu, and there is also a female who is specifically responsible for protecting Lin Ze's 'stepmother'.

After speaking, the first person with the steel spear thrust it towards Wu Bo. Wu Bo was seen sitting in front of the cart, gripping the steel spear with his right hand and pulling it back. His left palm then struck out, producing a cracking sound of bones. Releasing his right hand, the scar-faced man, along with the spear, was sent flying out. Lin Ze's pupils widened as the sound of bones cracking accompanied the scar-faced man's body flying out in a zigzag manner.

As for the "dowry" from the Lin family, the Marquis of Wu'an's residence has promised to elevate the treatment by two levels, which is twice as much as before, in order to better nurture the beloved grandson. Although Wu Bo does not expect his grandson to become a grandmaster, increasing the investment of resources could ultimately lead to him achieving the fifth or sixth rank, which would also be a good outcome

Wu Bo glanced at the middle-aged thief and said, "Some people are not to be trifled with." Indeed, Lin Dong, as the commander of the Imperial Guard, held a position equivalent to that of a county governor, which is akin to the current mayor, a high-ranking official at the municipal level, and he was also part of the central administration. Wu Bo warned Lin Ze not to cause trouble, primarily out of concern for provoking those big shots; a township police chief would likely not even regard him with any respect.

Wu Bo spent some time gathering the valuables from the bandit, including those crude weapons. Looking at Lin Ze, who appeared astonished, he smiled kindly and said, "Young master, do not be afraid, they are merely a few petty thieves." After saying this, he continued to mount the carriage, preparing to drive the vehicle

Lin Ze's mouth had formed an O shape; in less than ten seconds, dozens of lives were lost. Indeed, Wu Bo has never claimed what rank he is; judging by his strength, he is at least above the third rank.

As one ages, it is only natural to consider the future of one's descendants," Wu Bo sighed. Lin Ze learned from the subsequent conversation that Wu Bo had a grandson, who was said to possess considerable talent in martial arts and the potential to become a master. His name was also quite fitting, Wu Di. However, the path to mastery is fraught with difficulties, and the resources required are immense.

The confident smile of the county magistrate Zhou froze, transforming into a somewhat awkward bitter smile, mixed with a hint of relief. Fortunately, he had not heeded the earlier suggestion from his attendant to assassinate the child. He had dismissed the attendant upon returning, narrowly avoiding a major trouble. No, since this child is referred to as 'Young Master,' he must be a descendant of the Duke of Wu'an. As he recalled this, cold sweat trickled down his back.

If previously, Lin Ze's understanding of the existence of martial artists was merely a matter of imagination, then this small episode he encountered belongs to the realm of firsthand experience

"Presumptuous, I serve the empire. Do you dare to disobey? Seize him!" said the middle-aged thief, somewhat enraged. You still want to deceive me? Although a carriage is not something an ordinary person possesses, how dare a shabby carriage pretend to be from a noble family, thinking I have never seen the world? An old man with a child, is that supposed to escort a noble heir?

Wu Bo, upon hearing this, coughed lightly and explained: "This amount of gold is sufficient for an ordinary family to live comfortably for over a year with fish and meat. However, for a martial artist like me, it is merely the consumption for enhancing my cultivation for half a month. Later, I will use this gold to purchase some elixirs and the meat of ferocious beasts, which will allow Wu Di to enter a stable period at the third rank."

By the way, Lin Ze was informed about the monetary system of this world. The official currency of the Great Qin consists of only two types: gold and copper. One gold is equivalent to one hundred copper. The most common grain costs 2 copper per pound, while the most common meat costs 10 copper per pound. However, the prices of food related to martial arts training can skyrocket depending on their grade. Nevertheless, Lin Ze will only understand the specifics once he engages in martial arts himself, as the market price differs from the final price.

Wu Bo jumped down from the front of the cart, and in the midst of his swaying figure, he almost faced off against each of the more than ten strong bandits. With bare hands, he sent them all, along with their weapons, flying out like a scene from a movie, the sounds of bones cracking and blood spitting echoing endlessly.

Wu Boshuang received the gold with both hands, initially estimating it to be around one hundred pieces, and then smiled, saying: "County Magistrate Zhou is being too polite"

After exchanging glances, the middle-aged thief presented a plate of gold and said, "I apologize to both of you." The middle-aged official continued, "Additionally, I have prepared a banquet at the tavern in the city to further express my apologies to both of you."

The words are filled with confidence, as the family of a deputy national-level official stands firm before someone of county magistrate rank, exuding great assurance

The carriage traveled along the official road, heading straight towards Yangshuo County, gradually entering the prosperous area of the empire. Along the way, accommodations were available. At the city gate, a middle-aged official accompanied by about twenty soldiers seemed to be waiting for someone.

Subsequently, the middle-aged thief fled in a panic with his subordinates, while the carriage continued on its journey

Turning his head, he saw the bearded man had already entered the forest and was running. Wu Bo glanced at the carriage, then with a push of his feet, he almost leaped into the air. In just a few jumps, he reached the back of the bearded man, who had not even had time to turn around, and his fists struck the man's back. The bearded man staggered, then vomited a large mass of internal organs, dying instantly.

Lin Ze and his companions had just inspected the official's introduction when suddenly a person behind the middle-aged official pointed at them and said, "It is them." Lin Ze looked and recognized it was the middle-aged thief. Upon hearing this, the middle-aged official's eyes lit up, and he immediately led his men over.

Although mid-tier warriors have a significantly longer lifespan, most find it difficult to advance further in their skills by the age of seventy or eighty if they cannot ensure their courage and diligence in improvement. Throughout the tumultuous history of warring states spanning a millennium, only General Lian Po of Zhao managed to experience a resurgence in his seventies after a period of stagnation in his middle age, ultimately reaching the pinnacle of mastery. Master Lian Po had engaged in numerous encounters with General Wu An, leaving Wu An at a loss, which clearly demonstrates how formidable and challenging this individual was.

The daily training of warriors is demanding and requires substantial energy, primarily relying on meat that is rich in vital energy and blood. Numerous inns and hunters both within and outside the city maintain connections with the villagers, resulting in a large quantity of livestock and game being delivered daily, prepared into dishes that are easy to digest and absorb

However, seeing the smile in Wu Bo's eyes, one feels that the plate of gold is likely not insignificant

Turning back to Lin Ze, he asked, "What are your thoughts, young master?" Lin Ze couldn't help but roll his eyes inwardly; having already received the payment, how could he refuse? It seemed that the amount was quite substantial. "Mr. Wu, then let us go for a visit."

Upon seeing this, Wu Bo's face darkened involuntarily. The middle-aged official, at first glance, was clearly a person of authority, at least of the fourth rank. Looking again at his official attire, he was most likely the county constable of Yangshuo. At the same time, he touched the token in his bosom and let out a cold laugh in his heart

After the banquet, Wu Bo continued on the road to Chang'an with Lin Ze. Lin Ze suddenly asked, "Wu Bo, they gave you quite a bit of gold, didn't they? You've been smiling all the way."