Chapter 3, Initial Display of Skills

Xiang Shaolong chuckled silently and casually asked, "How long does it take to get to Handan?"

Xiang Shaolong gazed at Mei Can Niang

Li Shan awkwardly led the two to a tent situated at the edge of the camp, giving a few instructions before departing

Xiang Shaolong thought to himself that modern people are a hundred times worse than those from ancient times, yet he could only comfort her by saying: "With my protection, what is there to fear?"

Xiang Shaolong, upon realizing the danger, had already fallen into a tight encirclement, surrounded by the brothers of Jiao Du.

When Xiang Shaolong paid his respects to the most striking young woman among them, those beauties cast flirtatious glances at this imposing man from another time and space, showing no concern that his gaze lingered on their partially exposed full bosoms and jade-like legs

He calmly took two steps back, shielding the beautiful silkworm maiden who was about to step out, and quietly asked: "Is one imprisoned for murder here"

The silkworm girl hung her head, remaining silent, yet it was evident that she was deeply preoccupied with her thoughts

In his nearly ten years of rigorous military training, there is a saying that anything can be used as a weapon. Although these two individuals before him are indeed brave and fierce fighters, they are nothing in his eyes. He could easily defeat them even with bare hands, let alone with a hatchet.

Xiang Shaolong asked again in another way: "Is there anyone in charge of murder?"

Xiang Shaolong sighed inwardly, reflecting on how he, accustomed to a life of indulgence and revelry, could ever adapt to such a lifestyle. He spoke softly, saying: "How about this!"

After the mule cart departed, several riders on swift horses galloped past, all dressed in the attire of ancient warriors, with bows, arrows, swords, and axes hanging from their saddles, yet they were not soldiers

The beautiful silkworm girl was startled and screamed when he suddenly jumped at her, caressing her soft chest, her charming face flushed with excitement as she said: "I live in a place that takes three days to reach under the rising sun. One day, the two brothers brought ten tiger skins, one bear skin, fifty minks, five cattle, and one hundred sheep to my father in exchange for me. Such a generous dowry has never been heard of in our clan, so I married one of them."

Xiang Shaolong embraced Mei Can Niang and spun around, only to see the elegantly dressed man in a high crown who was purchasing the healthy horses approaching them.

A commotion erupted in the market, and the horse traders immediately rushed over with their horses, creating a chaotic scene

Xiang Shaolong observed the man closely, estimating his age to be around forty. The man's features conveyed a sense of shrewdness, and his skin was smooth, clearly indicating that he had never engaged in any manual labor. Compared to the farmers and herdsmen in the marketplace, he resembled the distinction between a city dweller and a rural peasant.

The silk-worm girl said softly: "The people in the city are very cunning, I am afraid I will not be accustomed to that kind of life"

Xiang Shaolong felt an unprecedented affection and infatuation for this woman. Holding her, he flew downwards, a task that was as effortless as breathing for him, a warrior trained in special operations.

Xiang Shaolong kissed her cheek and said, "These conditions are very attractive, but we still have to go to Handan!"

Tao Fang was taken to a camp near the market by a guide named Li Shan, who was also a bodyguard. Li Shan held great admiration for his skills, and his demeanor was extremely respectful.

The beautiful silkworm girl, frightened, turned pale and pulled him towards the other end of what could barely be considered a "street".

More than forty irregularly arranged mud houses, thatched cottages, and stone houses are lined up in two rows, forming a wide street. Various crops, livestock, and people engaged in buying and selling fill the entire half-mile-long mud street, creating a festive atmosphere.

Xiang Shaolong, who was accustomed to causing trouble and fighting, laughed heartily towards the sky and said: "Your brother Jiao has been killed; those who seek revenge can come at me with all their might"

Xiang Shaolong Hu Dao: "Both my wife and I are from Sanglin. Master Tao has invited me here; I wonder what instructions he has for me?"

Xiang Shaolong said: "At the earliest, it will be a few months; at the latest, one or two years. I will definitely return. Do not forget that I was sent by the heavens, so I will never die."

I will borrow one hundred copper coins from Tao Fang, which would be enough for your living expenses for two years, while I venture out into the world in Handan. Once I achieve success, I will return to take you with me. Isn't that a perfect solution?

Tao Fang casually inquired about Xiang Shaolong's background, but Xiang Shaolong consistently insisted that he was from Sanglin Village, and Tao Fang did not pursue the matter further.

Xiang Shaolong took the opportunity to slip out of the house

The beautiful silkworm girl, with tears in her eyes, fell into his embrace and said sorrowfully: "The people living in Sanglin Village are all good people, leading prosperous lives, better year by year. Now that the wicked gang of Jiao Du has all been killed, it is an even more peaceful and happy land. My husband! Why don't we return there to live, happily until we grow old and die, while I bear you children? Wouldn't that be even better?"

That night, they entered the camp to sleep early, entangled in a passionate embrace. By the next morning, after a reluctant farewell, Mei Can Niang returned to Sanglin Village, while Xiang Shaolong set off with Tao Fang's horse team towards the unknown capital of Zhao, embarking on the journey to seek Qin Shi Huang.

Xiang Shaolong set aside his worries and thought to himself that in this era, there is nothing more useful than martial power, and the rigorous training he had undergone in the past would not go to waste in the slightest

As we arrived at the main road outside the mountains, the sun revealed its first light in the east

The head of the bodyguards, Dou Liang, was filled with jealousy.

The beautiful silkworm girl tightly wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned close to his ear, saying: "Fourteen!"

Xuan recalled the bar queen Zhou Xiangmei and Zheng Cuizhi, who had caused him to end up in this situation. He also thought of his parents, who often said he was an unfilial son, that both of his two older brothers and three older sisters were all better than him. Now that he was gone, they probably wouldn't be too heartbroken, right? Yet, he had a vague feeling that the reality was not quite like that. It was frustrating that he could not make a phone call to reassure them.

The beautiful silkworm girl, now belonging to someone, had just experienced the most passionate and romantic half-day and night of her life. Her heart was filled with joy as she playfully linked arms with Xiang Shaolong, kicking her little straw sandals and walking leisurely. The arduous journey of the past had transformed into endless delight, and she cheerfully remarked, "In the past, it took at least ten hours to reach the market, but ever since the construction of this military transport road, it only takes four hours to get to the market, saving a lot of time."

Tao Fang clearly held him in high regard and affectionately elaborated: "A swift horse can reach the destination in ten days, but with our method of travel, as we will need to acquire horses and beauties along the way, it will take at least a month to complete the journey"

The people of the Warring States period, just from their attire, can be identified as coming from different ethnic groups. Regardless of gender, most have flat faces, short statures, and rough skin, with few possessing the captivating figures and beauty akin to that of the lovely silkworm maiden. However, they exhibit a simple and honest demeanor, which is endearing.

Everyone was eager to try, yet no one dared to take the lead and jump out; such a swift and ruthless style of play was something they had never even considered.

Xiang Shaolong held her in his arms and said softly, "There is no need to fear that Dou Liang; sooner or later, I will find an opportunity to teach him a lesson. I, Xiang Shaolong, am not afraid of any villain." This inevitably reminded him of the Black-faced God

Tao Fang excitedly said: "With the remarkable skills of a strong warrior, you could truly fend off a hundred foes. If you are willing to be my bodyguard, I can offer you fifty copper coins each month. What do you think, warrior?"

At this moment, the people on the street suddenly realized that something was happening, and they gathered around in a noisy commotion to watch the spectacle. Even the elegantly dressed man who had come to purchase horses, along with his entourage, stopped buying horses and turned their gaze towards them

Although his eyesight was good, he could only see that the person had a broad forehead and big ears from a distance of more than 10 meters, and he had a dignified appearance that exuded an air of wealth

The sound of exclamations was incessant, and among them, the beautiful Bai Yi woman who had exchanged glances with Xiang Shaolong covered her exquisite eyes, unable to bear the sight.

Two burly men charged at him, raising their swords and striking fiercely from both sides.

As the time of parting approached, the two indulged in passionate revelry within the tent until the hour for dinner arrived. Only then did they emerge from the tent to join Tao Fang for the evening meal. When the topic of the advance salary was brought up, Tao Fang without hesitation took out two hundred copper coins and handed them over, displaying a generous and bold spirit, which left Xiang Shaolong deeply impressed

Madam Mei Can-Niang trembled and said, "Doesn't that mean we will be separated?"

The two individuals took refuge by the roadside

Xiang Shaolong felt a sense of ease that came from breaking free of military discipline, and he nodded, saying: "I am willing to be taught by Master Tao!"

When! When! When!

The beautiful silkworm maiden exclaimed in astonishment, "What is imprisonment?"

Xiang Shaolong laughed and said: "Ha! At last, there is a job suitable for me!"

The camp is heavily guarded, with more than thirty tents of various sizes being watched over. It is unclear whether this is to prevent beautiful women from escaping or to guard against potential raiders.

The beautiful silkworm girl began to cry bitterly, leaving Xiang Shaolong at a loss for what to do. However, she suddenly made a firm decision and tearfully agreed to Xiang Shaolong.

Tao Fang displayed a look of confusion, clearly unable to comprehend his terminology, only managing to guess a portion of it. Fortunately, he was accustomed to dealing with different ethnic groups and nodded, saying: "Warrior, are you interested in making a large sum of money"

There is a temporary horse pen set up next to the camp, with over 100 horses confined inside

Xiang Shaolong pondered that war can indeed promote the development of transportation, indirectly stimulate the economy, and increase efficiency. Thus, it seems that in this era, war also has its positive aspects

As the market approached, the number of people on the road increased, most of whom were pushing single-wheeled wooden carts loaded with various goods such as millet, foxtail millet, broomcorn, yellow rice, millet, wheat, beans, cattle, and sheep, all hurrying towards the same destination

Mei Can Niang continued: "They must know about Jiao Du looking for me, and they probably think I have become Jiao Du's woman. So when they saw you come out instead, they were all astonished and uncertain. This time it's bad, we might as well leave immediately"

Xiang Shaolong lifted her up around the waist and crossed a small river that was only three meters wide. He thought to himself that if he had the latest model of the AK-47, he could hunt tiger skins all around to exchange for women. However, he asked her, "How old were you that year?"

The crowd continuously cheered and encouraged him, clearly having had enough of this group of ruffians in their daily lives

Half an hour later, we finally arrived at the market

One of the Jiao brothers shouted: "Mei Can Niang! Where is Brother Jiao? Who is this foul man?"

The sound of the gong resonated in front of the largest stone house across the way, and someone shouted: "Thirty copper coins for a ride! Thirty copper coins for a ride!"

At this moment, Xiang Shaolong finally understood how tall he was; even the tallest among those people were half a head shorter than him, which made him feel even prouder, giving him a distinct sense of standing out from the crowd.

The only exception was the man and woman wearing uniquely styled red crowns. Their hats did not cover the entire top of the head like the hats he was familiar with, but instead, they were circled with a crown that secured the hair bun, with red tassels hanging down on both sides, tied under the chin

The individual introduced himself: "I am Tao Fang, one of the twelve chief servants under Master Wu. The warrior's accent is peculiar; I wonder from which region he hails"

The beautiful silkworm girl exclaimed, "Ah," as she clung to his arm and murmured, "That is enough for our living expenses for a year"

As the crowd changed color together, with a "clang" sound, they drew their swords.

Upon entering the market, the beautiful silkworm girl whispered in fear, "Look! The group of men on the left is the brothers of the local tyrant Jiao Du, and they are staring at us. What should we do?"

Tao Fang turned to Mei Can Niang and smiled, saying, "Rest assured! In addition to purchasing healthy horses, we also select beautiful women from various mountains, so there is absolutely no problem for a strong man to travel with a beauty." He then frowned as he looked at his clothes and said, "I will have someone clean the place for the esteemed couple to rest and change into new clothes. We will return to Handan at dawn tomorrow. If you are accustomed to that kind of weapon, if it is a sword, I will immediately send you a fine sword crafted by Chen Laotie from Handan; the one you picked up just now can be discarded."

Xiang Shaolong, Mei Can Niang, and the robust man in splendid attire sat down on the floor of a large house

This thought made me smile

Li Shan introduced Xiang Shaolong to Dou Liang, the head of the bodyguards there. This fierce-looking warrior coldly scrutinized him for a moment and disdainfully said, "Brother Xiang possesses such skills; I would like to have the opportunity to learn from you." After speaking, he lewdly gazed at Mei Can Niang, treating Xiang Shaolong as if he were nonexistent.

The beautiful silkworm maiden understood and nodded, saying: "Apart from our own kin, no one will care." Then she trembled and said: "You don't intend to fight so many people, do you? They all have swords! We can give them the money we earned in exchange."

The beautiful silkworm girl trembled in fear and held him tightly from behind

The beautiful silkworm girl sprang out, embraced him tightly, and exclaimed: "Heavenly Lord! You are truly valiant! From now on, I shall no longer fear evildoers."

Tao Fang's lips curled into a faint smile as he calmly said, "The brave warrior must not have heard of our Lord Wu's renowned reputation. He is the 'King of Animal Husbandry' in Handan, unmatched in his field. Once we have gathered enough horses from various places, we will transport them to Handan. If the warrior were to become my bodyguard, it would be a mutually beneficial arrangement."

As the two squeezed into the crowd, Xiang Shaolong, while being scrutinized by others, also unabashedly observed the people and objects around him

The matter has been decided in this manner

When Xiang Shaolong felt a surge of excitement, he pulled Mei Can Niang into a mud house, took the silk from his shoulder, and engaged in a transaction with the man inside.

Two individuals walked down the mountain path in the darkness before dawn, heading towards the market far beyond the endless mountain ranges

Alas! It is a pity that nothing can be brought along. If only there were a machine gun, or even a large-caliber pistol, I might become the highest-paid mercenary in this warring era.

He moved swiftly, preventing the enemy from forming an encirclement. In no time, they were sprawled all over the ground, either struck by his iron fist at a vital point or hit by his kicks and knee strikes

The two fell to the ground in response, their long swords slipping from their hands and dropping down

At the sound of the crowd's shout, a few individuals rushed out first, followed by a whole throng of people pouring out. They picked up sticks or hoes and similar objects to strike at the group of villains lying on the ground. It seemed that under the public outrage, not a single person would survive.

Two individuals entered the tent

This couple, originally separated by more than two thousand years of time and space, walks closely side by side, engaging in cheerful conversation and laughter

She offered a sweet smile, nodding to indicate that everything was to be based on him, with no objections from her side. For her, a man's words were commands

Xiang Shaolong was in high spirits and thought of going to Handan to find Qin Shi Huang, eagerly saying that there was no problem

Xiang Shaolong was taken aback, and after comforting her for a few moments, he took her hand and continued on their journey

Xiang Shaolong held her as they walked towards the other end of the street, casually asking: "Do you know how to get to Handan?"

Xiang Shaolong casually asked, "How did you end up marrying those two brothers? Where are your own family members?"

Xiang Shaolong surveyed the crude iron swords they carried with his professional eye, then flashed a charming smile at them before saying to Mei Can Niang: "My lady, there is no need to panic; with me here, no one can harm you in the slightest." Realizing that his choice of words was increasingly reminiscent of ancient times, he couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Xiang Shaolong exclaimed in astonishment: "What? That is not yet the legal age for consensual relations?"

The text appears to be a series of symbols or placeholders and does not contain any translatable content.

Xiang Shaolong let out a long laugh and pounced out like a fierce tiger, swinging his machete down as he engaged in battle with the more than twenty people.

The beautiful silkworm maiden whispered in his ear: "These warriors are all engaged in escorting goods, specifically responsible for transporting wealth for merchants; it is the most profitable job."

Xiang Shaolong slowly pushed aside Mei Canniang, drew a hatchet from his waist, immediately provoking sighs and sympathetic murmurs from the onlookers, blaming him for overestimating his own abilities by attempting to block a sword with a hatchet

The beautiful silkworm girl felt much safer among the crowd. Seeing his lustful expression, she was not the least bit offended and softly said: "They are all white barbarians, renowned for their horse breeding. Both men and women are excellent hunters, and no one dares to bully them"

The beautiful silkworm girl exclaimed: "No! I can no longer lose you as my husband."

The beautiful silkworm girl was indeed very surprised, but upon considering that he was sent down to the mortal realm by the heavens, she no longer felt it was strange

The text appears to be a series of symbols or placeholders and does not contain any translatable content

At that moment, a cold snort came from beside me

Xiang Shaolong let out a loud shout as he swung the machete with lightning speed

With two sharp sounds, the long sword swept open, and Xiang Shaolong swiftly stepped forward, delivering a heavy left punch to one person's face while his other foot executed a flying kick to another person's lower region

The men and women of this tribe are not only tall and strong, but the women, in particular, have fair skin and wear short tops and skirts that expose their arms and chests, which is extremely sensual and has opened his eyes to a new perspective, making it hard to believe, completely altering the impression that ancient people must be conservative.

When Xiang Shaolong became the ultimate victor, he picked up the most decent iron sword among them and fastened it to his waist

Continuing, Xiang Shaolong retreated to Mei Can Niang's side, brandishing his machete and assuming a combat stance, he shouted at the crowd, whose faces were filled with astonishment: "Come on!"

As Xiang Shaolong approached, he saw more than ten robust men dressed in the same attire as the knights he had encountered earlier, standing at the steps of the large house. Among them, one man wore a tall crown and more ornate clothing, which starkly contrasted with the coarse and shabby garments of the farmers on the street.

The sound of wheels scraping against the ground came from behind; it was a mule cart heading to the market, carrying more than ten white sheep. On the cart were two men who appeared to be farmers, one old and one young. They greeted them amicably, both surprisedly sizing up the imposing and tall Xiang Shaolong, but did not express much astonishment at the beauty of Mei Can Niang.

The Beautiful Silkworm Maiden said: "Some have heard of this place, yet do not know how to get there"

Xiang Shaolong's spirit lifted as he cautiously moved to the left. Indeed, there was a group of about ten burly men, clearly thugs, either sitting or standing in front of a mud house, all staring at them with astonished eyes

Among them, several young ladies stand out particularly, their beauty rivaling that of the beautiful silkworm maiden, and all they sell are horses.

Xiang Shaolong exclaimed with great joy: "However, I want to bring her along!"

Footsteps sounded from behind, and someone called out: "Brave warrior, please wait!"