Ready to go wild

The result of overexertion was that Gao Yuan's hands were shaking even as he held his bowl for dinner that night.

In the end, he had to act like a pampered young master, being fed by a maid.

When he woke up the next day, although the soreness from the overexertion had subsided significantly, he still couldn't continue his training.

Seeing Gao Yuan like this, Xia Luqi hurried to advise him.

"My Lord, This humble general knows you are anxious, but everything should proceed step by step. Do not be too eager for quick success."

Gao Yuan knew this was advice based on experience. He had also reflected on it last night and knew he had been too impatient.

"Don't worry, Bang Jie. I already thought it over last night."

Xia Luqi breathed a sigh of relief. What subordinates fear most is a lord who is both incompetent and stubborn.

A lord like Gao Yuan, who could listen to advice, was the type every subordinate liked.

Since he couldn't practice swinging his blade today, Gao Yuan decided to work on his physical fitness by running laps around the courtyard.

Watching the figure sweating profusely in the distance, Zhao Xiyao's feelings were complicated.

Although she was only fourteen, being part of the imperial family meant she had seen all kinds of people through observation and influence.

From Gao Yuan's performance that day and his actions over the past few days, she could roughly see what he was thinking.

"Gao Yuan, just how far do you want to go? Why do I understand you less and less?"

Muttering to herself, Zhao Xiyao left with an extremely complicated mood.

On the other side, two graceful figures watched Gao Yuan's hard work, their eyes welling up with tears of excitement.

"May the spirits of father-in-law and husband in heaven protect him. Little Yuan has grown up and knows to work hard."

Elsewhere, Ye Quan and Lin Yang, having received the news, looked at each other and burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, is this pretty boy trying to sharpen his spear right before the battle? Even if it's not sharp, it'll still be shiny?"

"I don't know how someone as formidable as Gao Wu could give birth to such an idiot son."

"Father, Uncle Lin, don't worry. On that day, I will definitely make this guy lose all face."

"Exactly. Nephew Ye Fan is the number one fierce general of the two commanderies. When the time comes, we must let that pretty boy know what a true fierce general is."

Gao Yuan had no idea that his simple desire not to waste an S-rank reward would be interpreted so differently by everyone.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was time for Zhao Xiyao to inspect the army.

The thousand men Gao Yuan brought had long since donned their armor, carrying broadswords and rattan shields as they gathered at the martial arts field outside the city.

At the Hour of the Snake, Gao Yuan's troops had already been waiting for nearly an hour before Ye Quan and Lin Yang leisurely arrived at the martial arts field in their carriage.

The ranks of soldiers behind them were also scattered and disorganized, showing no semblance of a marching army.

Seeing this, Xia Luqi wanted to lose his temper, but he was stopped directly by Gao Yuan.

"My Lord, those two old fogies are clearly trying to humiliate us. Why did you stop This humble general..."

Gao Yuan let out a cold sneer, having already sentenced these two old geezers to death in his heart.

"Bang Jie, these two old geezers are dead men sooner or later. There's no need for us to be in a hurry."

After calming Xia Luqi, Gao Yuan narrowed his eyes at the two old geezers slowly stepping off the carriage, as well as the two young men beside them.

"Name: Ye Fan. Character Attributes: Child of Fortune, Unstoppable, Comprehensive Evaluation: A."

"Name: Lin Feng. Character Attributes: Child of Fortune, Resourceful, Comprehensive Evaluation: A."

Oho, they're actually two Children of Fortune. I wonder if killing them will drop rewards.

Most importantly, my character role is a villain. How can I allow such threats to exist?

Just like that, Gao Yuan added another reason for the destruction of the Lin and Ye families.

"Oh my, we have arrived late and kept Her Highness the Princess and County Duke Gao waiting. Our sin, our sin!"

Seeing Ye Quan's grinning face, Zhao Xiyao's pretty face turned cold as she scolded in a sharp voice.

"Since you know it is disrespectful, why did you not leave earlier? Do you two admit your guilt?"

This cold yet pretty face and soft voice immediately made the two protagonists behind the old geezers show looks of infatuation.

Gao Yuan naturally saw the expressions of those two idiots and complained in his heart.

"Could it be that no matter which world it is, these Children of Fortune are all lecherous?"

Ignoring how the two old geezers were perfunctorily dealing with Zhao Xiyao for the moment, Gao Yuan turned his gaze to the thousand soldiers behind them.

Standing scattered and slumping, they didn't look like Great Gan elites at all.

A Pacification Commissioners Office in such a remote place certainly couldn't station too many troops, lest it cause suspicion among the local Local Chieftains.

Therefore, when choosing these troops, they would definitely pick the elite.

This way, even if the Local Chieftains caused trouble, they could protect the Pacification Commissioner and retreat calmly.

But these thousand soldiers, led by Ye Quan and Lin Yang, spent all day mingling with Xian Zhen, eating, drinking, and playing. They had long since lost their battlefield iron and blood.

"A fine pack of tigers has been raised into fat ginger cats by these two old geezers. What a waste of talent."

After a moment of regret, Gao Yuan had a thought.

"System, use the Martial Soul Card on these thousand people."

"Host is using a One-time Random Soldier Martial Soul Card. Randomizing..."

This time, the system's processing took exceptionally long. It wasn't until the martial demonstration was almost over that the system prompt came again.

"Randomization complete. Congratulations to the Host for randomly obtaining 1000 Beifu Army Martial Souls. Currently possessing, progress 1%..."

Watching the speed of the progress bar, Gao Yuan was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

"System, you're really screwing me over. They're about to leave, and you're still slowly loading the progress bar?"

The system's voice was still as unhurried and emotionless as ever.

"Host, do not worry. Even if they leave, the progress will not be interrupted."

This was a blessing in disguise. Originally, Gao Yuan's plan was to cause trouble directly at the martial arts field and kill the four members of the Lin and Ye families on the spot.

Now it seemed he could only wait until the martial soul possession was finished before taking action.

On the way back, Zhao Xiyao called Gao Yuan into her carriage.

"So, are you confident?"

Gao Yuan knew she was asking about the matter of instigating defection. This girl had swallowed a bellyful of anger today.

Looking at the progress bar on the system panel still slowly advancing, Gao Yuan did a simple calculation of the time.

"Don't worry, the result will be clear tonight."

For some reason, Zhao Xiyao had a strange sense of trust in Gao Yuan's words.

She gave a sweet smile that could charm all living beings.

"I believe you will definitely handle it well, Brother Yuan."

At this moment, Gao Yuan personally experienced for the first time what it meant for 'a single smile to possess a hundred charms, making all the ladies of the six palaces seem pale in comparison'.

If it weren't for his weak constitution and lack of vitality, Gao Yuan would have definitely lost a pound or two of blood from a nosebleed today.

Returning to the Princess's Manor, Gao Yuan still retreated to his small courtyard to complete his daily training.

Last time he overdid it and exhausted himself, and it took him a full two days to recover.

Now Gao Yuan had adjusted his training method: thirty blade swings a day, then running laps, and finally finishing with the horse stance until exhaustion.

After a few days of exercise, Gao Yuan could clearly feel his physical fitness improving slightly.

At the same time, his appetite had grown considerably. Previously, a bowl of rice, a chicken leg, and a plate of vegetables could satisfy him, but now he needed to add another half bowl of rice.

According to Xia Luqi, this was a good thing. If you train a lot, you will naturally eat a lot; otherwise, where would the strength come from?

In the evening, just as he swallowed the last bite of chicken, the system prompt arrived.

"One-time Beifu Army Martial Soul possession complete. Please receive the army as soon as possible, Host."

Finally finished. Gao Yuan slammed his chopsticks onto the table and shouted at Xia Luqi, who was across from him, full and wiping his mouth.

"Bang Jie, gather the Personal Guards and follow me to run wild."