Zhu Zhi, another martial artist in the sixth realm, stepped forward and reached out to help Mu Zha up.
However, Mu Zha frowned and pushed his hand away. He used his injured wrist and fist to prop himself up from the ground. After a difficult rise, he cupped his fists towards Lin Zhao and said, "My lord, Mu Zha is truly convinced. From this moment on, should my lord command, Mu Zha will spare no effort!"
Lin Zhao returned the gesture, saying, "You flatter me, Mu Zha."
"Deputy Commander~~~"
Shuai Zhi, holding her long sword, looked at Huang Tingyu on the rooftop and chuckled, "What are you doing here, watching the fun?"
"Hmph, little girl Shuai Zhi!"
Huang Tingyu laughed, "Lin Zhao is the commander of the elite ten appointed by Commander Chu. You are not allowed to set obstacles for Lin Zhao, nor can you disobey Lin Zhao's orders. Otherwise... I, this old man, will go back to my old ways and spank your little backside with my shoe... oh, no, it's big and round now!"
The young girl's face flushed, and she glared at the scoundrel, "I will naturally obey Commander Chu's decree, rest assured!"
"That's good then."
Huang Tingyu clapped his hands, "I'm off. Cultivate well, everyone. Whether the descendants of the Great Chen Dynasty can spread their branches and leaves in this vast world depends on each and every one of you."
"Yes!"
The group of ten, along with Lin Zhao, cupped their fists in salutation towards Huang Tingyu.
...
"Cultivate individually. Today's morning lesson ends here."
Lin Zhao glanced at everyone and said, "Mu Zha, Zhu Zhi, Gu Luan, stay behind. I want to have a chat with you."
"Yes, my lord!"
Several spirit cultivators retreated.
Lin Zhao then looked at the three martial artists, two men and one woman, and smiled, "Shall we go for a walk? It's too stuffy in the mountain-top villa, so much so that I can barely breathe."
Gu Luan smiled knowingly, "Yes, let's go for a walk."
A short while later, the three were walking beside a stream on the north side of the mountain. This stream was one of the sources of Baiyu Creek, its water originating from the melting snow on the Snow Ridge, flowing down from the high mountains without ceasing throughout the seasons. This was already outside the town, so Lin Zhao rarely came here as a child, as the town's guards did not allow it.
"We are all martial artists, so we can speak frankly."
Lin Zhao walked ahead, looking at the flowing stream beside him, and said with a smile, "Mu Zha, I didn't hurt you too badly, did I?"
"No!"
Mu Zha patted his chest lightly and laughed, "The body of a sixth-realm martial artist is very sturdy. Although Lin Zhao's fist techniques are indeed superb, you have only just entered the sixth realm. It would be a ghost if you could hurt me."
"A stubborn donkey~~~"
Gu Luan smiled faintly. This young female martial artist, dressed in a green short shirt, appeared very capable. However, with her beautiful face and graceful figure, she didn't quite look like a sixth-realm martial artist. If she changed into a long dress, she would look like a young lady from a scholarly family.
Mu Zha grinned, "Gu Luan, do you want to try exchanging blows with Lin Zhao? Then you'll know what it means to talk without suffering."
"Me..."
Gu Luan chuckled, "No need for me. Lin Zhao's fist techniques are definitely a bit better than mine, and his foundation as a martial artist is also a bit more solid. Moreover, he's a sword cultivator. I don't want to accidentally get a blood hole poked by a flying sword. That would hurt so much!"
Zhu Zhi laughed, "Indeed."
Lin Zhao walked to the edge of a bamboo forest ahead, took a deep breath, and stood with the others on a small stone bridge, saying, "When I was a child, I heard the adults in the town say that only children from poor families would choose the path of a martial artist, which is why there's a saying in the town 'poor families produce martial artists.' But it seems to me... you all look like you're from the front street, so why did you also choose the path of a martial artist?"
"Does living on the front street mean you are from wealthy families?"
Gu Luan pouted and smiled, "I'm not, anyway. Although my family background is enough to keep me fed, if I were to practice spirit cultivation, it would cost too much. The most basic entry-level magical artifacts alone cost hundreds of Qingfu coins, which even selling my parents wouldn't be enough to afford. So, I chose the path of a martial artist on my own when I was very young. I have no regrets to this day!"
Mu Zha chuckled, "My family background is actually quite good. But when I was young, I watched a sparring match between Commander Chu and someone else. It left a deep impression on me. I felt that a man should walk the path of a martial artist in this world, seeking revenge with his own fists. How exhilarating is that?"
Zhu Zhi nodded, "I'm the same as Mu Zha. I also feel that men should learn to fight."
"Oh?"
Gu Luan seemed a bit displeased, "From what you're saying, women should learn swordsmanship and magic, and become sword cultivators or spirit cultivators?"
"No, you are an exception."
Zhu Zhi smiled, "Gu Luan, your fists are so heavy, it would be a waste not to be a martial artist."
"Hmph!"
The young girl grumbled unhappily, but then thought about it and felt there was nothing to be unhappy about. She turned to look at Lin Zhao's face, which was youthful yet somewhat handsome, and her mood immediately improved. What was there to be unhappy about when cultivating under such a genius martial artist?
...
"Lin Zhao."
Mu Zha looked at the flowing water under the bridge, his hands clasped gently in front of his chest, and said with a smile, "Those two sword cultivators, and the spirit cultivators with their noses in the air, have always looked down on martial artists. Even more so for you, the commander of the ten at only fifteen years old. But if Shuai Zhi and Luo Yang really target you, the three of us will definitely stand by your side."
Lin Zhao's heart warmed slightly. He had actually taken these three out for a walk and a chat precisely for this reason. Winning the hearts of these arrogant ten was not easy; breaking them down one by one was necessary. Today, he had won the spar against Mu Zha through less than honorable means, but there was no other way. After all, with Mu Zha and the others on his side, he would no longer be struggling alone.
However, Lin Zhao could not follow Mu Zha's "reckless youth" thinking. Otherwise, the elite ten in the mountain-top villa would immediately fall into internal strife. Lin Zhao thought deeply. Since he had accepted the trust of Chu Huaixi and taken on the role of commander of these ten, he had to integrate into this group. Thus, mere division was not enough; the real challenge was to re-unite their hearts after dividing them.
"No need."
Lin Zhao smiled, "Martial artists are martial artists, and spirit cultivators are spirit cultivators. Besides, we have no deep-seated hatred for Shuai Zhi and Luo Yang. On the contrary, we are companions. On the battlefield, we entrust our backs to each other. Therefore, I also hope there will be no friction between us and Shuai Zhi and Luo Yang. However, if Shuai Zhi and Luo Yang are indeed too much for me, then it will truly require you to speak up for justice. As I am new here, you three are the only ones who can help me."
"Yes!"
Mu Zha, Gu Luan, and Zhu Zhi nodded in unison, "Rest assured!"
...
Upon returning to the mountain-top villa, Lin Zhao went back to his room.
He stood in a fist stance, circulating the spiritual energy within his body to nourish the flying sword Ming Yue. In the sword cultivation lake, the spiritual energy, once infused, automatically transformed into azure water vapor. This water vapor continuously circulated like a vortex in the sword cultivation lake, while at its center, the silver sword embryo continuously absorbed the spiritual energy from the lake, simultaneously refining its form. Thus, the edge became sharper, and the strength of the entire sword body continuously increased. As for the most crucial sword tip, it required Qingxin Rock for polishing. The brick-sized Qingxin Rock left by the Ming Yue Pool would be enough to polish Ming Yue to a very sharp point.
In the evening, a young girl knocked on the door.
Lin Zhao was slightly taken aback when he opened the door. It was Dong Cang.
"Oh, Miss Dong Cang? Long time no see." The young man showed a gentle smile.
Dong Cang, in a pink long dress, looked even younger and more beautiful. She also smiled, "Young Master, long time no see!"
"Why are you here?" Lin Zhao asked.
Dong Cang said, "Young Master is now the master of the mountain-top villa, so Commander Chu has directly transferred me from the Marshal's mansion to specifically serve Young Master's daily life, cultivation resources, and so on. From now on, I will live in the adjacent side room. Young Master can tell me if you have any needs. Commander Chu ordered me to deliver an extremely precious sword-refining stone to Young Master, so that Young Master can further polish the flying sword in your first sword cultivation lake. Commander Chu said that that flying sword is very promising!"
"Oh, thank you!"
Lin Zhao accepted it directly, feeling a touch of emotion. This was the treatment of the ten young individuals of the Great Chen Dynasty. Even treasured items like sword-refining stones, which were expensive, were provided by Tianchi Ridge. In contrast, he used to have to earn everything with his own two hands. Sometimes he felt that although he was a descendant of the Great Chen Dynasty, he was actually no different from a wild cultivator foraging like a stray dog.
"What would Young Master like to eat tonight?" Dong Cang asked.
"Oh..."
Lin Zhao smiled, "I'll be eating with Little Stone and Little Jiu'er, in my room. Please prepare food for three people, with plenty of meat."
"Understood, Young Master. Don't worry, I'll take care of it."
Dong Cang turned to leave. The way her long dress outlined her slender waist as she swayed was truly... Lin Zhao couldn't help but sigh. Was his luck with women really that good? The women around him were all as beautiful as celestial beings, making him feel as though these women were spies sent by the demon race, making it difficult for him, the master of the mountain-top villa!
...
In the evening, Lin Zhao went out and picked up Little Jiu'er with Little Stone. Along the way, the little girl chattered about how well she had completed her homework today, and how even the stern teacher had praised her, saying that Little Jiu'er hadn't written a single incorrect character today, which was rare.
Dinner was indeed quite rich, with fish and meat, and even a roasted young deer leg, as well as various fruits that Lin Zhao couldn't even name. The dining standard at the mountain-top villa was top-notch in the Snow Domain Tianchi. Even Chu Huaixi might not eat so well. The table was laden with delicious dishes, and the three of them likely wouldn't be able to finish it all.
"Miss Dong Cang."
Lin Zhao looked at Dong Cang, who was serving them, and smiled, "Come and eat with us. There's too much food, and the three of us definitely won't be able to finish it."
Dong Cang was startled and hurriedly shook her head, "I cannot. As a maid, I cannot sit at the table. It would break the rules and I would be reprimanded from above."
"It's alright."
Lin Zhao smiled, "You are the maid of our mountain-top villa, and I am the master of the mountain-top villa. If I tell you to sit down and eat together, then you will. There's no need to be so formal."
"Then..."
Dong Cang hesitated.
Lin Zhao chuckled, "Is the maid not listening to the master anymore?"
"No."
Dong Cang smiled gently, "Then thank you, Young Master. Shall I get an extra pair of chopsticks?"
"Yes!"
Lin Zhao nodded emphatically, "From now on, you will eat with us."
"Thank you, Young Master!"
Dong Cang sat down, but she did not dare to reach for food carelessly, acting with extreme caution. Lin Zhao saw this but said nothing, letting her get used to it slowly. There was no need to be too deliberate.
...
After dinner, Lin Zhao began to practice his boxing and sword techniques.
Shortly thereafter, the guard at the entrance of the villa respectfully announced, "Lady Yu Dian is here!"
"Yes."
Chen Yu's figure appeared in the villa, followed by several guards from the Fengying Battalion. Chen Yu held a brocade box and smiled, "I've come to give Lin Zhao the supplementary Qingfu coins he needs for his cultivation this month."