Volume 1, Chapter 44: The Main Wife Has Come to Inspect the Post!

Is it over already?

The madam beamed from ear to ear, her heart blooming with joy, yet she feigned a tone of reluctance on her lips: "My good sir, that is three hundred wen..."

"This girl, I will take her," Zhang Muyang interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Three liang of silver, I am redeeming her!"

"Redeeming her?"

The madam shook her head and sighed, "Ping'er is the lucky star of this establishment! Ever since she arrived, the number of guests has multiplied. Ten liang, not a single coin less!"

Hmph!

Who didn't know that one hundred thousand iron-clad cavalry of Northern Yan were pressing hard at the border, and Zhenbei Pass was in imminent peril? Once the city fell, these beauties amidst the powder and rouge would undoubtedly be seized by the Yan bandits as playthings. By then, not to mention silver, even their lives couldn't be saved!

Zhang Muyang's fingers stroked the hilt of the Hanling saber at his waist, and he sneered, "I will offer four liang at most!"

"It cost me three liang just to buy her! Over all these years, her food, clothing, lodging, and the etiquette I taught her—which of these did not cost money?"

"I have raised her as if she were my own flesh and blood!"

"For the sake of Commander Wu, I will painfully make a concession... nine liang!"

The madam gritted her teeth, the fat on her face twitching involuntarily.

Commander?

Zhang Muyang gave a cold snort. "Did you not know? Our Lord Commander crushed the Blood Wolf Cavalry at Hufeng Pass, earning immense military merit, and has now been promoted to Deputy Commander."

Before his voice faded, Wu Kexiong happened to be coming down the stairs, his arms around two maidens, and barked, "That is right! Madam, since it is a person my brother Zhang has set his eyes on, you had better lower the price further."

The madam's eyes lit up, and she asked, "Master Wu, are you truly promoted to Deputy Commander?"

"Naturally. Tomorrow at the hour of the horse, the drill grounds will hold a roll call; you will see me there once you go."

"Oh my, how could I ever doubt Master Wu?"

Deputy Commander?

In Zhenbei Pass, this was a position second only to one and superior to tens of thousands!

If she could secure the thick thigh of Wu Kexiong, would those ruffian soldiers ever dare to come cause trouble in the brothel again?

The madam rolled her eyes, a cunning thought flashing through her mind, and instantly smiled, "Since Deputy Commander Wu and Master Zhang have both spoken... Three liang! I shall consider it making a good connection, and I'll even cover her meal expenses for all these years!"

"No need."

Zhang Muyang shook his head, slammed a five-liang silver ingot onto the table with a crisp thud, and declared resolutely, "I offer five liang, and you will fetch the indenture of servitude right now! From this day forth, she is my woman."

"Very well! Very well!"

The madam beamed with delight, the wrinkles on her face bunching together as she hastily fetched the indenture.

Zhang Muyang took the light yet life-weighty piece of paper, didn't even look at it, and crossed his hands...

Rip!

The indenture shattered in response, turning into countless fluttering butterflies that drifted downward.

Zhang Muyang said loudly, "Ping'er, you are free. From now on, no one shall dare bully you again."

Ping'er collapsed to her knees with a soft thud, tears streaming down her face: "Thank you, thank you, master, for redeeming me..."

Ding!

A crisp system prompt suddenly exploded in his mind:

[Physique: Elite Soldier +1]
[Current number of wives: 4 (Yang Wenxiu, Yang Wenjuan, Han Li, Li Ping'er)]
[Current status: Stamina 5.0 -> 6.0]
[Fortune +1 (from Li Ping'er)]
[Cultivation Realm: Late Flesh-Refining Realm]
[Strength: 1,200 catties (50% bonus, 1,800 catties, equivalent to the mid Bone-Refining Realm)]

A surge of overwhelming strength instantly flooded his entire body, his limbs and bones seemingly re-forged, brimming with an unprecedented explosive force.

Zhang Muyang's heart shook violently, and he finally understood: the reason the system didn't react earlier wasn't because it was ineffective, but because Ping'er hadn't truly belonged to him yet!

Now, by redeeming her, destroying her indenture, and cementing her status, he had gained the recognition of the "Marry to Grow Stronger" system.

The surrounding maidens watched this scene with eyes full of deep envy, even jealousy.

Why was there no one to redeem them and lead them out of this sea of suffering?

The madam scoffed, "Ping'er simply has good fortune, meeting a noble soul. The rest of you, banish such idle thoughts."

"I must march for battle presently, so it is inconvenient to take her along."

Zhang Muyang took out another three liang of silver, placed it on the table, and said in a deep voice, "Ping'er shall stay here for the time being, but you must guarantee that she will not be mistreated. This is for her food expenses."

Naturally!

The madam snatched the silver, shoved it into her bosom, and flashed a flattering smile. "Rest assured, master, Ping'er is just like my own daughter. I will surely take good care of her and never let her suffer the slightest grievance."

Zhang Muyang nodded, helped Ping'er to her feet, and offered her some comforting words.

The military barracks were filled with men; it wouldn't be convenient for her, a young woman, to go over there. Moreover... if the soldiers found out he had brought a female dependent into the camp, it would violate military discipline, and the consequences would be unimaginable.

For now, staying in the brothel without having to entertain guests was unquestionably the best arrangement.

Once he finished handling this pressing matter, he would take her home.

Li Ping'er was pale with fright, dropped to her knees once more, and pleaded in panic, "Master! Are... are you abandoning me? I can work, I can wash clothes, I can cook..."

"Do not let your imagination run wild. Since I spent six liang of silver to redeem you, how could I abandon you? Rest assured and wait for me here."

"I... Very well, then I shall wait for master."

"Hmph!"

Zhang Muyang suddenly let out a cold snort, his gaze sweeping across the madam and the surrounding people like the edge of a blade.

Clang!

The Hanling saber leaped from its scabbard!

Zhang Muyang raised his hand and brought the blade down, slicing off the corner of the table with a single stroke. The cut was as smooth as a mirror, as if it had been meticulously polished. Even more terrifyingly, a layer of frost had formed over the severed surface, and a biting chill permeated the air, dropping the temperature of the entire hall by several degrees.

Hiss...

This display instantly stunned everyone into silence.

Zhang Muyang stood holding his saber, his icy gaze finally locking onto the madam.

Scared out of her wits, the madam lost all color in her face and trembled like a chaff-sifter, stammering, "Rest assured, Master Zhang... I, I will surely treat Ping'er like a bodhisattva and never... never let her suffer the slightest grievance!"

Only then did Zhang Muyang return the saber to its scabbard.

He turned to look at Ping'er, his gaze instantly softening as he pulled out two pieces of fragmented silver and pressed them into her palm. "Take this silver, buy whatever you wish, and do not wrong yourself. Wait for me to return and fetch you."

Ping'er gripped the silver tightly, tears bursting forth anew.

Wu Kexiong patted Zhang Muyang on the shoulder. "Alright, the hour is late; we should return to the camp."

Zhang Muyang nodded, cast one last glance at Ping'er, and headed back to the camp alongside Wu Kexiong, Chen Xiucheng, Liu Yunzhao, and the others.

The small cabin was heated quite warmly.

Su Ying and Bai Zhi were sleeping at the far end of the kang, seemingly having drifted into dreamland long ago.

Fearing he might wake them, Zhang Muyang walked in on tiptoe and quietly climbed into the blankets at the head of the kang.

The bedding was very warm.

Just as he stretched his limbs, he suddenly felt a movement beside him.

Su Ying rolled over and silently slipped into his blankets, pressing close to him with a faint, cool fragrance.

"Huh? Weren't you going drinking with Deputy Commander Wu?" Her voice was lowered to a whisper, yet it carried an undetectable sharpness. "Why is there a scent of cheap rouge on you?"

"Cough, cough, we..."

"You went to the brothel, didn't you?"

"How could that be? You're overthinking it."

"Come!"

Su Ying suddenly propped herself up, straddled Zhang Muyang, stared down at him from above, and said coldly, "Haven't you always clamored to consummate our marriage? Very well, I grant your wish today, right now..."

Boom!

Zhang Muyang felt a buzz in his head, and it instantly went blank.

It had barely been the space of a burning incense stick since his intimate encounter with Li Ping'er, and now he had to do it again... Would he be able to manage?

Yet Su Ying didn't care about any of that; she had already started untying his sash.