Volume 1, Chapter 66: Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

A short parting is like a new honeymoon!

Who cares whether it was day or night.

As soon as Zhang Muyang and Han Li returned home, they couldn't wait to embrace and tumble onto the heated brick bed.

Yang Wenxiu and Yang Wenjuan flushed red, feeling extremely shy and embarrassed. Exchanging a glance with a tacit understanding, they slipped outside.

"Husband..." Han Li wrapped around him tightly like an octopus, burning with passion.

"Wait!"

Zhang Muyang felt a bit concerned and quickly checked Han Li's pulse. Finding it steady, he was relieved that nothing was amiss.

Han Li panted and asked, "What is it?"

"I was checking to see if you were with child. Not yet, so we can go ahead without any worries."

"Go ahead with what?"

"Whatever you want to do."

After a fierce and passionate battle, things finally settled down a while later.

However, curled up together beneath the warm quilt, Han Li still clung tightly to Zhang Muyang, her heart and eyes filled with reluctance to part.

Guessing the time had come, Yang Wenxiu and Yang Wenjuan returned with blushing faces, quietly sitting by the edge of the bed.

Han Li leaned lazily against Zhang Muyang's chest and asked, "Husband, tell us about your trip to the Northern Frontier. It must have been thrilling, right?"

"Thrilling? It was nothing short of magnificent!"

From defending Hufeng Pass where five hundred reinforcements bravely held off five thousand Blood Wolf Cavalry in a bitter struggle, to the perilous stratagems of ice caves, fire attacks, and giant boulders, down to burning the Blood Wolf Cavalry's grain supplies alongside Su Ying, as well as the vanguard camps of the Rong tribe and Northern Yan... He recounted it all. The three women gasped in surprise one moment and held their breaths the next, their hearts leaping into their throats.

Even though they knew Zhang Muyang was safe and sound right in front of them, they still felt a lingering dread.

"You..." Han Li suddenly sat straight up, stared at Zhang Muyang, and said loudly, "Stand up and let us take a look at you!"

"What?"

"Get up quickly and let us inspect you properly!"

Not only her, but Yang Wenxiu and Yang Wenjuan also gazed intently at him, their eyes filled with worry and determination.

Wait... he wasn't wearing any clothes yet!

Zhang Muyang felt somewhat awkward, but unable to resist them, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and stand up.

The three women immediately crowded around him, examining his body carefully, inch by inch. Sure enough, a few faint scars had been added to his bronze skin, but fortunately, they had all healed without any major issues.

Only then did the three women finally set aside their hanging hearts, warning him, "Husband, in future battles... you must be extremely careful!"

"I know. I'm about to become a father now, so I value my life dearly!"

Zhang Muyang laughed heartily, feeling a faint sense of anticipation deep within.

The 'Marry a Wife to Grow Stronger' system granted the physique of an elite soldier for every wife he married.

What about... having an offspring?

Continuing the family lineage in this manner, he was certain the system would grant rewards as well.

Zhang Muyang checked the system interface:

[Name: Zhang Muyang]
[Cultivation: Mid-Stage Bone-Refining Realm]
[Current Number of Wives: 5 (Yang Wenxiu, Yang Wenjuan, Han Li, Su Ying, Li Ping'er)]
[Stamina: 8.0]

[Strength: 1,600 catties (50% bonus: 2,400 catties, equivalent to the Mid-Stage Meridian-Refining Realm)]
[Cold Feather Saber Blood-Thirst Growth: 45/100]
[God-Slaying Dao Proficiency: 62/100]

Han Li snuggled into his arms and softly asked, "Husband, how long... can you stay at home this time?"

"Only three days." Zhang Muyang sighed.

"Ah? Only three days!"

Han Li could not hide her disappointment.

Glancing at Yang Wenxiu and Yang Wenjuan, she smiled faintly, "Elder Sister Yang, isn't the village preparing the pig-slaughtering feast? Shouldn't we go help out and see when the banquet can start?"

Humph!

How could Yang Wenxiu fail to understand her little scheme? She smiled and said, "Alright, we'll go help right now and won't come back until it gets dark."

"Ah? As long as that?" Yang Wenjuan didn't catch on immediately.

"Let's go."

Yang Wenxiu dragged Yang Wenjuan outside. No one knew what she whispered to her, but Yang Wenjuan's face instantly blushed all the way to the tips of her ears.

Back inside the room, Han Li's warm body pressed tightly against him once more, as if determined to melt Zhang Muyang away completely.

This woman... her passion was simply overwhelming.

Fortunately, Zhang Muyang's physical stamina far exceeded that of ordinary men; otherwise, he truly might not have been able to endure it.

A stamina of 8.0 was equivalent to the combined total of eight elite soldiers!

It wasn't until Han Li was finally thoroughly satisfied, lying lazily and limply across the bed, that she whispered softly, "Husband, do you think... when will I be able to conceive a child?"

"This... it should happen very soon."

"I want to conceive within these three days."

"Alright, alright."

Which man would ever refuse such a request?

Besides, this very well might be tied to the further growth of the system!

Husband!

As if suddenly remembering something important, Han Li flipped over, sat up abruptly, and said excitedly, "Come on, come with me to the back mountain again!"

"What for?"

"Just follow me and you'll see!"

The two mounted their horses and galloped all the way back to the cave in the back mountain.

Zhang Muyang pulled out two jars of fine wine, handed them to Blacksmith Han, and smiled, "Old man, try this strong liquor from the Northern Frontier."

This was the specially brewed fiery spirit of the Border-Pacifying Army. It hit the throat like swallowing liquid fire, with an immense afterkick that ordinary people couldn't buy with money.

For Blacksmith Han, who loved good wine, this was more precious than any gold or jewels.

Haha!

Blacksmith Han laughed heartily, "At least you brat have some filial piety, and I didn't waste my effort. Come... put this on and try it out."

It was a soft armor shimmering with a dull metallic luster!

For over half a month,

Blacksmith Han and Han Li had spent the vast majority of their effort on this soft armor, aside from forging military sabers.

The inner lining of the armor was sewn with dozens of cleverly hidden pockets, capable of holding poison-tipped steel needles, triangular military daggers, flying tiger claws, and other hidden weapons, making it extremely convenient. Vital areas such as the chest and back were specially thickened. No matter how sharp the sword or how piercing the arrow, trying to pierce it through in a single strike was no easy task!

This was practically equivalent to gaining an extra life!

Taking the heavy soft armor, which embodied so much effort and care, Zhang Muyang felt an inexplicable wave of emotion: "Thank you, Old Father Han!"

"We're all family, why stand on ceremony?"

"Humph, I helped Dad forge this meticulously. If you're going to thank anyone, you should thank me first!" Han Li pouted.

"Thank you! A heavy reward is a must!"

Zhang Muyang smiled, leaned close to Han Li's ear, and whispered a few words.

Han Li instantly beamed with joy, playfully tapping him with her fist, her face full of affection and delight.

Old Father Han smiled and said in a deep voice, "Muyang, come with me."

Nodding, Zhang Muyang followed Old Father Han deep into the cave.

Near an inconspicuous rock wall, Blacksmith Han felt around and pushed aside a disguised stone slab, revealing a concealed stone chamber hidden behind it!

The stone chamber was not large, but neatly arranged inside were dozens of newly forged Yan sabers. Their blades possessed smooth lines, and their edges gleamed with a chilling, murderous light in the dim illumination—one glance was enough to tell they were razor-sharp weapons capable of cutting a hair blown against them!

Blacksmith Han lowered his voice and asked, "What do you think of these sabers? I pulled out every trick from the bottom of my box. As for what to do with them... it's up to you."

Privately hoarding and forging military weaponry was a capital crime in the mortal realm!

Zhang Muyang's expression turned solemn as he slowly shook his head, "We aren't selling a single one."

"Not selling them? Then why go to all this trouble to forge so many sabers?"

"We'll use them ourselves!" Zhang Muyang said with unwavering determination.

"What? Use them ourselves?!"

Upon hearing this, both Blacksmith Han and Han Li, who had followed them in, changed countenance, their expressions turning gravely serious. "You mean..."

Indeed!

Zhang Muyang nodded heavily.

His trip to Zhenbei Pass had completely opened his eyes.

The Border-Pacifying Army, the Rong tribe, Northern Yan, and even Prince Beijing—all these various factions were intricately entangled, and every single one was fraught with danger.

What good was having a loyal and valiant general like Xiao烈? To the imperial court, he was merely a chess piece guarding the frontier, one whose military pay and grain supplies couldn't even be guaranteed on time!

With the Rong tribe and Northern Yan eyeing them hungrily from without, and Prince Beijing colluding with foreign enemies to plot independence from within,

A chaotic era was approaching. To survive and protect the people he cherished, he had to possess his own independent strength!

Zhang Muyang said in a deep voice, "Old Father, Li'er, you might have to work hard in the future. If that day truly comes... are you afraid?"

"Haha! What is there to be afraid of?"

"Losing your head is just a scar the size of a rice bowl! I've lived this long and seen through it all! Let's give those bastards hell!"

Old Father Han laughed loudly, not taking the danger to heart at all.

Han Li also gripped Zhang Muyang's hand tightly, her gaze resolute, "Husband, no matter what decision you make or how far you go, we sisters will always stand by your side!"

"Good!"

Zhang Muyang's eyes burned with determination. Even if only for the sake of his family, he would forge a path of survival through this chaotic world...