In this chaotic world of vying for power, I can become stronger by marrying a wife.

Zhou Canjun stormed in with a gloomy face, followed by more than a dozen guards from the garrison.

"Zhang Meng, Su Ming has altered the marching route without authorization, killed friendly troops, and disobeyed military orders. According to the law, he should be executed! The garrison commander has ordered that he be handed over immediately!"

Zhang Meng's face darkened: "Zhou Bapi, are you blind? Didn't you see Su Ming's great contribution?"

"A great achievement?" Zhou, the military advisor, sneered. "Killing a few northern barbarians is hardly a great achievement! I think he's colluding with the northern barbarians, deliberately putting on an act to deceive you!"

The atmosphere inside the tent instantly became tense.

Su Ming smiled.

He pulled out the military merit book from his pocket and slapped it on Zhou Canjun's face.

"Open your dog eyes and take a look. Three of the Northern Barbarian spies recorded here are located in Jing'an City. One of them is surnamed Zhou."

Zhou Canjun's face turned deathly pale instantly.

"You...you're talking nonsense!"

"Whether it's nonsense or not, we'll know when the Censorate arrives." Su Ming leaned close to his ear and lowered his voice. "By the way, give Liu Cang a message for me—wash your neck clean and wait."

Zhou Canjun trembled all over, staggered back a few steps, and suddenly turned and ran.

"Stop him!" Zhang Meng roared.

But it was too late.

Zhou Canjun rushed out of the command tent, mounted his horse, and fled frantically towards Jing'an City.

Su Ming did not pursue.

He simply picked up the Great Archer Bow and nocked an armor-piercing arrow.

"Three miles away, moving target, headwind."

He muttered to himself as he slowly drew back the bowstring.

The "Dragon and Tiger Primordial Technique" within his body was operating wildly, and an unprecedented power surged out from his dantian, converging along his meridians to his fingertips.

[Ding! Host's internal energy has been detected to be at a critical point!]

[Congratulations, host, on breaking through to the eighth rank!]

[Current Level: Early Stage of Rank 8, Unlocked Skill: Internal Energy Arrow Infusion!]

A golden light flashed in Su Ming's eyes.

"collapse--!!!"

The arrow shot out like a shooting star.

Three miles away, Zhou Canjun was relieved to have escaped with his life.

The next second, an arrow wreathed in pale golden energy fell from the sky and pierced his heart with pinpoint accuracy.

Zhou Canjun stared wide-eyed, looking down in disbelief at the transparent, bloody hole in his chest.

"How... is this possible..."

He fell off his horse and never made a sound again.

Inside the command tent, everyone was dumbfounded.

A three-mile sniper kill? Is this guy even human?

Su Ming put away his bow and turned to look at Zhang Meng.

"Sir, may I be promoted now?"

Zhang Meng swallowed hard and nodded with difficulty.

"Promotion, he must be promoted."

Just then, a system notification sounded in Su Ming's mind.

[Ding! Emotional resonance with wife Li Yueru detected!]

[Li Yueru's favorability +15, current favorability: 130 (Bound by life and death)!]

[Congratulations, host, you have won one Supreme-level lottery draw!]

[Lottery Result: Heaven-Rank Cultivation Technique "Northern Darkness Devouring Heaven Technique" (can absorb the internal energy of others for one's own use)!]

Su Ming's lips curled up.

He had only just broken through to the eighth rank when he received such a heaven-defying cultivation technique.

It seems that the days ahead will become more and more interesting.

In the distance, within the city of Jing'an.

Liu Cang was drinking tea in his study.

A trusted aide suddenly rushed in, his face deathly pale.

"Sir, Military Advisor Zhou... is dead."

"What?" The teacup in Liu Cang's hand shattered with a crack. "How did he die?"

"He was... shot dead by Su Ming with an arrow, three miles away."

Liu Cang's pupils suddenly contracted.

A sniper kill in three miles?

That kid broke through to the eighth rank?

He suddenly stood up, a ruthless glint in his eyes.

"Pass down the order: mobilize all the hidden agents within the city, and kill Su Ming at all costs!"

"Also..." Liu Cang smiled coldly, "Go to Sujia Village and bring that woman named Li Yueru here."

"I want to see whether Su Ming wants fame and fortune or women."

Outside the commander's tent of the Jing'an Army camp.

As soon as Su Ming stepped out of the tent, a system notification sounded in his mind.

[Ding! Warning: Your wife, Li Yueru, is under mortal threat!]

[Source of the threat: Thirty assassins dispatched by Liu Cang, who are an hour's journey from Sujia Village.]

[Mission Triggered: Battle of the Guardians - Return to Su Family Village within two hours and eliminate all invading enemies.]

[Task Rewards: 3 random draws, Li Yueru's favorability +30.]

[Mission Failed: Li Yueru has been kidnapped; her favorability rating has been reset to zero; system level downgraded.]

Su Ming's smile froze instantly.

He slowly raised his head, the killing intent in his eyes almost tangible.

"Scar."

"arrive!"

Scarface rushed over immediately.

"Choose five brothers, bring the fastest horses, and follow me." Su Ming's voice was soft, yet it carried a chilling undertone.

"The rest of you stay at the main camp and wait for my return."

Scarface paused for a moment, then asked, "Boss, where are we going?"

"go home."

Su Ming mounted his horse, took out an oil paper package from his spatial storage, and tossed it to Scarface.

"Give this to the rest of the brothers, and let each of them have a sip. It will keep them from getting tired for three days."

That was spiritual spring water diluted tenfold.

"As for us..."

Su Ming took out several small porcelain bottles from his pocket and gave one to each person.

"This is the original solution. Drinking it will keep you in peak condition for up to an hour, but the side effect is that you will be weak for three days afterwards."

Scarface took the porcelain bottle and, without saying a word, tilted his head back and drank it down.

The other five people also drank it.

Instantly, all six men's eyes turned red, their muscles bulged, and their breathing became heavy like that of wild beasts.

"Boss, who are we going to kill?"

"Liu Cang's men."

Su Ming pulled on the reins, and the warhorse reared up.

"They want to touch my woman."

"So, they all have to die."

As soon as he finished speaking, the seven riders charged out of the camp like arrows released from a bow.

……

Sujia Village.

Li Yueru was drying medicinal herbs in the courtyard.

Since Su Ming left, she has been collecting herbs, drying and grinding them according to the recipes he left behind, and then sending them to Liuyun Pavilion to sell.

Over the past few days, she has saved more than twenty taels of silver.

"When my husband comes back, I'll make him a new cotton-padded coat."

Li Yueru smoothed the stray hairs from her forehead, a gentle smile appearing on her lips.

Just then.

Suddenly, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from the village entrance.

Li Yueru raised her head, her brows slightly furrowed.

There have never been so many horses in the village.

"Li Yueru! Get the hell out here!"

A rough roar exploded out.

Thirty burly men dressed in black and wearing masks rushed into the village, the leader carrying a blood-dripping machete.

The villagers were so frightened that they scattered and fled.

Li Yueru stood at the courtyard gate, her face pale, but her eyes were surprisingly calm.

"Who are you people?"

The leader of the men in black sneered, "These are Lord Liu's men. If you know what's good for you, come with us and you'll suffer less."

Li Yueru gripped the medicine hoe tightly in her hand.

"My husband is a captain in the Jing'an Army. If you dare to touch me, aren't you afraid he'll come after you?"

"Captain?"

The man in black laughed loudly: "Your good-for-nothing husband can't even protect himself now, and he still wants to protect you? Dream on!"

He waved his hand: "Go get them! Capture them alive!"

A dozen men in black rushed toward Li Yueru.

Li Yueru suddenly raised the hoe and smashed it hard at the person in front.

"Snapped!"

The hoe broke instantly.

The man in black grabbed her wrist and sneered, "This little wench's got a bit of a temper, I like that!"

Li Yueru gritted her teeth and slammed her knee into the other person's groin.

The man in black reacted extremely quickly, dodging to the side and slapping her across the face.

"Snapped!"

Li Yueru was slapped to the ground, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth.

But she didn't cry.

She just stared intently at the man in black, her eyes full of stubbornness.

"My husband... will kill all of you."

The man in black paused for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Fine, then I'll be waiting..."