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

Jing'an Army Camp, early morning.

Su Ming sat up in bed, while Li Yueru was still curled up in the blankets, fast asleep.

He gently lifted the corner of the blanket, and Li Yueru frowned slightly, instinctively snuggling closer to him.

"Husband...don't go..."

Su Ming paused, looked down at her pale face, and sighed.

This girl was terribly frightened last night; she couldn't sleep soundly.

He leaned down and kissed her forehead, whispering, "Sleep now, I'm going out for a bit, I'll be right back."

Li Yueru was still asleep, but her fingers were tightly gripping the hem of his clothes.

Su Ming struggled to pull the hem of her clothes out, tucked her in, and then left the tent.

Scarface and ten others were already waiting outside.

"Boss!"

Su Ming glanced at them and saw that after three days of treatment with the spiritual spring water, the complexions of these ten people had improved significantly.

"How are you feeling?"

Scarface grinned: "Boss, I feel like I could kill a bull with one punch!"

"Stop bragging." Su Ming kicked him. "You haven't even reached the ninth rank, what are you so arrogant about?"

He took out ten booklets from his storage space and threw one to each person.

"This is a cultivation method I created based on your physiques. Go practice it yourselves. Remember, you must reach the ninth rank within three months, or I won't take you to the Northern Barbarians."

The ten people took the booklet, their eyes reddening.

"Boss...you..." The tall, thin man's voice trembled.

"Enough with the nonsense." Su Ming waved his hand impatiently. "I'm going back to the village. You're all coming with me."

Scarface paused for a moment, then asked, "Boss, what are we going back to the village for?"

"Let's visit my wife's family," Su Ming said casually, "and take care of some personal matters as well."

The ten people exchanged glances and then followed in unison.

---

Qinghe Village, the old Su family residence.

Su Ming stood at the village entrance, looking at the dilapidated village before him, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

Three months ago, when he first transmigrated here, the people in this village looked at him like he was a plague god.

just now……

"Oh my, isn't this Master Su?"

A middle-aged man with a pointed mouth and monkey-like face came running over, his face full of fawning smiles.

"Master Su, you're finally back! We've been waiting for you every day!"

Su Ming recognized him; it was Wang Mazi from the village. When Li Yueru was seriously ill, this bastard led the way in calling her a jinx.

"Oh?" Su Ming looked at him with a half-smile. "What are you hoping for?"

Wang Mazi rubbed his hands together: "Master Su, you're a captain now! The whole village is benefiting from your position!"

Su Ming sneered, ignored him, and walked straight into the village.

Wang Mazi paused for a moment, then quickly followed.

"Uncle Su, are you back this time to take Sister Yue Ru back to her parents' home? Everyone in our village has prepared gifts..."

"roll."

Su Ming didn't turn his head, coldly uttering a single word.

Wang Mazi's face froze, and he awkwardly stopped in his tracks.

Scarface and his men followed behind Su Ming, their eyes filled with disdain as they looked at the villagers who were peeking around.

"These people are such damn snobs," the tall, thin man muttered under his breath.

"Say less." Scarface slapped him. "The boss knows what he's doing."

Su Ming walked to the old locust tree at the entrance of the village and stopped.

Under the tree, an elderly man with white hair sat on a stone stool, resting with his eyes closed.

"Is Master Su back?"

The old man opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in his cloudy eyes.

Su Ming clasped his hands in greeting: "Old Liu."

He was the only person in the village who didn't kick Li Yueru when she was down; he even secretly sent her rice when she was seriously ill.

Old Liu waved his hand: "Don't be so polite, have a seat."

Su Ming sat down opposite him, and Scarface and the others consciously stepped aside.

"I heard you killed the garrison commander in Jing'an City?" Old Liu asked.

"Um."

"You also went to Heishankou?"

"Um."

Old Liu was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

"Good lad, you've got guts."

"Master Su, I've lived for over seventy years and seen all sorts of people. You're no ordinary kid."

Su Ming raised an eyebrow: "What do you mean by that, Old Liu?"

"It's nothing." Old Liu stood up, patted him on the shoulder, "I just wanted to remind you that those people in the imperial court are not to be trifled with."

He paused, then lowered his voice.

"You'll be heading to the Northern Barbarians in three months. Be careful on the road. Some people don't want you to come back alive."

Su Ming's pupils contracted.

Old Liu didn't say anything more and turned to walk back into the village.

Su Ming stared at his retreating figure, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.

This old man is no ordinary person.

---

The entrance to the Su family's old house.

Su Ming pushed open the door, and the courtyard was a mess.

He left in such a hurry that he didn't even pack up anything in the house.

"Boss, do you want us to help you tidy up?" Scarface asked.

"No need," Su Ming waved his hand. "You guys wait outside."

He went inside and looked around.

This was the room where Li Yueru used to live. Although it was simple, it was very clean.

The tattered quilt on the bed is still there, patched upon patched.

Su Ming walked over, reached out and touched the blanket, a gentle look flashing in his eyes.

This girl endured three months of illness under this tattered quilt.

He took out a brand-new brocade quilt from his spatial storage and spread it on the bed.

He then took out several new sets of clothes, folded them neatly, and placed them on the bedside table.

After doing all this, he turned and left the room.

In the courtyard, Scarface and the others were squatting in a corner studying the martial arts manual.

"Boss, this technique... we don't quite understand it..." the tall, thin man said, scratching his head.

Su Ming walked over and glanced at it.

"It's okay if you don't understand. This is a cultivation method that I improved based on the power of the dragon vein. Your physiques are not yet strong enough, so practice slowly."

He paused for a moment, then took out ten small porcelain bottles from his spatial storage.

"This is a Body Tempering Pill. Take one every day and practice it with the cultivation technique. You can reach the ninth rank within a month."

The eyes of all ten people lit up.

"Boss, how much silver does this cost...?"

"Enough with the nonsense." Su Ming kicked the scarred man. "Would I ever mistreat my brothers?"

Scarface felt a lump in his throat and suddenly knelt down.

"Boss, my life is yours!"

The other nine people also knelt down.

"Boss, we're your people from now on! We'll go through fire and water without batting an eye!"

Su Ming looked at them, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

"Alright, get up, everyone."

He paused, then lowered his voice.

"Remember this: we're going to the Northern Barbarians in three months. That's a real life-or-death battle. I can protect you for a while, but not forever. If you want to live, you fucking train like crazy!"

"yes!"

The ten people stood up in unison, their eyes filled with determination.

Just then, a series of noisy footsteps suddenly came from outside the courtyard gate.

Immediately afterwards, a sarcastic voice rang out.

"Oh my, isn't this Master Su? Why didn't you say a word before returning to the village?"

A high-pitched female voice rang out from outside the courtyard gate.

"Oh my, isn't this Master Su? Why didn't you let me know you were coming back to the village?"

Su Ming turned around and saw three people standing at the gate of the courtyard.

The woman in the lead was a woman in her forties with a mean face; she was Zhang, Li Yueru's aunt.