Gao Wu Da Ming: Starting as a military household and ascending to the rank of Martial Saint

After three days of practice, I've finally gotten the hang of it; this speed is pretty good.

Once this technique appears on the panel, the learning speed will be faster than before.

Tomorrow, I'll go to Shenshan Market to see how their martial arts school is doing, and also ask them about the next steps in the Yihequan training program.

Yu Shaowu let out a long sigh of relief, stepped off the stake, and while washing his body with water, opened the control panel:

[Name: Yu Shaowu]

【Strength: 2.8】

[Agility: 3.6]

[Endurance: 3.5]

First Equipment Slot: Zhenhai Patrol Bow

Second Equipment Slot: Black Wolf Armor

[Special Skills: Insightful observation, unerring aim, and swift as a tiger]

Yu Shaowu was quite satisfied with the training method for beginners of Yihequan. Not only did his attributes improve significantly, but he also mastered a new ultimate skill.

The phrase "galloping like a tiger" literally means that it's like a tiger suddenly leaping up and attacking, its power unstoppable. From this perspective, it should be a tactic of close-range surprise attack.

Yu Shaowu immediately gave it a try. He bent his knees slightly, aimed at the millstone in the distance, and suddenly exerted his strength. In an instant, his speed increased dramatically, and he rushed to the side of the millstone, almost unable to stop and crashing into it.

At this speed, Yu Shaowu felt it was at least three to five times faster than his previous speed. Against an opponent of equal skill, there would be no way to stop him. Even against a master, it could launch a surprise attack.

However, such surprise attacks are very strenuous and cannot be performed continuously like having keen insight or hitting a target from a hundred paces.

According to Yu Shaowu's attempts and estimates, it takes about five seconds to activate once, and it is also affected by physical strength.

Even so, Yu Shaowu was quite satisfied. After all, it was only the beginning of the Boxer Rebellion, and being able to grasp even one of its unique techniques was already an unexpected delight.

Actually, there was no similar technique in the Boxer Rebellion. He guessed that it was because he had practiced leg techniques for a long time that he might have come up with such a unique skill.

If that's the case, then one might not need to be bound by the established techniques to comprehend unique skills; one could simply learn and comprehend them according to one's own ideas.

However, this is just Yu Shaowu's guess, and it still needs to be verified.

Now that he had grasped the basics of the Boxer Rebellion, he relaxed and prepared to rest for a while. There were steamed buns and pickled vegetables left by the Wan family on the stove, which would be just enough to fill his stomach.

He has been practicing continuously these past few days, eating at least six or seven meals a day, but he is still very hungry. There's no way around it; his physical strength is being depleted too quickly, and he relies entirely on food to replenish it.

He had heard that Taoist alchemists could concoct some miraculous elixirs that, once consumed, could quickly restore physical strength, far superior to dietary supplements. Unfortunately, he couldn't obtain these himself and could only maintain his strength through constant eating.

Just as they were enjoying their meal, Madam Wan returned from buying groceries. Seeing that Yu Shaowu wasn't practicing martial arts, she asked with delight, "Husband, have you mastered the Yihe stance?"

Yu Shaowu smiled slightly, secretly using his "Galloping Tiger" technique, and with a burst of speed, he arrived in front of Wan Shi and picked her up in one go.

Madam Wan was startled, then exclaimed with a mixture of surprise and delight, "Husband, what kind of magic is this? How could it be so fast?"

Yu Shaowu carried her in one arm, casually placing the basket on her shoulder on the ground as he walked towards the inner room, saying, "Let's go inside, and I'll explain everything to you in detail."

These past few days, Yu Shaowu had been practicing martial arts, leaving no opportunity for intimacy. Madam Wan was also eager, but said reservedly, "Husband, how about tonight? It's not appropriate in the daytime. I'll go prepare a meal for you."

"One during the day, and another at night," Yu Shaowu said without stopping. "You've fed me well these past few days, now it's time to repay my wife."

Wan let Yu Shaowu hold her, leaning on his shoulder, feeling utterly blissful....

After all that fuss, the couple stayed in bed, snuggling together, neither of them speaking, the room filled with a sweet atmosphere.

After a long while, Madam Wan gently drew circles on Yu Shaowu's chest and said, "Tomorrow is the day to pay the summer tax. When I went out today, Aunt Liu from next door came over to beg me, saying that her family hadn't raised enough money and wanted our help. Otherwise, her eldest son would get thirty lashes and her second son would have to be made a soldier."

Yu Shaowu asked casually, "Did you agree to their request?"

Wan shook her head and said, "I didn't agree. I'm bringing it up now because I want to discuss it with you."

Yu Shaowu gently stroked her cheek and said, "Then agree to her request. However, a written agreement for the grain loan must be drawn up, and the village elder must be a witness when it is drawn up."

Madam Wan said, "However, a few days ago when my husband was practicing archery in the mound, those two sons of the Liu family mocked him in every way, which was really annoying."

Yu Shaowu said in a deep voice, "But when we first arrived, didn't Aunt Liu help our family? As the saying goes, it's better to resolve conflicts than to make them fester. Besides, we're neighbors, so there's no need to make enemies. As for her two sons, they are indeed annoying. The reason we drew up the agreement wasn't for the interest, but so that we could easily control them in the future and keep them from making a fuss in front of us."

Madam Wan raised her head, her large eyes fixed on Yu Shaowu, and said sincerely, "Husband, I feel you have really changed a lot..."

Yu Shaowu asked, "How did it change?"

Madam Wan said, "You've matured a lot and are no longer so extreme. If it were before, you would definitely be vengeful and would never let the Liu family off easily."

Yu Shaowu laughed and said, "So, do you like the changes in me?"

"Yes." Madam Wan nodded heavily, burying her face in Yu Shaowu's arms, and said, "I...I am so happy."

Seeing Wan Shi's shy expression as she confessed her love, Yu Shaowu's desire intensified. He said, "There's something even more pleasing to you..." and kissed Wan Shi's cheek.

Just as they were lost in their sweet romance, a sudden, violent banging came from outside, followed by a gruff voice shouting, "Yu Shaowu, open the door!"

Yu Shaowu knew the visitors meant no harm, so he quickly put on his clothes, told Wan to stay inside, and went outside to open the door.

Zhao Hansan, the flag bearer from Yaomaodun, and a soldier wearing a mandarin duck battle jacket stood outside the door.

When the soldier saw Yu Shaowu come out, he immediately said, "Yu Shaowu, the commander of the thousand households wants you to go to the thousand households' office immediately."

Yu Shaowu's heart skipped a beat, and he cupped his hands and said, "Yes, I have neither horse nor donkey. I will prepare some dry rations and set off now."

"Hurry up, don't delay the commander's business." After saying this, the soldier mounted a fast horse and quickly rode away.

After he left, Yu Shaowu asked Zhao Hansan, "Uncle Zhao, didn't my wife already pay the summer tax yesterday? Why did the commander summon a lowly soldier like me?"

"It shouldn't be because of the summer tax. How could the Commander-in-Chief care about such a trivial matter?" Zhao Hansan said with a slight smile. "Perhaps it's just a question. Shaowu, don't be nervous, hurry up and go."

Seeing that he couldn't get anything out of him, Yu Shaowu cupped his hands and said, "Yes, Uncle Zhao."

After seeing off Zhao Hansan, the young officer, and returning home, Madam Wan was already dressed and standing in the courtyard. She greeted him with a worried expression and said, "Husband, could it be that Duke Wei of the capital is going to cause trouble for us again?"

"It shouldn't be that bad," Yu Shaowu reassured him. "If it were officials from the imperial court, the procession would be much larger."

Although he said this, he was indeed somewhat worried, so he added, "If I don't return by the next day, go to Shenshan Market and find Ji Shouyi and He Huan. These are brothers I met on Tumen Mountain, and they will take care of you."

Madam Wan shook her head and said, "I will wait for my husband here."

Yu Shaowu said, "Go ahead without worry. No matter what happens, I will definitely come to find you."

Only then did Madam Wan agree, saying, "Then, my husband, please be careful on your journey."

"Hmm." Yu Shaowu nodded, picked up his equipment and dry rations, put on his mandarin duck battle jacket, and headed northeast.