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

Shenshanbao was one of the fortified outposts of Baode Thousand Households. Originally, it was just a beacon tower guarded by three or five military households, located on the east bank of the Yellow River.

Later, the flow of the Balougou River, which flows through Shenshan, surged and became a large river. The soldiers and civilians of Baode Prefecture then established a market at the mouth of the Balougou River, which gradually developed into a major market.

Because of its proximity to the Balougou River, Shenshanbao was continuously expanded, and its population gradually increased.

However, although the fortress was expanded, the number of troops stationed there remained the same. The fortress was now filled with merchants and settled residents. They conducted business and made a living there, and together they contributed to its construction and maintenance, becoming the cornerstone of the Shenshan market.

Having lost its function as a fortress, the original drawbridge and moats gradually fell into disrepair, and the area essentially became a village. Those maintaining order were replaced by government officials, and the military households no longer had any garrison duties.

When Yu Shaowu and Yang Xin arrived, it was already late at night. Most of the shops in Shenshanbao were closed, and the residents had turned off their lights and gone to bed. Only one or two night watchmen were left, carrying lanterns and patrolling the streets and alleys.

Yang Xin led Yu Shaowu quietly to a hill on the northeast side of the fortress, pointed to a house in the fortress that was still lit up, and said: "Master, this house belongs to Chang Qi. Liu Xingye and Zhao Daikui are both inside now."

Yu Shaowu gazed at the distant lights, his eyes sharp, and said softly, "Go and call Chang Qi out. Tell him you have something important to discuss. As his confidant, this shouldn't be difficult for you, right?"

Yang Xin said, "That's possible. Many of Chang Qi's messages are delivered by sycophants. As long as a sycophant tells him he has something important to tell him, he will come out of his room."

As he spoke, he glanced around and asked, "Master, have your helpers arrived? Chang Qi is at least at the fourth level of the Body Tempering Realm; his ability to shatter monuments and break rocks is truly formidable."

Yu Shaowu held up one finger and said, "Don't worry, as long as you call him out, I have a hundred ways to kill him."

Yang Xin was somewhat skeptical, but Yu Shaowu added, "Go quickly. If you can't summon him, I can kill you with a single move. If you don't believe me, you're welcome to try."

Yang Xin had been skeptical about the two "Three Corpse Brain God Pills" for the past few days. However, he knew the Yu family's capabilities well; they could even kill such a large wolf, so making poison would naturally not be difficult for them.

Moreover, this was a poison used to deal with Japanese pirates, so its potency was unimaginable.

His fear of the Yu family, coupled with his desire to live, made him dare not disobey in the slightest—even betraying his old boss with whom he had worked for many years was not out of the question.

Thinking of this, he gritted his teeth, immediately turned around, and headed towards the Chang residence.

Yu Shaowu quietly hid among the weeds on the hillside, gazing at the seemingly peaceful Chang residence in the distance. He silently opened the panel in his mind:

[Name: Yu Shaowu]

【Strength: 4.1】

[Agility: 5.2]

[Endurance: 4.8]

[Realm: Body Tempering Realm, Level 4]

First Equipment Slot: Zhenhai Patrol Bow

Second Equipment Slot: Black Wolf Armor

【Special Skills: Insightful observation, unerring aim, swift as a tiger, mountain-shattering power, bone-piercing power】

He had mastered these skills to perfection, but lacked practical experience. He was still unsure whether he could instantly kill an opponent of the same level.

He actually hated these ambushes and longed to rush over and kill them all by himself with just a sword. That would be true vengeance, a way to settle old scores and live a fulfilling life.

Unfortunately, my strength still doesn't allow it; I'm still not strong enough.

The countryside was eerily quiet at night. With autumn approaching, even the cicadas' chirping had subsided considerably. The moon was beginning to set in the west, and a thin layer of dark cloud drifted over, obscuring most of it. The entire earth was shrouded in darkness, with only the candlelight of the lanterns still flickering in the distance at the Chang residence.

In the candlelight, Yu Shaowu's sharp eyes quickly spotted Yang Xin walking over with a middle-aged man dressed in silk robes.

Yu Shaowu recognized the man as Chang Qi. When he first arrived at the Thousand Households Office, he and other new recruits had received his admonition at the Great Parade Ground.

As they walked, they continued to talk. Chang Qi seemed a little impatient, while Yang Xin kept bowing and smiling obsequiously, practically humbling himself.

After walking a little further, Yu Shaowu could actually use his bow and arrow to shoot. However, against a martial artist like Chang Qi, an arrow shot from an 800-pound bow wouldn't travel very fast at that distance, and Chang Qi would likely dodge it, thus alerting Chang Qi.

He had been patiently watching Chang Qi and Yang Xin slowly approach. But when they were about fifty paces apart, Chang Qi suddenly spoke up impatiently, "Yang Xin, why are you being so long-winded today? What exactly did you find in Yu Shaowu's house? Just say it right here. If you keep nagging in front of me, I'll skin you alive."

Yu Shaowu knew that this should be the best opportunity, and the distance of fifty paces was barely within his plan.

Without further hesitation, he crouched down in the grass, took out his bow, nocked an arrow, and shot it in one swift motion. The barbed arrow, which he had repeatedly honed, shot like a meteor through the sky, hurtling towards Chang Qi.

Chang Qi, as a deputy commander of a thousand men, held a fifth-rank official position and did not participate in battles, so he was used to a relaxed lifestyle. At this moment, his attention was entirely focused on Yang Xin, so how could he have expected that someone was hiding behind the hill?

Even so, he was still at the fourth level of the Body Tempering Realm. Faced with the sudden killing intent, he drew his treasured sword in the blink of an eye and swung it at the oncoming arrow.

With a clang, the sword and arrow clashed, the long arrow being deflected and flying diagonally. But in the chaos, the power of the 800-pound bow also made Chang Qi's wrist go numb, and he almost dropped his precious sword.

He gritted his teeth and gripped the sword tightly, enduring the pain. Before he could recover, he suddenly saw the figure shooting the arrow appear in an instant. In a daze, he felt that the arrow was even faster than before.

Galloping like a tiger.

Yu Shaowu used this one move to suddenly appear beside Chang Qi from a distance of forty paces, which gave him a jolt.

Taking advantage of the momentum of the attack, he braced himself, lowered his waist, and gripped the knife in his right hand, slashing fiercely from the lower right to the upper left.

As he thrust into the horse stance, two footprints immediately appeared in the grass. The force of the collapsing mountain suddenly erupted, and the blade, carrying immense power, cleaved straight at Chang Qi's heart.

Chang Qi hadn't expected the opponent's attack to be so fierce. Before he could even steady himself, the broadsword in his hand came flying at him.

He was terrified and struggled to raise his still numb arm, trying to block Yu Shaowu's fatal blow.

However, Yu Shaowu's move was a unique skill he comprehended using the panel. It was powerful and heavy, and its power actually surpassed that of the fourth level of the Body Tempering Realm.

Even if Chang Qi were fully prepared, he might not be able to stop it, especially in such a weakened state.

The moment the two swords clashed, Chang Qi's precious sword flew backward and plunged into the ground, halfway into it. Yu Shaowu's broadsword, unstoppable, cut directly into Chang Qi's chest, penetrating more than halfway in.

At the same time, Yu Shaowu's left-hand dagger followed, slicing open Chang Qi's throat and preventing him from screaming in agony before he died.

Chang Qi clutched his throat with one hand and his chest with the other, retreating continuously as blood gushed out and splattered all over the ground.

He tried to shout for help, but could only manage a series of "hoarse" sounds. His eyes were filled with fear and disbelief as he stared at Yu Shaowu and Yang Xin.

Not only him, but even Yang Xin was dumbfounded. He knew Yu Shaowu was strong, but he never expected him to be this strong.

Even if it was a sneak attack, killing a fourth-level Body Tempering Realm martial officer within two moves was truly a remarkable feat.

Knowing he was doomed, Chang Qi lunged at Yang Xin in his final moments. However, he only made it halfway before staggering to the ground, his body twitching twice before he lay still.