Starting from his vigorous old age, he began to conquer Liaozhai.

Cao Xiong sensed that Nie Xiaoqian's condition was indeed off today.

He reached out and gently patted Nie Xiaoqian's back a few times before continuing.

"I'm not afraid of Takeichi, I just want to make some preparations in advance."

Nie Xiaoqian buried her face in Cao Xiong's shoulder, her voice languid.

"Zhu Quanzi went into seclusion this time to heal his injuries. Judging from his injuries, he should have recovered almost completely now and will emerge from seclusion in less than ten days."

"Be careful, I can't help you."

Nie Xiaoqian's voice carried a hint of concern.

"Within ten days?"

Cao Xiong felt somewhat heavy-hearted, knowing he wouldn't be able to break through to the Tendon Refining Realm within ten days.

He has decided to head to the county seat as soon as possible, and continue the bandit suppression campaign after his return.

New recruits also need to undergo training for a period of time.

"Miss Xiaoqian, a few days ago, bandits from the outskirts of the Ten Thousand Mountains were plundering the people. This seems to be related to Granny Tree Demon. Could you tell me about Granny Tree Demon?"

Nie Xiaoqian trembled and pulled away from Cao Xiong's embrace. "I didn't realize Lord Cao was such a troublemaker!"

"The Tree Demon Granny is the most powerful monster on the outskirts of these 100,000 mountains, a great demon in the late stage of Qi Refining."

"Grandma's true form is a thousand-year-old banyan tree that cannot be moved. Over the years, she has been maintaining her clones by relying on human essence and blood."

"However, you don't need to worry. Her clone can't leave her main body for too long, and because of the fortune of the Ming Dynasty, it can't even leave the Ten Thousand Mountains."

Nie Xiaoqian told Cao Xiong all the details about the Tree Demon Granny.

Then she continued, "Do you know why I was so certain that Zhuquanzi would agree to help Yaksha?"

"Why?" Cao Xiong asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Because Yaksha is the adopted son of the Tree Demon Granny, Takezumi wants to use Yaksha to seek refuge with Granny."

"I see!"

Cao Xiong narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Hehe, it seems Lord Cao has a solution. I was worried for nothing."

As Nie Xiaoqian spoke, a black bead suddenly appeared in her hand.

"This is a Yin Lightning Pearl. If necessary, throwing it out can unleash a bolt of Yin Lightning, equivalent to the full-force attack of a Qi Refining stage cultivator."

Cao Xiong took the Yin Lei Pearl and carefully placed it in his bosom.

"I have no way to repay the kindness of Miss Xiaoqian."

"Hehe, how can you say you have nothing to repay me with, Lord Cao? I'm injured and my yin energy has dissipated. Tonight, Lord Cao, you'll have to put in a lot of effort."

"Miss Xiaoqian, feel free to smoke."

Cao Xiong spoke these words seriously. He hadn't lost much yang energy during their first two meetings and recovered easily.

Compared to what Nie Xiaoqian left behind each time, he really got a great deal.

Nie Xiaoqian moved closer to Cao Xiong again, her eyes brimming with tears, "Don't make promises you can't keep."

Before Cao Xiong could react, Nie Xiaoqian tiptoed and kissed him on the lips.

Cao Xiong instantly felt as if something was rapidly draining from his body.

This time, Nie Xiaoqian absorbed yang energy for more than twice as long.

After it was over, Cao Xiong felt unsteady on his feet and his legs felt weak.

He couldn't help but complain inwardly, this time it was a real financial drain.

Nie Xiaoqian's complexion had changed significantly since she first arrived.

His complexion was rosy and he looked radiant.

"Miss Xiaoqian, could you please choose a place closer to us next time we meet?"

Nie Xiaoqian tilted her head. "Didn't you practice the lightness skill I gave you last time?"

Cao Xiong was taken aback. What did she mean? She gave him the lightness skill manual not as compensation, but to make it easier for him to come here and meet her?

"Pfft, alright. I've lived deep in the mountains all year round and I'm not familiar with the outside world. This place is just fine."

See you next month, if you survive.

Nie Xiaoqian's figure suddenly disappeared.

"Can't you wish me something good?"

Cao Xiong didn't linger and rode back to Guobei County.

After returning to his barracks at the centurion's office, Cao Xiong lay down on the bed and slept for most of the day.

This time, he really paid too high a price.

Even in the afternoon, Cao Xiong's lips were still somewhat pale, making him look like he was recovering from a serious illness.

"Uncle Cao, did you go to a place like that?"

After Wang Er arrived at Cao Xiong's barracks, he kept stealing glances at Cao Xiong, and finally couldn't help but ask.

Cao Xiong's face darkened. "What nonsense are you talking about? I just had a minor mishap while practicing my skills."

Wang Er nodded quickly, winking, "Uncle Cao, I understand."

Cao Xiong's face turned completely dark; Wang Er's brain was full of yellow.

"What brings you here?"

Wang Er quickly laid a folded sheet of Xuan paper on the table.

"Uncle Cao, look, this is the method I came up with to improve the musket."

Cao Xiong looked at the spread-out Xuan paper and saw a sketch of the improved musket, accompanied by text comparing the improvements.

He looked at Wang Er, "Did you figure this out?"

Wang Er scratched his head. "Hehe, Uncle Cao, you know I usually like to do some carpentry. If I hadn't had to join the army, I would have been a carpenter long ago."

"Hey, I never realized before, you're a real talent."

"Tell me in detail."

"Okay."

Wang Er picked up the blueprints with great interest. "Uncle Cao, look, the current muskets are too slow, shoot too close, have a low hit rate, and are easily misfired due to wind and rain."

"This is what I think: the slow speed and short range are mainly due to the musket being too short and the barrel wall being too thin. So, if the musket barrel is lengthened and the barrel wall in the powder chamber area is thickened, wouldn't that improve the situation?"

"There are many reasons for the low hit rate, but I found that a very important reason is that every time you use a musket, you have to hold the match cord to light it, which makes the musket unstable. If we can install a mechanism to control the match cord, and pull the lever, the match cord will automatically drop and ignite, so that you don't have to take your hand off the musket, which will definitely improve the hit rate."

"Also, the touch hole of the musket is open, so rainwater can easily get in when it rains, and strong winds can easily scatter the gunpowder."

"We can add a thin copper sheet to make a sliding fuse cover, which can be opened when loading and igniting the propellant and closed when not in use."

After saying that, Wang Er stared at Cao Xiong with an excited expression.

"Good, your idea is excellent. I'll put you in charge of this. Just tell me what kind of help you need. I want you to produce the improved musket within a month."

Cao Xiong's eyes gleamed. If these ideas could be implemented, the power of the muskets could at least double.

If the Hundred Households of Guobei County had twenty improved muskets, he would dare to venture into not only the bandits on the outskirts of the Ten Thousand Mountains, but also the dens of monsters guarded by Qi Refining Realm cultivators.

"Uncle Cao, firearms are strictly controlled prohibited items by the imperial court. How could an ordinary blacksmith make such a thing?"

"So I'd like you to find Master Lu."

Cao Xiong pondered for a moment, realizing that the problem Wang Er had raised did indeed exist.

Putting everything else aside, just crafting a musket barrel is something no ordinary blacksmith can do.

Moreover, improving the musket also involves mechanical engineering, and apart from Old Lu, he really couldn't think of a second person who could do it.

"You'll come with me to the Lu family's blacksmith shop tomorrow."