138 Take your time

Signing names? 

Writing a book? 

Lin Feng instantly got as excited as if he had been injected with chicken blood. His eyes, like grapes, sparkled with a bright light. Chu Yao watched from the side, not sure whether to let it go or intervene. 

What "Pig Castration Manual"? 

If it really got passed down to future generations, and people saw the names "Shen Tang" and "Lin Feng," then looked up their backgrounds and genders... Chu Yao couldn't even imagine the scene. 

Shen Tang was very generous and said with a smile, "Xiao Fang and Ban Bu also helped. When we finish writing it, we'll mention their contributions too." 

Chu Yao: "..." 

Let's skip that part. 

Lin Feng just thought his master was really amazing, knowledgeable, and skilled at many things, so he looked at Shen Tang with even more respect and admiration. 

The piglets needed to recover, so Shen Tang's days became noticeably boring. Luckily, he had Zhai Le as a companion. The two of them together were more than double the trouble, and there was nothing in the bandit camp they couldn't play with. 

Of course, they weren't just playing in the dirt. 

If they weren't hunting in the mountains, they were sparring in the simple training ground. One didn't use Wu Dan, the other didn't use Wen Xin, and they always ended in a draw. They compared swordsmanship, archery, strength, reaction speed, jumping height... always ending up sweaty. 

Qi Shan and Chu Yao watched all this. 

They looked at each other, speechless. 

Qi Shan: Is this really a girl? 

Chu Yao: I am not blind. I don't believe it. 

It wasn't that they didn't want to believe it; the facts in front of them made it impossible. Qi Shan even thought this one was more troublesome than all the previous "candidates" combined. 

"Just hope the right moment comes soon." Qi Shan rubbed his forehead. If Shen Xiaolangjun didn't go crazy from boredom, the two of them would go crazy first. 

Chu Yao said, "I'll go down the mountain tomorrow to see." 

Just one spark, one right moment, and the entire northwest would be plunged into the chaos of war. To avoid being caught and killed in the chaos, they could only fight against the odds and carve out a way to survive. 

——————

"Phew— It's a pity Shen Xiong is a Wen Xin scholar. Otherwise, we could create a sandbox battlefield and have a match." 

Zhai Le was drenched in sweat, looking like he had just been fished out of water. To cool off, he loosened his collar, exposing half his shoulder. 

Shen Xiong was sweating as much as he was. Perhaps because scholars love etiquette, he would rather be hot than unbutton his collar, despite Zhai Le encouraging him twice. 

Shen Tang: "Sandbox battlefield? Is it fun?" 

These words were not unfamiliar, but from what Zhai Le said, it seemed different from what she thought of as "sandbox" and "battlefield." 

Zhai Le enthusiastically explained, "Fun, of course, it's fun." 

The so-called "sandbox battlefield" is a "game" that combines the abilities of Wen Xin and Wu Dan—an "alternate space" constructed by the combined forces of mental and martial energy. In this "alternate space," each side defends a city and commands an army. 

The "alternate space game" of Wen Xin scholars takes the form of a chessboard, while that of Wu Dan warriors takes the form of a rugged sandbox.

Zhai Le explained, and Shen Tang immediately understood. 

Isn't this just like encrypted words on paper? 

"From the side, it looks like a ridge; from the front, a peak. The view differs with each angle." 

She had tried to decipher it, but couldn't figure it out. She thought this world lacked entertainment, but she didn't expect there to be "online games." 

Interesting (*▽*) 

Too bad they couldn't play because one was a scholar and the other a warrior. 

Shen Tang lay on a haystack with her hands behind her head, lazily squinting her eyes, and mumbled, "Isn't it the same for us now?" 

In reality, they fought, and in the "alternate space," they would still be fighting. 

Zhai Le laughed and said, "Not the same, how could it be the same? When you and I spar, it's just brute strength, at most it's 'dueling before the battle.' One-on-one is not enough to learn from. Two armies clashing is different; that's a battle of ten thousand, that's what I want!" 

Shen Tang teased, "Learning to be a master of ten thousand? So Xiao Fang has ambitions of a conqueror... Yes, commanding thousands of troops, that's indeed a scene that can make one's blood boil..." 

Man or woman, it doesn't matter. 

No one can refuse that. 

Yes, she couldn't refuse either. 

Zhai Le mumbled, "That's why it's a pity." 

There were few peers who matched his interests like Shen Xiong. Not being able to truly compete with Shen Xiong made him itch with anticipation... 

Shen Tang murmured, "No need to regret." 

Maybe one day it will happen. 

Zhai Le said, "By the way, I'm going back tomorrow." 

He didn't know if his brother had finished his work yet. Sigh, he thought it was unnecessary to get involved in the affairs of Xiao City. 

——————

"Lang Jun." 

Shen Tang was about to go back to the house to take a bath. 

On the way, she met someone unexpected. 

It was Li Li, whom she hadn't seen much of for two days. 

"What's the matter?" 

Li Li took a deep breath, his facial muscles tense with nervousness, unconsciously clenching his fists, hesitating for a few seconds. 

"Lang Jun, were your words that day true?" 

Shen Tang said, "Believe it and it is true, don't believe it and it's not." 

She didn't make any promises. Even though she knew she had the "national seal," she didn't know where it was or how to use it. She might not be able to help Li Li, but if she could subdue it... there might be a pleasant surprise.

Shen Tang smiled and asked, "So, have you changed your mind?"

Li Li nodded, "Yes."

Shen Tang didn't care to know what had changed Li Li's mind. As long as it benefited her, that was enough; there was no need to delve deeper.

"In that case, you should follow Banbu closely and learn well. I'll talk to him later. How much you learn depends on yourself."

Gong Shu Wu, Gong Wen, they were also potentially unstable. Currently following them was largely due to Qishan's persuasion, coupled with being at a loss and having no other choice.

But he was from the Gong family after all, and also a ninth-tier military officer, a popular warrior. Once the Northwest countries fall into chaos or the regime led by Zheng Qiao collapses, it would be the day for Gong Wenhaito to seek wider horizons, not necessarily willing to stay in Shen Tang's shallow waters.

Therefore, plan ahead.

Li Li was stunned at these words, "Is that all?"

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