Chapter 229: Imparting Power

“You’re certainly not shy.”

Chen Shihu mumbled, then clapped his hands.

Two of his personal soldiers entered from outside the tent.

Chen Shihu pointed at Lu Bai and said to the two soldiers, “Take him to have a bath, get him a change of clothes, and then bring him back. Also, prepare some Golden Wound Medicine for him.”

“Yes, sir!”

The two soldiers replied in acknowledgment.

During the earlier battle at the post station, Lu Bai had been wounded by Lü Chen’s magic, and his body was covered in sword wounds.

Although he had already stopped the bleeding with the ‘Bone Regeneration’ Secret Technique, the sticky blood soaking through his clothes was indeed uncomfortable.

The chance to change his clothes and wash away the filth was more than welcome.

「A short while later.」

Lu Bai, having washed up, was brought back once more.

After the two soldiers withdrew, Lu Bai sat back down and couldn’t help but ask, “Brother Chen, why did you come to pick me up?”

“I already told you.”

Chen Shihu said, “I’ve heard about you. I feel that for someone like you to appear in the Wu Dynasty is truly rare, so I made a special trip to see for myself.”

“Besides, you’ve offended Marquis Jingzhong. There are definitely people who don’t want you to stay alive.”

Hearing this, Lu Bai hesitated for a moment before saying, “Brother Chen, I did kill five Longxiang Army soldiers, including a Deputy General. About that…”

Chen Shihu burst out laughing. “Why do you think I sent those few men to escort you?”

Realization dawned on Lu Bai. He said, “Brother Chen, you knew all along that those men were colluding with Marquis Jingzhong?”

“Mm.”

Chen Shihu nodded. “I sent those five men for you to kill. To see if you had the guts!”

“Heh!”

Chen Shihu chuckled. “A mere Evil Exterminator Guard with no backing, yet you dare to offend Marquis Jingzhong and kill men from the Longxiang Army. Not bad, not bad at all…”

As he spoke, Chen Shihu shook his head. “A pity, a pity.”

“A pity about what?”

Lu Bai was confused.

Chen Shihu said, “With that audacious personality of yours, and those methods you used back in Jingzhou City, if my father had met you, he would have definitely shared a drink with you. It’s just a pity…”

Lu Bai didn’t quite understand why Chen Shihu had mentioned his father. He could only follow along and ask, “Your esteemed father…”

“He’s gone.”

Chen Shihu clicked his tongue.

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

Lu Bai quickly apologized.

Chen Shihu gave Lu Bai a strange, half-smiling look but said nothing more.

Chen Shihu changed the subject. “According to King Wu, you are a convicted man. What are your thoughts? Feel free to speak your mind.”

“I’ll follow Brother Chen’s arrangements.”

Lu Bai said.

Chen Shihu mused, “Frankly, I wanted to keep you by my side as a personal soldier. But that might not be for the best. It would be better for you to get some experience in the military camps.”

“In either the Longxiang or Huben armies, with your Cultivation Realm and combat strength, you’re more than qualified to be a Captain.”

After a pause, Chen Shihu continued, “However, many of the officers and soldiers in the camps have seen real battle.”

“From the fight at the post station just now, you should have felt it. Battlefield slaughter is completely different from the one-on-one duels and martial spars of the Jianghu.”

Lu Bai nodded.

Fighting against those soldiers from the army was clearly far more dangerous, and the pressure was much greater.

‘Unless I can open a few more Meridians and increase my combat power again to achieve an overwhelming advantage, it won’t be easy.’

Chen Shihu said, “You’re already a convicted man and have no foundation in the army. If I just place you in the ranks as a Captain, there will definitely be people who won’t accept it.”

“The military camps are different from the imperial court. They have their own rules. Compared to one’s background, ability is valued more.”

Lu Bai said, “Then I’ll start as a common soldier.”

“Why make it so troublesome?”

Chen Shihu waved his hand dismissively. “If someone doesn’t accept you, just beat them into submission.”

Lu Bai: “…”

Chen Shihu sized up Lu Bai and said, “Back at the post station, your Blood Qi, Swordsmanship, and Fist Technique were all top-notch. That Swordsmanship should be the Ultimate Skill, *Red Ming Celestial Patrol*, right?”

“That’s right.”

Lu Bai nodded.

At the time, Chen Shihu had his back to everyone and hadn’t even glanced at the battlefield, yet he knew exactly what had happened.

‘I wonder what this Duke Chen’s Cultivation is.’

Chen Shihu said, “With all your skills, your only weakness is your Body Technique.”

Lu Bai nodded.

His only Body Technique was actually a move from the *Vajra Demon-Subduing Fist* called ‘Vajra Earth Splitting’, which was basically a Charge Skill.

But he only had this one move, and he needed a moment to recover after using it.

Moreover, it was a straightforward dash with no variations.

His general agility was decent mainly because his foundation was solid and he had previously sparred with Yun Luo.

Chen Shihu said, “I’ll teach you a Body Technique. It’s not some advanced Cultivation Technique, but since you’re only at the Innate Realm, it should be more than enough for you.”

“Thank you, Brother Chen!”

Lu Bai’s eyes lit up, and he quickly stood to express his thanks.

Chen Shihu said, “This Body Technique is called the *Gecko Wall-Climbing Skill*. It’s only considered a Profound Tier Technique, but it’s extremely practical.”

“Whether it’s the high walls of a mansion or the ramparts of the Imperial Palace, once you’ve mastered it, you can move across them as if on flat ground.”

As he spoke, Chen Shihu taught the Heart Method Mantra for this Body Technique to Lu Bai and began to demonstrate it for him.

With a single movement, Chen Shihu’s entire body suddenly stuck to the cowhide flap of the tent.

The tent flap was soft and offered no support, yet Chen Shihu’s already burly frame was firmly suctioned to it, not moving an inch or threatening to fall.

Using both his hands and feet, Chen Shihu began to climb the limp tent flap. His speed was extremely fast, like a giant gecko scaling a wall.

Lu Bai watched for a moment, then immersed his Heart and Spirit in the Ancient Mirror.

A line of text appeared on the mirror’s surface.

[Gecko Wall-Climbing Skill – Profound Tier (Not Comprehended)]

Inside the Ancient Mirror, cultivating the *Eight Desolates Returning Essence Scripture* had previously consumed a great deal of Soul Light. Now, there were two clusters of Level 2 Soul Light remaining.

Lu Bai controlled one of the clusters, merged it with the line of text, and silently chanted in his mind, ‘Comprehend!’

It was like a sudden enlightenment. He felt as if he had already been practicing the *Gecko Wall-Climbing Skill* for many years, and countless insights flooded his mind.

“This Gecko Wall-Climbing Skill looks simple, but mastering it to the point of perfection is extremely difficult.”

Chen Shihu said as he moved across the tent’s surface, “Back then, it took me half a month just to comprehend this Body Technique…”

At this point, Chen Shihu noticed Lu Bai had gone quiet and glanced over.

He saw Lu Bai standing there, staring blankly into space, lost in thought.

Chen Shihu’s expression darkened. He dropped to the ground and frowned. “I’m teaching you a Cultivation Technique! What the hell are you thinking about?”

“Ah.”

Lu Bai snapped back to his senses. “I was just comprehending the Body Technique.”

“Comprehend my ass.”

Chen Shihu cursed, “Watch carefully first! You’ll have plenty of time to comprehend it later. I only taught you the Heart Method Mantra. What could you possibly figure out on your own?”

Lu Bai didn’t answer. Instead, his body leaped, and he stuck himself to the tent, moving rapidly across it like a gecko.

The entire process was as smooth as flowing water, completely without hesitation.

Chen Shihu: “…”