Your Majesty, Please Stop!

Chapter 3: Rude and Cunning Dog-like Whirlwind Swordsmanship

"Spirit Offering 6/15.

Cui Ying'er: Loyalty 70, 22 years old, remaining lifespan 60, no rank, beautiful appearance, resolute personality, strategic, Plum Blossom Stab Nine Forms.

Huang Da Gui: Loyalty 51, 41 years old, remaining lifespan 30, no rank, brutal, rude, chaotic swordsmanship.

Bai Jianxi: Loyalty 52, 35 years old, remaining lifespan 35, no rank, cunning, soft and gentle, strategic, chaotic sword.

Han Qi Niang: Loyalty 55, 18 years old, remaining lifespan 33, no rank, handsome, stubborn, brainless, basic circular blade technique.

Han Jiu Lang: Loyalty 59, 17 years old, remaining lifespan 20, no rank, handsome, childish, impulsive, basic goose feather blade technique.

Little Yellow Dog: Loyalty 100, three months old, remaining lifespan 15, not yet awakened, ignorant, timid, dog paddle."

Returning to the room, Xin Zhuo felt a strange bond that appeared and disappeared at times. With joy, he summoned the Lunar Serenity Well. By the dim light of the oil lamp, he indeed found that the six spirits in the well had already taken their positions.

However... Little Yellow?

Who the hell fed stewed cabbage to Little Yellow?

Forget it!

The loyalty, martial arts, weapons, remaining lifespan, and personalities of the six spirits in the well were listed one by one.

Only the phrase "no rank" was not easy to understand, but it wasn't difficult to guess. It should be the personal realm of this world.

Very well, after just a few operations, the loyalty levels have all been raised.

According to the rules of the Lunar Serenity Well, when loyalty, remorse, and debt reach half, the ability to seize the spirits can be activated.

Currently, with five people and one dog, there doesn't seem to be much shared ability to seize, but it's worth a try.

Xin Zhuo took a deep breath and extended his right hand.

Seize!

Lunar Serenity: 9/100.

The well surface rippled with colorful ripples, and misty fog rose and transformed. Vague images of countless weapons, gold, wood, water, fire, earth, and strange illusions floated and sank. Soon, everything disappeared into nothingness, and the well surface formed six whirlpools:

[Firm and resolute personality.]

[Rude and chaotic swordsmanship!]

[Cunning and chaotic sword!]

[Basic blade technique!]

[Ordinary handsomeness.]

[Timid dog paddle.]

This...

The abilities are there, but they are quite unknown. What are they exactly? They are completely unappealing.

The whirlpools continued to rotate, seemingly waiting for the well owner to make the final choice.

Xin Zhuo fell into contemplation.

These strange abilities should be the most outstanding qualities that the six spirits currently possess and can be seized. Presumably, in the future, as their martial arts paths and personal realms improve, they will provide better abilities for him to absorb.

A choice must be made now, but absorbing them all at once might lead to mental instability.

After some consideration, he extended his hand again.

Integrated Union!

Lunar Serenity: 0/100.

The remaining 8 points of Lunar Serenity were all used up.

The six whirlpools on the well surface quickly formed two:

[Firm and handsome temperament?]

[Rude and cunning dog-like whirlwind swordsmanship?]

Two unknown abilities?

Such strange and embarrassing names, but they seem to have some potential.

In fact, these two can be integrated again into one.

Firm, handsome, rude, cunning, with a dog-like temperament whirlwind swordsmanship?

Terrifying!

Unfortunately, Lunar Serenity is empty, and it can only be replenished by basking in the moonlight.

In other words, Integrated Union cannot be performed again at the moment, and it cannot be abandoned. It must be absorbed.

Acceptable.

He reached into the whirlpool, and two cold streams of water quickly flowed into his fingertips.

His body felt chilly, as if some subtle changes had occurred; a strange and cunning Saber Technique imprinted itself in his mind, as if he had practiced it diligently since childhood and could be easily executed.

"Well Owner: Xin Zhuo.

Lunar Serenity: 0/100.

Realm: Second Ninth Rank!

Spirits: 6/15.

Reciprocity: 6/50.

Integrated Union: 6/50.

Feeding: 0/30."

Technique: [Rude and cunning dog-like whirlwind swordsmanship]

Appearance: [Resolute and handsome temperament]

Although the gains were not particularly heaven-defying, being able to obtain these abilities from five ordinary bandits and a stray dog, and upgrading from the mortal realm to the ninth rank realm, gaining a set of Saber Technique and becoming more handsome, is also commendable!

What's more important is that in the future, as long as the spirit is diligent enough and the quality is high enough, it seems that there is no need to work hard to cultivate martial arts, everything comes easily, and there seems to be no bottleneck in leveling up.

A smile curved at the corner of Xin Zhuo's mouth as he fell into endless reverie.

...

In the early morning, the mountain mist enveloped the entire mountaintop. The first ray of golden sunlight added a touch of ethereal artistic conception to the broken mountain stronghold.

Xin Zhuo pushed open the door and saw Cui Ying'er, the second-in-command, sitting on a stone slab by the door.

Even the coarse linen pants couldn't hide her straight long legs and slender figure. At this moment, she was resting her chin on her hand, her black long hair scattered by her side, and her fox-like eyes, full of wildness, gazing at the sunrise in the eastern sky.

A beautiful scene.

There was only her in the courtyard!

"Get up," Xin Zhuo stretched lazily.

"Yeah," Cui Ying'er raised her head and casually glanced at him, then continued to rest her chin on her hand. Then she looked at him again, somewhat surprised.

"Resolute and handsome temperament?" Xin Zhuo asked.

The well water was too dark to see one's appearance clearly, and there were only two mirrors in the stronghold, one for Cui Ying'er and one for Han Qiniang. The others didn't need it, as grooming and dressing up didn't suit the image of male bandits.

Therefore, Xin Zhuo didn't know what kind of temperament "resolute and handsome" referred to.

"..." Cui Ying'er opened her rosy lips, seemingly unsure how to phrase it, and finally rolled her eyes. "The big boss doesn't understand. The big boss himself is a handsome man. It seems even better today. If he were born in a wealthy family, he would probably be a handsome young master."

"You're too kind!" Xin Zhuo sat down on the other side of the stone slab. "Has Wolf Fang Gang launched an attack?"

"No, it's probably not time yet." Cui Ying'er's eyes were filled with killing intent, and her face showed a bit more confidence.

Xin Zhuo looked her up and down. "So, how's your training going?"

"I chose the Eighteen Linked Mandarin Duck Blades, which includes a heart technique. It can be trained up to the sixth rank realm. I practiced it all night last night. Thank you, big boss," Cui Ying'er said.

When it came to martial arts, Cui Ying'er's eyes lit up a bit, and she became more agile and capable.

Xin Zhuo didn't quite understand the intricacies of it and curiously asked, "So, your talent is good? What about the others? Can they train up to the sixth rank realm? How is the realm divided?"

"The martial realm has nine ranks and eighteen levels. Each rank is divided into sub-ranks and regular ranks, with the ninth rank being the lowest and the first rank being the highest. My talent and Han Qiniang's talent are the best in the gang, but compared to the geniuses from the prosperous martial world of the Central Plains, it's really nothing to speak of.

It is said that the truly talented ones are born with a ninth rank constitution, and they hardly need to practice martial arts. Once they cultivate a heart technique, they can achieve small accomplishments overnight, and their rank can reach up to the eighth rank."

Cui Ying'er's gaze dimmed again. "The abyss of martial arts cannot be explained in just a few words. The big boss has been practicing martial arts for forty years, but he has only reached the sixth rank. But even at this sixth rank, he alone dares to challenge the fierce Tiger Fang Gang and suppress eight hundred bandits. Even the high-ranking catchers from the capital city dare not provoke our Fulong Gang.

The big boss once said that practitioners below the fifth rank are ordinary, and people with average constitution can only exert their strength for their whole life. It's not difficult to reach that level!"

But a fifth rank expert is already highly valuable and requires great perseverance! As for those above, the third and fourth rank Great Masters can dominate the martial world! In the vast land of the eighteen provinces of Da Zhou, second rank Venerables can be counted on one hand! And as for the first rank, they can split mountains and crack rocks, like the Earthly Celestial, a legendary figure who is rarely seen.

There are also various types of martial arts and supernatural powers in the world, such as water, land, air, concealment, poison, sound, death, puppets, and so on. Even within the same realm, the strength of martial arts and supernatural powers can vary greatly. Those who surpass their realm are everywhere!

Xin Zhuo pondered for a moment. He realized that his current ninth rank realm was probably still in the stage of starting a business and being chased by urban management. He continued to ask, "Are there any ranks above the first rank? Are there immortals in the world?"

Cui Ying'er thought for a moment and said, "The old master said that there are no shortage of thousand-year-old sects and estates in the world, such as the Pavilion of Celestial Secrets, the Red Flower Sect, the Hidden Gate, and the Da Zhou Tai Ping Palace. These sects all have a second rank expert presiding over them.

As for those who surpass the first rank, known as Earth Immortals, they are only legends and have never appeared in the world. It is said that there is a eunuch in the Da Zhou Imperial Palace who has surpassed the first rank, but he rarely takes action.

Three years ago, when the governor of Longzhou attacked the capital, that eunuch single-handedly repelled thirty thousand cavalry and killed the governor, Song Chengwei, in front of the city gate. He is the unshakable support of the Da Zhou imperial family. As for the realms above that... it's unclear!"

Enough! Repelling thirty thousand cavalry with a single palm? I wonder if my grandfather heard it from hearsay or if it's true. This kind of transcendent power is truly exciting.

It's hard not to be fascinated by it.

Cui Ying'er patted her head and said, "I almost forgot the purpose of coming to find the boss. Our well has disappeared. Since you have a lot of knowledge, do you know what happened? Is it haunted?"

"I know about this," Xin Zhuo nodded and made up a story, "There are no ghosts in the world. In the deep mountains and old forests, this ancient well may have lost its spiritual connection. It's nothing unusual."

Cui Ying'er looked skeptical, as if she was considering the credibility of the well being haunted. But then she gave up, thinking that when people couldn't survive, there was no point in thinking about inexplicable things like the disappearance of a well.

The sun rose and the mist dissipated a lot.

The two of them silently watched the morning scenery in the mountains.

"Have you eaten?" Xin Zhuo's stomach was growling loudly, and he was feeling hungry.

"Gurgle..." Cui Ying'er gently rubbed her stomach and said coldly, "We finished the cabbage yesterday. There's no leftover food."

"Squeak..."

"Gurgle..."

The other bandits happened to walk out of the house, holding their stomachs and looking a bit more satisfied.

"Damn it, even a rookie can't handle hunger. Let's go to the capital, kill the emperor's bird head, and eat the emperor's feast!"

The third leader, Huang Da Gui, stroked his stubble beard, his one eye shining with a tsundere light. The secret manual he practiced last night, "Tiger Form," gave him great confidence. With his originally rough personality, he couldn't help but feel proud and talk nonsense.

Xin Zhuo automatically ignored his unreliable suggestion and asked, "If we can't rob downhill, where can we find something to eat? Hunting, fishing, picking wild fruits? We can rely on the mountains for food and the water for drink. We won't starve to death, right?"

"Boss, are you... out of your mind? You're pretending to be ignorant," the fourth leader, Bai Jian, said with an annoying smile. "The nuns from the Water Moon Temple are afraid of us killing living beings, so they used a secret insect repellent to drive away all the wild animals within a two hundred li radius. The insect repellent doesn't disperse in water or tolerate fire. For at least three months, no mountain beasts will come back.

The disciples of the Autumn Palace advised us to do good, but the old master dismissed them. As a result, a hundred disciples picked all the nearby wild fruits, and the fish in the pond at the foot of the mountain were all killed by their medicine. No one understands their disgusting behavior better than me!"

"Damn it, let's go to the capital, kill the emperor's bird head..."

The third leader, Huang Da Gui, cursed while brandishing his wooden knife.

Alright, the first challenge for the unemployed bandits of Fu Longzhai was to fill their stomachs.

(End of this chapter)