Why do I have so many masters?

"What do you plan to do?"

Sitting cross-legged on the bluestone, the unmovable Ci Yuan opened his eyes and looked at the scholar in green next to him, speaking slowly:

"Anfeng hasn't returned to Shaolin Temple for cultivation these days, training daily with your Qing Taoqi. It's clear that he is truly earnest and concerned about this matter."

"He lost his mother at a young age; to him, the three words 'Divine Martial Mansion' probably carry extraordinary significance and are not merely a simple matter of identity."

The scholar said indifferently:

"I know."

Ci Yuan said calmly:

"So, you know, yet you still want to do it that way?"

Mr. Ying replied coolly, "Half a month ago, I had already asked him. It was his own choice, no matter the outcome. He can't blame anyone else."

"What, do you, Ci Yuan, have any better ideas?"

"Feel free to speak your mind."

Ci Yuan chanted a Buddhist mantra, then said evenly:

"There is nothing inappropriate in what the gentleman has said."

"It's just that perhaps things are being rushed a bit."

The scholar in green said indifferently:

"The people of the world won't wait until he's ready before they come after him."

Ci Yuan fell silent, then asked, "Has the gentleman already told Anfeng about this?"

Mr. Ying, watching Wang Anfeng who was cultivating military formation integration in another part of the world, said, "Not yet."

"We'll talk about it after today's training."

"...Amitabha."

.........

Wang Anfeng had just finished practicing saber techniques with Qing Taoqi and was now sitting by the cliffside, calmly watching the distance. A lock of his black hair curled up on his forehead, swaying slightly.

In this half month of training with these three hundred men, their coordination had gradually become as instinctive as moving his own limbs, lacking the initial awkwardness. What used to take thirteen breaths to synchronize their breath and pace could now be done in a single inhale and exhale.

With the military formation enveloping him, there was a moment when he almost felt his body transform into a massive entity. With a mere thought, he could manipulate the three hundred men's murderous aura as if channeling his own inner strength, advancing and retreating at will.

Yet he had a faint sense that he could probably only mobilize this murderous aura two or three times at most, and he couldn't push it to the limit, or the three hundred men would likely lose their fighting capacity on the spot. If this were on a battlefield, they would be easy prey.

One general's misstep could bring disaster to the entire army.

And with just these three hundred men, he was already feeling somewhat overextended.

Though in the wars between the Seven Kingdoms, those famous generals who were said to be able to command one hundred thousand soldiers referred to their ability to move such forces in coordination, not literally manipulate such a vast murderous aura.

Yet on the battlefields, there were fierce generals capable of commanding several thousand elite soldiers, dashing through formations and engaging in close combat.

The murderous aura of thousands of elite troops, coupled with the influence of friendly and enemy military formations, meant that those veteran famous generals could exert a force on the battlefield no less formidable than martial arts masters. A desperate strike that risked everything, even if it meant mutual destruction, would be hard for a Grandmaster to withstand.

Thus, the battlefield has always been off-limits to Jianghu experts.

Wang Anfeng couldn't help but fall into a deep reverie.

Three hundred elite troops allowed him to stand a few exchanges with a first-rate Jianghu expert.

He wondered, with Lord Li's martial arts, if he were to command ten thousand soldiers in battle, with their murderous aura on him, moving back and forth freely, what would that be like?

Li, he himself was both a Grandmaster and a Famous General.

The sound of footsteps arose.

Wang Anfeng did not turn around as Gongsun Jing, clad in vigorous attire with partial armor, approached and stopped behind him, giving a bow of respect:

"Young Master."

Wang Anfeng pushed aside his contemplations, his expression as usual, and stood up with a smile:

"Gongsun, what is it?"

Gongsun Jing took two steps back and continuously bowed, insisting that it was utterly inappropriate for him to be greeted by the Young Master upon arrival, declaring that if the Young Master were to rise in welcome, he would have no choice but to kneel, until Wang Anfeng helplessly sat down again. Then, seeming quite satisfied, Gongsun Jing smiled and said:

"Nothing much, I just saw the Young Master lost in thought here and wondered if I could be of help. So, I came to see if there was anything the Young Master needed. Please don't be polite; just give your orders."

At this moment, he stood upright, clad in his dark heavy armor.

The layers of Thousand Forging Iron on the shoulders and arms offered protection, coupled with a breastplate under the battle robe. Although it weighed less than half of the Great Qin Bright Armor, its defensive capability was nearly as good, with the shoulder guards and breastplate joined by red tassels.

The tassels fluttered with the breeze, reminiscent of the red ones dancing in the wind beneath the golden bells of Fufeng Tower.

Wang Anfeng chuckled and said, "What thoughts could I possibly have?"

"I'm just here to enjoy the scenery. Aren't you going to rest for a while, Gongsun?"

His gaze swept over and saw the three hundred Qing Taoqi cavalry on the plain below, somewhat relaxed. They were not emotionless, tireless steel machines; at this moment, some sat chatting while others wandered to take in the mountainous view.

Gongsun Jing shook his head, unconcerned, and said,

"This training is nothing compared to the drills under General Li back in the day. Back then, each of us wished we could just pass out, but if we did, someone would douse us with warm water to wake us up and continue training."

"If we didn't want to endure it, we could've chosen to quit, but we were all holding back a breath of air in our hearts and, no matter what, didn't want to step down. It truly felt like counting the days one by one."

"Now, this is quite relaxing."

Gongsun Jing's expression softened.

Wang Anfeng quietly watched the scattered light outside the mountain and said softly,

"Back then, what was Li Bo like?"

Without hesitation, Gongsun Jing replied,

"The strongest!"

"Even now, I don't believe there's anyone under heaven who could withstand a full-strength strike from General Li on the battlefield."

"When we surrounded Jingguo back then, I myself witnessed in that final battle the number one figure of Jingguo's Jianghu, who boasted as if he could fly to the heavens, had his weapon flicked away by General Li's spear, then was pierced through the heart."

"Thousands of troops and horses, reduced to mincemeat!"

"In a one-on-one fight, General Li could defeat the so-called True Masters of the Taoist Sect right below their mountain stronghold. If we had ten thousand generals like him back then, roaring through the battlefield, what would those few highly praised experts of Jianghu nowadays amount to?"

"A palm strike that pierces through seven hundred miles of mountains and rivers? Breaking a willow twig that shatters red candles for ten miles? All these flamboyant tricks, on the battlefield, they're nothing more than problems solved with a single spear thrust!"

Gongsun Jing stood upright, hand on his sword, his demeanor neither flattery nor meek, but rather filled with defiant sincerity, and suddenly he noticed Wang Anfeng smiling at him. His expression stiffened, and with a wave of his hand and a forced laugh, he said,

"Ah, this 'problem solved with a single spear thrust' naturally doesn't refer to me. I don't possess such great ability. Only General Li could do it in the whole world…""

"If it were me in his place, let alone trading blows with those experts, I'd likely mess up just commanding the troops, scattering the formation after a few steps, to say nothing of leading a thousand troops to face an adversary."

"Trampling over each other would be highly probable."

Wang Anfeng said,

"Gongsun, you hold great respect for Li Bo…"

Gongsun Jing was momentarily taken aback, then quietly said,

"It's only been twenty years since the chaos of the Seven Kingdoms ended, and the world has already become peaceful. How many remember the days when human lives were as cheap as grass? My life was saved by General Li when he pulled me back from the brink of death, and even my name was given by the Great Marshal."

"Back then on the battlefield, since the commander didn't fear death, how could we dare to cherish our lives? Only forward to battle did all of Divine Martial Mansion go."

"As for respect, it should be just so..."

Wang Anfeng hummed in agreement, then said,

"Li Bo mentioned you before."

"He asked me if I had ever fed you pickles."

Gongsun Jing's mouth twitched as he said,

"The general… He is indeed as he always was."

"I'm not afraid of death; I only ask that the Young Marshal refrain from making those pickles again."

"To speak the truth, back then in Divine Martial Mansion, those pickles were more dreaded than General Li's whipping. Except for the Great Marshal and the Mansion Master, even General Li himself couldn't bear to eat them."

Wang Anfeng stared in surprise.

"The Mansion Master?"

Before Gongsun Jing could answer, Wang Anfeng's eyes chilled, and he suddenly exerted strength in his right hand. Gongsun Jing's sword at his waist rang out sharply, turning into a streak of light, shooting toward the side of the rocky mountain.

Wang Anfeng shouted in a low voice,

"Who's there, sneaking around? Show yourself!"

ps: Today's first update, presented to you…