Chapter Fifty: The Northern Frost Technique

Li Tianjun had expanded his security team to seventy-six members. His standards for selecting personnel were high, so choices were few. He had visited every manpower market, large and small, in the southern district. Following Yang Cheng’s advice, each time he went to recruit, he brought an extra two or three hundred spirit coins, which he gave as gifts to the managers. After several visits, he became quite familiar with them, and they greeted him warmly.

Li Tianjun was generous and straightforward, but also exceptionally loyal. With Yang Cheng’s financial backing, most managers held him in high regard; some even called him brother, having completely forgotten that he too had once been sold from the manpower market and suffered their mistreatment.

Sometimes, when the managers found skilled warriors among the prisoners of war, they would send word to Li Tianjun, urging him to come quickly and select them before the great families did. Thus, he managed to acquire three slave-warriors at the Fusion Stage, immediately boosting the Yang family’s defensive strength. If not for Li Tianjun’s pursuit of excellence, he would have easily fulfilled Yang Cheng’s request for a hundred guards.

Li Tianjun, once a prominent disciple of a major sect, proved his leadership effortlessly; the security team obeyed him without question. He organized defenses meticulously, assigning several guards daily to the supply points to prevent incidents like the previous attack by the Dagger Gang. Furthermore, as goods arrived daily from Baixi Village, a small team was scheduled to escort them. The rest, aside from patrolling the various courtyards of the Yang household, focused primarily on cultivation.

Yan Shuihan was one of the newly recruited Fusion Stage experts. He hailed from Cold Ice City in the northeast, his appearance delicate and composed, his manner rigorous. He had been a disciple of the Mysterious Cold Sect outside Cold Ice City. The sect offended a major power, and in the ensuing battle, it was destroyed—the sect leader and elders perished, disciples either surrendered or died, and everyone scattered.

Unlike the larger sects, the Mysterious Cold Sect numbered only a few dozen, and its members were closely bonded, like a family. Yan Shuihan preferred enslavement to surrender, determined to wait for an opportunity to avenge his sect.

All Fusion Stage warriors were customarily locked at the clavicle. Yan Shuihan, shackled thus, was escorted to Wuzhou. Though Cold Ice City was adjacent to Wuzhou, the journey on foot took two months, during which he suffered greatly, enduring both the bitter northern cold and physical torment, along with harsh treatment from the guards. Despite his resolve, despair sometimes tempted him.

Fortunately, upon arriving at Wuzhou, he was purchased for the Yang family of South Hill by Li Tianjun at the manpower market. The Yang family provided timely treatment and showed genuine care, giving him hope amidst his despair.

The Yang family was unlike the rumors; harmony prevailed from top to bottom, creating a warm atmosphere. Serving as a guard felt easy, and compared to lifelong enslavement, the mere two-year term was unprecedented. He could even improve his strength during his service, preparing for the future.

Apart from the strict management by Commander Li, the master of the house was approachable, without airs, often dining with the guards and telling jokes never heard before. As a result, the guards were devoted to him, privately believing that the two-year term would be more comfortable than their days in sects or clans.

Yan Shuihan excelled at palm techniques, particularly the "Ice Formula," which could freeze living beings in their tracks. This technique was subtle and, unlike most combat-oriented arts, could unexpectedly weaken opponents.

During a sparring session, Yan Shuihan demonstrated the Ice Formula, catching the attention of Master Yang Cheng, who was astonished.

One day, Yang Cheng mysteriously led him to a sealed chamber. Yan Shuihan assumed he was entrusted with a confidential task, but upon entering, he saw the room filled with the noodles they ate daily—it was just a storeroom.

Yang Cheng grinned, "Brother Shuihan, these storeroom foods spoil quickly. I wonder if you could freeze this place, turning it into a cold storage room?"

Yan Shuihan was resigned; his sect’s prized technique had become a means to preserve food. He bowed and replied, "Master, please give your orders. This is a trivial matter. Just sprinkle water around the room, and I will use my technique."

Yang Cheng was thrilled and had the workers do just that. Once the water was sprinkled, Yan Shuihan unleashed his palms, and a chill spread instantly. Within moments, the entire storeroom was covered in a thick layer of frost.

Afterwards, Yang Cheng draped an arm around Yan Shuihan’s shoulder, laughing heartily, "At last, the preservation problem is solved. Brother Shuihan, you’ve done a great service!"

Yan Shuihan did not fully understand, but later received five hundred spirit coins from Steward Su. The other guards envied him, though Yan Shuihan soon noticed a little girl watching him every time he practiced in the courtyard.

Lu Baichuan spent more than half a month immersed in joy, training disciples daily on the rear mountain, strict with his pupils. The three brothers from the Li family, in particular, had progressed from nothing, making him tireless with delight, though the five young men suffered.

Their moods made Lu Baichuan realize he was too eager; as a new teacher, he lacked experience. Even geniuses cannot be rushed, so he gave them time to ponder the mysteries. He tossed them a handful of spirit coins and sent them by swift beast to the central district’s martial arena to watch others duel and broaden their horizons.

He cautioned them not to let others easily probe their talents. Though Lu Baichuan feared nothing—once roaming the world sword in hand, carefree and bold—the Yang family could not afford trouble in Wuzhou, nor could he burden Yang Cheng.

Hua Mingzhu and Mei Yuchen were comfortable with the arrangement, especially Hua Mingzhu, who grew restless after a few days without new cultivation techniques.

The Li brothers were also excited; after so long, they had not explored Wuzhou, and now finally had the chance. The five youths left in high spirits.

Zhong Qiang, Wei Xu, and others had few duties, mostly patrolling the rear courtyards and occasionally assisting Li Tianjun with guard management, focusing on cultivation.

Zhong Qiang, especially, had already reached the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment and experienced battlefield combat. With access to many new techniques, he quickly advanced to the late stage, showing signs of soon breaking into the Fusion Stage.

Yang Cheng selected a plot of land in front of the western wing to build a paper mill. This would be vital in the future, and he wanted it under his control, strictly confidential. He ordered loyal warriors to guard it and divided the process among different people.

The technique was simple, not high-tech. He instructed the workers to experiment repeatedly until the desired result was achieved. Materials were plentiful—tree bark and grasses chopped and steamed in a large pot until mushy, then the liquid was drawn off, the pulp further refined, diluted, spread onto mesh, pressed, and dried to make paper.

The only regret was that he could not solve the bleaching problem; the paper was yellowish, but usable for now.

By separating processes, the workers did not even know what they were making, preventing prying eyes from discovering secrets.

This was a long-term experiment, and he had no reliable personnel to oversee it. Yang Cheng entrusted it to young Xiao Wu, letting him try his hand at it, which would be good training.

Xiao Wu was both nervous and excited. Recently, he had led teams escorting goods from Baixi Village, handling things on his own. Yet, being responsible for creating something from scratch was a first, and he dared not slack off.