Chapter Six: The Enemy's Head Must Be Taken Within Three Days

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The sun was setting, yet Su Yi still stood motionless at the gate of the military camp. She was like a pillar, unmoving. The soldiers on guard grew uneasy at her stance. Especially when they caught sight of the calm, unflinching look in her eyes, their hearts tightened with discomfort.

“Little girl, don’t worry! This is a military camp; no one here would harm your benefactor,” one soldier said helplessly.

Su Yi shook her head silently, saying nothing, her gaze fixed steadily on the soldier.

At that moment, Su Mu emerged from the camp. The soldiers breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing him; Su Yi’s presence was beginning to rattle their nerves.

“Hurry and take her away before just looking at her becomes bothersome!” the soldier complained impatiently.

Su Mu smiled wryly. Su Yi’s temperament needed some adjustment. But having witnessed the entire village slaughtered by barbarians, that deep-seated hatred was surely already rooted in her heart.

“Let’s go home,” Su Mu said softly as he approached Su Yi and gently ruffled her hair.

At his words, the lifeless pool in Su Yi’s eyes rippled for the first time. She lifted her head, looked at Su Mu, and nodded.

“All right.”

Watching them leave, the soldiers could only shake their heads in sympathy. Truly two strange souls.

The next morning, at dawn.

Inside the inn, Su Mu watched as Su Yi tidied the bedding beside him, pondering for a moment.

“From today onward, you don’t need to call me benefactor. Call me master,” he said.

Su Yi paused her work, turned to him, wiped the sweat from her brow, and looked at him somewhat shyly.

“Um… Master!”

Su Mu nodded and leaned against the window, studying Su Yi.

“What weapon do you want to learn?”

Su Yi took a breath and looked up at Su Mu.

“The sword!”

“I want to be like you, to slaughter all those barbarians!”

Su Mu rubbed his forehead, looking at the stubbornness in Su Yi’s eyes, and sighed deeply.

According to his plan, given Su Yi’s physique, she would have better results learning the sword. But there was no denying that on the battlefield, the knife held an advantage over the sword.

“All right, then come with me.”

Leaving the inn, Su Mu led Su Yi straight to the blacksmith’s shop.

Not only did Su Yi need to strengthen her body, but he did as well.

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Their physical strength was too weak.

They needed supplementary training to quickly enhance their bodies.

The barbarians could strike at any moment, so every bit of strength gained improved their chances of survival.

“Hey! Isn’t this the new recruit Li Fatty just took in? What brings you here?” Old Zhang, the blacksmith, chuckled, setting down his hammer.

“Master Zhang, I have a favor to ask,” Su Mu said as he took a blueprint from his pocket and handed it over.

“I might need you to forge some equipment.”

“Also, two bows and arrows, and two long knives.”

After entering the camp yesterday, Su Mu had taken note of the weaponry used in Daliang.

The standard knives were straight blades — powerful and vigorous but fragile.

Moreover, the barbarians wore armor with formidable defense.

Common straight knives would break quickly against such protection.

Therefore, Su Mu chose the Xiuchun Dao (Embroidered Spring Knives) for the design.

He had made improvements by increasing the overall weight and adding triangular blood grooves on both sides to ensure durability and lethality.

Old Zhang glanced at the blueprint, his brow furrowing deeply into a scowl as he scrutinized Su Mu.

“Good lad! So you’re an expert after all!”

“Your knife design is very innovative — truly forged for slaughter!”

“However, with this design, you can’t use ordinary iron ore. You’ll need refined iron ore.”

Old Zhang frowned, pondering for a moment before clapping his hands together.

“All right! I’ll get you the refined iron ore! You don’t have to pay for the forging either.”

“But I have one condition! I must report this design. Don’t worry, the credit will still be yours!”

Old Zhang understood clearly.

If this weapon were promoted, it would be of great significance.

If used properly, it would significantly improve their chances against barbarian attacks.

“No problem,” Su Mu chuckled softly.

This was an unexpected boon.

Money saved was money earned.

With Su Mu’s consent, Old Zhang could no longer contain his enthusiasm and began forging with full focus.

Su Mu and Su Yi stood quietly by, watching the forging process.

Su Yi’s eyes flickered slightly, a hint of anticipation in her heart.

After all, this knife would be hers.

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“Did you notice anything special?” Su Mu asked softly, pointing toward Old Zhang’s forging.

Su Yi looked at him puzzled and gestured vaguely with her hand.

“His way of exerting force?”

Su Mu was surprised by her keen perception.

“That’s right!”

“The reason Old Zhang became the top blacksmith is largely due to his method of force application. He uses one foot as a pivot, fully mobilizing the rest of his body’s strength for an explosive burst.”

“You, naturally lacking the strength of other men, must learn to engage your entire body’s power if you want to succeed.”

“So from now on, you’ll spend two hours each day learning forging from Old Zhang.”

Su Yi nodded thoughtfully.

She placed full trust in Su Mu’s words.

After a while, Old Zhang handed the finished weapon to Su Mu.

“Little brother, I’m not boasting! This is my masterpiece! In all of Qinghe Town, no other knife can match the one in your hands!”

Su Mu took the knife and lightly tapped the blade with his finger.

A crisp, pleasant sound rang out.

He nodded in approval and smiled at Old Zhang.

“It’s a fine blade. Thank you.”

Just then, Li Fatty approached carrying a jug of wine.

Seeing Su Mu’s demeanor, he couldn’t help but tease.

“Hey! Little brother, are you already taking advantage of Tiger Might Camp’s perks?”

“How about that! I told you, Tiger Might Camp may not pay a salary, but the benefits are nothing to scoff at!”

Su Mu sheathed the knife and shook his head at Li Fatty’s nonsense.

“Captain, can you assign me a position now?”

“I didn’t join the camp to loaf around in the city.”

“I have only one goal — to kill the enemy!”

Li Fatty frowned and patted Su Mu’s shoulder.

“I know you’re full of passion, but you have to understand one thing.”

“These barbarians will never be fully defeated.”

He fell silent for a moment, then exhaled.

“Since the war between Daliang and the barbarians began, over one hundred thousand of our soldiers have died on the battlefield, and more than a thousand villages have been wiped out!”

“And the barbarians? Riding their warhorses, they come and go without a trace. Their casualties are only a tenth of ours!”

Su Mu gripped the sheath tightly and looked at Li Fatty.

“Give me three days. I will bring you a squad of barbarian heads!”