The remaining troops returned to the barracks.
Commander-in-chief Lin Fan, Deputy Commander-in-chief Tie Qingshan, and Ding Haitian returned to the county office to report.
The results were gratifying.
Fang Qianqiu was also very gratified.
He praised the three of them greatly.
At this time, Tie Qingshan said, "Lord Fang, the Commander-in-chief contributed the most in this battle. He took most of the credit."
Ding Haitian echoed, "In order to kill the demon, the Commander-in-chief activated the Demonic Blood Technique twice and injured himself twice. He even took out a piece of his own flesh. He sacrificed the most …"
This was not a war between humans, but a war between humans and demons. The former focused more on military strength, while the latter focused more on military talent.
To put it bluntly, to fight against demons and demons, there must be a strong human leader and a master who could suppress them. Otherwise, no matter how many troops there were, they would all be cannon fodder.
Fang Qianqiu naturally understood this principle. After listening to the two deputy Commander-in-chief, he was also deeply moved. He hurriedly walked down from the back hall and bowed deeply to Lin Fan. He said in a choked voice, "Lin Fan, you've worked hard."
If Fang Qianqiu had treated Lin Fan like this before, Tie Qingshan and Ding Haitian would have felt very strange. They would have felt that it was a reversal of the rules and a violation of seniority.
But now, they felt that it was normal.
Fang Qianqiu was the official of Qingyang County. The safety of this county should be ensured by you.
Now that such a big thing had happened, of course, you should be the one to settle it. Lin Fan had settled it for you. Of course, you should be grateful. At this time, you should not put on airs.
Lin Fan waved his hand. "You don't have to do this, Lord. I should enjoy honor and fulfill my duty. This is what I should do."
Fang Qianqiu said, "Even so, you still need to be rewarded.
This time, the Yingchou Stream was a rare blessing for Qingyang City in a hundred years. The three armies will be rewarded. Of course, the families of the martyrs will be heavily compensated. "
Although Fang Qianqiu, the county magistrate, was not very honest, he was fair and just.
The next day, the rewards were announced. This time, in addition to the compensation for the families of the martyrs, every soldier who participated in the war was rewarded.
Lin Fan's reward was the biggest, a hundred thousand taels of silver.
Lin Fan accepted it with a clear conscience.
He had traded his life for it.
Speaking of wealth, as a Deputy Dutou, he did not have much money throughout the year. It was only enough for him to live. He could not be compared to those rich people. He wanted to use this money to provide a better life for his parents.
Of course, these silvers were donated by the rich people of Qingyang City. In this world, wealth alone was not enough. Without military power to protect wealth, even a thousand gold coins would disappear. Therefore, these rich people were very cooperative now. Every time there was a crisis, they would take the initiative to donate money to the military.
This time, not only did Lin Fan get a hundred thousand taels of silver, but he also got a lot of points. Although he had activated the Demonic Blood Technique twice, the number of points consumed was only a small amount for him now.
In particular, Lin Fan felt that the two points of the Ghost Demon should be of even higher quality. From start to finish, he had obtained a total of 1020 Yin Qi and Demon Qi from the Ghost Demon's body.
He tried to convert them. In the end, whether it was Yin Qi or Demon Qi, the conversion rate was four times higher.
In other words, in addition to the other points, just the points contributed by the demon ghost could be exchanged for 4080 points of vitality. However, the battle with the demon ghost made Lin Fan realize that whether it was internal training or external training, even after reaching the Great Perfection, it did not mean that the body was invincible.
There were even more powerful ghosts in this world, and life could still be threatened by them. Therefore, he still had to continue improving himself. Furthermore, before reaching the Great Perfection of internal training, he decided not to travel far. He would try his best to stay in Qingyang City.
In terms of the overall situation, after this battle, more than half of the elite forces in Qingyang City had been killed or injured. They needed to recuperate. As for himself, after this battle, he also needed to conserve his energy.
After the demons and ghosts in the Eagle Grieving Stream were eliminated, Qingyang City and the entire Qingyang County experienced a rare period of peace. For a few months, there were no ghostly incidents.
The people lived and worked in peace. Lin Fan also stayed by his parents' side every day, enjoying the joy of family life.
After coming to this dangerous world, he did not even have a chance to live a good life, much less enjoy it. In order to survive, he had to constantly cultivate and improve.
He had to constantly work hard.
Humans did not live to suffer. When it was time to enjoy, they still had to enjoy.
In these few months, other than accompanying his parents, Lin Fan met his friends. It was rare for him to hang out with Wang Baole. They went to the theater together and occasionally went to the casino to gamble.
He treated it all as entertainment.
As for brothels, Lin Fan had never visited them. His soul was that of an adult, and his body had matured due to his martial arts practice. He had the thoughts of an adult man, but he still found brothels dirty.
One day, he helped Fang Yuanxue extract the demonic aura from her body. Seeing her body transform from a frail willow to a masculine woman, he could not help but tease her. "Tsk, tsk. Miss Fang's figure is really fit and beautiful."
The term "fit and beautiful" was not popular in this world. At least, it was not popular among women. However, the intelligent Fang Yuanxue understood what he meant. She blushed and said, "Are you trying to say that I won't be able to get married looking like this? To be honest, if I don't practice martial arts, I won't be able to get married either."
With that said, her face revealed a look of yearning.
Fang Yuanxue had long known of her situation. As a result, she had given up on the idea of getting married. She felt that it was fine if she did not marry for the rest of her life. She could spend the rest of her life with her parents. After all, her family had the means to do so.
However, when she reached the marriageable age, she still felt a little regretful when she saw that her peers had already married and had children.
Lin Fan comforted her. "You're so beautiful. How could no one want you?"
"Who dares to want me? You?" Fang Yuanxue turned her head and stared at Lin Fan.
They were often together and had physical contact, so now they were familiar with each other. They did not speak as if they were strangers. However, Lin Fan felt that he could not answer Fang Yuanxue's question.
"Pfft, I'm joking."
Seeing that Lin Fan was a little embarrassed, Fang Yuanxue laughed. "You didn't even want to marry such a good girl like Xue Jiaying. How could it be my turn …"
"By the way, since we're talking about this, I might as well ask you a question," Fang Yuanxue said again.
"Lin Fan, if I didn't become like this and was still a normal human girl, would you consider marrying me …"
"You're asking this question."
Lin Fan laughed. "If you were still the previous you, how could it be my turn? You would have been Ji Sheng's wife long ago. Maybe you would have a lot of children, haha …"
"Don't mention him. If it weren't for him, how could I become like this?
It's all his fault. "Fang Yuanxue's face became cold and resentful.
Her love for Ji Sheng had turned into hatred.
She hated him to the core.
Lin Fan said, "Since then, Ji Sheng hasn't come to your house?"
"He did come, but not to see me. I heard that he came to see you," Fang Yuanxue said.
"See me?" Lin Fan was stunned. "Why would he look for me?
I'm not a girl … "
"Pfft, what kind of thought is that?" Fang Yuanxue was directly amused by Lin Fan again.
Lin Fan said, "For someone like Ji Sheng, you can't help but think of him that way. He's a playboy. All he thinks about is women."
"I don't know what exactly it is."
Fang Yuanxue regained her serious attitude and said, "But he was stopped by my father. Now my father doesn't like him either …"
Lin Fan was silent. He could roughly guess the reason why Ji Sheng came to see him. Fang Qianqiu stopped him and prevented him from finding him. This was enough to show his attitude. Lin Fan felt that Fang Qianqiu was right.
Lin Fan still wanted to continue with the thunder training. Every time there was a thunderstorm, he would come to see him. Just like how Qi and blood could be increased continuously, the thunder training seemed to be endless. It could train the body endlessly, but the pain of thunder and lightning was indeed a kind of torture.
On this night, after absorbing another Sky Thunder together, they sat on the roof to rest. Lin Fan said, "Lei Jun, this thunder training is too painful. Now that you've entered the level of Internal Training, there's no need to practice anymore."
"Painful?
How is it painful? I feel very happy, very happy. "Lei Jun said as he twisted his neck, his face full of enjoyment.
Lin Fan said, "So, I bear the pain, and you enjoy the results."
"Pfft, Lin Fan, you're wrong. How can it not be painful when the Sky Thunder hits the body? I'm just trying to find joy in the pain. And I feel that sometimes, pain is also a kind of happiness. Really … After a long time, if I don't feel pain, it's quite torturous."
"F * ck, you definitely have masochistic tendencies."
"What's masochistic tendencies?"
"It's perverted."
"What do you mean by perverted?"
Lin Fan laughed bitterly. He could not explain clearly, so he did not answer and instead asked, "Hey, Lei Jun, you're not young anymore. Why don't you find a wife?"
Lei Jun said, "Why don't you find one?"
Lin Fan said perfunctorily, "I'm not an adult yet."
Lei Jun said, "I don't plan to find one."
Lin Fan said, "Why?
Don't tell me you don't like women. Otherwise, we'd better not get too close in the future. "
Lei Jun said, "Pfft, which man doesn't like women? I'm just afraid of trouble. After marrying a wife, we'll have to have children. Like us, who knows when we'll die, wouldn't that be harming our wives and children?"
"I think so too."
Lin Fan said, "Actually, Lei Jun, even if you don't marry, you can still have fun. If you want, I'll get Wang Baole to bring you there."
"Where are we going?"
"Brothels."
"Forget it," Lei Jun said. "I want to maintain a Qi Refinement realm with a Seamless Body."
"Yes, great minds think alike," Lin Fan said.
His muscles, bones, and skin were tempered externally, and his essence, energy, and spirit were tempered internally.
After perfecting one's internal refinement, one's body would meet the requirements for Heaven's Path. Following that would be the transformation of one's divine power into Qi, reaching the Qi Refinement realm. The Qi referred to here was actually the "Qi" of one's Blood Qi. To put it bluntly, it was to condense one's Blood Qi into a "Qi" of a higher quality. This Qi was stronger than Stellar Qi and could be released outside the body to injure people from a distance.
If one could guard one's essence and prevent it from leaking out, it would be a guarantee of a Seamless Body. It would greatly benefit one's cultivation. It was said that Qi Refinement with a Seamless Body would allow one's cultivation speed to be more than double that of those who had sex before.
This was the reason why Lei Jun insisted on maintaining his virginity.
For the sake of cultivation, Lei Jun could be so demanding on himself. This was commendable.
"Lin Fan, did you go to a brothel with that little fatty?"
Without waiting for Lin Fan's reply, Lei Jun said, "No, really. Lin Fan, Xue Jiaying is quite good. You should marry her. Also, aren't you quite close with the eldest daughter of the Fang family? One is the main wife, and the other is the second wife. That's the only way to match your status as a Deputy Dutou Chief. Haha, when the time comes, you won't be able to get out of your sweet home …"
Lin Fan said, "Lei Jun, why are you so happy?"
Lei Jun stopped smiling. "I'm not. I'm not the one marrying a wife. Why would I be happy?"
Lin Fan pointed at his face. "You were still smiling just now. Stop pretending. Tell me the truth."
"If you neglect your cultivation, won't my cultivation catch up to yours? Besides, if you don't neglect your cultivation, there won't be anyone to accompany me in the Lightning Tempering."
Lin Fan did not know whether to laugh or cry at Lei Jun's words. He thought of Lei Jun again. He felt that he and Lei Jun were two completely opposite types of people. One was a hedonist, while the other was a pragmatist. These two friends meant opposite things to him.
One led him to a sweet home, while the other led him to a fiery battlefield.
Having lived two lifetimes, Lin Fan was naturally more knowledgeable about worldly affairs than them. He would not be like Lei Jun, who only knew how to enjoy life, as there was no telling when he would die. He would also not be like Lei Jun, who only knew how to cultivate. That kind of life was akin to purgatory.
Therefore, when Wang Baole came to look for him the next night, he did not reject him. However, Wang Baole looked even more excited. The moment they met, he said, "Lin Fan, do you still remember our agreement?"
Lin Fan was confused. "Our agreement?
What agreement? "
"Outside the city, on the Fen River, on the pleasure boat …" Wang Baole smiled slyly.
"Why?
The pleasure boat is sailing again? "
"Yes, it has been sailing for almost a month. This time, the scale is even bigger.
I heard that there is a full moon tonight, and the pleasure boat is organizing a poetry competition to choose the Courtesan Belle. Some famous courtesans from other places are also coming, including some famous people. Tonight's pleasure boat is extraordinarily lively … "
Lin Fan said, "Is that so? Isn't it because I helped them conquer the world? Otherwise, they would not have been so bold …"
"Of course. They saw that with a god like you holding the fort, those demons and monsters did not dare to come. Otherwise, they would not have dared to do so even if they had the guts," Wang Baole said. "Therefore, you will definitely be popular if you go."
"As martial artists, we shouldn't try to conform to the culture of the literati. We don't fit in."
"Just treat it as watching the fun and relieving boredom." Wang Baole held onto Lin Fan's hand and did not let go.
"Besides, our agreement can't be so distant forever, right?"
"F * ck, you make it sound like a man and a woman having a rendezvous," Lin Fan said. "Alright, let's go to the pleasure boat tonight."
"It's almost night. Let's go now rather than later." Wang Baole pulled Lin Fan and left.
"There's no need for your luxurious carriage. It's waiting to rust."
Soon, Wang Baole sat in Lin Fan's luxurious carriage. He touched and looked around. "Tsk, tsk. This carriage is so grand and eye-catching.
Just looking at the carriage, without even looking at the person, the ladies on the pleasure boat would be attracted to it … "
"Tsk.
You can't stop talking about women. "Lin Fan smacked Wang Baole on the head." Other people are obsessed with women, but you are obsessed with women. "
The carriage set off, with Lin Fan's guards driving it.
They left the city in a flashy manner and arrived at the Fen River.
It was already nighttime.
The Jade Rabbit rose from the east, a full moon that resembled a silver plate.
At this moment, under the moonlight, pleasure boats were densely arranged on the Fen River. The pleasure boats were filled with lanterns. The lights of various colors reflected on the surface of the water, creating a sea of intoxicating colors. The colors swayed along with the ripples of the water, reflecting the brilliance of the moon and stars in the sky. It was like a dream.
Lin Fan and Wang Baole sat on a pleasure boat.
The pleasure boat shuttled back and forth on the Fen River. Soon, it blended into the shadows of the lanterns, and they felt like they were in a dream.
Suddenly, they heard something.
On an oversized pleasure boat, there was the sound of reciting poetry and laughter.
"The full moon shines in the sky, and the flowers smile at me. I am a cloud and flower fool, and the flowers smile shyly."
"The Luo River shines on the silver wheel, and the flowers cut the breeze. The pleasure boat carries the Luo River, and the shadows of the people on the Luo River."
"Leisurely reciting the Luo River, I feel that everything is long. If there is no moon on this night, I will pass through another autumn."
Hearing the recital from the pleasure boat, Lin Fan was amused. He thought that the standard of poetry was too low. Compared to his Chinese poetry, it was worlds apart. How could he compose such a childish poem? "The poetry contest is about to begin.
"The poetry competition has begun. They are competing in poetry. These poems are really beautiful. Their brains are really good. If only I knew how to compose poems. Those courtesans all like cultured men of letters. Those cultured men here are all freeloaders. Hehe …" Wang Baole had a look of envy.
"What's so good about it? Lousy poem, lousy poem."
Lin Fan's tone was filled with disdain. He thought for a moment and thought of a Song poem. He felt that it was very suitable to recite it on the night of mid-autumn. Therefore, he used force and recited it loudly.
"When will the moon be bright? With a cup of wine in my hand, I ask the clear sky.
I wonder what year it is in the heavenly palace.
I wish to ride the wind and return home, but I fear that it is too cold at the top.
Dancing with the clear shadows, how is it like being in the mortal world? "
Just as he recited that, the large pleasure boat immediately fell silent. Then, there was a series of exclamations of surprise and admiration. Following that, a group of cultured people surged out of the pleasure boat.
Among the cultured people, there were seven women and three men. Among them, there was a female figure.
She was dressed as a man, and she looked very charming under the lights.
She gave off a different kind of feeling.
The group of ten people looked around anxiously before finally focusing on Lin Fan.
Lin Fan placed his hands behind his back. He did not even look at the cultured people. Instead, he looked up at the moon and continued reciting. "Turning the vermilion pavilion, low and beautiful, illuminating sleepless nights.
There should be no hatred. What is there when the moon is round after parting? People have their joys and sorrows, and the moon waxes and wanes. This is something that has never been complete since ancient times.
Let's hope that people will be long-lived, sharing the beauty of the moon. "
After Lin Fan finished reciting, the scene was still silent. The group of cultured people, including the woman dressed as a man, all stared at Lin Fan. Their eyes were filled with amazement and fanaticism.
A moment later, a wave of applause and cheers erupted.
"Good, great, I've never heard such a beautiful poem before."
"This literary friend is actually able to create such beautiful and artistic poems. He is truly a god."
"Senior, would you like to come up to the pleasure boat for a drink and admire the bright moon together?"
Although Lin Fan was the Deputy Dutou Chief of the City Defense of Qingyang City, he was usually too low-key. Very few people had actually seen him before.
Needless to say, this group of cultured people never met each other.
They had never had the chance to come into contact with Lin Fan, so they did not recognize him.
Although the level of poetry of this group of cultured people was average, they still had a level of appreciation. When they suddenly saw such a young person like Lin Fan recite such a beautiful poem, they were immediately shocked.
Even the woman dressed as a man was stunned by Lin Fan's poem. At this time, her beautiful eyes were staring at Lin Fan, and her eyes were emitting a blazing light.