My Cultivation Starting from Archery

Chapter 13 - 13 Military Soldier, Array Soldier

"This basic skill book, take a good look at it when you get back, and it's best if you can memorize it beforehand, it will help with the assessment," Xu Bin emphasized, then, ready to leave, he rested his hand on the knife at his waist.

Old Man Xu chuckled, "Bin, why not teach little Shi a thing or two in advance, so he's better prepared?"

Xu Bin's brow furrowed slightly, glanced at Chen Sansi, and said coldly, "I still have matters to attend to."

"You boy, we are all from the same village, what's wrong with helping out?"

Old Man Xu pointed at his son, ready to scold him.

"Uncle Xu, Brother Bin surely has military duties to tend to, there's no need to trouble him,"

Chen Sansi knew well.

He and Xu Bin weren't close at all, getting a few tips was already quite generous, how could he dare ask for more?

"Humph!"

On the donkey cart back to Po Yang County, Old Man Xu said grumpily, "Little Shi, don't be like my foolish son, thinking himself a big shot just because he's a small flag, always looking down on people!

"If he won't talk, I will!

"The first three realms of Martial Arts are Blood Refining, Bone Training, and Refining Internal.

"Minor success in Blood Refining qualifies one as small flag, great success as flag leader, Bone Training qualifies one for Hundreds Commander, and Refining Internal for Households Commander.

"Of course, these are just the rough correspondences of realms to military ranks, the actual situation may be more complicated."

As the rickety donkey cart traveled, Chen Sansi asked earnestly, "What did Brother Bin mean by military soldier and array soldier earlier?"

Old Man Xu explained patiently,

"Be it sects or Martial Arts Halls, there are qualifications required for disciples, and the army is no exception.

"Generally, there is an assessment after you join the military.

"If you pass the assessment, you can become a 'military soldier,' if not, you will only be an 'array soldier.'

"A military soldier can further practice Martial Arts, receive resources, and retains the qualification for military promotion.

"An array soldier, due to limited talent, cannot cultivate Martial Arts, they train collectively in battle formations, and lack the qualifications for promotion.

"Archers, cavalry, they are all types of array soldiers, but with slightly better treatment."

"Heh, I myself have poor root bone, I'm just an array soldier!"

Chen Sansi nodded thoughtfully, understanding the implication.

The status of a military soldier was akin to that of a university graduate from a military academy in his past life, with potential for upward mobility, whereas a big head soldier, could only ever be a big soldier.

"I've told you everything I know,"

Old Man Xu said somewhat awkwardly, "As for the Cultivation Techniques, I never quite grasped them in my youth, better not mislead the younger generation; you should study it carefully when you get back."

Outside Po Yang County town, the two parted ways.

Chen Sansi quietly contemplated.

I definitely must become a military soldier, otherwise wouldn't my enlistment be in vain?

And I wonder about my talent for Martial Arts!

Back home, the meal had already been prepared.

With the household's improved circumstances, they basically had white rice, salted duck eggs, and often meat with every meal.

Gu Xinlan no longer went out to work as a female worker, now she was a full-time housewife at home.

At the dinner table, she brought up Qin Xiong with surprise, "Brother Shi, did you know that Mister Qin has disappeared?

"His brother has been frantically

A sharp-faced bully said, "We last saw our boss seven nights ago.

"After dinner, he said he was going to the county town to have some fun and didn't take us with him, and then we never saw him again…"

Another bully cautiously mentioned, "Brother, that night was exactly when the County Magistrate was assassinated, do you think it could be the barbarians…"

"Impossible!"

Qin Feng stated with certainty: "Those barbarians on this trip, would definitely not kill civilians indiscriminately!"

He seemed to realize he misspoke, paused, then corrected himself, "I mean, murdering people would only expose more traces!"

"Brother."

The bullies looked helpless: "We even asked Zhao San, but beyond him, we really can't think of anyone else daring enough to harm our boss."

Qin Xiong had many enemies.

But mostly they were vulnerable individuals like widows and orphans, who would dare to provoke him?

"I do know one person!"

The skinny bully spoke up: "That scholar from the Chen Family had some disputes with the boss before."

"The Chen Family?"

"Yes, the guy from Yanbian Village who is the best at hunting!"