Chapter 133: Eating One's Fill

After Zhang Shagen, Xu Le walked up; both of them, after consuming a Blue Small Pill and with the help of Meng Yifan, very quickly became First Grade Lower Stage Martial Artists.

This left everyone present dumbfounded; it was simply too incredible. If there were a large quantity of Great Replenishment Pills, wouldn't that mean they could mass-produce Martial Artists?

Seeing that Zhang Shagen and Xu Le had both become First Grade Martial Artists, the other soldiers also had fiery gazes, wishing they could go into battle again to establish merit, as that way they could also rapidly increase their strength.

"Those who flee in the face of battle will be beheaded, those who fear the enemy and do not advance will be dismissed, and those who fight bravely will be heavily rewarded; this is the rule," Meng Yifan said in a loud, clear voice.

Without rules, nothing can be accomplished. Meng Yifan's army was newly formed, and he hoped that through this rewarding of merit and punishing of faults, the soldiers would firmly remember the rules of the army, so that a combat-hardened force could be trained.

Knowing the soldiers were eager to go home, Meng Yifan did not give a long-winded speech; he had Meng Dayong distribute the rewards to the soldiers and then gave the order to dismiss.

Zhang Shagen, with ten taels of silver tucked in his bosom, ten catties of Monster Cured Meat in his left hand, twenty catties of rice in his right, and two rolls of linen on his back—which he had bought at the market after the dismissal—walked toward home, feeling incredibly excited.

As he walked, Zhang Shagen felt the True Qi surging through his meridians. With a thought, he channeled the True Qi into his arms; his already thick arms swelled up another circle, becoming thicker than an ordinary person's thighs, with muscles knotted and filled with powerful strength.

"Hehe, I really have become a Martial Artist." Zhang Shagen grinned. Even now, he still felt like he was dreaming; he never imagined he could become a Martial Artist so quickly.

"Xiuzhi, Mancang, come out quickly, look at the good things I've brought back." Reaching the door of his home, Zhang Shagen couldn't help but shout loudly.

Zhang Mancang was not very old and was very greedy for food. As soon as he came out, he saw Zhang Shagen holding a large piece of Monster Cured Meat. He excitedly took the meat and asked, "Dad, is all this Monster Cured Meat ours?"

"Haha, it's all ours. This was rewarded to your dad by Lord Meng. In a moment, I'll cut off a catty of Monster Cured Meat so you little glutton can eat your fill for once."

Zhang Shagen affectionately patted Zhang Mancang's head. The little guy was almost eight years old but was thin as a rail. Having received so much Monster Cured Meat this time, he could finally nourish his body properly.

"Great, I want to eat meat, I want to eat meat." Zhang Mancang jumped up and down with excitement. Although the meals Zhang Shagen had brought back these past few days had meat, it was too little and never enough to eat; the more he ate, the greedier he became. With so much meat this time, he could finally have his fill.

"Shagen, you have to make it last; eating a tael of Monster Cured Meat at once is enough. How can you dare to cook a whole catty at once? Can we still live our lives in the future?" Zhang Shagen's father, Zhang Tiezhu, scolded.

"Haha, Dad, don't worry about it. Today I became a First Grade Martial Artist, I'm happy, so we'll cook a catty of meat and celebrate properly," Zhang Shagen laughed.

"You became a Martial Artist?" Zhang Tiezhu was stunned. He had heard people say that becoming a Martial Artist was quite difficult. Zhang Shagen had only started practicing the Manyuujin True Qi since he joined the army, which was only five days or so, and he had already become a First Grade Martial Artist? This was too fast, right? Could it be that this simpleton Zhang Shagen was also a legendary martial arts genius, the kind seen once in a hundred years? That couldn't be, right?

"Haha, Dad, you definitely can't imagine it. Lord Meng saw that I fought bravely, so he rewarded me with a Great Replenishment Pill and then helped me digest the medicinal power, and I suddenly became a First Grade Martial Artist. Dad, watch closely."

Like a child, Zhang Shagen wanted to show off in front of his family. He once again circulated his Manyuujin True Qi, causing his arms to swell, and then walked over to a large Blue Stone by the door. With a surge of strength in both arms, that rock, weighing over eight hundred catties, was easily lifted up by him.

Zhang Shagen's mother was given a huge fright and hurriedly said, "Alright, put it down quickly, be careful, don't smash your feet."

Zhang Shagen grinned, then lifted his hands and threw the Blue Stone onto the ground, causing the ground to vibrate.

"Dear, Lead Bullets were flying everywhere on the battlefield, you weren't hurt, were you?" Wang Xiuzhi asked worriedly.

"No, your husband has a tough life. Those Lead Bullets and shrapnel all flew away from me. When Lord Meng gave the order, I led my men and charged at the front. A brother beside me had his head sliced off by shrapnel, but I was completely unharmed," Zhang Shagen laughed.

"That's so dangerous. You must be careful next time. Don't just foolishly charge forward. If something happens to you, how will our family live?"

Wang Xiuzhi was so scared she was streaming with tears. Although she had always known the battlefield was dangerous, hearing that Zhang Shagen's comrade beside him had his head sliced off by shrapnel made her heart jump with fear. If that piece of shrapnel had been off by a little bit, wouldn't it have sliced off Zhang Shagen's head? This was just too dangerous.

Zhang Shagen's mother said, "Shagen, you are so strong now, why don't you stop being a soldier? With your strength, you could go to the Labor Camp to do hard labor, earn some food, and support our family."

"Woman, what nonsense are you talking about?" Zhang Tiezhu scolded. Although he was also very worried about Zhang Shagen's safety, he was experienced and knowledgeable; he knew that since Meng Yifan had given Zhang Shagen such precious Spirit Pills, he certainly wouldn't let Zhang Shagen leave easily. The best plan now was for Zhang Shagen to just follow Meng Yifan and work hard.

"That's right, Mom, Xiuzhi, don't you worry. I'm a First Grade Martial Artist now, my skin is tough, and my defensive power has greatly increased; I won't die easily. Let's not talk about this anymore. Xiuzhi, go quickly and cook the Monster Cured Meat, and steam the rice too. Let's have a good meal as a family," Zhang Shagen said.

Wang Xiuzhi sighed, stopped trying to persuade him, and began to cook with her parents-in-law.

Not long after, the aroma of cooking Monster Cured Meat wafted from Zhang Shagen's home. In the soldiers' family quarters, the vast majority of homes were filled with laughter, but the homes of Wang Dahai and the other three were filled with weeping. Because they had failed in battle, they had been dismissed from the army and were now dragging their families out of the city, returning to the Refugee Camp.

Along the way, smelling the aroma of food coming from other people's homes and listening to the laughter, Wang Dahai and the others felt as if their hearts were being cut by knives. Wang Dahai couldn't help but slap himself hard several times, regretting that he hadn't fought well. Now, he had caused his whole family to have to go to the Refugee Camp to suffer from hunger and cold, and he didn't even know if his family could survive the winter.

In Zhang Shagen's home, Wang Xiuzhi heard the crying outside and asked with some confusion, "Dear, what's going on with Wang Dahai and the others?"

Zhang Shagen snorted coldly and said, "They cowered in the face of battle, only thinking about letting others block the shrapnel for them. Such cowards are not worth pitying."