Chapter 27: with translation of chapter title

You can understand it that way; aside from lacking the functions a human female should have, I can say I'm not much different from a human, and of course I don't need to eat or drink.

Hong Yi took the dish Shen Tianxing handed her, placed it on the nearby table, and, as an afterthought, blinked her eyes and stuck out her tongue.

Then what do you rely on for energy? Solar power?

Shen Tianxing was busy slaughtering chickens, boiling water, plucking feathers, preparing chicken soup, and casually asked.

"Killing Value, more precisely, is the energy you provide to the system; the system feeds it back to me, though most of it is fed back to you."

"That's interesting; you said you have other functions you haven't told me about, and I'm quite curious."

"Indeed there is: data conversion fusion, meaning during your battles you can use Killing Value to transform me into data that fuses with your body, greatly boosting your strength."

Hong Yi had just mentioned one of the most useful functions.

"That's kind of interesting; the character you're cosplaying also has this function."

"That's different; this consumes a lot of Killing Value, so unless it's a life-or-death situation you'd surely be reluctant to spend it, and the cost scales with your strength—the stronger you get, the more it costs."

Upon hearing that, Shen Tianxing stopped asking, quietly stewed the soup, and Hong Yi also fell silent; the two were perfectly in sync until Qin Mingyue opened the door and walked out.

Shen Tianxing greeted Qin Mingyue to have breakfast, then the two returned to the house to listen to Qin Mingyue recount past events.

Days passed in a blur; after three days Qin Mingyue had slightly put on weight, looking considerably better than before.

"Tomorrow you have to return to the camp; actually I can do that now."

That night, Qin Mingyue's words ignited a fire in Shen Tianxing's heart; he sang a high song gazing at the bright moon, and the villagers living near him certainly didn't sleep well.

Early the next morning, Shen Tianxing arranged for Tian Guangguang to stay behind to protect Qin Mingyue, left her fifty taels of silver, gave some final instructions, and then led Zhao Lingfei's group out of Yunshan Village.

"Shen Tianxing, have you forgotten us? You said a few days ago you had something to tell us, but these past days you've been constantly with your sisters-in-law, so we haven't dared to ask!"

Just after leaving the village, Shen Erhu and Shen Sangou came running in a hurry; Shen Tianxing slapped his forehead, finally remembering these two.

"It's nothing much; I just wanted to ask if you'd be willing to join the army. Under my command you can start in the Fire Head Army, then properly train your martial arts—perhaps you could even become a general someday."

"Of course, if you're not willing, that's fine too; I'll give each of you twenty taels of silver as thanks for blocking Shen Daniu."

Shen Tianxing said this and took two heavy silver ingots from the System Package, making Shen Erhu and Shen Sangou instinctively reach out to grab them, drooling.

"I don't want the silver; I'll go with you to join the army."

Shen Erhu gritted his teeth, pulled his hand back, and firmly made his decision; Shen Sangou hesitated a moment, then still reached out and took the twenty taels of silver.

"I'm not going; with this silver I can leave the village for a distant town, live a good life, marry a wife, and enjoy a warm kang with wife and kids."

"Alright, then take it all; go set up some small business, otherwise you couldn't support a wife and children, and remember not to flaunt your wealth."

Shen Tianxing handed the remaining twenty taels to Shen Sangou; each to their own ambition, anyway he considered this favor repaid.

"Shen Tianxing, thank you; if I ever make something of myself, I'll come back to repay you."

Shen Sangou was very excited, and Shen Tianxing didn't think much of it.

"Having this intention is enough; no need for repayment, Erhu, let's go."

"Good!"

Shen Erhu followed Shen Tianxing away, leaving only Shen Sangou standing where he was, watching the group disappear, his heart surging with excitement.

Shen Tianxing had not imagined that the twenty taels he gave Shen Sangou today would someday bring him huge returns, but that would be many years later.

"By the way, besides using Killing Value to boost the strength of those summoned by the system, can it also enhance their strength?"

Mounted on his horse, Shen Tianxing asked the similarly mounted Hong Yi beside him.

"It can, but it requires their loyalty to you to exceed eighty percent; your brother's loyalty to you is only sixty percent, so for now it's not possible."

Shen Tianxing nodded, said no more, the group whipped their horses and sped back to An City; the journey had almost exhausted Shen Erhu, and his loyalty even dropped by one percent.

At the city gate stood Yang Hongyue, with her exclusive dog-plaster Sun Tiejun beside her, and behind them followed several dozen guards.

"General Yang, Marshal Sun, why do you two have time to come here? Are you specially waiting for me?"

Shen Tianxing dismounted, smiling cheekily, and asked.

Sun Tiejun had a blank expression, while Yang Hongyue rolled her eyes.

"There's an important matter to discuss with you; it's not convenient to talk here, so let's go into the city and continue at the Marshal's Manor."

Yang Hongyue finished speaking and mounted her horse; Sun Tiejun quickly gathered his men and followed, and Shen Tianxing could only tag along into the city.

Upon arriving at the Marshal's Manor and entering the main hall, Yang Hongyue spoke directly.

"I've already replenished your troops; tonight you will lead your men out, cross the mountains to the north gate of Humen Pass, and tomorrow morning we will launch the assault."

"Together with the ambush forces already hidden in the city, we will annihilate the entire Dawu Army in one strike; your task is to hold the North City Gate and prevent any Dawu Army from escaping."

"Of course you can rest assured; sufficient reinforcements have been stationed outside the north gate of Humen Pass, ready to rush to your aid the moment the Dawu Army attempts to break out northward when the battle begins."

"If you can hold the North City Gate, after this battle the Marshal will promote you to Vice Commander; upon returning to the Imperial City, your merits will be reported, and the Emperor will naturally bestow rewards—perhaps even appoint you Commander."

"Of course, if you find it too dangerous you may refuse; I will assign someone else to handle this, and you can stay safely by my side, fighting alongside me."

Yang Hongyue first explained the situation, then listed the benefits, and finally indicated that it wasn't absolutely necessary for Shen Tianxing to go—this was her true feeling, after all it's too perilous.

Sun Tiejun's face remained expressionless, but his palms were sweating; what he feared most was Shen Tianxing refusing, for then he couldn't force Shen Tianxing to go.

Shen Tianxing had no reason to refuse; this was naturally the best opportunity to complete his Main Quest, and moreover, just as Yang Hongyue's words fell, the system's prompt sounded again.

"Side Quest detected: Hold the North City Gate. Host, please hold the North City Gate during tomorrow's Tiger Gate Pass Annihilation Battle until the battle ends."

"Completing the quest will reward 50,000 Killing Value, one top-grade strong bow Baodiao Bow, one Infinite Common Quiver, one Basic Archery Mastery Book, a mid-tier third-rank archer summon token, and one thousand taels of silver."