With Chen Feng gone, I began to ponder how to integrate the concepts of production and training. Labor in the village is currently scarce, and as the primary workforce, Garo and his cohort of young warriors cannot dedicate too much time to rigorous training. However, without sufficient practice, it will be difficult for them to reach the level of Chen Zhen, let alone bear the crucial responsibility of defending the village. Therefore, I thought of certain scenarios I had once seen in comics; specifically, the part in Dragon Ball where Goku and Krillin trained under Master Roshi remains vividly etched in my memory. Perhaps I could emulate Master Roshi, allowing these young retainers to hone themselves continuously through their daily lives. While their Battle Qi cultivation might not soar in the short term, in my view, a person's true strength isn't solely determined by the intensity of their Battle Qi. Sometimes, agile movements and exquisite techniques are equally potent weapons for overcoming an enemy.

Yet, I cannot say for certain if this method will succeed, and time is extremely pressing. Nevertheless, I'm not overly worried about any unforeseen emergencies, as I still possess a trump card: my own Battle Qi cultivation as an initial stage Red Moon warrior, complemented by my fencing rapier and my Hundred Battles Long Saber. My overall strength nearly rivals that of a peak Red Moon expert. Thinking of this, I feel a sliver of relief that the Family Head's wife and my mother left in such a hurry that they never witnessed my true power display. Otherwise, I truly wouldn't know how to explain possessing the strength of an initial Red Moon warrior, with overall capabilities nearing the peak of the Red Moon realm.

With my current strength, a few scattered mountain bandits would pose no threat. Furthermore, based on past intelligence analysis, the strongest organized threats around Ginko Town were the bandits, pirates, or Orc tribes previously based at the Kunlong Stronghold. Even the Kunlong Stronghold was only propped up by three initial Red Moon masters; any others were weaker than that group. If this weren't the case, these small villages guarded only by high-level warriors wouldn't have survived to this day. Generally speaking, powerful bandit organizations deem raiding a place like Ginko Village beneath them. Only low-tier bandits, like those from Kunlong Stronghold, would target a place such as Ginko Village. If they dared to attack, I would ensure none of them returned. Of course, I hope such a scenario never materializes, as the characteristics of my fighting style are too distinct. Both the fencing rapier and the Hundred Battles Long Saber have exposed my martial technique profile. Deploying them would inevitably lead the Mad Dragon Gang to trace the threat back to Ginko Village, which would then be a colossal headache.

So, I won't intervene unless it's the absolute last resort. Beyond that, I've considered proactively striking out, eliminating the lurking bandits or pirates in the vicinity to nip trouble in the bud. However, this idea is even more impractical. The former Kunlong Stronghold relied on natural terrain for defense, never worrying about encirclement by Ginko Town's military. But such treacherous locales are not easy to find across the continent. Most bandits hide in deep mountains and dense forests, or lie low within large towns and small villages, living as ordinary people until a specific time when they shed their guise and reveal their true nature as thieves. The period around the Red Moon each year is precisely when bandits are most active, which is the fundamental source of the village's anxiety.

It seems there is no better solution than ensuring Garo's generation of young warriors grows up quickly. With this realization, I had no choice but to find a brush and paper to begin drafting my new training curriculum. In my previous life, I never would have imagined that I would one day be in a position to instruct others. Immediately, various troop training methods I'd seen online flooded my mind. It seems I can draw considerable reference from them; I'm already somewhat impatient, eager to experience what it feels like to be a legendary "Demon Trainer." However, given the village's current state, I certainly cannot afford to be reckless. That thought must remain confined to my mental musings for now.

Production and training, without neglecting either—that is the core of this plan. Seamlessly integrating various training subjects is equally vital. ..................................................... It took me almost an entire afternoon to roughly outline the framework, but the concrete ideas have already crystallized in my mind. I tucked the drafts away. It seems I need to enlist the help of the Family Head, Uncle Wei, and Butler Chen Xi.

However, being home for so long, I completely forgot to send word back to Chief Long Xin and the others that I am safe—a definite oversight. With that in mind, I quickly penned another letter. ........................................................ A New Beginning: Ah Da's Perspective as a Ye Family Retainer. Waaah! A loud, piercing alarm clock jolted me awake. It was daylight. I fumbled for the magical clock on my bedside table and hit the switch. Sigh, so sleepy; I really wish I could sleep a little longer. But the penalty for being late to the Ye Family's morning drill is severe, so, reluctantly, I threw off the covers and got out of bed. I figured Xiao Man would be the one leading the drill today. It’s unbelievable that in just two years, this guy has become so formidable that even Brother Feng admits he’s no match for him. Thinking of this makes me feel a bit sour. I remember when Abe, I, and Xiao Man were collectively considered the three most useless warriors in the Ye family. But now, the situation has completely flipped: the former good-for-nothing Xiao Man is now our drill instructor, and I still haven't made much progress. This thought instantly vexed me. After washing up, my mind cleared considerably.

When I arrived at the lawn, Instructor Xiao Man was already waiting there early. However, beside him stood Butler Chen Xi, Uncle Wei, and Aunt Xia, along with other key village managers. This surprised everyone; why were they here today?

Though puzzled, the retainers quickly formed their lines, preparing for the morning drill. The Ye Family's morning drill is notoriously strict—a fine tradition passed down for three thousand years, sacred, solemn, and allowing for not the slightest carelessness.

"Time to take attendance!" I glanced at the massive magical clock on the wooden post in the center of the lawn; the hand pointed exactly at the five o'clock position. Five o'clock is when the Ye Family morning drill commences.

"Yes!"

"First Squad, report numbers one, two, three, four, five, six..."

"Second Squad, report numbers one, two, three, four, five, six..." ...................................... "Reporting to the Instructor: First Squad, ten expected, ten present. Report complete."

"Reporting to the Instructor: Second Squad, ten expected, ten present. Report complete."

"Reporting to the Instructor: Third Squad, ten expected, ten present. Report complete." ....................................... "Before we start the drill, I have a few things to announce to everyone." Unlike the usual Brother Feng, Xiao Man didn't immediately start the practice but stood at the front of the formation: "I'm sure you all know the predicament our village currently faces—a shortage of manpower—yet our training cannot be neglected. Therefore, in these extraordinary times, I believe we must employ extraordinary methods."

"Instructor, what method do you intend to use?" Garo saluted, looking confused.

Strange, what is this guy planning? Morning drill is a very solemn affair; can't whatever it is wait until after the drill?

"But before that, I want to gauge your understanding of the Martial Path!" As he said this, Xiao Man looked at Garo: "In your opinion, what qualifies someone to be a true master?"

"I believe possessing exquisite martial skills, profound Battle Qi, superhuman speed, and sharp reflexes—having all these qualities is what makes a true master," Garo replied without hesitation.

"Then, what do the rest of you think?" Xiao Man seemed unsatisfied with the answer, looking around: "Feel free to voice any opinions. This is discussion time now."

Discussion time? That means everyone is free to speak their mind now.

"I think one must also possess extraordinary courage and a stable mental state; only then can someone be called a true master." I paused and added my thoughts. I've always had a good relationship with Xiao Man, and I felt that even if I said something wrong, he wouldn't laugh at me. Although Xiao Man has changed a lot since his return, I feel some things about him are the same as before; the way he looks at me hasn't changed, which gives me a strange sense of comfort. Of course, I don't want him to overlook my presence either; this answer was carefully considered, not just spoken off the cuff.

"Mm! Not bad!" Several people immediately echoed my sentiment, which put me at ease.

"You also need enduring stamina," Abe added after some thought, glancing subconsciously at me. I figured he felt the same way I did, as our current situations are identical. Of course, both of us are trying to change things now. Although we don't expect to become as strong as Xiao Man, we aim to surpass ourselves, at least to stop others from treating us as jokes.

"Right, if stamina isn't enough, even the most exquisite techniques can't be executed," Abe’s point also garnered general affirmation.

Xiao Man subconsciously looked toward us both, a slight smile gracing his lips, carrying a hint of expectation and encouragement. This greatly shocked me; Xiao Man hadn't ignored us. I instinctively looked at Abe, only to see him equally flushed with excitement. He must have understood Xiao Man's intention too. When he noticed me looking, he subconsciously nodded and gave me a gesture of encouragement.

"Let's all work hard together," I nodded slightly, returning a determined gaze.

The others on the field began to discuss animatedly, each offering their perspective.

"Not bad!" Garo summarized after a long period of contemplation: "In short, it boils down to the four major elements: strength, speed, technique, and spirit."

"Indeed, your description is quite direct," Xiao Man praised. "Now, have you ever considered how to achieve these conditions?"

"Other than continuous training and cultivation, what else is there!" someone immediately shouted. I thought the same thing.

"Then how should we train?" Xiao Man seemed dissatisfied with that answer and pressed further.

"Technique can be strengthened through daily practical combat and practice; strength and speed can only be achieved through weighted resistance and special training," Garo explained, looking suspiciously at Xiao Man: "The Ye family has included technique, strength, and speed training in their morning drills for a thousand years—you know this yourself, why ask us?" This guy seemed to be questioning Xiao Man's ability as an instructor, which made me secretly worry for Xiao Man.

"You are correct," Xiao Man replied nonchalantly and continued: "Then, based on that training regimen, how long do you think it would take to become a high-level warrior?"

"If we factor in time spent cultivating Battle Qi externally, those with good aptitude could become initial stage high-level warriors by age twenty-five. Those with average aptitude should reach it by twenty-eight," Garo estimated.

"And you?" Xiao Man looked at Garo.

"I believe if I have the opportunity to cultivate outside, I could reach the strength of an initial high-level warrior before twenty-three," Garo stated confidently. Indeed, given Garo's aptitude, this projection wasn't exaggerated; at least, that's what I thought. Among our generation, Garo was universally recognized as having the best talent: strong physique, exceptional comprehension, coupled with diligence and effort far exceeding the norm, placing his strength far beyond peers.

"You are right," Xiao Man said seriously. "This is just the result projected under normal circumstances." Saying this, Xiao Man paused subconsciously, looking around again: "So, what do you think of my aptitude?"

"Ah!" Garo was greatly startled.

Not just Garo; I suspect everyone present was at a loss for how to answer Xiao Man's question. After all, two years ago, Xiao Man, Abe, and I were considered the three most useless warriors.

The surroundings immediately fell silent; everyone stared at Xiao Man with complex expressions, unsure of what to say.

"Um..." After a long silence, Garo stammered out: "Actually, your aptitude doesn't even reach average standards." By this point, Garo's face was flushed crimson. It wasn't surprising; Xiao Man, once ridiculed by everyone as a joke due to his poor natural endowment since childhood, was now their instructor—a huge irony. Garo was speaking the plain truth: Xiao Man was identified early in life as being constitutionally frail, compounded by his rare Demon-Devouring Body, which prevented him from learning magic and even lacked the basic conditions for martial arts training. Yet, fate is unpredictable; who could have guessed that Xiao Man would forge his current strength relying on such a physique? According to Brother Chen Feng, Xiao Man's current Battle Qi intensity is at least at the peak high-level, which is frankly unbelievable. However, Brother Chen Feng also mentioned that Xiao Man's physical body strength barely meets the standards of a novice warrior. Although these two phenomena are contradictory, they exist simultaneously in Xiao Man, an anomaly no one can explain. But these details aren't important; what matters is that Xiao Man was once one of the three failures, yet this failure has now grown into an outstanding warrior. Although a tinge of envy and jealousy lingered in my heart, when I saw Garo’s embarrassed expression, I felt a strange sense of satisfaction, as if I were the one standing in the center of the field, not Xiao Man. I felt lightheaded and buoyant, wishing intensely that one day I could make Garo wear such a shameful expression in front of me.

"Heh, you're quite candid," Xiao Man seemed a bit embarrassed but then boomed: "Then do you know how much time it took me to achieve this?"

"Two years!" Abe hesitated. "I remember two years ago, Brother Feng had just started teaching you swordsmanship, and it took you three months just to learn the basic sword forms."

"Yes, when Xiao Man suddenly decided to learn swordsmanship, it caused quite a stir!"

I recall it was shortly after Dong Lun died; Xiao Man participated in that operation and was seriously injured. Everyone assumed Xiao Man's personality shift was due to shock.

Given his aptitude, wanting to learn swordsmanship seemed like courting disaster. Abe and I also held this view, though at the time, we felt a schadenfreude. Looking back now, I realize Abe and I were pathetic in our self-pity, rejoicing that we now had another laughingstock alongside us, solely because the title of "useless" would no longer apply just to Abe and me.

As expected, Xiao Man’s performance matched our low expectations: he spent a full three months just to master a simple set of basic sword forms. Most people could learn it in one month, and even as designated failures, Abe and I took two months. Xiao Man taking three months meant he was demonstrably worse than us. Abe and I comforted ourselves with this thought.

True to form, in the days that followed, everyone seemed to forget about Abe and me and focused on teasing the naive Xiao Man. This allowed Abe and me to live a relatively easy and comfortable life.

Xiao Man suddenly ran away from home, leaving a letter stating he intended to venture out into the world to gain experience. Honestly, Abe and I were both extremely shocked when we heard the news. In Abe's view, Xiao Man must have been driven away by Garo and the others. Perhaps Xiao Man also intended to learn formidable skills outside to change others' perceptions of him. We couldn't know Xiao Man’s true motivation, but his departure had severe repercussions. I remember the Family Head became furious and publicly reprimanded Garo and the others. Perhaps the Family Head also assumed Xiao Man had been bullied by Garo and the rest. But in my opinion, that wasn't it. Given Xiao Man's personality, he probably wouldn't dwell on such matters. As childhood companions, I believed I understood Xiao Man well enough; he wasn't the type to sulk over being bullied. Moreover, Brother Chen Feng's reaction made me suspicious. Xiao Man's departure must have had a deeper reason. Logically, Chen Feng should have been the most worried. Everyone knew Chen Feng had taken special care of Xiao Man since childhood, treating him like a younger brother. If Xiao Man had truly left in a huff, Brother Chen Feng would surely have been frantic. Yet, Chen Feng merely threw a tantrum and then calmed down. Later, we were relieved to hear Xiao Man had written letters to Aunt Lan and Chen Feng, assuring everyone he was safe outside. Abe and I were relieved too, though we deeply admired his extraordinary courage—venturing out into the world after learning only a set of clumsy basic sword forms. And it seemed Brother Chen Feng was still quite confident in him. I never understood why Brother Chen Feng had such faith in Xiao Man. But I always felt that Brother Chen Feng knew something; this departure of Xiao Man's was definitely not as simple as it seemed. It wasn't until Xiao Man returned and defeated Garo with his own hands that I realized my intuition hadn't been wrong: there was indeed a hidden mechanism behind Xiao Man's journey.