"Fourth Master Hong was killed by that Wang Tieshan in a single blow! The situation was quite chaotic at the time; Tieshan Gang's Second Boss, Wang Tiefeng, was killed by Fourth Master Hong then." Teng Qingshan spoke, though the death of Fourth Master Hong was largely connected to him.

However, Teng Qingshan had no intention of revealing this. To speak of it would only be showing off, and served no purpose.

"Retribution, it is utter retribution!!!" Teng Yunlong couldn't help but burst into laughter. Everyone else in the main hall seemed equally pleased.

Teng Yunlong then chuckled, "The death of that old villain is a great relief to the heart. But with him gone, Yicheng is likely to descend into chaos." "Grandfather, I think our clan must forge armor!" Teng Qingshan said solemnly.

"When this brute was killed, he had no armor for protection, making him vulnerable to death. But with armor, one's strength in combat is vastly superior." Merely looking at the White Horse Camp, clad in heavy armor, a single charge could easily fell many men.

Armor is excellent, but its cost is exorbitant! Forging a suit of armor is far more difficult than making spears or blades.

A good suit, capable of covering the entire body and well-crafted, costs at least a thousand taels of silver, enough to purchase a fine warhorse. Even a rudimentary suit of heavy armor requires two hundred taels of silver.

This is precisely why common estates cannot afford armor. A few pieces of good armor could bankrupt an entire estate.

As for simple, thin iron armor, it is cheap, but with the ferocity of the mountain folk, a well-placed thrust from a long spear can pierce it; thin iron armor is utterly useless. To ensure complete protection, heavy armor is necessary.

Of course, utilizing rare materials, such as 'Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron,' allows for the crafting of armor that is both light and highly defensive. But the price is terrifying.

After all, the materials required for one suit of armor far exceed those for blades and spears. "That stuff is terribly expensive," said Teng Yonghang, the father of Teng Qinghu, his eyes lighting up but still clicking his tongue in dismay.

"Qingshan is right; we should forge heavy armor," Teng Yunlong exclaimed, more excited than ever. "Our Teng Family Estate can forge heavy armor ourselves.

We only need to purchase the materials! The materials for one suit of heavy armor, sourced by us, should cost about a hundred taels of silver.

Equipping two hundred men would require twenty thousand taels of silver!" "Twenty thousand taels!" Teng Yonghang gasped in shock. "This can be done!" Teng Yongfan stood up and declared.

The last time Teng Qingshan went to Yicheng to exchange for 'Star Pattern Steel,' he brought back a full six hundred taels of gold. The Teng Family Estate was not short of money!

"It will take a very long time to forge this many suits of armor, though!" Teng Yongfan pointed out. "Indeed.

We'll have to find many clansmen to help. Heavy armor doesn't require extremely high skill.

Yongfan, your apprentices can all help with the forging!" Teng Yunlong instructed. "Tomorrow, we will expand the armory.

All the apprentices will work together to finish these two hundred suits of heavy armor as soon as possible." "Grandfather, Father, two hundred suits?" Teng Qingshan inquired. Teng Yunlong laughed heartily, "All the formidable heroes of the clan will wear them!" The military strength of the Teng Family Estate was indeed formidable now.

Since Teng Qingshan taught them the 'Tiger Fist,' it had become the martial art practiced by all male members of the Teng clan from childhood. Over six years, more than fifty clansmen had cultivated internal energy within their bodies.

Although other clansmen hadn't generated internal energy, internal martial arts indeed had a body-strengthening effect, greatly increasing the strength of the clansmen. In the past, the average strong man in the Teng Family Estate could lift three hundred catties.

Now, after six years, many could lift four hundred catties. There were quite a few who could lift over five hundred catties, perfectly capable of moving swiftly even while wearing heavy armor.

"Grandfather, Father, I see there are over fifty clan members with internal energy. We should first custom-make fifty sets of heavy armor.

For these fifty sets, we should use better materials, exclusively for those who have cultivated internal energy in the clan," Teng Qingshan proposed. "I agree!" Teng Yunlong assented.

After all, those six hundred taels of gold equated to sixty thousand taels of silver. The Teng Family Estate could afford this extravagance; fine steel must be used where it counts, and this silver and gold must be spent on tangible assets.

"Qingshan, Qinghu," Teng Yunlong looked at the two of them. "I know you both plan to join the Guiyuan Sect.

Qinghu didn't get married this time, so forget it—you won't have trouble finding a wife later, will you? I want to ask, when exactly do you plan to join that Guiyuan Sect?" Teng Qingshan and Teng Qinghu exchanged a glance.

"Grandfather, let's wait until the situation in Yicheng clarifies a bit more. We've waited this long; a year or so won't make a difference," Teng Qingshan was still slightly uneasy.

"Mmm," Teng Qinghu nodded in agreement. * The next morning, as the sun shone high, the Teng Family Estate buzzed with activity.

Teng Yongfan immediately arranged for the procurement of heavy armor materials, and many young men of the clan began dismantling the walls of the armory to expand it. Preparing to forge two hundred suits of heavy armor meant a workload far exceeding that of crafting the 182 Jade Chill Blades.

In Teng Qingshan's courtyard. "Hoo!" "Hah!" Low, powerful breaths accompanied every movement as Teng Qingshan practiced the Xingyi Three-Posture Stance.

It appeared slow, like grinding flour, yet his punches struck like thunder, creating sharp bursts of air that stirred the wind throughout the courtyard. Teng Qingshan was utterly immersed in the Xingyi Three-Posture Stance, his legs seemingly rooted deep into the earth.

His hands alternated, combining slowness with speed, lightness with weight. Shifting from left to right, as Teng Qingshan practiced, he unexpectedly sensed an artistic conception of yin and yang alternating.

Immersed in this state for a full hour, Teng Qingshan finally stopped to rest. "Time to check things out at the training grounds," Teng Qingshan said, taking his Reincarnation Spear, and swiftly arriving at the practice field.

... The training grounds were quite lively—some practicing spear techniques, others hardening their bodies, practicing the Tiger Fist, and engaging in sparring matches.

Hundreds of men filled the field in a scene of vigorous activity. At the edges, quite a few children and women watched and chatted happily.

Everyone appeared joyful. "What do the clan's men fight and strive for, if not so that the clansmen can live a good life?" Feeling this atmosphere of harmony, Teng Qingshan's heart warmed.

What he saw before him was precisely what his clansmen sought to protect! "Brother!" a clear voice rang out.

Qingyu, dressed in a flowered cloth top and wearing her hair in two neat pigtails, ran over excitedly. "What are you watching over there?

Watching them practice the Tiger Fist?" Teng Qingshan teased. "They're nowhere as good as you, Brother," Qingyu said sweetly, holding onto Teng Qingshan's arm.

"Look at you, being so mischievous you're almost like a boy. Little Yu, you're nearly an adult and will be married off soon.

You should learn to be more demure. See who will dare marry you later," Teng Qingshan scolded playfully.

Qingyu merely wrinkled her nose and let out a soft huff, "Hmph, Brother... You should see how many matchmakers come to our house.

However... I don't fancy any of those men.

The man I marry, even if he can't match you, Brother, must at least be half as good!" Teng Qingshan couldn't help but smile at this. He looked up at the sky; the sun was directly overhead.

"Little Yu, lunch will be ready soon. Shall we head back?" Teng Qingshan said.

Just as the words left his mouth, the ground began to tremble violently. Teng Qingshan frowned and looked toward the main gate of the Teng Family Estate.

In the distance, he saw a blurry mass of figures and horses galloping towards them. The training field instantly fell silent.

Many clansmen immediately grabbed their long spears, and some even shouted anxiously, "Bandits are coming!" The shouts echoed across the Teng Family Estate, and immediately, a large number of clansmen rushed from all directions, carrying long spears and bows, towards the training grounds. "The White Horse Camp?" Teng Qingshan frowned.

The bandits outside the gate—both men and horses—were covered in armor, a dense, black mass that made one's heart tremble. Teng Qingshan had seen the soldiers of the White Horse Camp before and recognized them instantly: these more than a hundred bandits were the elite 'White Horse Camp' of the White Horse Gang.

"Open the gate!" A loud shout came from the bandits' side. To open or not to open?

The guards of the Teng Family Estate, along with many clansmen, looked to Teng Qingshan. Teng Qingshan spoke, "Open it." Instantly, the large clan gate swung open, and over a hundred White Horse Camp cavalrymen entered the training grounds.

"The White Horse Gang and the Tieshan Gang fought a life-and-death battle just yesterday evening. With so many people in the White Horse Gang, and with casualties, they couldn't have returned last night.

They must have set out from the Tieshan Gang's location this morning. This means the men of the White Horse Camp came directly to our Teng Family Estate without returning to White Horse Lake first," Teng Qingshan also noticed.

"Hmm? Not all of them are from the White Horse Camp!" From a distance, they had appeared uniformly clad in armor, but now, looking closely, there were twelve individuals in this large group who were not wearing armor.

"Who is the chieftain of your Teng Family Estate?" The leader of the White Horse Camp demanded coldly while mounted on his warhorse. Over a hundred men and horses covered in dark armor made the atmosphere in the training grounds feel frozen.

Furthermore, the slaughter of the previous day meant these White Horse Camp bandits still carried the scent of blood, further chilling the hearts of the onlookers. Many clansmen dared not breathe loudly, and the children stared fearfully at this group of horsemen.

"I am," Teng Yunlong stepped out from the crowd, and Teng Qingshan immediately followed his grandfather. The clansmen stood behind their chief, holding their weapons, ready to fight desperately at his command.

"Teng Qingshan, who is that?" The leader barked again. Teng Qingshan stepped forward, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with his grandfather, and smiled, "I am Teng Qingshan.

This honored sir must be the leader of the White Horse Camp. May I ask what brings you to our Teng Family Estate?" The leader's cold gaze swept over Teng Qingshan, then he grinned, "You are Teng Qingshan?

Rumored to be the foremost hero of the Teng Family Estate. Well, I don't know about your skill, but at least...

you have courage. Today, I've come here with a great favor to bestow upon your Teng Family Estate." "A great favor?" Teng Yunlong looked puzzled.

A cavalryman standing beside the leader immediately shouted, "Listen clearly, everyone! This man is the Young Master of our White Horse Gang!

In a few days, he will be the new Great Master of the White Horse Gang! The Young Master is here today to recruit true heroes to join our White Horse Camp!" The Teng Family Estate side erupted in clamor.

The White Horse Camp? The most elite unit of the White Horse Gang?

"Young Master? He isn't dead?" Teng Qingshan was shocked internally.

Beside him, Teng Yunlong also glanced at Teng Qingshan with confusion. Teng Qingshan had explicitly stated last night that the Young Master was dead!

"If he is the Young Master, then who did I kill?" Teng Qingshan glanced at the weapon held by the man on the warhorse; it was the same type of long saber as Fourth Master Hong's. "The person I killed yesterday was also a leader of the White Horse Camp, using the same saber technique as Fourth Master Hong." Although he didn't know the identity of the man he killed, Teng Qingshan understood...

He hadn't killed the Young Master, because the Young Master stood before him now. "Any man capable of lifting five hundred catties is qualified to join the White Horse Camp!

If one joins, the annual tribute is reduced by twenty percent; if two join, the annual tribute is reduced by forty percent... As long as five men from your estate join the White Horse Camp!

Then, from this day forward, the annual tribute for your Teng Family Estate will be waived!" the cavalryman roared. The training ground instantly filled with murmurs and discussion.

And the Young Master, Hong Zhenjie, sat astride his warhorse, sweeping his gaze over the crowd as if an emperor inspecting his subjects. "Hmm?" Hong Zhenjie's gaze settled upon a very delicate-looking young woman standing behind Teng Qingshan.

Her flowered cloth top seemed simple, but her face was rosy and fair, as if water could be squeezed from it. She appeared young, still wearing pigtails, somewhat green.

Yet, her developed chest and tall figure indicated that this beautiful girl had matured early. Hong Zhenjie's eyes immediately lit up.

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