Chapter Thirty-Two: Xue Rengui Comes Out of the Mountains

  "Daughter! Come and eat together! If you keep this up, I really can't eat anymore!" Xue Rengu pushed his wooden bucket forward, looking at Liu's thin appearance, suddenly feeling a pang in his heart. You see, during the Tang Dynasty, being plump was considered beautiful, and although Liu would be considered an absolute beauty in later generations, she was simply too skinny for this era!

  "Alright! You're all grown up, but still have the temperament of a child. Can't I eat? Husband, you should eat more, so you'll have energy to work. Sigh...I don't know when you'll be able to show off your skills. Your wife knows how talented you are!" Madam Liu looked at her husband's handsome face and suddenly felt a pang of regret. She had to say that her husband was absolutely talented in both literature and martial arts, or else she wouldn't have married him. But there weren't many people in this world who could appreciate his talents!

  "Ah! Don't worry, my dear! I believe that gold will shine wherever it is. You can rest assured that your husband will make a name for himself!" Xue Rengu saw the look on Liu's face and felt a pang of sadness in his heart, but he quickly covered it up. At this moment, he didn't have the majestic air of someone who would later become invincible. He was just a poor young man busy making a living, and now even Liu's family had cut ties with her - all because he hadn't made anything of himself. Thinking about this, Xue Rengu felt even more guilty!

  "Hmm! I believe you, husband! What's going on outside? Has something happened?" Madam Liu heard the commotion outside and didn't know what was happening, so she looked at Xue Ren Gui and asked.

  "I don't know, let's go out and take a look! The village hasn't been so lively in a long time, is someone having a wedding?" Xue Rengu also couldn't make up his mind, so he went out with Liu Shi to see what was happening.

  "What on earth has happened, Master Lao?! Why have you gathered us here with such fanfare?" some young people asked the elderly scholar standing at a higher ground. This old scholar was one of the more educated individuals in the village and had opened a private school to teach and educate others, also to make a living, but there weren't many literate people in Longmenxiu Village during this era, unlike the reverence for scholars after the Song Dynasty.

  "Everyone, be quiet! This time it's a big deal! The Emperor himself has issued an edict, and the current King of Qin will personally select the Imperial Guards. Twenty days from now, a martial arts tournament will be held outside the city of Chang'an. The champion will become the leader of the Imperial Guards and receive a fifth-rank military title! Many skilled martial artists have already signed up in various states and counties, and they will all gather in Chang'an at that time. This is a rare opportunity, everyone must seize it!"

  "Husband! Isn't this your chance? I know you have a lot of skills that can't be put to use, as long as you go and become a member of the Imperial Guard, even if it's not successful, it's still better than being in this small place!" As soon as Liu heard about such a good opportunity, she immediately thought of Xue Rengui.

  She knew that Xue Ren Gui's martial arts skills were very strong, and remembered how she was intercepted by bandits before, and the more than a hundred of them were beaten to flee in all directions by Xue Ren Gui. This is also why Liu Shi would be so devoted to Xue Ren Gui, as it has been said that heroes love beautiful women, but there's also a saying that beautiful women love heroes!

  "My daughter! A good son should make a name for himself on the battlefield, not become a servant of some prince...!" Xue Rengui also knew that this was an opportunity for himself, but although he was poor, he had a strong sense of self-respect and always believed that his achievements would be established on the battlefield. Otherwise, he wouldn't have started his military career at the age of thirty!

  "Husband, don't you think that heroes don't ask about origins? How could Liu not know Xue's thoughts, but this was indeed a rare opportunity. If she missed it this time, Liu didn't dare imagine when Xue would have another chance! Husband, don't you think that after becoming the leader of Qin Wang, there will be more opportunities to go to battle and kill enemies? As long as husband has ability, where can't he be reused?"

  "Miss! You know, it's not that I don't want to build a career or be ashamed of being someone's subordinate. Moreover, as the leader of a king, no matter what, this is an official position appointed by the imperial court. But I really can't stand some of the things officials do!" Xue Rengui saw the hopeful look on Liu's face and let out a soft sigh. He also knew that this was his opportunity, but he really couldn't stand some of the things officials did! In the past, Xue Rengui had been a bodyguard for people to make a living, but their behavior made him feel ashamed, and he had suffered many humiliations because of it!

  "Hubby, you're worried this time. I heard that Prince Qin is the current emperor's most beloved son, and he's proficient in poetry, songs, and essays. His character is also very good! Otherwise, he wouldn't have gained the current emperor's favor. The current emperor is wise and just!" How could Madame Liu not know Xue Rengu's thoughts? So she had to move him from a different angle. She really didn't want to live like this anymore, every time thickening her skin to go back to her parents' home to borrow something. Her mother was okay, but her father's cold ridicule was unbearable!

  "Alright! Wife! For you, I'll go this time and definitely bring back a high position. Then I'll take you to the capital city to live in a big house, making everyone envy you!" Xue Rengui saw that Liu Shi looked haggard but with a hint of hope, which pained his heart. His wife was originally a talented lady from a good family, what kind of life had she been living with him?

  Xue Rengu didn't know, every time he saw Liu's originally tender hands like scallions, they had become coarse and unbearable. How could Xue Rengu's heart not ache? But seeing Liu's persistence in gritting her teeth every time, Xue Rengu could only pretend not to see. Yet, with each stroke and each matter, it was all etched in his heart. He wasn't the kind of person who would make a vow to never let Liu down in this life, but now Liu had just one small request, how could he not fulfill it? Of course, he couldn't. At worst, when the time came and things didn't go as planned, he could simply resign!

  The next day, Liu was delighted to pack up Xue's luggage. This was a great opportunity for Xue, and Liu seemed to have already seen Xue returning home in glory, as well as the scene of reconciliation with his family and herself. How many times had Liu wished for this to happen? Maybe this time it would come true!

  "Girl, don't worry! This time I won't let you down, go back! I'll come back to pick you up as soon as possible!" Xue Rengu waved his hand towards the back, he didn't dare look at Liu Shi, he was afraid that if he saw her heart soften, she wouldn't want to leave again.

  Finally, Xue Rengu walked to a place where the village entrance could no longer be seen. He gently stroked the Longtian Huaji spear in his hand, which was the only heirloom passed down in his family. The spear weighed 220 catties and looked almost identical to Fang Tian's spear, but it had a dragon coiled around its shaft. Xue Rengu cherished this very much.

  This halberd has been through countless wars, yet it hasn't left any marks. "Brother, it's time for you to make a name for yourself! From today on, I'll let your great name be known throughout the land!" Xue Rengui held the Longtian Painting Halberd above his head, saying this as if he was making a declaration. As if sensing its master's heroic spirit, the halberd itself was trembling slightly, seemingly delighted to be able to fight!