Cheng Xu stared at Gao Yiye with a peculiar expression, wondering how this “most powerful spirit” would arrange things for him.

Then he heard Gao Yiye speak in a melodious voice: “General Cheng, the Deity says your martial skills are decent. He wishes to invite you to stay in Gaojia Village from now on, teaching martial arts and battlefield tactics to the villagers.”

“What?”

Cheng Xu dug at his ear: “My hearing’s gone bad after death. You want me to teach ghost villagers martial arts? What exactly is this for? Miss Spirit, are you planning to organize three thousand ghostly troops to rebel against Yama Wang?”

Gao Yiye froze, finding his words somewhat incomprehensible.

But Thirty-Two chuckled aloud: “General Cheng, have you been thinking all along that you’re already dead?”

Cheng Xu: “Haven’t I?”

Thirty-Two: “Give yourself a hard pinch and see if it hurts.”

Cheng Xu: “Only a fool would give themselves a hard pinch!”

Thirty-Two shot him a sidelong glance.

Gao Yiye burst into laughter: “If Madam Bai heard you say that, she’d pinch the daylight out of you.”

Her laughter pierced through the gloom like rays of evening sunset, instantly dispersing the cold, eerie atmosphere in the courtyard at night.

Cheng Xu’s heart jolted. From Gao Yiye, he saw light.

Do you believe in light?

“You’re not a female ghost? Third Master, you’re not a ghost either?”

Thirty-Two: “Where do I look like a ghost? Besides, I’m not a master anymore. Please call me Steward Thirty-Two.”

Cheng Xu: “…”

He extended his hands, scrutinizing them intently for a long time, then reached over and pinched his thigh hard as hell.

“Hell, that hurts!”

Rubbing his thigh, Cheng Xu muttered, “I’m actually still alive. No wonder I didn’t see my grandmother when walking in here. Just what kind of place is this Gaojia Village?”

Thirty-Two sighed softly: “It’s a place in these chaotic times that shelters people like us who have nowhere else to go. General Cheng, rest in the guest room for tonight. We’ll talk in detail early tomorrow morning.”

He guided Cheng Xu to a guest room and showed him the bed and quilt.

As the Spring Festival approached, the freezing cold and Cheng Xu’s exhaustion overpowered him. Struggling out of his heavy armor, he lay down on the bed, covered himself with the thick quilt, and within moments fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

…

Early in the morning, various sounds of village life startled Cheng Xu awake. Stepping outside and climbing the fortress wall, he looked down upon Gaojia Village and saw villagers everywhere doing exercises.

Li Daoxuan no longer needed his electronic device to broadcast the instructions—they now chanted in unison.

After just two glances, Cheng Xu shook his head: “What’s the point of this level of exercise? It only stretches the body. Doesn’t help improve combat capability at all.”

“So the General feels that way too?” Thirty-Two appeared beside him unexpectedly, smiling. “The Deity said the same. This seventh set of exercises is only suitable for ordinary folks to loosen stiff joints. If they intend to fight enemies on the battlefield, proper drilling is essential… which, incidentally, happens to be Cheng Xu’s expertise.”

Cheng Xu: “Listening to your annoying idioms actually makes me feel genuinely alive.”

He gazed into the distance. The dawn at Gaojia Fortress felt completely unlike anything he’d seen in other villages.

Inside the main fortress, villagers seemed a bit sluggish—dragging through their exercises and leisurely beginning their work.

Outside the fortress, the folks in the Labor Offenders Village and Short-term Workers Village bustled with far greater diligence. Having finished breakfast, they began gearing up for the day’s work. Crowds surged towards the slopes, felling trees that had been stripped of their bark long ago and already stood dead. These withered trees were now scarce, leaving the entire hillside bare. It seemed something major was being planned.

Large groups also ran beyond the village, constructing a cement road stretching from Gaojia Village to Wangjia Village.

Cheng Xu felt certain—this was indeed the real world!

“Who possesses such immense ability to have saved me in that avalanche?”

Thirty-Two pointed skyward, “Dao Xuan Deity. You don’t have to believe it for now, but live here a few days, and you’ll know the Deity watches over us always.”

Cheng Xu glanced up at the sky, skepticism coloring his expression. He murmured, “You know the risks of sheltering me quite clearly, don’t you?”

Thirty-Two replied, “Which is why you must cover your face and adopt a bandit name. From now on, use that alias when meeting others.”

Cheng Xu nodded. “Is the reason for keeping me here… to teach the villagers combat skills? Battle formations?”

Thirty-Two nodded again. “Yes. That is the Deity’s will.”

“Alright!” Cheng Xu agreed readily, surprising even himself. What other refuge existed for him? Wandering outside risked discovery by the Imperial Guards, a fate worse than death.

At that moment, a figure scaled the fortress wall and climbed up.

Cheng Xu looked carefully and recognized him—that good-natured, brawny youth with the colossal strange vehicle, who delivered the catapults, Giant Crossbow Vehicles, and magical missiles to the Bai Family Fortress! What was his name? Ah, yes. Gao Chuwu.

Gao Chuwu rushed towards Cheng Xu, exclaiming urgently, “I know you! You’re that government general! I saw you at the Bai Family Fortress.”

An instant flash of embarrassment crossed Cheng Xu’s face. I should’ve covered my face sooner, he thought. Recognized already? News gets out, and the Imperial Guards are hunting me again.

Unexpectedly, Gao Chuwu dropped into a deep, respectful bow. “General, sir! I want to learn martial arts! Could you be my shifu? Teach me fighting skills?”

Cheng Xu gave a puzzled “Huh?”, utterly bewildered by the sudden request.

Thirty-Two laughed and scolded him, “Chuwu! What do you need martial skills for? You’re huge, immensely strong, quick to react—you already fight well!”

Gao Chuwu shook his head. “Last time I faced Zheng Yanfu, he cut me down in a single move. If I hadn’t been armored… he’d have killed me. I know… I’m just no good.”

His face crumpled with distress. “I’m very dull… my mind works slow. The way I am now… I’ll never win that girl’s favor my whole life. So I must learn martial arts. I must become very, very, very strong. Then… maybe she’ll like me.”

“That girl?” Cheng Xu was completely lost. Well, your foolishness I knew already, he thought. The way you talk – so vague, leaving listeners baffled – truly confirms it.

Thirty-Two, however, understood. “Still thinking about Xing Honglang? Chuwu, give it up! How could such a remarkable woman ever fall for a simpleton like you? This is pure wishful thinking!”

Gao Chuwu pointed upwards. “Look! The sky… it really has opened!”

Thirty-Two: “?”

Cheng Xu: “?”

The two men tilted their heads skyward. The clouds parted, revealing a sheet of paper as vast as the heavens itself. Emblazoned across it were two immense characters: “努 力!” (effort)

Gao Chuwu squinted. “What do those words say?”

Cheng Xu’s jaw dropped slack. “Eh? Why is the sky… showing… words?”

Thirty-Two patted Cheng Xu’s shoulder firmly. “Teach him! This… this is Comply with Heaven’s will.”