Chapter 130: The Outbreak

Everyone froze.

Whether they were soldiers of the Fierce Tiger Army or those who had accompanied Chu Yun, every one of them stood stunned.

Their hearts were filled with shock.

For Luo Hu to have risen to the position of deputy commander of the Fierce Tiger Army, he clearly possessed extraordinary skill. His latest attack had indeed displayed astonishing strength.

Yet Chu Yun had subdued him with such ease, one hand clamped around his throat.

With only a little more pressure, he could have taken Luo Hu’s life.

He had lost!

A powerful warrior like Luo Hu had actually been defeated by Chu Yun just like that.

No one had expected Chu Yun’s martial prowess to be so formidable.

They had known that he possessed some skill, but never imagined that he would be this powerful.

“I concede!”

Once Chu Yun had him by the throat, Luo Hu hurriedly admitted defeat.

His expression was also filled with awe toward Chu Yun. Clearly, he was thoroughly convinced.

Only now did he understand how foolish he had been to underestimate Chu Yun.

Had this been a battlefield, with Chu Yun as his enemy, he would already have been dead.

Chu Yun released him and stepped back.

Luo Hu immediately saluted and said, “My lord, that killing technique of yours is truly incredible. I sincerely hope you will teach it to me.”

Chu Yun smiled faintly. “I said I would teach you ten killing techniques as a gift for our first meeting. Naturally, this one will be among them.”

Luo Hu’s face filled with gratitude, and he quickly bowed. “Thank you, my lord. Thank you, Commander Chu!”

Seeing Luo Hu’s reaction, the soldiers of the Fierce Tiger Army looked at Chu Yun with even greater seriousness, awe appearing on every face.

They knew that this technique of Chu Yun’s had to be extraordinarily powerful to move Luo Hu so deeply.

And what had just happened proved that it was indeed no ordinary technique.

They hurriedly saluted and thanked him as well. “Thank you, my lord. Thank you, Commander Chu!”

Seeing this, Chu Yun smiled inwardly.

He had put on quite a show today, and it had worked perfectly. He had established his authority before every soldier of the Fierce Tiger Army. From now on, he had no need to fear that they would refuse to obey him.

Then he said, “Deputy Commander Luo, continue attacking me. Slow down your movements. We’ll demonstrate it for everyone.”

Luo Hu acknowledged him and walked toward Chu Yun, launching another attack.

Chu Yun parried while explaining each movement.

After demonstrating it several times, he said, “The key to this killing technique is simple. If the opponent throws a left punch, we shift our body to the left. If he throws a right punch, we shift to the right. If he changes his attack and we cannot keep up with his speed, we step backward until he commits to a full-powered strike. Then we slip inside his guard…”

After he finished speaking, he had Luo Hu throw punch after punch at him, demonstrating the technique for everyone to see.

Chu Yun added, “If the opponent is wielding a short blade instead of a fist, this technique remains just as effective.”

He then had Luo Hu pick up a section of wooden staff to use as a short blade and attack him, offering another demonstration.

After listening to Chu Yun’s detailed explanation, the soldiers of the Fierce Tiger Army discovered even more of the technique’s brilliance. Their admiration for him deepened visibly.

After that, they watched even more attentively as Chu Yun taught them the remaining nine killing techniques.

By the time he had finished teaching all ten, it was nearly noon. Chu Yun stayed at the Fierce Tiger camp and prepared a meal with everyone.

They drank and sang together, laughing at the fleeting nature of life.

After sharing a meal with them, Chu Yun had completely blended into the Fierce Tiger camp.

Chu Wencai, Liu Fei, and the others watched everything unfold, their admiration for Chu Yun growing still stronger.

First he had established his authority, appearing stern and unapproachable. Then he had shared a meal with them and mingled freely, presenting himself as warm and approachable. In this way, Chu Yun had utterly won over the Fierce Tiger Army—a force that was rigorously trained, strictly disciplined, and formidable in battle.

He was truly remarkable.

Now that Chu Yun had successfully taken control of the Fierce Tiger Army, capturing Qingtan Town would naturally be easy.

The time had come to take Qingtan Town.

On the third day, Chu Yun issued a military order and personally led a hundred soldiers of the Fierce Tiger Army toward Qingtan Town.

Liu Fei asked curiously, “My lord, why are you bringing the Fierce Tiger Army to Qingtan Town? If the head of Qingtan Town thinks we intend to attack and starts a war, it could cause trouble.”

Chu Yun did not answer. Instead, he looked toward Chu Wencai. “Wencai, you answer that question for me.”

Chu Wencai was delighted. He knew that Chu Yun valued his talent and was paving the way for his future promotion. After thinking for a moment, he said, “Chief Liu, the reason my lord is bringing the Fierce Tiger Army to Qingtan Town is primarily to let the people there know that he has subdued the army. That will make them fear him more, allowing Qingtan Town to become his fief with far less difficulty.”

Liu Fei nodded. “I see.”

Chu Yun smiled faintly. “Wencai truly understands me!”

He then led the Fierce Tiger Army toward Qingtan Town. Just as he and Chu Wencai had expected, everything went smoothly.

When Chu Yun and the Fierce Tiger Army were still fifteen miles from the town walls, the head of Qingtan Town had already come out to welcome them. He directly handed over the official seal and relevant documents, acknowledged Chu Yun as his lord, and begged Chu Yun to forgive him for helping the Witch Doctor Cult attack Chu Family Town.

At the same time, the Witch Doctor Cult’s forces in Qingtan Town had already withdrawn.

Chu Yun spared the town head. After entering Qingtan Town with the Fierce Tiger Army, he used the same approach he had employed in Nanhuai Town: he invited the people to a communal meal, gathered them together, and informed them of his two policy options.

Although Qingtan Town belonged to no noble’s territory and was directly administered by the Great Qi Dynasty, its taxes were still crushing, and the people lived in great hardship.

To assist the Witch Doctor Cult in attacking Chu Family Town, the town had paid an even heavier price. Its population had fallen from nearly three thousand to barely more than thirteen hundred, most of them elderly people, women, and children. Able-bodied men were in desperately short supply.

Chu Wencai could not help sighing. “This is the cruelty of war.”

Because there were so few able-bodied men, the people of Qingtan Town feared that even with fertile land, they would be unable to cultivate it properly or produce enough food. Unlike the people of Nanhuai Town, nearly all of them chose the plan of communal cooking and communal labor, with three meals provided each day.

Chu Wencai knew that choosing this arrangement essentially meant becoming Chu Yun’s hired workers.

But what could the elderly, women, and children possibly do?

Thus, he urged Chu Yun to persuade the people of Qingtan Town to choose the first option instead.

Chu Yun refused.

The people of Qingtan Town were overjoyed. One after another, they knelt and bowed.

“Count Chu Yun is a divine being sent to save us! It is our greatest honor to become his people!”

Clearly, they had accepted Chu Yun as their lord from the bottom of their hearts.

Chu Yun and the soldiers of the Fierce Tiger Army stayed in Qingtan Town that day.

Yet that very night, the people of Qingtan Town suddenly fell ill. Within a single night, dozens of them lost consciousness and developed dangerously high fevers.

Early the next morning, someone began spreading rumors throughout Qingtan Town.

“Count Chu Yun never forgave Qingtan Town for helping the Witch Doctor Cult attack Chu Family Town. To take revenge, he pretended to share a meal with everyone, then used the opportunity to poison them. In a single night, dozens of people are now hovering between life and death. What a ruthless man!”