Lu Fan had not expected the training squad to be composed of people from various prominent families, nor had he anticipated that Hong Xiaojiao, Qi Jie, Zhuge Xian, and others would be among them. This presented a problem, didn't it? Didn't they know he had a jealous wife at home? How could a married man engage in such activities?
"Recruitment Envoy Sir..."
"Recruitment Envoy Sir..."
"Hua Thirty-Five..."
The three women rushed towards Lu Fan with delight upon seeing him...
"Don't come any closer... Ah!" Lu Fan's head suddenly felt twice its size!
*Swish...* A figure suddenly appeared before Lu Fan.
"Wow! Sister-in-law is so beautiful!"
"Wow! Sister-in-law is so young!"
"Wow! Is this the legendary sister-in-law?"
...
The three beautiful women, who had been rushing over, surrounded Liu Ruyan and showered her with compliments... Liu Ruyan smiled.
*Hoo...* Lu Fan let out a long sigh of relief! Good, at least the three of them were smart. He'd give them a good private lesson later.
"Reporting, Instructor, the training squad captain, Zhuge Xian, leads the team to report!" Zhuge Xian suddenly turned and saluted Lu Fan.
"Xiao Fan! When did you become a captain?" Liu Ruyan asked in surprise.
"Hehe! I'm just the temporary captain. They asked me to cultivate a batch of young talent for Hua Rong Prefecture." Lu Fan chuckled, feeling a sudden pang of guilt.
"Hmph! No flirting!" Liu Ruyan huffed and turned to leave.
"Recruitment Envoy Sir... No, Captain! You... you're afraid of your wife?" Hong Xiaojiao, seeing Liu Ruyan depart, immediately sidled up to him with a grin. No wonder this guy didn't eat the meat that was practically delivered to his mouth; it wasn't that he didn't want to, but that he didn't dare! Hahaha!
"Who says? Pfft! How could I be afraid of my wife? I'm a ruthless killer who..."
"Recruitment Envoy Sir! You're not afraid of your wife, you just don't dare to provoke her. Haha!" Qi Jie suddenly chimed in.
In the past, they had been particularly afraid of the Recruitment Envoy. Later, they respected him for his good character, not taking advantage of opportunities. Now, this guy seemed very approachable, making people want to get close to him. He was nothing like the notorious bandit recruiter of legend.
"Alas! Captain! When will we start training?" Zhuge Xian sighed softly. She could tell that Lu Fan really liked this wife, and Liu Ruyan was also beautiful. It was unlikely Lu Fan would ever change wives! However, being able to spend some time with Lu Fan was good enough.
"Then let's start tonight! But since you're here, I should at least treat you to a meal, so you won't hold a grudge when I spank you later." Lu Fan said with a sly smile.
"Hmph! You dare?" Hong Xiaojiao pouted. Spank him? Hmph! Look at you!
"I don't believe it either! Captain! How about I sacrifice myself and let you practice?" Qi Jie also pouted, suddenly sticking out her behind.
"Alright! You win!" Lu Fan glanced at the villa window and shrugged.
"Tsk..."
"Tsk..."
A chorus of disdainful hisses came from the side. As if infected by their playful banter, the other team members' initial awe began to shift. They suddenly felt that this captain was different from the legends.
That evening, Lu Fan hosted a banquet at his home for the twenty-member training squad! Wang Yan and Taohua both came to help. They prepared three large tables full of dishes, not fancy items, but home-style cooking. Braised carp, chicken with mushrooms, and smoked rabbit were considered the main dishes.
If it weren't for the Wuliangye liquor on the table, many might have thought it was just ordinary home cooking. Some team members even showed disdain when they saw the dishes. How stingy! They said they were treating them to a grand meal? Pfft! They were truly from the mountains! So uncultured!
However, after everyone tasted the food, they realized that even the most exquisite delicacies couldn't compare to this feeling.
Those who could join the training squad were carefully selected young talents from various prominent families, meaning they were all worldly people. Initially, they tried to maintain a reserved demeanor. But after thirty seconds, they all transformed into genuine foodies.
Of course, this excluded Zhuge Xian and five others. The members from the six hidden families seemed to lack extensive experience.
After the meal, everyone was arranged to stay at the village branch. Wang Yan had people tidy up several rooms in the village branch for them. Although they were nominally the training squad for Hua Rong Prefecture, Hua Rong Prefecture seemed quite stingy and had no budget! Lu Fan was baffled. This seemed out of sync with the prevailing trend of corruption, embezzlement, and profiteering. Why did everyone else get to take advantage of opportunities, while he had to lose money?
...
That evening, the training squad gathered at the entrance of Lu Fan's villa. Lu Fan had already placed the twelve stone figures of the Flowing Cloud Formation in a vacant room in the middle of the villa. The first stage was for them to practice the Flowing Cloud Fist and navigate the Flowing Cloud Array.
"Captain! You want us to fight the stone figures? That... that will hurt a lot!" Qi Jie pouted upon seeing that they would be fighting twelve stone figures. Enduring attacks from stone figures with their bare bodies, who could stand it?
"Won't it hurt more when the enemy's blades cut you?" Lu Fan rolled his eyes.
Qi Jie immediately stuck out her tongue. She secretly thought, was this guy deliberately retaliating for her calling him out for being afraid of his wife?
"I will first teach everyone a set of fist techniques, the former sect-guarding fist technique of the Luoyan Sect, the Flowing Cloud Fist. By following this set of techniques to navigate the Flowing Cloud Array, you will suffer less injury. Of course, it also depends on your aptitude. Those with dull aptitude might still end up as minced meat in the Flowing Cloud Array," Lu Fan said.
"Luoyan Sect? I've heard of it. It's said to have been a very powerful sect. The Luoyan Sect's sect-guarding fist technique must be very impressive! It seems I made the right choice this time. As expected of the Recruitment Envoy Sir, everything he casually brings out is extraordinary." As soon as Lu Fan finished speaking, someone immediately chimed in.
"Alright! I admit I have another identity, and that is the Sect Master of the Luoyan Sect!" Lu Fan said with a slight smile.
Lu Fan demonstrated the twelve forms of close-quarters combat, then instructed everyone to practice for half an hour. After half an hour, they could try to navigate the Flowing Cloud Array.
"No way, such a simple fist technique, and you need half an hour to practice? I can learn it after one look." At this moment, someone in the crowd suddenly said.
"Very well! Then let Mu Xiao of the Mu family from Qingcheng demonstrate for everyone." Lu Fan smiled faintly.
"Alright! I'll demonstrate for everyone! How to break this Flowing Cloud Array!" Mu Xiao stepped forward a few paces, cupped his fists, and walked confidently into the room.
*Whoosh,* everyone immediately crowded around the window, peeking into the room. They all wanted to witness what the Flowing Cloud Array was.
*Hoo, hoo, hoo...* Mu Xiao charged into the stone array. *Rumble, rumble,* the twelve stone figures immediately came to life. *Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh,* the stone figures began their attack!
At first, Mu Xiao was able to handle himself with ease within the Flowing Cloud Array. However, as the stone figures' speed increased, Mu Xiao gradually found it harder to cope. *Bang,* suddenly Mu Xiao was punched in the stomach by a stone figure. Immediately, the twelve stone figures seemed to have found an opportunity and unleashed a barrage of punches and kicks at Mu Xiao.
"Oh no! This is bad, if it continues like this, won't Mu Xiao become minced meat?" someone suddenly exclaimed.