"Tell me, why would your elder brother refuse such a good thing?"
Cao Man was truly angry at this moment.
He needed an explanation, a reasonable one.
Cao Zhi's expression grew increasingly odd. He said in a muffled voice,
"The daughter of that Supreme Elder... her personality is a bit, uh... flamboyant!"
"What's wrong with young people being a little flamboyant and energetic?"
"Father, don't rush. Listen to me explain. That fairy sister has children, not many, only six. Legend has it that the father of each child is different!"
Cao Man
o( (⊙﹏⊙) )o
The worst is the sudden silence…
The air around them suddenly grew quiet.
A hint of awkwardness slowly rose.
The few household servants behind Cao Man lowered their heads, trembling slightly. They pinched their thighs fiercely with their fingers.
Don't laugh, don't laugh, I'm a professional, I absolutely cannot laugh!
Cao Man's old face turned so dark it almost dripped with water.
The current era is too damned surreal!
Giving birth to six children, all with different fathers.
What was that "fairy sister" trying to do? Collect all seven Dragon Balls to summon a divine dragon!
Crazy!
Cao Man was cursing wildly in his heart.
Marrying such a "fairy sister" wouldn't be "reaching the peak in one step," it would be "arriving in one go," saving even the step of having children…
After a long silence.
Several flocks of crows flew overhead.
Finally, Cao Man slowly came back to his senses.
He gritted his teeth and abandoned the topic of "urging marriage."
"Zhi'er, are you doing well at Dragon Tiger Heavenly Sect?"
Relieved that the topic of "urging marriage" was finally dropped, Cao Zhi let out a long sigh.
He looked at Cao Man and smiled.
"My master and the elders in the sect have taken great care of me. My two elder brothers also often guide me. I am doing very well at Dragon Tiger Heavenly Sect… Father, how have you been all these years?"
The single sentence, "How have you been?" almost made Cao Man "break down."
Not well!
He was not well at all!
Extremely not well!
As an "official appointed by the imperial court," Cao Man's sense of mission and responsibility was off the charts.
He worried about the world and was heartbroken by the current situation of "widespread banditry."
Cao Man was determined to change this situation.
He targeted Liu Xiu'er, the "leader of the rebels."
To assassinate Liu Xiu'er, Cao Man used his own money, and when it wasn't enough, he sold off ancestral property.
He sent three waves of assassins to assassinate Liu Xiu'er.
As for the results, everyone knew.
Like a meat bun thrown to a dog, there was no return!
The Gao brothers directly "joined" Liu Xiu'er.
As a result, the rebel forces were not affected in the slightest and only grew stronger!
This was too much!
Cao Man flailed about, busy as could be, only to end up "delivering warmth to the countryside" for the rebels.
Don't you rebels lack "Golden Core experts"? I'll give you some!
Don't you rebels lack "supplies and provisions"? I'll send them!
…
Speaking of "supplies and provisions," Cao Man was the angriest.
The "assassin fees" he had scraped together by selling off ancestral property, along with the Gao brothers "joining" Liu Xiu'er, also fell into the rebels' coffers.
With this money, the rebels' "hardships" were significantly alleviated.
Now, the rebels' momentum was growing fiercer. It had to be said that Cao Man's "selfless aid" played no small part in this.
For this, the imperial court specially issued an edict "scolding" Cao Man.
Can't you stop being a hindrance? Get lost!
Apart from scolding Cao Man, the imperial court did not impose any substantial punishment.
Because everyone knew that Cao Man was a model of "loyalty to the sovereign and love for the country."
Such a person could not possibly have "aided" the rebels intentionally.
Cao Man was a good person, just a bit "foolish."
This was the imperial court's evaluation of him!
Cao Man was almost furious enough to explode.
A great humiliation!
A great humiliation indeed!
He wanted to change the situation, but he despaired to find that he was utterly powerless.
These days, Cao Man would "vomit blood" whenever he had nothing else to do.
Oh, I can't take it anymore. Thinking about it again, he felt the urge.
*Puke!*
Cao Man opened his mouth and, in front of Cao Zhi, spat out a mouthful of blood.
Cao Zhi was a "filial son." Seeing this, he became extremely anxious and hugged Cao Man.
"Father, what's wrong? Who bullied you? Tell me, your son will get revenge for you!"
Cao Man was very touched.
At this moment, he knew he could no longer hide it.
Thus, Cao Man explained everything, in detail and thoroughly.
Upon hearing this, Cao Zhi's anger surged.
"Despicable! Treacherous villains, how dare they be so arrogant! They deserve to be executed!"
As a "talented student" meticulously cultivated by the imperial court, Cao Zhi's ideological awareness was no less than Cao Man's.
When he heard that the "leader of the rebels" was nearby, how could he tolerate it?
"Father, please rest well at home. I will go and find the rebels and slaughter them without leaving a single one alive!"
My son is so promising!
Cao Man was extremely gratified.
However, his expression immediately darkened.
No!
It was too dangerous!
Based on Cao Man's long experience dealing with "rebels," the "leader of the rebels," Liu Xiu'er, was extremely peculiar.
Many "imperial generals" were conquered by Liu Xiu'er for no reason and became his "loyal lackeys."
Cao Man looked at the spirited Cao Zhi, filled with worry.
He worried if his son would also become "a meat bun thrown to a dog"…
"Zhi'er, this matter requires caution. Let's plan everything carefully!"
Cao Man's words were "prudent and seasoned."
Cao Zhi, young and impetuous, couldn't listen.
He said loudly,
"Father, please don't worry. A mere rebel force is nothing to fear! It's a good opportunity for my Purple Armored Army, which has not yet experienced real combat since its establishment, to sharpen its blades with the heads and blood of the rebels!"
Cao Man was still not at ease.
"Zhi'er, don't be impulsive. Listen to your father as I explain…"
Cao Zhi waved his hand and said firmly,
"Father, you need not persuade me further. My mind is made up! I, Cao Zhi, will eradicate the rebel scourge for the imperial court and for Father!"
Cao Zhi was spirited and unrestrained.
At this moment, he radiated boundless brilliance, shining brightly.
Cao Man was deeply impressed by his son's "divine might and extraordinary bearing."
To have such a son is truly a great "fortune"!
Cao Man stopped trying to persuade him and instead fully supported Cao Zhi.
Cao Zhi's "Purple Armored Army" still needed eight hundred valiant soldiers to be officially formed!
Thus, the Cao father and son began a large-scale "conscription" in Cao County.
Both father and son were good people and did not forcibly enlist people. Instead, they opted for "generous spending."
Following his usual practice, Cao Man sold off more ancestral property to gather a large amount of gold and silver treasures, and then spent a considerable sum to recruit "eight hundred valiant soldiers."
Money makes the world go 'round!
Under the blessing of the "almighty spending ability," the Cao father and son quickly recruited "eight hundred valiant soldiers."
Although these eight hundred soldiers were ordinary people, they were all strong and burly, with bulging muscles, first-class heroes!
Under the blessing of the "Purple Armored Scroll," they quickly became qualified "Purple Armored Dao Soldiers."