Chapter 15 Don't Slap Me in the Face

"What are you looking at? Get to work! The horses haven't been fed yet today."

The old man finished speaking and then kicked him.

Lin Changning dodged to the side, feeling slightly resentful, but knew that he still had to do the job.

"Kid, my surname is Liu. Stop being so defiant. Call me Head Liu, and you'll be my horse herder from now on."

Lin Changning sighed and cupped his hands in greeting: "Head Liu."

The old man rubbed his slightly numb arm and kicked him again: "What are you standing there for? Hey, go feed the horses. Can't you even take the feed over there to the manger?"

Lin Changning looked at the pile of feed, pulled the cart and started loading feed onto it, piling the horse feed into the manger one by one.

The work isn't strenuous; if you're quick, you can finish feeding them in no time.

The old man, with a nonchalant air, squatted by the manger, squinting as he watched her work, not intending to help at all.

Seeing that she had almost finished, he picked up a few brushes and tossed them over: "Go, scrub the horse."

After saying that, he led Lin Changning to brush and comb the horse's hair. Old Liu was used to doing manual labor, so he was very quick and efficient.

Lin Changning was extremely clever. After following along a few times, he grasped the knack and quickly improved his speed.

The old man, who had been washing slowly, suddenly sped up when he saw Lin Changning becoming more efficient, as if he had been holding back his energy.

Lin Changning found it amusing, but his face remained calm and expressionless.

This old man is quite competitive.

The two scrubbed with all their might, as if they were in a competition.

Lin Changning, being a young man, was naturally more agile and soon surpassed Old Liu.

Old Liu snorted coldly: "If you hurry up, you can shovel the manure from the stable and carry it out to dry. It was good fertilizer when we were farming."

Lin Changning paused, and his movements slowed down.

The old man was smug. "Little brat, if you work fast, you can do more."

The two of them finished brushing the horse together and shoveling the horse manure together. Around noon, another person arrived from the other side.

He was a young man, tall and with a tanned face and bulging muscles beneath his jacket. He slowly approached, carrying a notebook and a calligraphy brush.

"Boss Liu, is this a new guy?"

"Yes, the commander dropped it here."

The young man raised an eyebrow at Lin Changning: "Someone who looks so delicate, can he do any work? Don't let Ma Yijue knock him down."

Lin Changning has been mocked more than once in the past two days for his slender figure and handsome appearance, and he is holding back his anger.

"Whether it works or not, we'll know after practicing."

Old Liu chuckled as he watched Wan Jin make a fool of himself: "Wan Jin, why don't you spar with him? I'll help you with today's registration."

Wan Jin is someone who records information about horses, feed consumption, and the horses' health status.

His family had been military households for generations, but by his generation, he was the only son left. Fearing that this only son would also perish in the northern frontier, his family used their connections to get him a job raising horses at the Imperial Horse Administration.

This kid is a troublemaker. He's strong and burly, and his family has taught him some martial arts. Plus, his father and uncles were both centurions, so he has many old acquaintances in the army, which has made him a bit arrogant.

This is a good opportunity to use this new kid to put his arrogance to a minimum.

"Boss Liu, then I'll leave it to you, I'll spar with this kid!"

Old Liu took the notebook and pen, grinning slyly as he stood aside, ready to take notes.

Before he could finish speaking, Lin Changning had already moved. He strode forward and suddenly rushed to Wan Jin's side.

The fist, as big as a clay pot, accompanied by a whooshing sound, smashed straight towards Wan Jin's face.

This punch was filled with his pent-up anger, and it was incredibly powerful.

Seeing this, Wan Jin quickly dodged to the side, barely avoiding the attack.

Before he could even catch his breath, Lin Changning swept his leg across Wan Jin's leg.

Wan Jin stumbled and almost fell.

Holy crap, where did this new guy get such incredible strength?

Wan Jin's heart skipped a beat, and he never dared to underestimate anyone again.

"Is it okay or not? Huh? Is it okay for me to do the work???"

Lin Changning sneered and launched another attack.

She grabbed Wan Jin's arm with both hands like iron clamps, twisted it hard, and heard a "crack" sound, like a bone being dislocated.

Wan Jin's bronze face was a mess of black and red: "It hurts, ouch ouch ouch..."

Then came a flying kick that struck Wan Jin in the stomach, sending him flying several steps away before he crashed heavily to the ground.

Immediately afterwards, Lin Changning rushed over, straddled Wan Jin, and rained down punches on Wan Jin's head and chest.

Wan Jin could only cover his head with his hands, curl up his body, and desperately resist, utterly powerless to fight back.

Old Liu watched Wan Jin get beaten with a smile. The kid was so arrogant; it was a good opportunity to put him down.

When the chief eunuch of the Sima Bureau came last time, this kid spoke rudely. If it weren't for him and a few other centurions mediating, this kid would have been hated by everyone.

"Holy crap, you don't hit someone in the face, ouch~"

Lin Changning punched Wan Jin, giving him a black eye.

"Who let Ma Yijue seduce them?"

"I...I...I...okay, please don't hit me in the face!!! Ouch!!!"

"Who the hell looks like a sissy?!"

"I never said you looked like a sissy!!!"

"Am I as strong as your wife?!"

"I don't have a wife!! How would I know!!! Let go! Let go!"

Lin Changning had had enough of beating him and felt satisfied. He stood up and exhaled a breath of stale air.

I really need to vent; holding it in is just too uncomfortable.

Whew, that feels good.

Old Liu laughed heartily as he looked at Wan Jin, who had been beaten black and blue.

Wan Jin collapsed to the ground like a rag doll, his body rising and falling with his heavy breathing.

His eyes, bruised and blackened, revealed a look of terror and pain.

"Holy crap, who are you, kid? You're so strong! I told you not to hit my face, ouch, it'll be all bruised tomorrow..."

Lin Changning glanced at him sideways: "Sorry, I didn't hear you just now."

Wan Jin's lips twitched. It wasn't that he didn't hear it; this kid deliberately punched him in the face.

I don't know where that anger came from; I suppose they didn't hold back at all.

Oh dear, his handsome face! I hope it doesn't get ruined, or he'll never be able to find a wife.

Wan Jin tried to struggle to get up, but as soon as he moved, excruciating pain shot through his body, causing him to let out a pig-like scream.

"Hey, you there, help me up..."

Wan Jin raised his hand with slight difficulty.

Lin Changning didn't take his hand, but grabbed Wan Jin by the collar with one hand and lifted him up.

"My name is Lin Changping, the sixth child in my family. Just call me by my name."

Wan Jin rubbed his sore shoulders and face: "Wan Jin, are you a martial arts expert? I couldn't tell from that."

Lin Changning nodded: "I know a few tricks."

Wan Jin took the notebook and brush that Old Liu tossed to him: "Although you're a bit thin, your hand skills are quite good. How come you're raising horses here?"

Lin Changning got annoyed just thinking about it, rolled her eyes, and turned to continue working.

Wan Jin looked at Old Liu and asked, "What's wrong? What did I say? Why is this kid angry again? He has a bigger temper than me."

Old Liu chuckled; he'd been enjoying the show all day.

"You brat, shut your mouth. Why bring up something you shouldn't talk about? This kid's father and brothers were both killed by the Tartars."

They came to join the army to avenge their fathers and brothers, and our commander threw them into the stables. How could we not be heartbroken?

Wan Jin scratched his head: "Is this where the commander is supposed to be? I think this kid's kung fu is pretty good. Isn't it a waste of his talent to be here?"

Old Liu glanced at Lin Changning, who had walked a little further away, and lowered his voice: "That kid is incredibly strong, and his boxing skills are decent, but he lacks any killing intent. On the battlefield, he'll be licking blood from the blade."

The commander seemed to value talent, so he sent me here to toughen me up, and I'll be promoted after some practice..."

Wan Jin's eyes lit up: "I knew it! This kid's skills are so good, how did he end up losing it here?"