Recruitment

It's a hot night. even inside the tent, the air was stagnant the making the mood irritable. making the people unnecessarily hot.

and In this atmosphere. Tara the second strongest and the second in command of the barbarian tribe, Was mocked and laughed at.

She, a medium level martial artist and a medium level three mage.

Was laughed at by a man known as a cripple and a good for nothing.

she's felt stifled and annoyed, she being someone who leads her troop through the forest fighting beasts every single day is being mocked and underestimated by a pretty boy who was born with a silver spoon.

she couldn't stand it, so she won't stand it.

Without answering Zhang Li, she stands from her seat and takes a step back. lowering her left hand right above the ground she pulls them until her hands go above her head and a two-handed heavy sword made out of dirt appears.

"you wanted to meet my barbarian side, I'm glad to show you."

stomping her feet forward an earth spike pierces from below Zhang Li's chair.

Zhang Li jumped backward falling face to face with her.

looking at the woman in front of him with a serious expression.

'She's experienced, it's going to be hard, but at least it will be easier to form a deal.'

Tara charged forward. each step making spikes and stones come out of the ground.

Zhang Li observed that while she's at a medium level martial artist her focus is on the mage side.

so he made the stupidest action that anyone else would avoid at all costs facing the same situation.

He rushed towards her.

Tara herself seeing this could only think how stupid he is. Then lowered all the earth around and made a stance holding the sword up with both hands. once he's close enough, she would cut him in a diagonal slash.

Zhang Li manipulated every Qi in his body onto his right fist.

as he got closer Tara eyes got wide and she assumed a defensive stance

when the fist collided with the sword, there was a sudden explosion of earth around and lightning appeared.

"What are you doing you imbecile!?"

Lily suddenly stood in between the two.

but neither looked at her

Tara remained astonished, feeling the cold in her stomach. Right before the lighting separated them, her sword had been pulverized into dust.

'That fist was gonna break all of my bones.'

Zhang Li stood panting observing her, seeing that she felt it, he spoke

"I have this power and other benefits to offer, if you're interested in them, come to meet me at the Zhang manor in the outer city in three days."

With that, he fell on Lily's arms passed out.

Lily stared at the still stupefied beauty and looked at the guy on her arms.

'I'll compete for this one with you.'

mimicking someone's soft smile she said,

"when you come. ask for Lily, I'll take good care of you."

And with a chuckle, she goes away.

looking at the golden-haired woman leaving. Tara comes to herself again,

she smiled beautifully in excitement. because if what the pretty boy said is real then the barbarians will become stronger then ever.

----

Zhang Li woke up in the morning of the second day after passing out.

Hearing the rush outside of his room, Zhang Li opened the doors. Mei Xu was leading the slaves in cleaning the manor that until now didn't have anyone living in.

remembering that she must have been confused after waking up, he asked.

"Xuer did Lily talked to you?"

"Yes, young master had a sparring match and used all his energies and passed out."

Ignoring his headache he asked softly, "how was it, the time there?"

she looked at the slaves beside her serenely and replied.

"I want it, a place like that. I want to live in it."

'Lily must have told her about our talk as well'

with disheveled hair and a mirth smile, he answered.

"If my Xuer wants it, then naturally I will provide it."

Even the slaves around could not believe at the scene in front of them.

Mei Xu and Zhang Li smiling at each other with the morning sunlight between them, such a beautiful picture.

"where is Lily?"

Mei Xu answered promptly " she's gone to Young lady's bedroom."

'ugh, she finally set her eyes on Ruer'

"Xuer arrange a room for each slave with a bed and wardrobe, also tell the kitchen to provide four meals a day. I gotta go protect Ruer from Lily."

"Eh? pr-protect young lady from Lily?"

before she could finish Zhang Li had already Ran off.

Mei Xu then looked at the slaves and sighed. Dark elves, dwarfs, and the Beast people. After losing the war a century ago the church branded them creatures of the dark lord and the clans in power used that as an excuse to make them slaves. in consequence, all other races apart from humans were hunted and enslaved

With the experience she had, she understood that some of the evil happen in the lack of knowledge, the people goes on doing what they're were taught and deemed as natural. making slavery common and overlooked

She looked at slaves who did not have a single reaction to the sudden good news, took a piece of cloth and joined them.

"let's finish this soon so we can arrange your rooms"

----

Rushing into his sister's bedroom Zhang Li saw an absurd scene

Lily was seated in the bed with a flushed face while his sister was whispering something in her ears, with a bad smile.

"What are you two doing!?"

Ru suddenly stood up with a start, and Lily stayed frozen in her place.

"brother I-I was just telling her a secret don't overreact!"

'hmm a secret...I'll ask Lily about it later.'

suddenly shifting his eyesight to Lily Zhang Li rebuked

"Why were you so flushed with an underaged girl whispering a secret to your ears!?"

"B-But she-"

"No buts you pervert woman! Wait by the door!"

"wuu" Lily goes outside red-eyed as if she's been bullied.

'humpf don't need to act.I have no weak heart for a crying woman.'

"Ruer lie-down on the bed."

"Brother you shouldn't treat her like this she's a good person,"

Zhang Li looked at his tomboyish and innocent sister with warm eyes.

"You brat, if you keep being this naive, people will eat and spit you, and you won't even know."

She gave an innocent smile as she lies down on the bed.

"Ruer focus on learning everything related to training of the body and leadership skills. ok? when you wake up we'll talk again."

In the same way, he did with others.he put her to sleep.

outside of the bedroom Zhang Li looked at Lily with despise.

"getting so excited with a little girl getting close to you. have you no shame!"

Lily just gave up talking, and followed behind him.

Zhang Li started to talk.

"Lily I want you to hire maids and workers. choose people from the slums. offer them a new house at the manor, and four meals a day. after that, ask them for known thieves and hooligans around here. regardless of gender, recruit them. offer them food and housing for their family if they have one. if they refuse, bring them by force I'll leave to your criteria who should be recruited.

"Young master I understand that we need strength before anything, but we will also need resources to maintain them."

"for money, Lily just have to ask the clan when my saving's end.

We will be able to hold for at least two month's this way.

In this time I will train a small group of people and arrange reliable guards. so then we can start investing in gaining money.

As for the more expansive resources," Zhang Li paused and said with certainty "I will gather them myself."