Chapter 232 – Lamia Step
December 15th, 182 A.D.
Julu City became lively today as a new public school was built.
Lu Zhi, who came back from the tough journey along with his family and Zhou Cang, returned to Julu last month. Upon returning, he visited Zhang Jiao and requested a permission to open a public school inside the city.
Zhang Jiao and Tong agreed. Thus, a new construction project, which had begun last month, finished today.
Lu Zhi had used his connection with Sima Fang and other scholars in this city to recruit workers in this school. He aimed to teach Tong's soldiers first, so at least they could read and write reports without relying on others.
Zhou Cang ended up being accepted by Lu Zhi the first student of this new school, which he bragged about it for days with his colleagues. As a result, more soldiers sent petitions to join this newly found academy as well.
"Baldy! Look at what you have done! I haven't announced the opening date yet, why are you recruiting so many students and made them waiting in front of the gate!?"
"Uncle Lu! I didn't recruit them! I'm just guiding them her to admire the new building!"
"Admire? Then, why are they carrying brushes and ink stones!?"
Lu Zhi was scolding Zhou Cang while the other laughed as if he was a naughty child.
Tong was surprised by the closeness between Zhou Cang and Lu Zhi. It was as if they were brothers or friends for years. After a rough investigation, Tong understood what had happened to them.
"They went through a life-and-death battle together, huh."
The bonds of comrades, who survived a tough battle together, was as strong as brothers with the same mother. It seemed that Tong did not have to worry about these two.
Seeing the chaotic scene between his mentor and the new students, Tong left them alone as he had another task to inspect.
The steelmaking project!
Because of the recent war, the steel manufacturing competition was delayed. In addition, the city had run out of iron and coal as they temporarily lost the supply from Jinyang during the war.
Although they lacked the resources, one blacksmith shop managed to produce steel ingots from the limited iron and coal.
Tong was in front of the blacksmith shop to bestow the rewards to the makers of these metals.
The blacksmith rushed out to welcome the young master of the city with his family in a frantic.
"Great Immortal! Thank you for coming!"
Tong's face twitched, hearing the name.
'I thought everybody stopped calling me that. It seems the soldiers in my army spread the rumor again.'
Tong gave up trying to suppress the rumor that he started during his immature days. He continued his inspection job.
"As promised, I'll bestow you gold and a noble status as your reward for the achievement."
Tong gestured his soldiers, who carried boxes of gold nuggets to the blacksmith.
"B-But we've only made these [Steel] ingots. We haven't completed a single armor yet!" The honest blacksmith protested.
Tong laughed, "It doesn't matter. You've completed it first, so it's yours. If you want to repay me for this, share your knowledge about the steel to the other blacksmiths and make me armors. The government will buy your wares."
"Thank you, great immortal!"
…
Tong spent three hours discussing the steel property, armor design, and weapon order. He wanted a new personal weapon that could be used in the next battle.
In the end, Tong placed an order for a blade as it consumed less steel than other types of weapons. Besides, the blacksmiths had no experience dealing with steel, so it would take them some times before they could work with them efficiently.
"Alright, let's return. All of you head back first. I'll go to the training field."
Tong excused his bodyguards and began warming up his feet. He took off his boots and wiggled his feet fingers. The underfoot of Tong had many cut scars and blistered, yet Tong moved around as if he did not feel the pain. Within the hardened sole skins, traces of soft green scales hid from the sight of other people, only Tong and his wives knew about it.
'Lamia Step, casual pace.'
The sole under Tong's feet hardened and excreted murky substances, making his feet slippery. The two legs and knees moved as if he was ice-skating on the stone road. With one step, Tong managed to travel two and a half step.
This was the result of the training with Friday for two weeks. He managed to learn the footwork technique that could be used in the crowded area, which would be useful in battlefields.
However, in the term of mastery, he was considered a newbie as he could use one kind of all movements.
'Slither forward and slide … eh? Brake! Brake! Brake!'
A minute after the casual skating, he ran to the wall.
'Aw, dammit. How did she do it again? Use the fingers to brake and the heel to steer?'
Ten minutes after bare-feet-skating and hitting the wall, he returned to the training ground where Friday and Hua Shi were sitting and talking at the side. The two bare-under-feet leaked bloody trail as they were cut by sharp rocks and other sharp objects.
Despite the leaking blood, Tong still did not show a sign of being in pain.
Friday turned around as she noticed Tong's arrival. She gestured Tong to walk toward her.
"Sit on the chair and show me your feet."
Hua Shi stood up and gave Tong her chair, which Tong sat down and showed his wives the wounds.
Hua Shi licked her lips as she smelled the iron of the blood. She reeled in her desire as she recalled that she was supposed to quit this habit.
Friday, on the other hand, squeezed the feet to open the wound.
"Concentrate on organizing your blood flow. Condense the blood and regenerate your lost fresh with the scales."
Tong nodded and closed his eyes, trying to send his conscience into the white blood cell, modifying his DNA.
…
Friday gave Tong and Hua Shi a different training course to learn to manipulate their demonic power and their wings.
She taught Hua Shi the technique to summon the contracted soul of Tong inside her body and turned it into a tentacle wing. Once she mastered the technique, lifespans would not be a problem for her in the future as she could drain the life essence from any living being, dead bodies, animals, or even trees.
As for Tong, Friday taught him her footwork [Lamia Step].
Tong had to learn how to manipulate his blood cells, his fresh tissues, alter his DNA, and control the inner parts of his body. Since he had a bit of experience of separating his conscience into his demon souls, Tong learned the basic of it in three days.
The next part of the training course was a torture. Tong had to cut his soles and constantly regenerate back his fresh tissues, blood, and blood vessels manually without relying on the system skills.
The purpose of the cut and regenerate was to mutate the DNA in the human body, so Tong could perform a skill that only lamias could do.
…
One hour later.
Tong sat still with his eyes closed, and his cloth was soaked with his sweat. Manual controlling millions of the blood cells was a tedious task. However, the reward from the hard work was tremendous.
Friday sat in silence, observing the feet of Tong.
At the morning of Today, she remembered that there were five or six blisters that resembled snake scales. Now, the blisters increased, and there were more scales within the inner tissues of the soles.
"Okay, stop. That's enough for today."
Hearing the instruction of his wife, Tong exhaled and leaned his back on the chair. The wounds on his feet were now closed, but the fresh under his feet was not something of a human body anymore. Everything was covered with blisters and scales.
"The DNA structure is a bit off. Your homework today is to inspect my blood cells again."
Friday concentrated her conscience into the tip of her finger. She pricked the tip of her finger with a knife and dropped her blood into a cup. It was for Tong as he required it to mimic the DNA.
Friday did not stop there. She demonstrated the transformation of her legs, which turned the outer skins into snake scales. The surface was smooth, yet they were as slippery as oil.
"Remember the form. The complete form of [Lamia Step] requires this transformation. Once you have mastered it, nobody will be able to catch you in the crowded area."
Tong glanced at the legs, then it turned into a stare. He extended his hands and touched them, feeling the skins and examining the structure of DNA with his sense.
"The form is way too complex, Friday. It will take decades for me to turn my legs into these."
Friday jolted she felt the hands of Tong moved up and down on her tights, which aroused her. She bit her lower lips, so she would not accidentally moan in pleasure.
"Y-You will *ha* master t-this *gulp* in a year. *ha*."
Meanwhile, Hua Shi snickered as she noticed Friday's arousal stats.
"Hey, cow-tit. Don't moan, okay? We're outdoor, and many people are watching."
Friday glared at Hua Shi in embarrassment. Then, she gripped Tong's collar.
"To the room, now!"
"Umm, I don't have the [Yang Vein] skill, and we already did it for hours in the morning. I can't do it anymore today?"
"Drink more water and squeeze it! You have learned the manual control, so control your balls and squeeze it! You can't rest until I'm satisfied!"
"W-Wait! Sunday, HEEEEELLLLPPPP!"
Hua Shi shook her head and moved her fingers into a different direction, gesturing a Christian praying.
"RIP"
…
The scream of Tong could be heard in the central government hall, where Jia Xu, Sima Fang, Zhang Jiao, and hundreds of officials were working inside.
Usually, they would have worried or alerted by Tong's voice. However, it became a natural occurrence in the city after Tong had returned.
Jia Xu glanced at the direction of the sound and shook his head.
"A dignified immortal on bloody battlefields, a chicken on the bed battleground."
Zhang Jiao chuckled by Jia Xu's remarks.
"More wives, more children. More Tong bullying, more pregnant concubines."
Everyone in the hall laughed while Sima Fang's face paled. He thought, 'Tong haven't tough Her Majesty, right?'
As if Jia Xu could read this minister's mind, he patted the back of Sima Fang and grinned.
"Well, don't worry. He's not the type who interests in an herbivore. Our young master has a predator's fetish."
"Right, sir Sima don't have to worry about Her Majesty. As long as she doesn't approach our young master, he won't touch her."
"Correct. There are those two tigresses in his courtyard. I doubt she can get through their defenses."
All officials chatted and gossiped about Tong's live in a merry mood in front of Zhang Jiao, who did not mind it.
"Come to think of it. We haven't received a reply from sir Hua Tuo?"
Hearing the question of the lord, they glanced around and shook their head.
"He's last seen in Xiapi like three months ago. I think he should have received our invitation, but he chose to ignore it," Sima Fang reported.