I used the Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword) to fight the Japanese.

However, by the second night, some people were already sleeping soundly with their heads resting on the grave mounds, just like Zhao Mancang. Following closely behind, Hu Zi, Li Dadi, Da Zhao, and Gou Mao all met the requirement of being able to spend the night alone in the cemetery without being affected. What surprised everyone most was that the four girls became the second group to complete the training mission, making the men quite ashamed.

Afterwards, people asked the four girls why they were so brave. Weren't they afraid to sleep alone in the cemetery? Diezi's answer was heartbreaking. Anyway, they were already ruined. As long as they could fight the Japanese and avenge their fathers, they didn't care about anything else. If there were ghosts, they would just die!

Seeing that even a young woman could complete her task, the others were all determined to do the same. That night, they slept alone in the cemetery, and a few days later, they all completed their tasks. Third Master, however, was the last to finish. Zhao Mancang explained to him privately that there were no ghosts or gods in this world, which helped him let go of his old beliefs, overcome his fear, and fall soundly asleep in the cemetery.

The second training exercise was, of course, physical fitness. Now that food was plentiful and nutrition was adequate, training could proceed freely. The method was simple: every morning, they would carry heavy loads around two mountain peaks. Men had to carry 50 pounds of weight and return to the village within 40 minutes, while women had to carry half the weight and take an hour.

This also caused everyone to complain bitterly. It was at least ten kilometers around the two mountains, and it was a mountain road. Plus, they had to carry heavy loads. It took them more than two hours to walk around the first day. Completing the task in forty minutes was simply a pipe dream.

Others couldn't do it, and neither could Zhao Mancang. His body was completely untrained; after running just a few miles, his throat felt like it was on fire, and his legs felt like lead, making it difficult to take another step. However, he persevered with sheer willpower. Through this experience in the mining area, he deeply realized that in this era where transportation relied primarily on walking, being unable to run could cost him his life!

This is a long-term training program; no one can meet the requirements for at least half a month. However, everyone is gritting their teeth and persevering. Everyone understands the principle of sweating more during training and bleeding less during battle, and no one complains.

The third training exercise involved the use of various weapons. This was the main event, and everyone was very enthusiastic. However, after hearing Zhao Mancang's requirements, everyone's faces fell.

The repeating crossbow had to be assembled and fired within three minutes. Ten concentric circles the size of a square bucket were drawn on a wooden board with a slate pencil. The average score at a distance of forty meters or more had to be above six rings to be considered qualified.

This is also why the effective range of the repeating crossbow is only fifty meters; otherwise, the distance would be much greater.

The techniques of swarming bees, crossbows, and hidden arrows all have strict requirements. In short, the only way to train them to the point of exhaustion is to train them relentlessly! The only way to develop these farming skills into combat abilities in a short period of time is to train them ruthlessly!

To his delight, Third Master Mo Dao had devised a set of very lethal moves based on his family's swordsmanship. After teaching everyone, they all praised Third Master. After practicing for a few days, they were all eager to find the Japanese to spar with, but Third Master's words left them speechless!

"If you don't have the energy to fight properly, all you'll do is show off your skills. If you don't want to send the Japanese to their deaths, then practice as much as you can!"

Still not convinced by the big move, Third Master knocked the knife away with a wooden stick in two blows, drawing everyone's attention. He then obediently continued training step by step according to Third Master's method.

Half a month has passed in the blink of an eye, and everyone has made great progress in this period. Their previous lazy and lethargic demeanor is gone, and they are all physically strong, with bright eyes and much improved energy.

"Hey! Where did these dogs come from?" That morning, Zhao Mancang had just returned to the village after a run with heavy loads when he saw Hu Zi wandering around the yard with two dogs. He walked over and asked.

The two dogs, one black and one yellow, were eating a bone from Tiger's hand, their heads reaching up to his chest. The yellow dog had two obvious scars running from its front leg to its belly, and some of its fur was festering and festered. The black dog had a broken tail and a visibly fractured left front leg, causing it to limp.

However, both dogs were clearly very fierce. When they saw him coming, they stared at him from a distance and bent their hind legs as if they were about to attack.

"Sit down! These are our own people, you can't bite them! Understand?" Tiger shouted, handing each of them a bone.

The two dogs were very obedient; they glanced at Mancang and then lowered their heads to gnaw on the bone.

"I found them from behind the hill while I was running today. I thought they were wolves and got a fright. I had to use my tiger teeth to subdue them. They both had knife wounds and looked quite pitiful. I brought them back to see them. Anyway, the village is short of guard dogs. Once they're healed, they can stay and guard the village for us!" Tiger said with a smile.

Tiger is always the first to run back during morning physical training. Even if someone else encountered these two dogs without tiger teeth, they wouldn't be able to lure them back.

"They look pretty good, quite fierce, hopefully they'll survive," Zhao Mancang said, glancing at the two dogs again. Both dogs were injured; he wasn't sure if they would make it.

"Hey! Big Yellow! Blackie! ...It really is you guys!" Just then, Third Master's voice rang out from behind, his voice filled with surprise as if he had seen a family member.

"Wangwang!"

"Wangwang!"

Upon hearing the sound, the two dogs dropped their bones and ran quickly towards Third Master, circling him affectionately, biting his trouser legs and wagging their tails.

"Big Yellow! Blackie!... How did you find your way here? Did you come looking for me?" Third Master said excitedly, affectionately rubbing the two dogs' heads.

"Wangwang!"

"Wangwang!"

The two dogs barked twice more, but no one knew what they meant.

"Oh dear! How did you get hurt? And you've lost so much weight! ... What happened?" Third Master became anxious when he saw that both dogs were injured.

"Wangwang!"

"Wangwang!"

The two dogs barked once more, staring intently at Third Master, their meaning unclear.

"Something really happened at home? What happened?" Third Master was even more anxious. How could he be at ease knowing that his two dogs were injured, even though they were dozens of miles away from home?

"Cangwa, I need to go home! Something might have really happened at home!" Third Master looked up at Zhao Mancang and said urgently.

"Hmm?... Don't panic. Let's find out if the Japanese have withdrawn." Zhao Mancang was taken aback when he heard that something might have happened to his family. Although he was no longer the original Zhao Mancang, he had to fulfill his filial duties since he was in someone else's body. Otherwise, what was the point of fighting the Japanese?

"What are you still asking about? Didn't you see that Da Huang and Hei Zi are both injured? They're both knife wounds! Maybe the Japanese did it!" Third Master was even more anxious.

Now, Third Uncle is only thinking about going home and doesn't want to stay a moment longer. If the Japanese invaders really enter the village, it will be too terrible; nothing will grow where the Japanese go. What happened to all his relatives?

"Third Master, Mancang is right. We're all registered at the mine. It would be very dangerous to go back rashly without the Japanese here!" Tiger said, seeing Third Master's anxiety.