Yang Mengchen approached the village chief and the Lizheng, asking them to inform chiefs and Lizhengs of other villages that anyone who wished to enroll in the Academy should sign up with their respective village chiefs and Lizhengs and pay the Shuxiu as stipulated; the enrollment date would be announced later.

The village chief and Lizheng immediately went to the other villages, happy and cheerful. Ninth Sister never forgot them in any of her good deeds and her respect for them never changed. Now that they were being asked to inform people from other villages, it was clear that their status and credibility were intended to be raised, which naturally made them happy and gratified.

Upon arriving at the training ground and seeing the Elite Guards training strenuously, drenched in sweat, their entire demeanor had undergone a radical transformation, and Yang Mengchen was very satisfied.

At the sound of a whistle, the dusty Elite Guards immediately stopped their training and quickly lined up in formation.

"Subordinates greet Ninth Master!" Their voices were loud and in unison, almost piercing the heavens.

Yang Mengchen nodded with a smile, "I'm very pleased with your performance! However, you must continue to train diligently. Now, those whose names I call, step forward." She lowered her head to flip through the file in her hand and read out more than a dozen names.

The Elite Guards whose names were called walked out one by one to form another line. These individuals were undoubtedly those with particular skills and comparatively better education, among them the five with a talent for medicine.

"The rest of you, continue training!" Yang Mengchen turned to the named Elite Guards, "Run towards the southeast direction for three miles!"

Without any hesitation, the dozen or so Elite Guards immediately set off running in the southeast direction, well disciplined.

"Second Brother and Qi Ying should work on enhancing their synergy through intensive training. Third Brother and I will be going there," Yang Mengchen told Yang Chengning.

Yang Chengning nodded. His rapport with Qi Ying was improving, but it had not yet reached his predetermined standard. There was no time to waste in stepping up the special training because the departure date for the battlefield was approaching and once on the battlefield, it would be impossible to train as they did now.

Yang Mengchen and Yang Chengxuan swiftly left, vanishing from sight in the blink of an eye, leaving the remaining Elite Guards with eyes shining, wondering when they would be able to move as swiftly and mysteriously as their masters.

The three-mile distance was nothing for the siblings. Seeing their two masters reach the destination before them, the dozen or so Elite Guards felt somewhat disheartened.

"You're already much better than many people!" Yang Mengchen said with a smile, trying to console them, "I have specially selected you for a special mission."

"Please give us your orders, Ninth Master!" Having trained for so long, the Elite Guards were excited to finally be given a mission.

Yang Mengchen spoke with a smile, "I plan to send you to our Academy to study."

To study at the Academy? The Elite Guards exchanged puzzled looks. What kind of mission was this?

"Report!" After receiving Yang Mengchen's nod of approval, the reporting Elite Guard respectfully asked, "Ninth Master, I have a question, though I don't know if it's proper to ask."

Yang Mengchen nodded, "Speak."

"Aren't the Elite Guards supposed to remain hidden? Why does Ninth Master want us to go to the Academy for studies?"

In their understanding, the Elite Guards were akin to the Hidden Guard, and those of the large households always remained undercover, rarely seen in public.

"The Elite Guards do need to stay hidden, but it's just the numbers and locations that are hidden, not your true strength or identity. That doesn't represent your achievements or existence," Yang Mengchen explained with a smile. "I have never thought of having you hide in the shadows forever. Based on your abilities, I'll send you to various industries to learn and improve;

Whether you become a king or a minister, hold military power, become wealthy enough to rival nations or influential in the martial world, as long as you remember that you are the Yang family Elite Guards and remain loyal to the Yang family in life and death, that is enough!

Of course, if anyone betrays me or the Yang family after gaining power and status, I will show no mercy!"

Based on her understanding, aside from a rare few who managed to emerge from the shadows, most Hidden Guards spent their lives as such, without a legitimate identity, friends, or even the chance to marry and have children.

When Hidden Guards grew old and were no longer suitable for their roles, the more kind-hearted masters would provide for their retirement. Still, their lives were already ruined, and most Hidden Guards would end up being silenced, especially close personal guards as they knew too many of their master's secrets. Many masters firmly believed that only the dead could keep secrets.

Coming from a legal society, she naturally would not treat life lightly and did not wish to see the Elite Guards living in darkness forever.

Most importantly, human hearts are the most difficult to read. Perhaps one day the Elite Guards would no longer want to remain hidden, and the consequences would be more severe than not having Elite Guards at all. Therefore, while the Elite Guards were willing to serve her exclusively, she would treat them well.

While she could control the Elite Guards with drugs like some masters did, she did not want to do that. She needed the Elite Guards to loyally protect and uphold the Yang family willingly, otherwise, it would certainly backfire.

After hearing Yang Mengchen's words, the Elite Guards were moved to tears, yet they strived to hold back their tears, kneeling down heavily and saying in unison, "We will never forget that we are the Yang family Elite Guards, and swear to remain loyal unto death to our masters and to the Yang family! If we break this oath, may we die without a place to bury!"

Yang Mengchen knew how seriously ancient people took their oaths; regardless of whether the people were sincere, at this moment, she believed them, "In a few days when the Academy starts, I will arrange for you legitimate identities to enroll. As for what skills you can learn and to what extent you can master them, it will be up to you."

"We will not fail to meet Ninth Master's expectation!"

"Tomorrow at noon, the five of you will wait for me at the village entrance. From now on, you will follow Lord An and study Medical Skills diligently." Yang Mengchen pointed at the five Elite Guards on the edge, the ones with the talent for medicine.

"We obey the order!" the five said with respect.

The sun began to set in the west, and the three siblings quietly returned home.

The next day, Yang Mengchen and the five Elite Guards waiting at the village entrance made their way to Apricot Forest Hall. As soon as she mentioned the intention to have the five study with Yang Cheng'an under Doctor Luo, Doctor Luo immediately agreed without asking any questions.

Knowing his sister had specially chosen five Elite Guards as his assistants, Yang Cheng'an felt both happy and moved.

After settling the five, Yang Mengchen and Yang Chengning went to the County Office to find Xiao Hongtao, intending to get proper legal documentation for the dozen Elite Guards and Qi Ying selected the previous day. Xiao Hongtao did not ask about the origins of these people and personally saw to their legal documentation, which was absolutely clean and regular.

Even if inspected, not a trace could be found.

Before they knew it, five days had passed, and early that morning, three groups of people arrived at the Yang family home one after the other.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.