At the same time, in the Yan Pass military camp.
Inside the central command tent, Decurion Wang Erhu knelt on the ground, trembling with fear as he faced the middle-aged man seated in the main seat.
The man had sharp brows and star-like eyes. His face was angular and stern, exuding unshakable authority. He held a pitch-black military command token in his calloused hand, playing with it silently without sparing Wang Erhu even a glance.
This man was none other than the commander of Yan Pass, Pan Feng—a 6th rank warrior who commanded the troops of an entire city.
Standing on either side of him were two Centurions, both 4th rank warriors.
To the left stood Wu Chuang, nine feet tall and built like a bear. A scar ran from his forehead down to the center of his brows, and a bloody aura clung to him like a shadow.
On the right stood Hu Lie, noticeably shorter—under seven feet tall—but feared far more than Wu Chuang. His cruelty surpassed even Wu Chuang’s, and countless Northern Barbarians had died by his hands. Even within the Yan Pass military, he had a notorious reputation. Soldiers trembled at the mere sight of him.
His eyes were as sharp as blades, and anyone he stared at felt uneasy and breathless.
At this moment, the air in the tent was nearly frozen. The pressure emanating from the three of them was suffocating. Wang Erhu struggled to breathe under the weight of it.
“General…” Wang Erhu finally spoke, trying to plead.
But before he could finish, Wu Chuang roared, “The General hasn’t spoken! Who gave you permission to open your mouth?!”
Though it seemed like he was scolding Wang Erhu, Wu Chuang was actually trying to protect him, afraid that one wrong word would push the General over the edge.
Just then, Pan Feng’s rough, calloused hand lifted slightly.
Wu Chuang fell silent immediately, swallowing the words that had been on the tip of his tongue. His cold gaze continued to pierce through Wang Erhu.
“The great battle is imminent. I clearly gave the order—ten days from now, the Yan Pass garrison will face a deathmatch against an elite unit of Northern Barbarians,” Pan Feng said slowly.
“And yet just a few days in, three of your Grade A soldiers have gone missing.”
As he spoke, Pan Feng rose abruptly. His massive figure towered like a mountain. He strode toward Wang Erhu in three heavy steps, his broad form casting a shadow over him.
With a loud “BOOM,” Pan Feng stomped on Wang Erhu’s back.
Wang Erhu collapsed to the ground. Just as he tried to speak, a surge of blood shot from his throat.
“You’ve got some nerve, Wang Erhu. Did you think you could just ignore my orders?” Pan Feng’s voice was ice cold, echoing like a curse from the netherworld. Wang Erhu couldn’t stop shaking.
The force of a 6th rank warrior surged through Pan Feng’s ankle. Even with just one-tenth of his strength, Wang Erhu’s face twisted in agony, drained of all color.
He nearly passed out from the pain before Pan Feng finally lifted his foot.
Returning to his seat, Pan Feng’s eyes gleamed coldly. In a voice both calm and imposing, he issued the verdict.
“And for dereliction of duty before a battle, your crime is even greater.”
“Effective immediately, your title is stripped. You will start again as a regular soldier.”
Wang Erhu’s heart sank completely. This was the end for him.
The one hundred army strikes were bearable, but losing the Decurion title meant Pan Feng might never promote him again.
Understanding the severity, Wu Chuang quickly stepped forward and cupped his hands. “General, the Yan Pass garrison is about to face the Northern Barbarians. Replacing a Decurion now could shake the morale of the troops. Why not let him atone on the battlefield and punish him afterward?”
Hu Lie added, “Among all Decurions, Wang Erhu has the most military merit and the strongest combat power. I ask that the General reconsider.”
Pan Feng cast both men a faint glance and sneered, “Since when did you two grow soft hearts like Bodhisattvas?”
“…Fine.”
Ultimately, Pan Feng relented, giving them some face. “He can keep his life, but not his punishment. The demotion stays, and the one hundred army strikes must be carried out. Otherwise, how do we maintain military authority?”
His tone left no room for negotiation.
Wu Chuang and Hu Lie backed down. They had done all they could. Wang Erhu had been generous to them over the years, but that was the extent of their help.
“Thank you, General!” Wang Erhu shouted in gratitude.
Immediately, the military officers entered and, ignoring Wang Erhu’s injuries, ordered men to drag him out.
“THUD! THUD! THUD!”
The wooden rods struck his body without mercy.
“Ahhh!”
One agonized scream after another echoed across the courtyard.
When the one hundred strikes were over, Wang Erhu’s backside was a bloody mess. His body was so limp he couldn’t even crawl.
In the end, it was his personal guards who carried him home.
Lying on the bed, even with wound-healing salve applied, the pain seared through his bones, making it impossible to sleep.
“Song Chun, you bastard! If I ever find you, I’ll make sure you beg for death!” Wang Erhu gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing with hatred. He cursed loudly, frightening the servants and guards so much that they scrambled to hide far away. The source of this chapter is novelping.com.
No one wanted to get near such misfortune…
Meanwhile, ever since He Caiwei had grasped the basics of her sword technique, she had been bursting with energy, dragging Lin Feng to the back mountain at the crack of dawn every day.
The benefit? Her mastery of swordsmanship was visibly improving, and her complexion grew healthier by the day.
The downside? Lin Feng was utterly exhausted.
They were so worn out that they hadn’t had the energy for any nighttime affection.
Lin Feng just didn’t have the strength.
They trained from morning till late at night, spending all their time—outside of meals—on the back mountain.
Lin Feng felt like this place had become their second home.
Two days passed. As the sun rose, a faint purple glow spread across the sky.
As usual, He Caiwei began her daily practice of the basic breathing technique.
After some trial and error, she found that the moment the sun rose was the most effective time to practice.
With a stream of white breath escaping her lips, faint popping sounds like roasting beans echoed from within her body—this was the breathing technique expanding her meridians, reshaping her form to better align with the martial path.
Once this step was complete, it would mean she was not far from becoming a 1st rank warrior.
Lin Feng, of course, was no longer surprised.
Half an hour later, He Caiwei ended her morning session.
Her movements were light and graceful, rising like a dragonfly skimming water. With a tap of her toes, she landed in front of Lin Feng.
Her brows were curved like crescent moons, and since she began martial training, her energy had become more radiant, and her entire being was glowing with vitality.
“My dear has extraordinary talent. At this rate, you might break through to 1st rank in just a day or two,” Lin Feng said with a smile. “When I return to the army, I won’t have to worry about you being in danger.”
“Naturally!” He Caiwei grinned proudly and nodded.
Since beginning martial training, her confidence had soared.
At that moment, her eyes shone brightly like blooming apricots. With a playful flick of her sword, she pointed it at Lin Feng and issued a bold challenge, “Husband, shall we spar?”