Full Camp Takes Notice! A Mission to Carry Out!

Leaving the barracks, Jiang Bei stepped onto the road and immediately noticed the many soldiers watching him.

Every one of those gazes carried reverence.

Some respectfully saluted him and greeted him, "Good morning, Squad Leader Jiang."

Other timid soldiers hurriedly avoided him the moment they spotted him from afar, even going out of their way to take a detour.

Jiang Bei felt rather helpless.

It seemed that the two battles yesterday had thoroughly spread his name throughout Ren-Rank Camp.

Still, that was not necessarily a bad thing.

With his reputation spreading and others learning what he was capable of, even if he was away from camp in the future, presumably no one would dare easily set their sights on Yu Rou or bully her.

Before long, Jiang Bei arrived at the Merit Hall.

The so-called Merit Hall was really just a somewhat larger barracks.

Soldiers who returned from missions would normally come here to register their merits.

One Barbarian head could be exchanged for 1 military merit; Ninth Rank Minor Training earned 2, Ninth Rank Great Training earned 3, and so on.

The hall had originally been bustling with people.

But when everyone saw Jiang Bei arrive, they consciously moved aside to make a path for him, and the atmosphere fell silent.

"Who's that? Why are you all so afraid of him? He looks like nothing more than a kid."

Two soldiers who had just left the Merit Hall spoke in low voices, one of them asking in confusion.

"Shh! Keep it down! That's Jiang Bei from Third Battalion, a notorious ruthless man! Yesterday, he killed a Platoon Leader in his own battalion and crippled a Squad Leader. The key is, he was in the right, so no one could do anything to him!"

The man beside him hurriedly lowered his voice and explained.

"Wh... what? How is that possible? How old is he?"

"I saw it with my own eyes. How could it be fake? Come on, hurry up and go!"

Their voices gradually faded into the distance.

Inside the Merit Hall, Jiang Bei walked up to the man in charge of registration and said, "Help me check my military merits. Jiang Bei of Third Battalion."

"Please wait."

The man immediately picked up a ledger and began flipping through it.

A moment later, his eyes narrowed. "Found it. Jiang Bei, eighteen military merits."

"Eighteen... How many are needed to exchange for a Qi and Blood Method?"

Jiang Bei asked.

"A Qi and Blood Method? He wants to exchange for a Qi and Blood Method?"

"Could he have already broken through to Eighth Rank Great Training?"

"Not necessarily. Some at Eighth Rank Minor Training or Ninth Rank Great Training also exchange for a Qi and Blood Method early to temper the foundation of their qi and blood. That way, when they truly begin cultivating it later, they'll find it much easier."

Jiang Bei's words were like a stone dropped into still water, immediately stirring up a wave of whispers throughout the Merit Hall.

"A Qi and Blood Method... even the lowest-grade one requires thirty military merits to exchange for it."

The man said.

Jiang Bei nodded, then turned and left the Merit Hall.

Thirty military merits. He was still twelve short.

It seemed he would have to carry out another mission.

Whether for this Qi and Blood Method or for merit points, he had to take a mission and kill enemies.

Otherwise, even if he obtained a Qi and Blood Method, he would have no merit points to enhance and break through with.

What Jiang Bei did not know was that—

At that moment, inside Xu Qi's tent.

Xu Qi was discussing a mission with Yang Ming, the Battalion Leader of Second Battalion.

Inside the tent, Yang Ming's brows were drawn with anxiety as he spread intelligence on East Camp City before Xu Qi.

"Old Xu, the situation is critical! Ironwood Flying has joined forces with the Heavenly Wolf Gang and is ravaging East Camp City. Several local factions have already been slaughtered by them. Emergency dispatches from the authorities are arriving like snowflakes. Second Battalion has exhausted all its resources and can only spare two squads, so I've come to borrow an elite squad from you to rush there as reinforcements! Don't refuse me!"

Xu Qi stared at the location of East Camp City, heavily circled on the map. His brows furrowed deeply as his fingers tapped the table. Then he gave a helpless, bitter smile.

"Old Yang, it's not that I'm unwilling to help. Third Battalion suffered considerable casualties in the battle at Iron Fist Valley. Liu Kui died in battle, Xue Long is seriously wounded and recuperating, and several squads need rest and reinforcements. Besides, the Colonel could assign Third Battalion another mission at any time. Right now, we're terribly short-handed..."

"Rest?" A glint flashed through Yang Ming's eyes, and his voice rose slightly. "In a crisis like this, how can we afford to rest at leisure? Old Xu, I heard that an extraordinary person has emerged under your command. Yesterday, he angrily executed that scum Wang Teng in camp and even crushed Xue Long's arrogance. Squad Leader Jiang Bei is now renowned throughout Ren-Rank Camp."

He paused, leaning forward slightly as he looked directly at Xu Qi. "Your battalion is short on manpower, but doesn't that mean you have a force that has just proven itself and whose morale is soaring? I say Jiang Bei's squad is perfect for this. Lend him to me. Let him lead the team to reinforce East Camp City, and he'll surely achieve great merit!"

Xu Qi fell silent for a moment. He knew Yang Ming was not wrong, but his concerns remained.

Jiang Bei had only just been promoted to Squad Leader and had just gone through such turmoil. The situation in East Camp City was no joke.

He pondered before saying, "Jiang Bei's fighting spirit is indeed at its peak, but he has only just become a Squad Leader. His experience..."

"What does it matter if they lack experience? Our Second Company still has two squads, and both Squad Leaders are seasoned veterans. Nothing will go wrong. At a time like this, what matters is strength!"

Yang Ming immediately cut him off, then added, "A hero shows his true colors in a crisis! Old Xu, the lives of East Camp City's people cannot be delayed!"

Seeing the urgency and earnestness in Yang Ming's eyes, Xu Qi finally made up his mind. He abruptly raised his head and said gravely to the guards outside the tent, "Go! Summon Jiang Bei, Squad Leader of the Second Squad, to the tent at once to receive orders! Hurry!"

A moment later, Jiang Bei, dressed in a Squad Leader's uniform, strode into the command tent.

Seeing Yang Ming, the commander of the Second Company, present as well, he was slightly surprised, but did not dwell on it. He calmly saluted the two company commanders. "Company Commander! Company Commander Yang!"

"Mm. Jiang Bei, come here."

Xu Qi nodded and had Jiang Bei step closer. He then pointed at the map and succinctly explained East Camp City's dire situation, as well as Yang Ming's request to borrow troops and his nomination of Jiang Bei to lead the reinforcements.

Afterward, he looked at Jiang Bei and asked, "Jiang Bei, East Camp City is in critical danger, and this mission is exceptionally perilous. Company Commander Yang wants you to lead two of his squads there with him. This trip will undoubtedly be even more dangerous than Li Star Cave. Are you willing to shoulder this responsibility?"

The tent instantly fell silent. Xu Qi and Yang Ming both fixed their gazes on Jiang Bei.

Jiang Bei's eyes lingered for a moment on East Camp City's location on the map, a thoughtful look flashing through them.

He had not expected the mission to come so soon.

This was exactly the time when he needed to carry out missions and accumulate military merit.

Whether it was merit points or the Qi and Blood Method, he needed to go on missions as soon as possible.

Only by increasing his strength could he take another step toward becoming stronger and deal with the sword hanging over his head that was Xie Kaiyue!

Jiang Bei barely hesitated. His gaze immediately turned resolute as he looked at Xu Qi and Yang Ming and declared in a forceful voice, "Military intelligence is urgent; I cannot shirk my duty! I am willing to go! I will fight with all my strength, protect the people of East Camp City, and uphold the military prestige of the Ren-Rank Camp!"

Though it was only a short statement, every word struck with weight.

A complicated mix of relief and concern flashed through Xu Qi's eyes, while Yang Ming could not help slapping his thigh and praising loudly, "Good! That's exactly the fighting spirit we need! There's no time to lose. Assemble the troops at once—we depart in two hours!"

After saying that, he looked at Xu Qi. "Old Xu, I'll be leaving first. Have Jiang Bei lead his squad to wait at the camp entrance when the time comes."

After Yang Ming left, Xu Qi looked at Jiang Bei and warned him in a grave tone, "Jiang Bei, I still have to remind you: East Camp City is not Li Star Cave. There is likely more than one eighth-rank enemy there, so be careful! Let the two Squad Leaders from the Second Company assess the situation first. Don't be too impulsive!"

He truly was worried about Jiang Bei's safety.

He had now truly witnessed Jiang Bei's potential. Given time, he would surely become a fierce general of the Ren-Rank Camp!

Everything about him was good, except that he was too easily impulsive. If he were to die young in East Camp City, that would be a tremendous loss!

"Please rest assured, Company Commander! I know my limits!"

Jiang Bei said with clasped fists.

"Good. Go on, then."

Xu Qi nodded.

Jiang Bei thought for a moment, then asked, "Company Commander, may Guo Xiu Yong accompany me?"

"Him? If he's willing, then it's fine for you to take him along."

Xu Qi said.

"Thank you, Company Commander."

Jiang Bei clasped his fists again.

He had run into Guo Xiu Yong on the way over earlier. The latter had said that his leg injury was nearly healed and that he also wanted to carry out some missions to accumulate military merit in exchange for an advanced martial art.

Guo Xiu Yong was one of the few brothers in the camp, and he had helped Jiang Bei quite a bit. Since the man was in need, Jiang Bei naturally had to lend him a hand.

Jiang Bei then turned to leave.

But Xu Qi suddenly called out to stop him.

"Wait!"

After thinking for a moment, Xu Qi rose and took a saber from a nearby cabinet. Its blade was sheathed, yet even so, a sharp aura still leaked from it.

"Your saber is too dull now; it no longer suits you. This Mystic Cloud Saber has been with me for many years. I've since switched to spear techniques, so I'll give it to you."

Xu Qi stroked the saber in his hand before extending it toward Jiang Bei.

"You're giving it to me?"

Jiang Bei was stunned by the sight.

He had not expected Xu Qi to simply give him a saber. He truly was in desperate need of a decent weapon now.

During the battle at Li Star Cave, he had already found his saber awkward to use, and even its edge had chipped.

But good sabers were too expensive, and he could not afford one yet.

Xu Qi's saber could easily fetch several hundred taels of silver outside.

Yet he was giving it away just like that!

"Just take it. I've killed countless enemies with it. Don't let it gather dust in your hands!"

Xu Qi said in a deep, weighty voice.

"Yes! Thank you, Company Commander!"

Jiang Bei solemnly accepted it, then abruptly drew the saber from its sheath.

"Shing—"

In an instant, a vast flash of cold light burst forth.

The temperature throughout the entire camp seemed to plummet at once!

Jiang Bei casually swung it twice and immediately sensed the difference.

This Mystic Cloud Saber was countless times stronger than his previous Horizontal Saber—far sharper, heavier, and more resilient than the old blade.

With this saber, his strength would surely rise once again!

"Good saber!"

Jiang Bei could not help but praise it. He thanked Xu Qi again, then turned and took his leave.

Watching Jiang Bei's departing back, Xu Qi let out a quiet sigh as well.

"Jiang Bei, Jiang Bei... I hope you live up to my expectations. You must come back alive!"