The Situation Changes! Arrival at East Camp City!

"Husband, you're going out on another mission? Didn't you just get back not long ago?"

Inside the tent, Yu Rou's expression changed slightly when she heard that Jiang Bei would be leaving again, and she asked softly.

"Now that I've been promoted to Squad Leader, the responsibility on my shoulders is naturally greater than before. Besides, if I want to improve my strength and protect you better, I need to take on more missions."

Jiang Bei gently pulled Yu Rou into his arms and explained warmly.

"Then... all right."

Although Yu Rou did not quite understand what carrying out missions had to do with improving one's strength, she obediently nodded and did not ask further.

After bidding Yu Rou farewell, Jiang Bei went to find Guo Xiu Yong and informed him of the mission arrangements.

Guo Xiu Yong was extremely excited upon hearing this. He repeatedly thanked Jiang Bei for securing this opportunity to go into battle for him.

Two hours later.

Jiang Bei led the Second Squad and Guo Xiu Yong to the camp gates, fully equipped and ready to depart.

At the same time, two other squad units from the Second Battalion arrived as well, bringing the total number to around forty or fifty men.

"Brother Jiang! I've long heard of your great reputation!"

At that moment, the two Squad Leaders from the Second Battalion's squad units came over and politely clasped their fists toward Jiang Bei.

Both men were in their thirties or forties. One was named Lei Tao, while the other was Shen Changyang.

Both possessed the strength of Eighth Rank Minor Training.

"Brother Lei, Brother Shen! I'll need much assistance from the two of you on this mission."

Jiang Bei returned the gesture with clasped fists, his tone modest.

"Brother Jiang, you're too humble! Even if the two of us joined forces, we might not necessarily be a match for you!" Lei Tao laughed heartily.

Shen Changyang, standing nearby, looked up at the sky and added, "It's getting late. We should set off."

"Alright, let's go!"

Jiang Bei nodded, then mounted his horse.

Along the way, he discussed the situation in East Camp City with Lei Tao and Shen Changyang.

There were not many barbarians there, only a few dozen or so.

However, because they had colluded with the local Heavenly Wolf Gang, their forces had grown to over a hundred men.

Most importantly, they had several Eighth Rank experts.

Only the local government remained to resist them in East Camp City, barely holding on alone.

Jiang Bei was not afraid. At present, no one below the Seventh Rank was his match.

The more enemies there were, the more Merit Points he could earn!

To him, this was instead a good thing.

Half an hour after Jiang Bei and his party left the Ren-Rank Camp, a lone rider galloped hurriedly back into camp and headed straight for Xu Qi's tent in the Third Battalion.

At that moment, Xu Qi was discussing the assignment the Commandant had just issued with Zhang Feng and several Squad Leaders.

"Yellow Wind Ridge... another hard battle."

Xu Qi stared at the map in his hand, his brows deeply furrowed.

"Sigh, we can only blame the Ren-Rank Camp for having poor luck. Our strength is clearly on the weaker side among the ten camps, yet our jurisdiction has the most barbarians!" one Squad Leader sighed.

"Since we chose to join the army, we should have long been prepared to fight the barbarians to the death." Xu Qi patted him on the shoulder.

The Squad Leader shuddered at his words and repeatedly nodded. "The Battalion Commander is right. I spoke out of turn."

"Battalion Commander, when are we going to Yellow Wind Ridge?"

Zhang Feng asked.

"The sooner, the better. Within the next day or two." As soon as Xu Qi finished speaking, a sudden report came from outside the tent.

"Battalion Commander!"

A man then strode inside. It was Ma Yun, the Squad Leader of the Third Squad.

"You've returned at just the right time," Xu Qi said, looking up at him. "How is the situation at Tiger Camp? Were you able to obtain reinforcements?"

The Third Battalion was currently short on manpower.

Thus, he had sent Ma Yun to the nearest Tiger Camp to request support, hoping to ease some of the pressure.

Ma Yun shook his head and sighed. "No. Tiger Camp said they were also severely short-handed. Only one or two battalions remained in the camp, while the rest were outside carrying out missions—either clearing out barbarians or suppressing rogue cultivators and local forces."

"Sigh!"

Hearing this, Xu Qi also sighed. With Tiger Camp's help, Yellow Wind Ridge would surely have been much easier to deal with this time.

"Not a single battalion was willing to help? Are they really all that busy?"

Zhang Feng asked unwillingly.

Ma Yun nodded. "That's indeed the case. And when I was leaving, I happened to see one of their battalion units setting out. They said they were going to reinforce East Camp City."

"Wait... East Camp City?"

Upon hearing those three words, Xu Qi's expression suddenly changed.

Zhang Feng and the others exchanged glances before turning to Ma Yun. "Isn't East Camp City under the responsibility of our Ren-Rank Camp's Second Battalion? Their battalion commander even came to borrow Second Squad from ours earlier. Since when did it become Tiger Camp's responsibility?"

Among the frontier camps, every area was under the jurisdiction of a designated military camp.

East Camp City was within the territory overseen by their Ren-Rank Camp.

Even if Tiger Camp wanted to send reinforcements to East Camp City, they should have informed them first.

How could they suddenly dispatch a battalion there without authorization?

"Ma Yun, are you sure you asked clearly? They're heading to East Camp City?"

Xu Qi asked.

"Absolutely certain, Battalion Commander! Tiger Camp's Fourth Battalion is heading to East Camp City this time. I'm old friends with one of Fourth Battalion's Squad Leaders—I asked him personally. There's no mistake!"

Ma Yun said firmly.

"That's strange. Who's the battalion commander of Tiger Camp's Fourth Battalion? Does anyone know him?"

Xu Qi looked at the crowd and asked.

"Battalion Commander, I know him! Fourth Battalion's commander is Xie Kaiyue. He's a seasoned veteran who's fought for many years!"

One of the Squad Leaders immediately said.

"Xie Kaiyue? What is he suddenly going to East Camp City for?"

The Squad Leader of Fifth Squad looked somewhat surprised, then seemed to recall something. He looked at Xu Qi and said, "Battalion Commander, I have a guess, though I'm not sure whether I should say it."

"Speak plainly."

Xu Qi said.

"Battalion Commander, Xiang Kun, the Deputy Camp Commander of Death Squad Camp, is an old acquaintance of mine. I met him yesterday, and he told me something."

The Squad Leader of Fifth Squad lowered his voice and continued, "According to him, Xie Kaiyue seems to have a grudge against Jiang Bei of our Third Battalion. Xie Kaiyue's wife's younger brother died in Death Squad Camp. At the time, Xie Kaiyue suspected Jiang Bei had killed him and even went to confront him personally. But he had no evidence and couldn't do anything to Jiang Bei. Still, according to Xiang Kun, Xie Kaiyue doesn't seem willing to let Jiang Bei go. Jiang Bei just happens to have gone to East Camp City, and Xie Kaiyue set off there as well. Could that really be a coincidence?"

"What? Something like that happened?"

Xu Qi's expression abruptly changed.

The Squad Leader who knew Xie Kaiyue also chimed in, "Battalion Commander, I've heard that Xie Kaiyue is narrow-minded and always seeks revenge over the slightest grievance! This time, he's probably really going after Jiang Bei!"

"He's specifically going after Jiang Bei? How did he know Jiang Bei went to East Camp City? That decision was only made two hours ago!"

Zhang Feng asked in astonishment.

"What other explanation could there be? Someone must have tipped Xie Kaiyue off! It was most likely someone from Second Battalion!"

A Squad Leader said angrily.

Xu Qi frowned deeply, then looked at the others and asked, "How strong is Xie Kaiyue?"

"Reporting to the Battalion Commander! As far as I know, Xie Kaiyue was already at Eighth Rank Great Training years ago. By now, he's likely not far from the Seventh Rank!"

A Squad Leader replied.

"Eighth Rank Great Training, with years of accumulated experience... Jiang Bei already has to deal with the Barbarians and the Heavenly Wolf Gang. If Xie Kaiyue is added to the mix, he'll have no chance of winning!" Xu Qi abruptly rose to his feet and swiftly donned his armor. "We must leave for East Camp City immediately. We absolutely cannot stand by and watch Jiang Bei walk into his death!"

"Battalion Commander, aren't we about to head to Yellow Wind Ridge? Are we still going to East Camp City now?"

Zhang Feng's expression changed as he asked.

"As long as we move fast, there's still time. It only takes half a day to reach East Camp City from here. Leave several squads behind to guard the camp. Everyone else, come with me to East Camp City. We cannot let anything happen to Jiang Bei!"

Xu Qi let out a thunderous roar.

His voice carried an authority that allowed no doubt.

Xu Qi had witnessed Jiang Bei's potential with his own eyes. Given time, Jiang Bei would certainly become a top expert capable of carrying the banner for their Third Battalion.

He could not ignore any Squad Leader facing such a crisis.

Much less Jiang Bei, whose potential was so immense!

If Xie Kaiyue wanted to kill Jiang Bei, Xu Qi would be the first to refuse!

"Yes!!"

The other Squad Leaders said nothing further. They clasped their fists and answered in unison, their voices sonorous and forceful.

A quarter of an hour later.

Xu Qi and his men were fully equipped and ready to depart.

Like a torrent of steel, they charged straight toward East Camp City!

By the time Jiang Bei and the others reached East Camp City, it was already the next morning.

"It looks like East Camp City really has been ravaged badly by the Barbarians."

After entering the city, they found the streets desolate, with barely any civilians in sight. Lei Tao could not help but sigh.

"Even the local authorities can't stand against them. How would the common people dare come out? Those who could flee have fled, and those who couldn't have gone into hiding."

Shen Changyang shook his head as well.

Jiang Bei sat astride his horse, his gaze involuntarily sweeping over the surroundings.

East Camp City was indeed suffocatingly oppressive.

According to the intelligence, the Barbarians and the Heavenly Wolf Gang were now entrenched in the eastern district of East Camp City. There were practically no civilians left there anymore.

On the western side, the authorities still held ground and had not been completely swallowed up, but ordinary people no longer dared to wander the streets casually.

"Are you brothers from the Ren-Rank Camp? I am Fan Jie, chief constable of East Camp City. By order of the County Magistrate, I have come to welcome you!"

After the group continued forward for another quarter of an hour, they saw a cluster of people dressed as government officials gathered ahead.

There were quite a few yamen constables among them.

At their head stood a burly man. He was the one speaking as he cupped his fists.

"So it's Constable Fan. I am Lei Tao of the Ren-Rank Camp. This is Shen Changyang, and this is Jiang Bei."

Lei Tao returned the salute with cupped fists, then introduced Shen Changyang and Jiang Bei beside him to Fan Jie.

"Brother Lei, Brother Shen, Brother Jiang! The journey must have been exhausting. I have already arranged a banquet at the Hundred Fragrance Tower ahead. Please come and have a simple meal first. We can eat while discussing the current situation in East Camp City."

Fan Jie said courteously.

Lei Tao glanced at Shen Changyang and Jiang Bei.

Shen Changyang nodded.

After giving it some thought, Jiang Bei nodded slightly as well.

"Then we'll trouble Constable Fan to lead the way."

Lei Tao said with cupped fists.

"Good! Please follow me!"

Fan Jie laughed heartily, then turned and led the way.