Captains Face Off! Behead Xie Kaiyue!

As the furious shout rang out, everyone felt their eardrums ache and buzz incessantly.

In the distance, another group of riders came galloping over, their hoofbeats like thunder.

The man at the front was broad and burly, his gaze sharp as an eagle's. As his eyes swept across the crowd, everyone felt as though needles were pricking their backs, their hearts tightening involuntarily.

The moment Xu Qi, Lei Tao, Shen Changyang, and the others saw him, their eyes lit up. They hurried forward and saluted excitedly.

"Captain!"

"A captain? He's the captain of the Ren-Rank Camp?"

The men from Dingzi Camp's Fourth Battalion changed expression at the sight. They had not expected the Ren-Rank Camp's captain to come here as well!

Jiang Bei's expression shifted too. This was his first time seeing the captain of their Ren-Rank Camp.

Logically speaking, the strength of the ten military camps was ranked in order, and the Ren-Rank Camp's overall strength was far inferior to that of the Dingzi Camp.

But judging from the captain alone—

The presence of their Ren-Rank Camp's captain was not the slightest bit weaker than Qin Yang's. If anything... it was even stronger!

Jiang Bei could not help glancing at Qin Yang. Sure enough, after that furious shout, Qin Yang had stopped moving. As he looked toward the Ren-Rank Camp's captain, his expression had turned grave.

"Lord Jiang, you finally came."

Xu Qi hurried over to their Ren-Rank Camp's captain, Jiang Qingfeng.

On the way here, he had already sensed that if Xie Kaiyue insisted on killing Jiang Bei, then even if he arrived, he might not be able to stop him.

But Jiang Bei's life had to be protected, no matter what.

This was not merely the future of their Third Battalion.

It was the future of the entire Ren-Rank Camp!

Thus, he had quickly written a letter and sent someone galloping at full speed to notify Jiang Qingfeng, who was carrying out a mission. The letter made clear how urgent the situation was and detailed Jiang Bei's accomplishments over the past few days.

Originally, he had not held much hope.

After all, Jiang Qingfeng had no small amount of trouble on his end.

Yet he had never expected him to actually come to East Camp City!

Xie Kaiyue knew very well that Captain Jiang valued Jiang Bei's talent too and did not intend to let such a promising seedling perish so easily in East Camp City!

"Jiang Qingfeng, I truly didn't expect you to appear here! The situation at the Eight Desolations Mountain Range is so dire, yet you still had the attention to rush over?"

Qin Yang looked at Jiang Qingfeng and let out a cold laugh.

"If you, Qin Yang, can come, why can't I, Jiang Qingfeng?"

Jiang Qingfeng sat upright on horseback and answered coldly.

"What did you mean by that just now? Xie Kaiyue is a man of my Dingzi Camp. I want to take him away—are you planning to stop me?"

Qin Yang narrowed his eyes, a flash of cold light passing through them.

"Xie Kaiyue tried to kill Jiang Bei, and Jiang Bei is a man of my Ren-Rank Camp. Tell me, should I not give him an explanation? Should I not stop this culprit and hand him over for Jiang Bei to deal with personally?!"

Jiang Qingfeng's words were forceful and sonorous, without the slightest hint of yielding.

"Jiang Qingfeng!"

Qin Yang roared, his gaze abruptly turning incomparably fierce.

Jiang Qingfeng's expression remained cold and stern as he met Qin Yang's gaze without backing down.

The standoff between the two captains left the soldiers from the surrounding battalions scarcely daring to breathe, though some still could not resist whispering among themselves.

"Among the ten military camps, the Dingzi Camp's overall strength should far surpass that of the Ren-Rank Camp. Why does Qin Yang seem so wary of Jiang Qingfeng?"

"You don't know this, then. They say Jiang Qingfeng was once a strong candidate to become one of the Four Great Generals. His strength is exceptionally formidable. Later, he volunteered to transfer to the Ren-Rank Camp because the region it guarded had the people in the greatest danger and the most Barbarians!"

"So that's how it is! In other words, the weak one is the Ren-Rank Camp, not Jiang Qingfeng!"

"Scum like Xie Kaiyue has no place in the military camp! Jiang Bei, heed the order! Act at once and execute the criminal!"

Jiang Qingfeng's voice boomed like a great bell as he issued the order without hesitation.

The entire scene was shaken by his words.

No one had expected Jiang Qingfeng to dare order Xie Kaiyue's immediate beheading right in front of Qin Yang!

"Jiang Qingfeng, how dare you!"

Qin Yang stepped forward. The force within him swept out like a storm, stirring a wild gale through the street as the ground beneath his feet cracked inch by inch.

"What is there for me not to dare? Do you, Qin Yang, intend to fight me?!"

Jiang Qingfeng also bellowed, the force around him surging like a tidal wave as his robes snapped loudly in the wind.

The two powerful auras collided fiercely in the air, erupting in a continuous series of explosive blasts.

The onlookers felt as if they had been swept into a storm and retreated again and again!

"So powerful..."

Jiang Bei's gaze grew solemn as he secretly marveled in shock.

Qin Yang was immensely powerful, far beyond what he could contend with now. Yet their Ren-Rank Camp's commandant clearly seemed to hold the upper hand!

Otherwise, if he had encountered a weaker commandant, Qin Yang's temperament was such that he might have attacked outright!

Jiang Bei did not dwell on it further. Gripping the Mystic Cloud Saber, he walked up to Xie Kaiyue.

He had intended to kill this man from the start. Now that Jiang Qingfeng had come to back him up, he had even more reason to do so!

He raised his saber without the slightest hesitation and slashed down in fury!

"Splurt!"

Blood sprayed through the air, staining the street red as several crimson streaks flashed before everyone's eyes.

At the sight of this—

Qin Yang's pupils contracted sharply. Veins bulged on his forehead as his fists clenched tight. His gaze, sharp as blades, first stabbed toward Jiang Bei before whipping toward Jiang Qingfeng.

"Good... very good! Jiang Qingfeng, I'll remember what happened today! Let's hope you can remain safe and sound in the Eight Desolations Mountain Range forever!"

He then glared fiercely at Jiang Bei, rage boiling over. "And you! You've truly opened this commandant's eyes today! This matter... isn't over! We're leaving!"

With that, he mounted his horse and withdrew with the men of Dingzi Camp.

Killing one of his captains right before his eyes was undoubtedly a vicious slap across his face!

Had it been any other commandant, he would have acted long ago—Qin Yang was no easy target himself.

But this man was Jiang Qingfeng!

He had repeatedly suffered losses against him in the past. With the other man present now, there was indeed nothing he could do.

For the moment, he could only swallow his broken teeth and his anger.

But he swore to himself that this matter was not over!

He had not come specifically to stop this battle. Jiang Bei's life or death had even less to do with him.

He had originally been carrying out a mission nearby. It was only because Xie Kaiyue had come to seek his approval before setting out, saying that he wanted to deal with Jiang Bei and avenge his younger brother's death.

He should not have agreed to such a thing.

But then he considered that Xie Kaiyue had regularly shown him generous respect, while Jiang Bei was merely an insignificant Squad Leader from Ren-Rank Camp. It did not matter if he died, so he nodded his consent.

Later, when Xie Kaiyue failed to return for a long time, he came over to check while passing by. He had not expected to find him badly wounded and defeated!

Being seriously injured was one thing, but as a commandant, he had been unable to protect even the life of one of his own captains, letting a mere Squad Leader from Ren-Rank Camp kill him before his very eyes.

How could he possibly swallow that outrage!

At that thought, Qin Yang's fingers clenched with audible cracks, fury surging in his eyes.

"My lord, Old Xie was just killed like that? We cannot leave this vengeance unavenged! If word gets out, the other camps will think everyone in Dingzi Camp is useless trash that can be pushed around!"

Beside Qin Yang, one of Dingzi Camp's captains said indignantly.

"Revenge? Of course we'll have revenge! Keep a close watch on Jiang Qingfeng and Jiang Bei's movements from now on! Do they really think I, Qin Yang, am a soft persimmon to be squeezed?!"

Qin Yang roared furiously.

"Yes!"

The captain immediately cupped his fists and accepted the order.

After Qin Yang and his group departed, the atmosphere in East Camp City finally eased, no longer as tense and hostile as before.

Lei Tao, Shen Changyang, Guo Xiu Yong, and the others also let out long breaths. The scenes from moments ago had felt like a dream, and even now they could scarcely believe them.

Who could have imagined that, in this tiny East Camp City, a mission taken on by ordinary Squad Leaders like them would attract several captains and even lead to a confrontation between two commandants?

Thinking of this, they could not help looking toward Jiang Bei, their gazes filled with awe and shock.

No one would dare believe it if it were told—the conflict between two commandants today had actually been over Jiang Bei, a mere Squad Leader!

Even more shocking was that before a commandant, Jiang Bei had remained utterly composed and insisted on killing Xie Kaiyue. Such courage was truly rare!

At that moment, Jiang Bei bent down and noticed a letter on Xie Kaiyue's chest. He reached out, picked it up, and unfolded it to read.

His gaze abruptly hardened!

He had long suspected how Xie Kaiyue could have learned so promptly that he was in East Camp City and specifically come to intercept and kill him.

There was no way Xie Kaiyue had come to East Camp City to carry out a mission. This area was under the jurisdiction of their Ren-Rank Camp.

He had guessed then that someone must have tipped him off.

Now, it seemed that was indeed the case!

This letter was what the traitor had used to inform Xie Kaiyue, and it even bore a name.

Jiang Bei clenched the letter tightly, killing intent churning in his eyes.

He had never expected it to be this person!

"Jiang Bei, come here."

Just then, Jiang Qingfeng's voice rang out.

Without hesitation, Jiang Bei immediately walked over and cupped his fists in salute. "Lord Jiang."

Jiang Qingfeng nodded slightly. He looked at Jiang Bei, then swept his gaze over the corpses of the Barbarians and Xie Kaiyue on the ground, approval showing in his eyes. "Jiang Bei, this should be our first meeting. You've done exceptionally well. Given time, you will surely become a fierce general of my Ren-Rank Camp—no, of Great Qian!"

"You flatter me, sir. I still have a long way to go," Jiang Bei replied neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"You slew Xie Kaiyue. Both your strength and courage are outstanding. There is no need to worry about Qin Yang's retaliation. If he dares come, I'll handle him!"

Jiang Qingfeng declared loudly.

"Thank you, sir!"

Jiang Bei hurriedly expressed his gratitude.

Xu Qi and the others beside them were secretly astonished. They had never seen the commandant praise someone so generously, much less protect someone with such firm resolve.

"Lord Jiang, there is something I wish to ask."

Jiang Bei suddenly spoke.

"Speak freely," Jiang Qingfeng said.

"If someone betrays their comrades, leaks intelligence, and plots against others, how should they be dealt with?"

Holding the letter in his hand, Jiang Bei raised his head and looked at Jiang Qingfeng.

Jiang Qingfeng met his gaze for a moment, then smiled faintly. "It seems you already have your answer. Go ahead and do what you must. If they are good men, my Ren-Rank Camp will naturally welcome them. But if they are parasites, they should be purged!"

"Yes!"

Jiang Bei solemnly cupped his fist.

Though he had said nothing specific, it seemed Jiang Qingfeng already knew what he was referring to.

He had originally harbored some reservations.

But now that Jiang Qingfeng had said this—

he could act without restraint!