The General's Bet

The air in the entire tent seemed to freeze under Shi Meng's almost murderous gaze.

All the new recruits trembled, not daring to even breathe heavily. They all thought Wei Zhe had brought about a catastrophic disaster this time and would inevitably face thunderous punishment.

However, Wei Zhe's face showed no fear.

He met Shi Meng's gaze, calmly stepped forward, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears.

"Reporting to the instructor, I did it."

He admitted it frankly, without a single word of excuse.

Immediately after, he changed his tone and declared loudly, "While my subordinates were resting in the tent, several individuals of unknown identity broke in with malicious intent. As a reserve Elite Warrior of Great Qin, I constantly remember my duty to protect my home and country. When faced with an invading enemy, I naturally must fight back! It's just that in my haste, I didn't know how to hold back, and I ask the instructor to punish me."

These words were reasoned and well-founded, neither servile nor overbearing.

He skillfully redefined the old soldiers' "lesson" as an "enemy attack" and elevated his own counterattack to the level of "protecting the country."

This move stunned not only the new recruits in the tent but also the other old soldiers who had rushed over after hearing the commotion outside.

What a sharp-tongued kid!

Shi Meng was so amused by Wei Zhe's words that he actually laughed.

He had fought on the battlefields of the Northern Frontier for over ten years, and this was the first time he had encountered a recruit so audacious and so eloquent.

"Enemy attack? Counterattack?" Shi Meng laughed in anger, stepping forward. The oppressive aura emanating from his tall figure made the other recruits instinctively retreat.

"Tell this general, where did you see them as enemies?"

Wei Zhe's expression remained unchanged. "Reporting to the instructor, they broke into the camp in the dead of night, their faces covered with black cloth, and attacked ruthlessly, aiming for vital points with every strike. Such behavior is no different from Xiongnu scouts. We new recruits dare not be the slightest bit negligent and could only treat them as real enemies. Otherwise, if it were a real enemy night raid, wouldn't we be captured without a fight, tarnishing the military prestige of Great Qin?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire place fell silent.

The old soldiers who had been knocked down felt their faces burning, wishing they could crawl into a hole. They had come to teach someone a lesson, only to be branded as "acting like the Xiongnu" by a recruit. This was simply a profound humiliation.

Shi Meng stared intently at Wei Zhe, his chest heaving violently.

He knew this kid was twisting words and arguing illogically.

But damn it, he couldn't find any words to refute him!

Because every word Wei Zhe spoke stood on the high ground of "military law" and "righteousness." In a military camp, maintaining vigilance and repelling all potential threats was the most correct course of action!

This kid not only had formidable strength but also a terrifyingly meticulous mind!

"Good, good, what a glib tongue!" Shi Meng gritted out a few words through his teeth. "Even if what you say is reasonable. But beating fellow soldiers and disobeying superiors is also a serious crime! Do you know your mistake?"

"This subordinate knows his mistake." Wei Zhe admitted crisply. "This subordinate used excessive force and injured my brothers. I am willing to accept punishment. But this subordinate does not believe that maintaining vigilance and fighting back forcefully is wrong!"

He admitted half the mistake first, lowering his stance, but on matters of principle, he refused to budge an inch.

At this point, Shi Meng completely lost his temper.

He looked at the youth before him, whose body had not yet fully developed but whose spine was perfectly straight and whose eyes were as sharp as an eagle's. A complex emotion suddenly surged within him.

There was anger, admiration, and even a hint of... the excitement of meeting an equal.

He realized that simple punishment with a military rod would be completely ineffective against someone like this; instead, it would make him and all the new recruits look down on himself.

To make this untamed wolf cub truly submit, there was only one way.

That was to crush him completely with the strength he was most proud of!

"Very good." Shi Meng's face suddenly showed a sinister grin. "Since you are so good at fighting and so eloquent. Then this general will give you an opportunity."

He took a few steps back, walked to the open space, pointed to his own nose, and said to Wei Zhe, "I, Shi Meng, Centurion of the Northern Frontier Army, have personally beheaded thirty-seven Xiongnu on the battlefield. Now, I give you a chance to challenge me."

"As long as you can withstand ten moves from me, tonight's matter will be wiped clean. If you can defeat me, I will not only let bygones be bygones but will personally recommend you to the higher-ups for the position of Squad Leader!"

"But!" His voice suddenly rose, like a thunderclap, "If you lose, you will carry these 'Xiongnu scouts' and run around the recruit camp until dawn! Do you dare to bet?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire place erupted in an uproar.

No one had expected Shi Meng to propose such a wager!

To personally enter the fray and duel with a recruit!

"Instructor, you can't! What is your status!"

"Boss, why use a butcher's knife to kill a chicken? Let us brothers handle it, we'll break this kid's bones!"

Several old soldiers quickly tried to dissuade him.

The new recruits, on the other hand, looked at Wei Zhe as if he were crazy. They felt Wei Zhe was doomed. Shi Meng's iron-like muscles and the killing aura that seemed to have emerged from mountains of corpses were simply beyond their imagination.

Hu Lei's face turned ashen. He had just been subdued by an ordinary old soldier in one move, and Shi Meng's power was definitely more than ten times that of those old soldiers!

"Brother Wei..." A thin teenager in the tent called out worriedly. Unconsciously, they had already changed their address to Wei Zhe as "Brother."

All eyes were focused on Wei Zhe, awaiting his answer.

In their opinion, Wei Zhe's only option was to immediately admit defeat, apologize, and beg the instructor for forgiveness.

However, Wei Zhe's reaction once again exceeded everyone's expectations.

Not only did he not flinch, but his eyes ignited with fierce fighting spirit.

He had been waiting for this opportunity!

Betting against Shi Meng, if he won, he'd reach the heavens in a single step and complete the system's quest directly. If he lost, it would only be corporal punishment, nothing serious. No matter how he looked at it, this was a profitable deal!

More importantly, he needed a sufficiently weighty opponent to test the extent of his strength after being enlightened by the system!

"Good!"

Wei Zhe stepped forward, facing Shi Meng from a distance, and said with a resounding voice, "Your subordinate accepts!"

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