New Blood Joins the Vanguard

Dawn had yet to break, and the cold cut to the bone.

Chen Qing had already packed everything. He tucked the one-hundred-tael banknote and five Blood Strengthening Pills, each the size of a longan and deep crimson in color, close against his body. He put his half-worn iron armor back on, tying the damaged parts together with leather cords as best he could. The standard ring-pommel saber hung at his waist, and the icy feel of its hilt made his mind especially clear.

Shi Tou and the other three stood silently outside the tent, their eyes all rimmed red. They knew they could not keep him, nor did they dare try.

"Brother Qing... be extra careful when you get to the Vanguard Camp." Shi Tou's voice caught in his throat. Hei Wa, Gou Sheng, and Tie Dan nodded hard as well, their eyes filled with complete dependence and reluctance to part.

Chen Qing looked at the four brothers who had crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood alongside him. After a moment of silence, he took out the cloth pouch containing fifty taels of silver—the reward Squad Leader Zhang had given him earlier—and stuffed it into Shi Tou's hand.

"Take it. Look after yourselves, and do your best to stay alive."

With that, he did not linger. He turned and strode toward the Vanguard Camp's quarters on the eastern side of the camp. His back stood tall in the faint morning light, yet it carried a cold loneliness that kept strangers at arm's length.

Shi Tou clutched the heavy bag of silver, watched Chen Qing's receding back, and fiercely wiped his face.

The atmosphere in the Vanguard Camp was completely different from that of the Supply Camp.

The camp was more orderly, the tents sturdier. The patrolling soldiers had sharp eyes and steady steps, every one of them carrying the hardened air of veterans tempered by countless battles. The air no longer reeked of despair and numbness, but a taut fighting spirit, stretched tight as a bowstring.

Chen Qing's arrival drew quite a few sidelong glances. His young face, battered iron armor, and the ordinary-looking ring-pommel saber at his waist stood utterly out of place among the fierce Vanguard Camp soldiers in comparatively fine armor. More importantly, many had already heard of the "Supply Camp Fiend Star" on the western defensive line. Their gazes were full of scrutiny, curiosity, and undisguised... provocation.

"You're Chen Qing?" A squad leader clad in a full suit of iron armor, with a scar across his face, walked up. His tone was hard, and his eyes scraped over Chen Qing like blades. "I'm Squad Leader Zhao. Zhao Tie is under my command. Come with me."

Chen Qing silently followed.

Squad Leader Zhao brought him before a larger tent. Nine soldiers already stood inside, each with a sharp, hardened presence. The weakest among them was at the middle stage of the Skin Refining Realm, while two had even reached the peak of the Skin Refining Realm, their eyes arrogant and unyielding. Zhao Tie stood right at the front. When he saw Chen Qing, he gave him a slight nod.

"This is your new Squad Leader, Chen Qing." Squad Leader Zhao's voice rang out as he announced it to the nine soldiers. "He was transferred from the Supply Camp. Don't let his youth fool you—his skills aren't weak. From now on, you answer to him."

The moment those words fell, the atmosphere inside the tent became subtle.

The nine soldiers all fixed their eyes on Chen Qing, openly showing doubt, disdain, and indifference. The two veteran soldiers at the peak of the Skin Refining Realm in particular—one stood with his arms folded and a mocking curve to his lips, while the other simply snorted and turned his head away.

Why should some greenhorn who had clawed his way up from the auxiliary camp become their Squad Leader? Just because he had gotten lucky and killed a few Northern Mang brats?

Squad Leader Zhao seemed to have expected this. He said coldly, "What? You dissatisfied? Military orders are as immovable as mountains! Anyone who refuses to accept this can step forward now. By the rules, whoever beats your new Squad Leader gets to take his seat!"

At those words, the eyes of the two veterans at the peak of the Skin Refining Realm immediately lit up.

The veteran with folded arms stepped forward. In a deep, muffled voice, he said, "Squad Leader, it ain't that I, Old Niu, refuse to obey military orders. But having some kid ride over my head is too damned suffocating! I want to trade a few moves with Squad Leader Chen... and seek some guidance!"

The other peak Skin Refining Realm veteran also stepped forward. Though he said nothing, his meaning was obvious.

Squad Leader Zhao looked at Chen Qing. "Squad Leader Chen, what do you say?"

Chen Qing's expression remained calm. His gaze swept over the veteran named Old Niu, then the other man. "Fine. Come at me together. Save time."

Together? The tent instantly fell silent.

Old Niu and the other veteran froze, then anger rose on their faces at being looked down upon. Even Zhao Tie frowned slightly, feeling that Chen Qing was being too overconfident. He knew Chen Qing was formidable, but Old Niu and Sun Quezi were also seasoned hands of the Vanguard Camp, rich in real combat experience. If the two joined forces, even someone at the early Bone Forging Realm would have to spend some effort dealing with them.

A strange gleam flashed through Squad Leader Zhao's eyes. He said gravely, "Chen Qing, words spoken in the army are no joke."

"I know." Chen Qing walked to the open space in the center of the tent, removed his ring-pommel saber along with its sheath, and handed it to Zhao Tie beside him. "Bare-handed. So no one gets hurt and ruins the harmony."

Old Niu laughed in extreme anger. "Good! Good kid! You've got nerve! I, Old Niu, would like to see just how many pounds you're made of!"

Sun Quezi also gave a sinister chuckle and rolled his wrist.

The two approached Chen Qing slowly from either side. They did not underestimate him because of his youth. Veteran soldiers who had survived the battlefield all understood that even a lion used its full strength to hunt a rabbit.

Old Niu let out a low roar and attacked first. His fan-sized hand carried a vicious wind as it grabbed straight for Chen Qing's shoulder, using a common military grappling technique—powerful and heavy. At the same time, Sun Quezi slid forward with strange footwork, silently closing in. His finger hooked like a claw as it stabbed toward the vital point at Chen Qing's waist, vicious and ruthless!

Their coordination was seamless, one hard and one soft, sealing off Chen Qing's retreat in an instant!

Just as the attacks were about to strike, Chen Qing moved.

He neither dodged nor blocked. At the very instant Old Niu's hand was about to seize his shoulder and the wind from Sun Quezi's finger touched his waist, his body gave a slight shudder.

An invisible yet tangible baleful aura spread violently outward from him, like a sleeping fierce tiger suddenly opening its eyes!

Old Niu and Sun Quezi bore the brunt of it. They felt an icy, savage intent, thick with the stench of blood, slam brutally into their minds! Their movements stiffened involuntarily, and even the circulation of their blood and qi stalled for an instant!

That instant was enough!

Chen Qing's left hand shot out like lightning, striking after yet arriving before. It precisely clamped around Old Niu's incoming wrist, his five fingers like iron pincers as the strength of the Fierce Tiger Iron Body pulsed slightly.

Crack!

A sharp agony tore through Old Niu's wrist, as if his bones were about to be crushed. More than half the strength in his body vanished in an instant, and shock appeared on his face.

At the same time, Chen Qing's right leg lashed out soundlessly like a steel whip. The tip of his foot lightly tapped Sun Quezi's incoming wrist!

Sun Quezi grunted. A sharp, icy force bored into his meridians, leaving his entire arm sore and numb. He could no longer summon even a shred of strength.

The entire exchange had happened in the blink of an eye.

By the time everyone came back to their senses, Old Niu's face was deathly pale, his wrist trapped in Chen Qing's grip and unable to move. Sun Quezi clutched his wrist and staggered back again and again, his eyes filled with fear as he looked at Chen Qing.

Chen Qing released his hand and stepped back. His tone remained calm. "You let me win."

The tent was silent as a grave.

Everyone had been stunned. They had not even seen how Chen Qing attacked. They had only felt a heart-quailing aura erupt, and then the two veteran soldiers at the peak of the Skin Refining Realm had lost? Lost so cleanly and decisively, without the slightest suspense?

What kind of aura was that? So savage and violent!

A sharp light burst from Squad Leader Zhao's eyes as he looked deeply at Chen Qing. This kid truly was not simple! That Killing Intent was not something an ordinary cultivation method could produce.

Old Niu rubbed his purpling wrist. The arrogance had long vanished from his face, replaced by respect and lingering fear. He clasped his fists and bowed. "Squad Leader Chen, I, Old Niu, submit!"

Suppressing the numbness in his arm, Sun Quezi lowered his head as well. "I submit."

The other seven soldiers were as quiet as cicadas in winter. Only respect remained in their eyes when they looked at Chen Qing.

Chen Qing nodded and said no more. His purpose of establishing authority had already been achieved. There was no need to press the advantage mercilessly.

Squad Leader Zhao laughed heartily, breaking the silence. "Good! Since none of you have objections, from now on you're brothers eating from the same ladle! Squad Leader Chen, get acquainted with your men yourself. Gather at the drill ground in half an hour. There's a mission to assign!"

With that, Squad Leader Zhao turned and left.

Zhao Tie stepped forward and handed the ring-pommel saber back to Chen Qing. With a bitter smile, he said, "Brother Chen, you were... far too frightening." Standing so close, he had felt that Killing Intent most deeply. Even now, his back was still a little cold.

Chen Qing took the saber and hung it back at his waist. Looking at the nine soldiers with their varied expressions, he spoke calmly:

"My name is Chen Qing. From now on, obey orders. I'll lead you to kill enemies, and I'll lead you to survive."