New Blood Enters the Vanguard

Before dawn, the cold was bone-chilling.

Chen Qing had already packed. The hundred taels of silver notes and five dragon-eye-sized, deep red Blood Strengthening Pills were hidden close to his body. The slightly worn iron armor was put on again, its damaged parts crudely tied with leather straps. The standard ring-hilted saber hung at his waist, its icy hilt grounding his senses.

Shi Tou and the other three stood silently outside the tent, their eyes red-rimmed. They knew they couldn't keep him, nor did they dare to.

"Brother Qing... you're going to the Vanguard Camp, be extra careful," Shi Tou choked out. Hei Wa, Gou Sheng, and Tie Dan nodded vigorously, their eyes filled with complete reliance and reluctance to part.

Chen Qing looked at these four brothers who had crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood with him. After a moment of silence, he took out the cloth bag containing fifty taels of silver (the reward from Squad Leader Zhang) from his embrace and stuffed it into Shi Tou's hand.

"Take this, take care of yourselves, and strive to live."

With that, he didn't linger. He turned and strode towards the Vanguard Camp's encampment on the east side of the camp. His retreating figure, in the faint morning light, was upright yet carried an aloof coldness that warned others away.

Shi Tou clutched the heavy silver, watching Chen Qing's receding back, and forcefully wiped his face.

The Vanguard Camp's encampment had a completely different atmosphere from the Supply Camp.

The camp was neater, the tents thicker, and the patrolling soldiers had sharp eyes and steady steps, exuding an aura of battle-hardened toughness. The air was no longer filled with despair and numbness, but with a taut, bowstring-like fighting spirit.

Chen Qing's arrival drew many sideways glances. His young face, tattered armor, and the seemingly ordinary ring-hilted saber at his waist were out of place among the Vanguard Camp's soldiers, who possessed fierce auras and relatively finer armor. More importantly, many had already heard of the "bane of the Supply Camp" on the western front. Their gazes were filled with scrutiny, curiosity, and undisguised... provocation.

"You're Chen Qing?" a squad leader (superior to a section leader), clad in full iron armor with a scar across his face, strode forward. His tone was harsh, his gaze raking over Chen Qing like a knife. "I'm Squad Leader Zhao. Section Leader Zhao Tie is under my command. Follow me."

Chen Qing followed silently.

Squad Leader Zhao led him to a larger tent. Inside, nine soldiers were already standing. Each exuded a fierce aura, with the lowest being at the mid-stage of Skin Refining Realm. Two of them had even reached the peak of Skin Refining Realm, their eyes defiant. Zhao Tie stood at the forefront. Upon seeing Chen Qing, he nodded slightly at him.

"This is your new section leader, Chen Qing," Squad Leader Zhao announced loudly to the nine soldiers. "Transferred from the Supply Camp. Don't let his youth fool you, his skills are not weak. From now on, you will be under his command."

As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the tent instantly became subtle.

The gazes of the nine soldiers fell upon Chen Qing in unison, filled with unconcealed doubt, disdain, and indifference. Especially the two veteran soldiers at the peak of Skin Refining Realm: one stood with his arms crossed, a sneer on his lips; the other simply snorted and turned his head away.

A greenhorn who climbed up from the Auxiliary Soldier camp, why should he be their section leader? Just because he was lucky enough to kill a few Northern Mang brutes?

Squad Leader Zhao seemed to have expected this. He said coldly, "What? You disagree? Military orders are like mountains! Anyone who disagrees can step forward now. According to the rules, if you can defeat your new section leader, he can have this position!"

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

The veteran with his arms crossed stepped forward, his voice gruff, "Squad Leader, it's not that I, Old Niu, disobey military orders, but it's truly stifling to have a child bossing us around! I'd like to have a go with Section Leader Chen... Chen, just to exchange pointers!"

The other peak Skin Refining Realm veteran also stepped forward. Although he didn't speak, his intention was clear.

Squad Leader Zhao looked at Chen Qing, "Section Leader Chen, what are your thoughts?"

Chen Qing's expression was calm. His gaze swept over the veteran named Old Niu, then looked at the other man, and said lightly, "Alright. Come at me together, it will save time."

Come at him together?

The tent instantly fell silent.

Old Niu and the other veteran froze, then a look of anger at being underestimated surged onto their faces. Even Zhao Tie frowned slightly, thinking Chen Qing was being overconfident. He knew Chen Qing was formidable, but Old Niu and Sun Quezi (the other veteran) were also seasoned veterans of the Vanguard Camp with rich combat experience. The two of them working together would take considerable effort even for a typical early-stage Bone Forging Realm cultivator.

A flicker of surprise flashed in Squad Leader Zhao's eyes. He said in a deep voice, "Chen Qing, there's no joking in the army."

"I know," Chen Qing walked to the open space in the center of the tent, unbuckled his ring-hilted saber with its sheath, and handed it to Zhao Tie beside him. "Empty-handed, so as not to harm our harmony."

Old Niu laughed in anger, "Good! Good kid! So arrogant! I, Old Niu, want to see how much you're worth!"

Sun Quezi also chuckled sinisterly, flexing his wrists.

The two, one on the left and one on the right, slowly approached Chen Qing. They did not underestimate him because of his youth. Veterans who survived on the battlefield understood the principle of using full strength even against a rabbit.

Old Niu let out a low roar and attacked first. His palm, like a winnowing fan, carried a fierce wind and grabbed directly for Chen Qing's shoulder, using a common military grappling technique, powerful and heavy. Simultaneously, Sun Quezi's footwork shifted subtly, and he silently closed in, his finger like a hook, aiming directly for Chen Qing's vital point at the waist – vicious and deadly!

Their coordination was perfect, one hard and one soft, instantly sealing off Chen Qing's retreat!

As the attacks were about to land, Chen Qing moved.

He did not dodge or block. Just as Old Niu's hand was about to grasp his shoulder and Sun Quezi's finger wind touched his waist, his body trembled slightly.

An invisible yet tangible aura of ferocity, like a slumbering fierce tiger suddenly opening its eyes, erupted from him, spreading outwards!

Old Niu and Sun Quezi bore the brunt of it. They felt an icy, brutal intent, thick with the scent of blood, violently impact their minds! Their movements involuntarily stiffened, and the circulation of their blood and qi momentarily stagnated!

It was in that instant!

Chen Qing's left hand shot out like lightning, striking after but arriving before, precisely gripping Old Niu's wrist. His fingers were like iron clamps, the power of the Fierce Tiger Iron Body subtly pulsing.

Crack!

Old Niu felt a sharp pain in his wrist, as if his bones were about to be crushed. Half of his strength instantly dissipated, and a look of horror appeared on his face.

At the same time, Chen Qing's right leg, like a steel whip, silently swept out, his toe lightly tapping Sun Quezi's attacking wrist!

Sun Quezi let out a muffled groan, feeling a sharp, icy force penetrate his meridians. His entire arm became numb and sore, unable to exert any more strength.

The entire process happened in the blink of an eye.

By the time everyone recovered, they saw Old Niu's face pale, his wrist held by Chen Qing, unable to move. Sun Quezi clutched his wrist, retreating repeatedly, his gaze towards Chen Qing filled with terror.

Chen Qing released his hand, took a step back, and said calmly, "I concede."

The tent was deathly silent.

Everyone was stunned. They hadn't seen how Chen Qing made his move at all. They only felt a heart-chilling aura erupt, and then the two veteran soldiers at the peak of Skin Refining Realm were defeated? Defeated so cleanly and decisively, without any suspense?

What is that aura? So ferocious!

Squad Leader Zhao's eyes shot out with brilliance, and he gave Chen Qing a deep look. This kid is really not simple! That murderous aura is definitely not something that ordinary cultivation techniques can achieve.

Old Niu rubbed his purple wrist, the untamed arrogance on his face long gone, replaced by awe and a hint of lingering fear. He clasped his fists and bowed, saying in a deep voice, "Squad Leader Chen, I, Old Niu, submit!"

Sun Quezi also endured the soreness in his arm and said with his head bowed, "I submit."

The other seven soldiers were even more silent, only awe remaining in their gazes towards Chen Qing.

Chen Qing nodded, saying no more. The purpose of establishing his authority had been achieved; there was no need to press the advantage.

Squad Leader Zhao laughed heartily, breaking the silence. "Good! Since no one has any objections, you are all brothers eating from the same pot from now on! Squad Leader Chen, they are your men, get to know them. Gather at the training grounds in half an hour; there will be a mission assignment!"

With that, Squad Leader Zhao turned and left.

Zhao Tie stepped forward and returned the ring-pommel saber to Chen Qing, saying with a wry smile, "Brother Chen, that... that was too terrifying." He was closer and felt that murderous aura the most, his back still feeling a chill.

Chen Qing took the saber, hung it back on his waist, and looked at the nine soldiers before him with various expressions, speaking calmly:

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