Undercurrents

The Vanguard Camp returned triumphantly, bringing back not only the spoils from Wolf Fang Stronghold and news of victory, but also a name that couldn't be ignored—Chen Qing.

He had personally slain the enemy chieftain "Vulture," been exceptionally promoted from Auxiliary Soldier to Deputy Squad Leader, and most importantly, possessed an irrepressible, sky-piercing aura of malevolence. All of this made Chen Qing the most eye-catching focus of the camp.

Ordinary soldiers looked at him with awe and admiration; the strong always earned respect, especially in the army. But some officers, particularly the older ones who had climbed their way up through sheer perseverance, like the Squad Leaders and Squad Leaders, held a different kind of look in their eyes—apprehension, scrutiny, even undisguised hostility.

A young man of unknown origin, practicing a sinister technique, who rose through the ranks at an unbelievable speed, was like a stone thrown into calm waters, shattering the existing order and balance.

Chen Qing knew this clearly but paid it no mind. He continued to cultivate daily in his small camp (Deputy Squad Leaders were entitled to a private tent and a designated area), honing his Fierce Tiger Iron Body and practicing the Black Tiger Fist and Saber. He hadn't consumed the three Qi and Blood Condensing Pills all at once, but rather took one every few days, combining them with the malevolent energy accumulated on the battlefield to steadily improve his cultivation.

[Consumed Qi and Blood Condensing Pill, Fierce Tiger Iron Body proficiency +80]

[Refining malevolent energy, Black Tiger Fist intent grows more refined...]

He could feel that he was only a single step away from the mid-stage of the Bone Forging Realm. His Fierce Tiger Iron Body proficiency was also nearing a thousand, about to break through.

One day, just as he finished a round of cultivation, Zhao Tie's voice came from outside his tent.

"Deputy Squad Leader Chen, are you in?"

"Squad Leader Zhao, please come in," Chen Qing said, suppressing his aura and speaking in a deep voice.

Zhao Tie lifted the tent flap and entered, his expression somewhat grim. Although he and Chen Qing were now of equal rank (Chen Qing as Deputy Squad Leader, Zhao Tie as Squad Leader), Zhao Tie's attitude was even more polite than before, carrying a hint of imperceptible distance.

"Deputy Squad Leader Chen, apologies for the intrusion," Zhao Tie said, cupping his fist. "There's something I need to warn you about."

"Please speak, Squad Leader Zhao."

"You've been promoted to Deputy Squad Leader and achieved great merit, riding high on success. This is a good thing," Zhao Tie chose his words carefully. "But some people in the camp likely aren't happy with you. Especially... Squad Leader Li's side."

"Squad Leader Li?" Chen Qing recalled the man—a stern-faced middle-aged officer with a not-weak aura, also at the Bone Forging Realm, rumored to have deep roots within the camp.

"That's right," Zhao Tie lowered his voice. "Squad Leader Li has a nephew who was originally a Squad Leader in our squad. He had enough seniority and was expected to be promoted to Deputy Squad Leader in this expansion. But... you took that spot. He wouldn't dare voice his displeasure to the Captain, but he'll likely take it out on you."

Chen Qing's expression remained unchanged. "Thank you for informing me, Squad Leader Zhao."

Seeing his calm reaction, Zhao Tie couldn't help but add, "Squad Leader Li isn't exactly broad-minded, and... he might have Commander Wang of the camp backing him. Although the Captain favors you now, your foundation is still shallow. You need to be careful."

"I understand," Chen Qing nodded. "I won't provoke others if they don't provoke me."

Seeing that Chen Qing had it under control, Zhao Tie didn't say any more. After a few more pleasantries, he took his leave.

Chen Qing sat in his tent, his gaze slightly cold. As expected, where there were people, there was conflict. He just wanted to quietly kill enemies and grow stronger, but there were always those who courted trouble.

However, he was no longer the same person he used to be. With his early-stage Bone Forging Realm cultivation, combined with his mastery of the Black Tiger Fist and Saber and his impending breakthrough in Fierce Tiger Iron Body, he could fight even against someone in the mid-stage of the Bone Forging Realm. As for that Commander Wang, a master of the Meridian Condensing Realm, he wasn't someone Chen Qing could provoke yet. But as long as he didn't leave any openings, the other party couldn't openly target him, a Deputy Squad Leader who had just earned military merit.

"I hope you won't come looking for trouble," Chen Qing murmured, unconsciously stroking the hilt of his ring-pommel saber. A faint wisp of black-red malevolent energy flashed and vanished.

In the following days, the camp appeared calm on the surface, but the undercurrents grew more turbulent.

Chen Qing clearly noticed that the provisions and medicinal herbs issued to the soldiers under his command were always less than the allocated amount, or of inferior quality. When he went to the Supply Camp to argue, they always made excuses and stalled, citing a shortage of supplies.

When going out on patrols or undertaking minor missions, they were always "coincidentally" assigned to the most dangerous and remote areas. Once, while leading a patrol, he was ambushed by a small group of Northern Mang cavalry. Although he led his men to fight back and kill them, the process was perilous, and Hei Wa sustained another new injury to his leg.

All signs indicated that the hidden hand was beginning to make its move.

Chen Qing didn't make a fuss or go to Captain Zhou Han to complain. He knew that these minor skirmishes wouldn't bring down a Squad Leader with deep roots; instead, they would make him appear incompetent.

He devoted more time to cultivation. Pressure, at times, was also a motivator.

One night, the moon was hidden and the wind was high.

Chen Qing sat cross-legged in his tent, his qi and blood surging like rivers within his body. The barrier preventing him from entering the mid-stage of the Bone Forging Realm, under the continuous effects of refining malevolent energy and pills, had become as thin as a cicada's wing.

He took a deep breath, swallowed the last Qi and Blood Condensing Pill, and simultaneously circulated his Fierce Tiger Iron Body with all his might!

BOOM!

The pill transformed into a violent torrent of heat, fiercely clashing and merging with the accumulated malevolent energy within his body! Intense pain surged from his limbs and bones, as if every inch of his skeleton was being crushed and reformed!

He gritted his teeth, guiding this berserk energy, a mixture of medicinal power and malevolent energy, to make the final impact on the barrier!

Crack... crackle...

Faint sounds, like ice shattering, echoed from the depths of his body.

The barrier was broken!

An even more surging and powerful force instantly flooded his entire body! His bones emitted a clearer, denser hum. Beneath the dull sheen, the wisps of black-red patterns seemed to become more distinct and profound! The malevolent energy radiating from him, though he tried his best to suppress it, caused the temperature of the air within the tent to plummet in that instant of outburst!

Bone Forging Realm, mid-stage!

At the same time, the proficiency of Fierce Tiger Iron Body finally broke through the thousand mark!

[Fierce Tiger Iron Body proficiency has reached 1000/1000, realm advanced: Slight Accomplishment (0/5000)!]

A more profound piece of information flowed into his mind, detailing how to more efficiently absorb and refine malevolent energy, how to combine it with his skin, membranes, and bones at a deeper level, forming stronger defenses and counter-shock power!

He slowly opened his eyes. Deep within his pupils, a trace of black-red fierce light flashed and then returned to calm.

Feeling the strength within him nearly double, and his bones and skin becoming more resilient, a cold curve formed on Chen Qing's lips.

He stood up and stretched his body, his joints cracking.

He walked to the edge of the tent, lifted a corner, and gazed out into the dark night. His eyes seemed to pierce through the darkness, landing in a certain direction.

"Squad Leader Li... Commander Wang..."

He murmured to himself, his voice betraying no emotion.

"I hope the 'surprise' you've prepared won't disappoint me."

He needed a real battle to temper this newfound strength, and also to... shake the mountain to scare the tigers.

Some troubles couldn't be avoided; only by uprooting them could he find peace.