Colonel (Seeking Recommendations)

For the ten Squad Leaders under Tian Bufeng's Company, selecting a Company Commander was a matter as weighty as the sky.

But to the Fufeng Protectorate, and indeed the whole world, it was an affair too trivial to be worth mentioning.

On the day of the final selection, the other Squad Leaders were all rubbing their fists and flexing their muscles.

Outside Black Mountain Fortress, a troop of cavalry suddenly arrived like a bank of dark clouds, slowly drifting into the camp.

Main tent.

Xu Wenling, clad in military attire, wore a solemn expression as he saluted. "Greetings, Colonel Feng!"

The visiting Colonel was sixteen years old, with shoulders sculpted as if by a knife and phoenix eyes brimming with authority. Wearing Silver Flying Luan Armor, she sat boldly in the seat of honor. Two rows of Black Armor Guards stood beside her, imposing without so much as a frown.

Cold sweat immediately beaded Xu Wenling's forehead. Yet he had never done anything corrupt or self-serving during his posting at Black Mountain Fortress, so how had he managed to draw this baleful star here?

This silver-armored Colonel was named Feng Xi'er. She was the foremost of the Fufeng Protectorate's eight Colonels and commanded a force of Black Armored Iron Cavalry, specifically tasked with patrolling the lands and rooting out lawbreakers.

Over the years, several Colonels and generals had been pulled from their posts by her, while Guard Commanders and Battalion Commanders were too numerous to count.

How could Xu Wenling not feel uneasy?

"Rise."

Feng Xi'er raised a brow and motioned for Xu Wenling to stand. After watching him for a moment, she said with a half-smile, "Do not worry. I have not come to arrest you. There is a truly important matter at hand."

"Please give your orders, Colonel. Should you have any command, this subordinate would not refuse even death ten thousand times!"

Xu Wenling immediately replied.

As for what he was truly thinking, no one could know.

"This matter did not originally require you, but you happen to guard Black Mountain, and your responsibility is significant..."

Feng Xi'er flicked her fingernail and asked, "Over these past few years, has anything unusual occurred in the Black Mountain region, especially at the Great Rift?"

Xu Wenling was instantly alarmed.

Black Mountain Fortress was already situated at the border of the Fufeng Protectorate, very close to the Black Mist. Moreover, Black Mountain had long since been swept through and suppressed by cultivators, rendered as clean as could be.

That was why a mere Battalion Commander like him had been assigned to guard it, with more than a hint of exile in the posting.

Yet could something actually have gone wrong under his jurisdiction?

He thought it over and over before answering, "Aside from the spreading Black Mist, the occasional Monster injuring people, and a few surviving Bear Barbarians showing themselves, there has been nothing major."

Feng Xi'er's voice turned cold. "I was not asking about that. I mean Black Mountain, especially the Great Rift within Black Mountain."

Only then did Xu Wenling understand the reason, though he felt somewhat wronged. "We have always obeyed Immortal Master's instructions and never approached the Great Rift. Nor have the patrols of recent years encountered any trouble."

"That is strange indeed."

Feng Xi'er solemnly produced a Golden Feather Command Token and shouted, "Xu Wenling, receive the order!"

"This subordinate is here."

Seeing the token that could practically represent the Grand Protector's authority, Xu Wenling immediately knelt.

"By order of the Grand Protector: remnants of Hestings County have recently been discovered in activity, seemingly seeking to revive the Evil God Sacrifice of old. Colonel Feng Xi'er is hereby ordered to take command here. You will assist her from the side and must not disobey."

"This subordinate obeys."

Xu Wenling buried his head deeply, his body trembling slightly.

He knew that mere avengers from a small county were nothing much.

But if the Evil God Sacrifice were to rise from dead ashes, it would become a disaster that engulfed the entire Protectorate.

"The Protectorate has recently apprehended some remnants of former Hestings County. It is said that descendants of the Felix Family still exist among them. Such foreigners must be exterminated... Only Felix's Bloodline of Inheritance could possibly reopen the sacrifice. This is the highest priority."

Feng Xi'er gave the warning with grave solemnity.

"Please rest assured, Colonel. This subordinate will conduct a thorough investigation. There is no chance of letting foreigners slip through under false pretenses."

Xu Wenling was quite confident about this.

Western nobles prized pure blood. For the sake of so-called bloodline purity, they had even become pathological about it, and certain hereditary traits were exceptionally obvious.

Apart from blue eyes, the Felix Family's defining trait was a head of blood-red curls.

So long as anyone with such traits was discovered by the Fufeng Protectorate, they would inevitably be killed without exception.

Heh, these idiots cling to broken scraps and refuse to change, clinging desperately to their rules. I hear that even in their most dangerous times, they refused to marry outsiders, leaving behind such obvious bloodline traits. That certainly makes things convenient for us.

Xu Wenling secretly thought, Though I have heard that this bloodline truly contains some strange abilities, things the Second Yanhan Empire does not possess. Some great Aristocratic Clans are quite covetous of it...

So-called Thousand-Year Noble Families and noble blood by birth were merely hollow trappings.

Once a Lineage declined, everything would be swept away by wind and rain, like the Su Family.

But Western Lineages were different. Power itself was inherited in their blood. In the eyes of some Yan Han Aristocratic Clans, that was true imperial nobility.

Secret research was certainly being conducted. He just did not know whether it had produced any results.

Just then, a sudden clamor arose within Black Mountain Fortress, accompanied by cheers and shouts of approval.

"Xu Wenling, what has happened in the camp?"

Feng Xi'er's expression darkened as she asked sternly.

"There is a vacant Company Commander position in this subordinate's camp. Today is the day of the selection. It may be several Squad Leaders competing against one another..." Xu Wenling cursed those Squad Leaders countless times inwardly, but could only answer.

"Oh? Then this is the perfect chance to see the brave warriors of the army."

Feng Xi'er was preparing to make major moves here, and Black Mountain Fortress's garrison would certainly be needed. Her interest was immediately piqued. "I will go and take a look with you."

Her tone was casual, as though she had not considered the slightest possibility of being refused.

Xu Wenling truly did not dare refuse. Forcing a smile, he led Feng Xi'er to the training ground.

On the training ground, some of the soldiers had already gathered into a circle.

Several fellows who looked like Squad Leaders were sparring in the middle.

Zhong Shenxiu stayed honestly to one side without making the slightest move.

In his eyes, those fellows who had started out by provoking each other were all fools.

Did they think this was some wandering martial arts gang? They blindly valued bravery and fighting, without realizing that military discipline was paramount in the army.

He did not stir up trouble, and the other nine Squad Leaders did not take this rookie seriously either. None of them considered him an opponent, so they let Zhong Shenxiu idle at the side.

Something feels off about the atmosphere in this camp. Is it because of that troop of black-armored cavalry?

Zhong Shenxiu pondered in secret.

Cavalry equipped with full armor was rare even in the Protectorate. Could some important person have arrived?

If so, perhaps the plan needs to change...

He furrowed his brow.

Showing off before an important person would certainly earn more Heavenly Show Points, but the unknown danger would be greater as well.

He still needed to carefully weigh the gains and losses.