Selection (Please Add to Favorites)

The one currently sparring in the field was Squad Leader Han Sui. He wielded the Vermilion Bird Burning Heaven Palm with smooth, rounded moves, clearly showing the hard work he had put into it.

He had not wanted to fight his opponent in the first place. But today was the selection for Company Commander; several Squad Leaders had gone red in the eyes the moment they met. They had practically needed no instigation, starting to fight on their own, determined to suppress their rivals and build momentum before the formal selection began.

Han Sui, at least, had read a few books. He knew that fighting these coarse brutes would leave him disgraced if he lost, while even winning would greatly cost him points in his superiors' eyes. He inwardly groaned.

But backed into a corner, he had no choice.

Just as he was considering how to defeat his opponent with his next move, another loud shout came from outside: "Greetings, Battalion Commander!"

He immediately felt like coughing up blood, but there was nothing he could do. He and his opponent stopped together and saluted Xu Wenling, who strode toward them. "Greetings, Battalion Commander."

Seeing Xu Wenling actually following behind a woman, he was even more astonished. There is actually another great figure in camp today—a woman... Could she be that Colonel Feng?

At that thought, he felt some regret. Though private fighting is forbidden in the army, taking a punishment to show myself before this lady would have been worth it. If I could be transferred into her personal guard, I would not care about becoming Company Commander.

"Do you know that private fighting is forbidden in the army, and violators will be severely punished?"

Xu Wenling's face flushed red as he shouted.

"We... were merely testing our strength in play." The excuse was absurd, but these Squad Leaders were all rough brutes, and this was about the best they could manage.

Xu Wenling's mouth twitched. He knew this sort of thing was common enough, and normally he would have just laughed it off. What angered him was only that he had lost face before Feng Xi'er, so he looked toward the Colonel.

Feng Xi'er paid them no mind. She walked straight onto the high platform and called out, "The ten Squad Leaders competing for Company Commander today, step forward!"

She was overstepping her authority, but Xu Wenling did not even dare let out a fart and simply allowed Feng Xi'er to proceed.

Zhong Shenxiu rolled his eyes and could only step out together with Han Sui.

"Very good..." Feng Xi'er said with a smile. "The path of the strong is one horizontal stroke and one vertical stroke. The horizontal one lies down; the vertical one wins... I do not care how the ten of you coordinate or brawl. The last one standing will be the Company Commander."

Zhong Shenxiu, down below, inexplicably felt his teeth ache.

This method was simply crude and brutal.

Han Sui, meanwhile, felt even more depressed.

Aside from the handful of people like Zhong Shenxiu, at least four or five other Squad Leaders were glaring at him with unfriendly expressions. It seemed they intended to eliminate him first.

What do I do? I have usually cultivated a few allies. Perhaps we can huddle together for warmth?

Since that is the superior's order, perhaps she is not only judging our Martial Arts, but also our popularity and methods?

Han Sui's thoughts raced. He signaled a friendly Squad Leader with his eyes, then looked toward Zhong Shenxiu.

No matter what, this fellow was still a person. Even if he only served as a target dummy to draw attention, that would be useful.

But when he looked toward Zhong Shenxiu, he discovered that Zhong Shenxiu had already lain down on the ground in a comfortable pose.

"..."

It was not just him. The other Squad Leaders were dumbfounded as well.

"Su Daozhi... How can you be so shameless?"

One Squad Leader, apparently Han Sui's ally, shouted those words.

"I was only just promoted to Squad Leader and have no interest in the position of Company Commander. Please, go ahead..."

Zhong Shenxiu had thought it through clearly. He had always been cautious and detested this sort of uncertainty.

And the one on the platform was—

A woman! Beautiful! High status! Powerful backing!

Those damn several troublemaking factors had all gathered in one place, which meant trouble.

Whoever wanted to stand out could go ahead. He certainly would not! Much less did he want to have anything to do with someone like her.

The army despised cowards most of all, but after Zhong Shenxiu gave up on himself so thoroughly, the several Squad Leaders hostile to Han Sui immediately lost much of their hostility toward him.

Zhong Shenxiu yawned as he watched Han Sui forge alliances and sow division, fighting bitterly until he finally defeated his opponents. Han Sui himself had taken who knew how many punches, and at last stood trembling as the final man remaining.

"Good. From today onward, you are the Company Commander of this unit."

Feng Xi'er did not go back on her word and directly issued the appointment.

Then, with a light point of her delicate hand, she indicated Zhong Shenxiu. "You lazy good-for-nothing, what kind of Squad Leader are you? Come be an ordinary soldier at my side. I will properly drill you."

Zhong Shenxiu: ...Girl, do you know how easily that can be misunderstood?

He saw a trace of amusement in Feng Xi'er's eyes and immediately knew she had done it deliberately—perhaps she had intended this from the very first moment she saw him.

Could it be she has taken a fancy to my beauty... Pah, pah, pah... No, that cannot be right. She probably knows Su Daozhi? After all, he is a descendant of an Aristocratic Clan...

In the Second Yanhan Empire, whether they came from county magnates, commandery families, provincial Aristocratic Clans, or great clans spanning multiple provinces, their descendants were collectively called scions of Aristocratic Clans. It was like how deputies never called themselves so-and-so's deputy, but directly used the title of the principal office instead, simply because it sounded better.

Thus, even the descendants of county magnates and families with commandery prestige often called themselves scions of Aristocratic Clans, and they maintained extensive connections.

The Su Family had commandery prestige and a far-reaching reputation. Later, they committed an offense, and their descendants were exiled to the frontier.

It was not particularly surprising if she knew one or two of them.

Damn it... I do not want this.

Looking at his Heavenly Show Points climbing steadily upward, Zhong Shenxiu felt as though he had screwed Huang Xie's nephew.

Especially Han Sui.

His bruised and swollen smile froze at once. Deeply shaken, his whole body seemed to turn into a gray-white stone statue as he muttered, "I won, yet I also lost..."

If you want this treatment, I really would like to give it to you...

Zhong Shenxiu grumbled inwardly, but he also knew he could not disobey orders at a time like this. He could only cup his hands and say, "As ordered!"

The several Squad Leaders nearby were dumbstruck as well.

They had clearly only been competing for Company Commander, so how had this fellow, who admitted defeat right at the start, ended up catching their superior's eye? Their eyes immediately reddened.

They silently cursed him one after another. This pretty boy was seducing people with his face—not fit to be human.

If looks could kill, Zhong Shenxiu would probably have gained several bloody holes by now.

On the platform, Feng Xi'er smiled gracefully. "So that you may know, this Colonel is named Feng Xi'er. From now on, you are one of the Black Armored Iron Cavalry under my command!"

The moment those words were spoken, Zhong Shenxiu immediately felt his Heavenly Show Points rising again.

So she is the famed beauty of the Fufeng Protectorate...

I am doomed, doomed. Even more people are going to hate me now...

Could she really like Su Daozhi's face too... His cheeks are hollow, and he looks malnourished. Could it be Feng Xi'er has a taste for that?

"All right, Que'er, guide him more."

As though she had merely done some trivial thing, Feng Xi'er casually gave the order to the personal guard at her side. She then had Xu Wenling prepare a tent before going off to rest on her own.