The next day.
After the intensive training ended, Jiang Che finally had some free time. Rather than waiting for Liu Zhi to send someone for him, he took the initiative and came to see him.
He secretly guessed that since Gou Buyi had completely set his sights on him and had discovered that he had privately passed on the army's Body Tempering Method, Gou Buyi would surely use it to make trouble and pressure Liu Zhi.
He had to make preparations in advance and add more weight to his side.
However, Liu Zhi was not in the Auxiliary Barracks at the moment. His immediate superior, Zhu Sheng, had summoned him to the main discussion tent, and the guards naturally could not let Jiang Che into the camp tent.
Jiang Che did not mind. He spoke quietly with the guard.
About half an hour later, Liu Zhi finally returned. He sized Jiang Che up, surprise flashing through his eyes. Martial artists looked no different from ordinary people on the surface.
But in truth, that was not the case. Once one's stance training reached a certain level, there would always be subtle differences in one's gait, build, and bearing. With his eyesight, Liu Zhi could see a few clues. Jiang Che seemed to have practiced quite well indeed.
At the very least, he had already entered the gate.
Entering the path of martial arts in seven days—such talent could absolutely be called impressive.
It was worth standing against the Gou brothers to protect this boy.
"My lord."
Jiang Che bowed.
"Come in with me."
A faint smile on Liu Zhi's face, he nodded at him.
"On my way back, Gou Buren was with me. He specifically asked about you. Looks like he truly has his eye on you." Sitting at the head of the table, Liu Zhi suddenly brought this up, but then his tone shifted.
"But do not worry. I will not let those brothers run wild. From the first time I met you, I have thought highly of you. I only spoke of that agreement to enter the gate in order to spur you on."
Now that he had confirmed Jiang Che had indeed successfully entered the gate, he changed his tune and began praising him. Openly and indirectly, he implied that even if Jiang Che had not mastered Savage Bull Strength, he would still protect him.
"Thank you for your favor, my lord."
Jiang Che hurriedly thanked him.
"By the way, how is your cultivation of Savage Bull Strength? If there is anything you do not understand, I can offer you a few pointers. You will be transferred into the main camp in a few days, so make your preparations."
Liu Zhi asked "casually."
"Please guide me, my lord!"
Jiang Che straightened his back and slowly cupped his fists. Then the aura around him abruptly changed. His right leg shot forward like a drawn bowstring as he began demonstrating the Savage Bull Fist.
With his mind fully focused, every punch he threw carried tremendous force. His whole person seemed transformed. Fists, legs, knees—all the moves recorded in Savage Bull Strength were displayed one by one.
Moreover, he did not perform them rigidly by rote. Instead, he assumed a true combat posture. His punches gradually accelerated, and the whistling wind of his fists echoed through the entire tent.
On his seat, Liu Zhi's gaze had shifted from surprise to gravity, even carrying a trace of shock.
He had thought that Jiang Che's ability to comprehend the twenty-eight stance forms without a teacher and master them within seven days was already quite remarkable. That was why he had deepened his intention to recruit and value him.
Yet—yet from the moment Jiang Che truly revealed his strength, he realized that he had still underestimated this young man.
Not only was his frame solid and his lower stance rooted like a pine, he had also mastered the fist techniques within Savage Bull Strength and was thoroughly familiar with them. He was practically comparable to those seasoned veteran soldiers among the elite.
That made him find it hard to believe.
Back then, he himself had painstakingly cultivated Savage Bull Strength for a full half year, and it seemed he had only reached this level.
Jiang Che had taken merely seven days.
This could no longer simply be described as good. He was a genius seen once in ten years.
No wonder even Captain Zhu had praised him.
"Huff—"
A stream of white mist over a meter long poured from Jiang Che's mouth. He lowered his palms to his dantian and slowly concluded the routine.
To give Liu Zhi a tiny shock, he had held nothing back this time. He showed the other man every bit of the effort he had gained through his "hard cultivation."
"Please offer your guidance, Commander."
Jiang Che's expression was solemn as he looked at him.
"Cough, cough." Liu Zhi came back to his senses at that moment. He feigned a casual cough to conceal his astonishment. After meeting Jiang Che's gaze for several moments, he drew a deep breath and nodded slightly.
"Not bad. You do have some aptitude. But you must not become arrogant because of this. Remember, there are always people beyond people, and heavens beyond heavens. There was once a genius in the army who appeared out of nowhere and mastered the Body Tempering Method in a single day, earning the higher-ups' regard.
"Even when I first cultivated Savage Bull Strength, though I did not take as little time as you, I was not far behind."
Although Liu Zhi warned Jiang Che not to become proud, his words were full of approval. What Jiang Che had not expected was that Liu Zhi's talent was actually so high.
After all, though his own success could not be separated from his effort, his golden finger had also lent a tiny bit of help.
"I will certainly engrave your instruction upon my heart, my lord."
"Hehehe, that is—"
"Commander, Gou Buyi, squad leader of the Kitchen Camp, requests an audience." Before Liu Zhi could finish speaking, the guard entered the tent and reported the news. When Jiang Che heard Gou Buyi's name, his gaze instinctively sharpened.
"Mm. Let him in."
With a smile on his face, Liu Zhi nodded.
"Oh, what a coincidence. You're here too, boy." Gou Buyi entered the main tent and first cupped his fists toward Liu Zhi. Then his gaze fell upon Jiang Che, as though he were looking at prey.
Jiang Che remained unmoved, staring straight ahead as if Gou Buyi were nothing but air.
Gou Buyi was not angered. He merely gave a cold snort.
"Why does Squad Leader Gou have such leisure to visit my Auxiliary Barracks?"
Liu Zhi asked with a smile.
"Commander Liu, I have come to honor our seven-day agreement. The Kitchen Camp has been severely short-handed lately, and Bu Yi's men truly cannot keep up. I ask Commander Liu to lend a hand.
"Let Brother Jiang Che come with me and help out for a few days."
Gou Buyi glanced sideways at Jiang Che, his smile not reaching his eyes.
Liu Zhi, however, frowned and shook his head.
"I am afraid that will not do."
"Why not?"
The smile on Gou Buyi's face gradually faded.
"Because I have already decided to transfer Jiang Che out of the Auxiliary Barracks and have him serve at my side. If you are short of people, you may choose a few more from the Auxiliary Barracks."
"Commander Liu, that was not what you said seven days ago."
"And what did I say then?"
A trace of contempt curled Liu Zhi's lips as he threw the question back.
"You said that Jiang Che had performed well in the earlier sparring match, and that having him do labor was inappropriate. So you would protect him for seven days. Out of respect for you, I did not touch him during those seven days. But now... isn't this a little hard to justify?"
"Who can prove it?"
"What?"
"I am asking you: who can prove that I ever said such things?" Liu Zhi stared at him expressionlessly.
"Commander Liu, are you preparing to go back on your word?"
Gou Buyi's gaze narrowed, displeasure surfacing in his eyes.
"Heh." Liu Zhi sneered and leaned back.
"Giving me face? Gou Buyi... you are merely a squad leader in the Kitchen Camp, muddling through life and waiting to die. Do I need you to give me face? Let alone you coming to demand someone.
"Even if your elder brother Gou Buren came to my door himself, I will protect Jiang Che today no matter what. No one will take him away!"
"Is that so... Deputy Commander Liu certainly has a mighty big mouth."