Confrontation at the Main Tent

The tent flap was lifted, and a middle-aged man in cloth armor entered. He was slightly taller than Gou Buyi, with narrow, slitted eyes and a hooked nose. At first glance, he bore a resemblance to Gou Buyi.

The moment he entered the tent, he immediately drew the attention of Jiang Che and Liu Zhi.

There was no need for introductions; his identity was obvious.

"Brother."

Gou Buyi called out softly and stepped aside.

Gou Buren's gaze swept over Jiang Che dismissively before turning to Liu Zhi, who sat at the head of the table. He stood with his hands behind his back and said indifferently, "Deputy Commander Liu certainly carries himself with quite some authority. One might even think you were the commanding officer of our Wind Camp."

He had just reached the tent entrance and happened to overhear Liu Zhi's earlier words. He had initially intended to adopt a more conciliatory tone to save face for both parties, but now, that was no longer necessary.

"Compared to Commander Gou, I am certainly lacking. At the very least, I wouldn't do something like barging into a camp. Why does Commander Gou treat our Auxiliary Barracks as if they don't exist?"

Liu Zhi's tone was equally unwelcoming, with a hint of hostility underlying both their words.

"Heh," Gou Buren snorted, glancing at Gou Buyi beside him. He then pointed at Jiang Che and asked, "Is this the brat you were talking about?"

"Yes, it's him."

Gou Buren nodded.

"If I insist on taking this child away, what will Deputy Commander Liu do?" Gou Buren asked, hands behind his back, tilting his chin up.

"If you insist on taking Jiang Che, then I can only try to see if Commander Gou's mouth is as tough as his hands. Furthermore, I will report this matter to Captain Zhu and see when the Wind Camp started bearing the Gou surname."

Liu Zhi suddenly stood up, his previously relaxed demeanor instantly sharpening, far exceeding the intensity Jiang Che had displayed during his martial arts demonstration.

Gou Buren narrowed his eyes, his gaze equally dangerous.

Among the six commanders of the Wind Camp, his strength was second only to one. Most of the other commanders feared him like a tiger, and it had been a long time since anyone had dared to speak to him in such a manner.

Especially since Liu Zhi was merely a deputy commander.

The atmosphere became oppressive. Jiang Che had also stood up by this point, his hands clenched tightly beneath his sleeves.

"Brother, since Deputy Commander Liu is insistent, then we won't forcibly transfer this person." Suddenly, Gou Buyi, who had been silent until now, broke the stalemate.

Jiang Che already realized what he was about to say.

But this was something he hadn't had a chance to report to Liu Zhi yet.

"Oh?"

A hint of suspicion flickered in Gou Buren's eyes. Based on his understanding of his younger brother, he was never one to de-escalate a situation.

As expected, Gou Buyi continued, "However... the matter of violating military regulations and privately imparting cultivation techniques needs to be dealt with properly."

"Be more specific."

"I have investigated and found that Jiang Che not only stole cultivation techniques but also privately taught them within the Auxiliary Barracks, accepting money. Such a crime... is punishable by death."

Gou Buyi said in a deep voice.

"Do you have proof?"

Gou Buren and Gou Buyi were clearly working in tandem.

"Not only do we have proof, but we also have witnesses."

"What?"

Liu Zhi's pupils contracted, and his gaze snapped to Jiang Che, his eyes seeming to ask, "Is this true?"

Jiang Che knew this matter could no longer be concealed. He nodded, then shook his head.

"Liu Zhi, this subordinate has violated military regulations and should be executed according to the law. Now, I wish to take this person away. Do you have any objections?"

"Take him away? When did you, Gou Buren, become a military marshal to start enforcing military law? The cultivation technique Jiang Che learned was personally taught by me, not stolen."

Liu Zhi, recalling the implications of Captain Zhu's earlier words, was still unwilling to back down.

"So, you're saying that you also instructed him to privately teach the technique and accept money?"

Gou Buren pressed, trying to trap Liu Zhi.

"Ridiculous. Savage Bull Strength is a military body-tempering method. Any soldier who performs well can practice it. Besides, when did the affairs of our Auxiliary Barracks become your concern?"

"Fine. Since you say I cannot manage it, then let Captain Zhu manage it."

Gou Buren snorted coldly.

The situation had ultimately escalated. Gou Buren sent someone to inform Captain Zhu Sheng, and subsequently, Zhu Sheng dispatched men to the central army tent immediately, with no room for error.

"How did the cultivation technique get passed on to others?"

On the way, Liu Zhi asked in a low voice.

"Sir, it was when I was practicing the cultivation technique that those individuals saw me and stole a few stances. Afterward, they brought money and begged to learn. I thought this technique wasn't forbidden, so I... taught them. This was my oversight."

Jiang Che readily admitted to the matter, leaving no room for quibbling.

At the time, he truly had no other choice. Without selling cultivation techniques to earn money, he simply couldn't gather the funds needed for the sacrificial offerings.

"Don't worry," Liu Zhi said, patting Jiang Che's shoulder to reassure him. "As long as I, your commander, sincerely vouch for you, this small mistake won't amount to much. However, you need to tell me the names of those auxiliary soldiers who practiced the body-tempering technique."

If Jiang Che had been just an ordinary auxiliary soldier, he would have been as good as dead today.

But he wasn't.

Within seven days, he had cultivated Savage Bull Strength to minor accomplishment.

Such a martial arts prodigy was worth his intervention and protection.

Even Captain Zhu Sheng wouldn't be angered by this; instead, he would commend him for discovering a promising talent.

And this was precisely Jiang Che's leverage for selling cultivation techniques without hesitation.

Geniuses always had some privileges.

"They are Geng Dabiao and Zhao..."

This was Jiang Che's first time entering the main tent of the Wind Camp's captain. Compared to Liu Zhi's tent, Captain Zhu Sheng's main tent was far more spacious. When they arrived, the Gou brothers and Wu Changfeng were already inside.

Upon seeing Jiang Che, the three men reacted in different ways.

Gou Buren appeared calm, Gou Buyi's lips curled into a sneer, while Wu Changfeng's eyes darted around, avoiding his gaze.

And seated at the head of the table in the center was a man clad in black armor.

His gaze was piercing, his face was square, and he sported a short beard beneath his chin. His posture was upright, exuding an aura of unshakeable stability. He was none other than the captain of the Wind Camp, Zhu Sheng!

"Your subordinate greets the Captain,"

"This humble one, Jiang Che, greets the Captain."

Both of them bowed in unison.

Zhu Sheng's gaze swept over Jiang Che, carrying an invisible pressure, and he asked in a deep voice, "Commander Gou has lodged a complaint with me, stating that you, Liu Zhi, privately passed on cultivation techniques, and that your subordinate, Jiang Che, profited from it by earning silver. Is this true?"

Liu Zhi, positioned in front of Jiang Che, bowed as he heard Zhu Sheng's question and replied, "Reporting to the Captain, what Gou Buren said is all slander."

"Slander? Did you not teach him Savage Bull Strength?" Gou Buyi questioned.

"I did," Liu Zhi replied, raising his head.

"Then you still call it slander?"

"The reason I taught him Savage Bull Strength is because during the last auxiliary soldier sparring session, you, the Captain, mentioned that the victor would have a chance to be transferred to the main camp. Jiang Che performed exceptionally well, defeating Wu Chengdong as an auxiliary soldier, making him a prime example. Since this individual was about to be transferred out of the auxiliary barracks, what is wrong with me teaching him the body-tempering technique in advance to adapt to the Wind Camp?"

"Oh, so this is the auxiliary soldier who took down the veteran?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Sheng's gaze towards Jiang Che finally changed slightly.