Inside the tent, Scarface lay half-reclined, white cloth wrapped around his face. His bare upper body was mottled blue and purple. Gou Buyi sat beside him and asked in a low voice:
"What happened? You actually couldn't beat a mere auxiliary soldier?"
"Damn it, who knew that brat was so strong? Maybe he'd trained in martial arts before. If I hadn't shouted fast enough, that bastard might really have wanted to beat me to death."
As he spoke, Scarface shot Gou Buyi a glance.
If not for him, he would not have suffered this calamity today. What rotten luck.
His face had been thrown all the way to his grandmother's house. He reckoned the entire Wind Camp was now spreading word that he had nearly been beaten to death by an auxiliary soldier.
"I underestimated Jiang Che this time. But don't worry. He's only a lowly auxiliary soldier—I'll avenge you." Gou Buyi could guess what Scarface was thinking and immediately stated his position.
Scarface was deeply entangled with him, and this disaster had arisen because of him. If he simply ignored it, some of the others would inevitably start getting ideas.
Still, he had not expected Jiang Che to possess such strength, enough to knock Scarface down.
Scarface had served in the army for years and knew martial arts. He had always been known for his ferocity. He had thought dealing with an auxiliary soldier this time would be as easy as taking something from his pocket, and that he could even squeeze out some profit.
Yet the result was...
Thinking back now, Jiang Che's purchase of meat through him was probably also due to martial training increasing his appetite, making him unable to go without meat.
He had misjudged him.
"How are you going to avenge me?"
Scarface could not help asking.
His ribs had been broken, and he would be unable to fight for at least a month. The Auxiliary Barracks would also be pulling out before long. Besides, after their previous exchange, he knew he was no match for the other man.
Naturally, he now placed his hopes on Gou Buyi.
"I plan to mention it to my elder brother and have that brat transferred to the Kitchen Camp to help out before the auxiliary soldiers pull out. Under my hand, I guarantee he won't live to see the day they break camp."
Gou Buyi narrowed his eyes and spoke softly.
"That Liu Zhi seems to think highly of Jiang Che. He may not agree to the transfer." Scarface cautiously reminded Gou Buyi.
"Liu Zhi is a smart man. He won't fall out with my elder brother over an auxiliary soldier."
"Also, because of Jiang Che, I had to compensate Liu Zhi with several jars of Shao Daozi. That..."
"Once Jiang Che is dealt with, I'll make it up to you."
"Why are you so fixated on this brat? Is there some grudge between you?" Scarface hesitated for a moment before asking.
He truly could not understand how a few pieces of pork could lead to such bitter enmity.
If Gou Buyi did things that way, then even with connections, he would not have survived until now.
"That has nothing to do with you. Focus on recovering."
Gou Buyi's expression was indifferent. Of course, he was not targeting Jiang Che over a few pounds of pork alone.
Even if Jiang Che bought several more pounds of meat, it would amount to nothing. How much profit could a mere auxiliary soldier yield? But the profit offered by someone else was quite substantial.
The only thing that had caught him off guard was that dealing with a mere auxiliary soldier had escalated to this extent.
But Scarface was only a thug. There was no need for him to know the ins and outs.
Turning to the other side of the matter, Jiang Che had also arrived outside Deputy Commander Liu Zhi's tent. After announcing himself, he stepped inside and raised his eyes to see Liu Zhi seated at the head of the tent.
Lowering his head, he cupped his fists.
"This lowly one, Jiang Che, greets Commander."
There was no one else in the tent. Liu Zhi glanced at Jiang Che and casually waved a hand.
"Sit."
"Yes."
"Do you know why I called you here?"
"The man you sent said... to drink?"
"That's right, to drink. But we'll be drinking the Shao Daozi Wu Da Bala had someone deliver. Speaking of which, this matter started because of you, so naturally I couldn't leave you out."
Liu Zhi laughed heartily and pointed at the jar of liquor on the table before Jiang Che.
The moment Jiang Che entered the tent, he had noticed the liquor. Upon hearing Liu Zhi's words, his eyelids lowered, then a smile piled onto his face.
"Regarding yesterday's matter, this lowly one must thank Commander for coming to my aid so righteously. I will engrave this favor upon my heart. Should Commander ever have use for me in the future, I will gladly serve Commander unto death."
It was foreseeable that Scarface, whom he had badly injured, and Gou Buyi's group would not let the matter rest. They might resort to some dirty, underhanded methods. The only person he knew who could help him was Liu Zhi.
Thus, even though Liu Zhi had only spoken up due to his duties, Jiang Che still seized the snake's body and climbed up the pole, bringing up the word "favor" in hopes of drawing closer to Liu Zhi.
"Hahaha, I knew I had not misjudged you. You're a lad who values loyalty and righteousness." Whatever Jiang Che might have been thinking, his attitude pleased Liu Zhi greatly.
Jiang Che poured himself a bowl of wine and raised it with both hands.
"To Commander."
"Good."
A bowl of fiery liquor went down his throat. Jiang Che forcibly suppressed his discomfort. He had not expected the liquor of this other world to be so strong, and he could not help smacking his lips.
After three rounds of drinks, Liu Zhi casually wiped his mouth with his sleeve, then set down his wine bowl. Looking at Jiang Che, he asked offhandedly:
"Tell me, how did you come to make an enemy of Wu Da Bala?"
After considering it, Jiang Che had no intention of concealing the matter, though he polished the account somewhat. He said that he had previously bought some meat from Gou Buyi on behalf of fellow villagers around him to satisfy their cravings.
But he had not expected that Gou Buyi's covetousness would later lead Scarface to frame him.
"Gou Buyi..." Liu Zhi tapped the table with his fingers and pondered for a moment. "That brat is not someone easy to deal with. You'd best be careful from now on."
"Could it be that Gou Buyi's backing runs deep?"
Jiang Che took the chance to probe.
Liu Zhi nodded. "Not particularly deep, but his elder brother is one of the camp's commanders and is quite valued by Captain Zhu. That is why he was able to obtain such a lucrative position.
"This time, he failed to gain any advantage from you. He may very well have other plans afterward."
"This lowly one boldly asks Commander to point out a clear road for me." Jiang Che sensed that Liu Zhi's words likely carried a deeper meaning. Otherwise, he would not have brought up Gou Buyi or invited him to drink in his tent. He immediately cupped his fists.
"There are only two roads before you. First, stay obediently in the Auxiliary Barracks and wait to pull out for the border, where you will await assignment. But before the camp breaks, danger may come.
"Second, find a way to seize this chance and leap out of the Auxiliary Barracks. Find a patron powerful enough to shield you. Not only will your life be safe, but you may also avoid going to the border to die."
Liu Zhi smiled as he watched Jiang Che.
The meaning beneath his words could not have been clearer.
"Jiang Che is willing to serve Commander."
With matters having reached this point, Jiang Che did not hesitate in the slightest and made his stance clear.
"Before today's contest, I said that the victor would have a chance to be assigned to the regular camp and draw pay. But the regular camp's quotas are tight, so that matter is difficult. Besides, it is not worth making an enemy of the Gou family for nothing. How about this? There are roughly ten days left before the Auxiliary Barracks pulls out.
"I can keep you safe for seven days. If you can gain entry into this cultivation method within those seven days, I will petition Captain Zhu to transfer you to serve at my side. If you cannot, then you cannot blame me for going back on my word."
As he spoke, Liu Zhi tossed Jiang Che a thin booklet from atop the table.
Jiang Che focused his gaze on it, and his heart stirred.
Three large characters, written in a dragon's flight and phoenix's dance, stood boldly upon it.
Savage Bull Strength!
A cultivation method!
"This is one of our army's Body Tempering Methods. Every soldier in the regular camp has the opportunity to cultivate it, though cultivation is not easy. Take it as a small test—to see whether you are worth my stepping forward for."
Liu Zhi smiled faintly.
"This subordinate will certainly not disappoint Commander's high expectations!"
Jiang Che gripped the booklet tightly and spoke in a deep voice.
He even began eagerly flipping through it.
"Hey, there's no need to rush at this very moment. Drink, drink..."
Jiang Che set down the booklet, raised his cup, and smiled.
"Please forgive me, Commander. This subordinate simply wants to improve too much."