Outside Black Pine Forest, in a secluded spot, Wu Han sat on the ground beside a campfire. He wore leather armor, and his head was still completely bald.
He was thinner than before, but looked tougher and more battle-hardened.
A jug of wine sat beside him, along with a Pine Sheep that was nearly done roasting.
When Lu Yuan and the others arrived, he patted the ground beside him. "While waiting for you, I found a Pine Sheep. It's just about done, so I can serve it to you."
"No wonder you're so stingy. We meet up, and you have to catch game at the last minute just to entertain us." Zhou He wasn't shy about it. He jumped off his horse and came over.
He tore off a leg and handed it to Lu Yuan, then cut himself a piece and began chewing.
After a brief silence, he asked, "Brother, how have things been out here?"
The question made Wu Han's eyes redden. "Not bad. I had nothing to do these past few days, so I took over a stronghold. Now I've got forty or fifty riders under me."
"Would you look at that! After killing that bastard Sun the Third, you've opened up your Ren and Du meridians." Zhou He punched Wu Han.
Knowing he'd found a place to settle, Lu Yuan felt relieved.
"What are you planning to do next?"
"What else? Now that I've become an outlaw, I don't want anyone pushing me around. That means becoming the biggest bandit around. I've decided to gradually bring the nearby horse bandits under my banner.
"Then I'll figure out what comes next." Wu Han spoke with bold confidence.
Lu Yuan nodded. "That's a good plan. I support it."
Then he picked up the jug and took a long swig.
Zhou He said, "You've become famous in Ice Plain City. Sun Gan was so furious with you that he vomited blood for days. Sun the Third failed to catch you and got slapped around by his father for it.
"Now, whenever people hear the name Wu Han, they give you a thumbs-up."
"I'd rather go back to how things were." Wu Han lowered his head, his voice beginning to tremble.
"Thump! Thump!"
Lu Yuan patted his shoulder but said nothing.
"Did you come out here to take on the Northern Barbarian elite cavalry?" Wu Han sniffed and looked up, deliberately changing the subject.
"Yeah." Lu Yuan nodded.
"I'll go with you." Wu Han spoke around the meat in his mouth.
"No need. Focus on building up your men. When you're strong enough, I'll come ask for your help." Lu Yuan grinned.
"What do you mean, ask for help? What's mine is yours." Wu Han waved it off as if it were nothing.
Lu Yuan didn't respond. He took two bottles of Black Jade Bone-Tempering Pills from inside his robe.
He had already reached perfection, and couldn't use this many pills by himself.
Wu Han would have a hard time getting hold of them out here, so they were just right for him.
"Take these and train hard. The Northern Frontier is bitterly cold, but it breeds the fiercest men. If you grow strong enough, maybe one day you'll be able to negotiate terms with the court."
Lu Yuan smiled as he spoke.
Wu Han didn't refuse. He took the pills, then shook his head. "From now on, apart from you two, I won't serve anyone else."
"Hey, don't drag me into this. I'm just a lazy good-for-nothing, tagging along behind our Lord Lu to earn some military merit. I'll just keep following him from now on."
Zhou He looked up, his expression earnest.
At that moment, the three of them had begun to unite around Lu Yuan, like strands twisted into a single rope.
They were all still growing. One day, once they'd become strong enough, they would be able to bind a Flood Dragon.
Lu Yuan tipped his head back and took another long swig. "We're leaving. Send someone to notify us if anything comes up. Stay alive."
After speaking, he stood and brushed the dirt off himself, then turned toward the troops.
Zhou He tucked a leg of lamb under his arm and followed.
Wu Han stood where he was, watching them. Only after they'd led the troops away did he turn and mount his horse.
Then he rode off in the opposite direction.
"Rustle, rustle!"
As he galloped along, one fierce-looking rider after another emerged from the Pine Forest on warhorses and fell in behind him.
They all kept their heads down. Not one dared to speak.
Meanwhile, Lu Yuan and the others had already set out to search for the Northern Barbarian elite cavalry.
Old Huang led the way.
Zhou He brought up the rear with the supplies, and Lu Yuan's force was gradually beginning to take shape as a complete unit.
Elsewhere, Zhang Zhe was also searching the vast Wasteland for the elite troops of the Manyan Tribe.
His lips were chapped, and the armor scales on his body clattered as he rose and fell with his horse.
He'd been out of the city for three days. The discomfort of going from Yun Province to the Northern Frontier, combined with the misery of living on horseback and eating dirt after getting used to a life of luxury, had finally pushed him over the edge.
"Thump!"
He hurled the half-eaten strip of dried meat in his hand to the ground.
"When the hell are we going to run into those Northern Barbarians? I can't take this for another minute." He snarled in frustration.
Bai Hong shook his head and rode closer. "Whether you can take it or not, you'll have to endure. This mission is crucial: triple military merit, plus the favor of the Helian Clan.
"If you succeed, your path in the military will be clear. We have to finish before the other two families. Otherwise, this trip to the Northern Frontier will have been a waste."
His voice was stern, with a hint of reproach.
Zhang Zhe finally came to his senses. "I was impulsive just now."
Only then did Bai Hong's expression soften. "You understand what's at stake, so I won't say more. In short, we have to succeed this time.
"The Helian Military Gate and the Zhou Family Military Gate are both stationed in the Northern Frontier, and there's already friction between them. This isn't merely a contest for promotion anymore; both families are quietly competing, too.
"If you win, you'll be riding high. If you lose, you'll probably be sent straight back to Yun Province to remain a Centurion, and getting promoted later will be harder than climbing to heaven."
Bai Hong's reminder brought Zhang Zhe fully to his senses.
"Rest assured, Teacher. I won't let you down."
"Heh. Just keep your spirits up. Of all the younger generation in the Zhang Clan, you're the one I believe in most. I know what's on your mind. You haven't stopped worrying about A-Yuan all this time, have you?
"If you handle this mission well, I'll give you a month to go find him and settle things once and for all."
Bai Hong spoke softly.
Zhang Zhe's eyes lit up. "Thank you for favoring me, Teacher."
"Don't talk about favoritism. You're my only disciple now." Bai Hong replied coolly.
Just then, a cavalryman rode straight toward them. As soon as he drew near, he called out, "Sir! We've found signs of Northern Barbarian cavalry moving ten li ahead!"
At the scout's report, Zhang Zhe's eyes lit up. He flicked his riding crop and ordered, "Notify the troops. We're going to meet them. Let's finish off the Northern Barbarians quickly and head back for drinks."
Then he spurred his horse toward the front.
Bai Hong rallied himself and followed close behind.
Not far away, a force was making its way across the Wasteland. But a closer look would have revealed that they weren't elite cavalry from the Manyan Tribe.
They were a full troop of Iron Sparrowhawks, led by the same Centurion who had been driven off by Lu Yuan.
After fleeing back, he'd nearly been beheaded. He had no choice but to sell his family's property and pull every possible string before finally securing this chance to redeem himself and avenge his humiliation.
So he treasured it dearly.
Just moments ago, he'd received word that a force from Yellow Sand Fortress City was heading his way.
The anger he'd been bottling up burst forth like floodwater rushing through a breached dam.
He roared at the men behind him, "Everyone, prepare for battle!"