Intimidation

The entire field fell deathly silent. Every watching soldier stood dumbstruck, too shocked to speak.

When they looked at Li Xuancang again, none of them dared treat him like a newcomer.

Zhou Xing and the others held their heads high, their chests puffed out with pride, as if they shared in his glory.

"Ah!"

Zhou Mang, sprawled on the ground, flew into a rage from humiliation, his eyes bloodshot.

The mocking and astonished gazes around him landed on his back like needles.

He had guarded the border for five years and had always been overbearing and tyrannical among the Five-Man Leaders. When had he ever suffered such humiliation?

Today, a greenhorn who had only just clawed his way up from a conscript soldier and been promoted mere days ago had knocked him flat with a single palm strike. His face had been utterly lost. From now on, he would never be able to hold his head high in the Lakeside Station camp again.

The towering fury and humiliation instantly crushed what remained of his reason.

"Ah—I'll kill you!"

Zhou Mang looked utterly crazed as he climbed to his feet, his eyes blazing red.

With a clang, he drew the saber at his waist. A flash of cold light streaked out as he threw himself at Li Xuancang without regard for anything else.

His saber strike was violent, carrying a fierce, savage malice as it aimed straight for Li Xuancang's chest. He meant to kill.

He had completely lost his mind. All he wanted was to cut down this brat who had made him lose all face and vent the hatred in his heart.

"Watch out."

The onlookers were all stunned by the sudden counterattack. No one had expected Zhou Mang to disregard military discipline and draw a blade in a public fight.

Li Xuancang's expression turned cold, killing intent surfacing in his eyes. He truly wanted to kill Zhou Mang right there.

"Outrageous!"

Suddenly, an angry roar exploded across the field.

That single rebuke made everyone's eardrums ache and their hearts pound wildly. They all turned to look.

Zhao Changlin, clad in finely made black armor and built like a bear, strode into the training ground.

A faint killing Sha Qi coiled around him. His gaze was sharp as a blade, and merely standing there made the atmosphere across the field freeze several degrees colder.

Zhao Changlin commanded a hundred regular border troops. At Lakeside Station, he was a commander with real authority, second only to the Battalion Commander.

He oversaw military discipline, drills, and military merit. His authority was immense, and no one dared defy him.

Zhou Mang's charging motion froze stiffly in midair. Cold sweat soaked through his clothes, and the terror instantly doused the rage in his chest.

The hand gripping his saber trembled uncontrollably. He didn't dare push it forward even half an inch.

Brawling in public, wielding a blade to assault someone, violating military discipline, challenging a superior...

Every one of those was a grave military offense. At best, he would be severely caned and punished; at worst, he could be executed on the spot to uphold military law.

Zhao Changlin strode forward, his icy gaze sweeping over Zhou Mang, his eyes filled with severity and disgust.

"Zhou Mang, you're a Five-Man Leader who has guarded the border for years. You know full well that military discipline is strict, yet you dared brawl openly on the training ground and draw your blade to attack a fellow soldier. Who gave you the nerve?"

His stern rebuke struck Zhou Mang head-on, every word like a blade.

Zhou Mang's legs went weak, and he dropped straight to his knees. His saber clanged onto the ground as his entire body shook. He didn't even dare raise his head.

"M-my lord, I know I was wrong. I was overcome with anger for a moment and lost my reason..."

Zhou Mang knew better than to talk back to Zhao Changlin, so he hurriedly knelt and tried to excuse himself.

Zhao Changlin sneered, his tone growing even harsher.

"The military camp is a place of slaughter. Military discipline is greater than the heavens. Li Xuancang was promoted to Five-Man Leader through his own strength and military merit, and I personally elevated him. Do you object?"

Everyone in the camp knew that Li Xuancang had been promoted to Five-Man Leader by Zhao Changlin himself. Zhou Mang's questioning of that promotion was no different from slapping Zhao Changlin across the face.

Faced with Zhao Changlin's interrogation, Zhou Mang pressed his forehead to the ground and didn't dare utter a single word in reply.

The more he said now, the more mistakes he would make. He could only plead guilty and accept punishment, perhaps in hopes that Zhao Changlin might show mercy.

"You harbored jealousy and openly provoked him first. After being defeated, not only did you fail to repent, you drew your blade and fought desperately, violating military law afterward."

Zhao Changlin had made up his mind to deal with Zhou Mang and use him to establish his authority.

"You usually rely on your seniority to bully newly promoted soldiers and seize military merit and resources. I've long heard of it. Today, you've gone even further, showing utter contempt for military law. What use is there in keeping you?"

As Zhao Changlin listed Zhou Mang's crimes one by one, Zhou Mang was scared out of his wits and repeatedly kowtowed, begging for mercy.

"My lord, spare my life! I won't dare do it again. Please show mercy!"

He knew full well that this Hundred-Man Commander had always been iron-blooded and merciless. If he said kill, he killed, never sparing anyone.

Zhao Changlin looked coldly at Zhou Mang, who had collapsed on the ground, and delivered his judgment in a harsh voice.

"Considering that you've guarded the border for many years and rendered some small service, you'll be spared the death penalty this time. You'll receive twenty heavy military cane strokes and forfeit three months of pay."

"If there is a next time and you violate military discipline again, you will be executed without pardon."

Twenty heavy military cane strokes were enough to split flesh and leave someone bedridden for half a month.

Three months of pay was no small amount of resources either. This punishment was anything but light.

Zhou Mang's face turned ashen. His heart was filled with regret, but he didn't dare offer a single word of protest. He could only answer in a trembling voice, "This subordinate... accepts the punishment."

Zhao Changlin waved a hand, and two personal guards stepped forward and dragged the limp Zhou Mang away.

After dealing with Zhou Mang, Zhao Changlin turned to Lin Yan. The sternness in his eyes faded somewhat, replaced by a trace of approval.

"You're very good. You haven't disappointed my promotion."

Li Xuancang's performance had even taken Zhao Changlin by surprise.

When he had saved Li Xuancang, he had merely done so on a whim.

He had made him a Five-Man Leader only because there had been an opening in the camp.

Li Xuancang had the courage to fight a Demon Hound and the strength to seriously injure one, making him well suited to be a Five-Man Leader.

He had never expected that after such a short time, Li Xuancang would do something astonishing again, returning after killing a Black-Ridge Demon Wolf and making Zhao Changlin see him in a new light.

"In these chaotic times, the strong are respected in the military camp, but military discipline cannot be discarded."

"From now on, train your men in peace and accumulate military merit. As long as you fight the enemy bravely and guard the border, I will certainly not treat you unfairly."

For the first time, Zhao Changlin truly began to value Li Xuancang and wanted to bring him under his command.

Where there were people, there were factions. The military camp was no exception.

Lakeside Station had five hundred Battle Soldiers and five Hundred-Man Commanders. Zhao Changlin was merely one of them, and he too needed his own supporters.

Li Xuancang had risen step by step from a conscript soldier. His background was clean, and he had potential. He was worth winning over.

Seeing Li Xuancang receive such regard from Zhao Changlin, the others were so envious they wished they could replace him.

Li Xuancang, however, didn't appear overly excited. He cupped his fists in salute, his manner respectful.

"This subordinate will bear my lord's teachings in mind."

Zhao Changlin nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping across the field. His voice turned icy as he once again intimidated everyone present.

"If anyone dares to brawl publicly or violate military discipline again, Zhou Mang will be the example."

With that, he turned and strode out of the training ground.

The entire field was silent enough to hear a needle drop.

The way everyone looked at Li Xuancang had changed. Some admired him, some envied him, and some hated him...

Li Xuancang possessed formidable strength and had Zhao Changlin's favor. His future was boundless.

From this day onward, no one would dare provoke him lightly.