Five-Man Leader

Wang Xiaoniu and Li Xuancang soon arrived at Zhang Changlin's tent.

The furnishings inside were sparse—nothing but a desk and a few chairs, every corner steeped in the iron-blooded simplicity of a frontier military camp.

A man sat upright behind the desk, clad in half a suit of iron armor. His features were resolute, and an aura of slaughter tempered by countless battles radiated from him. It was Zhao Changlin.

Zhao Changlin raised his eyes toward Li Xuancang as he entered the tent. His gaze settled on Li Xuancang's wounds. Seeing that they had already closed and healed, with none of the wan exhaustion of severe injury remaining, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

He had seen Li Xuancang's injuries clearly that night. He should have been doomed to die.

Yet only three days had passed, and Li Xuancang had recovered seventy or eighty percent. Such a physical foundation was truly rare.

"Are you Li Xuancang?"

Zhao Changlin spoke, his voice steady and weighty, filled with authority.

"This subordinate is Li Xuancang. Greetings, sir."

Li Xuancang bowed, neither servile nor overbearing.

Zhao Changlin nodded slightly, his tone softening with a trace of approval.

"In the battle three days ago, you faced the Demon Hound alone. Your courage was exceptional, and your combat strength was impressive. You are indeed a fine son of Great Yan's frontier army."

This was public praise from a military commander with real authority. In a frontier camp that valued strength and military merit above all else, it was already an extremely high form of recognition.

Li Xuancang lowered his head and stood quietly, showing no arrogance.

"This subordinate merely fulfilled a soldier's duty. Protecting the camp and slaying invading enemies are only natural."

Li Xuancang naturally wouldn't be foolish enough to say that he had fought the Demon Hound desperately because he had nowhere to run.

Seeing how composed he was, neither arrogant nor impetuous, Zhao Changlin's approval deepened.

He immediately picked up the military registration document that had long been prepared on the desk and announced in a deep voice.

"In troubled times, those capable of battle shall hold their proper place, and those with merit shall surely be rewarded. You are brave and daring in battle, worthy of serving as an example to the soldiers."

"Today, I am making an exception and promoting you to a frontier army Five-Man Leader. You will command five regular soldiers and oversee your squad's patrol and guard duties."

As his words fell, Li Xuancang's heart jolted, beating faster.

He hadn't expected to obtain the position of Five-Man Leader in such a manner.

Zhao Changlin pushed a Five-Man Leader's waist token and a standard military uniform across the desk, then continued.

"From today onward, you will receive a Five-Man Leader's full salary, with additional broken silver and refined rice each month, daily meat rations, and basic body-tempering medicinal paste. You will have full authority to requisition weapons and provisions for your squad."

"From now on, discipline your subordinates well and earn more military merit. In time, there will naturally be opportunities to rise further."

Though a Five-Man Leader was the lowest-ranking military officer in the army, he truly held command authority and had stepped beyond the ranks of ordinary soldiers.

He now possessed the privilege of commanding others and receiving resources first. This was his first step toward higher military office.

With this status, he could accumulate military merit more quickly and provide his family with more thorough protection.

Li Xuancang stepped forward and picked up the Five-Man Leader's waist token. Its icy texture seeped into his palm, and the character "Five" was carved upon it.

He bowed once more, his tone resolute.

"This subordinate thanks you for your promotion, sir. I swear to serve loyally unto death, defend our frontier, and slaughter every invading Barbarian and demon!"

Zhao Changlin nodded in satisfaction and waved a hand.

"Go and organize your squad. Arrangements will be made for the following defense duties."

"Remember: in this chaotic age of demons, strength and military merit are the foundation upon which one stands. Do not disappoint my promotion."

"This subordinate will remember your teachings, sir!"

Li Xuancang bowed and took his leave, gripping the Five-Man Leader's waist token as he walked out of the main tent.

"Brother Li, congratulations on becoming a Five-Man Leader."

Having witnessed Li Xuancang become a Five-Man Leader with his own eyes, Wang Xiaoniu looked full of envy, yet he was also sincerely happy for Li Xuancang.

A Five-Man Leader commanded five soldiers. He was the most basic military officer in the camp, but also the first step into the ruling class. His treatment utterly surpassed that of ordinary Battle Soldiers.

He received two taels of military pay each month, ample refined rice, and extra meat and alcohol.

He had his own private tent, no longer forced to live crammed together in communal sleeping quarters.

Each month, he received basic body-tempering herbs and low-grade healing pills to nourish his body, giving him a chance to break through into the Body Tempering Realm.

He held disciplinary authority over five subordinate soldiers, rewarding and punishing as appropriate, and could arrange guard and patrol duties himself.

He enjoyed lower-level legal privileges. If ordinary soldiers or lowly commoners offended a Five-Man Leader, he could punish them on the spot without reporting it first.

Azure Creek Village, his hometown, would also receive another level of protection. Village officials would not dare harass it, and if bandits or minor demons dared invade, nearby patrol soldiers could be mobilized to wipe them out.

With layer upon layer of benefits added on, the gap was instantly thrown wide open.

"Second Brother Wang, thank you and Brother Wang for taking care of me these past few days. I will never forget such great kindness."

Li Xuancang's excitement had already settled, and he sincerely thanked Wang Xiaoniu.

If not for the two brothers pulling him back from the gates of hell, he would now be nothing but a pile of dry bones. How could he have had the chance to become a Five-Man Leader?

Wang Xiaoniu hurriedly waved his hands. "Brother Li, you survived because of yourself. My brother and I didn't do much."

Wang Xiaoniu was honest and simple-hearted. He believed that even without the two brothers, Li Xuancang would have recovered with his terrifying healing ability.

After chatting for a while, Li Xuancang and Wang Xiaoniu parted ways.

He had already become a Five-Man Leader and had a room of his own. There was no need for him to squeeze in with the others.

Before long, five soldiers were directly assigned under his command.

The five men had clearly heard about Li Xuancang fighting the Demon Hound alone, and their eyes were filled with reverence when they looked at him.

Facing a Demon Hound, he had dared to fight for his life and even severely wounded it. No one would dare refuse to accept such a superior.

"Greetings, Five-Man Leader!"

The five men saluted in unison, their manner respectful.

Li Xuancang swept his gaze across the five men and spoke calmly.

"From now on, we serve in the same tent and defend the frontier together."

Li Xuancang said a few customary words. After memorizing everyone's names, he dismissed them.

Soon afterward, his private tent, Five-Man Leader supplies, body-tempering herbs, monthly pay vouchers, and other provisions were delivered to him one after another.

The small, clean private tent shut out the chaotic crowds.

A rough porcelain medicine jar, bagged herbs, sufficient grain vouchers, and silver were laid out on the table.

Li Xuancang sat cross-legged on the bed and carefully sensed the changes in his body.

Day after day, the one-percent increase in strength never ceased. His flesh and skin grew firmer, and his vital energy and blood became more vigorous.

Now, he could knock a burly man unconscious with a single punch and easily lift objects weighing over a hundred kilograms.

"Ordinary Barbarian soldiers are no longer my match, but if I encounter a Demon Hound, I still can't beat it."

Li Xuancang carefully assessed his strength. Ordinary Barbarian soldiers could no longer threaten him, but against demons, even the lowest-ranked Demon Hound left him with no chance of victory. He would find it difficult even to protect himself.

"I need time."

What Li Xuancang needed now was stability—to wait for his strength to transform until he could rival cultivators. Only then would he truly gain a firm foothold in the military camp.

Over the next few days, Li Xuancang's body fully recovered, his strength advanced another step, and he began leading his squad on patrols nearby.

At the same time, news of his becoming an official Battle Soldier was sent back to Azure County.