Five-Man Leader

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

The furnishings inside were sparse: a single desk and a few chairs. Every corner bore the iron-blooded austerity of a border garrison.

A man sat upright behind the desk, clad in half a suit of iron armor. His features were rugged, and a battle-hardened aura of slaughter radiated from him. It was Zhao Changlin.

Zhao Changlin looked up at Li Xuancang as he entered the tent. His gaze settled on Li Xuancang's wound. Seeing that it had already closed and healed, with no trace of the weakness of someone gravely injured, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

He had seen the full extent of Li Xuancang's injuries that night. They had been nearly fatal.

Only three days had passed, yet Li Xuancang had recovered almost completely. Such a resilient physique was truly rare.

"Are you Li Xuancang?"

Zhao Changlin spoke in a steady, weighty voice, full of authority.

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

Li Xuancang bowed, neither servile nor arrogant.

Zhao Changlin nodded slightly, his tone easing with a hint of approval.

"In the battle three days ago, you faced the Demon Hound alone. You showed remarkable courage and considerable fighting strength. You're a fine son of the Great Yan frontier army."

This was public praise from a powerful military commander. In a border garrison that valued strength and military merit, it was a rare honor.

Li Xuancang lowered his head and stood quietly, showing no sign of conceit.

"This subordinate merely did his duty as a soldier: protecting the camp and killing the enemy. It was only right."

Of course, Li Xuancang wasn't foolish enough to say that he had fought the Demon Hound only because he had nowhere to run.

Seeing how composed he was, neither proud nor impetuous, Zhao Changlin felt even more approval.

He picked up the military documents that had already been prepared on the desk and announced in a deep voice:

"In these chaotic times, those who can fight deserve their place, and those who earn merit must be rewarded. Your courage and valor make you a fine example for the soldiers."

"Today, I'm making an exception and promoting you to Five-Man Leader of the frontier army. You'll command five regular soldiers and take charge of your squad's patrols and guard duties."

As the words fell, Li Xuancang's heart leaped, his pulse quickening.

He hadn't expected to attain the position of Five-Man Leader this way.

Zhao Changlin pushed the Five-Man Leader's waist token and regulation uniform across the desk, then continued:

"Starting today, you'll receive the full pay of a Five-Man Leader, with extra silver each month, fine rice, daily meat rations, and basic body-tempering ointment. You'll also have full authority to requisition weapons and provisions for your squad."

"Manage your men well from now on, and earn more military merit. You'll have a chance to rise even higher."

Though a Five-Man Leader was the lowest-ranking military officer, he truly held command over soldiers and had left the ranks of ordinary troops.

He now had the privilege of managing others and receiving resources ahead of them. It was his first step toward higher military office.

With this new status, he could accumulate military merit faster and ensure his family received more comprehensive protection.

Li Xuancang stepped forward and picked up the Five-Man Leader's waist token. Its surface felt cold against his palm, and the character "伍" was carved into it.

He bowed again, his voice resolute.

"This subordinate thanks you for the promotion. I swear to serve you to the death, defend our frontier, and cut down every Barbarian and monster who dares invade!"

Zhao Changlin nodded in satisfaction and waved a hand.

"Go organize your squad. The arrangements for future defenses will be made in due course."

"Remember, in this world overrun by Demons, strength and military merit are the foundation of survival. Don't let my promotion go to waste."

"This subordinate will remember your teachings!"

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

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

Having witnessed Li Xuancang's promotion, Wang Xiaoniu looked envious, yet he was genuinely happy for him.

A Five-Man Leader commanded five soldiers. It was the most basic officer rank in the garrison, but also the first step into the ruling class, with benefits far superior to those of ordinary Battle Soldiers.

He received two taels of silver a month, plenty of fine rice, and extra rations of meat and wine.

He had a private barracks room of his own, no longer forced to share a crowded bunkhouse.

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

He had the authority to manage five subordinates, reward or punish them as he saw fit, and arrange their guard shifts and patrol duties.

He even enjoyed special privileges under the laws governing the lower ranks. If an ordinary soldier or commoner offended a Five-Man Leader, he could punish them on the spot without reporting it.

The protection level of his hometown, Azure Creek Village, also rose another grade. Local officials were forbidden from harassing it, and if bandits or minor demons dared attack, patrol soldiers could be dispatched from nearby to wipe them out.

With each layer of benefits, the gap between him and ordinary soldiers widened at once.

"Second Brother Wang, thank you and Big Brother Wang for looking after me these past few days. I'll never forget your great kindness."

Li Xuancang had calmed down from his excitement and sincerely thanked Wang Xiaoniu.

If the two brothers hadn't pulled him back from the gates of death, he would already be a pile of bones. He wouldn't have had the chance to become a Five-Man Leader.

Wang Xiaoniu hurriedly waved a hand. "Brother Li, you survived through your own strength. We brothers hardly did anything."

Wang Xiaoniu was honest and straightforward. He believed that even without his brother and him, Li Xuancang's terrifying recovery would have seen him through.

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

Now that Li Xuancang was a Five-Man Leader, he had a room of his own and no longer needed to squeeze in with others.

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

They had clearly heard that Li Xuancang had faced the Demon Hound alone, and their eyes were full of awe as they looked at him.

He had dared to fight the Demon Hound and even managed to wound it. No one would dare defy a superior like that.

"Greetings, Five-Man Leader!"

All five saluted in unison, their manner respectful.

Li Xuancang's gaze swept over them, his tone calm.

"From now on, we'll share a tent and defend the frontier together."

Li Xuancang offered a few formal words. After memorizing their names, he dismissed them.

Soon after, his private barracks room, supplies for a Five-Man Leader, body-tempering herbs, and monthly pay vouchers were all delivered to him.

The small, clean room stood apart from the disorderly crowds.

On the table lay a coarse pottery medicine jar, packets of herbs, and his full ration and silver vouchers.

Li Xuancang sat cross-legged on the bed, carefully sensing the changes in his body.

Day after day, his strength increased by one percent without interruption. His flesh grew firmer, and his qi and blood grew more vigorous.

Now, he could knock out a strong man with a single punch and lift a weight of over a hundred kilograms with ease.

"Ordinary Barbarian soldiers are no longer a match for me, but I still can't beat a Demon Hound."

Li Xuancang carefully assessed his strength. Ordinary Barbarian soldiers no longer posed a threat, but against Demons, even the lowest-ranking Demon Hound, he had no chance of winning. He could barely even protect himself.

"I need time."

What Li Xuancang needed now was stability. He had to wait for his strength to transform until he could stand against cultivators. Only then would he have truly secured his footing in the garrison.

Over the next few days, Li Xuancang's body fully recovered and his strength improved further. He began leading his squad on patrols nearby.

At the same time, news that he had become a regular Battle Soldier also reached Azure County.