The Embryonic Form of Wolf Cavalry

After Jian Shang, Jiang Yao, and the others stabled their warhorses at Lingping County's only high-grade facility, they went out to take in the sights and people of Lingping County.

Unfortunately, Lingping County was merely a town-level base on the same level as Shizhuang, only not yet occupied by a player faction. It had no notable features. Jian Shang, Jiang Yao, and the others spent less than an hour shopping and eating, with most of that time spent on food and drink.

"I regret it now!"

As the group returned to the barracks, Jiang Qing suddenly spoke in remorse, drawing everyone's puzzled attention. Only then did Jiang Qing continue gloomily:

"Eight dishes and two soups—fried, stir-fried, stewed, with sea, land, and air all covered—and it cost less than ten silver. Yet a single weapon costs several gold. Can we return them?"

"Haha..."

The crowd burst into laughter. Still, they knew Jiang Qing was only joking. After all, once they left the base, no amount of money would be useful. Weapons were what truly mattered.

"What's wrong, Little Ji? You've looked like you had something weighing on your mind all the way here!"

Jian Shang looked at Sun Ji, who had been quiet since leaving the barracks. Even Jiang Qing's joke had brought him only an unnatural smile. Jian Shang asked with concern.

"Ah... I regret it too!"

Sun Ji replied with a heavy sigh.

"Don't tell me you want to return your weapon for money too? Or perhaps you want to..."

The fat Shi Jin licked his greasy lips and raised his brows with a lewd expression, earning a round of sidelong looks and rolled eyes. Even if that was truly what he wanted, he should not mention it in front of the two women.

"Not that! I regret that... if I'd known Jian Shang was this rich, back on Nine-Dragon Mountain, I should have robbed him. It would have been enough for us to live comfortably for the rest of our lives. One misstep, eternal regret!"

Sun Ji wore a bitter face, beating his chest and stamping his feet as he sighed repeatedly.

"Haha..."

Everyone laughed, and the atmosphere was warm and joyous.

Jian Shang laughed along with them, yet his brows furrowed slightly as he watched Sun Ji in silence.

Though Sun Ji made it sound perfectly convincing, Jian Shang knew that was definitely not the reason Sun Ji had been so preoccupied.

Perhaps he had been stirred by Jian Shang recruiting soldiers and hosting a grand feast for everyone;

Perhaps Sun Ji did not want to continue like this.

People who were too clever were always difficult to grasp. Jian Shang seemed to glimpse Sun Ji's desire to leave.

Looking within himself, Jian Shang could see that Jiang Yao and the others each had their own skills and talents, and their martial strength was not low either. They were truly rare. They were also the first companions who had faced life and death with him. If possible, not merely taking them as subordinates, Jian Shang truly wanted to lead them across the world.

"Attention, all troops! Salute!"

The moment Jian Shang, Jiang Yao, and the others returned to the grounds, they saw a formation standing neatly in the center, its bearing calm and steady. When the troops saw Jian Shang and the others appear, the two men at the front shouted in full, powerful voices.

"Swish..."

"Thud..."

"Greetings, my lord!"

More than two hundred people moved in perfect unison, dropping to one knee and pounding their fists against their chests as they greeted him in one voice. Their momentum soared to the heavens.

Jiang Yao and the others all stopped and looked toward Jian Shang.

Jian Shang's heart tightened. Forcefully suppressing the agitation within him, he held his head high and chest out, stepped forward several paces, and shouted clearly:

"Rise! Worthy indeed of elite soldiers. Very good!"

"Attention, all troops! Rise!"

"Thank you, my lord!"

The two leaders shouted, and the hundred-plus soldiers answered in unison. Their movements were orderly, their presence imposing.

"You get what you pay for. Though these are living people, not merchandise, that enormous sum of money truly wasn't wasted! Worth it!"

Looking at the elite soldiers who now belonged to him, Jian Shang's heroic spirit surged as he thought passionately.

At their first meeting, Jian Shang was satisfied with this force beyond measure. At the very least, this was indeed the first time he had ever faced soldiers of such elite quality and discipline.

"Centurions Ma Qiang and Jiang Sheng!"

"Company commanders Luo Sheng, Bai Li, Le Yun, and Yu Wen!"

"Greetings, my lord!"

After the soldiers rose, the two leaders brought four others swiftly toward Jian Shang, once again dropping to one knee in greeting.

"Please rise! You've worked hard. I'll have to rely greatly on you all from now on, so there's no need for such ceremony!"

It was Jian Shang's first time encountering such a scene. Still, though he had never seen a pig run, he had eaten pork. Drawing on the etiquette he had learned from films and books, he hurried forward to help the two leaders up, speaking modestly yet warmly.

"Would my lord like to inspect the troops first, give a speech, establish your authority, or...?"

Ma Qiang, Jiang Sheng, and the others did not exchange many formalities. They promptly rose. Jiang Sheng, who had resolute features, heavy brows, tiger-like eyes, and appeared to be around thirty, thought for a moment before asking.

The other centurion, Ma Qiang, was a burly man around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with a steel-like beard bristling like needles, a powerful frame, and bulging muscles. He was clearly not skilled with words or etiquette, but his appearance alone was certainly quite intimidating.

"From now on, we are all one of our own, sharing life and death. These flashy formalities can be skipped whenever possible. Time is pressing, so let's discuss the relevant matters in the inner hall first. Before you arrived, someone should have already told you part of the information, right?"

The thought of giving a speech and establishing his authority made Jian Shang break out in cold sweat. He hurriedly declined.

In any case, the settlement money had already been paid. In theory, the lives of the officers and soldiers before him had already been sold to him. So long as he did not go too far and no special incident occurred, they would never betray him. Those empty formalities could be forgotten.

"We know a little!"

Jiang Sheng was slightly taken aback. After pondering it, he still answered honestly.

"The Chief Clerk said that my lord plans to train us into a special military unit, and that we will follow my lord to drive out the barbarians and restore order to the realm, correct?"

Ma Qiang was clearly much more straightforward and honest. He shouted excitedly, his voice loud and rough, comparable to Gao Gong's. He even revealed the surname and position of the officer who had received Jian Shang earlier.

"Yes. The road ahead will not be easy, so you must prepare yourselves mentally!"

Comparatively speaking, Jian Shang preferred someone like Ma Qiang, who was guileless, fierce, and battle-loving. He smiled and nodded in reply.

"Since I enlisted, I was naturally prepared long ago! Becoming a special military unit and driving out the barbarians is my Ma Qiang's greatest wish. If not for that, I wouldn't have come at all!"

Hearing Jian Shang's words, Ma Qiang immediately beamed with delight and shouted repeatedly in a muffled voice. However, that smile was truly hard to compliment.

Jiang Sheng glanced at Ma Qiang and inwardly sighed in speechless frustration. Who spoke so directly upon meeting their lord for the first time? He only hoped their lord was not a harsh and narrow-minded man.

"Oh?!"

Jian Shang responded even more happily, then changed the subject and looked at Jiang Yao and the others beside him.

"It isn't convenient to talk here. Let's go to the council hall and discuss it in detail! They are my brothers-in-arms and comrades who have shared life and death with me. I'll introduce you later!"

Upon their first contact, Jian Shang was quite satisfied with the two major officers who would temporarily become his right- and left-hand men.

Ma Qiang was fierce and battle-loving, forthright and bold. He was clearly the type of man suited to being a military general, much like Gao Gong. They would probably get along quite well.

Jiang Sheng, meanwhile, seemed like a combination of Jiang Yao and Sun Ji. For now, he appeared to be a wise, calm, and steady man. Moreover, judging by his resolute features and sturdy build, his martial strength would not be low either.

*******

The first update is here. It's the weekend, and Shadow wishes all brothers and sisters a happy weekend!

Also, don't forget to give a bookmark and recommendation, so Shadow can have a happy weekend too! :)