Little Hegemon of the Ninth Camp

Chen Xian, Ding Chen, and the others rode forward with expressionless faces, coldness gleaming in their eyes as they slowly entered the Ninth Army's Ninth Camp.

Faced with everyone's stunned expressions, they kept their eyes straight ahead.

Behind them was a raft woven from vines and wooden sticks, upon which lay the corpses of Cook Soldiers.

"What are they doing?"

A young man in silver armor emerged from a tent and asked with a slight frown.

A Demon Slayer Soldier swiftly appeared before the silver-armored youth and respectfully replied, "Reporting to General, the Cook Soldiers of our Ninth Camp have just returned from the battlefield."

The silver-armored youth was Pei Menglong, a major general of the Ninth Camp's Demon Suppression Army. He frowned. "Who allowed them onto the battlefield?"

Naturally, he could tell that Chen Xian and the others were Cook Soldiers. But why had they returned from outside the camp so early in the morning, dragging their comrades' corpses behind them?

The Demon Slayer Soldier replied, "Reporting to General, I heard it was arranged by the Head Chef Army. Beyond that, I do not know."

Pei Menglong's narrow eyes narrowed slightly. "The Head Chef Army?"

He muttered to himself, said nothing further, and waved the Demon Slayer Soldier away. The latter withdrew.

"The Head Chef Army has finally decided to stop hiding its head in the shell?"

Pei Menglong stared at the receding figures of Chen Xian and the others, snorting inwardly. "Even so, they shouldn't have sent Cook Soldiers to fight demons. Liu Dingchun is truly courting death!"

When Chen Xian and the others returned to camp, they naturally alarmed hundreds of cooks.

The news swiftly reached Liao Zipeng, who personally brought Second Lieutenant Lu and the others to the cooks' barracks.

"Ding Chen, before this lieutenant had even issued an order, how dare you bring your men back after fleeing?" Liao Zipeng roared at Ding Chen the moment they met.

Wang Yan, standing behind Ding Chen, flared up at once. This bastard had not only set them up, but had said they were to hold Black Wind Valley for one day. What was wrong with them returning this morning?

Wang Yan wanted to rush forward and argue with Liao Zipeng, but Ding Chen grabbed his wrist.

"Lord Liao, yesterday you only said to hold Black Wind Valley for one day. We have already done so. Moreover, so many brothers died and had already lain cold for a full day and night. Shouldn't this subordinate bring them back and lay them to rest?"

The fury in Ding Chen's heart was even greater than Wang Yan's, yet his face remained expressionless, neither servile nor overbearing.

Watching from the side, Chen Xian admired Ding Chen as well. Though he was clearly furious beyond measure, he could still maintain his calm and speak with Liao Zipeng.

Judging by this temperament alone, he was someone destined to accomplish great things.

Anger still lingered on Liao Zipeng's face, but after he glanced at the dead Cook Soldiers, the rage in his eyes subsided by half.

"This lieutenant asks you: how did you hold back the Great Demon?" Liao Zipeng stared coldly at Ding Chen.

"A Great Demon? Never saw one." Ding Chen shook his head.

He had discussed the matter of the Great Demon and the Demon Man with Chen Xian. Once they returned, if Liao Zipeng asked about it, they would say they had never seen any Great Demon or Demon Man.

It was simply too absurd, and it would expose Chen Xian's strength as well.

"Never saw one?"

Liao Zipeng was slightly taken aback. No wonder they survived. The Great Demon from that demon squadron must not have gone with them.

"Hmph! Since this is your first offense, this lieutenant will spare you. But if you disobey orders again, you will be severely punished!"

With that, Liao Zipeng led his men away.

Ding Chen quickly stepped forward and chased after Liao Zipeng, demanding men and healing pills.

Deep within the Head Chef Army was a relatively large tent.

Pei Menglong rode over on horseback. The Head Chef Army soldiers guarding the tent immediately saluted upon seeing the Demon Suppression Army's major general.

"Greetings, General Pei!"

Pei Menglong did not even let anyone announce him. With a wave of his hand, he entered the tent.

Inside was a man clad in fiery red armor, drinking ginger soup to sober up. When he saw Pei Menglong enter, he instantly became much more alert.

This man was Liu Dingchun, the Head Chef Army's major general.

"Brother Pei, what brings you to my Head Chef Army camp?" Liu Dingchun hurriedly greeted him with a smile, his manner exceptionally courteous.

"Old Liu, you truly have it easy as the Head Chef Army's major general." Pei Menglong entered the tent and glanced around. The table was laden with all sorts of cooked meats and fine wine.

Liu Dingchun gave a bitter smile. "Brother Pei, do not mock me. If I had strength like yours, I would have long since gone to the battlefield to slaughter demons, win merit, and make a name for myself."

"Why would I suffer here, drowning my sorrows in drink?"

"Heh, so you were drowning your sorrows in drink. There is a three-thousand-strong demon force in Blood River Forest, led by a Demon Man. Take the Head Chef Army and wipe them out. I guarantee that from now on, you will never have another sorrow!"

Pei Menglong said with a mocking laugh.

At those words, Liu Dingchun's expression immediately turned as ugly as if he had swallowed a dead fly. He repeatedly waved his hands. "Brother Pei, no, no. I am not worried, not worried in the slightest. Recently, I have been drilling the troops day and night, preparing at all times."

"Is that so?"

Pei Menglong's face was full of cold derision. How could he not know what kind of sorry state the Head Chef Army was in?

Though Liu Dingchun held the same official rank in the army, his strength was far inferior.

He was only able to sit as the Head Chef Army's major general because his ancestors' blessings still sheltered him. Otherwise, how could he have taken this position?

"You have been drilling the Cook Soldiers under your command for the battlefield, haven't you?" He fixed Liu Dingchun with a cold stare.

Liu Dingchun was initially stunned, then understood. "Brother Pei, so this is what you came to speak with me about!"

The Cooks' Camp and the Head Chef Army were both under his control.

Recently, he had indeed formed a force of one hundred Cook Soldiers under his command, but the idea had not come from him. It had been Duke Li's grandson, Li Sheng, who had done it.

"Li Sheng?" Pei Menglong frowned. "He is in the Ninth Army's Ninth Camp?"

Liu Dingchun nodded. "Brother Pei, you should stay out of this matter. The one backing Duke Li is the current dynasty's Sixth Prince. If you oppose him, you will be ruining your own future."

Pei Menglong snorted. "Duke Li? Heh. This is the army. He is merely a duke's grandson. Even if Duke Li himself came to the camp, he would still have to follow the army's rules and regulations."

Liu Dingchun froze for a moment. Pei Menglong truly deserved his reputation as the Little Hegemon of the Ninth Army's Ninth Camp. He dared to say anything.

"Brother Pei, I will pretend I never heard what you just said. Besides, those Cook Soldiers are all in the Blood Moving Realm. It is time they went to the battlefield to temper themselves."

Liu Dingchun said with a smile.

"The Blood Moving Realm?"

Pei Menglong's narrow eyes flickered. If that was the case, he had nothing more to say.

"Blood River Forest. Your chance to win merit has arrived. Are you going or not?" He stared at Liu Dingchun.

Liu Dingchun hurriedly shook his head. "Brother Pei, I still want to drill them for a while longer."

Pei Menglong shook his head inwardly and turned to leave.

Liu Dingchun escorted him outside the tent. Watching Pei Menglong's departing back, a flash of cold disdain passed through his eyes.

He turned and headed toward another tent.

Inside that tent, Liao Zipeng was reporting the situation to Li Sheng and two others.

Liu Dingchun lifted the curtain and entered.

The moment Liao Zipeng saw him, he hurriedly stepped forward to salute.

Wang Pei and Mu Feng also rose and saluted. Li Sheng alone remained seated without moving. Instead, Liu Dingchun stepped forward with a fawning smile. "Greetings, Young Master Sheng."

Li Sheng set down his wine cup and glanced at Liu Dingchun. "General Liu, is it not improper for you to salute me?"

"Proper, entirely proper!" Liu Dingchun did not care whether Liao Zipeng was present, his face heaped with smiles.

Hearing that, Li Sheng revealed an arrogant smile. "Brother Liu, sit."

Liu Dingchun smiled and nodded, taking a seat at one side of the table. He waved to Wang Pei and Mu Feng. "Sit, both of you, sit!"

Liao Zipeng remained standing as he continued his report.

"Go."

Li Sheng waved his hand. After Liao Zipeng respectfully withdrew, he looked to Liu Dingchun and said, "Brother Liu, you came over so early in the morning. What is it?"

Liu Dingchun nodded. "Pei Menglong just came to see me!"

"The Little Hegemon, Pei Menglong?" Li Sheng and the other two were surprised.

Pei Menglong looked down on the Head Chef Army more than anyone. Why would he come to the Head Chef Army camp?

Liu Dingchun recounted Pei Menglong's visit.

After hearing it, Li Sheng asked coldly, "Did he say anything else?"