What Are You Opposing?

When they went to Blood River Forest to resist the demons, Mu Feng had even worried that something might happen to Ding Chen.

Yet he had not expected the Ninth Prince's luck to be so good. With a genius brother aiding him at his side, not only had nothing happened to him, but he had even won Pei Menglong's favor.

Given time, he might even have a chance to rise with the wind.

"Young Master Sheng, this is a good thing!" Mu Feng looked at Li Sheng.

Li Sheng did not care much about Chen Xian's strength. After all, the Surging Origin Realm was nothing remarkable. He himself was in the Surging Origin Realm, and there were even more Demon Slayer Soldiers in the nine camps who were at that realm.

"Oh? How is it a good thing?" He looked at Mu Feng.

Mu Feng said, "Think about it. The stronger this kid is, the more demons he can kill, and the greater his merits. The merits transferred to Young Master Sheng's name will naturally be greater as well."

"When this battle ends and the court rewards merits, Young Master Sheng can sit firmly in his tent and gain merits for nothing. How could that not be a good thing?"

Li Sheng nodded inwardly. "It is indeed a good thing. But Pei Menglong wants to take Chen Xian away, cutting off this young master's excellent chance to make achievements. What do you think this young master should do?"

Before Mu Feng could speak, Wang Pei snorted coldly. "What the hell is Pei Menglong? He dares steal people in front of Young Master Sheng? Does he not want to keep mixing around anymore?"

Li Sheng frowned. He might be somewhat of a playboy, but he was not a fool.

Though the Pei Family could not compare with his Li Family, Pei Menglong was indeed someone formidable.

Even General Sun of the Ninth Camp did not suppress Pei Menglong's arrogance.

He had come to Demon-Slaying Pass and had yet to establish even an inch of merit. Even if he had some credit, it was the merit earned by the cooks' army led by Ding Chen during this period, recorded under his name, but it was still not enough to make much of.

Thus, the only thing he could use to suppress Pei Menglong was his status as the duke's grandson.

But this was a military camp. If Pei Menglong dealt with him according to the rules, then he would have to act properly as well.

Li Sheng looked at Mu Feng. He felt that Mu Feng was somewhat better than Wang Pei, that brainless idiot.

After pondering for a moment, Mu Feng said, "I think you can change your attitude—your attitude toward the cooks' army. For example, reward them with cultivation resources, pills, Spirit Meat, cultivation techniques, weapons, armor, and warhorses. Then assign them some young, spirited soldiers. That way, they will fight even more fiercely when they go onto the battlefield to kill enemies."

"Of course, you can also expand their numbers, say, from one hundred to three hundred."

"That way, I believe Chen Xian will not be willing to leave the cooks' camp either."

"I object!"

The moment Wang Pei heard that, he immediately spoke up. He looked at Li Sheng and was just about to say something when his gaze suddenly fell on Liu Dingchun.

Li Sheng frowned slightly and said to Liu Dingchun, "General Liu, go attend to your business first. If there are any decisions, I will send someone to inform you."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Liu Dingchun nodded repeatedly and withdrew from the tent.

Li Sheng looked at Wang Pei. "What are you opposing?"

Wang Pei glanced at Mu Feng and said, "Young Master Sheng, do not forget that Ding Chen is the Ninth Prince. If we nurture him like this, what if we raise a tiger only to invite calamity?"

Li Sheng raised a brow. He had not forgotten that point, but Ding Chen's life was tough. He was still alive and well even now.

Mu Feng's expression darkened. "Young Master Sheng, the one you want to target is only the Ninth Prince. In fact, you can do this: promote Chen Xian to second lieutenant or lieutenant in the cooks' camp. That can also make them grow jealous and hateful toward one another, allowing you to win over Chen Xian and the others and cultivate them into your own people."

"If they are willing to serve you, would it not be easy to kill Ding Chen?"

Li Sheng's eyes lit up. He felt that Mu Feng was right. This would not only stabilize Chen Xian.

If he could cultivate Chen Xian and have him earn merits for himself, his military rank could rise further in the army as well.

Sitting to one side, Wang Pei rarely did not object. For a suggestion like Mu Feng's, he could not find a flaw in it for the moment.

Seeing that Wang Pei had fallen silent, Li Sheng immediately slapped the table. "Then we'll do it!"

Wang Pei suddenly said, "Young Master Sheng, this method is workable, but I do not recommend giving them more troops. Once their power grows too great, they will be difficult to control."

Li Sheng narrowed his eyes slightly. Since he wanted to win Chen Xian over as one of his own, it would not do to show no sincerity at all.

"Three hundred men, then! Promote Chen Xian to lieutenant of the cooks' army, with full command over the cooks' camp. If anything comes up, report separately to this young master or Liu Dingchun."

Hearing that, Mu Feng smiled. "Young Master Sheng acts with thunderous decisiveness. You are a man destined for great things."

Wang Pei glanced at Mu Feng and remained silent.

He always felt that something was not right, yet he could not put his finger on it.

"You two drink first. This young master will go sit in General Sun's tent." Li Sheng rose with a face full of springtime pride and strode out of the tent.

As soon as Li Sheng left.

Wang Pei glared at Mu Feng. "What exactly are your intentions in giving Young Master Sheng that suggestion?"

Mu Feng lifted his wine cup and took a small sip. "I do not understand what Brother Wang means."

Wang Pei snorted coldly. "Mu Feng, what are you pretending for? Do not think I do not know that the Ninth Prince's mother, Consort Su, once spoke up to help your Mu Family. You remember that favor in your heart and are secretly helping the Ninth Prince."

Mu Feng's face turned cold at those words, and he raised his voice. "Wang Pei, if you keep talking like that, I, Mu Feng, will fall out with you. Back then, did Consort Su speak up to help my Mu Family? She nearly brought disaster upon my Mu Family."

"The Ninth Prince has no background or power, and he himself is useless. Why would I secretly help him? What benefit would that bring to me and my Mu Family?"

Wang Pei stared coldly at Mu Feng, then suddenly smiled. "Brother Mu, do not get so worked up. We are both supporters of the Sixth Prince. Naturally, we do not wish to see the Ninth Prince gain power and rise to prominence, do we?"

"It is good that you understand!" Mu Feng turned his face away in anger.

"Calm down, calm down..." Wang Pei raised his wine cup and clinked it against Mu Feng's. Mu Feng did not pursue the matter further, merely raised his cup and drained it in one gulp.

At dusk.

Liu Dingchun personally led people to the cooks' camp, bringing two hundred additional Cook Soldiers. They were all young and strong, warriors in the Mid-to-Late Blood Moving Stage or at Blood Moving Stage completion.

They also delivered cultivation resources, as well as armor, warhorses, and fine weapons.

This scene left Chen Xian and the others utterly at a loss.

"Greetings, General Liu!"

Ding Chen led the others forward to salute.

Liu Dingchun nodded inwardly. "Who is Chen Xian?"

"This subordinate is!" Chen Xian stepped forward.

Liu Dingchun sized Chen Xian up and down. Though he knew Chen Xian was only eighteen, seeing him in person still secretly astonished him. He truly was a fine-looking talent.

"From today onward, Chen Xian is promoted to lieutenant of the cooks' camp, commanding three hundred Cook Soldiers and obeying this general's orders. Of course, if you have any problems, you may also seek out your direct superior, Captain Li."

Liu Dingchun announced it publicly.

Not only were Chen Xian and the others stunned, Liao Zipeng, Second Lieutenant Lu, and the others who had accompanied him were dumbfounded as well.

Liao Zipeng in particular found it truly hard to accept. Less than a day had passed, yet Chen Xian was already at the same rank as him.

But when he thought that Chen Xian was working for Young Master Li Sheng, he felt somewhat more balanced.

"Lieutenant?"

Chen Xian frowned and exchanged looks with Ding Chen, Wang Yan, and the others beside him.

At this moment, a lieutenant stepped forward, holding out armor and a lieutenant's command token as he said coldly, "Lieutenant Chen, congratulations."

"Thank you, General!"

Chen Xian did not say much. He took the armor and command token, then turned and handed them to Xue Qishan.

Liu Dingchun smiled warmly. "Work hard. If you need anything, you can find Captain Li or this general. As for matters in the cooks' camp, you alone have the final say."

"Yes, General!" Chen Xian nodded.

He was not a fool. Expanding the cooks' camp was both a good thing and not a good thing.

The key was his promotion to lieutenant. It was clearly meant to sow discord.