Forging the Blade

When Zou Rong saw Li Sheng speak, the anger on his face instantly vanished.

"Young Master Sheng, this fellow harmed many of our brothers. Those people's identities..."

"Enough, it's not Chen Xian's fault. Demons are merciless and numerous. Never mind our Head Chef Army, even the elite Demon Slayer Soldiers of the vanguard suffered heavy casualties."

Li Sheng glanced indifferently at Zou Rong, speaking up for Chen Xian.

Chen Xian was somewhat surprised. He looked at Li Sheng and remained silent.

At this moment, Liu Dingchun snorted, "Young Master Sheng is pleading for you, so you'll be spared death today. Why aren't you kneeling to thank Young Master Sheng?"

Chen Xian's eyes flickered slightly. He finally understood.

Liu Dingchun had been deliberate from the start. He had insulted him when they met last night, scared him this morning, and was now trying to put him in his place, all while waiting for Li Sheng to speak for him, making Chen Xian feel grateful.

In reality, they were putting on a show for him.

"Thank you, Captain Li, for your kind words!"

Kneeling was out of the question. Chen Xian turned and cupped his fists, speaking neither servilely nor arrogantly.

Seeing this, Li Sheng's brows furrowed slightly, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes.

Mu Feng suddenly spoke, "Chen Xian, are you getting too big for your britches?"

Chen Xian looked at Mu Feng.

Wang Pei and others also looked at Mu Feng.

Li Sheng, seated in front of Mu Feng, his eyes flickered as he stared at Chen Xian.

Mu Feng continued, "In the Head Chef Army camp, General Liu has the highest official rank. If we're talking about status, it's Young Master Li Sheng. He comes from a Duke's mansion. You, a mere cook, shouldn't you be kneeling to thank him?"

Chen Xian impassively shifted his gaze to Li Sheng. "Except for the New Emperor's enthronement, there is no custom of kneeling in Great Ning at other times. Forgive me, but I cannot comply."

"Good, a tough one!" Li Sheng nodded, a smile playing on his lips. He didn't force Chen Xian.

Seeing this, Mu Feng also stopped talking.

Wang Pei wanted to speak but ultimately held back, finding Chen Xian extremely displeasing.

At this moment, Liu Dingchun spoke, "I ask you, did you beat and insult Captain Chen Quanwu of the vanguard some time ago?"

"I beat him, but I did not insult him!" Chen Xian replied calmly.

"So, this matter did happen?" Liu Dingchun snorted coldly.

"Yes!" Chen Xian said.

Everyone except Mu Feng sneered. Zou Rong even muttered, "He's really asking for death!"

Liu Dingchun snorted again. "You brat, you've got some nerve. Captain Chen Quanwu's military rank is above yours, yet you dared to beat your superior?"

Chen Xian calmly replied, "He deserved it!"

Liu Dingchun sneered, "You're still being stubborn, aren't you? Just because he deserved it, does that mean you can hit him? He reported it to General Sun. If it weren't for Young Master Li Sheng pleading for you, General Sun would not only have dismissed you but also given you three hundred military strokes."

Chen Xian looked at Li Sheng and cupped his fists. "Thank you, Captain Li!"

Liu Dingchun frowned. This kid was really unyielding.

"You all can leave." He waved to Zou Rong and the others.

"Yes, General!"

Zou Rong and another captain led their men out of the tent.

Meanwhile, Mu Feng and Wang Pei exchanged a look and also exited the tent.

In a moment, only Liu Dingchun, Li Sheng, and Chen Xian remained in the tent.

Liu Dingchun stood up and walked with a smile to Li Sheng, pouring him tea.

Li Sheng sat with his legs crossed, staring at Chen Xian.

Chen Xian kept his eyes on his nose and his mind focused, remaining expressionless.

After a short while, Li Sheng spoke with a clear, cold voice, "Are you and Ding Chen close?"

Chen Xian replied, "So-so."

Li Sheng's eyes brightened slightly. "How about following me?"

Chen Xian said, "I don't quite understand what Captain Li means."

Li Sheng's lips curved slightly. "Kill Ding Chen, and the position of Young General in the Head Chef Army will be yours. If we win this battle and return victorious, you will serve with me in the capital city. You can choose your position in the Demon Suppression Division, the City Guard Division, or any of the Six Ministries."

Chen Xian showed a hint of surprise. "Kill Ding Chen? Why?"

Li Sheng said coldly, "You don't need to know why. Do as I say, and you'll have endless glory and wealth."

Chen Xian's eyes flickered. This Li Sheng was the son of a Duke's mansion. Why would he go to such lengths to get Ding Chen killed?

Only if their statuses were not too disparate would Li Sheng care about Ding Chen's life or death, right?

Otherwise, why would such an insignificant person be so on Li Sheng's mind?

With Li Sheng's status and his connections within the Ninth Battalion, wouldn't it be easy for him to have Ding Chen killed?

"Captain Li, this is a military camp!" Chen Xian said with a frown.

"No rush. The demon army will attack Blood River Forest again. When that happens, you can kill Ding Chen amidst the chaos. He has a jade gourd on him, bring it back to me, and I'll promote you to Major General of the Head Chef Army."

Li Sheng said coldly.

Chen Xian pondered for a moment, "Forgive me, but I cannot obey."

"You!"

Li Sheng's eyes chilled. Had everything he said been for nothing?

Chen Xian cupped his hands slightly, "Although my relationship with Ding Chen is not close, we have faced death together. Our enemy is the demons. Asking me to stab him in the back while he's fighting demons is something I cannot do."

"Captain Li should find someone else."

At this moment, Liu Dingchun spoke with a cold gaze, "Chen Xian, are you really not going to do it?"

"No!"

Chen Xian shook his head firmly.

Liu Dingchun sneered, "You truly are an idiot. In this world, do you think it's easy to achieve merit in the army?"

"Establishing the cook's camp and giving you a chance to fight on the battlefield were all Young Master Sheng's ideas. All your military merits are being recorded."

"Besides, Ding Chen is just a nobody. Kill him, and you'll be Young Master Sheng's man from now on."

"Your future prospects will be boundless."

"If you don't comply, the consequences..."

He didn't finish, but could a smart person not understand?

If you know the secret, will they let you live?

A cold glint flashed in Li Sheng's eyes, "I'll give you time to consider!"

As he finished speaking, he stood up, hands behind his back, and walked out of the tent.

Liu Dingchun scurried after him to see him off.

Chen Xian watched their retreating backs, a hint of coldness flashing in his otherwise calm eyes.

He returned to the cook's camp.

Chen Xian didn't go to find Ding Chen immediately. He stayed in his tent, slowly practicing the Demon-Slaying Blade Technique.

It wasn't until evening that he left his tent to eat some meat. After instructing Ding Chen and the others to continue their drills, he went alone to find Pei Menglong.

Pei Battalion's command tent.

When Chen Xian arrived, Pei Menglong was cultivating.

Pei Gang told him to wait outside.

It was only after half an hour that he met Pei Menglong.

"Greetings, General Pei!"

Chen Xian bowed, then took out the Vajra Dragon Elephant Art manual and placed it on the table.

Pei Menglong raised an eyebrow, "You've memorized it all?"

Chen Xian nodded.

"Good memory!" Pei Menglong chuckled, "Anything else?"

Chen Xian took out the Black Tiger King's demon core, then removed the Golden Ring Great Saber from his waist and placed it on the table.

"Reporting to the General, I wish to exchange the demon core for some elixirs, and to have this Golden Ring Great Saber reforged into a straight saber for me." he said calmly.

Pei Menglong grabbed the Golden Ring Great Saber, channeling his Yuan force, causing the golden rings to clink.

"It is indeed a disgrace to the Black Tiger King that his Golden Silk Great Ring Saber has fallen into your hands!" Pei Menglong laughed heartily.

"The golden rings on it can affect one's mind, but they are not compatible with our Great Ning standard sabers..." As he spoke, he looked up at Chen Xian, "Do you find a straight saber weighing five ding too heavy?"

"There are sabers that heavy?" Chen Xian looked surprised.

This Golden Ring Great Saber already weighed one ding, and he thought a five-ding straight saber would be heavy, but this was beyond his expectation.

Pei Menglong chuckled, "As long as you don't find it too heavy, I can forge it for you."

Chen Xian's eyes flickered, and he quickly smiled, "Brother Pei, I don't have money for premium materials!"