Don't You Want Me to Hold You Back

Ding Chen didn't respond either, covering his face and quickly walking past Chen Xian into the tent.

Chen Xian frowned and followed him into the tent.

Inside the tent, Wang Yan, Qin Fei, and the others also noticed Ding Chen's bruised and swollen face, and they all crowded around him, asking what happened in a rush of voices.

Ding Chen lay down on the shared sleeping platform, pulled the quilt over his face, and remained silent.

Everyone exchanged glances, looking at Chen Xian.

"Who hit you?" Wang Yan raised an eyebrow.

Chen Xian shook his head.

Ding Chen was a Minor Cook Leader. The people he interacted with in the military camp were different from them. Anyone who dared to hit Ding Chen was either another Minor Cook Leader of the same rank, a Chief Medic, or possibly even a Lieutenant.

While everyone was at a loss, Ding Chen suddenly threw off the quilt and sat up, his eyes piercing with coldness: "Training!"

At that moment, they all felt Ding Chen's gaze was a little frightening.

Chen Xian's eyes flickered slightly. Having interacted with Ding Chen during this period, he realized Ding Chen wasn't a particularly humorous person. He was quite steady in his actions and had an innate arrogance.

Although he often cared for his subordinates and was loyal and righteous, he always gave Chen Xian a sense of aloof loneliness.

Chen Xian had no memory of Ding Chen's background from the original owner's memories.

Chen Xian guessed that Ding Chen's background was probably not low; at least, he was a young master from a wealthy family.

Time flew by to mid-August.

Chen Xian received his monthly salary of two taels of silver and one Body Refinement Pill for the previous month. This was the lowest tier of reward in the military camp.

Ten days had passed since Ding Chen was beaten that day.

Chen Xian and the others still didn't know who beat Ding Chen or why.

However, during his free time every day, Ding Chen led Chen Xian and the others in training, not slacking off for a moment.

Seven days ago, Ding Chen had obtained the Blood Moving Realm cultivation method of the Blood Flame Ox Demon Technique. Wang Yan, Qin Fei, and the other two survivors from the beginning, Xue Qishan and Luo Ying.

The four of them had also reached Body Refinement Completion and applied for the Blood Flame Ox Demon Technique from Zhao Tong.

Today, they were all issued the technique together.

Every day, besides practicing his saber and palm techniques, Chen Xian cultivated the Ox Demon Breathing Technique at night, sitting cross-legged to fill his acupoints.

After nearly twenty days of practice, he had only filled three acupoints, reaching forty-six acupoints.

At this rate, it would take six to seven years to fill the remaining acupoints.

Chen Xian was also helpless. Recently, the demon army's attacks had decreased. Usually, after the front lines finished fighting, the battlefield was cleared, and the Cooks' Camp had no opportunity to go out.

"Body Refinement Pill?"

Chen Xian held the deep red pill in his hand and glanced at Ding Chen and the others.

Wang Yan chuckled, "Xianzi, the Body Refinement Pill won't have much effect on you. Why don't you give it to me? I can further temper my physique."

Chen Xian said, "One tael of silver!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Yan immediately rolled his eyes. "Good brother, we should share hardships and joys. You don't want your Brother Yan to hold you back next time, do you?"

Chen Xian shook his head speechlessly, "It's better to give it to Cao Fang and Zhao Yu than to you. They are both in the late stage of Body Refinement."

Hearing this, Cao Fang and Zhao Yu eagerly approached Chen Xian: "Brother Xian really knows how to be considerate."

Cao Fang chuckled, "Brother Xian, you're a great person!"

Ding Chen nodded secretly, "Xianzi, give your pill to Cao Fang, and my pill to Zhao Yu."

Cao Fang and Zhao Yu were the two fortunate individuals Chen Xian met when he first arrived; they hadn't gone to the battlefield and were now in the late stage of Body Refinement.

The eight of them had spent the most time together and had a closer relationship.

Later, the cooks transferred by Zhao Tong did not have as close a relationship with them.

Cao Fang and Zhao Yu each received an extra Body Refinement Pill and were naturally very grateful. At noon, Cao Fang gave Chen Xian a large portion of his wolf meat.

Chen Xian could only smile helplessly at this.

In the afternoon.

Chen Xian packed his things. Remembering the letter in his bosom, he found Ding Chen and asked for a piece of grass paper to write a reply to his so-called childhood sweetheart.

He also put the two taels of silver into the envelope and sent it home.

Having inherited the original owner's body, Chen Xian felt he had to shoulder some responsibilities.

Besides, he couldn't spend money in the military camp anyway.

As for saving it to grease palms or something, Chen Xian didn't even consider it. It wasn't his nature. If he had that money, he'd rather send it back for his 'unseen' father and sister to spend.

After handing the envelope to Ding Chen, Chen Xian calmed himself and continued to fill his acupoints.

August 20th.

The front army engaged in a battle with a demon squad.

Outside the Ninth Battalion, the sounds of shouting and killing were deafening.

Chen Xian and the others stood before the camp tents, listening as the fighting continued from day into evening.

In the middle of the night, Chen Xian and the others were woken up by Zhao Tong, who told them to go clear the battlefield corpses.

Ding Chen and the others were naturally unwilling, but Chen Xian was enthusiastic.

Clearing the battlefield offered a chance to encounter demonic beasts that weren't completely dead, which meant experience points.

Everyone donned their armor and picked up their sabers. After rushing out of the tents, they discovered that only their small team had been called out by Zhao Tong; the other small team remained inactive.

The other cooks' camps were also silent.

"Brother Zhao, why is it only our small team?" Ding Chen asked, staring at Zhao Tong with a frown.

Zhao Tong's eyes flickered, and he said, "Don't ask so many questions. Obey orders!"

Upon hearing this, a cold glint flashed in Ding Chen's eyes. Without another word, he led Chen Xian and the others out of the tent, heading toward the location Zhao Tong had indicated.

After leaving the tent, Chen Xian noticed that the front lines were still active. People were continuously riding horses, dragging the corpses of demonic beasts back toward the camp.

Those Demon Slayer Soldiers were covered in blood and looked very exhausted.

Half an hour later.

Chen Xian and the others arrived at a valley, a spur of Wumeng Mountain.

When they arrived, almost all the Demon Slayer Soldiers had already left the valley. The ground was a river of blood, the stench was pungent, and the blood mist floating in the air refused to dissipate.

As for the demon corpses, many had already been taken back by the Demon Slayer Soldiers. The remaining ones were for Chen Xian and the others to clear.

Chen Xian looked back at the last Demon Slayer Soldier to leave. He felt that person's gaze was sharp, and their aura was incredibly terrifying.

The way they looked at them before leaving was somewhat strange, making him feel vigilant.

"Brother Ding, it's the middle of the night. We should hurry and transport these corpses away quickly, lest there are still demons lurking in the dark," Chen Xian said quietly, appearing beside Ding Chen.

Ding Chen nodded. "Let's move them quickly!"

He also felt that the last Demon Slayer Soldier's gaze was problematic.

Wang Yan and the other five, who had been chatting and laughing, noticed the solemn expressions on Chen Xian and Ding Chen's faces. The six of them immediately became alert and began to quickly transport the corpses.

The night wind howled, sweeping rapidly from the depths of the valley and stirring the blood mist.

The carts weren't full yet. Chen Xian and the others quickly drew their long sabers, their senses fully on alert.

They had experienced this scene before, so they dared not be careless.

After waiting ten breaths and seeing no movement, Ding Chen ordered everyone to quickly load the carts. However, the demonic beast corpses in the area couldn't all be loaded in one trip, and two trips wouldn't be enough.

"One trip at a time!"

Ding Chen said in a deep voice. For some reason, his heart was pounding non-stop; he felt that danger was approaching them.

Among the forty-six acupoints Chen Xian had condensed, his ears and eyes were included.

He secretly channeled his vital energy to his ears and eyes.

In an instant, he gained night vision. His gaze could easily penetrate the dense blood mist, allowing him to see three miles away.

Of course, he could see further, but the valley was winding, with trees and mountains blocking his view, preventing him from seeing deeper.

"One, two, three..."

As he counted, Chen Xian's expression became extremely solemn.

Wang Yan frowned. "Xianzi, what are you counting?"

Chen Xian turned his head and shouted, "There are demons!"