Sheng the Colonel

At night, Anning City was bustling. The city's residents were all celebrating the victory.

Yichun Tower had also reopened for business, and many people gathered there to drink and make merry.

"With lofty ambition, hungry, I feast on the flesh of the Hu invaders; laughing, thirsty, I drink the blood of the Xiongnu! That Battalion Commander Sheng was simply brimming with heroic spirit. He slew enemies with courage, and his literary talent was equally outstanding."

"Exactly. What grandeur, what passion! 'Laughing, thirsty, I drink the blood of the Xiongnu'—what high-spirited vigor!"

"I'm telling you, that Battalion Commander Sheng is my neighbor. He used to be a scholar."

"Brother, tell us more!"

"'So long as the Flying General of Dragon City remains, no Xiongnu horse shall cross An Mountain.' That single line of poetry displayed the Anning Army's resolve and determination in full. It was a true portrayal of them."

Inside Yichun Tower, the overwhelming majority of people were discussing the great battle of the day and the two lines of poetry Sheng Huai'an had composed.

Sheng Huai'an's reputation also spread far and wide throughout Anning City.

Wang Xuan looked at Yang Ye, clad in golden armor, and sighed. "Brother Yang, if you had focused wholeheartedly on martial arts instead of being burdened by military affairs, you would probably have broken through to Great Grandmaster by now. Do you not regret this choice?"

"I have never regretted it. You know that I am a man of the borderlands. I grew up at the border, and having learned these martial skills, it was only natural that I would defend the frontier and protect the peace of the people here." Yang Ye's gaze was resolute.

"Just like you, Brother Wang. You grew up in the martial world, yearning for its swift vengeance, freedom, and abandon."

"Unfortunately, I don't have your talent. Otherwise, I would have broken through to Great Grandmaster long ago and founded my own sect," Wang Xuan said.

"You are a mighty Grandmaster yourself. If you wanted to found a sect, who knew how many people would break their heads rushing to your door to learn from you?" Yang Ye said with a smile.

"Enough. Our transaction is complete, so shouldn't you settle my payment?" Wang Xuan said with a smile.

"I truly don't know what you want with a spear manual. You practice fist techniques." Yang Ye handed the Overlord Spear Technique to Wang Xuan.

Yang Ye had invited Wang Xuan to help guard Anning Pass, and the Overlord Spear Technique was his payment.

"You don't understand. Spear techniques and fist techniques are not all that different. I want to use your spear technique as a reference and see whether I can make a breakthrough," Wang Xuan said.

The two had met by chance in their youth and traveled the martial world together. Through a twist of fate, they had obtained inheritances.

Yang Ye had obtained the Overlord Spear Technique, while Wang Xuan had obtained the Rushing Thunder Fist Technique.

"Then I wish you gains from it," Yang Ye said with a smile.

"Fine, the payment is in hand. Farewell. I hope that when we meet next, you will still be alive." Wang Xuan took his leave, departing with carefree ease.

At night, Sheng Huai'an sat cross-legged on his bed.

He had slain countless enemies during the day and reaped a large amount of Slaughter Value.

Name: Sheng Huai'an

Race: Human

Realm: Houtian Limit (+)

Techniques: "Great Sun Heart Sutra" (Minor Accomplishment) "Ferocious Ox Strength" (Minor Accomplishment) (+) "Blood Fiend Saber Technique" (Major Accomplishment) (Deduction) "Overlord Spear Technique" (Minor Accomplishment)

Strength: 35,000 jin

Talent: Divine Archer

Slaughter Value: 8200

Adding in the Slaughter Value from before, the Slaughter Value he possessed had now broken through the eight-thousand mark.

After slaughtering countless enemies during the day, he had gained four thousand Slaughter Value. It was truly a bountiful harvest.

Looking at so much Slaughter Value, Sheng Huai'an ultimately did not use it to raise his cultivation.

He would keep it for now. He could raise his cultivation after some time, when it would happen as naturally as water flowing into a channel.

Breaking through to the Xiantian Realm time and again now would be too eye-catching.

There were only a handful of seventeen-year-old Xiantian Martial Artists in all of Great Wei.

Not to mention that, from first coming into contact with martial arts until now, not even a month had passed when all was said and done. If someone with ill intentions noticed, there might be serious trouble.

The war ended, and Anning Pass gradually returned to normal.

The Xiongnu army had retreated in defeat, and the oppressive weight of war had vanished as well.

Yet the Anning Army did not relax. Though the war had temporarily ended, they still had to apply to the imperial court for pensions for the fallen soldiers.

They also had to recruit soldiers anew, train the army, and restore their strength in guarding the pass.

After all, the Xiongnu army could come charging over at any moment and assault the pass again.

That day, Sheng Huai'an was promoted to Colonel.

Although he had been promoted to Colonel, he only had those three hundred-odd cavalrymen under his command—the three hundred or so men who had followed him onto the grasslands and returned alive.

"Colonel, congratulations, congratulations!" Guo Xiaoping said.

"Not bad. You're already a Colonel. Looks like becoming a general isn't far off." Wang Wu smiled, genuinely happy for Sheng Huai'an.

"Colonel, congratulations, congratulations!"

Tang Yunshan, Hai Dahe, and the others under his command all stepped forward to congratulate Sheng Huai'an.

Guo Xiaoping and Hu Bing both had sufficient cultivation and enough Military Merit, but the Anning Army had only a limited number of vacant Colonel positions, so it was not their turn.

Even Sheng Huai'an's position as Colonel seemed to be outside the official establishment.

Originally, the Anning Army had an establishment of fifty thousand men, with twenty-five Colonel positions.

But the Anning Army only had the strength to form an army of thirty thousand, and thus only had fifteen Colonel positions.

Sheng Huai'an was not among those fifteen Colonels. Their battalion only had three hundred remnant soldiers, and it had not even begun to be established.

This was simply giving him an establishment title first.

"Colonel, you got promoted today, and our battalion is on leave as well. How about we go have some fun at Yichun Tower? My treat—we'll drink wine with the ladies," Guo Xiaoping said loudly.

"Right, Colonel Sheng. You got promoted, so shouldn't you treat us to some fun?" Wang Wu said with a grin.

"No, you bastard, didn't you say that after the war ended, you would treat me to drinks? Why are you asking me to treat you now?" Sheng Huai'an looked at Wang Wu speechlessly.

"That won't do. You're a Colonel now, so you should be the one treating us. Brothers, isn't that right?" Wang Wu shouted.

"Exactly!"

The soldiers under his command clamored noisily, all of them delighted.

"Fine. Yichun Tower tonight, my treat." Sheng Huai'an did not want to spoil the mood and agreed at once.

"Brother Guo, I'll treat tonight. You can treat the brothers next time," Sheng Huai'an said to Guo Xiaoping.

"Fine, no problem!" Guo Xiaoping had no objections whatsoever.

In the evening, their battalion changed into ordinary clothes and headed to Yichun Tower.

Seeing the mighty procession of more than three hundred people, the madam of Yichun Tower thought someone had gathered men to attack the establishment. She was so frightened that her face lost all color.

"Madam, arrange everything properly for all my brothers, or I'll hold you accountable," Guo Xiaoping said.

Only when the madam saw that they were Guo Xiaoping, Hu Bing, and the others did she breathe a sigh of relief. So they were military men.

"Honored soldiers, please come in. Girls, hurry and come receive the guests!" Wrinkles bloomed across the madam's smiling face.

With so many honored soldiers, she could not afford to offend them, and neither could the people behind her.

After all, this was Anning Pass, the Anning Army's territory.

"Call your top courtesan, Miss Hua Yueru, to accompany our Colonel," Guo Xiaoping added.

"Yes, yes, I'll go invite Miss Hua at once." Upon hearing there was even a Colonel among them, how could the madam dare refuse?

As Sheng Huai'an and his group entered Yichun Tower in a grand procession, many people turned their eyes toward them.

"Who are those people?"

"They look like men of the Anning Army."

"I know, I know! That young man leading them is Battalion Commander Sheng, the one who composed 'With lofty ambition, hungry, I feast on the flesh of the Hu invaders; laughing, thirsty, I drink the blood of the Xiongnu!'" Someone recognized Sheng Huai'an.

"I was among those who left the city to kill the enemy that day. I saw Battalion Commander Sheng display his great might, and then I heard him compose poetry on the spot."

"No, didn't you hear just now? Battalion Commander Sheng has already been promoted to Colonel Sheng."

"He's so young!"

"A Colonel at such a young age, and he can compose poetry too. He is simply accomplished in both civil and martial pursuits."

"And he is quite handsome. At first glance, one might think he was some young lord from a wealthy household."

Seeing Sheng Huai'an and his group, people discussed them one after another.

After entering Yichun Tower, Sheng Huai'an and his group went straight up to the second floor. More than three hundred people filled the entire second floor.

The third floor contained the guest rooms of Yichun Tower's women, for guests staying the night. Everyone who knew, knew.

There was a stage on the first floor, with many wine tables arranged around it.

Yichun Tower had only three floors in total, but it was not small for Anning Pass.

Of course, it could not compare to a provincial city or Luojing.

On the stage, lightly clad dancers were dancing as soft silk and bamboo music filled the air.

Once Sheng Huai'an and his group sat down, the attendants of Yichun Tower hurriedly brought over wine.

Fine wine and delicious dishes were all served.

The madam of Yichun Tower also arranged for the women to accompany them in drinking, three women to each table.

One woman per person was not very realistic. The entire Yichun Tower did not even have over three hundred women.

Hua Yueru, Yichun Tower's top courtesan, approached in a light, plain-colored gauze dress. Her figure was graceful, and her looks were indeed outstanding.

Her skin was fair and clear, her face oval, and she possessed a charming allure. No wonder Guo Xiaoping and the others could not stop thinking about her.

"Greetings, honored generals. This humble woman pays her respects."

Hua Yueru walked over, curtsied, then sat beside Sheng Huai'an and poured wine for him and the others.

Sheng Huai'an raised his cup. "Brothers, the first cup is for our fallen comrades."

The soldiers all raised their cups.

"To our comrades!"

Everyone shouted loudly. The killing aura they inadvertently leaked made the women accompanying them in drink tremble in fear.

"What are you doing? You bunch of martial men, don't frighten the ladies," Sheng Huai'an said with a headache.

Only then did the soldiers under his command quickly restrain their auras and stop being so solemn.

"Drink! Today, we do not return until we are drunk!" Sheng Huai'an called out.

"Not drunk, not returning!"

Only then did everyone begin drinking one after another.

After several cups of wine, everyone loosened up and began playing finger-guessing games and drinking with the women accompanying them.

"Miss Yueru, you must take good care of our Colonel Sheng. It's his first time here," Wang Wu said to Hua Yueru with a smile.

"It is this humble woman's honor to meet Colonel Sheng. Colonel Sheng, allow me to offer you a cup." Hua Yueru did not act reserved as she leaned her body against Sheng Huai'an.