Wang Qi had already committed all three spells and both techniques to memory. But he had barely begun trying the Clothing-Cleansing Spell, the one he cared about most, when a figure flashed before his eyes...
Xu Ping, who had "mysteriously disappeared" earlier, was standing before him again.
That departure and return, that bewildered expression tinged with irritation and surprise, felt awfully familiar to Wang Qi, so he ventured, "You want me to come with you?"
Xu Ping had been inexplicably subjected to a tongue-lashing and was simmering with anger. Now, however, he found he could no longer vent it, and could only say irritably, "Good, you understand. Gather your things and come with me."
Wang Qi nodded. "Everything I own is right here. Let's go."
Such straightforwardness was hard to dislike. Without another word, Xu Ping led Wang Qi out of the military camp and toward a small, concealed encampment to its north.
On the way, though, Wang Qi could not resist asking, "Sima Xu, does the Bandit-Quelling Commandant have something against me?"
Xu Ping paused, then said, "Don't get carried away. If Commandant Lin had something against you, why would he recruit you? He simply has certain taboos you don't know about..."
Surprised, Wang Qi asked, "Taboos? Can you tell me what they are?"
Xu Ping was unwilling to elaborate and merely said, somewhat peremptorily, "All you need to know is that you shouldn't cast spells near Commandant Lin without good reason."
Wang Qi immediately approached the question from another angle. "Then how far away from Commandant Lin should I be when practicing spells?"
Xu Ping started to answer, then abruptly fell silent. He turned and studied Wang Qi carefully before saying, "A born scout, aren't you? You're quite good at changing tack to fish for information."
Wang Qi was momentarily baffled... He genuinely wanted to keep well away from Commandant Lin...
This seemed to be a small warning from Xu Ping, cautioning Wang Qi against entertaining thoughts he should not have. Only then did he say, "More than ten li away from Commandant Lin will definitely be fine."
Wang Qi nodded without saying anything more... He could only put half his faith in that number. He did not believe Xu Ping would simply reveal the range of Commandant Lin's perception.
They soon reached the riverbank twenty li north of the recruits' camp... This was also the rendezvous point Xu Ping had originally designated.
Wang Qi knew the place well. It was a good fishing spot, after all, and he had already led groups here three times.
Thus, he quickly noticed that a few yellowed shrubs seemed to have appeared in the woods around the riverbank...
Noticing Wang Qi's gaze, Xu Ping said in surprise, "You're observant. Can you tell me how you spotted this camp?"
Wang Qi answered at once, "It's nothing special. Those weren't here when I came fishing ten days ago... So I'm guessing you only arrived within the last ten days."
Xu Ping nodded repeatedly. He was now beginning to believe that Wang Qi truly was a promising seedling... His powers of observation and intelligence alone would qualify him for most of their work, and his fighting ability had also left a deep impression on Xu Ping.
Although his raw strength was not great, his qi was so sustained that he seemed capable of fighting Xu Ping all day. That had certainly made a lasting impression.
But when they reached the camp concealed in the woods, they saw piles of dry grass being lifted aside, and fourteen people emerged one after another from its various corners.
Even though Wang Qi knew this was a hidden camp, until those people actually appeared, he had been unable to pinpoint where they were.
Their skill at concealment was truly remarkable, and the sight made Wang Qi all the more humble and cautious.
"This is Wang Qi. He'll be one of us from now on, which brings my Scout Battalion up to three full squads of five." As Xu Ping spoke, he motioned for Wang Qi to join the ranks.
Wang Qi obediently joined them, taking his place at the very end of the line.
Then, to his surprise, Wang Qi discovered something that set his heart pounding... The teammate beside him was a woman...
Being a woman was not an issue. After all, he had not dared underestimate any woman for sixteen years.
The crucial point was that this woman's eyes had vertical pupils!
That was rather frightening. He had the feeling she was not human...
The woman with vertical pupils beside him seemed to sense his inward "prejudice," and said with considerable displeasure, "Lord Sima, shouldn't a newcomer show us what he can do? How else will he win everyone's respect?"
Her voice was cold and sinister, yet carried a lilting, wicked allure that left an uncanny itching sensation in the listener's ears.
Xu Ping said nothing in response, merely directing an inquiring look at the woman with vertical pupils.
Wang Qi inclined his head slightly. "Then may I ask this... ahem, this comrade-in-arms what you would have me do?"
"I haven't accepted you as my comrade-in-arms yet." The woman with vertical pupils snorted coldly, then continued, "Our next task is to map the northern mountains in preparation for the Divine Archer Battalion's final six months of marching and live combat training in the mountains."
"We need a complete topographic map of everything within a hundred li north of here. I won't ask you to draw all of it. You only need to give us the general terrain within twenty li in three days."
The others quietly nodded at her words. This was not an attempt to make things difficult for Wang Qi, but a basic requirement here.
Their Scout Battalion existed to serve as the army's vanguard, and surveying the terrain was of paramount importance... If Wang Qi could thoroughly scout the terrain within twenty li in three days, he would be qualified to join this Scout Battalion.
Wang Qi asked in surprise, "That's it?"
Everyone seemed to hear disdain in his words, and their expressions turned displeased.
Yet just then, Wang Qi took a sheet of parchment from inside his robe and spread it out before them. "Take a look. Would something like this do?"
Everyone, Xu Ping included, stared in astonishment before looking down at the parchment... Was that not a topographic map?
Moreover, the terrain was recorded in such detail that it even included approximate heights for the peaks and detailed drawings of the contours of the mountains.
Even more outrageous, it marked the distribution of various animals and plants, along with their ranges of activity...
The parchment was sizable, about as large as a sheet of A2 paper... And the terrain it covered did not merely extend a hundred li north.
It was a map of the entire region stretching forty li south, eighty li west, sixty li east, and a hundred and twenty li north, with the recruits' camp as its starting point!
At the sight, Xu Ping promptly used his inner force to shatter the map he had concealed in his sleeve... Something like that was no longer worth looking at.
Mapping the mountains was supposed to be their main task for the coming month.
But with this map... It seemed they would have a very leisurely month ahead?
At that moment, everyone's gaze toward Wang Qi changed... Who would not like a colleague who brought benefits to everyone?
Even the woman's vertical pupils grew considerably "rounder and plumper," making her look rather amusing and adorable...
With the map he had compiled during three months of hunting in the mountains, Wang Qi successfully integrated himself into this seemingly high-level team in one fell swoop... Without the slightest difficulty.
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