“I refuse to accept this!”
Hua Nongying suddenly shouted, “Even if Murong Shao was a spy, even if he deserved to die, it wasn’t Ling Xiao’s place to act, and no matter what, the fact remains that he attacked me, the captain of the enforcement team!”
“What are you refusing to accept?”
General September frowned slightly, and suddenly her aura erupted with a fierce roar.
In that instant, all the Hidden Dragon Camp disciples, including Ling Xiao and Hua Nongying, were struck with awe.
“This General September’s cultivation is probably at least early Eighth Layer Martial Vein,” Ling Xiao thought to himself.
Her aura was so terrifying it left no room for thoughts of resistance.
Hua Nongying, bearing the brunt of it, turned pale and trembled all over. Only now did he realise that the Twelve Tiger Guards were far more fearsome than he’d imagined.
“Taking this chance, I’ll announce here that Ling Xiao will henceforth be the chief captain of Hidden Dragon Camp! The supreme commander! Dai Yuling is promoted to the Twelve Tiger Guards!”
General September continued, “Hua Nongying, do you still think Ling Xiao wasn’t qualified to kill Murong Shao?”
“I understand, sir,” Hua Nongying replied.
How could Hua Nongying dare defy General September? Her strength was so terrifying that a single finger could probably kill him.
Besides, he realised he’d been too rash. As an undercover agent, such recklessness was unwise.
Murong Shao was already dead; he needed to tread more carefully from now on.
“Good that you understand!”
After speaking, she glanced faintly at Leng Mei, who was leaning in Ling Yixue’s arms, and said, “Leng Mei, your talent is exceptional, your loyalty commendable, and your courage proven. From today, you are officially freed from slavery and made a disciple of Hidden Dragon Camp.”
“Tsk tsk, Leng Mei’s really turned misfortune into a blessing this time.”
“Indeed, shedding her slave status is like a complete transformation, her position is entirely different now.”
“Exactly, and she can learn Hidden Dragon Camp’s martial arts. Compared to her days as a slave, it’s a world apart.”
“Can this servant refuse?” Leng Mei suddenly spoke up.
Her words not only stunned the Hidden Dragon Camp prodigies but even made General September’s expression shift dramatically.
“Tell me your reason!”
Judging by General September’s tone, if the reason wasn’t sufficient, Leng Mei might face punishment.
“This servant wishes to stay by Young Master Ling’s side.”
“What?”
General September paused, then burst into laughter, “Don’t worry, becoming a Hidden Dragon Camp disciple and shedding your slave status will only make it easier for you to stay close to Ling Xiao. There’s no conflict there.”
Hearing this, Leng Mei finally showed a relieved smile.
“Thank you, General September! Thank you, General September!”
“No need for thanks. Miss Yixue, please take Leng Mei to the medicine hall for treatment. I need to take Ling Xiao to claim his special reward.”
General September waved her hand, her mood noticeably brighter. This Leng Mei was adorably naive and adorably loyal.
But it made sense, Ling Xiao had twice clashed with captain-level figures, even killing Murong Shao, all for a slave-status maid. It’d be odd if Leng Mei weren’t deeply grateful.
“Ling Xiao, follow me to the Border General’s Mansion.”
Martial arts techniques, being so precious, weren’t kept in Hidden Dragon Camp but in the far more secure Border General’s Mansion, guarded by Ninth Layer Martial Vein experts.
“Yes, sir!”
Having just broken through to Seventh Layer Martial Vein, Ling Xiao had already planned to claim his special reward, only delayed by Murong Shao and Hua Nongying.
“Are you sure you won’t change your mind? The four previous options are still on the table!” General September asked on the way.
“No change,” Ling Xiao shook his head. “My decision is final.”
“Good then. But speaking of which, breaking through to Seventh Layer Martial Vein in less than seven days truly caught me off guard. Even more surprising, you killed Murong Shao in one move, I didn’t even have time to stop you,” General September said with a wry smile.
“You were nearby just now, General. Why didn’t you intervene?” Ling Xiao asked, puzzled.
“If I said I wanted to see your true strength, would that do?” General September smiled.
“Of course,” Ling Xiao nodded.
“Pity, even Hua Nongying couldn’t force out your full power. It seems even Commander Lin underestimated you. Your talent is more terrifying than we imagined,” General September sighed, shaking her head.
“About Murong Shao, I once saw him with Wan Ben and two peak Ninth Layer Martial Vein foreign experts on a mechanical giant ship in the Cloud River,” Ling Xiao said, steering the topic elsewhere as he wasn’t fond of endless praise.
“Hm, we already knew that, or we wouldn’t have confirmed Murong Shao as a spy,” General September sighed. “The mission to wipe out the Dream Pill traffickers was halted for this reason too. According to intelligence, the Ninja Clan and Blue-Eyed Clan will soon join forces to launch a war against White Cloud Province, Northern Han Kingdom, and even the Human Sacred Dynasty.”
“Just because Commander Lin destroyed the Dream Pills?” Ling Xiao frowned.
“That was just the spark,” General September shook her head. “The Human Sacred Dynasty’s territory is rich and fertile, brimming with martial arts resources, an ancient holy land for martial cultivation and a treasure trove of resources. In recent years, the Human Sacred Dynasty has steadily declined, while the Ninja Clan, Blue-Eyed Clan, and other foreign races have risen swiftly. To them, the resources and martial arts of human lands are a juicy prize.”
“The Dream Pills were just the start, to weaken human strength as much as possible. Now they think the timing’s right and might launch a probing attack, a small-scale war. But where the flames will spread, that’s hard to say.”
“Dragon Gate Port would be the first target, right?” Ling Xiao asked.
“Correct. Dragon Gate Port and Tianfeng City will likely be the first targets of the Ninja Clan and Blue-Eyed Clan’s joint forces,” General September nodded.
Ling Xiao furrowed his brow.
Tianfeng City’s Ling Clan, now the Divine Sword Sect, still housed his family.
As the Supreme Elder of the Divine Sword Sect, he couldn’t sit by and let it fall.
He had to boost his strength fast, every bit more power would increase his odds of aiding them!
“We’re here.”
As Ling Xiao mulled this over, General September’s voice broke through.
They entered the Border General’s Mansion through a side gate.
General September had her own token, granting free passage.
But reaching the “Treasure Pavilion” within the mansion wasn’t something even she could enter casually.
The Treasure Pavilion was the most heavily guarded place in the Border General’s Mansion, second only to the General’s Hall.
It was constantly watched by three Ninth Layer Martial Vein Masters.
Plus ten Eighth Layer Martial Vein Masters and fifty Seventh Layer Martial Vein Masters.
Anyone trying to steal from here would face an uphill battle.
The guards here made Ling Xiao feel the Border General’s Mansion’s might. No wonder Wan Ben, allied with the Ninja Clan and Blue-Eyed Clan, didn’t dare openly challenge it. In a real fight, it’d likely be mutual destruction.
Entering the Treasure Pavilion required General Lin Ze’s personal approval, no exceptions.
“Three seniors, please open the Treasure Pavilion. Here’s Commander Lin’s decree!”
General September presented a sheet of special paper, marked with General Lin Ze’s seal and traces of his true essence.
A seal could be faked, but true essence traces couldn’t.
