Chapter 10: We All Have to Call Him Master

No one expected it.

At such a critical juncture, Corporal Zhang actually dared to resist!

Lin Chuan was closest to him, no more than three steps away.

Corporal Zhang’s figure suddenly erupted into motion!

His right hand lunged into his boot, drawing a short blade, and he thrust it straight at Lin Chuan’s heart!

"Watch out!"

Corporal Hu roared and lunged forward. But—

It was too late!

In the blink of an eye, the tip of the knife was already closing in on Lin Chuan’s chest.

Lin Chuan’s pupils contracted sharply.

His combat memories from his previous life were instantly ignited.

His left hand formed a palm and struck fiercely at Corporal Zhang’s knife-wielding wrist. With a flick of his right wrist, he brought his three-foot-long saber up in an underhand sweep.

This was a defensive maneuver for a tactical knife from his past life. Executed now with a long saber, it carried a biting, murderous intent.

"Clang!"

The short blade was jarred upward, leaving Corporal Zhang’s center completely exposed.

Without waiting for his opponent to react, Lin Chuan slid forward with his left leg. He gripped the long saber in a reverse hold, the blade slicing a treacherous arc from bottom to top.

This move, derived from special forces techniques, was originally meant to slash an enemy’s chin with a dagger. Now, the long saber transformed into a silver rainbow, aiming straight for Corporal Zhang’s throat!

"Rip!"

The sound of the blade grazing leather armor was teeth-grating.

The edge swept past Corporal Zhang’s neck, shaving off a piece of his leather collar. Corporal Zhang stumbled backward, a clean, diagonal gash torn into the leather armor on his chest. Blood began to seep through the linen lining underneath.

He looked down in disbelief at the blood on his chest.

Corporal Hu’s thick brows knit together in anger. He had clearly seen an odd inward twist of Lin Chuan’s wrist—as if he were wielding a short weapon, yet he was clearly using a long saber. Even more bizarre was that left-handed parry; the way his palm had struck the enemy’s wrist like a blade was something he had never heard of!

Corporal Zhang’s face turned deathly pale. With a dull thud, he collapsed to his knees.

His trembling hands pressed uselessly against the wound, but blood gushed out like a broken levee, instantly soaking through his entire suit of armor.

"Urgh..."

He tried to speak, but only coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Corporal Hu instinctively took half a step back. Even this veteran, who had seen his fair share of death, couldn't help but frown. Lin Chuan’s strike had been too ruthless; it had actually pierced through the lung.

"Save... save me..."

Corporal Zhang’s body swayed before he pitched forward, his fingers clawing uselessly at the ground. After two final spasms, he went still.

A veteran stepped forward to check his breath and turned back. "Boss, he’s dead."

Corporal Hu nodded and sheathed his blade.

"What about them?" another veteran asked, pointing his blade at Corporal Zhang’s trembling subordinates by the wall.

"Tie them up and send them to the military police," Corporal Hu snorted coldly.

"Corporal Hu, have mercy!"

The four men fell to their knees, knocking their heads against the ground in desperation. "It was all Boss Zhang... Zhang Mazi who ordered us..."

Corporal Hu looked down coldly at the soldiers kowtowing like they were pounding garlic.

"Now you know how to beg for mercy? When you drew your blades to kill earlier, why didn't your hands shake then?"

The veterans swiftly ripped off their own belts and tied the four men’s wrists together in a chain.

One soldier suddenly scrambled to Lin Chuan’s feet. "Hero, spare me! I... I only just transferred to Ironwood Fortress yesterday, I haven't done anything!"

Lin Chuan sidestepped him, his long saber gleaming coldly in the morning light. "The military police will investigate."

He turned to Corporal Hu. "Corporal Hu, these spoils..."

Corporal Hu waved a large hand. "They are all your credit!" He kicked Corporal Zhang’s corpse. "I will report the trash he was up to, every single detail."

He squinted at the pile of bloody trophies on the cart: six hideous severed heads preserved in lime, accompanied by captured scimitars and leather armor. He scratched his messy hair and shouted behind him, "Er Gou!"

Er Gou, who had just been gnawing on a ration, jumped. "Ah? Boss?"

Corporal Hu smacked him on the head. "What the hell were you saying yesterday?"

Er Gou, having received the blow for no reason, looked bewildered. "What... what did I say?"

"Playing dumb, are you!" Corporal Hu kicked him squarely in the backside. "You’re the one who said if he could kill three Tatars, we’d all have to call him 'Grandpa'!"

"Ouch!" Er Gou hopped around, clutching his rear. "Boss, go easy! I wasn't... I didn't mean..." He snuck a glance at the heads on the cart and his eyes widened. "Six?!"

"What do you call him for six, huh? Tell me, what do you call him?" Corporal Hu grabbed Er Gou’s ear and spun him around, making him grimace in pain.

"Ouch! Boss! For six, for six we have to call him Ancestor!" Er Gou wailed.

The veterans burst into laughter. "Hear that? Er Gou is going to claim his ancestor!"

Zhang Xiaonian and Wang Tiezhu huddled behind the cart, their legs trembling. They had originally come with Brother Lin to see the world, but they hadn't expected to see *this* kind of world. First, they were nearly hacked to death, then Brother Lin killed one man with a single stroke. Before they could recover, Corporal Zhang staged an ambush, only to be killed by Brother Lin in return. By this morning, their trousers were soaked, and they couldn't tell if it was sweat or urine.

"Corporal Hu," Lin Chuan cupped his hands. "Thank you for your help just now. Regarding the enlistment today..."

"Eh!" Corporal Hu waved his hand again, grinning. "Don't give me that formal nonsense! Once this military achievement is reported, you'll be promoted to a squad leader at the very least!" He paused and lowered his voice. "However... since two men are dead, we have to go to the Garrison Headquarters to provide an account."

"That is only proper," Lin Chuan nodded.

Corporal Hu turned and kicked Er Gou’s backside again. "Er Gou! You stay behind to guard the fortress!"

"Ah? Me again?" Er Gou looked crestfallen. "Boss, I also want to..."

"Want to my foot!" Corporal Hu glared. "One more word and you’re paying for the drinks tonight!"

Er Gou shut his mouth immediately and obediently shrunk back.

Corporal Hu gestured with his hand. "One-Eyed, you lot escort these four cowards and come with me to the Garrison Headquarters!"

The veterans efficiently chained Zhang’s men together. Zhang Xiaonian and Wang Tiezhu looked at Lin Chuan with eyes that clearly asked if they could stay behind.

Lin Chuan patted their shoulders and whispered, "It’s fine."

"Brother, let’s go!" Corporal Hu grinned at Lin Chuan. "Let’s give those gentlemen at the Garrison Headquarters something to gawk at!"

...

Leaving Ironwood Fortress, the party traveled along the official road toward the Garrison Headquarters.

In less than half a day, the silhouette of the Garrison Headquarters gradually came into view. The dark, imposing ramparts rose high, with banners flapping in the wind atop the watchtowers. Vague figures of sentries holding spears could be seen patrolling back and forth.

"B-Brother Lin..." Zhang Xiaonian pulled the cart, swallowed hard, and whispered, "That G-Garrison H-H-Head..."

Up ahead, Corporal Hu turned and grinned. "Big, isn't it? This is our Northern Frontier’s number one garrison!"

One-Eyed chimed in from behind, "The latrines inside are more spacious than the entirety of Ironwood Fortress."

"What?" Wang Tiezhu asked, surprised.

"Don't listen to his nonsense!" Corporal Hu scolded. "If they were so spacious, why the hell don't you live in the latrine?"

"I won't!" One-Eyed stiffened his neck. "I’m afraid of getting lost!"

"...The G-G-Garrison... it’s really big!" Zhang Xiaonian finally finished his sentence.

Corporal Hu glanced at him and asked Lin Chuan, "Does this kid always talk like that?"

"Yes, he’s been like that since he was small," Lin Chuan nodded.

"Then you’d better stop talking!" Corporal Hu pointed at Zhang Xiaonian. "The General hates dawdling the most. If you speak to him like that, he’ll definitely chop your head off!"

Zhang Xiaonian’s face turned deathly pale.

Amidst the laughter of the group, they arrived outside the camp gates. The gate sentries saw them from afar. A tall, thin sentry trotted over and cupped his hands. "Corporal Hu! This is..."

"Military business!" Corporal Hu fished Lin Chuan’s iron badge from his tunic and flashed it. "Take these pieces of trash to see the Assistant Commander!"

The sentry glanced at the chained prisoners and then swept his eyes over the heads on the cart, his expression shifting slightly. He quickly stepped aside to make way. "The Assistant Commander is currently inspecting the training grounds..."

Corporal Hu nodded and signaled Lin Chuan. "Let’s go!"