Volume One, Chapter 12: The New Recruit Establishes His Authority
The biting north wind swept snowflakes across their faces, stinging like a thousand cuts. The military banners on the training ground snapped fiercely in the wind, taut and straight as if on the verge of tearing.
Zhang Kui’s roar exploded like thunder: “Zhang Muyang is colluding with the Yan traitors!”
Such a crime was unforgivable—one that could doom an entire clan.
The whole training ground fell into a stunned silence, as if even the wind itself had frozen. All eyes turned sharply toward Zhang Muyang. Several squad leaders and sergeants subtly gripped their swords, the faint scrape of sheaths striking the heavy stillness.
Chen Xiucheng’s face darkened as he slowly rose. “Zhang Kui, you claim he’s colluding with the Yan traitors. Do you have any proof?”
“Yes!”
Zhang Kui fixed his gaze on Zhang Muyang, gritting his teeth fiercely. “The woman he married is a spy for Northern Yan! That woman has a scar under her right eye—I saw her identification papers with my own eyes in Sifang County. There’s no mistake!”
A murmur rippled through the crowd.
Su Ying clenched her fists tightly but held back any impulse, standing quietly with eyes sharp and cold as knives.
“Oh?”
A bearded sergeant suddenly stared at Zhang Muyang in surprise. “You… you’re that sickly boy from Zhang Family Village?”
Zhang Muyang replied calmly, “Yes.”
The sergeant’s face changed drastically, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
His name was Qi Zhiyuan, and he knew Su Ying’s background better than anyone else.
He had been the one escorting Su Ying, Yang Wenxiu, Yang Wenjuan, and others to Zhang Family Village for conscription. Su Ying slipped him a gold coin, and he turned a blind eye, “assigning” her to Zhang Muyang, a man near death. Upon returning, he had fabricated a story for Captain Wei Wentong, claiming Su Ying had died suddenly along the way, even bribing each accompanying soldier with five hundred wen to keep silent.
But now, this sickly boy who should have long been dead was standing before him, lively and strong enough to lift a 300-pound stone lock with one hand?!
No.
He could not let Su Ying’s secret be exposed.
If the bribery and deception were uncovered, Captain Wei Wentong would be the first to turn on him.
Qi Zhiyuan’s hand trembled slightly on his sword as he shouted, “The Northern Yan female spy injured two of my brothers! We should have killed her on the spot and buried her body. How could she possibly be Zhang Muyang’s wife?”
“I… that was my cousin’s eyewitness account!” Zhang Kui bit his lip, his fighting spirit rising.
“Where is your cousin now?”
“He was killed…”
“That’s utterly ridiculous!” Qi Zhiyuan dropped to one knee and clasped his hands toward Chen Xiucheng. “Sir, please judge wisely! Zhang Kui is clearly lying out of spite over gambling debts. I’m willing to stake my own life that Zhang Muyang has never betrayed us!”
Chen Xiucheng’s eyes scanned their faces before he kicked Zhang Kui to the ground. “No lunch or dinner for you today. Stand punishment on the training ground!”
“Yes…”
Clutching his stomach, Zhang Kui glared venomously at Zhang Muyang’s retreating figure, hatred coiling like a serpent in his gaze.
This debt would be remembered.
Not far away, Captain Wei Wentong stroked his goatee, a faint, inscrutable smile playing at his lips, yet a cold gleam flickered in his eyes, calculating something.
“All right, disperse.”
“Sir…”
Zhang Muyang stepped forward. “I boldly request to be assigned to the same squad as the young men from Zhang Family Village.”
Chen Xiucheng looked at him deeply, then suddenly smiled. “Good! You show responsibility. Approved.”
“Squad Leader!” Zhang Kui scrambled to his feet and hurried forward. “I’m also from Zhang Family Village. Why not let me lead this squad to better watch over my fellow villagers?”
“You?” Chen Xiucheng raised an eyebrow.
“Brother Kui is willing to bear this responsibility. Nothing could be better. I ask that you grant this favor.” Zhang Muyang cupped his hands with a smile, his tone free of hostility.
“Fine. You all step back.”
Interesting.
Chen Xiucheng could see their intentions clearly.
But in the military camp, what was needed were wolves, not sheep.
Whoever could become the true alpha had to earn it by their own strength.
Zhang Kui harbored a storm of resentment as he turned the corner, only to collide with Captain Wei Wentong.
Wei Wentong’s gaze was sharp as a hawk’s, making Zhang Kui’s skin crawl.
“Captain…”
“You say Zhang Muyang’s wife is a Northern Yan spy?”
“Absolutely! My cousin said that woman has a scar under her right eye. She’s definitely the one in the identification papers!”
“Good, very good.”
Wei Wentong suddenly patted his shoulder, a feral smile creeping across his lips. “Traitors like that deserve death. I look forward to seeing you kill him with your own hands… as long as it’s clean, I’ll take the blame if things go wrong.”
Zhang Kui’s eyes lit up instantly.
Wei Wentong was a Captain at the early Flesh Refinement stage, commanding fifty men. With his backing, how could he not handle one Zhang Muyang? Rumor even said he had a Bone Refinement expert at home!
Watching Zhang Kui leave, Wei Wentong waved over two trusted men to visit Zhang Family Village immediately for any news of that woman—the daughter of Northern Yan’s Governor Su Hu. A reward of five taels awaited any information.
Was this how life in the military camp was to begin?
Zhang Muyang looked at the perfectly aligned squads on the training ground, then at his fellow villagers eagerly cracking their knuckles beside him. He tightened his grip on the Cold Feather Knife at his waist.
“Let’s eat.”
Su Ying, Zhang Xiaobei, and the others nodded and swarmed into the mess hall.
But the moment they entered, they were met with an infuriating scene…
Several veteran soldiers were stirring in a bucket of thin congee so clear that reflections shimmered on its surface. They scooped out grains of rice that had sunk to the bottom with wooden spoons, acting with brazen disregard. The new recruits stood nearby, shrinking back, not even daring to breathe.
Zhang Muyang knew this scene all too well.
In a military camp, might made right. Older soldiers bullying new recruits was a daily affair.
Without a word, Zhang Muyang strode forward and reached for a wooden spoon.
“You little brat, dare to steal our food?” An old bearded soldier swung at him.
Zhang Muyang sidestepped and delivered a powerful kick.
Bang!
The soldier flew back like a torn sack, overturning the congee bucket and spilling the porridge everywhere.
The other veterans grabbed wooden poles from the corner and charged. “You hit one of our brothers? You’ve got a death wish! Get down on your knees!”
But Zhang Muyang’s fists were faster.
Crack!
A pole snapped.
Within moments, the veterans were wailing on the ground, clutching their bellies and writhing.
“Zhang Muyang!”
Qi Zhiyuan stormed forward angrily. “You’re a new recruit daring to hit an old soldier? You’re rebelling! Kneel now!”
Zhang Muyang ignored him, scooping thick congee into Su Ying’s bowl without looking back. “You want me to kneel? Who do you think you are?”
“I’m the sergeant!”
“I’m still your father.”
Zhang Muyang didn’t even raise an eyelid.
Qi Zhiyuan’s fury exploded as he gripped his battle knife and swung down at Zhang Muyang with a force that cracked the stone ground.
This was the Light Sergeant realm, with strength between 500 to 650 jin, immense power and unstoppable momentum!
Smack!
Zhang Muyang reached out and caught Qi Zhiyuan’s wrist as if it were welded there.
Qi Zhiyuan’s arm didn’t budge at all; every hair stood on end. His proud sergeant-level strength was swallowed like a stone sinking into the sea. Even more terrifying was the heat radiating from Zhang Muyang’s palm, as if molten lava flowed beneath his skin, making his wrist bones groan under the strain.
He was just a new recruit.
How could he possess such strength?
The entire place fell into utter silence.
Zhang Muyang leaned close to his ear and whispered, “Sergeant Qi, thanks for vouching for me earlier. Shall we discuss that hush money now?”
Qi Zhiyuan’s expression changed drastically in an instant.