Qian Ye had seen his fair share of military conflicts and factional struggles. Deciding to meet the unpredictable with constancy, he made his way to the edge of the sparring ground, watching the fighters in silence.
The two warriors quickly determined a victor; one of them suddenly used a secret technique, significantly enhancing his speed and strength, immediately giving him a crushing advantage. In the blink of an eye, he had knocked down his opponent. However, this burst of power only lasted for a minute before he became weak.
The onlookers began to clamor, some disappointed, others joyous, as they exchanged money and paid off bets. Soon, two more stepped forward, ready to take their turn.
Seeing this, Qian Ye finally spoke: “Stop for a moment. All members of the First Vanguard Battalion, assemble in formation on the training ground!”
Though his voice was not loud, it echoed throughout the entire camp, even reaching those inside the barracks. This display of power was no small feat, and almost everyone’s expression changed. A rebellious figure looked at Qian Ye coldly and asked, “Who are you?”
Qian Ye’s gaze swept over the assembled soldiers of the First Vanguard Battalion, a cold smile forming on his lips. “I am Qian Ye, the new commander of the First Vanguard Battalion. No one here recognizes me? Not a single person?”
Wherever his gaze fell, familiar faces subconsciously averted their eyes, unable to meet Qian Ye’s. Since Qian Ye recognized them, they were likely veterans from the Blood Battles. They could feign ignorance until now, but with the issue brought out into the open, that option was no longer available.
A sudden chill fell over the scene, and the training ground fell silent. No one answered, and no one took the initiative to form up.
Qian Ye did not seem rushed; he even lit a cigarette, smoking silently, lost in thought.
The more he remained silent, the more tense the others became. The Zhao clan soldiers who had come from the Western Continent only knew of rumors, but the veterans from the Blood Battles truly understood that this man was a god of death. However, in the current situation, the Zhao family’s internal affairs meant that Qian Ye was the outsider to the Zhao descendants and their long-standing vassals.
In his mind, Qian Ye listed his potential opponents within the Zhao clan. So far, he had only openly offended Zhao Fenglei, and perhaps a few from the Duke Yan faction.
However, his hidden enemies were harder to pin down. With Zhao Wei Huang ascending to the position of head of the clan from a branch, and Zhao Jundu sweeping aside all opposition, they had surely made many enemies for the Cheng En Gong faction. Qian Ye, now nominally part of this faction and without the stature of Zhao Junhong, was naturally a target for discrimination.
Moreover, in the high and mighty families, there was never a lack of infighting. Perhaps Qian Ye had not directly offended anyone, but just by taking a spot from Zhao Jundu’s estate, he had inadvertently blocked many paths. In the world of noble families, this alone was enough to incite deep enmity.
A sudden restlessness welled up in Qian Ye. He had no interest in politics or power plays. His only reason for requesting to join the vanguard battalion was to earn more military merit and reduce the casualties among the Zhao clan soldiers in the most dangerous positions. Yet, with a major battle imminent, the idea that someone would still be seeking power and stirring trouble filled him with disgust.
Qian Ye had always harbored a somewhat naive notion. He wanted to accumulate military merits as quickly as possible to exchange for a pardon, so that when Ye Ying’s bloodline identity was eventually revealed, she could leave the empire safely if she had to.
By the time his cigarette burned to the end, still no one had responded. Qian Ye flicked the butt to the ground, stomping it out, and said icily, “I will ask one last time, is there really no one from the First Vanguard Battalion here?”
This move completely tore away any pretense, pushing the situation beyond the scope of ordinary soldiers.
The burly, imposing man across the sparring ground finally spoke. “Young Master Qian Ye, originally, the brothers of the First Vanguard Battalion applied to join my Second Battalion. So it’s normal that no one answered.”
Qian Ye’s gaze finally landed on him, carefully examining him from head to toe. “Who are you?”
The man replied, “I am Zhao Guanwei. I have fought on the front lines in the Western Continent, battling rebels and dark races. I’ve seen some dukes and earls, and managed to survive. The Blood Battles, however, I didn’t have the time to participate in. Those were, after all, trials for the young. It was only with the recent total mobilization that I had the chance to see the Evernight continent.”
Zhao Guanwei’s words, though polite on the surface, implied that the Blood Battles, with its level restrictions, were nothing more than a children’s game, not real combat.
Qian Ye’s face darkened, and he looked at Zhao Guanwei coldly, deciding to give him no further respect.
Throughout the Blood Battles, Qian Ye had faced death several times, and many of his comrades had fallen. The Zhao clan soldiers had also suffered heavy losses. This war, fought primarily by the younger generation of the two factions, fully lived up to its name, with a brutality that surpassed even the greater frontlines.
How could such experiences and the memory of so many fallen comrades be disrespected by Zhao Guanwei?
Taking a deep breath, Qian Ye pointed at Zhao Guanwei and said, “In the army, we fight to kill the enemy. Let’s settle this with our own skills. Come, let’s fight right here. The loser will leave the vanguard battalion. I want to see what makes you, a mere Rank 11 warrior, think you can stand in my way!”
Zhao Guanwei was taken aback, not expecting Qian Ye to be so direct. But hearing Qian Ye’s words, anger surged through him, and he laughed, “Fine, since I, a Rank 11 warrior, am not qualified, then let’s see what a Rank 10 warrior like you can do!”
He strode forward, stopping ten meters from Qian Ye, flexing his hands. “I won’t take advantage of you. I’ll use my fists to teach you a lesson. Use whatever weapon you have!”
Zhao Guanwei rolled up his sleeves, revealing a pair of alloy arm guards. These arm guards were thick, with sharp edges protruding, serving both as weapons and shields. Clearly, most of his skills lay in these arm guards, and he was a close-combat fighter.
Qian Ye didn’t bother arguing over who had the upper hand. He held the Dongyue sword, unsheathed, and stepped up to Zhao Guanwei.
He thrust the sheathed Dongyue into the ground in front of Zhao Guanwei. With this simple action, a thunderous roar like the crashing of ocean waves echoed across the training ground!
Under the pressure of the ocean, the nearby soldiers staggered and fell, only a few of the toughest barely managing to stand, their faces pale as they retreated.
Zhao Guanwei, directly in the line of fire, turned green and red, his bones creaking. He could barely stand, much less fight back. The soldiers of the vanguard battalion had only been hit by the residual force, with most of the pressure concentrated on Zhao Guanwei.
Qian Ye, showing no mercy, pushed with all his might. Surprised that Zhao Guanwei could hold his ground, he exerted more force, causing the Dongyue to tilt and press down on Zhao Guanwei.
As the Dongyue moved, there was a faint rumble. Qian Ye willed, and a strand of void origin power directly infused the Dongyue, increasing its power.
Zhao Guanwei’s face twisted, and he crossed his arms, desperately holding the Dongyue. But the sword’s momentum only slowed slightly, continuing to press down. Zhao Guanwei roared three times, each time his face flushing, but he could not stop the Dongyue. His knees creaked, and he collapsed to the ground, his arms hanging limply, unable to muster any strength.
In this seemingly simple push, Qian Ye had employed some of the preliminary techniques for manipulating void origin power, learned from the remnant of the Heavenly Ghost and the ancient essence. This increased the power, not only forcing Zhao Guanwei to his knees but also shattering his protective origin power.
With a flick of his wrist, Qian Ye halted the Dongyue mid-air, and the blade extended slightly, pressing against Zhao Guanwei’s neck. A slight nudge, and his head would roll.
“Well?” Qian Ye asked coolly.
Zhao Guanwei’s face was ashen, unable to believe how quickly and decisively he had lost. After several attempts, he finally gritted out, “I… lost!”
“Good!” Qian Ye sheathed the Dongyue. “Since you lost, pack your things and get out of here. As for where you go next, you can discuss that with the duke. That’s not my concern.”
Zhao Guanwei struggled to his feet, finally unable to contain himself, spitting out a mouthful of blood. He glared at Qian Ye, “Fine, you got me. We’ll see about this!”
He called out to the surrounding vanguard battalion soldiers, “Brothers who want to follow me, Zhao Guanwei, let’s go! If they don’t want us here, there are plenty of other camps where we can stay!”
Qian Ye’s face remained unchanged. Once Zhao Guanwei finished, the Dongyue shot out, lightly touching his abdomen, then slowly retracting.
The Dongyue flew like lightning but returned with the weight of a mountain. Though it seemed a light touch, Zhao Guanwei clutched his abdomen, his expression blank, and slowly fell to his knees, curling into a ball, unable to even scream.
“Attempting a mutiny? You’re asking for a quick death!” Qian Ye sneered, his gaze sweeping over the vanguard battalion soldiers. A few had already begun to follow Zhao Guanwei, but under Qian Ye’s scrutiny, their faces turned white.
“I never knew the Zhao clan’s military discipline was so lax. Soldiers from different battalions could reorganize without orders.” Qian Ye’s words further paled their faces.
The Zhao clan had strict military discipline, with commands carried out like law. Zhao Guanwei, with his numerous merits and additional support, dared to challenge Qian Ye under the guise of a sparring match. They, however, lacked such backing, and feared for their lives if Qian Ye continued.
As Qian Ye’s gaze left them, they broke out in a cold sweat, as if narrowly escaping death. “Without my order, anyone who dares to step out of the vanguard battalion will be treated as a wartime deserter and executed on the spot!”
Silence fell over the entire field, even the officers bowing their heads.
If Qian Ye’s victory over Zhao Guanwei was a display of sheer force, his subsequent words showed his understanding of military governance. Disobeying orders and desertion during wartime were grave offenses, especially for private armies, potentially endangering their families.
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