Chapter 27: Returning to the City

On the ground, Qin Jue looked up at the fading figure, his eyes filled with shock and his expression brimming with excitement. He could not help but clench his fists, feeling his blood surge with fervor.

To tread through the air, to slay enemies from a distance… This was the true demeanor of a powerhouse!

"Charge!" someone bellowed.

Qin Jue snapped back to his senses. Looking at the panic-stricken enemies, his gaze turned cold and firm as he surged forward. If he could earn enough Victory Points, one day he too would reach such heights!

Gripping his straight blade, he charged into the crowd with his squad, his fighting spirit soaring.

Seeing their寨 master pinned to the wall, the warriors of the Black Mountain Stronghold had lost all will to fight. Moments later, many began to drop their weapons and surrender. Those who persisted in their futile resistance were eventually overwhelmed and cut down.

The Black Mountain Stronghold had fallen.

Inside the stronghold, the main army moved in to rest, while the Artisan Battalion began seizing supplies. The Vanguard Battalion was assigned to patrol, tasked with rounding up the commoners and hunting down any hiding warriors, ensuring no one was left behind.

On the cluttered street, Qin Jue ordered his squad to search the nearby buildings while he leaned against a pillar, checking his personal panel.

[Name] Qin Jue
[Age] 16
[Realm] Skin and Flesh Realm "Third Pass"
[Attributes] [Strength] 5[+], [Constitution] 8[+], [Agility] 8[+]
[Cultivation Method] "Iron Bone Technique" III (Completed)
[Martial Arts] None
[Skills] Archery (Mastery)[+], Blade Technique (Completed)
[Victory Points] 64

In this single battle, he had gained a total of 62 Victory Points, with an estimated fifty kills. For a warrior at the Third Pass, this achievement was peerless. Perhaps only a Second Realm warrior could outmatch him.

However, looking at those Victory Points, Qin Jue felt they were far from enough. Reaching the Third Pass had cost him over a hundred points, and that was merely for the first realm. The later stages—the second, third, and even fourth realms—would require even more. To become someone like the Great General, he needed to earn a massive amount of Victory Points!

...

With the Black Mountain Stronghold broken, Gao Yue issued a decree across all of Lishan, demanding that all bandits come to surrender, or face the consequences.

In just one night, a multitude of warriors gathered before the Black Mountain Stronghold to surrender. With the exception of a few tiny, sparsely populated outposts, nearly all the surviving warriors of Lishan were rounded up by the Qingfeng Stronghold.

The clearing operation concluded, and the army began its march back to the city.

As he left Lishan, Qin Jue looked toward the distant horizon and let out a long, heavy breath, thinking to himself: It would be wonderful if there were more battles like this.

Soon, the silhouette of Dongchuan City came into view. The soldiers of Qingfeng Stronghold wore expressions of relief and joy. A victory meant there would surely be rewards. For the surviving warriors, this might be the chance to advance their martial path even further.

At the north gate of Dongchuan City, the gates were wide open, and the Garrison Battalion stood in formation, awaiting the army's return. Upon entering the city, Qin Jue noticed extensive traces of fighting. The words Xu Panyue had spoken to Wu Mi earlier immediately flashed through his mind.

Within the ranks of captives, Xu Panyue sighed to himself, "It seems this Qingfeng Stronghold has some capable people after all."

When he had shared his suspicions with Wu Mi, it was merely to secure a position for himself. He had known that if the Black Mountain Stronghold were to act, they would strike as soon as the main army left Dongchuan City. At that time, the Qingfeng Stronghold would have been caught off guard. But as things stood, it was clear that the Qingfeng Stronghold had planned everything perfectly.

The army returned to the camp. Qin Jue led his squad back to their quarters. Having been on high alert for so long, everyone finally relaxed, collapsing onto their bunks in utter exhaustion. Qin Jue sat at a long table, poured a cup of water, and downed it in one go.

Now that he had completed the Third Pass, he could ask his Platoon Leader for the fourth part of the "Iron Bone Technique."

Just then, a soldier brought news: because the campaign was a complete success, the Great General had granted the entire army a day of rest, with plenty of good wine and meat for everyone.

Hearing this, the camp erupted in cheers. The soldiers hailed the Great General’s wisdom. Soon, soldiers arrived with food.

Xiao Wushan and the others were suddenly energized. Most warriors in the army were fond of wine, as it was their only form of entertainment. With Qin Jue’s permission, the men beamed and gathered around. Bowls were filled with fine wine.

The atmosphere was lively as they sat around the long table. Suddenly, Xiao Wushan stood up, holding his wine bowl with both hands, and turned toward Qin Jue.

*Swish—*

The rest of the men rose with him, their expressions solemn and their gazes focused. Xiao Wushan straightened his back, his face full of respect as he said in a booming voice, "Captain! This toast is from all of us to you!"

During the trip to Lishan, if not for Qin Jue, they would not have returned unscathed, let alone earned so many military merits. The other teammates also raised their bowls, their eyes filled with deep admiration and reverence.

Qin Jue arched a brow, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He waved a hand and said, "Sit down, everyone! We’re brothers; no need for such formalities."

After spending many days together, Qin Jue had grown close to these men. Influenced by his previous life, he preferred to treat these comrades—to whom he would entrust his back—as friends and brothers rather than mere subordinates.

Xiao Wushan and the others could feel the sincerity in Qin Jue’s words. They exchanged looks and sat down, even more impressed by him. In this world of survival of the fittest, few who held power were willing to treat others as equals.

"Come!" Qin Jue raised his bowl, his gaze sweeping across the group. "As long as you follow me, I will lead you to achieve great things in the future!"

The men were moved and raised their bowls.

They drank it all in one gulp! The spicy liquor slid down his throat, and Qin Jue felt a surge of heat spread from his tongue to his chest and abdomen—it was incredibly refreshing!

After the first bowl, the initial awkwardness vanished, and they began to chat animatedly. Qin Jue spoke little, mostly listening to the others while silently noting their personalities. For him, if he were to be promoted, this squad would be his core force. He had to know each of them well to make the best use of their strengths.

After several rounds of drinks, some had already passed out, while others continued to boast and laugh. Seeing that it was time, Qin Jue stepped out of the tent alone. The breeze hit his face, and his tipsiness faded. He headed straight toward the direction of Wu Mi’s tent.

Inside, the Platoon Leader, Wu Mi, was still tabulating the merits of his troops. Seeing Qin Jue arrive, he asked in surprise, "Not celebrating with your men?"

"Platoon Leader, we just finished. I came to ask you for the fourth part of the 'Iron Bone Technique,'" Qin Jue explained.

He needed the fourth part to enter the Fourth Pass. With the upcoming camp competition, he did not want to waste time; he wanted to start practicing as soon as possible. Only then would he have a chance to obtain new martial arts during the competition!

Hearing this, Wu Mi’s pupils contracted in shock. *He went to Lishan and is already at the Fourth Pass? Isn't that pace a bit too fast? Could this kid really have a special constitution that grows stronger with every battle?*

A series of questions raced through Wu Mi’s mind. However, he didn't ask further. He simply stood up, retrieved the final part of the "Iron Bone Technique," and handed it over. He didn't forget to praise him, "You are the fastest person I have ever seen to reach the final part of this technique. Keep working hard."

A martial genius like this—perhaps he was the only one in the entire camp!

"Thank you, Platoon Leader!" Qin Jue bowed and took his leave.

Watching him disappear, Wu Mi’s eyes were full of gratification. He sighed in admiration, "Having talent is not scary; what is scary is having talent and being this hardworking!"