Xuanqing Guard

Wu Kai was all smiles on his way back, having finally vented a stomachful of pent-up resentment.

He thought back to how that man surnamed Shen had tricked him onto the Xuanqing Guard’s pirate ship. Though he’d gained considerable benefits, he’d also spent the past half-year living in constant fear of being implicated in a case. Later, once his Cultivation broke through and he gained promotion qualifications—together with the fact that many officers of the Garrison Army had been wiped out in a great purge—Wu Kai found himself on the list as a backup Assistant General for the Garrison Army, just waiting for the right opportunity to be promoted.

Yesterday, he received a transfer order from the Daoxing Chief’s Office, instructing him to join a ten-thousand-strong Jingnan Army unit bound for the Zhuo Huo Pass the next day.

Though he hadn’t received an official Order of Promotion, Wu Kai still clenched his fist in delight. Being transferred from the Garrison Army to serve under the Jingnan Army, though it was predictable that he’d remain in a subordinate role without a main combat position, Wu Kai was unafraid. He believed that both he and the soldiers under his command would earn the recognition of this ten-thousand-man border unit of the Jingnan Army.

Not to mention, leaving behind the motley ranks of the Garrison Army was in itself the greatest blessing for Wu Kai, wasn’t it?

Of course, despite his happiness, Wu Kai didn’t let himself get blindly complacent. While reorganizing his soldiers and waiting to merge with the main force, he was also considering how best to open the situation for himself on this campaign.

Aside from military affairs and matters on the battlefield, some external hindrances couldn’t be ignored either. For instance, those Inspectors who had been causing quite a stir among the Border Army—hard not to notice them these days.

In the past, who ever cared for those Black Skins? Shunned by the Military, squeezed out by the Military Supervisors, they’d long become a derided joke, idling their time away in the army. But nowadays, who dares call them "Black Skins"? On the contrary, smiling amiably at them has become the norm throughout the Border Army.

Unfortunately, the previous disdain from the Military led the Inspectors to treat them as outsiders as well. It was now very difficult to mend the relationship, at least impossible in the short term. Besides, Wu Kai didn’t have any acquaintances among them nor did he intend to cultivate such ties.

Yet at present, the weight Inspectors carried in the army was no longer what it used to be—mainly because their powers could effectively constrain the authority of the Military Supervisors, which was crucial.

The Military used to merely shun the Inspectors, but as for the Military Supervisors, there was outright loathing. A bunch of scribes who’d read a few military books but had never commanded troops, yet tried to dictate to seasoned Generals who’d survived countless battles. If it weren’t for military law looming overhead, not a single Military Supervisor would last three days.

Now that Wu Kai was in the main combat formation of the Border Army, it was a good thing, but it also meant his every move would be checked by the Military Supervisors. Even something as simple as troop exercises could be criticized as "pointlessly exhausting the soldiers!" or "you call this lax training?", so it was all too easy to be arbitrarily accused.

Therefore, if one could win the favor of an Inspector, it would be an enormous advantage, both in tactical flexibility on the battlefield and in drafting battle reports. It could even directly affect military achievements.

As Wu Kai mulled this over, his mind turned to the newly appointed Inspector—Chief Officer Lord Shen. He knew full well this man’s capabilities; although the Border Army’s situation was complicated, it wouldn’t faze him. And since he’d already been tricked by this person once before, why not seize this chance to profit from it in return?

No sooner thought than done. He sent people into the mountains to gather a cartload of wild game and had someone gather a cartload of local specialties from the nearby Garrison villagers’ homes. Then, making a great show of it, he went to pay his respects.

For what purpose? Simply to ensure that everyone saw his visit.

Who else could call on Lord Shen bearing gifts without being thrown out with a club? Wu Kai could! He was confident Shen Hao would be curious about his sudden visit and let him in. From the outside, wouldn’t this look just like "old acquaintances" meeting?

Then, with some roundabout and warm conversation, he managed to fluster the so-called Shen, and actually had him escorted to the door. The two even chatted at the entrance for quite some time.

Now, rumors that "Wu Kai and Lord Shen are old friends" should be flying through the Inspector corps in no time, shouldn’t they?

Currently, among the Border Army Inspectors, Lord Shen held the highest prestige. As long as Wu Kai could latch onto him, why would he worry about not being looked after? Now that he was no longer stuck in the Garrison Army, as long as he survived the war, he was sure to get a shot at promotion. Compared to these benefits, being labeled as having private ties with an Inspector wasn’t worth a damn thing.

As for whether Lord Shen would realize what was going on and get annoyed later, Wu Kai didn’t care. Tricks like this were only good for a single use; he didn’t expect a second chance anyway.

Returning to camp, most of Wu Kai’s men had already packed up; the supplies were all loaded and ready for a formal departure at dawn the next day.

"Send all this edible stuff to the cookhouse—give the brothers an extra meal tonight."

The show of bringing gifts was all for appearance’s sake anyway, which was why it was just country produce and wild game, nothing expensive. These items weren’t worth much; calling them "gifts" was already a stretch, allowing Wu Kai to advance or retreat as the situation required.

Having enjoyed a hearty meal, before dawn the next day Wu Kai’s camp received the official Military Token with the transfer order, and soon after, the troops broke camp and set out in batches through the Teleportation Array, bound for Zhuo Huo Pass.

Wu Kai’s wasn’t the only mixed detachment joining the ten-thousand-man unit here—there were five in total, making for twenty thousand men from both sides. It looked like they were being reorganized into a single mixed army, but whether they’d be used as the main force later was anyone’s guess.

Arriving at Zhuo Huo Pass, Wu Kai had expected a period of adjustment. Normally, a newly mixed formation would use this time to sort out relationships and ensure readiness for unified orders and concentrated effort on the field. However, the entire force didn’t pause at all for rest, reorganization, or even to set up camp. They merely stopped below the pass for about an hour before immediately moving on.

"Are we heading straight out the Pass to the south?!" Wu Kai’s heart skipped a beat. Not even setting aside time for reorganization meant the situation outside the border was already at a fever pitch, far more severe than he had previously thought.

"Clop, clop, clop..." A galloping horse approached, checked Wu Kai’s waist token, handed him an order, and sped off again.

It was a mixed army order, issued by the Marshal of the mixed army, requiring Wu Kai to organize his troops and head south through Zhuo Huo Pass with the mixed army. All subsequent integration drills would be conducted along the Bamboo Path after passing through the border, mainly in the form of marching and attack-defense exercises, so Wu Kai was to prepare in advance.

Wu Kai quickly summoned his Deputy to relay the orders, and instructed the soldiers to check their weapons and gear once more. With a long march ahead, it was best to fix any issues now—once out past the border, things wouldn’t be so convenient.

Half an hour later, Wu Kai joined the soldiers in formation to pass through the long gateway tunnel. Once outside, he saw the endless, narrow Bamboo Path stretching through mountains rising on either side.