Strategist Ji took a few steps forward, then paused. As if noticing Li Yan hadn't followed, he slowly turned back to look at him. "Since you have decided to join my sect, you need not call me 'my Lord' anymore. From now on, you should call me Teacher. Hmm, from your expression, are you still worried about the Aegis Guard assessment that follows? Hehe, there's no need for that. You are now my disciple. As your teacher resides in the military camp, you are now a person by the Strategist's side. That is countless times better than being in some Aegis Guard." As he spoke, an immense pride filled his expression.
Hearing this, Li Yan thought, 'So being by Teacher's side is so much better than being in the Aegis Guard. What good fortune have I accumulated to deserve this?' He then looked timid again, as if wanting to speak but hesitating.
Strategist Ji looked at him and said, "What else is there?"
"Tea- Teacher, about the monthly salary... uh... my parents are still at home..." Li Yan stammered.
"Oh, so that's what it is. You are quite the filial son. From now on, your monthly salary will be distributed at the same rate as a squad captain. That's a full forty percent more than a soldier in the Aegis Guard," Strategist Ji said, looking at Li Yan with a half-smile.
"Thank you, Teacher!" Li Yan was overjoyed. He felt as if he had ascended to the heavens in a single step, like he was in a dream. He could now send even more silver to his parents each month. The words "Teacher" also rolled off his tongue much more smoothly.
On the high platform outside the tent, Marshal Hong was still sitting sideways, leaning against the back of the wide chair. His right elbow rested on the armrest, his hand half-clenched and supporting his temple. He looked as if he were about to doze off. His eyes were half-closed, his expression serene. Occasionally, he would turn his head to glance at the assessment inside the fenced area of the drill grounds, but after a moment, he would turn back and resume his posture, continuing to stare in the direction of the tent, lost in thought.
Marshal Hong's full name was Hong Linying. He was the Grand Marshal of the Southwest for the current dynasty, commanding over two hundred thousand troops to guard the southwestern frontier. He had been a wandering orphan who, by a stroke of luck at the age of eleven or twelve, was accepted into the renowned Fatuo Temple of the martial world as a lay disciple.
Fatuo Temple was one of the top sects in the current martial world, possessing many secret and profound martial arts techniques. Logically, as a lay disciple, Hong Linying should not have been able to learn the temple's advanced martial arts. But he was a ruthless and resolute man, extremely harsh even on himself. He practiced martial arts to the point of breaking bones and tearing tendons.
In five years at the temple, he had trained himself to the level of a second-rate master in the martial world, which was an incredible feat. It should be known that the techniques he learned were merely the common introductory methods and basic fist forms for the temple's lay disciples. For him to reach such a level with just those was truly remarkable.
The hierarchy of martial arts in the martial world, from highest to lowest, was: Transformation Realm Masters, Peerless Masters, First-rate Masters, Second-rate Masters, and Third-rate Masters. Anyone below that was considered unranked.
It was said that the founding ancestor of the current dynasty had conquered the lands with his "Grand Ancestor Long Fist" and a band of brothers. Legend has it that whenever he faced an enemy, a single set of his "Grand Ancestor Long Fist" would leave his opponent either dead or severely injured. It wasn't that the fist form itself was so incredible, but that the founding ancestor had practiced it to a state of pure perfection, making it unbelievably fast. "In all of martial arts, only speed is unbreakable." Even if you knew your opponent's moves, if they had reached the Transformation Realm and you were not on the same level, you would be unable to dodge.
Although Hong Linying had not trained his skills to be incomparably swift, he had achieved a high level of proficiency. Later, a Law-Enforcing Elder at the temple learned of his dedication and felt that the boy had the potential to achieve great things. At the same time, he knew that with such a personality, Hong Linying could never truly become a man of Buddhism. Yet, pitying his talent and knowing that if he continued to train so recklessly, he would end up either dead or crippled, the elder intervened.
The elder used the inner sect's medicinal bath methods to treat the hidden injuries from his savage training and also helped him clear and open his meridians. He then taught him the inner sect's internal energy technique, "Buddha's Illumination Golden Body," as well as various fist and staff techniques. Although these were not the temple's most secret and supreme techniques, they were certainly not something a lay disciple could easily learn.
Hong Linying spent another four years practicing at Fatuo Temple. By this time, he had cultivated both internal and external arts. Coupled with his natural intelligence, diligent practice, and the guidance of the Law-Enforcing Elder, he actually managed to step into the realm of a first-rate master in the martial world.
At this point, Hong Linying decided to leave the mountain and enter the world to pursue his ambitions. Before he left, the Law-Enforcing Elder warned him, "Linying, upon leaving the mountain, you must remember this: the martial arts you have learned are not weak, but you must not kill the innocent or commit acts of depravity. If you use your skills for such purposes, the temple will dispatch its Disciplinary Monks to take your head. Even if you become a high-ranking official or a regional hegemon, you will surely die. Remember this, remember this." Hong Linying naturally agreed to everything.
After leaving the mountain, he did abide by the rules. But to make a name for himself with his skills, he knew he had to face life-and-death battles. So, he joined the army, starting as a common soldier. He fought in hundreds of battles, large and small. Due to his ferocity against the enemy and his fearlessness in the face of death, he was promoted repeatedly. He continued on this path, and by the time he held the rank of general, he had intended to retire from military life and focus on his martial arts in seclusion. But with the outbreak of war on the frontier, he was appointed as the Grand Marshal of the Southwest, tasked with defending the border.
Green Mountain Pass was a frontline city, capable of garrisoning about forty to fifty thousand troops. He was supposed to be at the central army camp, about thirty li north of here, but his love for battle compelled him to be at the very forefront, leading the troops against the enemy. The other generals were well aware of his nature and did not dare to defy him. They could only leave the Vice Marshal to guard the main camp and coordinate reinforcements.
This Ji Wenhe—Strategist Ji—had arrived here six years ago. At that time, Hong Linying had also just recently been stationed at Green Mountain Pass. On the day Ji Wenhe entered the city, he went straight to the Marshal's residence and demanded to see Marshal Hong. The guards at the gate would not let him pass so easily and even tried to extort some silver from him before they would announce his arrival. After a brief exchange, Ji Wenhe understood the guards' intentions. He said no more. Without any visible movement, he simply flicked his large sleeve, and the guards were frozen in place, unable to move. He then walked straight into the residence. Along the way, he encountered several patrol squads who tried to surround and capture him, but with just a single exchange, every soldier was left standing stiff, unable to move.
Hong Linying was resting in the main hall of the residence. With his internal energy, he had long heard the shouts in the courtyard. Just as he was about to get up to see what was happening, he saw a figure flash through the main gate. A scholar in a black robe had appeared in the hall, his movements ghostly and silent. Hong Linying, who had faced death countless times, was startled by this sudden appearance. With his martial prowess, honed through years of bloody battles and relentless training, he had long since reached the realm of a peerless master. But he hadn't seen how the man in black had entered at all. What shocked him even more was that he had never seen or heard of such a lightness skill. The man's movements didn't even cause the slightest rustle of his robes, something he had never witnessed in his life. When a person used a lightness skill, the sound of their robes fluttering due to rapid movement and air friction was unavoidable. The martial skill of this person was far beyond what he could match.
Only when the man in black stood still did Hong Linying get a clear look at him. He was a scholar in a black robe, appearing to be in his thirties. He wore a scholar's cap, stood about seven chi (TN: An ancient Chinese unit of length, roughly one-third of a meter) tall, with a long, narrow face of a pale, ashen complexion, tinged with an unnatural flush. A wisp of a long beard flowed down his chest. The man in black introduced himself as "Ji Wenhe," a member of a reclusive sect in the martial world. A few months ago, while gathering herbs in the mountains, he had been accidentally bitten by an unknown poisonous insect. After months of treatment and visiting many friends and famous doctors—given his skills, the people he knew were all contemporary masters—none could find a cure for the poison, which was slowly corroding his internal organs.
In this southwestern frontier, the vast mountain ranges stretched for an unknown number of li, teeming with countless poisonous insects and fierce beasts. At least seventy percent of them were unidentifiable. Hong Linying was not surprised by this claim at all. He had previously ventured into the slightly deeper parts of the Great Green Mountains, where he had encountered many fierce beasts and poisonous insects, a great number of which he could not name.
Ji Wenhe then told him that he could serve as an advisor in the Marshal's residence. The condition was that he needed to select one person from the army to take as a disciple. His sect passed down its teachings to a single heir each generation. He had not yet taken a disciple, and the poison he was afflicted with was likely incurable. By suppressing it with his internal energy, he could probably extend his life by seven or eight years. He wanted to ensure that his sect's lineage could continue.
Hong Linying was greatly surprised. He had initially thought that with such high martial skill, the man had come to demand some benefit, or was an enemy assassin sent to kill him. The request he made now was far beyond his expectations.
After a moment's thought, Hong Linying agreed. Firstly, he could not see through this man. If he tried to use force, he would likely not come out on top. Secondly, there were already many advisors in his residence, and their importance was determined by him. As long as Ji Wenhe did not participate in important military matters, no one would gossip. As for selecting someone from the army to inherit his sect's teachings, that was a small matter. With hundreds of thousands of men in the army, he could let him pick whomever he pleased, as long as he had the time and patience.
But the events that followed left Hong Linying increasingly astonished. The first incident occurred not long after, when the enemy attacked two or three times in succession. The first time, after the scouts had returned with intelligence, Hong Linying discussed countermeasures with his strategist and generals. Later that night, back in the Marshal's residence, Ji Wenhe came to his quarters and told him of the enemy's offensive intentions and deployments. While much of what he said matched the intelligence Hong Linying had already gathered, there were several details that Hong Linying did not know, details that his scouts had failed to obtain. Although he had appointed Ji Wenhe as an advisor, Hong Linying could not easily trust this man. After all, while most of what the man said was similar to his own information, he figured that with the man's skills, he could have gone outside the city and tailed the enemy from a distance to gather some information. So, Hong Linying laughed it off, thanked him to his face, and said he would discuss the matter with his generals later. Ji Wenhe simply smiled at his response and left.
At dawn, the enemy army launched a sudden attack. Hong Linying calmly led his troops out of the city to meet them. This surprise attack was within their expectations.
A great battle erupted outside the city, and bodies littered the field. By daybreak, both sides were exhausted and, by a silent, mutual agreement, began to slowly retreat. Hong Linying also withdrew his troops back into the city.
In addition to the main attack, he had also sent troops to ambush the enemy on the eastern and western mountains, having long seen through their intention to use the mountain forests for a flanking attack. Everything was going according to plan. But just as his troops were retreating to the city gates, the ground suddenly shook. A heavy, thunderous rumble rolled in from the distance. The enemy soldiers, who had been retreating in an exhausted, almost robotic manner, suddenly split to the sides, clearing a wide path. A cloud of dust billowed from behind them, and a troop of heavy cavalry suddenly charged forth. In just a dozen breaths, they had reached the retreating soldiers of the dynasty. The retreating troops had no time to organize their heavy shields to meet the charge. In an instant, cries of battle filled the air, and flesh and blood flew everywhere. Seeing the dire situation, Hong Linying made a swift decision. He immediately spurred his horse back into the city and ordered the gates to be closed. Pitifully, at least ten thousand of his soldiers were still outside, unable to retreat into the city. They could only fight desperately, but without the protection of heavy armor, how could they stand against the charging heavy cavalry? In about half an hour, the dynasty's soldiers outside the city were completely wiped out, slaughtered to the last man. But in that half an hour, Hong Linying had managed to organize the remaining twenty thousand troops inside the city, setting up heavy defenses on the walls and sending a swift horseman with his command arrow out the north gate to call for reinforcements from the central army camp.
However, before the reinforcements could arrive, the enemy began a desperate siege. They managed to fight their way onto the city walls several times. Hong Linying personally went to the walls to oversee the battle and kill the enemy. Wave after wave of his soldiers fell, only to be replaced by another. They barely managed to hold on until their own reinforcements arrived.
As a steady stream of their reinforcements poured in from the north gate, the enemy saw that their cause was lost and sounded the gongs for retreat.