“Zhang Ming! Has anyone seen Zhang Ming?” a messenger’s voice rang out from the road. “Why are you sitting around over there? Didn’t you hear me? The commander is calling for you! Move it!”

  “I’m coming!” Zhang Ming replied, rubbing sleep from his eyes.

  Did someone see me last night? he wondered as he walked. Or is this about Tu Hama? Are they suspecting me?

  When he entered Tang Gui’s house, he saw the commander seated at a low table against the far wall. A sword lay before him, and he was slowly wiping the gleaming blade with a piece of cloth. As usual, Tang Gui smiled at Zhang Ming and gestured for him to sit opposite. Then he fell silent for a while, deliberately letting the tension build.

  “They say you’ve broken into the Body Tempering Realm. A true practitioner now,” Tang Gui finally said, carefully watching Zhang Ming’s expression.

  “That’s right,” Zhang Ming did not deny it, though a chill ran down his spine.

  “Hm. Well done,” the commander praised calmly. His smiling, narrowed eyes missed nothing.

  “Thank you. You flatter me. It was merely good fortune.”

  “Mhm,” Tang Gui nodded. “The first stage is only the beginning. If you want to go further, you’ll have to work hard. Without support, it won’t be easy,” he hinted.

  “I’ll give it everything I have.”

  “Good attitude. You no longer need to work at the stables. A warrior of your strength shouldn’t be shoveling manure. I’m assigning you to the patrol.”

  “Thank you, Commander!”

  “Mhm… They say you can read and count.”

  “Yes, sir, but only a little,” Zhang Ming shook his head. “Not enough to land a decent job in the city.”

  “Hm. I’ve heard you’re on good terms with the warehouse steward, Shang Yunzi?” Tang Gui remarked as if in passing.

  “Just rumors,” Zhang Ming replied quickly. “I only got some clothes and small necessities from him. And a bit of medicinal herbs for training.”

  “I see. If you want to work at the warehouse, just say the word. They need people there too. Interested?”

  “No. I’ll do as you command, Commander!”

  “Hm,” Tang Gui smiled, baring his teeth like a snake. “Then we won’t rush an assignment to the warehouse. You’ll go on patrol. Agreed?”

  “As you order!”

  “Good. Go now. Brother Mo will explain the details.”

  “Thank you,” Zhang Ming rose, bowed, and left the commander’s house.

  Was he testing my loyalty… or my wits? Zhang Ming thought. I hope I answered correctly. What a frightening man.

  “Hey!” Deputy Mo called out to him at the door. “Did you thank the commander for his generosity?”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  “Of course, lieutenant Mo!”

  “Our leader is far too kind to you,” Mo Dushi said, looking the newly advanced practitioner up and down. “Head to the gate. The patrol team will be waiting there. You’ll go with them to the forest outpost. They’ll tell you the rest. Understood?”

  “Yes.”

  “Now get lost,” Mo Dushi spat after driving him off. “I don’t like that guy. Always scheming. Should’ve beaten him to death with clubs back then.”

  Before heading to the gathering point, Zhang Ming stopped by the livestock yard, where he kept his belongings rather than risking them in the common barracks. No matter how the patrol went, he had no intention of returning empty-handed. He took his bow and quiver, slung a carrying basket over his back, large enough for any forest harvest, and tucked the map-drawing paper into his robe, close to the scroll.

  The more I learn about these lands, the better, he thought. Even though I came with them from the river, I still barely know where I am or where the roads lead. While the girls are recovering, I need to scout the way. It’s a shame I didn’t have time to warn them I’d be gone for a couple of days. They’ll worry.

  “I promised them good food,” he muttered while checking the bow. “Might as well hunt while I’m at it. Two birds with one stone.”

  About a dozen bandits in full gear had gathered at the fortress gate. Some, like Zhang Ming, had just arrived and looked half-asleep, yawning widely and baring sparse teeth.

  “Hey! Why are you unarmed?” one of the bandits asked in surprise.

  “My old sword was lost, and I haven’t had time to get a new one yet…”

  “Then hurry up. We’re leaving soon.”

  “What a fool! Going on patrol with bare hands?” a bearded man in a tattered robe mocked him. “Figures you’re a farmer. Bet you wouldn’t forget your hoe. Ha-ha. Afraid of getting hurt? Is a sword too sharp for you?”

  “Easy there…” another bandit cut in. “Zhang Ming broke into the Body Tempering Realm… so…”

  “Huh?” the bearded bandit turned to him. “Him?”

  “Yes. The whole fort knows by now.”

  “You kicked an iron post!” the others burst out laughing.

  “Then why isn’t he squad leader?” the bearded man asked, looking at the yawning Zhang Ming again. After a brief pause, he stepped forward and bowed deeply. “Please show mercy, Brother Zhang! I was blind and failed to recognize a mountain! I’ll bring you the best sword… from the warehouse. Right away…”

  “Hahaha!” the mountain bandits laughed heartily at his humiliation.

  When the patrol finally left the fortress, Zhang Ming walked unburdened. All his belongings were carried by the bearded man, Lu Piao, who had volunteered eagerly so as not to offend a martial practitioner. He had even managed to procure a decent sword, prying it from the warehouse workers’ grasp with some effort. His already worn robe suffered further damage, but Lu Piao smiled broadly when he saw the calm expression on Zhang Ming’s face.

  “Sir, I’ve been on patrol many times! Ask me anything. I’m at your service! I’ll do whatever you wish!”

  “Mhm,” Zhang Ming replied noncommittally.

  “In my opinion, this job’s easy,” Lu Piao continued without pause. “We’ll sit in the camp below the mountain for two days, taking turns watching the road. Ha-ha! I know all the mushroom spots…”

  After several hours of travel, they reached the junction where a forest path met the road, then turned into the woods toward a tiny outpost. Amid the lush vegetation stood a flimsy hut and a couple of rain shelters. The bandits who had been stationed there over the past days looked even more like savages than usual, clearly having spent too long in the wild. They greeted Zhang Ming’s group like saviors, hastily packed their things, and almost ran back toward the fortress.

  For the next few days, the new patrol would live in the open and rely almost entirely on themselves for food.

  Is Tang Gui trying to turn me into a real bandit? Zhang Ming sneered inwardly. We’ll see how this turns out. It wouldn’t hurt to earn his trust.

  Three days on patrol passed quickly. Zhang Ming spent part of the time roaming the forest along barely visible bandit trails, and walked the abandoned road near the outpost. He managed to range quite far without encountering a single soul or sign of habitation. The fortress was truly well hidden.

  In between, he practiced martial arts and hunted occasionally, simply to eat meat. The sharpened senses of the second stage of Body Tempering were a great help, his eyes judged distance accurately, and his hands did not fail him. Even without much experience with a bow, he still hit his targets.

  None of the bandits objected, not even the patrol leader. Most of the watch duties were handled by Lu Piao instead, once again by his own initiative. He turned out to be a decent fellow, just overly talkative and hasty, his words often running ahead of his thoughts.

  Before we head back, I’ll catch something fattier for the girls, Zhang Ming thought, half-listening to Lu Piao’s chatter.