6: promotion

"The, the, the Big Boss, many people have arrived down the mountain!" A Mountain Bandit minion ran in, drenched in sweat, and continued, "Approximately two, two thousand people!"

Hei Jingang stood up with a whoosh, picked up his long, wrought-iron staff, and exuded a terrifying aura!

"We know, you may leave." Zhao Bo's eyelids twitched. He stopped Hei Jingang's action and said to the minion.

"But..." The minion hesitated, then remembered the Big Boss's earlier words and retreated.

"Military Advisor, why did you stop me?" Hei Jingang glared, somewhat puzzled.

"Big Boss, have you forgotten?" Zhao Bo asked.

Hei Jingang looked bewildered, then slapped his head, realizing, "The people who came down the mountain are Outsiders?"

Zhao Bo smiled without speaking and nodded.

"Why did so many people come?"

"Big Boss, are you afraid of too many people?"

"I'm not afraid, but with so many people arriving at once, I don't know how to entertain them!"

"That's easy. Have the Brothers bring out all the good wine and good food. First, let them eat their fill, then change into more formal clothes. This will show that we value worthy individuals," Zhao Bo said with a smile.

"Good, I'll be right back. Military Advisor, please greet them for me." Hei Jingang finished speaking and turned into the back hall, rummaging through chests and cupboards to search.

Zhao Bo's mouth curved upwards, he straightened his lapels, and walked out.

Truly adorably foolish, how could an Outsider ever be subservient to you?

He walked out of the council hall and saw the numerous Mountain Bandits in the camp in disarray, some even trying to escape. He couldn't help but shake his head. It seemed that after players entered, it would gradually have to transform into a guild format. These Mountain Bandits were of little use.

"Everyone, stop!"

"The people from down the mountain are our future Brothers. Look at how scared you all are!"

The numerous Mountain Bandits looked bewildered after hearing the shout. They looked at each other, seeing confusion in each other's eyes, but they still believed the words of the newly appointed Military Advisor.

Could their boss have such a connection, able to call the Soldiers Brothers?

Or was it the Military Advisor? That's right, otherwise, why would the boss appoint a newcomer as Military Advisor!

The numerous Mountain Bandits imagined countless conjectures, but they were all interrupted by Zhao Bo's words.

"Quickly, start fires and cook! Don't be stingy, bring out all the wine! The rest of you, clean up, quick!"

After hearing about good wine and good food, the Mountain Bandits dispersed in a rush, but their hearts were much more relaxed. They usually couldn't eat much, but today they could feast on the pretext of their future Brothers!

Immediately, the Mountain Bandits in the camp busied themselves with preparations, making it quite lively.

Zhao Bo casually pulled two relatively burly minions to accompany him down the mountain to greet the players, instructing them not to be afraid, to remain calm, and to act with some presence.

He not only wanted to use the players' aura to suppress the Mountain Bandits but also to use the Mountain Bandits' aura to balance the players, so that he could play both sides and achieve his goal of rising to power!

Zhao Bo was mentally rehearsing the whole way, thinking about what to say next and what to do next.

But when he came back to his senses and looked into the distance, he rubbed his eyes and looked again, uncertainly.

Something bad has happened!

And the two minions, after hearing Zhao Bo's words, walked towards the Qin Army with their eyes fixed forward and their heads held high.

After the Squad Leader returned, he hadn't seen Lin Yue for a long time and was somewhat anxious. Now seeing two Mountain Bandits, he was about to grab them to ask about Lin Yue's whereabouts, but he felt that something was off, though he couldn't pinpoint it.

How could bandits, upon seeing Soldiers, not only not run but also act so imposing, as if they were the bandits themselves?

Then he said to the Military Marquis, "Military Marquis, could there be an ambush?"

The Military Marquis smiled disdainfully, "Fear an ambush when suppressing bandits?"

The Squad Leader thought about it and felt he was right. In these times, would Mountain Bandits dare to ambush Soldiers? It would be good enough if they weren't ambushed by Soldiers.

If the two had turned and run, arrows would surely have turned them into porcupines. But not only were the two unafraid, they were even more imposing than them, which piqued the Military Marquis's interest, wanting to see where their confidence came from.

Neither side acted rashly. Instead, they walked silently, the atmosphere eerie, until they met.

The two spoke first, "Good wine and good food are already prepared. Our Big Boss invites all Brothers to gather in the stockade!"

Good wine and good food? Gather in the stockade?

The Military Marquis looked at the two, who held their heads slightly back and looked down their noses, and for a moment couldn't tell what was going on.

But with years of experience, he still nodded slightly, gesturing for the two to lead the way.

The two nodded slightly, thinking that the Big Boss was indeed all-powerful, even the officials of Heye City treated them this way. They couldn't help but feel a little smug.

After turning around, they suddenly realized the Military Advisor was gone, but they didn't pay it any mind, only wanting to return quickly.

Earlier, the Military Advisor had them serve water as wine and have a table full of delicacies without letting them touch their chopsticks, which had really stifled them. Now, with real good wine and good food, they couldn't help but quicken their pace.

And Hei Jingang, at this moment, had also changed into a luxurious silk robe. This was something he had looted a few days ago when he went down the mountain to raid, and it was perfect to wear today. However, the robe was a bit small and uncomfortable to wear, so he unconsciously tugged at it from side to side.

"Where's the Military Advisor?"

"The Military Advisor took people down the mountain to greet them."

When he heard this, his hand movements stopped, and an expression of displeasure appeared on his face.

He knew what Zhao Bo was thinking, but he was confident in his own martial arts. He had learned the "Long Ape Fist" from his master since childhood. Although it was only a Yellow-tier cultivation method, he had never slackened over the years, which was how he achieved his current cultivation.

Initial-stage Martial General, in Heye City, only a handful of people could definitively defeat him, and most of them were in the Heye City garrison.

The one named Zhao wanted to use him, and he, in turn, wanted to use him. In the end, it was just a matter of seeing who would prevail. He was confident in himself!

"Big Boss, they'll be here soon!"

The minion's voice interrupted his thoughts. He carefully smoothed out the wrinkles on his robe, then took a deep breath and opened the door of the council hall!

"Hahaha, welcome, Brothers, to my Jingang village!"

Hei Jingang laughed heartily, but received no response for a long time. He couldn't help but steal a glance, and his laughter abruptly stopped!

"Big Boss, the food and wine are ready. You can invite your Brothers to be seated!" A Mountain Bandit minion poked his head out and said with a smile.

Hei Jingang pulled the minion over, put his arm around his shoulder, and asked, "Who are they?"

"These are all Brothers from Heye City!" The minion's face was full of admiration for the Big Boss at this moment.

"Why didn't you say they were Soldiers just now?"

"You told us to listen to the Military Advisor, and the Military Advisor said they were your Brothers." The minion looked confused, not understanding why the Big Boss was asking him so many questions in such a warm occasion of meeting his Brothers.

Hei Jingang slapped the minion to the ground after hearing that!

Zhao, you tricked me!

He looked at the Military Marquis, who was laughing heartily upon hearing this, and felt a pang of bitterness. In Heye City, only a handful of people could defeat him, and the Military Marquis in front of him happened to be one of them!

Run!

Hei Jingang's face was filled with bitterness. Today, he was likely doomed! He leaped onto the rooftop and ran towards the back!

The Military Marquis couldn't help but laugh heartily. He finally understood what was going on. Then he waved his hand downwards, and countless arrows shot towards Hei Jingang!

There were ambushes all around. Today, even if he had wings, he wouldn't be able to escape!

Hei Jingang landed and endured the pain, running towards the back mountain!

"Wow, look! That person is like a porcupine, his back is full of arrows, yet he can still run so fast, completely unaffected! He must be a master!"

"This isn't training, is it?"

"I think so."

"Could the 'Diamond Sutra' be real?"

"It must be! Quickly record it and send it to the chat. Didn't they say that those who believe in the 'Diamond Sutra' are idiots? Today, let them see who the real idiots are!"

"Why isn't Zhao Bo responding?"

"Maybe there are a lot of people on the mountain, and he's busy entertaining them. Let's go quickly too!"

A team of people looked at the person with arrows stuck in his back with envy, then continued their journey up the mountain.

Hei Jingang didn't hear their praises, because at this moment, his face was full of despair. He had fought with his life to pass through two lines of Soldiers, but now his vision was gradually darkening, and his body felt light, a sign of excessive blood loss.

He suddenly saw a pit ahead, covered with some weeds, very hidden, but he still discovered it!

Then he leaped, directly pouncing into the pit!

Silently praying not to be discovered.

But he didn't realize that a pair of eyes had been watching him for a long time.

Lin Yue saw a Mountain Bandit covered in arrows run past, like a human porcupine with wind beneath his feet!

He hadn't been confident in capturing him before, but now that he was trapped, how could Lin Yue let him go?

He crouched and slowly walked over, trying not to make any noise, so as not to disturb him.

Then he continuously moved, finally reaching the side of the pit. During this time, he constantly probed the enemy's position, and finally plunged his sword downwards!

"Ah!"

Hearing the scream, Lin Yue became even more excited!

Not because he had a peculiar fetish, but because it meant he had hit his target!

"Puff! Puff! Puff!" Lin Yue's arm veins bulged as he plunged his sword down frantically with the speed of someone who had been single for over twenty years!

He only stopped when the system's prompt sounded!

【Congratulations, player, for slaying an Initial-stage Martial General. Reward: 1000 Merit Points】

Hearing the system's prompt, Lin Yue was stunned. This human porcupine was actually an Initial-stage Martial General? But what was the use of these Merit Points?

Before he could figure it out, he saw a team of Soldiers running from afar and asking him, "Have you seen Hei Jingang?"

"Is that him?" Lin Yue pointed to the pit, looking bewildered.

"That's him!" Several people lay down and looked, overjoyed!

"Brother, hurry up the mountain, you're going to be promoted!" The men breathed a sigh of relief. This Hei Jingang was too tenacious. He was shot like a porcupine and could still run so far. Several Brothers had already fallen by his hand!

Lin Yue nodded and ran up the mountain.

As soon as he thought of this, his back didn't ache, his legs didn't hurt, and his footsteps quickened!

When he reached the mountain, he found the Mountain Bandits squatting on the ground with their hands on their heads, guarded by Soldiers.

These Soldiers were far from having the aura that their new recruits possessed. He roughly guessed they were veterans.

Then he glanced around, saw a familiar face, and ran over.

"Squad Leader!"

"You brat, where did you run off to?"

"I was ambushing the whole time. I just killed Hei Jingang!" Lin Yue said with a smile. He hadn't expected the almost-dying Hei Jingang to run right into his path!

Truly, when credit comes, you can't stop it.

He even suspected that his talent wasn't Amiability, but rather dumb luck!

"Really?" The two said in unison.

"And who is this?" Lin Yue looked at the person next to the Squad Leader, puzzled.

"This is the Military Marquis. Quickly, tell him truthfully!" The Squad Leader gave Lin Yue a tap on the head, afraid he would say something wrong.

"Squad Leader Lin Yue, greetings to the Military Marquis. Everything this Subordinate has said is true!" Lin Yue cupped his hands.

At this moment, a Soldier ran in from outside the door and whispered a few words into the Military Marquis's ear.

"So you are the one who discovered Jingang village, and you are the one who killed Hei Jingang!"

"Good, good lad! A Squad Leader just died in battle. From now on, you are the Squad Leader!"

"Come, join me at the banquet. Let's not waste the feast Hei Jingang prepared for us!"

The Military Marquis laughed heartily, liking Lin Yue more and more the more he looked at him. He put his arm around Lin Yue's shoulder and walked towards the banquet!

Lin Yue was thus led to the banquet, utterly bewildered. I got promoted? It's that simple? But even more bewildering things were yet to come.

"Excuse me, is this Jingang village?"

"We are here to join Jingang village." Five figures emerged from the stockade gate, men and women, but without exception, their eyes all revealed a kind of... pure stupidity?

The Soldiers, who were drinking and eating meat heartily, all turned their heads upon hearing this and looked at the very polite group. An inexplicable pressure emanated.

And as they looked at the fully armed Soldiers, and then at the big characters "Jingang village" on the stockade's plaque, the few of them were a bit dumbfounded for a moment.