45: Chapter 45 The Troublemaker Camp

Commander Han Tieshan's appointment was like a stone thrown into a calm lake.

Everyone in the conference room subconsciously shifted their gaze back and forth between Li Zhengyang and Battalion Commander Zhao Meng.

Battalion Commander Zhao Meng, the commander of the 1st Battalion at Fortress No. 7, was a 7th-grade Martial Grandmaster known for his ferocity and for being fiercely protective of his subordinates.

The 1st Battalion under his command was also recognized throughout the entire fortress as the "Troublemaker Battalion," filled entirely with unruly veteran soldiers and desperate outlaws.

To shove Li Zhengyang—this "newcomer" who had just scared Battalion Commander Zhao Meng so badly he nearly wet his pants—into his battalion?

Wasn't that just like locking two tigers in the same cage?

Battalion Commander Zhao Meng's face turned alternating shades of pale and green.

He had just been humiliated in public by Li Zhengyang's overwhelming aura, and now Commander Han Tieshan was dumping this formidable figure into his lap.

Was he supposed to use this to get his dignity back, or was he expected to treat him like a sacred deity?

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but as soon as he met Li Zhengyang's calm, ripple-less gaze, the words died in his throat.

That feeling from earlier, like a massive mountain pressing down on his head, had been far too real.

He had no doubt that if Li Zhengyang had wanted to, a single thought could have caused his blood to reverse flow and left him critically injured on the spot.

Was this really something a Martial Grandmaster could do?

"What, does Battalion Commander Zhao Meng have an objection?" Commander Han Tieshan's voice cut through the air.

"N-no!" Battalion Commander Zhao Meng sprang up from his chair, standing at rigid attention, his voice booming like thunder as if he were trying to bolster his own courage.

"If there's no objection, then take your men and get back." Commander Han Tieshan waved his hand, dismissing him.

Li Zhengyang also stood up. He didn't even glance at Battalion Commander Zhao Meng, merely nodding to Commander Han Tieshan as a form of greeting before turning and walking out.

From beginning to end, he never once acted like a subordinate who needed to wait for orders.

When he reached the door and passed by Combat Staff Officer Song Qing, he paused.

"You wrote the report, and you signed it," Combat Staff Officer Song Qing lowered her voice, squeezing the words through her teeth. "Don't expect anyone to take the fall for you if any problems arise later."

Li Zhengyang turned his head, the corners of his mouth curling into an almost imperceptible arc.

"I can carry the burden of my own affairs."

With that, he walked out of the conference room without looking back.

Combat Staff Officer Song Qing watched his retreating figure, clenching her fists. This guy's arrogance truly knew no bounds.

The atmosphere in the conference room remained strange.

"What are you all looking at? Dismissed!" Commander Han Tieshan barked.

The officers, as if granted amnesty, scrambled to their feet and left, casting sympathetic glances at Battalion Commander Zhao Meng as they passed.

Soon, only Commander Han Tieshan and Combat Staff Officer Song Qing remained in the conference room.

"Commander, why…" Combat Staff Officer Song Qing couldn't help but ask. "You know full well that Li Zhengyang is problematic. Putting him with Battalion Commander Zhao Meng will cause trouble sooner or later."

"Trouble?" Commander Han Tieshan stood up from his chair, walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window, and looked down.

"Combat Staff Officer Song Qing, you are still too young."

He turned around, the scar on his face looking particularly hideous in the light.

"Li Zhengyang is a newly sharpened blade, so sharp it can cut the hand of the one holding it. You can't keep a blade like this in its sheath to be worshiped; that will dull its edge. You have to let it hack at the hardest bones."

"Is the 1st Battalion the hardest bone?"

"No." Commander Han Tieshan laughed. "The 1st Battalion is the whetstone. Battalion Commander Zhao Meng and that bunch of old veteran soldiers will either end up with notches in their blades from this knife, or they will sharpen this knife even further."

He paused, his gaze growing profound.

"As for whether he is a Martial King… we will know soon enough. Winter in the Northern Wastelands is coming. I fear this year's Beast Tide won't be simple. Having one more Martial King will certainly provide some peace of mind."

...

The 1st Battalion's camp was located in the northwest corner of the fortress, closest to the city wall.

Li Zhengyang followed Battalion Commander Zhao Meng, the two walking one after the other in silence.

In the camp, several hundred soldiers were training on the drill ground, their roars shaking the sky.

Seeing Battalion Commander Zhao Meng return, everyone stopped what they were doing, their gazes shifting in unison toward them.

Then, they saw Li Zhengyang following behind Battalion Commander Zhao Meng—a strange young man wearing ragged combat fatigues.

"What are you looking at! Get over here, all of you!" Battalion Commander Zhao Meng roared, venting all the frustration he had endured at the headquarters.

Several hundred men quickly assembled on the drill ground, standing in a square formation.

These men were all burly and thick-waisted, with fierce eyes and an aura of bloodshed about them. Compared to the soldiers at Fortress No. 13, this group looked more like demons that had crawled out of hell.

"This is the new Sergeant Major transferred from the military region, Li Zhengyang." Battalion Commander Zhao Meng pointed at Li Zhengyang, his tone stiff. "Starting today, he will serve as the Deputy Battalion Commander of our 1st Battalion."

As soon as his voice fell, an irrepressible commotion arose in the formation. Deputy Battalion Commander? A young man barely in his early twenties, and he's the Deputy Battalion Commander the moment he arrives?

"Quiet!" Battalion Commander Zhao Meng bellowed again.

He cleared his throat and looked at Li Zhengyang with a complex expression. According to the rules, when a new officer takes office, he, as the superior officer, had to help establish their authority. But he himself had just been nearly scared to the ground by a single glance from this man—how was he supposed to establish that authority?

He bit the bullet and said, "Deputy Battalion Commander Li Zhengyang has just arrived and may not be familiar with the rules of our 1st Battalion. In the future, I hope everyone will communicate more with each other during training and missions."

In the formation, several old veteran ruffians standing in the front row misunderstood the meaning and wore malicious smiles. Understood. The Battalion Commander wants to give this newcomer, this pretty boy, a harsh lesson.

"Deputy Battalion Commander Li Zhengyang, would you like to say a few words?" Battalion Commander Zhao Meng handed the floor to Li Zhengyang.

Li Zhengyang stepped forward. He scanned the hundreds of unruly faces in front of him without speaking. One second. Ten seconds. Thirty seconds. He just stood there, saying nothing.

On the drill ground, aside from the sound of the wind, there was dead silence. At first, some people were just watching for the spectacle, but gradually, everyone began to feel that something was wrong.

Li Zhengyang's gaze was very calm; there was no killing intent, nor any oppressive pressure. But those he looked at felt as if they had been stripped naked, seen through from the inside out. That feeling was even more uncomfortable than having a gun pointed at one's head.

Finally, a platoon leader standing in the front row with a face full of flab couldn't take it anymore.

"Deputy Battalion Commander, what is the meaning of this? Have you not thought of what to say, or do you look down on us rough men?"

His name was Wang Hu, the number one fierce general under Battalion Commander Zhao Meng, a 6th-grade Martial Grandmaster, known for fearing neither heaven nor earth.

Li Zhengyang's gaze landed on his face. "What is your name?"

"1st Company Commander of the 1st Battalion, Wang Hu!" Wang Hu puffed out his chest and answered loudly.

"Very good." Li Zhengyang nodded. The next second, he moved.

A figure flashed, and he appeared instantly in front of Wang Hu. Too fast! So fast that Wang Hu only had time to widen his eyes; he couldn't even fully raise his protective Qi.

Li Zhengyang reached out a hand—not a fist, nor a palm, just simply pressing it onto Wang Hu's shoulder. Then, he pressed down lightly.

"Thump!"

Wang Hu, a sturdy Martial Grandmaster standing 1.9 meters tall and weighing over 200 pounds, felt his legs go weak and knelt down without any power to resist.

Both knees slammed heavily onto the hard drill ground, emitting a dull thud. Across the entire drill ground, the hundreds of people present looked as if their eyeballs were about to pop out.