Mountain Patrol Military Officer

The attendant of the censor felt a burning sensation on his hand and, looking into the other's eyes, it felt like staring at a murderous beast. The True Qi within him, which had been stagnant for years, froze for an instant, involuntarily intimidated, and his previously arrogant demeanor instantly diminished.

"You..."

At this moment, a shout came from the Ninth Mountain Soldiers,

"Hu, let go, don't cause any trouble!"

A man stepped out from behind, dressed in green armor, broad-shouldered and bulky, with a dark complexion. Though a colonel, he possessed Heavenly Barrier Cultivation, with a deep voice.

This person was Niu Bing, originally one of the thousand soldiers following Chen Yuan. He had once led his team along with several colonels to guard the mysteriously arisen General Mountain, escorting a mysterious Fire Feather to the general's hand amidst pursuit by strong enemies. He was a veteran among Ninth Mountain's veterans, having participated in all key battles within and beyond the Ninth Mountain subsequently. All those who survived the cruel battlefield with demons and have now become pillars of the Ninth Mountain.

The scar-faced man listened, and loosened his grip, letting the opponent go.

The supervisor's attendant staggered back a few steps, steadied his body, his face flushed, extremely ugly, drew a knife out, his expression fierce,

"Someone, get these..."

But before he finished speaking, a cold shout suddenly interrupted him.

"Enough!"

From the Soldier Inspection Platform across a li away came Supervisor Wang's voice, his face gloomy, eyes flashing with disgust. This fool, like a troublemaker, doesn't even know how to handle people, causing chaos, losing face.

"Return!"

At this moment, in the training ground, thousands of imperial guards were attracted by the commotion over there, watching this scene, quite a few frowned slightly, their gazes cold, they only saw horses being overturned, thinking it was the Shu soldiers moving against their own, some were about to act, causing a disturbance.

"What are you doing, do not move!" Ordered Lin Zhonglang, frowning, slowly standing up, his eyes coldly watching Supervisor Wang's godchild. Since the start, his eyes have been following him, not seeing the Shu soldiers take action at all. The horse suddenly fell, he highly suspected it was self-directed by this guy to provoke a conflict.

What do these two want to do?

He truly could not feel any goodwill towards this adopting a godfather business, corrupting military morale.

And that "godchild," after hearing his godfather's reprimand, turned his head, saw everyone staring at him, making himself look like a clown, then looked at his godfather's face, his flushed face immediately turned pale.

He could only swallow his breath, hurriedly dragged up the chestnut brown horse that was struggling to get up from kneeling, glared fiercely at the Ninth Mountain Armor Soldier, suppressing his fury in a cold voice,

"Supervisor requests your presence!"

Said that, he mounted his horse, and rode the limping horse back in embarrassment.

Witnessing this scene, Niu Bing glanced at the Soldier Inspection Platform, then at the training ground, many gazes converged, his brow furrowing.

He gestured with his hand, with a few leaps, directly arriving at the Soldier Inspection Platform, his gaze sweeping, gripping the railing,

"Niu Bing, Ninth Mountain Colonel, at your service."

"Haven't met yet, may I know who are the lords?"

His gaze mainly fell on Supervisor Wang seated in the front, internally contemplating what the other's intentions were.

Holding caution in his heart, the other's expression was unkind. Before coming to the Divine Capital, the general had instructed to be careful in everything, to avoid being targeted after entering the capital.

Supervisor Wang naturally did not bother to report any name to such a small colonel, sitting on the chair, with slanted eyes, with disdain and sharpness,

"During the military exercise, this officer heard that you were saying my imperial guard tactics were inferior to yours, and that my Daqian Forbidden Army was all show without substance?"

"Such audacity!"

He finished with a cold laugh, his tone rising, his voice echoing over the training ground.

This sound instantly ignited the entire imperial guard training ground, followed by angry shouts and cold sneering.

"What?"

"Absurd, letting these border troops look down on us!"

"Ridiculous, since when did they have the guts to provoke our imperial guards."

"Hum, meaningless!"

"Let's face true weapons, true combat!"

"....."

The imperial guards either belonged to families with prominent backgrounds or were the best martial artists selected from hundreds, proud internally and infuriated by such discussions from border troops, naturally coldly confronting.

Even Lin Zhonglang's eyes turned cold upon hearing those words, with a gleam shining in his eyes, staring at Niu Bing.

And Niu Bing, hearing what this Imperial Censor was saying, as well as the scene's "enthusiastic response," his dark face immediately turned cold.

When have his Ninth Mountain brothers ever spoken such words, at most saying the imperial guard's training methods were somewhat chaotic, never claimed to be inferior. He immediately realized this pale-skinned, sinister-eyed guy in front wanted to set them up.

Eyelids lifted, eyes directly confronting the Imperial Censor, Niu Bing faced the deliberate pressure, firmly standing against, expressionless,

"Your lordship, the Ninth Mountain soldiers have always admired the imperial guard brothers' excellent military preparations and courageous training. I wonder which ear heard us say such things. Acting with integrity and sitting upright, as brothers in the military, risking our lives on the battlefield, how dare we mock?"

Speaking, he eyed Supervisor Wang word by word,

"I don't know how our Ninth Mountain offended you, to be labeled with such accusations right out."

This line was so direct, with an unchanged face.

The general reminded them not to cause trouble but also said not to fear trouble.

Supervisor Wang Xi faced Niu Bing's straightforward rebuttal with a sinking face, leaning forward on the seat, his fox-like eyes fixated on Niu Bing, a sharp gleam flashing within,

"What a glib talker!"

"Such rebellious words, daring to speak yet unwilling to own up."

"Fine, since you're not convinced, then your Ninth Mountain shall compete against the imperial guard, let everything be determined by strength!"

"Also, let us see what kind of soldiers are under Chen Yuan, who killed the Patrol Angel and defied the Court."

This guy, so far, has finally shown his colors.

Finding excuses to provoke, inciting the imperial guard's emotions, then forcing Chen Yuan's troops, accompanying the capital entry, to take the stage, whether they are willing is out of their control now.

Now, Wang Xi looked at Niu Bing, eyes coldly smiling, what's called being favored by the Emperor's heart. As the Emperor's Supervising Army, he could speculate some feelings of current His Majesty, who didn't want to directly handle the Shu General, letting others deal with it, he could naturally lend a hand.

Moreover, the Imperial Censor, nominally also one from the Imperial Censorate, could also give a face to Imperial Censor Meng. Why not?

Sure enough, following his words, stirred imperial guards opened their mouths,

"I'm in! Ninth Mountain fellows, dare to fight a round."

"I'm in! Just time to learn if you border troops are as weak as rumored."

"....."

Voices rose and fell within the training ground.

And at this moment, Lin Zhonglang finally made sense of it all, completely reacted, his face sterned, speaking to rebuke, wanting to forcibly suppress the situation.

"Everybody quiet! What's all this noise!" His gaze like an eagle, sweeping the training ground, with the accumulated authority from usual times, barely managing to hold the scene, following his shout, voices indeed softened significantly.

Then he turned sideways, looked at Imperial Censor Wang Xi, his face somewhat unsightly, disliking the other's attempt to involve his imperial guards into court disputes, his voice slightly stiff,

"Supervisor Wang, perhaps this matter should be halted. That General Chen is currently at Xuankong Temple on the mountain, maybe it's inappropriate."

He had just finished speaking.

"The general might fear, but I don't fear... Gongyang Xiu is willing to duel with Ninth Mountain brothers."

Suddenly in the training ground, a youth wearing green gold armor, nine feet tall, skin with a faint silver glow, with white eyebrows, riding a horse emerged from the crowd, with a cold smile on his lips.

"I, Huangfu Qi, will also join in!" Another loud shout followed, another youth rode to under the Soldier Inspection Platform, eight-foot physique, holding a long spear, enthusiasm hidden in his eyes.

"How could I miss out on this!" Finally, one more voice boomed, a swordsman with an academic temperament and peach blossom eyes emerged.

The three entered the scene.

They were exactly three members from the Three Imperial Families within the imperial guard, some direct, some collateral,

They emerged fearlessly, either with cold eyes or eager to move, bringing excitement.

If they beat these Ninth Mountain Armor Soldiers and severely humiliate them, their families would be pleased to reward them.