Mountain Patrol Military Officer

The Three Families' disciples pulled the reins of their horses, standing beneath the Soldier Inspection Platform. Among them, a disciple from the Huangfu Family glanced contemptuously toward Niu Bing, pointed with his long spear, and spoke disdainfully:

"Heavenly Pass Tao Seed, barely qualified to fight against this Lang General!"

"I won't bully you; this Lang General will lower my cultivation. Let's see if you and your troops have what it takes."

"If not..."

As he said this, the disciple from the Huangfu Family sneered coldly,

"You people from Shu, just be sparring partners for my brothers, and obediently keep your heads down in the Divine Capital!"

His words were full of insinuations and intense aggression, clearly deliberate.

This person was of Heavenly Pass Taoist cultivation, a direct descendant of the Huangfu Family, serving as a Lang General in the Northern Forbidden Army, part of the Imperial Guard, of Secondary Fifth Rank, under the Colonel, akin to the Ninth Mountain's Piaoqi General.

His extremely provocative words immediately stirred a commotion among the soldiers on the training field, with some people jeering.

"Exactly, exactly!"

"Fight or don't; if not, get down and keep your head down."

"...."

The noise grew louder, igniting the tension in the camp.

On the Soldier Inspection Platform, Niu Bing faced this sharp provocation, more piercing than a blade drawing blood, with a fire burning in his heart.

He knew this was likely a premeditated plan to pressure the General; this was unbearable.

His face tightened with veins bulging, his eyes widened, temples throbbing, red streaks appearing at the corners of his eyes, glaring at the Imperial Censor Wang Xi sitting in front, cursing inwardly.

Opposite him, Wang Xi sat comfortably in the chair, watching the Shu Colonel with veins bulging and a smile at the corner of his lips.

The lackey standing behind his chair had a cold, pleased look in his eyes, waiting to see a joke from these Shu natives.

At this moment, the thunderous sound of hooves charging from afar was accompanied by an angry roar.

"Old Niu, fight them!"

"Us Shu men, afraid of them?"

Only to see the Ninth Mountain's Armored Soldiers, having heard these enraging words, charge forward on horseback, each one furious, armored, and armed.

All of them had fought in the Demon Battlefield, rolling over piles of corpses, hardened like sharpened blades, fearing no duel, to hell with it, not tolerating such blatant face-to-face humiliation.

They survived that chaotic and dark battlefield, full of demon corpses; which of them didn't rely on sheer grit?

Without it, they'd have perished long ago.

With angry snorts, this group of furious soldiers charged, tension rising, hooves causing unrest among the watching horses, kicking up a commotion.

On the Soldier Inspection Platform, Niu Bing could no longer bear it.

Standing tall and straight, his eyes like bronze bells swept over Wang Xi, then turned to the disciples of the Three Families beneath the platform, bloodshot eyes at the edges, and spoke in a deep voice:

"Alright, how are we fighting?"

At this moment, the crowd seemed to witness a group of fierce beasts awakening, an intense and ferocious aura emanating.

Wang Xi, the chief Imperial Censor, twitched his eyelids a bit, yet remained indifferent, knowing that the Imperial Guard, defenders of the Dragon Court, were elite soldiers, receiving the best military preparations, equipped with formidable martial arts, and were the cream of the crop, let alone being the Three Ministers' disciples.

But standing beside him, Lin Zhonglang was different; Wang Xi, the Imperial Censor, was a civil servant and a palace eunuch, unfamiliar with actual combat. Yet, he had experience. His sharp eyes observed hundreds of Black Armors rushing in, with a fierce and overwhelming aura that unsettled their horses, seeing the chilling battlefield aura on these soldiers, undoubtedly battle-hardened veterans.

The blood they had shed was definitely not insignificant.

His expression darkened; no matter which side lost in this soldier confrontation, it would cause a stir, but the situation had already escaped his control, deliberately guided by Imperial Censor Wang Xi to cement the outcome.

He realized this supervisor sought favor with the Emperor, ingratiating the Three Families, orchestrating things to pressure the Shu General, partaking in this court intrigue.

Despicable, he thought, hoping not to drag his managed camp into it.

Anger simmering within Lin Zhonglang, he could only suppress it, trying to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.

To avoid suffering unwarranted disaster.

He narrowed his eyes, whispering to his trusted colonel beside him, "Quickly send a message to the Commander, report the incident here....."

He had his subordinate send a message to the commanding officers.

This had to be reported immediately, because if handled poorly, leading to the worst outcome of a camp riot, he would be condemned to death.

He then stepped forward, his expression grim as he spoke, taking initiative to act as the referee, unwilling to let Wang Xi host, unsure of what mischief he might commit.

"Since you're so determined, this Colonel will referee; at that time, a big formation will be activated, and each person will receive a Jade Talisman, which, when crushed, will teleport you out..... attention, stop at a touch, any deliberate fatal injury will not be tolerated."

"For fairness, both sides must have comparable cultivation level..."

He explained the duel rules and sternly warned.

,,,,,...

One pot of tea later, the camp's training field was cleared of troops and ammunition.

Troops stood on either side of the field, eyes coldly fixed on the center, amidst jeering shouts and crude language, the air tinged with gunpowder.

On the Soldier Inspection Platform, Imperial Censor Wang Xi reclined in his chair, hands on the backrest, fox-like eyes smiling mockingly at the ground, his bootlicker somehow acquiring a fan to fan him, bent beside, flattering with a smile, whispering flattery: