Soul Emperor Martial God

Meteor County Flame Martial Guard outpost.

Xiao Yi and his group had just completed their last mission and returned to the outpost.

Only to find out that Xiao Yi's promotion to captain had been canceled.

The other Flame Martial Guards and the captains were puzzled.

Zhou Ping and others seemed slightly pleased.

But most of all, there was anger.

"How can this be? The Deputy Commander clearly agreed to promote you to captain," Zhou Ping said.

Hu San and the others were visibly angry.

"How can the Deputy Commander go back on his word? I'll demand an explanation."

Although everyone wished to continue following Xiao Yi,

They would rather see Xiao Yi get promoted.

"Don't rush," Xiao Yi motioned with his hand, saying, "Let me go and ask. You wait here."

With that, Xiao Yi walked towards the central room.

Inside, the Deputy Commander seemed to have anticipated Xiao Yi's arrival and said, "You've come."

"Mm," Xiao Yi nodded.

Before Xiao Yi could speak,

Lin Chong took the initiative, "Are you here to ask why the promotion was canceled?"

"Mm," Xiao Yi nodded again.

Lin Chong spoke solemnly, "Someone is trying to suppress you, to prevent you from becoming captain."

"Who?" Xiao Yi frowned.

Lin Chong replied, "One of the five commanders from the Royal Capital, Commander Wan, Wan Jianyi, who is also an elder of your Sect."

As he spoke, Lin Chong informed Xiao Yi about Vice Commander Zhou's visit in full.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi looked puzzled.

Aren't you afraid to tell me the truth?" Xiao Yi asked.

Lin Chong waved his hand dismissively, "Afraid of what?"

"I'm not only unafraid, I still want to promote you to captain."

"Oh?" Xiao Yi was even more puzzled.

Lin Chong spoke with gravity, "The Flame Martial Guard belongs to the King, the Flame Martial Guard."

"When did it become a Sword Sect elder's place to engage in such sordid affairs?"

"Besides, I've been in contact with you for the better part of a month."

"I find that although you can be arrogant, you are loyal and uphold justice."

"You're nothing like the arrogant and domineering person described by the rumors in the Royal Capital."

"Instead, it is Wan Jianyi, secretly sending a Vice Commander over."

"To suppress you."

"That is the behavior of a villain."

"I have lived for a long time, and I can tell at a glance that this Wan Jianyi is a small-minded person."

"If I were to help him, wouldn't I also become a villain who can't distinguish right from wrong?"

"You are being too serious," Xiao Yi bowed his hands in thanks.

Lin Chong waved his hand, saying, "I will still promote you to captain."

"In a while, it will be recorded in the records, and your Flame Martial Token will be upgraded to a captain's token."

"But, I am still only the Deputy Commander."

"And Wan Jianyi is the True Commander."

"Even if I promote you, he can still cancel it with a single order."

As he spoke, Lin Chong chuckled twice, "That's why I could only announce publicly that I canceled your promotion."

"And now I will help you in secret."

Xiao Yi frowned, "The position of captain is recorded in the records."

"Even if the Deputy Commander does it secretly for me, the information upstairs can still be checked."

"What's the use?"

"It is useful," Lin Chong nodded, "According to the rules of the Flame Martial Guard."

"Whether a guard is promoted or demoted, they must be present in person."

"They must use their personal token to record and change their position."

"I am now promoting you."

"If Wan Jianyi wants to demote you, he has to find you."

"If he can't find you and you don't receive the order, there's nothing he can do to you."

Xiao Yi asked puzzledly, "What do you mean, Deputy Commander?"

"It's simple," Lin Chong said, "The duty of the Flame Martial Guard is to patrol the counties."

"You can leave Meteor County and take on missions in other counties."

"With your abilities, as long as you don't stay in one county too long."

"Wan Jianyi's Vice Commanders won't be able to find you easily."

"Wait until your achievements are enough to be promoted to Deputy Commander."

"Then come back and find me."

"The position of Deputy Commander is not something Wan Jianyi can just withdraw."

"That would require the approval of more than half of the five Commanders to remove someone from office."

Xiao Yi shook his head and said in a low voice, "If Commander Wan has set his heart on dealing with me."

"Running all over the country would be futile."

"The Flame Martial Guard has accurate intelligence reports."

"If all of his Deputy Commanders mobilize, finding me wouldn't be difficult."

"Would he dare?" Lin Chong's eyes widened.

"Each member of the Flame Martial Guard is already swamped with tasks."

"If he dares to suppress you by specifically dispatching Deputy Commanders to search the entire Flame Martial Kingdom for you,"

"engaging in such underhanded matters,"

"watch me go to the Royal Capital headquarters and accuse him of dereliction of duty."

"Hmm?" Xiao Yi furrowed his brows.

He noticed that Lin Chong seemed quite confident while saying this.

"Deputy Commander, are you a member of the Lin Family's main branch?" Xiao Yi asked.

"Indeed." Lin Chong nodded his head.

Lin Chong was indeed a member of the Lin Family's main branch.

By seniority, he belonged to the older generation of the Lin Family.

He was cousins with the previous Family Head, the Great Commander of the Flame Martial Guard.

...

Lin Chong took care of the promotion record for Xiao Yi's token.

Afterward, Xiao Yi bid farewell to Lin Chong and left the base.

He then took Zhou Ping and others with him and left Meteor County.

Although Xiao Yi was now a Captain,

he still needed to bring his team members with him.

It is said that a Captain can act alone,

but that refers to within a single county.

Like now, if he were to carry out a mission in Black Rain City,

Xiao Yi could completely act on his own, without needing to take anyone with him.

However, when traveling between counties, he must take his team members with him.

Otherwise, what kind of Captain abandons his team members

and runs around the entire Flame Martial Kingdom alone?

If he wants to travel alone throughout the Flame Martial Kingdom,

he must reach the position of Deputy Commander.

Of course, Xiao Yi was already quite satisfied with his current status.

Being able to act independently in each county made things much more convenient.

It was just a matter of taking everyone with him when leaving the county for another.

Another point is that the Flame Martial Guard's many rules are somewhat peculiar.

For promotions and demotions, team members must be present, and they have to hand in their personal tokens

before any changes can be made.

It's not just about relaying an order.

If a team member staunchly refuses to surrender their token, no one can do anything about it,

unless they knock that team member down and forcefully take the token away.

This, in fact, is also an expression of the principle that 'strength is respected'.

If someone of higher rank can't beat someone of lower rank,

how are they qualified to demote others?

Every mission of the Flame Martial Guard is extremely dangerous.

The team members brave water and fire.

Therefore, every member of the Flame Martial Guard is given ample respect.

...

On the edge of Meteor County, in a large city,

Xiao Yi and his group were about to depart.

Zhou Ping said earnestly, "Captain, are we really going to leave Meteor County?"

All of them were Martial Artists from Meteor County.

Although the Flame Martial Guard patrols various counties,

they are usually too busy with their own county's tasks to visit other counties' bases,

unless it's absolutely necessary.

"What, you don't want to leave?" Xiao Yi asked.

"Not exactly," the group chuckled.

"We have long wanted to experience other counties."

"Especially if we're following you, Captain, we'll go anywhere."

"Heh," Xiao Yi laughed and said, "Then let's go."

"From today onwards, the Xiao Yi division of the Flame Martial Guard will patrol the various counties!"

...

The fourth update.