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Chapter 10 - Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Zhou Fan strode through the charred ruins of the Eastern Hinterlands, dusk light catching the ragged Redleaf banners still fluttering in the wind. Broken wagons and craters scarred the plains, while dark smoke from distant camps curled into a gunmetal sky. Since reaching Level 12 and advancing to the 2nd Stage of Qi Gathering, every step he took felt steadier, his senses keener. He could feel the pulse of Qi surging in his veins — a promise of power, a promise of more.

He paused at the rim of a shallow valley. Below, a squad of Redleaf soldiers was pinned under a volley of Azure Empire archers. The enemy riders swept like sharks amid a school of fish, while Redleaf men fought desperately with sword and spear. Zhou's eyes narrowed behind their motion. Pathetic, he thought. This hopeless skirmish would yield only morsels of experience for these troops. But for him… perhaps a buffet.

Zhou Fan leapt down the slope in a single bound, his black cloak billowing like a shadow taking flight. Arrows slashed the air in his direction, but he moved too fast. He twisted under a hasty shaft, feeling it whiz past with a hiss of annoyance. A Redleaf spearman shouted at him, panic in his eyes. "Who—What are you—"

Before the soldier could finish, Zhou had already dashed forward. His hand flashed to the hilt of his Jian. The blade flickered silver under the dying light as he performed a graceful half-spin. In a heartbeat, Zhou cut down two Azure cavalrymen rushing the spearman. One horseman fell backward from a slash across the chest. The second rider only had time to raise his sword before Zhou's Jian smote it aside and pierced through the man's armor into his side.

Shhhk. He didn't pause to look at them fall. Before the spearman could recover, Zhou pivoted and struck a fresh Azure line. Two more enemies lunged, a wild blue-eyed soldier and a veteran with a scar across his cheek. Zhou drank in their movements — one soldier's wide swing, the other's underhand thrust. He countered the scar-faced attacker first, elbowing hard into the man's ribs and then sweeping his leg. As the second man stumbled, Zhou's Jian danced through the air to stab at his opponent's chest. The man dropped like a puppet with cut strings. The blue-eyed soldier's sword came next. Zhou deflected it with a clang of metal against metal. In that instant, he let a quiet strand of Qi from his palm flare. The Qi bloomed like black ink in water and coalesced around his fist. With a violent crack, his punch sent the Azurian flying backward into a crumpled heap of shattered bones.

Not a sound came from Zhou's mouth the whole time. Around him, the valley fell silent for a heartbeat — then erupted again. More Redleaf soldiers rallied behind him, their forms blurs on the hillside. Enemies who survived began to flee or surrender. All the while, Zhou's breathing remained smooth, controlled.

He sheathes his Jian. That was too easy. Is this what Redleaf calls an ambush?

A holographic chime echoed in his mind as he processed the battle:

System: +1387 EXP

System: Combat proficiency increased.

Zhou didn't break stride. A Redleaf captain in crimson armor hurried down to meet him, lungs heaving and eyes wild with excitement. The captain saluted, one hand twitching with adrenaline. "Stranger — your swordsmanship… I've never seen skill like it. I'm Captain Liang Wei of the Redleaf 5th Vanguard. Thank you, that could have been a massacre without you."

Zhou Fan glanced at the fallen Azurian soldiers and back at Captain Liang, expression unreadable. He wiped a smear of dirt off his blade on a corpse's tunic and offered a small nod. "I did not wish to see senseless death. You need more swords like me?"

Liang Wei's intense gaze softened into a sharp grin. Perhaps seeing Zhou's poised composure and calculating eyes swaddled under his calm demeanor, the captain relaxed. "Actually, yes. My men could sure use a warrior of your caliber. Tell me, are you a mercenary? A soldier of fortune? Because frankly, war is good business for men like us." He chuckled, gesturing broadly at the valley now littered with fallen Azurians. "Rebels from the Azure Empire thought they'd get the better of this sector. They're strong, I'll admit that, but if fighters like you help bolster our lines, there's not much the Azure scum can do."

Liang Wei turned to bark an order at his men to bind the prisoners and secure the perimeter. When he came back to Zhou's side, he was frowning thoughtfully. He circled Zhou like a general appraising a new sword. "Those Qi ripples when you struck… You're more than you look. Not a common footman, are you? Tell me, who trained you?"

Zhou kept his face blank, but the question didn't go unanswered. Inwardly he smirked. Not my true master, obviously. I train myself. "I wander where I choose," he said calmly. "No kingdom claims me, but Redleaf gives a decent fight. It seemed the stronger side here could use some reinforcement." His words were neutral but carried an unmistakable promise of power.

Liang's grin returned. "Good answer! Loyalty is overpriced anyway." He slapped Zhou's shoulder in a friendly manner, careful not to crush any fingers. "Either way, if you like killing Azurian dogs, you'll have plenty of pay from us. Half of my men are amateurs who freeze up in battle. You seem different. I want you on my squad. Come, we march to our forward camp. I'll give you coin, food, and a bit of land — maybe even make you a hero in the King's eyes if you earn it. What do you say, mercenary?"

Zhou's eyes narrowed slightly at Liang's flurry of offers. He admired the man's blunt approach and soldier's honesty. This, he recognized, was a leader who valued results and truth over pretense. For a moment, Zhou considered. Disloyalty weighed nothing on his conscience; kingdoms were temporary, mercenary alliances even more so. He was here for one thing only: to grow stronger. And fortune — every battle with Redleaf meant more experience. To him, Liang's words were a promise of abundant foes to test his edge against.

He met the captain's grin with a tilt of his head. "I'll join you," he said at last. "But know this: I do not serve out of honor, only for the chance to fight and to win."

Captain Liang Wei simply laughed, a deep, throaty sound. "Fair enough. You can call me 'Wei,' friend. I have no illusions about noble oaths. We'll just fight, and you'll get paid. Now let's move; the Azure cavalry could regroup any time."

Night had fallen by the time Zhou Fan and Captain Liang reached Redleaf's crimson-draped encampment. Torches flickered and men in armor ate around fires, sharing stew and sour dregs of liquor after a hard day's work. The war camp smelled of smoke, sweat, and victory. Rumors of a new ghostly swordsman who had turned the tide of a skirmish had already circulated through the ranks. Grizzled veterans nodded respectfully as Liang marched by with Zhou in tow.

Soon, Zhou found himself on patrol with a small patrol unit for another night mission. Dawn was hours away, but the forest valley they were camped in was quiet — too quiet. Liang Wei nudged Zhou, whispering, "Good. You'll do fine. Just stick to me and follow orders." Liang had introduced Zhou as a liuzong (unattached mercenary) with a rare gift for killing. Some soldiers eyed him warily, others curiously. None argued.

The lieutenant in charge of the patrol, a wiry officer named He Zun, pointed up at the misty tree line. "Soldiers, scouts report movement in the east ridge. Could be Azure horsemen coming at dawn. Best we strike first – a dawn ambush?" He Zun's voice was low and urgent, brows drawn. Liang looked to He Zun, and the men waited.

Zhou Fan felt a thrill. Ambushes required precision, not raw power, and that suited him fine. He covered one side of the river bank while Liang and the others crouched on the opposite ridge. When the first light of dawn ghosted over the mountains, two dozen Azure riders broke through the trees, unsuspecting.

At Liang's nod, Zhou was the first to move, launching himself like a black bolt down the embankment. The rider at the front barely had time to raise his spear. Zhou let a blurred streak of Qi ignite his fists. A thunderous punch shattered the horseman's steel armor and ribs. The scream of breakage echoed as the man collapsed. That was enough warning for the rest.

The battle erupted. Arrows flew. Azure men charged into the trap, sword and spear bright in the sunlight. Liang's men swarmed from the opposite hill, yelling battle cries. Zhou remained focused, ducking and weaving between shafts and blades. In moments, bodies rose and fell around him in a brutal dance.

He took a longsword slash to the arm, but his instincts took over. Zhou smelled the iron in his blood as he punched the attacker's sword hilt, sending it clattering away. The sword giant bellowed in shock, and Zhou retaliated with a palm strike to the gut. The man doubled, and Zhou finished him with a quick slash at the throat. Blood sprayed and a corpse sank to the earth.

No hesitation. Only constant calculation and execution.

Soldiers charged at him relentlessly — a tall Azure spearman, a nimble archer, and a huge soldier wielding a war hammer. Zhou dispatched the spearman's thrust with a sideways step, then with his Jian performed a feat of flip-spin sabre technique, cleaving through the archer's bow arm. The war-hammer wielder let out a frustrated roar as the Jian caught his side, but he barely staggered. Zhou lunged in, plowing the hilt of his blade into the man's gut. Thick laughter broke forth from the warrior's throat as he collapsed.

By the time Liang and his men finished off the rest of the squad, the ambush was a complete rout. Azure horses ran wild, arrows fell uselessly.

In the aftermath, with dawn painting the sky blood-red, the patrol hastily collected prisoners and loot. Liang clapped Zhou on the back with genuine admiration. "You're a monster, kid. You took down like a dozen by yourself! Least I could do is tell the Commander about you. Under this warlord's banner, you'll get any bounty you want."

Zhou panted on one knee, chest heaving, blade dripping with gore. The weak sunlight made it all so bright — the red on the green grass, the gleam of blood-soaked steel. The morale of these soldiers soared after such a kill. But for Zhou, it was simply data. A series of calculated moves culminating in victory.

System: +2500 EXP

System: Zhou Fan reached Level 13!

System: Skill "Fist of Ten Thousand Blows" upgraded to Tier II.

Zhou absorbed the system notifications with indifference. His heart gave a steady beating: excitement sparkled deep in his eyes. Another level—fine, another stepping stone. "Good," he muttered, rocking back onto one foot. "We should return. More of them could appear."

He allowed the Redleaf soldiers to hoist him up with cheers — he was clearly being hailed as a hero. The lieutenant saluted him and said, "I didn't catch your name, swordsman?"

"Call me Zhou Fan," he replied simply.

Word of the mercenary Zhou Fan spread quickly through the encampment. That afternoon, Liang Wei found him resting by the camp fire, treating a shallow cut on his arm. The camp buzzed as soldiers paused to glance at the newcomer with awe. The patrol lieutenant approached, handing Zhou a canteen of water. "A toast from your team," he grinned. "Glad we have you fighting for Redleaf."

While Zhou let his muscles recuperate, he found himself alone with Liang again. The two men sat by the embers, the war returning to normalcy around them. From the battered cookpots came the smell of wild mushrooms and stewed ham, borrowed from foragers' catch. Wine was passed around. The men's faces were sunburned and tired, but lit with satisfaction. Liang leaned in a bit closer to Zhou, voice low. "You adapt fast, player. I can tell you're not green. Any chance you want to lead a small platoon? The King's scouts reported a full Azure regiment moving this way. Your blade could earn a promotion if you mark those positions and strike at dawn."

Zhou nodded, not driven by appetite for rank but by opportunity. He plotted silently which skills to practice and how the army's supply lines ran. The conversation turned to rumors: an advisor spilled to him that the army was mobilizing for something bigger. As Liang casually shared, "I heard whispers beyond the Eastern passes — some say the Azure Emperor is sending his personal legions. This war may be just a distraction. Full invasion could come at any time." Zhou listened without emotion on his face. The idea of a larger war intrigues him, but he kept that thought locked away. Let the kingdoms burn. Any scheme, any war… just means more experience for me.

Night fell with the promise of tomorrow's fighting. That evening, a silent messenger in the guise of a corncob-brown horseman rode up to Liang's quarters. Liang bade him speak. After a brief exchange, Liang came to Zhou with a furtive expression. The air smelled of cold rain still clinging to the soil.

"The Provincial Commander wants to see you, my friend," Liang said, nodding toward the tent at the north end of camp, draped with the Redleaf Kingdom's imperial seal. "Seems your little spree made quite an impression. Get some rest — that man, Zhu Ming, doesn't waste words. He'll call you in the morning."

Zhou's lips quirked into the slightest, controlled smirk. Commander Zhu Ming. He had the name now. The province's top commander. An aura of authority hung around that tent like a challenge.

The next dawn, after the first pink of sunrise, Zhou Fan entered the commander's pavilion. Zhu Ming was a tall, broad-shouldered man with silver streaks in his hair, eyes as hard as flint. Beside him were his guards and aides. He rose slightly as Zhou approached the central table. The tent's interior was lit by paper lanterns; maps and ravens soared on silk behind the commander.

Zhu Ming nodded curtly. "Zhou Fan, I presume." His tone was calm but cold. "Captain Liang has filled me in. You dispatched an entire Azure raiding party with almost no help? That true?"

Zhou bowed slightly at the shoulders. "Yes, Commander. I'm glad I could be of service."

The commander studied him. "You're forthright. But I have questions. Who are you, really? Why were you here of all places? Some Redleaf folk say you arrived out of the blue…" Zhu's eyes flicked to Zhou's blade. "Your Qi is high… far above most wandering swordsmen. And your sword skills— that fighting style." His lips twitched. "It resembles techniques rarely seen outside the imperial academies of the Azure Empire. Are you… from beyond our lands, by chance?"

The tent was silent for a heartbeat as senses sharpened. Zhu Ming's suspicion was plain; his tone was sharp but respectful, as if testing a valuable sword for flaws. Zhou's heart remained cold.

(Show nothing.)

He let his face stay impassive. "I serve no empire. You saw me drive off those raiders — I did what needed to be done."

Zhu Ming leaned forward. "Fair enough. Redleaf owes you gratitude, Zhou Fan. I will recommend a handsome reward from the King's treasury — gold, land, and position if you want it. The border wars will not go easy, and soldiers like you are rare. It might be wise to stay under Redleaf's banner rather than wander alone."

Zhou considered the offer carefully. Loyalty had little meaning to him, as Liang understood already. But feigning interest would allow him to remain close to the true prize: battle and experience. "I appreciate the honor, Commander. I want only a chance to fight for a worthy cause." He inclined his head. "Coin and recognition are fine, but my path is one of strength. I seek power through battle."

Zhu's eyes narrowed as if measuring steel. Then he smiled, a thin, sharp grin. "Well said. I like warriors who speak plainly. Very well, Zhou Fan — rest while you can. Tonight, we strike a new Azure camp by the river. Your skills will be needed. After that… we shall see."

He stood, the signal that the meeting was ended. Zhou was escorted out, and waited outside for a moment before even breathing. Zhu Ming's gaze in that tent had lingered on him with an intensity that spoke of both appraisal and caution.

System: +3200 EXP

System: Qi Gathering advanced to 3rd Stage!

Zhou felt an electric surge wash through him as quietly, somewhere deep, his cultivation punched through another barrier. The tent's edges swirled. The cold, calculating ambition in his eyes deepened a shade. The battle ahead glimmered like a beacon — more xp, more glory. His lips curved into a satisfied, unreadable smile. Somewhere in the distance, thunder rolled. Whatever storms Zhu Ming foresaw, Zhou Fan knew one truth: this war would forge him stronger, even if the empire of Redleaf crumbled to ash around him.

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