Just as Hong Linying was lost in thought, the flap of the tent below the high platform was suddenly lifted, and a person emerged. Hong Linying focused his gaze. It was not the person who had just entered, but Strategist Ji who came out first. After he emerged, another person followed him out.
"Hmm? What's this?" Hong Linying was startled. He then sat up straight, his eyes flying open, before he slowly relaxed his body again, his expression returning to calm.
Below the platform, Strategist Ji also turned sideways and looked up at the high platform. He gave a distant salute, bowed slightly, and cupped his hands within his large sleeves, his voice ringing out, "So Marshal Hong is also here. This subordinate pays his respects."
Hong Linying slowly stood up and also called out loudly, "Oh, I came to the drill grounds to see how the Aegis Guard recruitment is going. If we can fill the ranks today, I'll need to arrange for the generals to be in charge of the new recruits' training. Is the Strategist returning to his residence? Any gains today?"
Hearing this, Strategist Ji looked at Marshal Hong, a barely perceptible hint of mockery flashing in his eyes. He then smiled, pointed at Li Yan behind him, and said, "The Marshal is thoughtful. Hehe, at long last, after much anticipation, he has finally appeared. It was truly not easy." With that, he shook his head gently.
"Oh, you've found the person you were looking for? Then I must congratulate the Strategist. This is truly like finding a needle in a haystack. I wonder how this person compares to the one you accepted last time?" Marshal Hong said, looking genuinely happy.
At these words, Strategist Ji's pale face darkened a few shades. He did not want Li Yan to know about his last disciple so soon. If he knew too much, it was hard to say if Li Yan, filled with doubt, would still be willing to cultivate. And cultivation was not something that could be forced.
If he was unwilling, no one could do anything about it. Hong Linying's words at this moment were hardly the congratulations they appeared to be on the surface. But since the words had been spoken, what could he do? He clasped his hands behind his back and said, "This child is well-read in the classics, and his aptitude is very much to my liking. This must be fated. He is countless times better than the last one. I, Wenhe, thank the Marshal for his concern."
Without waiting for Marshal Hong's reply, he turned his head and said to Li Yan, "Li Yan, come forward and pay your respects to the Marshal."
Since leaving the tent, Li Yan had been in a state of ecstatic shock, unable to extricate himself. This strange encounter had left him dazed. Not only had he joined the army today, but he had also entered the tutelage of the famous Strategist Ji, and his monthly salary was far beyond his wildest dreams. With this, wouldn't he be able to return home to care for his parents in just a few years? But then he thought, what if his Teacher didn't let him leave? Should he then buy a house in the city and bring his parents and third brother over, for a happy family reunion? That would surely be a wonderful thing. And in a few days, he would go find Li Yu and Li Shan; they would surely be green with envy... Hmm, and in a little while, he would go out and tell Uncle Guoxin about this, so he could tell his parents when he returned home. He wondered how happy his parents would be. His third brother and fourth sister would surely be overjoyed as well. For a moment, his thoughts ran wild, his face alternating between joy and worry, a tangled mess of emotions.
Just as his mind was wandering, he heard a shout by his ear. He snapped back to reality and saw his teacher looking back at him. He was momentarily stunned. He had heard the conversation between Marshal Hong and Strategist Ji, but his mind had been so preoccupied with his own affairs that it had automatically filtered out the content of their talk. Now, seeing his teacher looking at him, he quickly tried to recall why. 'Teacher seemed to have said "Marshal something," and Marshal Hong also said something about "the one accepted last time, compared to something..."'
"Li Yan, hurry up and pay your respects to the Marshal!" another shout came, this time with a faint trace of displeasure. Strategist Ji saw that after he had told Li Yan to come forward and pay his respects, he was just standing there in a daze, seemingly lost in thought. A thought struck him, 'Could he have taken what that scoundrel Hong Linying said to heart? How annoying, his intentions are so malicious. I'll have to clear this up for him when we get back. This Hong Linying is truly detestable.' At this thought, a hint of anger appeared on his face, and he shouted at Li Yan again. However, to Li Yan, the surrounding soldiers, and Marshal Hong on the platform, this anger seemed to be directed at Li Yan for disobeying his master's words.
Seeing his teacher's displeasure, Li Yan quickly walked forward a few steps, positioning himself slightly in front of his teacher. He knelt before Marshal Hong on the platform and bowed. "This boy pays his respects to Marshal Hong. Please punish me for my earlier discourtesy." In the span of half a day, Li Yan had paid his respects to the two most powerful officials in the region, something an ordinary commoner could never do. He naturally performed a grand salute without hesitation.
On the platform, Marshal Hong focused his gaze on the kneeling Li Yan, thinking to himself, 'This boy seems a bit dull-witted.' He didn't know that Li Yan wasn't dull-witted at all; he was simply overwhelmed by immense joy. To be hit with such great fortune two or three times in one day would leave anyone in a dazed, dream-like state, let alone a boy from a mountain village. Even an adult would not be able to pull themselves out of such joy in such a short time. Seeing this, he waved his hand and said, "Rise. What is your name?"
Li Yan stood up, his head bowed, and replied respectfully, "This boy's name is Li Yan, from Li Family Village in the Great Green Mountains."
"Oh? Your home is not too far from here then. Our Strategist Ji has searched for you through a thousand twists and turns, only to find you right here under his nose, hehe," Marshal Hong said with a smile. He carefully examined the now-standing Li Yan. The boy had a dark complexion, ordinary features, and a lean build, looking very average. The criteria by which this Strategist Ji selected his disciples were truly incomprehensible. Suddenly, he tapped the tip of his foot on the stone-paved platform, and his body leaped into the air.
Li Yan was still thinking about Marshal Hong's words when he felt a strong gust of wind pressing down on him. He quickly looked up, and his vision blurred. The next moment, his left wrist was seized in a tight grip. A current of hot energy suddenly surged in from his wrist, traveling up his arm and quickly spreading through his body. He was instantly alarmed and instinctively tried to pull his arm back, but it felt as if it were cast in an iron clamp, not moving an inch. His expression changed drastically. Just as he was about to use all his strength to pull his arm back, he found that the person had already let go of his left hand. The hot current that had just entered his body had quickly circulated once and then vanished without a trace. Only then did he feel slightly relieved. He hurriedly focused his gaze and saw that Marshal Hong had somehow used some kind of movement technique to cross the ten-plus meters from the high platform to stand in front of him. It was he who had just grabbed his wrist.
Li Yan looked at Marshal Hong, then turned to look at his teacher, feeling uneasy, not knowing the reason for this.
The whole affair had happened in a flash, completed in just a few short breaths. But from beginning to end, Strategist Ji had been standing not far behind Li Yan, his face as calm as an ancient well, as if he hadn't seen a thing. By now, Marshal Hong had withdrawn his right hand. Amidst laughter, he cupped his hands towards Strategist Ji and said, "Strategist, please don't be offended. I was just curious. The Strategist has been selecting a disciple for several years, yet only a mere two have entered your esteemed sight. I just wanted to know what kind of person with such excellent constitution could be so lucky. It was a moment of impulse. Please do not take it to heart."
A half-smile appeared on Strategist Ji's face. "Then, was the Marshal able to see anything different about my humble disciple?"
Marshal Hong's expression turned serious. He pondered for a moment and said, "The profundity of the Strategist's sect makes me feel even more inadequate. To be honest, I observed that this child's meridians are not necessarily wider than many of the men in the army, and may even be inferior to some. As for his constitution? Hmm, I would rate it as upper-middle, but not the absolute best. This is just my humble opinion. But since the Strategist has chosen this child, there must be something special about him that I am unable to perceive."
Strategist Ji smiled faintly. "Marshal Hong is absolutely right. Besides requiring relatively good meridians, my sect's technique mainly requires that several meridians in the body must be different from others. Only then can one unleash the full potential of our martial arts. The reason for this involves the secrets of my master's teachings, so please forgive me for not being able to say more."
Hearing this, Marshal Hong did not press further. He then asked, "So what are the Strategist's plans for him next?"
Strategist Ji bowed slightly to Marshal Hong and said, "My humble disciple will return with me to my residence to cultivate. The Marshal also knows that my health is getting worse, and I cannot delay finding an heir to inherit my sect's legacy any longer. So, he will spend most of his time cultivating with me, but he will occasionally help me with some minor military matters, as a form of training and relaxation. As for his salary? Hmm, you can just give him an amount equal to a squad captain's from my own salary each month."
Marshal Hong thought for a moment and said, "There's no need for that. Since your disciple will be helping you manage military affairs, it wouldn't be appropriate for him to not have a rank. Let's make him a Deputy Defender. His salary will be paid from the military funds. I will have someone deliver the waist token to the Strategist's residence later. Also, the enlistment stipend will be delivered to his family in his village by the military logistics department in a few days, after they have registered it."
Marshal Hong was not one to be stingy over such a small salary. He decided to issue the stipend as well.
Hearing this, Strategist Ji no longer stood on ceremony. "Then we shall do as the Marshal says. Li Yan, come forward and thank the Marshal."
After his wrist had been grabbed and released, Li Yan had been watching the two of them converse from the side, and his heart had slowly calmed down. From the words of these two great figures, he gathered that his becoming Strategist Ji's disciple was an extremely difficult feat. His new teacher had probably been selecting for several years from the entire army, yet out of so many men, he had only chosen two disciples, including himself. Marshal Hong had been very curious about this, which led to the earlier test.
When he heard the official rank Marshal Hong bestowed upon him, he was at a loss. He had no idea what kind of position a Deputy Defender was or what it did. But he clearly understood that the enlistment stipend would be delivered to his parents' hands in the village in a few days. He was naturally delighted and stepped forward to offer his thanks once more.
If he had known that in half a day he had been promoted to the Subordinate Eighth Rank, Lower, he would have thought that his ancestral graves were billowing thick plumes of green smoke. It must be known how many life-and-death situations an ordinary soldier had to go through to be promoted from a common soldier to Subordinate Ninth Rank, Lower, then Subordinate Ninth Rank, Upper, then Official Ninth Rank, Lower, then Official Ninth Rank, Upper, before finally reaching Subordinate Eighth Rank, Lower.
For him, it was just a matter of a few words between two powerful men. But then again, even if he knew he was of the Subordinate Eighth Rank, Lower, he still wouldn't know how high his official position was. He was more concerned with the actual silver.
Seeing that Li Yan had finished giving his thanks, Strategist Ji bowed slightly to Marshal Hong. "If the Marshal has no other orders, then this subordinate will take his leave."
"Please, feel free, Strategist. I imagine your mind is no longer here anyway, haha. I still have to check on the Aegis Guard recruitment and arrange for the new recruits' training, so I won't see you off," Marshal Hong laughed.
And so, under the respectful gazes of the surrounding soldiers, Strategist Ji turned and walked towards the main gate of the drill grounds. Li Yan, under the envious and jealous gazes of those same soldiers, quickly followed.
Watching the retreating backs of Strategist Ji and Li Yan, Marshal Hong stood outside the tent, stroking his short beard, lost in thought. He stood there stunned for a moment before muttering to himself in a voice only he could hear, "Is there really something special about that boy's constitution?"