Chapter 13

The hoarse and miserable voices of the two soldiers echoed throughout the central camp.

"Master Yang is about to be beaten to death!"

"Master Yang is about to be beaten to death!"

"Help!"

The patrolling sentries stared in shock at the two soldiers who were shouting in unison and running. As they rushed past the gate and continued to charge inward, the sentries finally reacted, pouncing on them and pinning them down.

"Quickly take us to General Zuo, Master Yang is about to be beaten to death, and our commandant will be beaten to death too!" one of the soldiers shouted.

"Who is your commandant?" the duty sub-commander roared. He had allowed these two soldiers to rush past the gate, and for this alone, he could be severely punished. At this moment, his mind was filled with anger.

"Chasing Wind Camp, Commandant Zhang." The soldier's shout immediately cleared the duty sub-commander's mind. Commandant Zhang of the Chasing Wind Camp had accompanied the guard who was with Princess Zhao Hua. That guard had a significant background. It was said that he was the son of the current Left Chancellor. He shuddered.

"What do you mean Master Yang is about to be beaten to death? Where is he about to be beaten to death?" he pursued.

"Death-Defying Camp, Death-Defying Camp!"

The cold sweat on the duty sub-commander's face dripped down. He didn't believe that Commandant Zhang Xiaomao would be beaten to death elsewhere, but if it was in the Death-Defying Camp, it was definitely possible. As for Master Yang... Thinking of this, he sprang up and dashed off, leaving a trail of dust behind him. His subordinates couldn't help but admire his incredible lightness of foot. They had never realized the sub-commander had such a skill.

A moment later, inside the central command tent, General Zuo Lixing's roar echoed.

"Is Zhang Xiaozheng crazy? What did I send him there for? Tell me, what is Zhang Xiaozheng doing?"

Below, the two soldiers were already terrified. When had they ever had the chance to be so close to the commander of an army, let alone endure the endless torrent of saliva from the commander?

"General Zuo, calm down, you're scaring them." A gentle, jade-like voice sounded in the tent. Though not loud, it immediately silenced General Zuo Lixing's roar.

Min Ruoxi stood up, walked to the two soldiers, and said softly, "You two, take your time and tell me what happened."

If Master Yang was about to be beaten to death, it was no small matter. Although Min Ruoxi disliked Yang Zhi and hoped he would be taught a lesson, she didn't want him to be beaten to death. Since General Zuo had sent Commandant Zhang Xiaozheng of the Chasing Wind Camp, and this commandant, nicknamed Xiaomao, was also from the Death-Defying Camp, how could such a big incident happen?

The soldiers didn't know that the woman before them had a status even higher than the revered General Zuo. They only felt that her gentle, soothing voice calmed their racing hearts.

As the two soldiers narrated, still somewhat incoherently, the tent gradually fell silent. Entering another camp and injuring someone was one thing, but cutting down the camp flag of the Death-Defying Camp was another. All the officers present understood the significance of a camp flag better than anyone. The camp flag of the Death-Defying Camp was drenched in the blood of many. The two other commandants from the Death-Defying Camp, Leopard and Wolf Tooth, were already red with anger, their teeth grinding. Their blood was also on that flag.

Guo Jiuling's face was extremely grim. He, too, was a military man and understood the deep bond soldiers had with their camp flags far better than Princess Zhao Hua. If what these soldiers said was true, and Yang Zhi had indeed cut down the other side's camp flag, he might not be able to leave that camp, let alone the Death-Defying Camp!

"Princess, I will go to the Death-Defying Camp immediately," he said urgently.

"Old Guo, there's no need to rush. After I received the news, I already sent General Lin to handle it," Zuo Lixing said, taking a deep breath. "Nothing serious will happen. Master Yang might suffer a bit, but his life won't be in danger."

"But that's the notorious Qin Feng," Guo Jiuling reminded him.

Zuo Lixing's face relaxed. Initially, he had sent Zhang Xiaomao to accompany Yang Zhi, hoping Qin Feng would just get a beating. For this, he had to provide a lot of supplies. But when the two soldiers came back shouting, he thought Qin Feng was being unreasonable, not even listening to him. He had bribed Qin Feng with supplies from the Invincible Camp. Yang Zhi was the son of the Left Chancellor and the princess's guard. If he got beaten, it would be a loss of face for both, affecting his own future. He couldn't help but be furious. But now, it was good. If Yang Zhi had cut down the Death-Defying Camp's flag first, it would be a huge face for Chancellor Yang if he survived. Chancellor Yang, though a civil official, was not unfamiliar with military matters. With this reason, he could explain it. In the end, Qin Feng would still take the blame. After all, he refused to leave the Death-Defying Camp. What could Chancellor Yang do to him? Was there a place more challenging than the Death-Defying Camp?

What others saw as poison, Qin Feng saw as honey. He didn't know what this guy was thinking. Every time he mentioned transferring Qin Feng out of the Death-Defying Camp, Qin Feng threatened to resign. He didn't want to lose such a fierce general.

"Old Guo, you're overthinking it. Qin Feng is crazy in battle, not stupid. Do you think a brainless person could make the Death-Defying Camp so disciplined? Could he rely solely on force? A brainless person could reduce the casualty rate of the Death-Defying Camp from over 70% to below 50%? Don't worry, Master Yang won't be in mortal danger, but he might suffer a bit. Besides, General Lin is already there. If something really happens, you won't make it in time. Let General Lin handle it first, then we'll step in. That way, there's a buffer, right?" Zuo Lixing said.

Guo Jiuling looked at Zuo Lixing suspiciously, seeing his sudden calmness, he guessed half of his thoughts. "Since General Zuo says so, we'll do it that way."

Zuo Lixing turned to the two soldiers still on the ground. "What was your Commandant Zhang doing? Didn't he try to stop the fight?"

"Reporting to the General, our Commandant Zhang fought with the people of the Death-Defying Camp and was beaten to a bloody pulp."

"Zhang Xiaomao was beaten to a bloody pulp? Who in the Death-Defying Camp, besides Qin Feng, could beat Zhang Xiaomao to a bloody pulp? Oh, Zhang Xiaomao is your Commandant Zhang!" Zuo Lixing couldn't believe his ears. When did the Death-Defying Camp produce such a fierce person?

"General, I heard our commandant call him Scissors."

"Scissors? What did he fight with Zhang Xiaomao for?"

The two soldiers hesitated, then stammered, "Our commandant wanted to sleep with his mother, so they fought!"

With a puff, Princess Zhao Hua burst out laughing, and the tent erupted in laughter. Zuo Lixing shook his head. Zhang Xiaomao, Zhang Xiaomao, you really are a good actor!

As the commander, Zuo Lixing knew the abilities of his subordinates. Zhang Xiaomao's skills were at least as good as Scissors, if not better. How could he be beaten to a pulp? Clearly, he was seeking punishment, trying to avoid responsibility!

"Princess, my subordinate was disrespectful to your guard. I will bring him back and have Qin Feng apologize to you. However, he is a fierce general. I hope the princess can be magnanimous and forgive him, a light punishment will suffice." Zuo Lixing bowed to Princess Zhao Hua.

"No, I will go myself," Min Ruoxi stood up. "Although I am not a soldier, I understand what a camp flag means to an army. This is Yang Zhi's fault. Even if he is killed on the spot, it would be his own doing. If Commandant Qin can spare his life, it would be a great mercy. I will go and apologize to Commandant Qin."

"Ah?" The tent fell silent, not only Zuo Lixing but all the officers were stunned.