Chapter 9

Yang Zhi could hardly believe his eyes. In front of him was a chaotic, haphazardly set up camp, which was supposed to be the base of the most combat-effective daredevil battalion of the western border army. Compared to the dignified central camp, this place was like a refugee camp.

"Is this their base?" Yang Zhi looked at the kitten beside him.

"Yep, yep!" Unlike Yang Zhi, the kitten saw this messy camp as if it were home, his eyes shining with enthusiasm.

"This is their main camp? Any bandits could raid it, right? Where are the barriers, the chevaux-de-frise, the fences, the watchtowers, the sentries, and the camp gates?" Yang Zhi shouted.

"Any bandits could raid the daredevil battalion's camp?" The kitten gave Yang Zhi a mocking look. "Young Master Yang, the people in the daredevil battalion are the ancestors of bandits." He kicked a rock the size of a bowl, which flew up and landed in his palm. With a grin, the kitten casually threw the rock towards a seemingly normal patch of green grass.

With a thud, the rock landed, and suddenly a net flew up from the seemingly normal patch of grass, wrapping around the rock. The sound of crossbows rang out, and not far away, a piece of ground burst open, revealing a crossbow. Several bolts shot out like lightning, piercing the net. With a plop, the entire net, wrapped around the rock, fell to the ground.

Yang Zhi was stunned.

"Master Yang, many things are not what they seem. There are no undeserving people under a great reputation. If the daredevil battalion were so easy to deal with, how could the Western Qin people who have died at their hands over the years have any place to cry?" The kitten giggled. "When we enter the camp, follow me closely and don't wander around. There are traps and mechanisms everywhere, set up by some perverted people who have nothing better to do. Some of them even their superiors don't know about. One misstep, and you'll see blood."

"Are these the tricks of demons and spirits? Can they really do anything to me?" After a moment of shock, Yang Zhi raised his head again. "By the way, how do you know so much about this?"

The kitten laughed. "Young Master Yang, I used to be in the daredevil battalion. Please, Young Master Yang, follow me."

Yang Zhi, who had been talking as if he didn't care, followed the kitten step by step. "I didn't realize, Captain Zhang, that you were also from the daredevil battalion? I heard that the people in the daredevil battalion are not very clean!"

"Indeed, they are not very clean. Before I joined the daredevil battalion, I was a wanderer, doing business without capital, robbing on the road. I had bad luck and was caught, then sent to the daredevil battalion. After fighting in many battles, I became a deputy captain, and later, I was transferred out. By the way, the Captain Qin you are here to spar with today is my old superior."

Yang Zhi's steps slowed. "Your old superior?"

"Yes, otherwise, why would General Zuo send me? If he sent someone unfamiliar, they wouldn't be able to bring you into the camp." The kitten giggled.

"Since you are Qin Feng's subordinate, you must know his background, right?" Yang Zhi asked with a smile.

"Are you asking me about Captain Qin's martial arts skills?" The kitten looked at Yang Zhi with a half-smile. "You can ask directly. General Zuo sent me to take care of you and make sure you don't suffer any losses."

Yang Zhi laughed loudly. "Me suffer? Just Qin Feng? Hahaha!" His laughter suddenly stopped. "But it doesn't hurt to know, right? Know your enemy as well as yourself!"

The kitten pouted, looking at the eager Yang Zhi. "To be honest, I really don't know. I've fought with Captain Qin, and so have many others in the daredevil battalion who have some skills. But we all ended up with bruised faces. With my limited abilities, I can't figure out Captain Qin's true strength. But you, Young Master Yang, are a big shot from the capital, with extraordinary skills, far beyond us small fry. Hahaha!"

Yang Zhi's face turned white with anger. This was telling him his background, and it was also undermining his confidence! In a fit of rage, he pushed the kitten away and strode forward.

"Hey, Young Master Yang, be careful, be careful!" The kitten hurriedly followed. If Yang Zhi fell before even entering the camp, it would be his responsibility.

When the two reached the tall flag of the daredevil battalion, the kitten immediately saw an old acquaintance.

"Wild Dog!" He greeted warmly.

Wild Dog, holding a knife, stood under the flag, looking at the kitten and laughing dryly. "The little ones just told me someone triggered a trap. I wondered who it was, but it's an old friend! You, the sick cat, have climbed high, why are you coming to our poor place?"

"You're Wild Dog, not a mad dog. I haven't provoked you, so why are you biting me?" The kitten crossed his arms, looking down at Wild Dog. "If I hadn't left, you would have become a deputy captain, Wild Dog. Don't forget, you used to be my subordinate, and I always beat you to the ground. What's wrong, feeling uncomfortable?"

"Damn, that was in the past. Now I've improved. I was just looking for a chance to get back at you, but your place is too deep. If I went to you, you'd definitely gang up on me and wouldn't fight me one-on-one. I'm crazy, but not stupid." Wild Dog laughed, dragging his iron knife on the ground, sparks flying. "Come on, you beat me for two whole years. Today, I'm going to get my revenge."

"Maybe you'll just add new grudges to old ones." The kitten giggled. "Looks like I'll have to teach you how to behave again today."

Their faces were almost touching, noses almost touching. Yang Zhi couldn't stand it anymore. These people in the daredevil battalion were all abnormal. He coughed loudly.

The cough startled the kitten, who was about to teach Wild Dog a lesson. He immediately stepped back. "Hold on!"

"Afraid?" Wild Dog looked at him triumphantly.

"Today I have important business. If you want to fight, pick another day. Where is the boss?" the kitten asked.

"You have business with the boss?" Wild Dog sized up the kitten. "Don't say I didn't warn you, the boss is in a bad mood today. He's been cursing the sky and the earth because the military orders changed, and all our previous work was wasted. Even when Scissors raided half of the Longsheng Camp's supplies, it didn't make the boss smile."

"Raided half of the Longsheng Camp's supplies?" Yang Zhi was stunned. Was this even an army? They were a bunch of bandits. The kitten didn't find it strange; he had done similar things with Qin Feng before. Following Qin Feng, they had always had the best food and drink. After taking command of his own battalion, life was far less comfortable. He had to worry about the food, drink, and daily needs of three thousand men. Being a battalion captain was not easy.

"Alright, I know about that. I'll find Captain Qin. By the way, this is Young Master Yang from the capital, who has some business with Captain Qin. Take good care of him, don't offend Young Master Yang, he's a big shot from the capital!" The kitten looked at Wild Dog with a mischievous smile, then ran off, familiar with the layout of the Longsheng Camp. However, after turning a corner, Wild Dog heard a scream and laughed. "Little guy, you've been gone for two years, but our camp is always changing. You'll be in for a surprise!"

After laughing for a while, Wild Dog slowly turned around. "Young Master Yang? From the capital?"

"Yes, that's me." Yang Zhi raised his head proudly. He was a high-ranking young master from the capital, while Wild Dog was just a street thug struggling in the mud. Even with his current position, he was still just a thug with a bit of status.

"Are you the pretty boy who played with a flying sword in the central camp, targeting our Captain Qin?" Wild Dog's thick eyebrows slowly rose, and he rubbed his iron knife on the ground, sparks flying. "You've got some nerve, daring to attack our Captain Qin? You got a lesson, didn't you? Hehehe!"

Yang Zhi was instantly furious. "Qin Feng is just a sneak. I'm here today to give him a proper lesson. Where is he? Is he hiding, afraid to see me? Qin Feng, come out!"

"Damn, you dare to call our Captain Qin by his name? Who do you think you are, daring to teach our Captain Qin a lesson? I'll teach you first!" Wild Dog, hearing Yang Zhi's shouting, was furious. With a roar, he raised his iron knife and swung it at Yang Zhi.

Yang Zhi's mother was the current First Lady, a first-rank noblewoman, and even the emperor would give her some face. Being insulted by a low-ranking officer, Yang Zhi was enraged. "I'll kill you, you scum." He raised his hand, and with a whoosh, a short sword flew out.