Chapter 88

Such a result left Zhou Lu puzzled and frustrated, the pent-up anger in his heart almost making his chest explode. He seized a horse and galloped wildly, not knowing where he had ended up. The majestic mountains loomed ahead, their ridges undulating endlessly. In the rugged landscape, Zhou Lu rode his horse and let out a loud roar, startling a flock of birds from the forest and a dazed badger from a pile of rocks.

Zhou Lu reached for the hard bow on his horse, picked out an arrow, and shot it, pinning the badger to the pile of rocks.

Zhou Lu jumped off his horse, which was panting and foaming at the mouth, grabbed the badger, and started a fire to roast it. He then angrily tore off the two sizzling, oily legs and chewed them furiously, his cheeks puffed out. He wandered aimlessly, leading the horse by the reins.

The horse, frightened by the fat man, had long since run off. Behind him, the campfire had burned the remaining badger meat to a crisp, but Zhou Lu paid no attention.

Climbing over a small hill, he found himself at the tribal settlement. Zhou Lu walked dazedly to a felt tent, felt his waist pouch, and found no coins in his new armor. He gritted his teeth, used his waist knife as collateral, and exchanged it for a large gourd of strong liquor from an old man with a white beard. He drank wildly, roasting the badger leg.

The liquor was too strong. Half a gourd down, Zhou Lu was already drunk, his eyes blurred and his steps unsteady. He stubbornly took a few more large gulps, belched, and staggered forward with the gourd in hand.

His heart was filled with a deep sense of loneliness and sorrow.

No matter how hard he tried, he still had to rely on his father? Sadly, Zhou Lu didn't even know who his biological father was.

Why did those idiots in his eyes, just because they were born handsome and strong, make girls eagerly approach them, and just because they were born noble, they could bully others and easily gain glory, while he had to use all his cunning and means to get anything?

Is it just because I'm a fat idiot?

Zhou Lu laughed foolishly, his mind dizzy, and a wave of nausea rose in his stomach. He leaned against a mountain wall and vomited, leaving a mess.

Passing tribesmen, carrying large baskets, stopped to look at the drunk fat man, pointing and whispering.

Recently, there were too many hunting teams stationed in the western border, and to prevent them from disturbing the tribes, the discipline was strictly enforced. Hunters with military whips patrolling the area were everywhere. Therefore, it was rare to see a hunter openly drunk.

How could this fat man be so bold? Wasn't he afraid of being caught by the hunters?

Some tribesmen even saw a group of hunters with murderous looks, holding military whips, running towards them.

Openly violating military discipline, if caught by the hunters, would result in thirty lashes and three days and nights in confinement. In severe cases, they would be stripped of their armor and expelled from the hunting team.

In the wilderness, where the spirit of bravery was revered, such punishment could make a man lose face for life.

The approaching hunters looked fierce. "Damn, there's really someone who dares to drink openly, looking for death? We'll take him back and interrogate him harshly."

The hunters were filled with murderous intent.

"Look, isn't that the fat man?"

The tribesman carrying the basket suddenly shouted.

"Which fat man?"

"Are you so stupid? Don't you recognize him? He's the fat eagle-wing soldier who saved our lives!"

"It's really him, it's really him..."

"Everyone, look, it's the fat man who saved our lives." Several tribesmen waved frantically, causing a commotion.

Many people recognized Zhou Lu. A few days ago, during the sand bandit attack, this fat figure had rescued dozens of lives from the bone spears of hundreds of bandits and brought them to the Array Fire Pavilion. In the western border, how many felt tents had his portrait, and how many families told the story of his selfless rescue?

The commotion spread far and wide.

More and more tribesmen, their eyes filled with tears, rushed over from all directions. The tribes valued "righteousness" the most. For them, the favor of saving lives was higher than the sky. They didn't care about the fierce hunters. Layer after layer of tribesmen angrily pushed the hunters to the side, forming an unbreakable human wall to protect the fat man. They stood face to face with the hunters, ready to defend him.

They would not let the hunters take the fat man away.

If that was a violation of military discipline, they were willing to be punished with him.

The angry hunters were almost driven mad, trying to push through the human wall, but they couldn't break through. Far away, Xiao Luan stood behind a cluster of tents, watching the scene, tears welling up in her eyes. She didn't know whether to feel sorry for her sworn brother or proud of him.

In the vast western border, how many hunters were so beloved by the tribes?

Xiao Luan didn't walk over.

Finally, a deputy captain of the discipline team rushed over and hurriedly led the hunters away.

They had already learned who the fat man was from other sources.

He was a brave warrior who had captured the chief of the Blackbeard Mountain stronghold alone in the wilderness. He was a hero of the wilderness, fearless and bold. From the mouths of the rescued miners, Zhou Lu's legendary story had spread throughout the western border. Such a story, which hunter wouldn't be inspired and praise him as a true man?

Now, rumors were spreading that the fat man had suffered a great injustice in the main tent.

The hunters, upon returning, angrily slapped themselves.

They all felt the same way about the fat man's injustice. What was a little drunkenness? What kind of military discipline? To hell with it all.

That day, the entire hunter discipline team avoided the tribal settlement.

The tribesmen, with tears in their eyes, escorted Zhou Lu for a while. Zhou Lu, still drunk, laughed foolishly and vomited, unaware of what was happening. He stumbled through the crowd, not knowing where he was going, but the scenery seemed familiar.

He shook his head hard, the strong liquor causing a splitting headache, his mind buzzing, and his vision blurry.

Zhou Lu took out the gourd again, but it was empty. He threw it to the side in frustration.

Originally, Zhou Lu, with his demonic fire, was not afraid of alcohol. If he wanted to, he could easily burn off the alcohol with his demonic fire. But this time, he deliberately let himself get drunk to let go and vent. He didn't want to think about anything, just to ignore all the nonsense and let loose.

"Zhou Lu..."

In Zhou Lu's blurred vision, a figure on the mountain path frowned and called out loudly, "Follow me, someone wants to see you."

"Someone wants to see me?"

Zhou Lu, swaying and dizzy, cursed, "Go to hell, I'm not in the mood to see anyone."

Zhou Lu staggered forward, but his peripheral vision noticed the figure still standing there, looking familiar.

"Huh?"

Zhou Lu's heart skipped a beat, a chill ran down his spine, and he sobered up a bit. He suddenly realized how familiar the voice was.

Zhou Lu rubbed his eyes and looked closely. The figure on the mountain path was none other than the stern-faced Pavilion Master Dongfang.

Someone must have seen Zhou Lu and reported to the Pavilion Master, who had come to call him.

"It's the Pavilion Master?"

Zhou Lu was stunned. Even in his drunken state, he was scared, his legs trembling. The remaining bit of rationality told him he was in big trouble. He quickly activated the demonic fire in his qi sea, burning off most of the alcohol, and his mind cleared. He shook his head, regained his senses, and stumbled over, smiling nervously, "Pavilion Master, you, you came out yourself?"

He was still a bit drunk, and his words sounded foolish.

The Pavilion Master glared at Zhou Lu, his face dark, and turned to leave, saying sternly, "Follow me."

This fat man had caused a commotion in the main tent and dared to call himself "old man." With such strict military discipline in the western border, the Pavilion Master had no good face for him.

Zhou Lu's face turned pale. He hesitated, then hurriedly followed, his head hanging low. He was guilty after causing trouble. Zhou Lu wasn't afraid of others, but he had to be afraid of the Pavilion Master. Not only did the Pavilion Master control his identity, but with the relationship between the Pavilion Master and his grandfather, if the Pavilion Master said a few bad words to his grandfather, his grandfather would break his legs.

Zhou Lu's heart was pounding.

The two entered the Array Fire Pavilion, and the Pavilion Master led him to a secret entrance that Zhou Lu had never seen before. After walking a few dozen steps, a heavy stone door blocked the end of the cave.

The Pavilion Master walked over and gently touched the cave wall, and the thick stone gate silently rose. Inside was a narrow, winding stone path leading downward, extending deep underground.

Zhou Lu followed, his mind full of doubt. He turned his head and saw the gate close silently behind him, blocking the way back. He was scared and disoriented.

Zhou Lu had stayed in the Array Fire Pavilion for a while, but he had never imagined such a secret place existed. Was this a forbidden area?

The two walked downward for a long time, passing at least four more heavy stone gates. The heavily guarded forbidden area made Zhou Lu dizzy. Finally, the Pavilion Master led him to a grand cave, with strange rocks and stalactites, and the sound of dripping water was clear in the silence.

The cave was clearly deep underground.

In the cave, a tall figure stood with its back to them.

The Pavilion Master brought Zhou Lu in, gave him a stern look, and quietly bowed out. Zhou Lu was scared and looked at the figure, who was wearing a fur cloak, standing tall and dignified, evoking a sense of reverence.

"Who, who are you? If you don't speak, I'll leave, I really will..."

Zhou Lu's face was pale, trying to intimidate.

The Pavilion Master had called him for someone else.

Who could make the respected Pavilion Master of the Western Border Array Fire Pavilion go out to find someone and then quietly retreat like a servant? Was it worth all this trouble just to deal with a fat man who caused a little trouble and violated a bit of military discipline?

Zhou Lu's forehead was covered in sweat.