Chapter 51

Recently, after several heavy rains, the alfalfa covering the foothills of the forest began to grow wildly under the abundant rainwater. A few thunder rhinos, as robust as small hills, grazed by the riverbank. A group of warriors were repairing the camp's fence, setting up new posts to reinforce the wall. They saw the members of the second squad returning from a distance, and some of them waved to Suldak.

Mosquitoes and flies buzzed among the grass, and the path was somewhat muddy. A winding, meandering cart track led to the forest, filled with rainwater in the ruts.

The second squad returned to the camp of the 57th Heavy Infantry Regiment. The swordsman Baga followed Suldak with some confusion, seemingly asking why Hoboqiang did not return to the camp with everyone else. Suldak was patiently explaining the reason to Baga, and the group walked into the camp gate.

Hoboqiang returned to the merchant Lakin's residence. The curly-haired boy Gabi was not setting up a stall but was processing some Tim fish skins in front of the tent. Although Gabi was not a skilled leatherworker, he was competent in the preliminary processing of the leather.

Merchant Lakin was sitting in front of the tent, taking inventory of his goods, looking quite pleased.

Lakin seemed surprised to see Hoboqiang coming from outside, immediately putting down his ledger and walking over to give Hoboqiang a hug.

Merchant Lakin's smile was warm. Now that Suldak's initial promise had been fulfilled, the second squad would bring many of their spoils to him, providing him with a steady source of goods.

Lakin said warmly to Hoboqiang, "Hey! Look who's back. Suldak told me you were injured. How are you now?"

Hoboqiang pointed to his chest, indicating where he was injured.

Lakin eagerly pulled him into the tent, and Hoboqiang thought it was because of concern for his injury.

Unexpectedly, inside the tent filled with goods, a new wooden bed was set up. It was unpainted, and the wooden boards emitted a faint pine oil scent. A red-eyed hyena skin was laid on top, making it look simple and neat, near the tent entrance.

"Come in and take a look. I've prepared something for you... See, a comfortable bed, specially made by a carpenter. Aren't you moved?" Lakin boasted to Hoboqiang.

He then asked if Hoboqiang had eaten dinner, and Hoboqiang said he had, so Lakin did not say anything more.

Lakin seemed very interested in Suldak's recent expedition, so he asked Hoboqiang, "Suldak told me you encountered demons in the mountains. At first, I didn't quite believe it..."

Faced with the enthusiastic Lakin, Hoboqiang could only patiently describe the expedition with gestures.

...

Swordsman Baga waited in the 57th Heavy Infantry Regiment for nearly a week. Finally, a team of construct swordsmen arrived at the forest camp. These construct swordsmen stayed with the 57th Regiment for only one day before leaving with Baga to re-enter the Gandael Mountains. This team of construct swordsmen planned to search for clues to the Demon Gate in the mountains.

Baga believed that the appearance of the Demon Gate was not coincidental. There was substantial evidence that demons had been frequently appearing in the Gandael Mountains recently. In the past two months, the sentries guarding the Gandael Mountains had reported that several demon squads had crossed the Green Empire's blockade and entered the deep mountains.

After entering the Gandael Mountains, the search team had a high chance of entering the territories of level-three magical beasts. Therefore, all eleven members of the team were first-tier construct swordsmen. The identity of the team leader, however, remained mysterious.

This time, the second squad found Baga and assisted him in eliminating a Demon Gate, which finally allowed Baron Sidney to feel vindicated. Colonel Munde Goss also praised him, and all members of the second squad were awarded third-class military honors. What the other squads envied most was that Suldak and the second squad had also obtained black magic crystals.

Apart from their intrinsic value, black magic crystals could also be exchanged for a large amount of military honors at the logistics department. Of course, military honors meant little to Hoboqiang.

...

For about half a month afterward,

Every morning, Hoboqiang practiced some basic movements taught by Suldak on the grassy slope. When the fourth star in his mental sea lit up, the Roman sword in his hand felt lighter.

Hoboqiang found that each star that lit up in his mental sea enhanced his strength, agility, and constitution, and the changes were very noticeable.

Sometimes, Hoboqiang would practice with Red Socks on the slope. Each time, Red Socks would complain loudly about Hoboqiang's strong grip, shaking his hands in pain. Later, Red Socks would immediately run away whenever he saw Hoboqiang, refusing to practice with him.

During this period, Suldak also led the second squad on several missions, but they were mostly minor tasks with little reward. It was more profitable to secretly hunt Tim fish in the river valley. This fishing ground, rich in Tim fish, was like a gold mine for the second squad, and they kept it a secret, never mentioning it to outsiders.

Hoboqiang leaned against a large rock on the slope, eyes closed, feeling his mental sea. He had already lit the fifth star in his body, and he felt he could easily drive the Roman sword into the rock behind him.

He hid here to find a quiet place to better understand his abilities.

Apart from the increase in strength, the soft light emitted by the five stars would gather in his palm, creating a very peculiar sensation.

Controlling the sacred power in his body to gather in his palm, he saw a faint light appear, followed by a pale light orb floating above his palm. If Hoboqiang was slightly inattentive, the light orb would instantly dissipate.

Hoboqiang reformed the light orb and carefully maintained it, trying to keep it visible.

Swordsman Baga said that the faint yellow light contained the aura of sacred magic and that the light orb had the extremely rare ability to heal.

Hoboqiang looked at his arm with a wry smile, thinking: If he had this power, would he really become a battlefield doctor in the future?

He then tried to channel the sacred magic into the sword, and a faint light appeared on the blade. However, this light seemed to have no practical effect, only making the Roman sword look cooler.

A rapid hoofbeat approached from a distance. The Gubolai horse, covered in mud, had been running for a long time. The rider raised a silver scepter, and the guards at the camp gate quickly ran down to open the wooden gate.

The knight charged into the camp without slowing down. Seeing this, Hoboqiang turned his gaze away.

The 57th Heavy Infantry Regiment frequently communicated with the command post in Handanar County, preparing for the upcoming battle.

Baga's search team had been in the Gandael Mountains for over half a month, but there had been no news from them.

Just as Hoboqiang stood up, ready to brush off the grass from his back and return to Lakin's residence, he saw a group of people appear at the edge of the forest. Each of them was wearing intricate leather armor with magical patterns. Hoboqiang realized that Baga's search team had safely returned from the Gandael Mountains after twenty days.

Baga's search team brought back a terrible message.

They discovered a new demon army in the deep Gandael Mountains, at a place named "Moyun Ridge," where they were building a defensive stronghold capable of housing over a thousand demon warriors...