The tall and fair-skinned Yang Hongtian appeared, and instantly became the center of attention.
Everyone's gaze automatically gathered on him.
An aura of someone accustomed to being in a high position naturally radiated from him, bringing an invisible pressure.
"General, it was this person who provoked first, I was only forced to retaliate."
Jiang Shi gritted his teeth, clasped his fists, and said.
"Is that so?"
Yang Hongtian's tone was calm, "How exactly did he provoke you?"
"He forcibly tried to make me drink his wine, and when I refused, he attacked me. Please, General, see this clearly!"
Jiang Shi responded.
"I see, Master Liu, is this how it was?"
Yang Hongtian's gaze was light as he looked at Master Liu on the ground.
Master Liu's face immediately turned unsightly, "General, you be the judge. I only wanted to make his acquaintance with no ill intent, but who would have thought that this person was so domineering and rude, not giving me a chance to make friends and instead assaulted me, I am truly wronged!"
He forcibly reversed black and white, confusing right and wrong.
"It seems to be a misunderstanding."
Yang Hongtian sighed lightly, "You're all brothers here, why must things be so tense? Besides, Jiang Shi, you acted too harshly. Regardless, initiating a fight violates our Red Flame Army's regulations. Just a few days ago, I promoted you to Captain of the Vanguard, and yet you act so lawlessly,
If I do not punish you, it will be hard to maintain order!
Yet, it is a crucial time, and punishment for you is not good for our Red Flame Army either.
Hence, your penalty of forty strokes is temporarily waived.
But while death can be pardoned, living punishment is unavoidable, you must come with me for the time being!"
He directly turned and walked toward the distant tent.
Jiang Shi felt a surge of emotions, clearly sensing Yang Hongtian's bias.
Yang Hongtian seemingly didn't pursue Master Liu at all.
Whatever Master Liu said, he believed it.
But it wasn't the time to say more. After a glance at Master Liu, Jiang Shi could only follow Yang Hongtian.
The crowd burst into chatter and discussion behind them.
Chi Long and Chi Huo looked displeased, their fists clenched.
This time, Yang Hongtian had favored Master Liu's side...
Could it really be an attempt to suppress Zhenwu Temple?
···
In the tent.
Yang Hongtian sat in the main seat, his expression calm, his deep eyes lightly gazing at Jiang Shi, "Jiang Shi, do you blame me for favoring Master Liu?"
"I wouldn't dare!"
Jiang Shi responded gloomily.
"It's okay to blame me, but not sitting in my position, you wouldn't understand my intentions. Truth is, those Jianghu folks are ultimately outsiders; only you are one of us within the Red Flame Army. With external threats at hand, we need to enlist these Jianghu folks to help us, thus I have to favor them in all matters, only then will they be willing to serve me. Do you understand?"
Yang Hongtian said faintly.
It seemed as though the previous provocations and attempts to chastise Jiang Shi had nothing to do with him.
Jiang Shi was doubtful at heart, looking at Yang Hongtian.
Did Yang Hongtian really take him as one of his own?
Impossible!
To question oneself, such a skilled and long-standing General wouldn't easily trust others!
"Yes, I understand."
Jiang Shi replied.
No matter what Yang Hongtian's intentions were, he would maneuver with him for now.
When his strength rises, he can naturally turn against him.
"As long as you understand, my punishment for you is unavoidable, but you needn't worry, I won't send you to do anything dangerous."
Yang Hongtian continued, "Recently there has been a shortage of military pay for two months, and I plan to let General Xia collect the military pay, you will accompany him. Rest assured, it will take five to ten days to complete."
"Collect military pay?"
Jiang Shi was puzzled.
"Exactly."
Yang Hongtian nodded, "Xia Longhai!"
The tent opened, and a tall, burly man of about 1.8 meters, with a full beard and one blind eye, exuding a powerful presence, walked in, clasping his fists.
"General!"
"Tomorrow morning, take Jiang Shi to collect the silver allowance!"
Yang Hongtian pointed at Jiang Shi and said lightly.
"Yes, General!"
Xia Longhai's voice was deep, his single eye sharp, turning to Jiang Shi, he said, "Brother Jiang, we depart at the first quarter of Chou tomorrow morning; please don't be late."
Jiang Shi pondered and nodded, "Okay!"
Xia Longhai clasped his fists again towards Yang Hongtian and then directly left the tent.
"Jiang Shi, on the way, you must heed General Xia's words properly. Xia Longhai is a Deputy General of our army, one of my right hands, deeply skilled, you must not easily anger him!"
Yang Hongtian said.
"Yes, General!"
Jiang Shi clasped his fists again.
"Alright, you are dismissed, when you return, there will be a heavy reward."
Yang Hongtian said.
Jiang Shi directly exited the place.
Soon after Jiang Shi left, Zhang Shan, clad in silver robes and armor, came in from outside, entering the central army tent.
"General..."
"To win over a person, first, win over their heart. To win the heart, one must use both gentle and harsh means, only then will they be willingly subservient!"
Yang Hongtian's face remained plain as he spoke slowly.
"What if the person still doesn't appreciate it?"
"Still doesn't appreciate it?"
Yang Hongtian smiled faintly, "Then there's no need to keep them; if they can't be used by me, they are ultimately enemies. For enemies, there's no need to hold back."
"Yes, General!"
Zhang Shan clasped his fists.
···
Outside.
Jiang Shi soon found Chi Huo and Chi Long again and recounted everything he had just encountered in the tent to them.
Both old Daoists immediately frowned tightly.
"What is Yang Hongtian's real intention? Does he truly regard Jiang Shi as one of his own?"
"It doesn't seem right, Yang Hongtian is cunning and shrewd, not someone who easily trusts people."
The two old Daoists felt deeply suspicious.
But no matter how much they pondered, they couldn't figure out what Yang Hongtian meant.
At this moment.
A disciple of Zhenwu Temple quickly ran over from afar urgently, shouting, "Elder, Elder Chi Yuan has arrived!"
"Oh? Junior Brother Chi Yuan is here?"
"Quickly, Jiang Shi, go and see Junior Brother Chi Yuan!"
The two old Daoists revealed joy, and took Jiang Shi to walk outside.
Soon.
The crowd finally met Chi Yuan, Guo Ping, and Liu Song.
Besides Daoist Chi Yuan being an Elder of Zhenwu Temple,
Guo Ping and Liu Song both served as consecrated positions.
"Brother!"
Chi Yuan and the others saluted the two old Daoists immediately.
The two old Daoists were overjoyed.
"Good, it's good you're here, let's go back home first!"
Elder Chi Huo smiled.
They directly led the group toward the dwelling, solemnly introducing Jiang Shi along the way.
Of course, during this period, there was a round of probing.
But after Jiang Shi casually displayed a skill, it immediately shocked the three.
In the courtyard.
Daoist Chi Yuan shut the door, speaking seriously, "Jiang Shi, this time I come with instructions from the Observatory Master to tell you to be careful, and he will try to get you out of the army. Also, as ordered by the Observatory Master, I bring you a copy of the [Red Sun Body Refining Technique]."
He directly pulled out a secret manual wrapped in multiple layers of oiled paper from his robe.
"Oh? Red Sun Body Refining Technique?"
"The Observatory Master actually sent this over?"
Both Chi Huo and Chi Long couldn't help but brighten their eyes.
The Red Sun Body Segmenting Technique, a supreme body refining cultivation technique treasured by Zhenwu Temple for many years, had an extremely significant function.
If a body of a thousand pounds practices it, it can break through the limit to reach fifteen hundred pounds.
If a body of three thousand pounds practices it, it can directly reach four thousand five hundred pounds.
In summary, it can increase the body's strength by half based on its original state.
A natural Vajra like Jiang Shi, once practiced, the power would be unimaginable.
…
Request for daily readers!