Chapter 40: Leveraging Momentum

Along the way, Qin Jue walked while calculating the time needed for the journey.

Chen Xi followed silently behind him, uttering not a single word.

Since the squad leader had said there was nothing to worry about, all he needed to do was obey orders.

As they drew near the opposing territory, Qin Jue suddenly halted, glanced at a nearby large tree, and instructed, "Wait right up in that tree. The moment you see the captain approaching this place, make some noise."

If he wanted to teach the other party a lesson, simply going there to demand accountability would be meaningless.

Since the other party had dared to make a move, they were certainly prepared to deny everything.

And if a direct conflict broke out, the opponent was a second-realm martial artist, leaving him at a disadvantage.

Under these circumstances, the only strategy Qin Jue could think of was leveraging external power.

He would borrow Wu Mi's influence to discipline the opponent, ideally making them suffer a bitter pill.

Therefore, before coming here, he had arranged for Zhang Qi to time his report to Wu Mi, claiming that he had gotten into a conflict with a second-realm martial artist.

Given his performance today, and Wu Mi's usual high regard for him, the captain would undoubtedly rush over at the very first moment.

By that time, he would have plenty of room to maneuver.

Even if Wu Mi couldn't arrive immediately, he wouldn't mind testing the mettle of a second-realm martial artist himself!

It was often said that the gap between the first and second realms was like a natural chasm; perhaps now he would get a taste of it...

Hearing this arrangement, Chen Xi was slightly startled, but he dutifully complied and agreed upon a signal to give the warning.

Afterward, Qin Jue walked alone toward the location of the opposing squad's camp, putting on a menacing air of demanding accountability.

Before long, a martial artist within the squad spotted the aggressively approaching Qin Jue, looked startled, and immediately ran off to report.

When the company commander named Ji Quan learned that Qin Jue had appeared all by himself, he remained unimpressed.

"Just a petty first-realm martial artist, does he really think he's all that?"

Leading his trusted aides, he strode out of the tent and ran right into Qin Jue...

"Could Captain Qin be unaware that wandering around without authorization is forbidden in the military camp?"

Upon closing the distance, Ji Quan took the initiative to pick a fight.

Qin Jue glanced at him, his gaze icy, and lowered his voice: "I heard you had a wager with my subordinate and lost. Isn't it time you handed over the stakes?"

To force the opponent into making a move, one had to strike where it hurt.

At these words, Ji Quan's eyes flickered, and he suddenly chuckled: "Captain Qin, gambling duels are not permitted in the army. That was merely child's play."

He had no intention of acknowledging that wager.

Especially since it would require him—a dignified second-realm martial artist and company commander—to apologize to a mere squad leader. That was completely out of the question.

"Child's play? So your words are worth no more than a fart, then." Qin Jue stared at him, a sneer curling the corner of his lips, his tone utterly unsparing.

"Qin Jue!" Ji Quan shouted in anger, his voice sharp: "You broke into my encampment, and I haven't even called you out on it yet. Now you dare to insult me? Do you really take me for a pushover?"

With that, a furnace-like fire emerged within his body, and a dense aura swept across the clearing.

The second realm of martial arts brought forth vital energy, and the resulting pressure posed a massive threat to any first-realm martial artist.

Ji Quan's reaction played right into Qin Jue's hands.

Coming here alone and baring his sharp edge was precisely meant to make the other party lower their guard and act with unbridled arrogance.

Therefore, Qin Jue took a step forward, braving the opponent's pressure, and said with an expressionless face, "Hand over the stakes, or admit that you were just talking garbage today!"

"You're courting death! Do you really think you can act however you please? My encampment is not a place for you to run wild!" Ji Quan barked lowly, growing increasingly furious inside.

This was his territory, and the other party's blatant arrogance was essentially a slap to his face.

Right at that moment, Qin Jue's ears twitched slightly as he caught Chen Xi's signal.

He immediately scoffed derisively, "A scoundrel like you is actually a company commander? What a misfortune for the army."

"Boom!"

As soon as these words fell, Ji Quan flew into a blind rage.

Glaring fiercely at Qin Jue, he snapped, "How dare you humiliate me!"

With that, he lunged forward and grabbed Qin Jue.

The other party had pushed their luck time and time again; even if he beat him up now, no one would say a thing.

Besides, the entire camp was filled with his own men, so no word of this would leak out.

Enhanced by his inner fire, Ji Quan's right hand glowed with a intense red light, bringing with it a fierce, unstoppable momentum.

Qin Jue had no intention of resisting either.

Ji Quan easily seized Qin Jue's collar and smiled with contempt, "Did you really think you could contend with a second-realm martial artist?"

Below the second realm, all were mere ants!

Had it not been for the other's military rank, he wouldn't have bothered giving him a second glance.

Yet Qin Jue showed not a trace of fear. Opening his mouth, he bit out each word slowly: "Are! You! Worth! It?"

Ji Quan's expression shifted drastically, boiling with rage. He tightened his grip on his right hand, intending to lift him up and violently slam him onto the ground...

"Stop right there!"

At that very instant, a violent gust of wind howled through the air, and the onlookers caught only a fleeting flash of orange light.

Before Ji Quan could react, his right arm was suddenly seized. The immense force sent a sharp jolt of pain through his body, even as a second-realm martial artist.

With wide eyes, he stared at the stubble-faced man standing before him, his heart filled with terror.

"Captain Wu!" Ji Quan exclaimed in shock.

"Let go." Wu Mi furrowed his brows, a trace of anger lacing his voice.

Panicking, Ji Quan hastily released his grip, but his right arm remained locked in a tight hold, utterly unable to break free.

"Are you alright?" Wu Mi looked Qin Jue up and down, asking with concern.

Today, Qin Jue had truly helped him save an immense amount of face before the commander.

If the lad were to suffer even the slightest mishap tonight, he would have no choice but to tear the perpetrator into two halves.

"Thanks to the captain for arriving in the nick of time." Qin Jue once again put his acting skills to work, assuming a look of frightened relief.

This only added fuel to Wu Mi's inner fury.

He abruptly spun around and locked his gaze on Ji Quan.

Ji Quan instantly felt as though he were being watched by a ferocious tiger; all the hair on his body stood on end, and a chill crawled down his spine.

"Captain Wu, I..."

Before he could even explain, he was rudely cut off by Wu Mi: "As for tonight's affair, Kong Yaowu had better give me a proper explanation."

Kong Yaowu was Ji Quan's immediate superior.

Hearing this, Ji Quan turned pale, momentarily struck speechless.

And then...

The three of them proceeded directly to Kong Yaowu's tent.

Once both company commanders learned the full sequence of events concerning Qin Jue and Ji Quan.

Wu Mi sat there, his lips curling into an indifferent, mocking smile as he let out a dry, sarcastic laugh: "Heh!"

"Throwing your weight around based on your cultivation realm, and treating your promises like fart! Old Kong, the fine subordinates you've brought up sure have quite the capability!"

Kong Yaowu wore an awkward expression.

If it were merely Ji Quan failing to keep his word, he might have been able to use his status as a company commander to pull some strings and smooth things over.

But this idiot had actually dared to lay a hand on Qin Jue!

Earlier today, he had heard with his own ears how highly the commander had praised Qin Jue.

If someone valued so deeply by the commander suffered the slightest mishap, he would undoubtedly be held accountable.

With a look of profound disappointment, Kong Yaowu glared at the kneeling Ji Quan, desperately wanting to ask him: What on earth gave you the guts to do that?

"Old Wu, it's my failure in discipline; this is on me. Rest assured, I will handle this matter to your absolute satisfaction." Kong Yaowu gritted his teeth and spoke with a helpless tone.

"You'd better." Wu Mi drew out his words, responding at a leisurely pace.

Immediately after, his tone shifted, his gaze turning as sharp as a falcon's: "My subordinate suffered quite a fright tonight. How do you propose to compensate him?"

Kong Yaowu's eyes flickered uncertainly.

A moment later, he gritted his teeth and said, "I still have some medicinal herbs for nourishing qi and invigorating the blood. You can take the lot of them."

He knew very well that if he didn't bleed heavily tonight, once word of this reached the commander's ears, his career would be completely ruined.

Upon hearing this, Wu Mi nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Qin Jue, putting on a pretense as he instructed, "Qin Jue, why aren't you thanking Captain Kong for his generosity?"

"Many thanks, Captain Kong." Qin Jue rose at the appropriate moment.

...

The subsequent matters naturally became much simpler.

Ji Quan first offered a personal apology to Xiao Wushan and Chen Xi, and then obediently handed back a full year's worth of stipend belonging to the subordinates...

Through this incident, Chen Xi and the others grew to admire Qin Jue with an absolute, unquestioning devotion.