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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter Fifty-Six: Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkeys
As the crowd erupted in laughter and excitement, Lin Feng remained completely unfazed.
The best way to deal with a bully is to be even more brazen.
Lin Feng had Hu Bing bring over a chair, and he lazily sat down, smiling as he said, "It's noisy, keep it up. Go on. It's rare for the sun to come out today, so I might as well take a nap until everyone is done having fun."
His voice wasn't loud, but it seemed that everyone heard him. Gradually, the noise began to subside. They were tiring themselves out with their antics and hadn't expected Lin Feng to endure it for so long. If they continued to make a fuss, they thought, Lin Feng really could take a good nap while leaving them to their own devices.
Seeing that everyone had quieted down, Lin Feng finally opened his eyes and said, "Brothers, there was an issue with the jade earlier. We've replaced it now; Armory has personally checked it, and it's in perfect condition. Let's do one final test before you all head out."
Lindor spoke up, "Testing begins with the first row..."
Before Lindor could finish his sentence, Lin Feng waved his hand to interrupt and pointed out several individuals from the crowd. These were the ones who had led the ruckus earlier.
The others watched with interest, wondering how this newly appointed leader would handle them.
Eighteen people were called out, each of them relaxed and unperturbed. Having served in the military for many years, they were seasoned veterans who had made plenty of mistakes—usually just facing a round of punishment. Moreover, with someone backing them up, they felt even more fearless.
They looked straight at Lin Feng as if to say, "We're just messing with you; what are you going to do about it?"
Lin Feng remained calm and said, "Please state your names and ranks."
"Commander Qi Yuan, Fire Departure Sect."
"Captain Li Tao, Fire Departure Sect."
"Captain Feng Cai, Fire Departure Sect."
"…"
Their ranks were mostly Commander or Captain. When stating their names, they sounded lackluster at first, but when mentioning Fire Departure Sect, their faces lit up with pride and arrogance.
"These are all people from the Fire Departure Sect. Shen Jiahe really lacks consideration in his actions. Is he deliberately leaving such a flaw for me to retreat?"
"Very well," Lin Feng stood up and looked at everyone. "You all seem lively and energetic, clearly experts. Coming from the Fire Departure Sect, who in the Border Troops doesn't know of their reputation? Let you few start the testing."
"Yes, my lord."
The eighteen individuals took turns testing, putting on a show, then sighed, saying, "My lord, my martial arts are lacking; it seems I cannot qualify for the Armored Warrior."
Lin Feng asked, "Do you want to retest?"
"My lord, we are dull and foolish; testing a thousand times would be useless."
Lin Feng turned to Lindor and said, "Senior brother, please test."
"Yes, my lord."
Lindor infused his Vital Energy into the jade stone, causing it to glow, and finally a yellow character appeared on its surface.
Seeing this, the others' expressions darkened. One person said, "This brother's cultivation is astonishing; we admire him greatly."
Lin Feng sneered silently and then addressed everyone present, "As you can see, this jade stone is good. Since these brothers are not qualified and forming the Armored Warrior is urgent, I will send those who do not qualify to the Imperial Guard Headquarters for training for several months."
Upon hearing the words 'Imperial Guard Headquarters,' everyone felt a chill.
Lin Feng pointed to Sima Shangshan beside him and said, "This Sima is the commander of the Imperial Guard Headquarters. Those who do not qualify will follow Sima to the Imperial Guard Headquarters."
The troublemakers' faces clouded over. One person said solemnly, "My lord, we were only ordered to report here; we did not receive orders to go to the Imperial Guard Headquarters."
"Feng Qianzhong," Lin Feng replied, "once you join my Armored Warrior team, you are my soldiers. As for where you are assigned, that is up to me. I see your potential; sending you to the Imperial Guard Headquarters for further training is a rare opportunity."
The eighteen were suddenly at a loss for words. They wanted to argue but found Lin Feng's reasoning sound and authoritative. Panic set in.
"My lord, should we consult Lord Shen about this matter?" Captain Li Tao asked; he was indeed the storyteller from before.
"Absurd. General Tang has stated that I am responsible for the formation of the Armored Warriors. In this matter, you only need to listen to me. Or do you intend to defy military orders today?" Lin Feng's tone shifted, revealing a glint of murderous intent.
Sima looked at Lin Feng, admiration evident in his expression. He couldn't help but respect this person's meticulous thinking and seasoned approach. Now was the time for him to take action. He clapped his hands, and twenty Imperial Guards stepped forward to stand behind the eighteen men.
These individuals wore black uniforms, each one fierce and stern, their Embroidered Spring Blades exuding a strong aura of bloodshed.
"The Imperial Guard, indeed the Imperial Guard," one person among the hundreds said timidly.
"My lord, can I opt out of this training? I want to withdraw from the Armored Warriors," Li Tao asked.
Lin Feng did not respond. With a cold snort from Sima Shangshan, the twenty Imperial Guards simultaneously drew half of their Embroidered Spring Blades, a flash of blades dazzling enough to make everyone squint.
Sima Shangshan spoke with a chilling intensity: "Since everyone knows about the Imperial Guard Headquarters, you should also know its rules. Those who defy military orders will be killed on the spot."
"Take them away."
The twenty Imperial Guards restrained the eighteen men as they left. None of the eighteen dared to resist.
"Sima, I will remember your righteous assistance today," Lin Feng said sincerely.
"General Lin is too kind. As long as they are your people, the Imperial Guard Headquarters will accept them all. We will ensure they are well 'nurtured.'"
Lin Feng and Sima Shangshan played off each other, leaving the eighteen men pale with fear. Even the remaining hundreds felt uneasy. Once they entered the Imperial Guard Headquarters, coming out with all limbs intact would be a blessing; typically, one would meet an unclear end.
Li Tao was one of the few who remained calm. "I can still walk; why push me? I don't believe the Imperial Guard Headquarters is a mountain of knives or a sea of fire that can swallow people whole. Lord Lin, you're ruthless and cunning. You better let them kill me; otherwise, when I get out, I will definitely repay you."
Lin Feng smiled lightly and replied nonchalantly, "Lord Li, given the somber atmosphere at the Imperial Guard Headquarters, you might as well go over there and tell them about the White-Faced Solitary Wind's Promotion Record to liven things up."
The mention of "White-Faced Solitary Wind's Promotion Record" made everyone chuckle earlier, but coming from Lin Feng's mouth sent chills down their spines.
Among the eighteen men, few had strong wills left. One pleaded, "My lord, I deserve to die; I'm a fool. Please give me another chance; let me take the test again. It's only Yellow Rank Four!"
"Feng Qianzhong, I specifically gave you an opportunity just now. Unfortunately, you refused it. Safe travels; no need for farewells." Lin Feng's face was devoid of compassion in response to their pleas for mercy.
After some troublemakers were taken away, the remaining people witnessed Lin Feng's methods and dared not act recklessly. They all looked at Lin Feng with respect, waiting for him to speak.
Lin Feng glanced at the crowd and said, "By the way, we only need fifty Armored Warriors. The rest will mostly return to their original units. Those with particularly poor qualifications will be sent to the Imperial Guard Headquarters for training. So, everyone, make sure to test well."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone rushed to test themselves. In no time, the jade stones on the rack began to light up continuously. Some officers shouted loudly at the recorder, Hu Bing, "Look at me; I’m Yellow Rank Three. Hurry up and record it."
"I’ve reached Yellow Rank Four. Pay attention; it's rank four! Make sure you write it down correctly."
"No way! I demand a retest. I didn’t give it my all earlier... Ah... why is everyone pushing? I haven’t finished testing yet..."
"It’s my turn... my turn... I’m Yellow Rank Level Five... hurry up in front, or get out of the way."
Lin Feng quietly watched everyone test themselves with all their might. Their eyes were filled with fear and flattery, a stark contrast to the mockery and ridicule from before.
By the time the sun was about to set, the testing was complete. Lin Feng looked over the list and selected a few particularly poor performers to send to the Imperial Guard Headquarters.
Lindor hesitated and said, "Sir, everyone gave their all in this test. Are we really sending people over? Isn’t that a bit too harsh?"
Lindor was worried that Lin Feng's iron-fisted policies would lose him support.
Sima Shangshan replied, "Brother, since General Lin has spoken, it must be done. Only by making them more afraid can we establish authority. As for winning hearts, we can worry about that once they become our own."
"Did you hear Sima's advice? Proceed," Lin Feng said as he looked at Sima Shangshan and cupped his hands in salute. "Sima, I owe you a favor; in the future, I will never refuse any request you have."
"General Lin is being too modest; I haven’t done much. It’s really General Lin’s strategy that is remarkable. It seems General has an eye for talent."
As they were about to leave, Sima Shangshan quietly said, "General Lin, how should we handle those taken away? I still need to consult General on this matter."
"Of course. I will report everything to General myself; I won’t put you in a difficult position," Lin Feng assured him.
In Dongping County, Cavalry Command.
Deputy Kuang Yun hurriedly rushed in and anxiously said, "Sir, something terrible has happened."
Shen Jiahe awakened from his cultivation and asked, "What is causing such panic?"
Kuang Yun reported the events of the day truthfully.
Shen Jiahe remained silent for a long time before saying, "This Lin Feng has some skills. Once he advances in cultivation, he will surely become a significant threat to us."
"My lord, why not eliminate him sooner rather than later?"
"The Governor's matters have already begun to be executed. Make sure you handle it cleanly; do not cause trouble for me or the Governor."
"Rest assured, my lord. I will take care of it properly."
Kuang Yun left with a cold smile, secretly thinking, "Lin Feng, your glory should come to an end. In the borderlands, how can people from Solitary Moon City flaunt their power?"
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