Chapter 23: Flattery from New Recruits, Overtures from the Centurion

Many new recruits swarmed forward to curry favor with Liu Wei. Their words were filled with endless praise and sycophantic flattery.

"Brother Liu, out of the thirty-some men in our mess hall, you have the greatest martial talent!"

"That’s right, that’s right! Even Instructor Zhang praised you personally just a few days ago. I reckon the top spot in this assessment is yours for the taking, Brother Liu."

"Hehe, Brother Liu, once you’ve officially enlisted, don't forget about us brothers. Make sure to look out for us when you’re in a position to do so."

Liu Wei felt himself floating on air. While he offered hypocritical displays of humility, his heart was already blooming with joy. This feeling of being the center of attention was simply marvelous, and he reveled in it immensely.

"First place—I am the first! What do the others even count for?"

However, at that very moment, an extremely excited shout erupted from outside the barracks: "Brother He, now I’d like to see who dares to compete with you for the top spot in the assessment!"

This sudden outburst shattered Liu Wei’s blissful mood. Near the entrance of the courtyard, Xia He and Wang Erpang were struggling to carry a massive, mountain-like side of wild boar meat, passing by slowly. They had only been passing through by chance; having taken a day’s leave, they naturally had no reason to return to the mess hall.

But Wang Erpang, unable to restrain himself, had spoken loudly on purpose to draw the attention of those inside. As expected, the moment the new recruits heard the commotion, they all wore expressions of shock and quickly gathered around to watch the spectacle.

"Erpang, where did that pork come from? Did the military camp issue it to improve our meals?"

"Go to hell! Do you have that kind of luck? This is a demon boar from the mountains—it’s eaten people! Brother He hunted it himself!"

Wang Erpang had always been a loudmouth. As he spoke, he gestured wildly, embellishing the story of how Xia He had braved the deep mountains to hunt the beast, making the heroic tale vivid and lifelike.

Some immediately expressed doubt, finding it hard to believe, but Wang Erpang refused to back down. He jumped out and argued loudly, "Don't believe me if you want! Even the Chiliarch knows our Brother He’s name, and he even specifically rewarded him with a precious low-level martial arts manual!"

Once these words were out, the crowd’s faces turned into masks of uncertainty and shock. Even the Chiliarch had been stirred into action? And he had awarded him a low-level martial arts manual! Even if it was only low-level, who among them had ever seen a martial arts manual? The basic recruit manuals didn't even qualify as low-level, and neither Liu Wei nor Wang Erpang had ever seen such a thing.

Generally, only military families who had performed meritorious service and earned the appreciation of a Chiliarch or General had the opportunity to come into contact with one.

Liu Wei watched as the glorious scene he had worked so hard to build was effortlessly snatched away by Xia He, and the rage in his heart nearly erupted. His face grew so dark it seemed as if it could drip ink, his eyes filled with resentment and frustration.

So, this brat hadn't left! He’d spent the whole day in the mountains hunting boars!

Liu Wei’s gloomy and oppressive aura was so palpable that even those who had been flattering him moments ago sensed it sharply. They instinctively took a few steps back, creating distance between themselves and him.

"How is this guy so lucky!"

Just as the crowd was becoming noisy and on the verge of a heated argument with Wang Erpang, a series of footsteps sounded outside the mess hall. Several men in leather armor walked in. The moment they appeared, they sternly reprimanded the noisy crowd. The scene fell silent instantly; everyone was as quiet as cicadas in winter.

The men then walked up to Xia He with friendly smiles and conveyed their message: "Kid, our Centurion would like to invite you for a drink. When will you be free?"

"Huh? If he’s drinking, he should come to my officer’s place first!"

"Are you looking for a beating, kid? You dare compete with me! Get lost, get lost!"

These words struck the crowd like a thunderclap. Those who had been half-doubting Wang Erpang’s words finally believed everything he had said. Although a Centurion was not as high-ranking as a Chiliarch, he was still an officer in the camp. For several of them to personally send people to invite Xia He for a drink meant one thing: Xia He had undoubtedly become the dark horse of this recruit camp.

Liu Wei had still been harboring a sliver of hope that Wang Erpang was just spouting nonsense. Now, the cruel reality hit him like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing most of his pride and anger in an instant. An invisible, immense pressure enveloped him like a suffocating net, leaving him barely able to breathe. He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, yet he felt no pain.

In the end, Liu Wei turned and left without a word, his face ashen, leaving behind a figure that was both unwilling and desolate. No one paid any mind to his departure.

"Centurion?"

Xia He was startled. How could he not see that these Centurions were trying to recruit him? Hunting a wild boar wasn't enough to warrant this; it was primarily because the people in the camp had seen him, and he had received praise from the Chiliarch.

If he agreed now, he might be able to shed his status as a low-born soldier immediately, without even needing the assessment. However, Xia He did not know these Centurions at all. Their attempts to win him over were likely just to curry favor with the Chiliarch. Furthermore, accepting one would offend the others, making it a losing trade.

Xia He did not let the attention go to his head. Instead, he replied cautiously, "I thank the Centurions for their kindness, but the recruit assessment is imminent. Once I pass, I will certainly pay a visit personally."

After seeing off the last of the soldiers who had come to court him, Wang Erpang scratched his head, looking at Xia He with confusion. "Brother He, these were rare opportunities. If you had accepted, you’d be set for life. Why did you refuse so directly?"

Facing Wang Erpang’s question, Xia He didn't explain much. He simply smiled, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Erpang, some things aren't as simple as they appear on the surface. Just do as I say."

With that, Xia He added, "Erpang, hurry to the barracks, borrow a knife, cut off a piece of the boar, and take it to Instructor Zhang."

Wang Erpang agreed and ran off toward the barracks. Xia He, under the watchful eyes of the crowd—ignoring their looks of envy or jealousy—walked toward his home.

Back in town, the massive side of wild boar meat drew significant attention. Soon, the news spread among the neighbors, who gathered around to point and whisper.

"Oh, isn't this Xia He? I heard you joined the army? With this display, you're bound to achieve great things!"

"Isn't that the truth? Look at that massive piece of pork; it's enough to make anyone’s mouth water!"

"Braised pork, pork meatballs, pork dumplings, roasted pork...!"

"Wipe your drool! Are you just reciting a menu?"