Chapter 26: Contention! Good Intentions? The Selection for the Four Great Camps!

After witnessing the astonishing martial arts talent displayed by Xia He, the military households who had been hoping to recruit him were thrown into an immediate uproar.

"Damn, this kid is something else! Not only is he a master hunter, but he's also this skilled at martial arts?"

"As expected, successful people always have boundless energy! He can handle multiple disciplines at once!"

"Damn it, if I’d known, I should’ve forced him to come with me yesterday. If my captain finds out about this, he’ll have my head!"

No, I have to get this kid under my command!

Yesterday, they had mostly shown interest because Xia He had caught the eye of the battalion commander. Today, however, things were different. Winning first place in the assessment meant he could shed his lowly status and gain eligibility for the selection trials of the Four Guards Warrior Battalion. If someone with such immense talent were to enter the battalion, whoever claimed credit for his success would bask in the reflected glory.

"Old Zhao, what are you doing? Trying to poach him?"

"So what if I am? I feel like this kid and I are destined! I just happen to have an open slot for a military slave under my command..."

"Bullshit! You think he’d ever look your way? I’m going to have our captain teach him personally!"

"Damn you, you look down on me? Get lost!"

The men cursed and bickered, their tempers flaring so high they nearly came to blows. The new recruits in the courtyard noticed the commotion. Although they had seen these military households lobbying to bring Xia He into their respective factions the day before, they never expected them to almost fight over him. The scene left everyone present both shocked and envious.

However, there was one person currently feeling as though his heart were being twisted by a blade: Old Zhou. From the moment he first met Xia He, Old Zhou had felt that the young man’s temperament matched his own and wanted to recruit him. Unfortunately, things had gone awry due to the meddling of his own good-for-nothing son. Only a few days had passed! Who could have predicted that Xia He would so quickly capture the attention and favor of so many? Old Zhou knew full well that it was likely too late to try and win him over now.

In contrast to Old Zhou’s deep regret, Wang Erpang was barely able to contain his excitement. He had been worried sick that "Brother He" would be outshone by Liu Wei. But after seeing Xia He’s hidden strength, he realized the truth: Brother He had been playing the fool all along! Looking at Liu Wei’s face—which looked as sour as if he had just swallowed a mouthful of excrement—Wang Erpang felt his heart bloom with joy. The sense of satisfaction was indescribable.

"How is this possible? How could he improve so fast!" Liu Wei stared with wide, disbelieving eyes.

His progress in the fist-post training had always been far behind Xia He’s until now. Not only had he started practicing a more advanced breathing technique earlier, but he had also poured his heart and soul into his training without distraction. Xia He, on the other hand, had the leisure to go hunting in the mountains, wasting a whole day of precious time. Liu Wei had been brimming with confidence, certain of his victory. Given the previous trajectory, he had expected to secure first place in the assessment within just three days. Yet, reality struck like a bolt of lightning, ruthlessly shattering his beautiful delusions.

Although the people around him weren't looking at him, their attention felt like needles pricking his skin, and every whisper sounded like mocking laughter. Liu Wei trembled with rage, his blood surging in his chest, nearly causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood.

Amidst the congratulations and the complex gazes of the crowd, Xia He let out a long breath, his face glowing with joy. He had finally shed his lowly status. No longer a mere refugee, he was now a true-blooded warrior of the Great Qin. Furthermore, as long as he earned merits or achieved the status of a martial artist in the army, he would eventually become a proper military household. He couldn't wait to go back and tell Lan'er the good news.

"Alright, alright! This is my recruit. If you want to poach him, don't you think you should ask me first?" Instructor Zhang pushed through the crowd, pulling Xia He out while grumbling. He stepped forward, felt the texture of Xia He’s skin, and nodded. "Not bad, you’ve truly achieved Skin Refining! The first place in this recruit assessment belongs to you."

"You can go to the military registry to change your status now. As for the qualification for the Four Guards Warrior Battalion selection, come with me; I have a few things to tell you!"

Seeing Instructor Zhang leading Xia He away, the others became anxious. "Zhang, what are you doing? Trying to hog the prize for yourself?"

Instructor Zhang laughed and scolded, "Get lost! I don’t have as many schemes as you lot. If you really want to recruit him, go talk to the battalion commander. If you cause this kid to miss the selection for the Four Guards, which one of you can take the blame?"

"Fine, fine!" The others fell silent, though they still gritted their teeth in frustration. In their garrison, there were thousands of military households, yet very few were qualified to enter the Warrior Battalion. If a promising talent with such potential emerged, they knew the battalion commander wouldn't let them interfere.

Xia He followed Instructor Zhang to the back courtyard.

"Sigh, I really misjudged you, Zhang. I thought the first place would go to that kid Liu Wei, but I never expected you, Xia He, to quietly get ahead of him." He didn't know Xia He well, but the pork brought yesterday made him feel the kid was sensible, which prompted him to offer some guidance.

"I can tell you’re a cautious one. Don't worry—before the Four Guards selection, you don't need to pay any mind to those captains trying to recruit you. Don't rush to pick a side; no one will dare to touch you!"

Xia He was curious. "Please, Instructor, enlighten me."

"The Four Guards Warrior Battalion is the elite of our Great Qin. You must have heard of it before you enlisted. Anyone who enters the battalion, regardless of their background, is immediately promoted to a military household. They receive the salary of a captain and twenty taels of silver a month! You also get to practice various sophisticated martial arts."

"More than half of the officers and generals in the Great Qin today came from the Four Great Battalions! In the army, this is not only an immense honor but also the best path to becoming a general."

"The four camps—Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise—require both martial talent and innate constitution to enter. Talent goes without saying, but what about constitution?"

"A tiger's back and a bear's waist, arms like an ape's, a waist like a bee's, and legs like a mantis—that is what constitutes a good foundation. It simply depends on what you're best at. A warrior who charges into battle is best served by a tiger's back and a bear's waist, while an archer is best suited for an ape's arms and a bee's waist."

Xia He felt a surge of excitement. Different constitutions could learn different martial arts in the four camps! In the garrison, a Blood Refining martial artist was considered a powerhouse, but in the four camps, it was likely that Bone Refining experts were common. That was the difference.

"Since you've already mastered the basics of your fist techniques, don't neglect your swordplay either. You’ll need it when you fight on the battlefield later."

"Yes!"

As Xia He walked out of the courtyard, he kept reflecting on those words. "It seems that taking first place in the recruit assessment is only the first step." Since he had stepped into the world of martial arts, if he wanted to climb higher, the next step was to pass the selection for the Warrior Battalion.