Chapter 52 – Welcoming Uninvited Guests (1)

Chapter 52 – Welcoming Uninvited Guests (1)

It was a problem he would have to face eventually. Jang Yang did not panic and asked, "Where is he now?"

"He is staying at the Military Guest Pavilion. Shall we go?"

"Of course we must."

The Military Guest Pavilion was a facility within the military camp designed to accommodate external guests. It consisted of three pavilions, fully stocked with all necessary supplies.

Jang Yang arrived at the Military Guest Pavilion half an hour later. Standing at the entrance were about a hundred elite soldiers brought by the Privy Councilor. From inside, a chaotic racket could be heard—the sound of things breaking and irritated shouting.

"Is this the best you can treat your superior?!"

The intent behind the words was clear. He had come to make trouble under the pretext of his family member being harmed.

As Jang Yang approached, the bodyguards made their presence known and opened the door.

The sight inside was deplorable. Wine jars and utensils rolled across the floor, and Jang Yang's own administrative soldiers were bowing their heads in apology before the visitor.

"All of you, get out."

The administrative soldiers quickly retreated at Jang Yang's words. They had already been suffering, unable to leave the room.

"I am Jang Yang, the Military Commissioner of Anxi."

Privy Councilor Jang Jun's face was filled with malice. Just looking at him made one uncomfortable. Perhaps because they shared the same blood, he bore a striking resemblance to Jang Jin-sang.

"Is this the only way your subordinates know how to treat a guest?"

"The administrative soldiers merely behave in accordance with the legion's regulations. What brings the Privy Councilor here?"

"I have come to inspect the management and readiness of my camp."

"Then, shall we look around together?"

The Privy Councilor's brow twitched. He did not like Jang Yang's dignified and confident attitude.

He narrowed his eyes and glared at him. At that moment, an invisible wave of qi surged from his body, pressing down on Jang Yang.

It was the suffocating pressure projected by a master of the Flower Realm. An ordinary person could be killed by that glare alone. However, Jang Yang felt absolutely nothing. No one noticed that the Shadow King, hidden nearby, was absorbing the pressure in his stead.

"Impressive."

"What do you mean?"

"I will stay here for a few days to inspect things myself, so withdraw. For now, I do not wish to see your face."

To be ordered out of his own camp was absurd, but there was nothing Jang Yang could do at the moment. Turning on his heel, he left the pavilion and headed back to his office.

His mind was uneasy. He had no choice but to wait for the man to finish his inspection as quickly as possible.

The first day passed quietly without incident. Perhaps the Privy Councilor had fallen asleep after drinking heavily.

The trouble began the following day. An administrative officer came to report.

"General, the Privy Councilor is rummaging through the armory."

"Sigh. Let us go quickly."

A sigh escaped Jang Yang's lips. When he reached the armory, he saw Jang Jun looking with eagle eyes, desperate to find any pretext to complain.

However, since Jang Yang inspected this place regularly, there was no problem. Every weapon was in perfect condition, and the inventory matched the ledger exactly.

"Is there a problem?"

Jang Jun picked up one of the long spears lined up on the side. The shaft did not have a single scratch, and the blade was so well-polished that it gleamed. But the moment he gripped it, the shaft snapped like a rotten branch.

"Deplorable maintenance."

There was no way Jang Yang did not know that the Privy Councilor had intentionally broken it with his internal force.

Tossing the broken spear aside, Jang Jun moved to the next location. It was the medical barracks about a hundred and five zhang away.

As they entered, about a hundred medical soldiers stood at attention. Mo Cheong, the Divine Physician, looked somewhat stiff, likely sensing Jang Jun's martial prowess.

Jang Jun rummaged through the cabinets to inspect the storage of medical supplies. Everything was fully stocked above the required quantities, and the barracks were cleaner than any other. He could find no fault.

As he looked around, his gaze locked onto the patients lying on the cots. At a glance, it was obvious they were not soldiers.

"Is this military medical facility built just to care for mere civilians?"

Jang Yang responded immediately.

"Under military law, we are permitted to assist with civilian medical care when there is no active battle. It also helps improve the skills of our medical soldiers through practical experience."

Jang Jun's mouth shut tight. He was clearly displeased by Jang Yang's unyielding responses.

The two toured the grain storehouses and the mess barracks, visiting every corner. Yet, they could find no fault anywhere.

Next, they headed to the recruit training ground. Seven thousand recruits were practicing formations. At Wi Jin-cheol's request, the Wolf Fang Squad was instructing them today.

Coincidentally, today was the recruits' first time practicing formations. Naturally, their performance fell far short of the regular army's standards.

"They are nothing but a ragtag mob."

"They are still recruits. They will become elites once they complete their training."

"I must verify their talent myself."

Jang Jun strode toward the center of the training ground and roared.

"Everyone, halt!"

His heavy voice, infused with internal energy, froze everyone in their tracks. He picked up a wooden training sword and said, "From now on, you will spar with me. Come at me all at once. Anyone who manages to touch my body will be promoted to a commissioned officer immediately."

The recruits flinched. They could instinctively tell from his voice alone that he was a powerful master. Only the Wolf Fang Squad watched in tense silence.

"Come on!"

No soldier dared approach him.

"Would you hesitate like this even if I were an enemy general?!"

Unable to contain himself, Jang Jun moved first.

He dashed through the ranks of the soldiers, knocking them down one by one. Though it was a training sword without an edge, it was still made of iron. Every time he swung it, screams erupted.

*Thud! Crack!*

"Arrgh!"

"Urgh!"

His sword showed no mercy. No one could stand against him. It was a one-sided beating.

Right then.

*Clang!*

For the first time, the sound of clashing swords rang out. Someone had finally blocked Jang Jun's strike. Surprise and anger flared in the Privy Councilor's eyes simultaneously.

It was Squad Leader Cheong-hae of the Wolf Fang Squad. He had blocked the blow reflexively, but his wrist was numb. Yet, he had no time to think before he had to defend again, as Jang Jun's kick was already flying toward him. The speed was so blinding that he could not even hope to dodge. He could only cross his arms and gather his internal energy to minimize the impact.

*Crack!*

"Ugh!"

Though his block succeeded, the force of the blow knocked him to the ground. Since Il-gwang was currently inspecting the Patrol Corps, Cheong-hae was the strongest member of the Wolf Fang Squad present. Even he could barely withstand two exchanges.

However, even that was a blow to Jang Jun's pride. His sword lunged mercilessly toward the fallen Cheong-hae. It was a fierce attack that could cause critical injury.

*Clang!*

With a sharp metallic ring, Jang Jun's brow furrowed deeply. Someone else had deflected his sword.

Standing there was Hyeon-jeong, clutching her left wrist.

"How dare you!"

Furious, Jang Jun lunged. Faced with his wrath, Hyeon-jeong felt terrified but refused to back down.

Instinctively, she lowered her head. If she waited to see the attack with her eyes before dodging, it would be too late.

*Whoosh!*

The training sword swept over Hyeon-jeong's head, whipping up a gale. She barely managed to dodge, but Jang Jun's elbow struck her forehead in a flash.

*Crack!*

"Ah!"

Hyeon-jeong was thrown back, rolling across the ground before struggling to her feet, staggering. Blood flowed like a spring from her torn forehead, staining her cheek.

Jang Jun, still unsatisfied, strode toward her. At that moment, five members of the Wolf Fang Squad stepped in front of Hyeon-jeong and pointed their swords at him.

"We cannot endure this any longer."

"Look at these pests."

Just then, one of the squad members took a position at his flank and shouted to the surrounding recruits.

"Wolf Fang Sword Formation!"

At that moment, the ranks of the recruits shifted. A hundred members of the Wolf Fang Squad emerged from among the recruits, stepping in formation. It was a completely different movement from before.

In the blink of an eye, a hundred swords were pointed at Jang Jun. An inexplicable sense of unease flashed through his mind. They looked even stronger than the Song Empire's elite forces, the Tianwu Army or the Yongwei Army.

*Jang Yang has such soldiers under him?*

He could hardly believe it. Jang Jun hesitated, unable to move easily, fearing he might embarrass himself if he miscalculated.

Right then.

"Stop this!"

Jang Yang had approached, unable to hold back any longer.

Jang Jun sneered, his voice laced with ridicule.

"Whelps, consider yourselves lucky today."

With those words, he threw the training sword aside, turned his back, and walked away. He pushed past the Wolf Fang Squad members and vanished toward the Military Guest Pavilion. He seemed to have decided to call it a day.

Watching his retreating back, the squad members trembled with rage.

Jang Yang comforted the recruits and headed back to his office. His shoulders looked unusually heavy.

The Wolf Fang Squad members whispered in frustration.

"What a piece of trash."

"We can't even kill him… Sigh…"

***

Sitting in his office, Jang Yang felt a headache coming on. But the camp's administrative work could not stop just because of Jang Jun. He reviewed the stack of papers on his desk one by one, continuously moving his brush.

Four hours passed. The door to his office burst open, and an administrative soldier rushed in, delivering a shocking report.

"Ge-General! The Privy Councilor's men are seizing women in the streets!"

Although Jang Jun was counted among the four great generals of the Song Empire, he was far more famous by his nickname, the King of Pillaging. He had finally failed to suppress his base instincts even here in Hanzhong.

*Thud.*

Jang Yang set his brush down. Instead of the brush, his hand gripped the hilt of the sword beside him.

"I will go there myself. Summon the Wolf Fang Squad."

***

An unexpected commotion was unfolding in the center of Hanzhong. About a hundred soldiers were forcibly dragging young women away, and blocking their path were the patrol officers of the Patrol Corps.

"What do you think you are doing?!"

*Thud!*

With a kick from the leading soldier, a patrol officer was sent rolling pitifully across the ground.

"Urgh…"

Dozens of patrol officers were already groveling on the dirt. These were soldiers of the Evil Dragon Corps, the elite force led by the Privy Councilor. For the Patrol Corps, standing against them, let alone surviving an exchange, was impossible.

The leading Evil Dragon Corps soldier glared and barked, "Out of the way. Block us again, and you die."

Though they were being beaten unilaterally, the patrol officers were not ones to back down easily. Above all, the citizens on the street were cheering them on.

Just then, the captain of the Patrol Corps, who had just arrived, stepped forward. He had a lean build and sharp eyes. He had once been a notorious troublemaker among the local hoodlums.

"I am Hwang Gae-chil, the captain of the Patrol Corps. I'm warning you for your own good—you are making a mistake. When that person arrives, all of you are dead."

"Crazy bastard."

The Evil Dragon Corps soldiers had no intention of listening to Hwang Gae-chil. In an instant, a soldier closed the distance and threw a punch. At a glance, the fist was loaded with internal energy.

Everyone expected Hwang Gae-chil to be sent flying, but someone moved even faster. And an unbelievable sight unfolded.

Out of nowhere, a palm as massive as a house slammed into the Evil Dragon Corps soldier's face.

*Smack!*

The soldier's head spun, and he collapsed to the ground without even knowing what hit him. As everyone gasped in shock, a man as massive as a standing brown bear glared at the Evil Dragon Corps, his face twisted in a scowl.

"What are you looking at? You want some too…?"