Perceiving the tangible murderous intent emanating from Lin Xing, the bald man's face revealed not shock but joy, bursting into hearty laughter.
The military officer by his side immediately said, "To have grasped such mastery at such a young age truly speaks of exceptional talent. Congratulations, Commander Zhang, for acquiring yet another prodigy."
Commander Zhang patted Lin Xing on the shoulder, seemingly very pleased with Lin Xing's age and performance.
He said, "Don't be nervous. The people of Jiang Family Village have already betrayed you, with your eye-catching attire, I knew of your identity last night. If I really wanted to kill you, you would have died ten times over by now."
He declared with an air of pride, "As someone who aspires to unify the world and bring prosperity to all, I naturally possess a chest broad enough to encompass all the talents under heaven."
"If you are willing to join my ranks, then let's consider that little misunderstanding as water under the bridge."
He held Lin Xing's shoulder with one hand while his other hand gradually clenched into a fist: "From today onwards, you are my trusted aide. Follow me in conquest and slaughter, and I shall never treat you unfairly."
The military officer echoed, "The Commander is always generous with rewards to his brothers. As long as you're willing to follow the Commander in the campaigns across the Central Plains, whether it's Divine Weapons or various inheritances, you'll have them all. Wealth and honor are just a matter of time."
At this point, the military officer felt his words were sufficiently enticing. After all, both Divine Weapons and information about inheritances were goals coveted by the powerful across the world.
Especially detailed information about various inheritances, which, apart from the major sects, only powerful individuals like Commander Zhang could possess - a target pursued by countless across the land.
At that moment, Lin Xing thought to himself, "Isn't this Commander Zhang known for his tyranny in Dongya Prefecture, abducting local women and exterminating entire families? Weren't there rumors that crossing him would lead to a gruesome death?"
"Could it be that he's actually a reasonable good person?"
Curious, Lin Xing asked, "Commander, why did you order the capture of all the young women in the county?"
Commander Zhang's eyes narrowed slightly as if a cold light flickered within, "What? Do you have a problem with my actions?"
Lin Xing stood his ground, "I just want to know why."
Commander Zhang, looking into Lin Xing's unflinching eyes, showed a trace of appreciation. "You've got guts; I admire young talents like you."
Pausing, he snorted coldly and waved dismissively, "I know what those beneath me are saying. They accuse me of indulgence and of forcibly taking women. Hmph, they know nothing of my struggles."
"Take for instance my eight concubines; they are all widows whose husbands, my brothers in arms, died in battle. They were left destitute and alone, pleading with me to take them in during these chaotic times. What's wrong with that?"
"As for those captured women, they are currently well-fed and kept in the military camp outside the city. I have not forcibly taken any of them."
"I've gathered them to find the Evil Woman of a cult hidden among them."
Lin Xing questioned, "Evil Woman of a cult?"
Commander Zhang replied indifferently, "The Holy Daughter of Heavenly Will Sect, Jing Shiyu."
"This Evil Woman has misled the public for years, seducing a following of ignorant peasants to loot and plunder, amassing wealth from the people."
"Since she infiltrated Taiping County, she has begun to sway the locals and even dispatched Death Soldiers to assassinate me."
"As such, it is only natural that I endeavor to search for her to protect my subjects."
Finished speaking, he turned to Lin Xing and asked, "As I've said, my ambition encompasses the whole world, resolved to end these turbulent times so that all may live in peace. Are you willing to follow me?"
Lin Xing thought for a moment before asking, "What if I say I'm not willing?"
The smile on Commander Zhang's face gradually vanished, and his patience seemed to have been fully expended in the previous conversation.
He turned to the military officer and said, "Is this what you call 'courtesy to the virtuous and yielding to the talented'?"
"It's bullshit."
"I talk nicely and still, you look down on me."
As Commander Zhang's curses spread, the atmosphere in the entire garden shifted abruptly, as if from the warmth of spring to the biting cold of winter.
Whether they were officers, soldiers, or the surrounding servants and housekeepers, everyone looked at Commander Zhang with trepidation in their eyes.
Commander Zhang glared at Lin Xing, "Damn it, with such talent yet unwilling to work for me, what use do I have for you?"
"I'll ask you one more time, are you in or not?"
"If you dare say 'no,' I'll kill you on the spot."
Lin Xing's heart settled at that. Commander Zhang hadn't let him down, and he could now proceed with his morning training in peace.
But all Lin Xing said was, "Not doing it."
Commander Zhang sneered, "Take him out and finish him. Don't dirty my garden."
As he spoke, all the surrounding soldiers had already aimed their guns at Lin Xing.
Moments later, when Lin Xing came to his senses, he found himself walking towards the garden again.
Recalling the process of being shot just now, he thought darkly, "To kill at any disagreement, this Commander Zhang really is a lawless murderer."
"Just as Wei Zhi and the others said, the mental states of people in this world are somewhat problematic. Normal people like me are far too rare."
A sharp glint flickered in his eyes: "But it is precisely this kind of world that is suitable for my abilities to come into play, to grow stronger with each death."
After a while, Lin Xing entered the garden once again.
"You're the one who..."
This time, before Commander Zhang could finish speaking, he saw Lin Xing exclaim, "No need to ask, I'm the one who killed the soldiers you sent to Jiang Family Village. I'm here today to punish evil and eradicate wickedness, either you kill me, or I kill you."
A hint of ruthless brutality flashed in Commander Zhang's eyes, and the next moment, a tide of murderous intent like a sea of blood and corpses surged towards Lin Xing.
He threw a punch, bringing with it a sound of wind and thunder, aiming violently at Lin Xing.
At that moment, Lin Xing's psychic powers activated.
Commander Zhang only felt a severe pain in his right eye, as if he'd been punched by someone.
Seizing the opportunity, Lin Xing kicked towards Commander Zhang's groin.
But just then, the injured Commander Zhang roared in anger, an audible shockwave bursting from his mouth and leaving Lin Xing dazed and confused.
In the next instant, Commander Zhang's fist had already ferociously landed on Lin Xing's chest position, causing him to feel a monstrous strength, breaking his bones and tearing his sinews.
Lin Xing groaned, enduring the pains in his body, and rammed his head towards his opponent.
Seeing this reckless fighting method, even Commander Zhang felt a hint of surprise, thinking, "What kind of deep hatred does this man have with me to be so desperate to spatter his blood on me?"
With a thud, as Commander Zhang's fist pounded on Lin Xing's head, Lin Xing once again lost consciousness.
Time rewound, and Lin Xing began to recall the combat strength Commander Zhang had just displayed.
"That roar alone made my head buzz, what kind of skill is that?"
Remembering the power of that one punch, his surprise grew:
"And that punch had at least the strength of four old men, Commander Zhang is indeed formidable."
What followed was Lin Xing's repeated sneak attacks and assassinations.
Most of the time, he was killed by Commander Zhang, sometimes shot dead by the soldiers beside him.
And with each death, he gained a deeper understanding of Commander Zhang's strength: "Physically, he's nearly 4.5 old men in strength, at least 3.0 old men in speed, and as for stamina, I've never seen him weaken."
"But this might just be the state he shows when facing me, he's likely not reached his limit yet."
Using his own established combat system and measurement standards, Lin Xing believed he could accurately analyze each of his opponents, which had always been one of his major advantages.
"With that roaring skill and a squad of gunmen at his command, no wonder he can reign supreme here."
"His strength is too terrifying for someone like me who is alone. I probably won't be able to kill him for at least a month."
"But conversely, that also means I don't need to worry about him not being able to kill me for a month, and I can train against him with peace of mind."