Wu Li's tent was, to his dismay, one of the tents farthest away from the general's tent.
Unfortunately for him, being a squadron leader apparently didn't earn him enough merit to have his tent moved closer.
The several minute long walk towards the commander's tent was one he was very familiar with making. Really, having a messenger walk with him was nothing more than a formality. Wu Li bet he could make the trip with his eyes closed and his senses snuffed out.
Along the way, all of the cultivators who were out and about greeted him with respectful bows and clasped hands as he walked past them. Although definitely less than that of the general and vice general's, his standing in the army was still pretty significant, significant enough to warrant respect from almost everybody in the camp.
The attention was something that took him some time to get used to. Back when he was still training in the sect, he had gotten used to being ignored or being jeered at by his own sectmates. Being respected was something he had almost never felt before coming to the warzone. He had long since gotten used to it though and found enjoyment in the attention.
After all, becoming a squadron leader in the Illuminated Sword Sect was, by no means, an easy feat. Nobody cared what stage one was in, only how much of an impact somebody had made while out in the battlefield. It took Wu Li a year of constant fighting in order to gain his standing.
There weren't a lot of people his age who could survive a whole year living like that, being sent out to battle every other day.
He and the messenger finally made it to the commander's tent.
The tent was much, much bigger than the average soldier's and noticeably more luxurious, making it stand out within the encampment. On top of that, it was the only tent that was encapsulated within its own mini formation.
The extra security detail was, according to the general, very necessary. After all, that was where all of the planning took place and where all his detailed battle plans were.
Upon approaching the dome, Wu Li's messenger bowed to him one last time before turning around and walking away, leaving the squadron leader alone in front of it.
Wu Li closes his eyes as he walks up to the formation. He raises a hand and lays it on top of the translucent surface.
A small section of the formation above his hand begins to glow as a glowing box carves itself into the translucent light. Words begin etching themselves inside of the box.
Wu Li
Foundation Establishment
Squadron Leader
No Established Codex
Wu Li opens his eyes as he retracts his hand away from the formation. Immediately, his gaze goes to the words in the box within the formation above his hand. His eyes fix onto the line stating his codex, staring at it for a few more seconds before the words disappear.
No Established Codex
In the Illuminated Sword Sect, upon becoming an inner disciple, sect members were required to choose a codex, an ancient method of cultivation, out of a wide variety of available ones to practice from the sect's extensive library. However, it wasn't as simple as picking whatever codex somebody wanted. Rather, the codex that each disciple was given depended on their natural born attributes. Talent and latent potential were the two most important factors. After that came intelligence, charisma, temperament, innate qi capacity, and several other qualities that didn't involve a cultivator's physical qualities.
However, since it was the Illuminated Sword Sect, the most requiring of the four righteous sects, all of the codices within its library required very high attributes from its practitioners. As an average person, Wu Li's attributes just didn't fit the bill for any of them. In fact, that was the case for almost everybody within the very encampment he was in. The few who did align with a codex did so by just barely and even then, failed to effectively practice them.
Thus, here in the encampment, strength was based on an individual's physical capabilities, how much qi somebody could hold, and how effectively they are able to use that qi. In complete contrast to how things were in the sect's main school, here in the encampment, sheer military ability was what mattered to the soldiers of the front line, not talent or potential.
Those were usually the ones with the perseverance and determination to bear through many battles. And a desire to survive great enough to pull through more than a year of constant warfare.
That didn't apply to everybody, though. In fact, there was only one person within the camp's formation who didn't comply with this trend.
A small opening carved itself out of the small formation surrounding the general's tent. He quickly steps into it right before the opening could repair itself. The squadron leader steps into the tent.
Within the tent was a large wooden, rectangular table and several ornaments and spoils of war sitting on displays set around the tent. The ground was covered in red carpet and a big bedroll sat tucked into the corner. Sitting on that table was a single map, white go pieces placed on various spots of the map.
Standing behind that table was a handsome, middle-aged man, his hands clasped behind his back. He was the only person in that entire encampment that looked well into his adult years, sporting long black hair and a long black beard. He, too, was dressed in the white and blue robes of the Illuminated Sword Sect, but other than that, he couldn't be more different from everyone else.
He had an aura that was clearly more powerful and domineering than everyone else dressed in the very same clothing. One didn't need to look too closely to see the sparks of lightning dancing within his uncannily clear eyes, as if his very gaze was powerful enough to raze. His countenance was one of clear authority, one that commanded unyielding obedience from all those beneath him.
This man here, the encampment's commanding general, was no mere soldier. He was a true disciple of the Illuminated Sword Sect, somebody dispatched to the battlefield not because of lack of talent or potential, but because of his sheer power.
The three squadron leaders within the camp were within various stages of Foundation Establishment. Their general however, just one rank above them in authority, was in the early Soul Manifestation stage, two whole stages above them (A/N: ). Being a Soul Manifestation expert from the Illuminated Sword Sect, even a majority of other Soul Manifestation experts couldn't compare to him. The three of them together couldn't even dream of being able to defeat him should they fight.
Wu Li clasped his hands and bowed deeply, ignoring the tiny jolts running through his body as the man stared at him.
"Squadron leader Wu Li pays respects to the commanding general De Xiang," he greets.
The general doesn't greet back. Instead, he gets right to business.
"The ravine that you managed to capture in your previous battle," Xiang says. "I am sure you remember its importance."
Wu Li raises his head to meet the general's gaze. Usually, a person of lower authority directly meeting the gaze of somebody of higher authority was highly offensive. However, Wu Li knew from past experience that this was exactly what the general wanted from his squadron leaders.
"Yes, general," he says. "It is a ravine that is not only hard to recapture, but also allows supply chains to link more effectively with our other more distant forces within the Midlands. Its possession of it should improve our control of the Midland territories that we hold."
"The sect saw that ravine as very important for our efforts out here in the Midlands," the general says. "So important, in fact, that the sect saw fit to reward the three squadron leaders involved in the planning and performance of the excursion that led to its capture."
The three squadron leaders mentioned here obviously pertaining to the three within Wu Li's camp. Including Wu Li himself.
The general brings one of his hands around from his back. In his hand was a single rectangular jade pendant, bordered in gold with a red tassel tied to the top of it. He holds it out towards Li.
"This is a transportation pendant," he says. "It will take you straight back to the sect's main school."
Wu Li's eyes widened in surprise.
He knew from personal experience that people who were sent to the battlefield usually never had the opportunity to return back to the main sect until they reached a position of high enough authority in the army. It was part of the agreement that all new initiates were required to agree to before becoming official sect members. The only way he thought that somebody could come back to the sect was under temporary leave from the battlefield under the sect's permission.
But now, he was being given that very opportunity due to meritorious service.
"Whether you wish to stay here or return to the sect, that is your choice," the general continues as Li takes the pendant from him. "It doesn't expire, so you may spend as much time as possible making your decision. If it concerns you at all, the rest of your squadron will be given this pendant as well."
That shocked Wu Li even more.
They're taking…my whole squadron out of the encampment? What in the world are they thinking?
He contemplated that for a couple more seconds, but then ultimately decided not to. After all, the workings of the sect were something that didn't concern him.
"Squadron leader Li thanks commanding general," the squadron leader says with a bow.
"That will be all."
With that, Wu Li turns around. He steps forward to leave the tent.
"One more thing."
Wu Li turns around to regard the general.
"Here in this encampment, your authority as the squadron leader helps you skirt around a majority of problems you may run into," he says. "But once you return to the sect, you will immediately lose that luxury. You may be the cream of the crop here, but remember that you still don't even align with a codex."
Wu Li nodded his head.
He knew the underlying meaning behind his general's words.
Here, he was in a position that demanded respect from everyone around him. At the sect, however, he was even less than a nobody. The nobodies in the Illuminated Sword Sect were at least able to align with a codex.
The general stared at him for a moment. There was an odd look in his eyes, one that Wu Li didn't recognize. But then he turned down to the map sitting on the table as he stroked his beard, effectively ending the meeting.
Wu Li bowed one last time before turning around and leaving the tent.
Waiting outside for him, just outside the commander's tent's formation, were two cultivators, dressed in the standard white and blue robes. A man and a woman, both of them a similar age to Wu Li. The man had a handsome face, though with subtle features that made him vaguely resemble a fox. His crow-black hair was short though cleanly cut, giving him the appearance of a rascal in comparison to Wu Li's. The woman, like the man, was inordinately good looking, with skin that wasn't too pale nor too tan. She had long, flowing black hair and eyes that were green as the most valuable of jade.
Compared to the two of them, Wu Li himself seemed no more handsome than the average man. With short hair like the man's, Wu Li seemed like an uglier version of him.
Unlike the other members of the military encampment, these two didn't bow to him as soon as he came face to face with him. Rather, the man waved at him with a good-natured grin on his face as the woman just stared at him, a somewhat frosty look in her eyes.
Such casual actions were something that they warranted. After all, they were of equal position to him.
They were the other two squadron leaders within the encampment.
"Squadron leader Wu Li!" the man says, breaking out into a wide grin. He holds out his hand, the palm facing sideways. "I take it that you had a good meeting with the commander?"
"Squadron leader Zhou Baoxian!" Wu Li says, bringing his own hand up.
He clasps his hand with the other squadron leader's, their palms slapping together loudly and startling several nearby cultivators.
"And if it isn't the ice princess herself," he greets with a cheeky grin. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
The woman just scowls at him.
"How many times do you need me to beat the crap out of you before I can finally get you to greet me by my name?" she asks.
"Whoa there squadron leader Xue Hua," Wu Li says. "So quick to threaten my life! This isn't behavior befitting of somebody with authority such as yours. What will your squadron members think?"
Xue Hua's left eye twitches slightly as a vein pops out of her forehead.
"I'll show you 'behavior befitting of somebody with authority such as mine'," she growled, rolling up her sleeves as she took a step towards Wu Li.
Her qi began to rouse as a faintly glowing aura of light blue began to shine from her body.
"Whoa, hey! Remember why we came here in the first place!" Zhou Baoxian says, planting himself between the two. "Let's deal with that first, then the two of you can quarrel all you want!"
Wu Li just smiles apologetically at Xue Hua. Xue Hua's eye twitches again, but she relaxes her stance, the glow emanating around her body gradually diminishing before completely disappearing.
"Jeez guys, we're still right in front of the commander's tent," Zhou Baoxian says with a sigh. "I know we're all going to be leaving soon, but y'all still gotta show some respect."
"Ah, right…"
That reminded Wu Li that they were still in front of the general's tent. He took a peek inside, a tad bit nervous, but saw that the general didn't seem at all bothered by the fact that two of his squadron leaders were almost about to start a fight. He didn't even seem to care, his eyes still glued to the map in front of him as he shifted a go piece from one side of the map to the other.
From experience, Wu Li knew that the general usually didn't care if fights broke out in the camp. He only intervened once things began to get out of hand.
Regardless, the three moved away from the general's tent before continuing their conversation.
"So, you got your transportation pendant from the general?" Zhou Baoxian asks, turning to Wu Li.
Wu Li looked at him inquisitively.
"Yeah, how'd you know?"
"Figured," Zhou Baoxian says. He reaches into his garments before pulling out his own transportation pendant and showing Wu Li. It looked identical to his. "The general called both me and Xue Hua over for the same exact reason."
Xue Hua just nodded, though she didn't take out her pendant.
"Huh, really?" Wu Li says, tapping his chin.
Then his eyes widened. He just then remembered a particular part of the general's message that had startled him before.
"Wait, what in…" he says. "Is the sect trying to empty out this whole encampment or something?"
"Ah, he also told you that your whole squadron's gonna be given a pendant as well, didn't he?" Zhou Baoxian asks. "Yeah, it still bugs me that he did the same for both Xue Hua's and my squadron. Makes you wonder just what exactly the sect is planning."
"I mean, we just captured that ravine," Wu Li says. "And was it really so important that managing to get control of it is enough to warrant giving everybody in the camp a chance to go back to the main sect? Something fishy is going on."
"So you want to stay and investigate?"
The three of them stopped. Even Xue Hua turned around to stare at Wu Li.
"Well, I do feel kind of bad for the general," Wu Li says. "Not a bad guy, really. Plus, it's nice being so famous out here. And what about the members of my squadron who decide to stay? It's going to be hell for us back in the sect should we choose to go back. Here, we're all like one big happy family, so who knows how many of us will choose to stay out here?"
"Hmm, you do bring up valid points," Zhou Baoxian says.
Wu Li stares at the transportation pendant in his hand. He closes his eyes, sighing deeply. Zhou Baoxian stares at his own transportation pendant while Xue Hua takes hers out to do the same.
The three of them stand there in silent contemplation. A silence descended on the three for a short moment before…
"Yeahhhhhhh…no," Zhou Baoxian says matter-of-factly. "I'm still going."
"Same," Wu Li says. "Living out here sucks."
"My living arrangements as an outer disciple were better than my living arrangements here," Xue Hua says with a slight scowl.
With that, the three of them made arrangements to leave the camp. They returned to their tents to gather the few belongings they brought with them and say their goodbyes. Before even an hour had passed since that conversation, the three of them had met and simultaneously used their pendants.