The Human Emperor c1-2382

by Huangfu Qi (皇甫奇)

  “Thank you, instructor.”

  Delighted, Wang Chong hurriedly bowed.

  “Un, wait by the side first. When the time comes, I’ll show you around Kunwu Training Camp. I won’t be bringing you all about too often so you have to familiarize yourself with the surroundings.”

  The instructor said.

  Wang Chong nodded and backed down. The tenseness finally felt his body, and he felt visibly more relaxed. With this, Wang Chong’s main aim at the Kunwu Training Camp had been accomplished.

  “Gongzi, that person is too strong. I’m afraid that I might not be able to pass the test!”

  When Wang Chong finally returned, Zhao Jingdian remarked with a frown.

  He had been watching the scene from here, and even Wang Chong had struggled with the test. He would be even less likely to pass.

  “You don’t need to worry!”

  After a moment of contemplation, Wang Chong chuckled.

  “Different people have different ways to passing the test. Although you won’t be able to imitate my method, it’s not like there aren’t other ways to go about doing it. Besides, have you realized it yet? From the start to the end, that person has been suppressing his strength and his cultivation has never exceeded that of Origin Energy realm.”

  “This…”

  Zhao Jingdian fell into deep thoughts.

  “That person is at least a True Martial realm expert, and if he were to use his full strength, do you think that we’ll stand a chance? The three chances he spoke of is actually an opportunity he’s giving us. Otherwise, if he doesn’t intend to pass anyone at all, he need not go through so much trouble.”

  Wang Chong said.

  “I understand.”

  Zhao Jingdian nodded his head. The test was extremely difficult but definitely not impossible.

  All it demanded was additional effort and wits.

  “Listen to me…”

  Wang Chong pulled Zhao Jingdian to the side and whispered into his ears. Then, patting his shoulders, he said:

  “I can only tell you so much. The rest is up to you!”

  The test wasn’t easy, and the current Zhao Jingdian wasn’t the same as the one Wang Chong remembered from his previous life. The one before him was still inexperienced, but Wang Chong believed that some things would still remain the same.

  His words might not mean much to other people, but he believed that Zhao Jingdian would understand the significance of it.

  “Gongzi, I understand.”

  Zhao Jingdian nodded.

  Then, walking down the mountain, Zhao Jingdian didn’t rush into taking the test. Instead, he stood at the distance away from the area, cupped his chin, and studied the surroundings contemplatively.

  “Instructor, I am Zhao Jingdian. I would like to give your test a try…”

  Awhile later, Zhao Jingdian finally walked over and bowed deeply.

  “Hehe, feel free to show me your moves!”

  The instructor beckoned casually.

  Even though Zhao Jingdian was a reticent person who spoke few words and looked a little slow on the uptake, he wasn’t weak at all. Similar to Wang Chong, he was an Origin Energy Tier 7 expert as well. Of the offsprings of Duke Jiu’s subordinates, among the younger generation, the only one who could surpass him was probably only Ye Yinping.

  It was precisely because Zhao Jingdian’s cultivation was remarkable that Wang Chong persuaded him to give it a try.

  Boom!

  A cloud of dust flew up. Zhao Jingdian’s fighting method differed from Wang Chong’s; his blows were frontal and forceful, but at the same time, they weren’t lacking liveliness or adaptability either.

  From this, it could be seen that Zhao Jingdian’s talent was top-notch.

  At the very least, he wasn’t too far off from Wang Chong.

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  The two figures crossed blows swiftly, and after several breaths, a figure flew out as though a kite whose string was snapped.

  Zhao Jingdian!

  “Do you still wish to continue on?”

  The instructor smiled. With a hand behind his back, he gestured majestically with the other. His movement carried the disposition of an unworldly expert.

  “Again!”

  Wiping away the slight trail of blood at the edge of his mouth, Zhao Jingdian charged forward once more.

  His fighting method was clearly much different from a moment ago. It seemed to wield less force, but it gained a greater degree of flexibility and agility in return. However, he still couldn’t avoid the ultimate fate of being knocked back.

  Boom!

  When Zhao Jingdian was sent flying again, Wang Chong, who was watching the proceedings by the side, finally frowned. There were only three tries for the examination, and Zhao Jingdian had already failed twice.

  If he were to fail once more, he wouldn’t have any more chances left.

  “Could my actions have harmed him instead?”

  Wang Chong thought.

  He could feel that the strength the instructor was displaying was slightly greater than before.

  He was clearly biased against Zhao Jingdian.

  The duo had been watching him for a very long time, and the instructor had already noticed it from the start. Perhaps it was due to Wang Chong’s influence, but the other party was clearly resolute to not allow Zhao Jingdian to pass.

  “Zhao Jingdian, Horse Trampling the Barracks! …”

  Wang Chong suddenly shouted.

  Weng!

  Hearing Wang Chong’s words, Zhao Jingdian’s body jolted. He swiftly turned around to look at Wang Chong in shock, as though Wang Chong had spoken something incredible.

  “What’s that?”

  The instructor frowned. He glanced at Wang Chong in astonishment when ‘boom!’, a light flashed and a fearsome might rippled in the air. Origin Energy surged through Zhao Jingdian’s body, and as though a ferocious tiger, he pounced over.

  The same move and the same fighting method, but yet, the instructor seemed to feel that something was very different amidst the familiarity.

  Boom!

  Just as Zhao Jingdian seemed like he was about to be defeated once more, an abrupt change occurred. His body swayed and his aura surged, granting him a sudden burst of speed. In that instant, he split into two, then into three, leaving behind two after images on the spot. Boom! He avoided the instructor’s fist technique and dived straight toward him.

  Boom!

  A powerful fist flew out and struck Zhao Jingdian’s chest, preventing him from coming any closer. But at the same time, two feet struck the instructor on his chest.

  Hong long, Zhao Jingdian was knocked onto the ground and he spewed a mouthful of blood. His face was pale.

  On the other hand, the instructor maintained the posture of his final attack. Glancing at the two footprints on his chest, a bizarre expression crept onto his face.

  “You’ve won.”

  After a long time, the instructor finally said.

  Even though Zhao Jingdian’s kick hadn’t hurt him at all—it had barely tickled him—he was still defeated.

  He didn’t expect Zhao Jingdian to break through his defense using such a bizarre double-edged move. Even though it could be considered as cheating, it was a fact that the other party had managed to leave behind two footprints on his body.

  Going by the rules, he had indeed lost.

  “This is the method that you’ve taught him?”

  The instructor glanced at Wang Chong helplessly.

  “Yes!”

  Wang Chong’s didn’t deny the matter. He walked over to Zhao Jingdian and passed him a pill which he obtained from Six-fingered Zhang.

  “Here, eat this pill!”

  Explaining the usage of some words:

  Usually, when I use ‘call of the sword’, call refers to more of a natural sound produced by the sword. For example, the crisp metallic ringing sound when you draw a sword, when you slash the sword through air etc.

&nbs
p; Chapter 197: Chen Burang

  “Let’s go! I’ll help you to the side.”

  Wang Chong supported Zhao Jingdian over to the side. After he consumed the pill and rested for a moment, Zhao Jingdian’s complexion gradually recovered.

  “Gongzi, how do you know that I’m cultivating Horse Trampling the Barracks?”

  After looking around and ensuring that there was no one within earshot, Zhao Jingdian finally asked Wang Chong the question that had been bugging in his mind.

  Horse Trampling the Barracks was an ultimate technique of the Zhao Clan. It enhanced one’s agility explosively for a short period of time, allowing one to create three after images to confuse and break through an opponent’s defense.

  Usually, when on defense, one’s attention would be focused on the enemy’s upper body. However, the crux of the ‘Horse Trampling the Barracks’ actually lay in the feet.

  All it took was a momentary lapse in judgement for the instructor to fall for Zhao Jingdian’s ploy and be kicked on his chest.

  However, even though this was a mystical move that was exceptionally useful in breaking through an enemy’s defense when the other party was unprepared, it was extremely difficult to cultivate. Hence, there were very few Zhao Clan members who had managed to successfully cultivate it.

  In truth, Zhao Jingdian had cultivated ‘Horse Trampling the Barracks’ on secret. Even his grandfather was unaware of it. As he hadn’t completed his cultivation of the technique yet, he didn’t even consider using it in a practical battle. In truth, the mouthful of blood he spewed previously was mostly due to a backlash from his inner energy.

  “Heh, my grandfather had once told me about the Zhao Clan’s Horse Trampling the Barracks and gauging from your Origin Energy Tier 7 cultivation, I guessed that you might have started cultivating this secret art.”

  Wang Chong said.

  “So it’s Duke Jiu!”

  Zhao Jingdian was stunned for a moment before coming to a realization. Any bizarre occurrence could be explained if Duke Jiu was involved. He might have been able to hide the fact that he was cultivating Horse Trampling the Barracks from others but he didn’t think that he would be able to conceal it from Duke Jiu’s sharp eyes.

  Seeing Zhao Jingdian’s expression, Wang Chong couldn’t help but chuckle internally.

  Was there even a need for him to ask grandfather on Zhao Jingdian’s affairs? In his previous life, the two of them had fought alongside and conquered many battlefields together. He couldn’t be any more familiar with the other party’s martial arts.

  Whether Zhao Jingdian had cultivated ‘Horse Trampling the Barracks’ or not and how far he had progressed in it, Wang Chong could tell in a single glance.

  “There’s a reason why I insisted for you to come under him. Even though those who graduate from the training camp in the future would eventually reach great heights in the future, that instructor is different. While others have to spend several years toiling at the bottom layer, we’ll be able to take on the role of a lieutenant straight and lead an army to a battlefield. By then, you’ll know that this mouthful of blood was worth it.”

  “AH!!”

  Zhao Jingdian exclaimed in astonishment as he abruptly raised his head.

  Wang Chong nodded silently. One who learned the ‘Art of Commanding’ couldn’t possibly walk on the same path as the others.

  Other graduates, including those from Shenwei and Longwei, usually started out from the smallest section commander. On the other hand, those who studied the ‘Art of Commanding’ were given the position of a lieutenant as soon as they graduated.

  This was also one of the reasons why Wang Chong insisted on coming under this instructor.

  In his previous life, Wang Chong idled most of his time away. It was only after the catastrophe struck and he caught the sight of the elders that he rose in a single go to become the Grand Marshal of the Central Plains. But by then, it was already too late. He had already missed too many opportunities.

  As such, Wang Chong was determined not to allow the same to occur in this life. As such, he turned his eyes to that instructor. ‘Lieutenant’ was a very good starting point. Under normal circumstances, it would take at least several years for even a talented footsoldier to rise to the position of a lieutenant.

  And to Wang Chong, he lacked nothing but time. If he could become a lieutenant from the moment of his graduation, he could save a lot of hassle.

  “There’s still a while longer before the examination ends. You should rest here first, I’ll go out and take a walk!”

  Wang Chong said before walking down the mountain.

  In Wang Chong’s view, the current Kunwu Training Camp was a treasure trove in itself. There were too many future great generals lying in here.

  As long as he played his cards well, with the strengths of these future great generals, he might be able to change Great Tang’s future altogether.

  ——The future Grand Marshal of the Central Plains and many rising great generals working hand-in-hand; this was a force that no one could disregard. It could possibly change many things.

  Wang Chong soon disappeared amidst the crowd. At the same time, several figures appeared from the crowd.

  “Let’s go. We’ll give it a try as well!”

  In truth, Wang Chong and Zhao Jingdian weren’t the only ones who had been spying on the instructor. Wang Chong had only been observing the situation for an hour, but there were a few who had already been observing for several hours now.

  It was impossible a student to defeat an instructor. As such, most people didn’t harbor much hope for this. However, from the precedent with Wang Chong and Zhao Jingdian, they had learned quite a few things.

  …

  Wang Chong was unaware of the changes at the top on the mountain. At this moment, his attention was completely absorbed into something else.

  Too many things had happened, resulting in the future path to be diverted. The current Kunwu Training Camp was very much different from how he recalled it to be. At the very least, back then, there weren’t so many scions here.

  Due to Wang Chong’s influence, many things had changed.

  However, one thing to rejoice over was that the number of recruits Kunwu Training Camp accepted had also increased as well. This meant that his impact on those future great generals who came from humble backgrounds was minimal.

  The great generals who should appear here should still appear here.

  This was something Wang Chong was extremely relieved about!

  A huge crowd walked to and fro the massive mountain. Most of them were wandering around worriedly as they attempted to find an instructor whom they could clear the test with. Different from them, Wang Chong’s attention was on the crowd instead. His gaze swept across the innumerable faces passing him by.

  Suddenly, a figure who kept turning around aimlessly caught Wang Chong’s notice. That person had a large bow hanging on his back, and he was loitering around the Imperial Army guards, seemingly at a loss.

  “It’s him?”

  Wang Chong suddenly chuckled. Seeing the symbolic large bow, a memory gradually surfaced in Wang Chong’s head. Legend has it that in the first batch of recruits of Kunwu Training Camp, there was a first-timer who, due to coming from a rural location and was visiting the capital for the first time, was unable to differentiate between the Imperial Army guards and instructors.

  As such, he spent a lot of his time walking to and fro the Imperial Army guards, pleading with them to give him a chance for the test.

  The Imperial Army guards had told him repeatedly that they weren’t instructors and the instructors were further up the mountain, but that person advanced forward only to look for the other Imperial Army guards stationed higher up the mountain.

  This matter became a huge laughingstock in the Kunwu Training Camp, and there were many jokes born from that.

  Even so, that person’s strength was no joke at all, and the massive bow he carried behind him proved testim
ony to that.

  Rumor has it that this person was capable of accurately shooting an apple on a tree from several li away, and a base reinforced by the squad of archers that he led would become the sturdiest fortress on the battlefield.

  (One li -> 0.5km)

  Seeing that person wandering about as though a confused fly, Wang Chong chuckled lightly and walked over.

  “Brother, may I know how to address you?”

  Only after walking closer did Wang Chong catch a closer glimpse at the other party’s appearance. The other party was around sixteen to seventeen-year-old, and he was dressed in beastskin. He was a perfect fit for the stereotype of a mountain hunter.

  “Thi-this… I am Chen Burang! It’s the Northern Governor who recommended me here.”

  The youth hunter looked slightly restrained.

  “It’s indeed him!”

  Wang Chong was taken aback. There was no mistake about it, it must that person. After all, even the name was right. It was just that he didn’t expect the other party to come from a family of hunters.

  It was no wonder why he didn’t ask any of the other examinees for directions even though so many of them were walking by him. Most probably, he rarely interacted with others on normal occasions, thus making him slightly socially awkward.

  “Are you looking for the instructors?”

  Wang Chong asked.

  “Y-yes! However, I can’t seem to find where the instructors are… Is the recruitment exercise over already?”

  Speaking til the end, Chen Burang nearly burst into tears.

  On the other hand, Wang Chong nearly burst out laughing. Since this person was able to pass the prior tests, he shouldn’t have been so ignorant. It must really be his first time taking such a long journey away from home.

  “Hehe, don’t worry, the examination is far from over. Why don’t I bring you to the instructors?”

  Wang Chong offered.

  “Ah! That would be great!”

  Delighted, the youth gazed at Wang Chong in gratitude. This was the first time someone had walked forward and offered him help ever since he entered Kunwu Training Camp.

  Thus, Wang Chong brought him up to the mountain peak.