Twelve armored soldiers in black cloaks marched them out of the Changping Tower, heading south toward the barracks. Four guards led the way, four followed behind, and four flanked them in the middle, surrounding the group as they slowly made their way down the north-south thoroughfare of Tianlong City.

Along the street, people cast curious glances, wondering what transgression had brought them here. Everyone knew those black-cloaked, armored soldiers were the enforcers of military law, meaning these men had clearly broken some rule.

Some watched with pity, others with schadenfreude. These soldiers, so imposing and radiating killing intent, even they have a day like this. Truly satisfying!

Xiong Sihai remained perfectly composed, chatting and laughing heartily with Zhao Shengli, showing no sign of worry.

Xiao He cursed under his breath, finding the riders of the Flying Cavalry Camp utterly spineless. "The moment they can't win a fight, they run off to tattle. Not real men at all; they invite contempt."

Old Ma was subdued, offering only occasional, quiet agreement.

Feng Dakun and Cai Yuzhang walked in silence, saying nothing. Only Li Baolu looked visibly anxious, repeatedly turning to Cai Yuzhang to ask, "Little Cai, is it serious? Will the punishment be too severe?"

Every few steps he would fret, and the good-tempered Cai Yuzhang would simply shake his head each time, assuring him it wouldn't be.

They crossed the main street, exited the South Gate, returned to the barracks, and proceeded directly into the Minglütang (Hall of Clear Statutes).

Li Mu Chan glanced around; the Minglütang was unchanged. To be back here after only a few days felt strange. He scanned the familiar faces among the onlookers, some of whom met his gaze with expressions of shock.

Zhao Shengli and the others looked around nervously. Despite their usual boisterousness, they held a deep reverence for military discipline and dared not offend it; this was their first time facing its application.

They had long heard the fearsome reputation of the Minglütang. After Li Mu Chan returned from his previous visit, they had made discreet inquiries, finding his casual description hard to credit.

In their estimation, the Minglütang was no different from a dragon's lair—few who entered ever walked out unscathed; most emerged beaten black and blue or with broken limbs. Now, entering together, they felt a strange confidence, robbing the place of its intended dread.

Xiong Sihai swept the room with a swagger. About half of the twenty-odd people present stepped forward, cupping their fists in salute to Xiong Sihai and calling him "Big Brother."

Xiong Sihai threw back his head and laughed. He caught Li Mu Chan's eye, sensing his desire for quiet, and waved his hand dismissively. "Alright, everyone disperse. Don't disturb our peace!"

The others drifted away, conversing in low tones with others nearby.

Xiong Sihai turned back to Li Mu Chan. "Great Monk, if you seek quiet, shall we take a separate room? Would that suit you?"

Li Mu Chan nodded slightly.

Xiong Sihai immediately instructed Old Ma. Old Ma nodded in understanding, walked over to relay the message to the group, received numerous nods in agreement, and quickly returned to another room to fetch bowls and chopsticks, thus vacating a private space for them.

Zhao Shengli roared with laughter. "Brother Sihai, you certainly have presence!"

Xiong Sihai chuckled good-naturedly. "I'm just borrowing prestige. Everyone is giving me leeway because of my brother-in-law; I know that well enough!"

Zhao Shengli countered with a grin, "But if you lacked the ability, no one would pay you any mind!"

The group settled down near the rockery.

"It really won't be any trouble, will it?" Li Baolu asked tentatively.

Xiong Sihai laughed loudly. "Li Zi, you are such a good boy. What’s a minor issue like this? Relax, nothing will come of it!"

"But this was a brawl; the penalty won't be light!" Li Baolu insisted.

Xiong Sihai smiled. "We will face a penalty this time, yes, but it will be very light... If we had lost, our situation might have been dire, but since we won, it’s a completely different matter!"

Li Baolu looked confused. "Isn't it all just fighting?"

"Heh, I know my brother-in-law's temperament best—he cherishes face above all else!" Xiong Sihai declared proudly. "We brought glory to the (Xiaoqi Battalion) this time, thoroughly crushing the Flying Cavalry Camp. My brother-in-law might be thrilled!"

"Really?" Li Baolu was only half-convinced.

"Why would I lie to you, Li Zi?" Xiong Sihai shot him a look, then laughed. "My brother-in-law has been competing with the Flying Cavalry's Commandant for ages. We just earned him immense credit this time!"

"That's a relief, that's a relief!" Li Baolu sighed deeply.

Feng Dakun shook his head coldly. "You rabbit-hearted fellow, don't frighten yourself into a panic!"

Li Baolu retorted, "Dakun, dying on the battlefield is one thing; being unjustly punished under military law would be a true tragedy!"

Feng Dakun said coldly, "Relax. You didn't even throw a punch, and the Monk killed a man last time without consequence. This time is even less important!"

Li Baolu's face instantly flushed crimson. "Dakun, what is that supposed to mean! ... We are comrades; naturally, we advance and retreat together!"

Li Mu Chan waved his hand and smiled. "Enough, Li Zi, it’s fine. Xiong Sihai has pulled stunts like this countless times, and look at him—still perfectly fine?"

Li Baolu opened his mouth, wanting to argue or explain, but his words failed him.

Li Mu Chan chuckled. "Come on, Dakun was just teasing you."

Li Baolu shot Feng Dakun a resentful glare, then turned away, pointedly ignoring him.

Feng Dakun smirked, then suddenly threw a punch. Li Baolu sprang back to dodge it, and the two immediately traded blows, starting a sparring match.

Zhao Shengli waved his hand, dismissing them. "Ignore those two! ... Brother Sihai, since we earned the Commandant face, do you think we'll get a reward?"

"Mm, likely," Xiong Sihai confirmed with certainty.

Xiong Sihai and Zhao Shengli debated what kind of reward the Commandant might bestow. They noticed Li Mu Chan was lost in thought, remaining silent.

Zhao Shengli teased, "Monk, what are you pondering so deeply? Are you thinking about the Thirteenth Lady? Haha..."

Li Mu Chan smiled and nodded. "I am indeed thinking of her."

Zhao Shengli’s hearty laughter abruptly ceased. Xiong Sihai chuckled. "Great Monk, that Thirteenth Lady has quite the background; she's a favored guest of the Provincial Governor..."

Li Mu Chan waved a hand. "What is her background?"

"We don't know the specifics," Xiong Sihai admitted. "Why, is something amiss?"

Li Mu Chan shook his head. "Her bearing is extraordinary; she is not a simple character. It’s best to remain cautious."

"Ha! If she wasn't extraordinary, she wouldn't be the singular courtesan of Tianlong City," Xiong Sihai said with a laugh.

Li Mu Chan nodded and said no more.

He instinctively felt the woman posed no immediate danger to him, but he couldn't vouch for others. Such cultivation, maintained with such low visibility, suggested considerable ambition.

"Sigh... I wonder how long we'll be locked up!" Zhao Shengli sighed, growing bored after sitting for a while. "If only we could have brought books!"

Li Mu Chan smiled. He had made it a painful but necessary habit to study military texts daily; without it, he felt unsettled.

Xiong Sihai offered, "How about I send someone to fetch a few books for you?"

Li Mu Chan waved him off. "No need. The recruitment is over; we'll be released soon enough."

Xiong Sihai heard this and nodded. "That makes sense. If they are preparing to break camp and return, they won't keep us confined for long. Don't worry."

As they were speaking, a loud voice suddenly called out from outside: "Xiong Sihai! Ming Kong!"

Xiong Sihai called back loudly, laughing. "The Great Monk spoke the truth. It's our turn!"

The group emerged from the Minglütang and entered the Yanmintang (Hall of Strict Discipline). There, they saw Deputy Commander Li seated at the back, his face split in a smile, looking benevolent and approachable.

As Li Mu Chan and the others filed in, Deputy Commander Li chuckled. "Xiong boy, Ming Kong, it’s you two again!"

Li Mu Chan offered a military salute with a wry smile. Xiong Sihai, however, beamed, completely unfazed. "Commander, skip the pleasantries. Tell us how you're punishing us!"

"You..." Deputy Commander Li shook his head, adopting an air of disappointment. "Can't you just take a proper day off and let an old man rest too?"

Xiong Sihai snorted. "I’d like to rest, but others won't let me be idle!"

Deputy Commander Li smiled. "However, this time, the Commandant wasn't angry at all. In fact, he praised you."

"Is it because we beat that fellow surnamed Jing?" Xiong Sihai chuckled proudly.

Deputy Commander Li smiled vaguely. "Yes. The Commandant said you brought great honor to our Xiaoqi Battalion. We'll drop this whole matter!"

"Heh, he has moments of clarity!" Xiong Sihai boasted happily.

Deputy Commander Li continued, "Not only no punishment, but a reward too! ... Bring it!"

A soldier in black cloak and armor emerged from the side, carrying a wooden tray. He bowed respectfully and placed the tray, covered with a red cloth, onto the table.

Deputy Commander Li raised his hand and swept the cloth away. A dazzling array of silver ingots gleamed under the light, momentarily blinding Zhao Shengli, whose eyes widened so much he gasped aloud, "Heavens..."

The others also widened their eyes. Except for Xiong Sihai, none of them had ever seen so much money. The shock quickly turned into excitement, warming their hearts.

Deputy Commander Li smiled. "This is from the Commandant. Divide it among yourselves."

"Then we won't be polite!" Xiong Sihai laughed heartily, stepping forward, taking the tray, and saying, "This time, it’s all thanks to the Great Monk. This silver truly belongs to the Great Monk."

Li Mu Chan smiled. "Let's split it evenly."

Zhao Shengli quickly waved his hands in refusal. "No, no. It belongs to you, Monk, don't be modest. Just treat us to a meal at the Changping Tower another day!"

Li Mu Chan pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded. "...Very well!"

Xiong Sihai placed the silver in front of him and suggested, "I think it’s better to take it to the bank in Tianlong City and convert it into banknotes for convenience."

Deputy Commander Li smiled knowingly. "No need to go to Tianlong City. I have already prepared for that."

He smiled, pulled a banknote from his robe, and tossed it gently. It floated slowly to rest before Li Mu Chan.

Li Mu Chan glanced at Deputy Commander Li, acknowledging his extraordinary martial skill, and took the note. It was for one hundred taels.

Xiong Sihai rolled his eyes. "Commander, did you skim half off the top?"

Deputy Commander Li cried out, shaking his head. "You wicked boy, be gone with you!" With that, he flicked his sleeve and departed.

Li Mu Chan smiled. "We didn't eat our fill last time. Shall we go eat now?"

"Great idea!" everyone agreed instantly. They left the Yanmintang, exited the barracks once more, and headed for Tianlong City, making straight for the Changping Tower.

It was past noon now, the sun high overhead, blazing brightly—truly glorious weather. The streets were thronged with people and bustling with traffic.

When they arrived at the Changping Tower, the same waiter who had served them before was ushering out several guests. Seeing Li Mu Chan and the others, he hurried over with an eager welcome.

"Is our previous room free?" Xiong Sihai asked.

The waiter replied quickly, "What luck! Those guests just left the very table you were at, sirs. Do you wish to take that spot?"

"Nonsense, lead the way!" Zhao Shengli glared and waved his hand.

His manner was much bolder now, lacking the previous timidity and caution. With a hundred taels of silver in Li Mu Chan’s possession, he felt thoroughly confident, thinking that even the Changping Tower couldn't possibly cost a hundred taels for one meal!

The waiter quickly agreed and led them up to the second floor, into the private room they had occupied before.

"Is the Thirteenth Lady still here?" Xiong Sihai inquired.

The waiter shook his head apologetically. "The Thirteenth Lady has already rested. She only performs three sets each day. What a shame. Perhaps we could call Xiao Xifeng? Her music is also excellent."

Xiong Sihai waved his hand. "Never mind then, bring the food!"

He ordered several dishes, not even needing to look at the menu, listing them all from memory—a testament to his frequent patronage. The waiter's memory was equally sharp; he recited the order back flawlessly, then hurried off, first bringing two large jars of wine and setting out large bowls for everyone. He had clearly noted their habits, serving the big bowls without being asked, a sign of great diligence.

This time, the group ate and drank without restraint, their spirits soaring. Emerging from the Minglütang, they had expected punishment but were instead rewarded. The stark contrast delighted them and deepened their affection for the Commandant.

Zhao Shengli laughed heartily, setting down his large bowl and wiping his mouth. "In my opinion, the Commandant is a good man. Why don't you like him, Brother Sihai?"

Xiong Sihai shook his head repeatedly, affecting an air of disdain. "A good man? Heh heh, then you don't know him. If he were a good man, there would be no bad people in this world!"

"Surely not? Are you perhaps biased?" Zhao Shengli refused to believe it. "No one in our camp speaks ill of the Commandant!"

Xiong Sihai pursed his lips. "Hmph. He treats his soldiers well, but he treats his own family poorly!"

"That still counts as being a good man!" Zhao Shengli argued.

The men continued talking, drinking, and eating. Before they realized it, eight jars of wine were finished, and the light-drinking Li Baolu had already slumped onto the table.

Just then, a sound of hurried footsteps echoed, stopping right outside their room.

Xiong Sihai’s expression changed, and he exchanged a look with the others. He shot to his feet. Old Ma, without waiting for an order, moved to crack open the door crack, then quickly turned back. "It’s the Flying Cavalry Camp!"

"How many?" Xiong Sihai demanded.

"If not a hundred, then eighty or ninety!" Old Ma reported.

Xiong Sihai spat an obscenity, spun around, and pushed open the window. "Great Monk, discretion is the better part of valor. Let's make our retreat first and deal with this later!"

PS: Haha, I'm planning a big release tomorrow! Though it’s somewhat forced, it’s still a burst! Everyone please show your support!