After staying at home for an hour, Teng Qingshan took his sister Qingyu, and they rode together on the Green-maned Snow-treading Horse. Accompanied by Teng Qinghu, they departed from the Teng Family Manor under the watch of many clansmen, heading toward Yicheng.

It didn't even take half an hour to ride from the Teng Family Manor to Yicheng.

“Lu lu~~~”

Teng Qingshan and Teng Qinghu slowed their pace; they were already approaching the gate of Yicheng.

“Make way, make way!” When the city guards saw the attire of Teng Qingshan and Teng Qinghu and the appearance of their warhorses, they immediately shouted and pushed the surrounding people aside, then respectfully allowed Teng Qingshan and the two horses to enter Yicheng.

“Brother!” Qingyu widened her eyes and looked back at the city guard. “The Black Armored Army is truly formidable. Even the city guards dare not accept money.”

“Accept money?” Teng Qinghu beside them chuckled. “Qingyu, even the City Lord of Yicheng would not be qualified to charge Qingshan a fee. Qingshan is a Commander now; according to military rank, the City Lord of Yicheng is only equal to Qingshan!” Both the government officials and the Black Armored Army were controlled by the Yuan Sect.

Therefore, there were indeed levels of hierarchy.

Jiangning Commandery had nine major cities, and the City Lords of these nine cities held statuses comparable to the Commanders of the Black Armored Army. The Governor of the main city, ‘Jiangning Commandery City,’ held a status similar to that of a Commander-in-Chief of the Black Armored Army.

However, whether Commander or Commander-in-Chief, they belonged to the Black Armored Army!

Thus, the City Lords and Governors naturally ranked slightly lower in their own minds.

“Commander!”

Some soldiers were already chatting in small groups near the entrance of the tavern. As soon as they saw the two warhorses galloping toward them, a soldier immediately shouted.

“Little Yu, dismount.” Teng Qingshan brought the Green-maned Snow-treading Horse to a complete stop before Qingyu cautiously jumped down; after all, the horse was over eight feet tall, quite tall.

Teng Qingshan dismounted, and immediately a soldier came to take the reins of the warhorse.

“Commander! The City Lord of Yicheng has been waiting inside the tavern on the left side,” a soldier reported in a low voice.

Teng Qingshan turned his head to look. Just then, the City Lord of Yicheng, ‘Yang Ke,’ was leading quite a few people out of the tavern and walking toward them. It was likely that the soldiers in the tavern had spotted Teng Qingshan as he passed through the street and had informed the City Lord.

“Haha, Commander Teng, to wait for you, the wine jug has been heated three times!” Yang Ke said with a teasing smile. “But I finally get to meet the youngest Commander in our Black Armored Army! It’s a pity… it’s getting late, otherwise, I would certainly drink heartily with you!”

“Next time I return to Yicheng, I will certainly drink to our heart's content with City Lord Yang,” Teng Qingshan replied with a smile.

“Brother Qingshan,” a voice sounded from behind Yang Ke. “Hmm, that voice is…” Teng Qingshan looked behind Yang Ke with some surprise. He saw a middle-aged man with a scar across his face emerge from the group behind Yang Ke.

“Third Brother Liu,” a smile broke out on Teng Qingshan’s face.

“Haha, Brother Qingshan, when you decided to join the Black Armored Army, I knew it. Brother Qingshan, your future is boundless. But I never expected that in less than half a year, Brother Qingshan you would already be a Commander,” Third Master Liu immediately glanced at the large number of Black Armored Army soldiers pouring out of the tavern.

Teng Qingshan smiled, cupped his hands, and said, “City Lord Yang, Third Brother Liu, time is tight today. Next time, I will definitely treat you both properly. I’ll be leaving now!”

Immediately, under the watchful eyes of Yang Ke, Liu San, and their group, Teng Qingshan and the others remounted their horses.

“Little Yu, hold tight,” Teng Qingshan murmured softly, then shouted loudly, “Move out!”

At once, five hundred Black Armored Army soldiers, under the leadership of Teng Qingshan, left Yicheng in an imposing procession. As soon as they exited the city, they spurred their horses into a gallop. The Black Armored Army moved at extreme speed, rushing toward Jiangning with a whoosh.

...

When the sky began to darken, Teng Qingshan and his group finally circled around to the east gate of Jiangning Commandery City. The Black Armored Army camp was situated right next to the east gate. After entering the city, Teng Qingshan and his party quickly proceeded to the barracks. All five hundred soldiers were dismissed, each returning to their respective lodgings.

The next morning during morning practice.

As soon as Teng Qingshan appeared on the drill ground, many familiar Centurion friends, as well as some Commanders, came to offer congratulations.

“Brother Qingshan, congratulations!”

“Qingshan, you are now the youngest Commander. If in ten years Commander Ji retires, you have a great chance at the position of the First Commander.”

“Now that you’re a Commander, Brother Qingshan, aren’t you treating us?”

“Yes, we must have a proper feast.”

There were many well-wishers, some sincere, some laced with veiled sarcasm. Once a person achieves a high position, while some admire and respect them, others feel jealousy and hidden resentment. It is true that an incompetent person is never envied. Naturally, Teng Qingshan did not care. Regardless…

Teng Qingshan was the most glorious figure during the morning practice; everyone knew Teng Qingshan had become a Commander.

“Everyone, I will host a banquet tonight at the Moon-Embracing Tower. You must honor me with your presence then,” Teng Qingshan announced in a loud voice, immediately drawing a wave of response from those around him. Teng Qingshan had good rapport within the Black Armored Army, and at this moment, everyone was happy to support him, eager to forge closer ties with the promising Commander.

“Commander Teng!” A Black Armored Army soldier ran over respectfully. “The Commander-in-Chief has given an order: Commander, you are to receive the Commander’s belongings and residence. Commander, just follow me.”

“Lead the way.” Teng Qingshan, holding his Reincarnation Spear, followed the Black Armored Army soldier off the drill ground.

Having been in the Black Armored Army for nearly half a year, Teng Qingshan still did not know where the Commanders resided.

“Commander! This residence is your future dwelling! It has already been cleaned! Your Crimson Blood Horse and Cold Iron Heavy Armor are also in the courtyard. Commander, please have your Green-maned Snow-treading Horse and Iron Armor ready; someone will likely come to retrieve them shortly.”

Teng Qingshan nodded.

“Commander, here are the keys to the main gate and all the side rooms of this residence.” The Black Armored Army soldier handed over the keys.

Teng Qingshan took them and opened the main door, looking around carefully.

This residence was in Jiangning Commandery City and could certainly be considered quite a good estate. It had three courtyards: a front, a middle, and a rear. There were three rooms in front of the main dwelling, and behind that, a two-story small building with six rooms in total, upstairs and down. The entire residence had nine rooms alone!

There were three courtyards, and the middle courtyard even had a pond with water lilies floating on it.

The rear courtyard contained a stable where the Crimson Blood Horse was kept.

“The Commander’s residence is much better than a Centurion’s place,” Teng Qingshan immediately returned to his previous quarters, called his sister ‘Qingyu,’ and also called his cousin Qinghu, and they began moving, bringing all their belongings, such as clothes, to the new house.

It took half an hour to move everything to the new home.

“Wow,” Qingyu rolled around on the bed in the room. “Brother, this bed is so soft and comfortable.”

“The Commander’s residence is much more luxurious than our Centurion quarters,” Teng Qinghu exclaimed as he looked around. “Qingshan, you have many rooms; I’ll just stay here with you.”

“I forbid it. You’re still staying?” Teng Qingshan teased with a smile.

Teng Qinghu rubbed his head and chuckled.

At that moment—

“Brother Qingshan! Brother Qingshan!” A voice came from outside the courtyard gate. The three of them went out together.

Creak!

Opening the door, Zhuge Yun and Zhuge Qing stood outside.

“Brother Qingshan, I know you were promoted to Commander and have moved to a new place, so I specifically came to offer my congratulations,” Zhuge Yun said. Suddenly, Zhuge Yun noticed that his sister, ‘Zhuge Qing,’ beside him seemed a bit off. Zhuge Qing was staring at ‘Qingyu,’ who was clinging intimately to Teng Qingshan’s arm at that moment.

Zhuge Qing looked at Teng Qingshan: “Brother Qingshan, who is she?”

“You mean Little Yu?” Teng Qingshan smiled.

When Zhuge Qing heard Teng Qingshan say the words ‘Little Yu’ with such intimacy, her heart trembled.

“Miss Qingqing,” Teng Qinghu said quickly beside her. “This is Qingshan’s sister, Qingyu!”

“This is his sister?” Zhuge Qing instantly felt her mood brighten, and she rushed over. She intimately took Teng Qingyu’s hand. “I heard Brother Qingshan had a sister. So her name is Qingyu. My given name is just ‘Qing’; your name is very similar to mine. We must be fated.”

Teng Qingyu looked at Zhuge Qing. “Your name is Zhuge Qing? Right.”

“Yes,” Zhuge Qing nodded repeatedly.

“I heard Brother mention you yesterday too,” Teng Qingyu said.

“Really?” Zhuge Qing rejoiced inwardly.

Teng Qingshan, standing nearby, was delighted to see that Zhuge Qing and his sister Qingyu got along so well upon meeting. He then turned to Zhuge Yun: “Little Yun, this is my sister, Teng Qingyu. I brought her from home this time. However, there are too few women in the Black Armored Army; it’s all big men. So, I was thinking… could Little Yu join the Yuan Sect and become one of its disciples?”

According to the Yuan Sect rules, they usually accepted outer disciples under the age of ten.

“That’s no problem,” Zhuge Yun readily agreed. “Qingyu is your sister, and you are a Commander of our Black Armored Army! You are an insider of the Yuan Sect; such a small matter is nothing.”

Teng Qingyu was overjoyed as well.

Teng Qingshan had discussed this matter with his sister the night before. Since there was nothing to do in the Yuan Sect anyway, it was better to study the internal energy secret manuals. The Raging Bull Great Strength Art was not very suitable for women to learn. And sister Qingyu was very eager to learn it, so naturally, she did not object to Teng Qingshan’s proposal.

“Little Yu,” Miss Qing also said, “I can go and mention this matter. Brother Qingshan doesn’t need to step forward.”

Miss Qing, after all, was the Sect Master’s daughter; such a small matter was nothing.

“Mm,” Qingyu nodded happily. “Thank you, Little Qing.”

Teng Qingshan watched the two girls; they had already switched to the intimate forms of address ‘Little Yu’ and ‘Little Qing’ after only a short conversation. Men and women were truly different.

“Little Yu, you’ve come to my Yuan Sect and haven’t had a good look around yet, have you?” Miss Qing said. “I’ll take you to see Dragon Ridge, and also the ten-mile embankment of the canal; taking a boat trip is very beautiful. It’s even prettier at night.”

“Okay,” Qingyu nodded repeatedly. “My brother has absolutely no time to accompany me to have fun.”

Miss Qing turned to Teng Qingshan: “Brother Qingshan, I’m taking Little Yu out to look around now.”

“Good, good.” Teng Qingshan was only too happy about that.

Zhuge Qing had grown up in the Yuan Sect, and with Miss Qing accompanying Qingyu, Qingyu would surely make a group of friends quickly in the Yuan Sect. He wouldn't need to worry too much himself.