Upon seeing Lin San in person, Qin Hao frowned. Blisters covered the man's body, yellowish fluid pooling beneath his skin.
"Take him to the infirmary." Qin Hao said.
"Boss, we tried," Wang Shou replied anxiously. "They said there are no beds available."
Qin Hao instantly understood everything had been arranged by Pei Hong. "Alright. Keep an eye on him. I'll see what I can do." With that, he dashed out of the barracks. Before leaving, he turned back once more. His cold gaze swept across everyone inside.
"When I return," he said flatly, "be prepared for another round of beating."
He knew everything that happened for the past few days, blankets, pillow being stolen, broken bed was Pei Hong's doing yet when his other self questioned the roommates, those fools claimed to have seen nothing. They knew.
They simply chose silence.
Inside his own tent, Pei Hong was drinking with several others. "Brother Pei," a skinny man said ingratiatingly, "that fellow who kept following Qin Hao spotted me, so I poisoned him. If he dies, I'll have to trouble you to clean things up."
Pei Hong waved dismissively, as if it were nothing.
"Kekeke… that Jiang bitch dared defy me," he sneered while draining his wine. "I'd love to see her face filled with despair and hatred."
"Brother Pei," a burly man asked, "since we already killed her brother, blackmail won't work anymore. What's your plan?" All of them were senior trainees, only months away from becoming official guards.
Pei Hong smirked. "Relax. I've already contacted my brother. He'll withdraw the patrols from the women's barracks. Then I'll personally drag that bitch out."
Shock rippled through the tent.
Not only was Pei Hong reckless enough to violate military rules, his brother, a senior guard, was openly backing him. If this matter leaked and higher ups get the whim of it, none of them would be able to keep their heads attached to their neck.
"Don't worry," Pei Hong added smugly. "My brother has connections with Squad Leader Liu Chong."
"No wonder…" The group was stunned.
A squad leader was far beyond their reach, someone with real authority on the battlefield.
"With such connections no wonder he's arrogant." Everyone thought inwardly.
As the group was celebrating and planning their scheme, the shouting of the senior trainees used as guard outside the tent entered their ears.
"Stop!"
"Who are you.."
But their voices stopped abruptly along with dull thuds.
The tent was ripped open.
A figure stepped inside.
"It's you!" Pei Hong's face twisted. How could he forget Qin Hao?
A menacing smile crept onto Qin Hao's lips. Without a word, he began walking forward.
"You…how dare you barge in here!" Pei Hong shouted, pointing furiously.
"Oh?" Qin Hao chuckled darkly. "You were planning to break into the women's camp and kidnap someone. Why can't I do the same?"
"What are you all standing around for?" Pei Hong roared. "Kill him!"
"Brat," one of them sneered, "I don't know what trick you used last time, but don't think you're escaping today."Drawing their weapons, with tacit coordination, they lunged at Qin Hao simultaneously.
Qin Hao's eyes gleamed, he didn't retreat instead bravely stepped forward. A glowing knife brushed past his eyes. His left hand knocked aside the attacker's arm while his right formed a claw, tearing toward the man's throat.
The man's pupils shrank. He abandoned his follow-up attack, hurriedly blocking with both hands.
Qin Hao's lips curled upward.
In that instant, his left hand blurred.
"A feint!? No… this.." Qin Hao's fist was getting larger and larger in his eyes as it was about to struck.
Right at the moment, a dagger appeared midair, aiming to sever Qin Hao's wrist.
The attack missed as Qin Hao withdrew instantly, creating distance. "These men are really well trained, their strength is also above me. It'll be a hassle to deal with them without using my divine sense. But, it's a perfect chance to temper myself."
"Beother Ji, don't tell me this kid almost got you?" One of them chuckled with a mocking expression.
The man snorted before speaking. "This kid is weird. I can tell he is just an inexperienced brat but… his battle intent is extremely strong. Also, he's fearless, even after being surrounded, he's constantly searching for a vital spot to strike."
"Indeed. He's quite talented." Another one spoke up.
"Take this seriously," another warned. "Or one of us might get injured."
The burly man spat disdainfully, "what's there to be serious when fighting an unarmed, inexperienced brat?" Saying this he strode forward.
"Cao, Be careful."
"Just watch me." He waved his hand dismissively.
Qin Hao's gaze was calm, tranquil as water. He was half the man's size, as for physical strength, it couldn't even be compared. The man's massive frame, hardened muscles made it impossible to strike at the vitals.
"Brat, kneel down obediently or else, i'll break your bones one by one." The man sneered.
The others behind him waited to watch the show. "Just watch how brother Cao takes care of this brat."
Facing against him, Qin Hao suddenly smiled. "Come, let me see how hard those muscles of yours."
The man's face turned cold, "Utterly foolish, i gave you a chance but you didn't cherish it." He took one step and the distance between him and Qin Hao decreased instantly.
"Fast….he has learned movement techniques?" Qin Hao was surprised. He wasn't even a full fledged guard, just a senior trainee and he was able to learn movement techniques.
The punch carried terrifying force. Qin Hao dodged by a hair's breadth, yet the shockwave alone sent his hair whipping wildly. "If i get hit even once, my body would explode. Considering his large frame, he's too fast. I don't know if my strength is enough to injure him. More importantly he's at least a rank two mortal martial master."
Qin Hao's thoughts clashed as he continued to analyse his enemy while dodging with nimble movements. Each evasion looked effortless but every one brushed past death.
He had only begun training a week ago. He hadn't even reached Rank One. Without his innate battle intent and extreme sensitivity to killing intent, he would have died without understanding how. Even his rapid healing wouldn't save him from instant death.
"So this the strength of a rank Two martial master…." Qin Hao muttered, his fighting intent soared rapidly.
The man named Cao was like a moving mountain. His steps caused the ground to vibrate. The punch came again, faster than the last, wind screaming as it tore through the air.
Qin Hao twisted his waist sharply as the fist grazed past his rib and hit the tent pole behind. Upon contact the pole shattered crisply. If that blow had landed, Qin Hao's torso would have burst like rotten wood.
Faced with the relentless barrage of attacks, Qin Hao continued to retreat. However, his movements gradually became faster and more fluid, as if his body were unconsciously adapting to the pressure. All on a sudden, Instead of retreating, he stepped forward. Cao was taken aback. Qin Hao dropped his center of gravity and slammed his shoulder into Cao's elbow joint, re directing it as the punch veered off course. Qin Hao's knee shot upward.
Thud!
It slammed into Cao's thigh however, the pain rebounded violently. A sharp jolt shot up Qin Hao's leg, his knee almost went numb. Cao laughed.
"That tickles kekeke…"
Before Qin Hao could pull back, a massive hand seized his collar. In that instant, Qin Hao slipped free of his shirt. Using Cao's bent knee as a foothold, he stepped lightly and sprang upward, smashing his head forward. Baam! The dull sound echoed through the tent as Cao groaned. Qin Hao's head slammed heavily into Cao's face, nearly crushing his nose.
Pain exploded in Qin Hao's skull as well.
"Just how much did this guy temper his body for his head to be this hard?" Suppressing the intense pain, Qin Hao reached out, grabbing Cao by the hair, and viciously drove two fingers toward his eyes.
But Cao was a veteran Rank Two Martial Master.
Even through the pain, he reacted instantly, raising his forearm to block. Qin Hao had already anticipated this. He stomped down with all his strength. Cao's knee buckled just slightly.
But that moment was enough.
Qin Hao surged forward, his fingers thrusting viciously once more, piercing straight into Cao's eyes.
"Argh…!!"
Cao screamed in agony, his massive arms swinging wildly as he staggered backward.
With Cao's vision gone, Qin Hao finally found a moment to breathe.