Chapter 215: Li Company Commander, Mighty!

"Li Rui wins!"

Three words clearly reached every ear.

The dragon dissolved.

Yet the onlooker soldiers remained lost in the awe of what they had just witnessed.

"Dragon!"

They would surely never forget that scene.

After all, the dragon's image in the hearts of mortals was too sacred.

Cao Wei looked toward Li Rui.

At his level of insight, he could see Li Rui had taken a shortcut.

He knew Li Rui bore the dragon form.

But Li Rui's decisive victory today lay not in suppressing his opponent's qi-form, but in his meticulous overall strategy.

He likely investigated Qi Ze's background and martial arts weaponry from the start.

All such intelligence was available to the Anning Guard—what mattered was how to use it.

So he began with a heavy blade, using weapon advantage to suppress Qi Ze.

Qi Ze, proud by nature, insisted on matching Li Rui in weapon skill.

He used his weakness to attack Li Rui's strength.

The outcome was predictable.

Then he grew angry and unleashed his ultimate technique.

That played right into Li Rui's hands—if Qi Ze had challenged him in internal or external martial arts, Li Rui might have hesitated, but he chose the dragon form, Li Rui's most brutal technique.

Among all forms under heaven, few ranked higher than the dragon form.

The crane form certainly did not.

So defeat became inevitable.

In short, Qi Ze was completely outmaneuvered by Li Rui.

It seemed full of twists, but in truth, it was as steady as an old dog.

Of course, all these calculations depended on Li Rui himself being strong enough.

The power Li Rui displayed today far exceeded Cao Wei's expectations.

"Good."

Jiang Linxian spoke first.

Then Ning Zhongtian's laughter rang out: "I yield, I yield—my big brother is unmatched under heaven!"

Li Rui stood still, motionless.

To others, it looked like he was displaying a master's demeanor.

In truth, he was reviewing the battle.

"Hmm, about seven tenths."

He had used roughly seven tenths of his strength in this fight.

"Can't go further—it's already the limit."

More than that, he'd have to activate his immortal form—that was a secret he couldn't reveal to outsiders, and perhaps also conceal his blade's edge; if he added concealment, he'd have to include the sword-nourishing stance too.

"Not bad."

Li Rui's face regained its smile.

He addressed Qi Ze, who Cao Wei had helped to his feet: "Your courtesy."

Qi Ze's gaze was complex, but he accepted defeat—he bowed his fist for the first time: "Your courtesy."

With those words spoken,

Li Rui's position as Company Commander of the Trade Office was secured.

Qi Ze said nothing.

He understood.

Had Li Rui not withdrawn seven tenths of his power at the end, Qi Ze wouldn't have merely looked disheveled—he might have been laid up for three months.

Nothing to say—he was simply outclassed.

He came from the Duke Prefecture, with high pride, but he wouldn't stoop to the disgrace of refusing to admit defeat.

Finished speaking.

He felt too ashamed to stay longer, bid Cao Wei farewell, and turned to leave.

To the eyes of the Anning Guard soldiers, it looked like a hasty retreat.

"Li Company Commander, mighty!"

No one knew which hoarse voice started it.

In any case,

Like the first firecracker blast, it instantly ignited the arena's atmosphere.

Fortunately, Li Rui did not sink into the chorus of "Li Company Commander!"

But he had to admit,

The feeling was truly excellent.

Jiang Linxian now walked over.

Honestly, he had been genuinely worried—this concerned the Emperor; if he'd failed, he'd suffer too.

Though he had arranged Ning Zhongtian as backup, Qi Ze's performance made it clear he'd hidden his strength—even Ning Zhongtian might not have been a match.

Combat isn't just about surface power—the outcome is uncertain.

Li Rui's victory eliminated all variables.

He smiled and said: "Brother Li, I owe you a favor."

This reached Ning Zhongtian's ears.

He was so envious his mouth watered.

There's a saying in Qinghe County:

"Money is small, favors are big."

That was Jiang Linxian's favor—in a sense, worth more than fourteen major merits.

He hadn't even stepped onto the field.

Of course, he had no such fortune.

Besides, he believed even if he had fought, he still wouldn't have been Qi Ze's match.

Li Rui was also pleased, bowing deeply: "Thank you, Head Jiang."

Jiang Linxian felt Li Rui was a brilliant move he'd made.

He laughed aloud—a rare sound—and departed gracefully.

Everything was settled; staying longer served no purpose.

Cao Wei also left with his three subordinates.

Soon, Li Rui was surrounded by soldiers eager to see him.

In the army, strength always rules—Li Rui had once won respect through virtue, but now he won it through power; they truly saw him as an idol.

Think about it—controlling a dragon is every man's ultimate dream!

Though few in the world bear the dragon form, even fewer have trained it to the point of externalizing true qi.

At least within the Anning Guard, Li Rui was the only one.

"Commander Li, show us the dragon again—let us see it!"

"So cool!"

"Do it! Do it!"

Watching the crowd clamor,

Li Rui merely smiled faintly—just as everyone thought they wouldn't see the dragon again,

the next instant,

the dragon reappeared.

Zui Xian Tavern.

"Brother Li, you truly hide your true strength—I never knew you were this powerful!"

Wei Ming stared at Li Rui; besides him, Ning Zhongtian, Ge Hong, and Tan Hu were also present.

Li Rui's deeds from yesterday had spread throughout the Anning Guard.

Today's banquet was held specially to celebrate him.

"Just a few minor tricks."

Li Rui remained as always.

He did not distance himself from old friends just because he'd been promoted.

Minor tricks?

Wei Ming didn't believe that for a second.

Knowing Li Rui as he did, everything must have been carefully prepared.

Had Li Rui not been certain of victory, he would have yielded rather than stepped onto the field.

Several people looked at Li Rui, their eyes filled with envy.

Sixth-rank Captain.

=9+shu_ba

They probably won't ever get such an opportunity in their lives.

Of them all, Wei Ming and Ge Hong felt it most deeply.

When they first knew Li Rui, he was still their subordinate; then he gradually became their peer, and now he had become their superior outright.

This transformation was truly astonishing.

"Old Brother Li, you're not still hiding something, are you?"

Wei Ming suddenly had a thought.

Li Rui laughed and scolded: "You really think I'm one of those prodigies? If I had that kind of ability, would I have had to play the fool for so long?"

Wei Ming nodded.

That made sense.

According to Jiang Lin's earlier account, Li Rui was noticed while working as a stablehand for the Zhu family, then taught martial arts and continued undercover in Qinghe.

Li Rui's talent certainly wasn't outstanding, and he likely began training in martial arts at fifty or sixty years old.

If he had truly been a prodigy, why would Jiang Lin have let such a talent remain a stablehand?

To defeat Qi Ze of the Duke Prefecture, he must have used every ounce of his strength.

Ge Hong spoke up: "Come, let's all raise a toast to Old Brother Li."

Li Rui has been promoted.

And his new rank is Trade Captain.

His position is extremely unique.

Unlike Garrison Commander, the Trade Captain primarily assists in managing trade between the two nations.

Trade between the two nations is a matter directly overseen by His Majesty.

As Trade Captain, Li Rui's authority will certainly not be small.

Ning Zhongtian said: "Once the Ministry of Personnel's official notice arrives, we'll get drunk for three days and three nights!"

"Ning Boss is right."

Because Qi Ze interfered, Li Rui's appointment notice is still at the Ministry of Personnel.

It must go through the entire process again.

But since Li Rui has already defeated Qi Ze, there shouldn't be any further surprises.

As the men exchanged cups and glasses.

A commotion suddenly rose from downstairs.

"Didi, didi, such a huge tiger!"

"That's a beast!"

"Good heavens, how dare that man ride a beast?"

Exclamations continued.

Li Rui and the others turned their heads to look downstairs.

They saw:

On the broad street of Qinghe New City, a group of people dressed in strange attire, clad in animal hides, with muscular builds and faces painted with peculiar, exotic patterns—none of which the people of Yu had ever seen.

Even more shocking were the mounts beneath them.

Not oxen, not horses, not donkeys.

But beasts.

"Blue-furred white-tailed tigers, nine-horned silver lizards, violet-spined spiders…"

Li Rui on the upper floor recognized the beasts at a glance.

Each radiated overwhelming beastly aura.

Most ordinary Qinghe residents had never seen a beast in their lives; they stared at the procession as if at monsters.

Ning Zhongtian watched, his eyes narrowing slightly:

"They're from Wu Country."

"I heard Wu Country sent a delegation to inspect the Trade Office site—these must be them."

"They were supposed to arrive tomorrow; why are they here early?"

Wei Ming, Ge Hong, and the others gazed in fascination.

Though Qinghe was close to the Southern Frontier,

that didn't mean they were familiar with it.

In fact, most officials and civilians in Yunzhou knew next to nothing about the Southern Frontier.

After all, Wu Country had long been closed off.

The border between the two nations was heavily guarded by armies.

Except for a few smugglers with connections, no one else had any chance to encounter them.

Even these soldiers of Anan Army could only catch distant glances during patrols.

On Qinghe's street,

the Wu delegation slowly moved toward the county magistrate's office.

A girl with healthy wheat-colored skin and two cute tiger teeth rode a saber-toothed black tiger in the center of the procession, her strong calves gripping the beast's flanks.

She looked left and right.

Everything seemed new and strange to her.

"Huh? Yu people are weird—why is tofu pudding sweet?"

She was about to ask how to buy tofu pudding

when a burly man behind her shouted:

"Xiaotang, behave! Have you forgotten Grand Witch's instructions?"

"Oh."

The girl named Xia Xiaotang murmured.

She turned to look again,

when suddenly she felt a gaze descending from above.

She lifted her small head.

Her eyes met those of an old man on the tall wooden building.

Instantly,

she felt as if plunged into ice, as if stared at by the Beast God; her body trembled, nearly toppling from the saber-toothed tiger.

Fortunately, the strong man behind her reacted quickly

and caught her in time.

"Xiaotang, what's wrong?"

The girl's face turned pale; after a long while, she forced a smile.

"N-nothing."

She lowered her head, hunched her body, and dared not look in that direction again, muttering inwardly:

"Grand Witch was right—Yu people are monsters."

Her heart pounded:

"Too terrifying—Yu people are terrifying."

(End of Chapter)