The thick-headed Zhao Er Ting was easy to spot, showing little change from memory. Only his clothing and armor hinted at a possible promotion. Jiang Wang hadn’t expected him to rise through the ranks, but it was a good thing. A simple soul like Zhao Er Ting would likely only find fair treatment under the hand of someone like Du Ye Hu. Conversely, Zhao Er Ting’s advancement suggested Du Ye Hu himself was doing well.

Could this “General Du” be none other than the Tiger? Had Du Lao Er ascended to the rank of general in the Jiujiang Xuan Jia, perhaps even displacing Duan Li?

Jiang Wang fiercely suppressed the surging tide of his emotions. Then, he heard Zhao Er Ting’s booming, careless voice: “Vice General Yang, what does Partial General Du want with me?”

His words instantly clarified the situation.

Yang Vice General, standing before him, wore a helpless expression. “Must you enunciate ‘Vice’ and ‘Partial’ so distinctly? Try to grow a brain, alright?”

Zhao Er Ting scratched his head. “But I didn’t call wrong… Why does that mean I haven’t grown a brain?”

“Alright, alright, alright,” Yang Yin conceded, realizing the futility of reason with this simpleton. He waved his hand. “Just go, General Du is waiting for you.”

Zhao Er Ting muttered reluctantly, “You still haven’t said what Partial General Du wants. And no drinking! I have drill tomorrow!”

Were it anyone else, summoned by a superior, they would have scurried over with alacrity. Invited for a drink, they would have been overjoyed – such treatment was reserved for trusted confidantes. Only a fool like Zhao Er Ting would prioritize drill over such an opportunity.

Yang Yin said impatiently, “Just go report once, don’t talk nonsense, hurry up.”

Zhao Er Ting finally trudged away, albeit unwillingly, still muttering under his breath, “What do I have to report…?”

Jiang Wang shifted his feet, trailing behind them at a measured pace.

Upon reaching a relatively large military tent, Zhao Er Ting loudly and carelessly lifted the flap and entered. A pungent wave of alcohol assailed Jiang Wang, even causing him to frown.

Yang Yin and Zhao Er Ting seemed accustomed to it.

“Partial General Du!” Zhao Er Ting bellowed upon entering the tent. “Zhao Er Ting reporting!”

The tent’s interior was sparsely furnished. Besides a bow hanging on the wall, there was no other decoration.

Du Ye Hu sat on the ground, surrounded by a scattering of wine jars.

Hearing the sound, he let out a drunken burp. “Son of a bitch, so loud! Scared the old man!”

Jiang Wang had slipped into the tent after Zhao Er Ting lifted the flap. With his strength and the concealment of his cloak, it would have been difficult for Zhao Er Ting and Yang Yin to detect him. As for Du Ye Hu, he was thoroughly drunk.

The hidden cloak concealed one’s tracks by merging with the environment. When the wearer moved, the cloak needed to re-establish its connection with the environment, causing a brief lapse in its effect.

Yin Guan, though wearing a hidden cloak, hadn’t immediately revealed himself when he moved. He had used a secret technique to aid the cloak in merging with the environment. However, even that proved ineffective against a God-Realm expert like Yue Leng.

Jiang Wang couldn’t replicate that, but he could converge his aura and move silently. After slipping into the tent and standing still in a corner for a moment, the hidden cloak had already re-merged with the environment.

He stood in the corner, unmoving, silently observing Du Ye Hu.

It had been a long time, yet Du Ye Hu still bore the anxious look of someone in their prime. Though not yet twenty, he appeared middle-aged. His sideburns and beard were denser, but his face was noticeably thinner.

Yang Yin’s voice offered counsel: “Though there are no pressing duties now, drinking like this in the army, I fear General Duan will not be pleased.”

Du Ye Hu gulped down a large mouthful of wine, ignoring the advice. He simply roared at Zhao Er Ting: “Zhao Er Ting! Tell the old man again! You went to Feng Lin City to deliver a letter for the old man, what did those turtle bastards say?”

Zhao Er Ting was simple-minded and incapable of grasping the nuances of emotion.

He only said, troubled, “Tell it again? I’ve already said it a thousand times.”

Yang Yin slapped him on the back of the head. “When you’re told to speak, speak! So much nonsense!”

Du Ye Hu suddenly roared, “Damn you, Yang Yin! Tend to your own military affairs! What business is it of yours?”

Yang Yin, knowing Du Ye Hu’s temper, wasn’t angered. He simply lifted the tent flap and left with a helpless sigh.

Only then did Du Ye Hu fix his gaze on Zhao Er Ting. “Speak!”

His eyes were wide as copper bells, but the pupils were laced with blood vessels, perhaps from excessive drink, or some other reason. Regardless, they looked frightening.

Even the habitually simple Zhao Er Ting felt a flicker of timidity.

He fidgeted and said, “Well, when I went to Feng Lin City, I gathered those few people. I said everything you told me to say.”

“Not a single word missed!” he emphasized.

“I went to several places. I was there talking about how powerful you are, how you are in Jiujiang…” Zhao Er Ting rambled on, recalling, “When I was talking, that rich person dressed strangely, who looked really good-looking, just kept laughing.”

Du Ye Hu slapped his thigh. “Damn it, the pretty boy knew the old man was boasting!”

Zhao Er Ting continued, “That person who looked very upright, dressed very plainly, didn’t say anything. Didn’t laugh either.”

As he spoke, Du Ye Hu followed along, ‘interpreting’: “Heh heh, still the same old dependable one.”

“That one with the clear and handsome appearance, who also spoke very politely, but I don’t know why, when he looked at me, my heart felt strangely empty.”

“The third one, outwardly calm, but full of ideas!”

Du Ye Hu drained the last wine jar.

“Alright! Sleep!”

He simply pitched forward, headfirst.

*Pili pala,* he didn’t know how many wine jars he’d broken.

He was completely oblivious.

Seeing Du Ye Hu passed out, Zhao Er Ting scratched his head, turned, and lifted the tent flap, walking out.

It wasn’t the first time Du Tiger had gotten drunk, nor was it the first time he’d called him to repeat these old stories while drinking. He was used to this scene. He greatly admired Du Ye Hu, but compared to repeating old stories, tomorrow’s drill was more important.

Jiang Wang, who had witnessed this entire scene, remained motionless for a long time.

There were several instances when he yearned to shed the hidden cloak, leap before Du Ye Hu, and directly douse him with a basin of water to wake him. Before Du Ye Hu could erupt in anger, he would laugh heartily and say, “Du Lao Er, look! I’m not dead! Not only am I not dead, but An An is also living very well!”

But ultimately, he did not.

Because he couldn’t explain why he hadn’t died, where he had been all this time, why he had left Zhuang Country, or what exactly had happened in the Feng Lin City domain…

Even as a child, Du Ye Hu could wield a blade and personally slay his enemies. Now, he was even less likely to endure.

But the opponents they faced now were not those who could be overcome with sheer courage and reckless bravery.

Zhuang Gao Xian was already a true contemporary, capable of crushing them with a single finger, easier than crushing an ant.

To deal with Zhuang Gao Xian, one needed fearless courage in the face of death, unwavering determination, and a long, painful endurance.

Within the military tent, silence reigned for a long time, broken only by Du Ye Hu’s rhythmic snoring.

When Yang Yin lifted the tent flap and walked in, he was surprised to find the tent neatly organized. The shards of wine jars that should have been scattered on the ground were gone.

The table was in its place, as were the chairs.

And Du Ye Hu lay properly on the military cot, covered with a blanket.

“Strange.”

Yang Yin muttered with some surprise, “When did Zhao Er Sha learn to be obedient and even tidy up?”