Chapter 191: Colonel Peng

~~~

Huang Shing does not return the following morning, nor does he return the following afternoon. It takes over a day for him to show his face again. When he does, Liu Jin does not ask if he’s okay, and Huang Shing does not lie to his face about it.

“He’ll be fine,” Lu Mei tells him when he asks her for advice. “He’s cut from the same cloth as Bei Hong. Leave him be for now. He’ll get over it. If you pay him too much attention, it’ll just hurt his pride.”

Unfortunately, Lu Mei is right. Huang Shing won’t get better by just worrying about him. The last thing Liu Jin wants is to damage Huang Shing’s already frail pride by paying him too much attention. Best to give him some space.

For now, at least.

Besides, Liu Jin is already swamped with work as it is. The city watch, spying on Yuan Tao, familiarizing himself with the situation on the front lines, going over the list of disciples who will be under his command, and so on. He scarcely has time to concern himself with Huang Shing’s romantic life.

Then there are the parties.

Somehow, City Lord Chu manages to organize two more in the time it takes for them to be sent away. They take place after the visiting nobles leave, so they are not as grand. The last one, in particular, is quite small by City Lord Chu’s standards. As City Lord Chu smiles at him and raises his glass, Liu Jin cannot help but wonder if that is because he told the City Lord that he enjoyed smaller celebrations.

Still, all things come to an end. The day of their departure arrives, and, just as they came out to welcome them, the people come out to bid them goodbye. There is a parade and multiple speeches. One by City Lord Chu, one by Feng Zhi, and one by General Dan. They speak of unity, strength, and coming victories.

Liu Jin, however, feels neither unity nor strength, and the wild clapping around him does not change that. As the flame-wheeled wagons take off into the skies and leave Rumbling Thunder City behind, Liu Jin can only feel an odd sort of dread.

Three days ago, a new name was added to the list of disciples under his command: Yi Jiao. To his surprise, Feng Zhi hadn’t shown up to threaten him about what would happen if she was hurt during the expedition.

He sent his servant to do it instead.

Liu Jin sighs and leans his head against the window. The flame-wheeled wagons fly through the skies, likely scaring quite a few Spirit Beasts and more than one farmer. They pass through mountains, valleys, and rivers. As they grow closer to the border, the terrain starts becoming rocky and lifeless. The few farming fields they pass by look downright pitiful.

Eventually, they arrive at a large fortress built of solid stone and surrounded by sturdy walls of the same material. It is a heavy place made with simple lines. The fortress is brutal in its utilitarian rawness, something further enhanced by its empty surroundings. Had Liu Jin not spotted a small town a little under a mile away, he’d have believed this place to be completely removed from civilization.

Two lines of soldiers stand in front of the gates to welcome them. Their dark armors have many scratches and dents but are still clean and shine under the afternoon sun. The soldiers’ faces are hardened, and even the youngest has a full beard. Their heads look forward; their backs are straight. From bearing to cultivation, they are superior to the soldiers Liu Jin saw in Rumbling Thunder City.

Standing in front of them is the man in charge of this fortress as well as the entire southern army.

Colonel Peng.

He is tall. Almost unreasonably so. Closer to nine feet than eight. Like his soldiers, he has a full beard that covers most of his face, but his head is almost entirely bald under the helmet. His armor is darker than that of his men, made of stronger material, yet it has far more nicks and scratches. His skin is the same, Liu Jin notes. What little Liu Jin can see under the man’s armor is covered in multiple scars.

His Qi is that of someone in the Heaven Realm. It is firm and strong, lacking a shred of hesitation. Without a doubt, this man is a veteran of many battles who expects nothing less than the utmost discipline of his men.

“Welcome, visitors of the Eternal Flame Clan,” Colonel Peng says with a firm and clear voice. Each of his words is perfectly enunciated.

It takes Liu Jin a moment to realize he is the highest ranking person of the Eternal Flame Clan present, and it falls to him to say something right now.

“Greetings, Colonel Peng,” Liu Jin says, offering the man a short bow with his hands clasped together. “I am Qing Jin of the Eternal Flame Clan, and we are honored-”

“No.”

Liu Jin is left blinking.

“I beg your pardon?”

“We already have too many Qings,” Colonel Peng tells him bluntly. In a louder voice, he says, “Isn’t that right, soldier Qing?”

“Yes, sir!” shout at least fifteen of the men behind the colonel.

“Be grateful I did not call out the Jins,” Colonel Peng adds with a wry smile. “I’ll have to think of something else to call you to avoid confusion. That’s how things work here.”

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“Is that so?” Liu Jin has a hard time keeping a smile off his face. Lei Kong had told him Qing Jin wasn’t an uncommon name, but he had not imagined it was this bad. “We’ll have to think of something later. For now, allow me to say we are glad to be here and look forward to cooperating with you.”

“The pleasure is this old man’s,” Colonel Peng replies, returning his salute. “We are grateful for your aid. Heaven knows we always need more men.”

~~~

Colonel Peng has no great feast prepared for them. Instead, after the customary greetings are done, he and Liu Jin move into his office to discuss things.

“I do not like this.”