Chapter 60: A War Breaks Out (Long Chapter, Please Subscribe to Monthly Tickets)

Chu Ning did not expect that Zhao Qin would appear in the military camp, and in the Blood and Fire Camp.

At first he wanted to lower his head and walk away, thinking that Zhao Qin might not recognize him.

But Zhao Qin's reaction clearly showed that he recognized him.

Even though they just passed each other and left, Zhao Qin felt that he had recognized the wrong person, but Captain Zhao was right next to him, what if he aroused the other party's suspicion?

A quick search would reveal that Ji Yang and Zhao Qin were classmates in Daning County.

There is no reason not to say hello when classmates meet.

"A few years have passed in a flash. I never thought I would meet you, Zhao Qin."

Zhao Qin looked at the excited face in front of him, which was not very similar to someone else, and his expression was a little strange.

He was born with a very deep memory for people's faces, so even though Chu Ning's face had changed a lot, he still recognized it.

So, Chu Ning stole Ji Yang's identity?

"I didn't expect to see you here, Ji Yang. You were the only one among our group of students who chose to go to the military camp, and there's been no news since then."

Zhao Qin followed Chu Ning's words and even took the initiative to go forward and hug Chu Ning.

This scene made a man and two women nearby look at Chu Ning with curiosity.

Zhao Qin is well-known for being cold and aloof, always looking stern to everyone, but I didn't expect that he has such a proactive side.

So, Zhao Qin is not indifferent, but they are not worthy of Zhao Qin's enthusiasm?

When Zhao Heng saw this scene, his mind also changed.

These four were sent to the military camp from the Beijing Academy. Those who could enter the Beijing Academy were all key training targets of the court, and coming to the military camp was just a transition. Even though his strength as a captain was above these people, he did not dare to put on airs in front of them.

When these four people came to visit the Blood and Fire Camp, he would accompany them personally.

It seems that Ji Yang and Zhao Qin have a good relationship, so I have to be more cautious in using Ji Yang.

"I almost forgot."

Chu Ning and Zhao Qin hugged each other, and then he seemed to remember something and said respectfully to Zhao Heng: "Captain, I have broken through to the Martial Master level."

"Breakthrough to Martial Master?" Zhao Heng was thinking about something, and subconsciously said: "Well, it took only two months to break through to Martial Master, which is not bad."

The corner of Zhao Qin's mouth twitched. Chu Ning has just broken through to the martial arts master level? What the hell?

If this gets out, the one who will be most embarrassed will not be Chu Ning but Wushuang Sect.

Obviously, Chu Ning was hiding his strength.

"Ahem, Captain Zhao, senior brothers and sisters, it's rare to meet friends from my hometown here, so I won't continue to wander around."

Zhao Qin spoke, and his meaning was very clear; he wanted to reminisce with his former classmates.

"After you finish chatting, just go back to the camp."

"Mr. Zhao, please do as you please."

The former was said by the man next to Zhao Qin, and the latter was said by Zhao Heng.

…

The house where Chu Ning lives.

Zhao Qin and Chu Ning sat on the stools and looked at each other.

"Do you want to speak first or should I?" Chu Ning asked with a smile.

"Let me start by saying that before you were wanted by Wushuangmen, Jin Le met me once, but he didn't tell me anything. I could tell from his expression that something big must have happened, and within two days I heard about your deeds."

"Although I don't know the details of what happened, I consider you a friend, and I know you're not the type to take the initiative to cause trouble. At the time, there was a teacher in the academy who was very optimistic about me. I asked him to intercede for me, but the teacher said that I was ignorant of the world and the power of the Wushuang Sect. Even if the Wushuang Sect started it first, the world is judged by strength, not by reason."

There was a look of self-mockery on Zhao Qin's face. It was only then that he realized that he, the so-called martial arts genius, was nothing in the eyes of those big sects.

I also understand that the weak have no say.

Being weak is a sin.

So he chose to go to the capital and entered Kyoto Academy. Now, according to the academy's rules for training students, he will stay in the military camp for half a year to experience a real life-and-death battle.

“Weakness is indeed a sin.”

Chu Ning smiled bitterly, and then said: "My experience is very simple. I fled for more than half a year, and then I hid in the military camp under Ji Yang's identity. The Wushuang Sect can't get in here."

Zhao Qin frowned: "Hiding in the military camp is indeed a good choice, but why is it in the Blood Fire Camp?"

The next moment, Zhao Qin suddenly became excited: "Chu Ning, you didn't really practice the "Burning Blood Skill"?"

When he and three other students arrived at the military camp, they heard from a senior who also graduated from the academy about the martial arts practiced by the people in the Blood and Fire Camp. They were curious and decided to come to the Blood and Fire Camp to take a look.

"The Blood Burning Technique is only effective for warriors. If you burn more than ten years of your life to enter the realm of a martial artist, then you will burn too much life. Even if you really break through, your vitality will decline, and your Qi and blood will slowly decline."

Wu is afraid of the young and strong.

Unless one can break through to the Grandmaster level, his Qi and blood will slowly decline with aging. Even if one burns his lifespan to reach the level of a military general, he will still be the weakest military general. Moreover, as his Qi and blood continue to decline, he will eventually not even be able to defeat a martial artist.

"Listen to me, don't practice the Burning Blood Technique. With your current appearance, even if I were Jin Le, they wouldn't necessarily be able to recognize you at first sight. Just stay in the military camp for a few years and slowly accumulate military merits in exchange for elixirs. With your talent, you will be able to break through to the Grandmaster level sooner or later."

“No matter how much hatred you have for Wushuang Sect, it will be useless even if you exhaust your lifespan to reach the level of a military commander. It is said that Wushuang Sect alone has ten Grandmasters and hundreds of military commanders.”

Seeing Zhao Qin trying to persuade him anxiously, Chu Ning felt warm in his heart. It is said that the friends you make when you are young are true friends. In fact, he and Zhao Qin did not have much contact, but Zhao Qin really regarded him as a friend.

But he couldn't tell Zhao Qin that he had a lifespan of ten thousand years, so he could only say: "I don't know how to practice the Blood Burning Technique. I have already broken through to the level of a martial artist. I just need to pretend."

"That's true, but you hid it very well. If I didn't know your background, I would really think you were someone who had just broken through to the martial arts master level not long ago."

Zhao Qin nodded, but then frowned again: "It's still not right. The soldiers in the Blood Fire Camp are cannon fodder. They are always deployed at the front line. If there is a dangerous mission, you will be sent."

"Let's take it one step at a time. Once you enter the Blood Fire Camp, you can't leave within five years. Even if I want to leave, there's nothing I can do."

Chu Ning comforted Zhao Qin instead: "I have concealed my strength, and I have the possibility of completing the tasks assigned to me as cannon fodder. My chances of survival are still great."

Cannon fodder are also human beings.

It was impossible to send the people from the Blood and Fire Camp to complete a completely impossible task, so Chu Ning was not worried about his own safety.

"Well, try to hide your strength as much as possible. I'll see if I can get you out of the Blood and Fire Camp when I get a chance."

"Just do what you can. My current situation is no worse than when I was being hunted by the Wushuang Sect."

Chu Ning did not refuse Zhao Qin's kindness. There was nothing in his house to entertain guests. After the two chatted for a while, Chu Ning saw Zhao Qin off.

Just as Zhao Qin left, the three heroes of Canglang arrived.

"I saw you went out today. Did you become a martial artist?"

"Um."

"Since you've made a breakthrough, come with us to collect the money."

"I'm sorry, I don't have the habit of giving half of my money to others."

Chu Ning refused bluntly. If he had not met Zhao Qin before, he would have given him the hundred taels, but now it was different.

He had a promising classmate like Zhao Qin, so it would be fake if he still acted cowardly and tolerant.

"Oh, he thinks he has the confidence to break through to become a martial artist. Second brother, teach him a lesson!"

"Okay, big brother!"

The man on the left responded, and the next moment he punched Chu Ning with his right hand, his fist breaking through the wind at an extremely fast speed.

Unfortunately, this speed is nothing in Chu Ning's eyes.

He raised his right hand and grabbed the opponent's fist. Without letting go, he gradually exerted force, and the man's face gradually turned red.

"If you have the skills, come at me together!"

The other two of the Three Wolf Warriors did not hesitate when they saw their companions being humiliated, not to mention the shamelessness of using numbers to defeat numbers. There was no such rule in the Blood and Fire Camp.

Bang, bang, bang! Chu Ning took two punches from the other party and staggered a few times before the three Canglang heroes fell to the ground and wailed.

"Don't show up in front of me anymore, or I'll beat you up every time I see you."

Ignoring the three men, Chu Ning walked straight towards the bank in the camp.

The Blood and Fire Camp's business model is completely a money-spending den. The man at the bank counter was a little surprised to see Chu Ning coming alone to collect the money, and several other people in the bank also looked over.

It was a common practice for newcomers to the Blood and Fire Camp to have half of their silver taken away from them.

There is only one possibility for the newcomer to come alone to collect the money: the old man who blackmailed the newcomer never beat him.

Chu Ning took the money and was about to leave when a voice came from behind him: "Brother, please wait a moment."

"What's the matter?"

"Brother, you're new here. Come on, you've been holding it in for a few months, right? I'll treat you to some fun."

A bearded man came out enthusiastically and put his hand on Chu Ning's shoulder, but Chu Ning dodged him.

The man was not embarrassed when his palm missed the target. He pointed in a direction towards Chu Ning with his eyes.

"No, I have my own money. According to the rules of the underworld, friends can pay for drinks, but I have to pay for this myself."

The man looked at Chu Ning's back as he walked away, feeling a little confused. When did such a rule appear in the martial arts world?

"Hey, there's a new face here today. This must be the new guy."

As soon as Chu Ning entered, he was greeted by the scent of powder and several scantily clad women.

"Who among you has the best craftsmanship?"

"Crafts?" Several women were stunned. Is there anyone who wants to see crafts here? Half an hour later, Chu Ning walked out of the room refreshed. Inside, a pretty woman kept rubbing her sore wrist with a look of resentment on her face.

谁懂啊，哪有人来这里找人搓背的，还一搓就是半个时辰。

……

……

七天之后，楚宁接到了校尉通知的第一次集合，给他们下发了任务。

柔突国多股小队人马入侵边境抢掠，血火营的人前往截杀。

整个队伍分成了十五个小队，每个队是七个人，楚宁按照分队找到了自己的队员，全都是九品武师。

不过相比起其他队伍中有的人脸上的忧心忡忡，自己这支队伍的成员好像情绪都很淡定。

“老规矩，斩杀柔突士兵，普通士兵一两银子一个人头，九品武师二十两一个，八品武师百两，七品武师五百两。”

这是血火营独有的奖励机制，进了血火营都不指望建功立业了，要想让他们有积极性，只能是靠钱，有了钱才能够在营里过纸醉金迷的生活。

赵恒下达了命令之后，血火营的人便是开始按照队伍出发，但在营地大门前，当初那位领楚宁进来的谭政，手拿着一个药瓶，每一位走出去的人都要吞下一颗丹药，并且经过谭政检查无误后才能放行。

楚宁心里有数，这应该是某种毒药，用来防止他们这些人逃跑的。

楚宁很是干脆的接过谭政的手把丹药服下，而后跟着小队朝着分派到的目的地去。

……

……

等走了半程路，楚宁算是知道为何队员神情都比较轻松了，这一次他们被派到的三联镇，靠着内里区域了，柔突国那些出来掠夺的散兵游勇一般不会到这地方来。

最大的可能就是在那里守个两三天然后无功而返。

楚宁一行人骑着战马抵达三联镇的时候，镇上已经有一支二十人的小队了，不过都只是武者，一个武师都没有。

最⊥新⊥小⊥说⊥在⊥六⊥9⊥⊥书⊥⊥吧⊥⊥首⊥发！

这些人看向楚宁的目光充满了羡慕，就如当初姬洋给楚宁写第一封关于血火营的信时候的所描述的那样。

不知道血火营内幕的士兵，对于能够加入血火营都是无比的羡慕，甚至不少士兵还以加入血火营为奋斗目标。

这就是墙外的人想进来，墙里的人想出去。

不过，血火营有规定，他们不允许跟普通士兵过多交流，更不能透露有关血火营的任何秘密。

三天，很是平静，没有柔突士兵出现。

“姬洋，你三天辛苦你守夜巡逻了，这次运气好没遇到柔突士兵，咱们回去。”

队伍中待着时间最久的男子笑呵呵的开口，楚宁微微一笑没接这话。

真的是运气好吗？时间倒回去第二天晚上，负责守夜的楚宁，听到了马蹄声正不断朝着这边靠近，便是偷偷隐匿身形朝着马蹄声方向而去。

最后发现是一支柔突国士兵小队，一共只有十二个人。

但这十二个人最低的都是武师，领头的是两位八品武师。

没办法，楚宁直接快速将这十二个人给快速解决了，然后利用暗劲徒手刨坑将这支小队给埋了。

柔突国这支士兵队伍的实力，不是小镇守卫力量可以解决的，若是放这支柔突小队进镇，他就得暴露一些实力了。

可惜，不能领赏。

只得微微一笑，深藏功与名。

回到血火营，继续平静的修炼，偶尔去搓个背。

五天后，再次出任务，楚宁依然选择当守夜巡逻。

这一次派到的区域不算太内里可也不算太外，这一次是真的没有遭遇到柔突士兵。

接下来每隔四五天，就会外出执行一次任务，除了拦截柔突小股士兵，还参加了一次前线的战斗，斩杀了柔突国的两位九品武师。

不知不觉，楚宁在血火营有了个外号。

天眷者。

受到老天眷顾的幸运者。

血火营内的人平均在执行五次左右任务就会牺牲，而像楚宁这样连着六次任务，只遇到了一次柔突士兵的，简直就是个奇迹。

这也让每次分派任务的时候，许多人都想和楚宁分到一个队伍。

虽然，这也意味着没有战功，但对于血火营的人来说，战功算个屁，他们的目标是能够活过五年。

每次看到和自己出任务的队员感谢老天爷保佑的时候，楚宁都忍不住撇了撇嘴。

哪有什么岁月静好，不过是他在暗中负重前行罢了。

楚宁都要怀疑，是不是自己是主角体质，最强的都让自己遇到了。

从其他活着的队伍口中得知，大部分遇到的都只是九品武师的队伍，小数的遇到了八品武师，就自己遇到了七品武师的队伍。

……

……

燕州遥遥相对的草原。

柔突军营大帐。

“六位七品武师，四十位八品武师，七十位九品武师被杀死，你们谁告诉我，这到底是怎么一回事？”

柔突将军一脸愤怒，以往每次派小股精锐队伍入燕州地界，都能大杀一方抢夺许多粮食回来，虽然会折损，可不会折损那么的多，这一次派出去的竟然有大半折损在了梁朝境内，他如何不生气。

“会不会是燕州那边出动了武将级别的强者？”

“据奸细回报，燕州校尉级别的没有任何异动。”

“那就奇怪了，会不会是梁朝皇室另外派来了武将强者来。”

这话一出，营帐内气氛变得凝重起来，大将军一掌拍下，桌子四分五裂。

“既然梁朝敢不顾规矩，传我令，大军准备，七日后进攻燕州！”

对于柔突军队和燕州守军两方来说，一直都维持着一种无声的默契，双方都避免大规模开战。

去年是因为柔突国遭遇极端寒冷天气，粮食实在不够用了，才会大军出动攻城。

除去这种极端情况，柔突这边大多数是派一些小队伍潜入边境抢夺粮食和财物，燕州守军也不会派武将级别强者去截杀。

倘若柔突的小股人马什么都抢不到，那就会爆发大战了。

目前这种形式是最好的，给想要战功的有地方拿战功，至于被劫掠的百姓和被杀死的士兵，并不在这些人的考虑当中。

在他们看来，若不维持这种潜在的默契，真的大军交战只会死的人更多。

……

“五位七品武师，二十位八品武师，五十九位九品武师，可惜啊，要是把战绩曝光出去，凭着这些战功，最起码也能弄个校尉当当了，不过柔突国是不是有什么阴谋？我遇到的那几支有七品武师带队的队伍，看样子不像是要抢劫，更像是要偷摸潜入燕州做其他事情去。”

血火营的勾栏里，楚宁一边享受着女人的按摩，一边在心里嘀咕着，这些人头可不止是白花花的银子，还代表着战功，但为了不爆料实力，他只能是含泪偷偷的给杀了掩埋掉。

咻！楚宁突然伸手抓住那只摸向他身体其他部位的纤纤玉手。

几个意思？我又不办卡加钟。

“姬……姬大人，他们说在血火营从来就没有能够活到出十次任务的，您已经执行九次任务了，我……我可以给你留个后，不收钱。”

楚宁嘴角抽搐了一下，你要是图谋我身体还好，竟然还想图谋我的种子。

血火营勾栏确实提供这种服务。

一百两，姑娘可以怀个孕，生出来后给送回老家去，这也是血火营许多人会选择的路。

知道自己出不去迟早会死，都会选择用这种方式来给自己留个后代。

“不用了。”

七天之后，哪怕是最无军纪的血火营气氛也变得有些严肃起来。

柔突国大军压境了。

而每一次柔突国大军压境对于血火营来说就是灭顶之灾，他们这些人都会被安排到最前线。

“狗日的柔突人，这才一年不到，怎么就大军又来了。”

“以往都是隔个两三年才一次的，这是发了什么疯！”

这一天，楚宁打了好几个喷嚏。

而也就当天下午，楚宁服下毒药被送出了血火营，等到了目的地，看到一脸笑容的赵钦，他才知道怎么一回事。

赵钦找关系将自己给调了出来。

当然，让自己脱离血火营赵钦还做不到，只是可以短时间离开血火营，不用被派到最前线去了。

“楚宁，你不知道吧，前几日，我斩杀了一位八品武师和四位九品武师。”

赵钦朝着楚宁炫耀着战功，楚宁幽幽道：“你觉得我做不到吗？”

呃……

赵钦一愣，忘记了，这家伙是能够从无双门手里逃脱的，杀个八品武师不算什么。

“当我没说。”

柔突国大军压境，整个燕州守军也都动了起来，一共布置了三条战线，赵钦几位京都学堂出来的学员便是给安排到了第二条战线上，负责守卫粮草运送要经过的关口，像这种大军交战，只要第一条战线不被突破，赵钦他们还是很安全的。

情况也如楚宁所预料的那样，在第一条战线上，两军激烈交战了五天，死伤无数，可柔突依然没能突破第一条战线。

这一日，楚宁和往常一样巡逻溜达，迎面却是有一位女子走来。

“祁大人。”楚宁连忙停下行礼。

The girl also graduated from school, but when she joined the army she became a centurion, although it was just a nominal position.

"After this battle, do not contact Junior Brother Zhao Qin again."

Qi Xue spoke coldly to Chu Ning, and seeing Chu Ning's puzzled expression, she said, "According to the latest battle situation on the front line, all the soldiers in your Blood Fire Camp were killed in the battle, but you survived because of Junior Brother Zhao, and you don't have to go to the front line. But do you know what price Junior Brother Zhao paid to transfer you out of the Blood Fire Camp?"

"He used all the military merits he gained from killing two eighth-grade martial artists and four ninth-grade martial artists on you."

Chu Ning was stunned. Zhao Qin had never told him this.

But he believed that what the woman said was true. With Zhao Qin's personality, there were many things he would not tell others about.

“This guy…”

Chu Ning muttered something and was about to speak when a sharp whistle suddenly sounded from the left front, followed by fireworks rising into the sky.

"not good!"

Qi Xue's face changed. The whistle meant an enemy attack, and the fireworks meant that there were at least a hundred enemies.

Including this chapter, it is already 12,000 words today. I really beg for subscriptions and monthly tickets. Subscriptions are motivation. Jiudeng can still be popular, but sometimes I see that the average subscription is 3,000, and it increases to 2,700 after updating a chapter. The more updates are made, the more it increases.

(End of this chapter)