41 First Trial 3

Once the group under trial had left the camp, one particular soldier who had been watching the proceedings from the edge of the field quietly left the site as well. But instead of leaving the field, he headed straight for a large tent that was set up within staff officers' section.

There were two guards standing on either side of the entrance to the said large tent. There were no banners or pennants to their backs, to declare just who this tent belonged to, or if it was occupied at the moment. But from the way the pair of guards were eyeing him, the company sergeant who had identified himself as Lei Kongwei did not take any chances, and pulled out a simple silver tag from within his uniform, and presented it in front of him calmly.

He didn't even bother to slow down, although he noted the widening of the two guardsmen's eyes as they quickly stepped aside. It seemed this was not the first time that they had stood watch outside the Logistics General's tent. Or had met with people with clearance levels that did not match the rank of the uniform that they wore.

Lei Kongwei was not too surprised by that. After all, he was more than aware of the pair of guests that Logistics General Ling Yongjian had with him at the moment.

He dropped to one knee the moment that he was past the entrance, and he could feel the fluttering fall of the curtain covering the entrance of the tent as he made his silent though respectful greeting to the trio that was within.

"Get up, Kongwei. There are no strangers here, and we are all anxious to learn what you have to tell us. Don't waste time with such nonsense and start reporting."

He hid his smile as he rose, and nodded at General Ling, who still had an impatient look on his face. The Marquis and his nephew, the Second Ducal Prince, on the other hand, merely looked intent. But it was clear that all three of them were anxious to hear what he had to say.

So he didn't waste any time getting straight to the point:

"Applicant Qin Feng has already left the camp with the rest of the people who had applied for the post. And he has been given a general delivery mission, just like the rest of them. Another point to note is that he has yet to make a decision regarding his final post, should he succeed in his trials."

"Oh? He is hoping to take up more ... lucrative postings, is he?"

Lei Kongwei smiled as he nodded at the Logistics General, Ling Yongjian, who had just asked that question grumpily. This was likely to spark off another one of his tirades about the new men not knowing their own limits, and giving him and his people yet more trouble to deal with.

But the New Marquis merely laughed, as he waved for Lei Kongwei to go on. "If he manages to pass the trials, we may consider it. But from what nephew Changhai here has said, this fellow seems to be more concerned about the ring that he is likely to receive from us," he told the General in a reassuring manner.

The Logistics General scowled the moment that he heard that. And the spy in the sergeant's uniform could see that he was about to break into another of his long speeches, about having the new men learn the tasks that they were assigned first, and proving themselves, before they applied for more advanced positions.

Lei Kongwei's next words, however, prevented him from pointing that out, even though he already had his mouth open, as he turned to face the Marquis:

"From what I saw of his movement martial arts ... Or rather, what I couldn't see? He should not have a problem with this particular trial. He managed to brush past off all of the other participants the moment that the signal was given, and disappear into the Forest before any of the others could react. I do not think that he shall encounter any trouble in this particular test of his abilities. He is clearly faster than any of the others."

His words sparked off a reaction from the Marquis himself, who looked so startled that he couldn't speak. Although the smile on the face of the Second Ducal Prince at his side seemed to warn Lei Kongwei that Li Changhai already had an inkling of the young man's abilities.

The General, on the other hand, was quick to ask his question:

"He ... What? His movements escaped even your eyes?"

Lei Kongwei nodded gravely at the General. "He did, sir. I am not sure if he can keep it up all the way until he reaches the Southern Forest but he was using the Flowing Wind Steps at near Mastery. So he managed to evade the senses of all the other prospective couriers who were eyeing his ring earlier. If he can maintain his speed, he should not have a problem getting away from them on this particular trek."

Li Changhai, who did not look too surprised at the man's report, grinned broadly at his reply. Which was enough to draw his uncle's attention to the way that he appeared so calm in the wake of what had just occurred.

"You don't seem too shocked by this revelation, dear nephew. Perhaps you know something that you have yet to share with us?" asked Feng Laixue with raised eyebrows, as he turned on the Second Ducal Prince.

Who merely grinned and waved a hand at the small firepot that was crackling in a corner of the tent, warming the place around the four of them.

"I knew that he was at least in the Initial Core Formation Realm, when we traveled here together. We didn't have one of those in the carriage that we were using, and he didn't seem to be bothered by the cold at all. That means that he must be at least my standard in terms of cultivation, doesn't it?

"And I couldn't read his cultivation level at all either. So I am rather certain that he is more powerful than I am. Perhaps, very much more powerful."

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