C15 The Blood Knife Outpost

Skyreach Keep is actually not that large; it's merely one of the many branches of Blood Razor Keep. The Blood Razor Keep itself is home to over fifteen thousand individuals, divided between the inner and outer camps. Most people are only aware of the outer camp, oblivious to the inner camp's existence.

The inner camp Nie Haiyuan referred to is simply the main hall of Blood Razor Keep. Nonetheless, within the vast Wolf Tribe, Blood Razor Keep is still considered a significant power.

To the outside world, Blood Razor Keep appears to be nothing more than a band of brigands, engaging in robbery and all manner of crimes. Their conflicts with the Wolf Tribe's royal family are escalating daily.

Consequently, many outlaws seek refuge here. Over time, to avoid unnecessary complications or infiltration by spies, those wishing to join Blood Razor Keep must undergo rigorous vetting to ensure they are "clean" before being accepted.

There are, of course, exceptions, such as referrals from acquaintances, like in the case of Jing Chong. Even so, these referrals require a period of probation, and the referrer assumes a degree of responsibility.

For the moment, Jing Chong need not concern himself with these matters; his role is simply to follow along.

Blood Razor Keep operates with a clear division of labor, organizing its fifteen thousand members into nearly ten ranks. Thus, there are numerous chieftains, but the most powerful and influential among them is the main hall's Chief, Huang Dian.

Huang Dian holds sway over life and death within Blood Razor Keep, commanding the loyalty of all subordinates. Any defiance is met with swift and brutal punishment. In essence, he is the architect of Blood Razor Keep's formidable foundation.

Moreover, Huang Dian is shrouded in mystery. Since the Keep's establishment, he has seldom revealed his face, leaving the day-to-day management largely to the Second Chief, Gongye Qingfeng.

Gongye Qingfeng, the Second Chief, is a force to be reckoned with, his reputation rivaling that of Huang Dian. Despite his youth, he is a master of martial arts with a sharp mind. His strategic prowess has led to many victories against the Wolf Tribe, earning him the moniker "Butcher Wolf Strategist." Yet, his ruthless and inscrutable nature makes him an enigma to many.

The Third Chief, Jiang Yuyi, was a mastermind capable of orchestrating strategies that secured victories from afar. Renowned not only for his exceptional martial arts skills but also for his tactical prowess, he earned the unwavering trust of Chief Huang Dian. Entrusted with the command of Blood Razor Keep's elite forces, which included three thousand five hundred Blood Wolf cavalry and five thousand six hundred Blood Wolf warriors, Jiang Yuyi's leadership was the very pillar of the Keep's might.

In contrast, the Fourth Chief, Luo Yong, held a somewhat lesser renown. As the head of logistics, he oversaw the operations of over eighteen hundred personnel, managing the Keep's supply chain. Despite their distance from the battlefield, this group flourished within Blood Razor Keep, controlling its economic lifeline. Known as the wealthiest individuals in the Keep, they also bore the crucial responsibility of its defense, earning the logistics camp the moniker "Guarding Camp."

The remaining sub-camps were relatively smaller in scale, such as the Hall of Medicinal Herbs, Hall of Medicine, Hall of Action, Hall of Instruction, and Hall of Celebration, to name a few. These sub-camps, though limited in number, held significant status within the Keep. This was particularly true for the Hall of Medicine and Hall of Instruction, where even the disciples held more prestige than some sub-camp chiefs.

The only sub-camp that matched their importance was Skyreach Keep. Despite its low status, it was an essential part of the Keep, serving as its vigilant "eyes," constantly monitoring the safety and security of the entire stronghold.

Accordingly, Skyreach Keep boasted a considerable number of members, though their combat capabilities left something to be desired.

As for the "chief" Nie Haiyuan referred to, he was merely the most minor figure within Skyreach Keep, known by the codename "Ninth Tent Skyreach Keep."

The term "chief" was a respectful address used by all sub-camp members for their leaders. However, the full title of the Ninth Tent Skyreach Keep's leader was Mao Dahu.

Mao Dahu was quite capable, rumored to be on par with a qualified Blood Wolf General. His absence from the ranks of the three chieftains, however, was shrouded in mystery, with reasons unknown to outsiders.

Mao Dahu led a leisurely life, with no significant accomplishments to his name. He held the title of chief of Skyreach Keep, a position that afforded him a measure of leadership and allowed him to enjoy a carefree existence within Blood Razor Keep.

For reasons unbeknownst to anyone, Mao Dahu showed exceptional care for Nie Haiyuan, a seemingly insignificant individual. Regardless of Nie's mistakes or misdeeds, Mao Dahu always forgave him, even going so far as to appoint him captain of the tenth sentry team—an unorthodox promotion.

Mao Dahu did everything within his power to look after Nie, the timid soul. This special treatment was likely the main reason Nie thrived in Skyreach Keep. Even Nie himself was puzzled by the favoritism, given that he had no familial or personal ties to Mao Dahu. Unable to fathom the reason, Nie cherished this benevolence deep within his heart.

It wasn't until Jing Chong followed Nie into the jurisdiction of the tenth sentry team of Skyreach Keep that he realized the so-called Blue Flag Official's domain was far from the grandeur he had envisioned. The keep, with its crumbling gates and isolated location, housed barely a hundred souls—a far cry from the impressive stronghold he had imagined.

To call them Skyreach Keep was a stretch; they were more akin to the lowest rank of mountain sentinels. Jing Chong also learned, quite by accident, that there were over a dozen such keeps within Blood Razor Keep.

With more than a dozen keeps, there were just as many 'chiefs' like Mao Dahu. These 'chiefs,' who barely registered in comparison to the true chieftains, were insignificant. Jing Chong couldn't shake the feeling that he'd been duped. He had truly stumbled into a den of thieves—the most lowly kind. As dark clouds loomed overhead, he felt his future was utterly doomed, pinned down by Nie Haiyuan in this destitute, decrepit mountain keep.

Reality can often be unforgiving, yet he couldn't let it defeat him so easily. The hardest part is always the beginning, and a good start is half the battle. At the very least, he was still alive and well.

After a brief moment of self-comfort, his boiling rage began to subside.

Upon his arrival at Skyreach Keep, thanks to Nie Haiyuan's special attention, he was placed in the "Haiyuan Sentinel Team" under Nie Haiyuan's command.

Nie Haiyuan had been truthful this time. Despite his youth, he was indeed a genuine Sentinel of Skyreach Keep. However, in such a dilapidated place, even a Sentinel's status seemed diminished.

Approaching the cluster of crooked wooden houses perched beside the cliff, a musty odor hit him squarely, causing Jing Chong to wrinkle his nose. Thankfully, his upbringing in a humble farming village had instilled in him a resilience to hardship that others might lack.

Nie Haiyuan's enthusiastic welcome soon helped him overlook the disarray. Jing Chong dove into the wooden house, only to be met with a disconcerting level of chaos that gave him pause.

It's true what they say: you become a reflection of the company you keep. A Sentinel like Nie Haiyuan, unreliable as he was, could only lead an equally unreliable squad of sentries. In fact, calling them "soldiers" was almost too generous.

What kind of military unit could operate with such blatant disregard for discipline and order?

The small wooden house was a disaster zone. A row of sturdy wooden bunks spanned the length of the room, occupying half the space. A narrow passage ran down the center, flanked by a few tables and a somewhat larger wooden bed against the opposite wall.

But these were just the bare bones of the room, which Jing Chong surveyed with care.

The true "masters" of the room were impossible to ignore. Closest to him were several dirty socks, once white, now unrecognizable and emitting a nauseating stench reminiscent of rotten eggs.

Further in, he spotted leftover fruit peels attracting buzzing flies, scattered white rice grains, and, infuriatingly, bits of green and red vegetables mixed in, as if someone had left behind the remnants of a sickening episode.

In truth, the situation was hardly the worst part. What was truly unbearable was the corner of the wooden wall at the far end of the room. Years of contact with the mountain had left the thick wooden planks damp and rotting. Among the mold-stained crevices, there were unmistakable signs of urine.

The place, a haphazard mix of dining, sleeping, refuse, and an impromptu latrine, was an eye-opener for Jing Chong. He couldn't help but turn to Nie Haiyuan, whose smile seemed to be waiting for an explanation.

Catching Jing Chong's puzzled look, Nie Haiyuan's mouth twitched awkwardly before he offered his best justification for his management skills, "You see, you've got to understand, right? We at Skyreach Keep work incredibly hard. No one has the time to deal with this mess. Look around—there's nobody free. But you'll adjust to it in time!"

It was a plausible excuse, and Jing Chong reluctantly chose to believe it. But just as Nie Haiyuan finished speaking, something stirred from the bed in the far corner of the room, and a loud, angry curse broke the silence, startling everyone.

"Damn it, who's there? Babbling away in broad daylight—doesn't anyone respect sleep anymore?"

The words had barely left his mouth when the neatly laid blanket was kicked into the air, and a figure leapt to his feet. As they watched in disbelief, a gaunt, naked man stood before them, unabashedly exposing himself.

The atmosphere grew tense, and after a long pause, Jing Chong stammered, "This... How do you explain this?"

Confronted with this shocking turn of events, even Nie Haiyuan struggled to maintain his composure. But, summoning his bravado, he delivered the ultimate explanation, "Him? Oh, he's on the night shift!"

Before he could finish, Jing Chong had already passed out...