C22 He Had Some Selfish Motives

The commotion lasted for quite a while before it finally subsided.

Upon noticing that the main character of the incident was standing indifferently in the corner, the onlookers, who usually reveled in the excitement, felt a bit awkward. They exchanged glances and, losing interest, retreated to their respective beds.

Furthermore, these individuals showed no regard for the hard work of others. The trash that had been strewn across the floor was already starting to accumulate again.

It was no surprise that no one had taken on the task of cleaning the dormitory. It seemed they had all grown accustomed to living in such conditions, and even the most patient person would likely lose their temper.

Jing Chong silently chided himself, regretting his impulsive actions, but he vowed that he would never again concern himself with the dormitory's cleanliness.

While he was stewing in his frustration, Nie Haiyuan's disgruntled voice echoed from a corner of the disorderly dormitory, "Jing Chong, it's time for our night shift! Quick, get into your patrol uniform!"

No sooner had he spoken than Nie Haiyuan strode over as if nothing was amiss, casually gesturing to Zou Cang across the way. The two quickly joined forces.

"It's just the three of us tonight. Feeling confident?"

Jing Chong was puzzled by the unexpected comment but remained silent as he carefully dressed.

Before long, they were all ready to go. Nie Haiyuan, the team captain, grabbed a long spear from the weapon rack in the corner and headed for the stronghold's gate.

Zou Cang ducked his head and hastily selected a spear for himself, then gestured to Jing Chong to follow suit.

Jing Chong, however, had a different preference. He wasn't fond of long spears, finding them cumbersome, so he simply checked the steel blade at his waist and stepped in line with the others.

The trio reached the entrance of the stronghold in unison. The guards, having just rotated shifts, perked up at the sight of the three men hastening out of the stronghold.

But their spirits deflated when they recognized Nie Haiyuan, the captain of the tenth team, and they quickly reverted to their previous lackluster demeanor.

Without a word of greeting, the three men quietly departed from the ninth Skyreach Keep.

Typically, the so-called minions of Skyreach Keep would travel in small groups of three to five. Their task was straightforward: to continuously patrol the mountains within their assigned territory, on the lookout for any suspicious individuals.

Should they come across a significant deal, they were to inform their respective stronghold leaders to lead their forces to intercept and secure a portion of the spoils for the Guarding Hall.

However, such chaotic encounters were rare, making the nightly patrols for someone like Nie Haiyuan a mere formality.

Others might see it as just another part of the job, but recently, Nie Haiyuan had taken to the task with a fervor bordering on obsession. He had inexplicably split the tenth patrol team into two groups and began making frequent, unpredictable appearances on the periphery of Blood Razor Keep, often operating solo. At times, he would even coax his minions to join him under the guise of a patrol, venturing beyond the mountain.

Initially, his motives were unclear, but after a few expeditions, his subordinates grasped his true intent. Nie Haiyuan was ambitiously plotting to secure a more prestigious position.

Despite his well-known timidity, no one took his aspirations seriously—until now, as his dedication to the cause persisted.

The so-called night shift today was Nie Haiyuan's own doing. He had delegated the day's stronghold duties to his minions while he slipped away in search of an opportunity, inadvertently luring Jing Chong into the stronghold.

He had intended to venture out again as night fell, but a lack of confidence led him to desperately seek Zou Cang's assistance. Now, with Jing Chong's unexpected presence, Nie Haiyuan's courage swelled.

Determined to demonstrate his value, the usually talkative Nie Haiyuan maintained an uncharacteristic silence. Carrying his spear with pride, he exuded a sense of heroism.

Zou Cang, on the other hand, was much like Nie Haiyuan. Despite being slightly older, when it came to incompetence, the two were evenly matched.

As for Jing Chong, he remained blissfully unaware, having taken Nie Haiyuan's word about patrolling the mountains at face value. He followed quietly, covering more than ten miles of rugged mountain terrain without complaint.

After what felt like an eternity of winding around countless mountains, Nie Haiyuan finally stopped, gasping for breath as the path beneath his feet vanished. Leaning on his spear, he stood there catching his breath, his massive face slowly turning to face his companions.

"We've just got to get over this mountain, and we'll break free from Wolf Fang Mountain. Tonight, we have to emerge victorious. Do you have the confidence?"

His usual attempts to rile up the group fell flat, and instead, Zou Cang's face was etched with anxiety due to Nie Haiyuan's words.

"Tell me, Nie Haiyuan, do you seriously think we can pull this off with just the three of us?" Zou Cang said, stepping back involuntarily, his gaunt face pale with fear. He asked the question with a clear note of reluctance.

"What do you think? You don't seriously believe I stayed up all day just to take in the view, do you?" Nie Haiyuan shot Zou Cang an irritated look, but a fierce grin quickly spread across his face. "The night is dark, and the wind is high—it's the perfect time for murder!"

Nie Haiyuan's expression was somber as he spoke. In the pale moonlight, Jing Chong could see the deep scar on his large face and involuntarily shivered. He was genuinely intimidated by Nie Haiyuan's menacing presence.

"Could this guy be harboring ill intentions and planning to strike me down?"

For the first time, Jing Chong felt suspicious of his companions. Yet, he remained composed, opting to observe in silence. He wasn't the type to lash out unless he was directly provoked.

"Hey, big guy, cut the tough talk. Even if there was someone right in front of you, would you have the guts to kill them? It's getting late. Let's just make a quick round and hurry back to the camp by nightfall. Then we can spin some believable tales to save face. Why exhaust ourselves, right?"

Zou Cang couldn't hide his impatience as he cut off Nie Haiyuan, casting a scornful glance his way before casually continuing. Holding his spear, he began to retreat in the direction they had come from.

"Damn it, are you sabotaging me on purpose? I've already made it clear that we're serious this time. Do I look like I'm just putting on an act?" Nie Haiyuan couldn't hide his irritation when he saw Zou Cang's typical evasive behavior. He hurled an insult in Zou Cang's direction, his eyes flashing with annoyance.

Responding to Nie Haiyuan's outburst, Zou Cang turned back around, scrutinizing the other's plump face with a serious gaze. After a brief hesitation, he spoke his mind without sugarcoating it. "You, with your timid little heart, think you can cause a stir? Don't kid yourself into believing you're a true bandit just by sporting a couple of scars. Remember, if your heart's not in the right place, your actions won't be either. With your meager abilities, forget about dreaming to train in the inner stronghold. We haven't even set foot in the Hall of Instruction, and yet, aren't we living joyfully? Life should be about going with the flow. Overthinking only leads to unnecessary troubles!"

Zou Cang's frail appearance belied his unique perspective on life's twisted logic. His words left Nie Haiyuan speechless.

Yet, a resolute determination was evident in Nie Haiyuan's eyes. Unsupported and feeling utterly powerless when faced with a decision, his resolve was clear.

"Cowards will always be confined to their own little worlds, hiding their incompetence behind retreat when faced with others' bullying. Someone like you is destined to remain a lowly foot soldier for nine years. Since our principles diverge, we have no common ground. If you choose to back down, no one will stop you. But as for us, we're set on claiming our goal this time! Let's move on!"

At that moment, Jing Chong, who had been silently observing, lost his patience upon witnessing Zou Cang's attitude. Truth be told, even though he had no desire to enter the Hall of Instruction, he fully supported Nie Haiyuan's decision.

He understood that attempting something, regardless of the outcome, was valuable in itself. Even if it ended in failure, it was still a worthwhile experience, for he had truly lived through that process of failure.

If one remains mired in negative shadows, resigning themselves to stagnation, their life will be reduced to a lowly existence, perpetually subjected to the bullying of others.

Jing Chong, however, had resolved to secure his position in the shortest time possible. Even without Nie Haiyuan's actions, he would have chosen to go it alone.

Encountering someone like Zou Cang, who was obstructing him, naturally sparked considerable irritation in Jing Chong.

Yet, Jing Chong was not adept at articulating his feelings. His blunt words often risked offense, but they were earnest and not without merit. So when he spoke to Zou Cang, an immediate rebuttal was not forthcoming.

Instead, Zou Cang's disapproving gaze lingered on Jing Chong, scrutinizing him thoroughly and leaving him feeling exposed and uneasy. In a burst of frustration, he blurted out, "Damn it, to say I'm a coward! If I were truly cowardly, where would that fat fool hide? Surely he'd have scurried into a mouse hole by now! But to prove my bravery, I'll take you up on your challenge!"

The outburst cut through the silence like a knife, and after a brief pause, Nie Haiyuan approached with a steely expression. Reaching Zou Cang, he couldn't contain his anger and delivered a sharp slap to the back of his head. With a smug grin, he then teased, "You infuriating little monkey, you nearly gave me a heart attack. Now, that's the spirit I'm talking about!"

Despite the habitual grumbling, everyone present could sense a moment of mutual understanding and release.

And, almost imperceptibly, they found themselves regarding Jing Chong's previously grating words with newfound respect.