Chapter 1750: Chapter 1750: Zhang Qiang Defects

"Should we send word out, whoever dares to side with this Li Feng will...!" One general immediately revealed a fierce expression.

Though Li Feng belonged to the Vermilion Bird Camp, with their connections, they could make many in the Vermilion Bird Camp think twice about the consequences of defecting.

Murong Ye smiled slightly, "There’s no need for that, you and I both know it’s a trap. If someone wants to jump in, let them."

"Then should we plant a few spies there? Maybe one could even become one of Li Feng’s trusted aides. Ha, then we’d have something to enjoy, having all his moves in the palm of our hand."

This time, Murong Ye did not refuse, raising his eyes to look at who suggested it.

"You should know what joining the Personal Guard Camp entails. The cost of betrayal is not small, plus if caught, Li Feng could deal with them as he wishes, even executing them without anyone interfering."

Once you become a Personal Guard, it’s equivalent to swearing allegiance. Betrayal not only brings misfortune to oneself but also damages the family’s honor. The entire Ancestor Dragon City tolerates betrayal the least, even more than enemies.

Betrayers are despised by all.

Murong Ye could not see anyone under his command daring such a risk to infiltrate under Li Feng.

"I thought of that naturally. Using a disciple from the great families is, of course, impossible. However, among my subordinates, there’s one from an insignificant family in the Lower Three Rings. To curry favor with me, they even sent his sister as a concubine, and he works as a stooge by my side."

"The honor and disgrace of his entire family depend on my whims. If I tell him to go, he won’t refuse, and there’s no need to worry about him losing control—his whole family is in my hands."

"I think he knows better than anyone that I, rather than Li Feng, am his true master."

The general said confidently.

Murong Ye listened, glanced at him, and said, "Hmm, I’ll leave this matter to you then."

As the sky darkened.

Even though the Vermilion Bird Camp was abuzz with discussions, no one went to the Flag Master Mansion to sign up. Some secretly sneered, despising Li Feng’s rise. Some weighed the pros and cons after hearing others’ talks and deemed joining Li Feng’s Personal Guard Camp a poor choice.

Some were tempted but hesitant, especially with no one taking the lead, making them wary.

"Brother Qiang, where are you headed?"

"Heh, ate too much tonight, going out for a stroll." Zhang Qiang waved and walked out of the tent.

As the surroundings darkened, Zhang Qiang avoided some eyes and came to the backyard of the Flag Master Mansion. He sneaked up alongside the wall, climbed, and flipped into the courtyard.

But before he could steady himself, a gust of wind attacked him.

Hearing the commotion, Zhang Qiang had no time to defend himself and was hit by a flying pebble on his shin, causing him to inhale sharply in pain.

"Flag Master, hold your hand, I’m here to join your Personal Guard Camp."

In the courtyard, Li Feng stood before a large water jar used for extinguishing fires, with lotuses and a few fish in it.

"Does joining my Personal Guard Camp require climbing the wall?"

Li Feng glanced toward the shadow moving by the wall but did not strike again. Zhang Qiang hobbled into the backyard.

"Flag Master, do you remember me?"

Zhang Qiang asked.

Lit by a nearby lamp, Li Feng turned to Zhang Qiang as he approached. "You are the one I met at Fengyun Tower before, your name is Zhang Qiang, right? You are also from the Vermilion Bird Camp?"

Zhang Qiang nodded repeatedly, "Yes, I never thought our second meeting would be like this. Earlier, I even wondered if you’d get into trouble for hitting Shen Xing. Never thought you’d become the Flag Master of Nine Layers Mountain so quickly."

Zhang Qiang felt a bit emotional. He thought himself a disciple of Nine Layers Mountain, felt a slight sense of superiority over Li Feng. After all, at Fengyun Tower, though Li Feng stood up for him, bringing back some face.

Who could have predicted such a development?

Li Feng looked at the burly man across from him.

"Sit down."

"You said you wanted to join my Personal Guard Camp, but why climb over the wall? Are you not allowed through the front gate of the Flag Master Mansion?"

Li Feng inquired.

Zhang Qiang heard the sarcasm in Li Feng’s words, scratched his head, and replied, "Flag Master, it’s not that I don’t want to use the front gate, but I lack the courage to enter through it."

"Oh, why is that?"

"Is this place the Dragon Pond and Tiger Cave?"

Zhang Qiang gave a bitter laugh, "Flag Master, ever since you spread the news this afternoon, the entire camp has been abuzz. I bet even the other three camps know about it. Do you know why no one has come?"

"They think my low status makes me unworthy."

Li Feng gave a slight smile, speaking.

Zhang Qiang raised his eyes to Li Feng’s self-mocking smile, first nodding, then shaking his head, "Yes, but not entirely."

"A large part indeed thinks so. These people come from noble families and inherently look down on those of lower status, so they scorn the idea of becoming your Personal Guard."

With a serene countenance, Li Feng had anticipated this; Shi Huanshan had warned him before arrival.

"And what else?"

"Now the camp is abuzz with discussions, that being a Personal Guard binds one to the commander. It’s a matter of sharing honor and disgrace, entrusting your life, swearing lifelong loyalty, even dying with the commander as a Personal Guard cannot survive alone."

"Such a significant decision naturally involves weighing the pros and cons. However, now there are numerous rumors about you, Flag Master, circulating like which family you’ve offended, how many enemies you have, and what your own strength is."

"After weighing things, another part of people suppressed their thoughts."

"Why did you come then?"

"Just because we knew each other before?" Li Feng, not at all angry, smiled as he looked at Zhang Qiang.

Zhang Qiang replied, "Because I feel that you can be trusted. I also come from a family in the Lower Three Rings. My family has always been insignificant. Our family, gathering all resources, has for generations produced just one disciple of the Ten Great Sects—me."

"I can be considered the family’s hope, the one who might change our destiny, hoping to move from the Lower Three Rings to the Middle Three Rings."

"I thought so too, but after entering Nine Layers Mountain, I realized the symbol of the family class is omnipresent. No matter how hard I tried to change, the stigma kept reminding others that I came from the Lower Three Rings, originating from the Nine Streams, and my family is insignificant."

"No matter how hard I worked to become stronger, I couldn’t overturn this fact. My talent could not surpass that of the aristocratic children, and the resources for cultivation are never comparable, so I always fell short."

"So, I can’t change anything, but you did. A commander of Martial Strategy Hall, single-handedly defeating five generals to become Flag Master."

"Plus, you’re like me, from the Lower Three Rings. So, we’re alike. What I could not achieve, perhaps you might, and by following you, the despair of never seeing daylight might be replaced by hope—so here I am."