Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King

The leader of the Black Armored Soldiers was named "Lee Jin Kui," a burly man with a fierce mask. He encountered Li Xian attempting to escape without raising suspicion. However, with a few commanding words, he completely thwarted Li Xian’s escape plan.

Li Xian considered himself unlucky, realizing upon arrival that the valley was deep, the passage narrow, and every ten steps or so guarded by the Black Armored Soldiers. Escaping seemed extremely difficult, and seeing the situation was determined, he decided to settle in and understand the current circumstances.

The Black Armored Soldiers patrolled around the valley. Li Xian followed Lee Jin Kui to the depths of a cave opening.

In the dim light, footprints were chaotic. This place seemed to be chosen temporarily, but the natural terrain formed an invisible trap. If he wanted to escape, it would be extremely difficult.

Deep within, a person was confined. Nearly sixty years old, severely injured, trapped under an Iron Net, unable to move. This person was named "Xu Cheng," dressed in expensive silk garments.

Lee Jin Kui said, "This person betrayed the Commandery Princess, deserving a thousand cuts and a humiliating death. But he lived as her person, and he will die as her spirit. We should not decide his fate."

Li Xian thought, "These Black Armored Soldiers must be forces of some Princess An Yang. They searched the mountain to find this person. Innocently, I’ve been involved, and I consider my encounters not shallow. But if misfortune strikes, I surely want to cry without tears."

He immediately thought, "But if speaking of bad luck... ordinary people encountering disaster only once in their lives might only say farewell to life. My luck isn’t bad, and since facing peril, I should calmly ponder, rather than complain about fate."

In a moment, he had a strategy. He secretly used the "Only I have a Heart Skill," utilizing "Heart Intent Sound Transmission" to communicate with that doctor. He wanted to understand the situation but dared not ask outright, fearing a flaw might be exposed.

Thus, he used Heart Intent Sound Transmission, causing the doctor to ask questions. He only needed to listen on the side to understand the matter. He carefully considered his heart words, causing the doctor to ask probing questions in his confusion.

The doctor, affected by such thoughts, suddenly exclaimed in panic, "Don’t... don’t kill me! I know nothing!"

Lee Jin Kui strode forward, scrutinizing the doctor’s figure and said, "This lad was struck by the raging wind palm, yet got caught by the Clear Breeze Camp, interesting, interesting."

Li Xian keenly observed, now able to detect that the Black Armor looked similar but was actually different in detail. They distinguished identities among themselves this way. Even if an outsider infiltrated, without understanding the means of differentiation, they could not hide, inevitably exposing their identity.

Li Xian’s vision was sharp and keen, allowing him to discern different details. He silently noted them all in his mind, unable to identify identities but able to distinguish between them. Thus he knew Lee Jin Kui mistook Li Xian for the original owner due to the armor details.

Once recognizing the helmet, deceiving would be difficult. If Li Xian spoke carelessly, saying things inconsistent with the Helmet Master, he would surely reveal his identity.

Yet... Li Xian and the Helmet Master were truly strangers. He only heard the Helmet Master catch the doctor, cursing and scolding a few times. The voice line was relatively deep, somewhat mimicking.

At that moment, Li Xian quickly pondered. Surrounded and searched by the Black Armored Soldiers, he initially read leisurely books unaware of the lurking undercurrents. The doctor, Helmet Master, and others suddenly came from the north.

The Helmet Master was responsible for the northern battle formation. Li Xian thought, "It should be a soldier. In search of the doctor, momentarily underestimated themself, feeling disgraced hence angry and pursuing quickly."

Li Xian said, "I recognize my mistake!"

The Helmet Master pursuing recklessly is a major taboo in battle formations. Li Xian’s performance was well-timed, making Lee Jin Kui not suspect and ask, "What mistake do you recognize?"

Li Xian said, "The wind palm on this person was caused by me, and I left the battle formation... for an instant, an instant."

Lee Jin Kui’s brows furrowed, angrily kicking Li Xian’s shoulder and said, "Leaving the battle formation privately, if in the battlefield, I could have beheaded you! Did you catch him?"

Li Xian said, "To my shame, no... no catch."

Lee Jin Kui cursed, "Pah! You’ve lost all the face, leaving the battle formation, still couldn’t catch a mere doctor." Li Xian said, "I almost caught him, but suddenly there was..."

Lee Jin Kui cursed, "Don’t say anymore, I’m tired of hearing these excuses."

His tone eased, saying, "But you admitted voluntarily, proving that you possess something more important than military rules: loyalty! Military rules can be trained, but loyalty is difficult to discern. Strength can grow, but loyalty is hard to cultivate."

"Moreover, since you haven’t caused a major mistake. Tonight is not military action, just handling matters for the Commandery Princess, it can be big or small, let’s pass over it. But if there’s a next time, I won’t let it go lightly!"

The Black Armored Soldiers searched the mountain from the foot up, gathering at the peak. They counted numbers, caught several people, checking for injuries, absentees, or deaths.

Lee Jin Kui heard vaguely about this, understanding military matters in general, but major tasks were pressing, and he had to welcome the Commandery Princess. Hence, he hadn’t put the issue on the scale. Hearing Li Xian’s voluntary admission, it was sincere, naturally didn’t raise doubt. He never imagined someone could infiltrate the army in such a short moment and even voluntarily admit recognition of fault.

It should be noted that the Black Armored Soldiers wore masks to distinguish each other, relying on detailed armor features. Outsiders didn’t know this affair, if infiltrated into the army, it’s like suddenly facing face blindness, unable to tell the differences among them. Moreover, thinking, "I can’t tell others apart, surely they can’t tell me apart." Slackening in mind, they could speak recklessly, concoct lies, and spout nonsense, thinking there’s no way to verify truth.

How could anyone willingly take blame, adding trouble?

Unbeknownst, military rules are strict, if there’s half a discrepancy, it would be immediately exposed.

Li Xian was right, at that time the original Helmet Master caught the doctor. According to military regulations, could receive considerable reward. But the doctor knew Martial Arts, suddenly resisted, violently countered, broke free from capture, and fled deep into the forest.