Chapter 81: Raining
A tall, handsome young soldier in the crowd had been watching her. He followed her gaze around the room before asking with a puzzled look, "Yue Han, what’s wrong?"
The female soldier looked away and shook her head. "Nothing."
"Oh? Why did we have to come to the main mess hall? It’s so filthy here. Let’s go to the small one."
"There’s no need. The school sent us to the army for training, so we should share the soldiers’ hardships. We’ll eat here."
It was clear that the tall young man and the female soldier were the leaders of this group of students from the Physical Arts School. They found an empty table and sat down.
The food in the barracks was far from appetizing, and to these students of noble birth, it tasted like wax. After just a few bites, they all put down their utensils and began to chat animatedly about how they would slaughter enemies on the battlefield.
Luo Kai finished his food and got up to leave. ’That young female soldier has definitely recognized me,’ he thought. ’This could complicate my escape plan, which would be a huge problem. There are only five days left before we head to the front lines. I’m running out of time.’
"I’m finished. I’ll be leaving now," the female soldier, who had been watching him, announced. She hastily stood up and chased after him. A cold sneer touched her lips as she stared at Luo Kai’s back. ’This guy is definitely no saint. He’s clearly powerful, yet he insists on acting so weak.’
Luo Kai frowned. ’Fine. What’s meant to happen will happen.’ He stopped walking.
"What unit are you in?" a sharp voice demanded from behind. It was the exact same voice from last night. ’It really is her.’
"Miss, are you talking to me?" Luo Kai asked, turning around and feigning ignorance.
The female soldier sneered. "Hmph, still playing dumb with me? Spit it out. Who are you?!"
Luo Kai felt a growing irritation, and his expression turned cold. "Miss, let’s leave well enough alone. We don’t have any real grievances, do we? From now on, you go your way, and I’ll go mine. Let’s stay out of each other’s business."
The female soldier walked up to him and circled him once, her face a mask of astonishment. "It really was you last night?" In truth, she hadn’t been sure. She had just been bluffing to get a reaction out of him.
"And what if it was? Weren’t you also sneaking out last night?"
"Hmph, I’m different. Now tell me, who are you, and why have you infiltrated this barracks?"
Luo Kai couldn’t be bothered to answer her and turned to walk away.
"You’re not going to talk, are you? Fine! I’ll go report you to the military police!"
Luo Kai stopped in his tracks. He turned back and said icily, "Go ahead. I’m also curious about your identity. That Stealth Garb you were wearing last night isn’t just some ordinary outfit, is it? Clothing that can completely conceal one’s aura... that’s a remarkable treasure indeed."
"You—!"
The female soldier was furious. Her almond-shaped eyes glared at him with hatred before she gave a final stomp of her small combat boot, spun around, and stormed off.
Luo Kai stood in place, stroking his chin in thought. ’That girl is a liability. If she really snitches on me, I’ll be in deep trouble. I hate trouble more than anything, but it always seems to find me. I’d better find a chance to escape as soon as possible.’
A bright moon hung in the sky. It was the night of the full moon, and it shone with particular brilliance, blanketing the entire land in a silver glow.
Most of the soldiers were already asleep, but a few were still training tirelessly. Big Bear was on the training grounds by himself, viciously pounding a sandbag. The Slave Soldiers had begun practicing Military Boxing, one of the most fundamental fighting styles. Its core principles were simple, boiling down to two points: defend with your fists while attacking with your feet, and move with your feet while attacking with your fists.
Of course, Body Techniques had different levels of mastery. However, with diligent practice, any technique could be brought to a state of perfect, seamless unity. The Martial Artists cultivated by the military began with these simple Body Techniques. Tempered by countless battles, they gradually formed a unique system of Cultivation. Within the Martial Arts World, their status was even considered higher than that of the academy graduates.
In reality, however, there was no major conflict between the two factions. Their relationship was more one of cooperation and mutual acceptance. The academies sent students to the army for training every year, and many of them ended up staying and enlisting. Likewise, retired military Martial Artists would often go on to teach at the academies.
The only difference lay in their starting points, which were polar opposites. Students from the Physical Martial Arts Academy were immediately commissioned with a Lieutenant Level rank upon joining the army, making them part of the officer corps. In contrast, those cultivated within the military itself had to earn fame and merit before receiving any real recognition.
Years ago, Chang Yuan, the Grand General of the Tiger Soul Army, had relied on this very set of basic Military Boxing to tenaciously survive on treacherous battlefields. Step by step, he rose to the position of Tiger Soul Army Commander, becoming one of the most powerful men in the entire Xingma Kingdom.
Luo Kai sat at the edge of the training grounds, watching Big Bear train until he was drenched in sweat. Given his current mastery of Body Techniques, he naturally looked down on something as simple as Military Boxing. Still, he couldn’t help but feel a wave of emotion. ’Looking back, I’ve been pretty lucky,’ he reflected. ’The Soft Body Technique Shui Su taught me and the Mighty Dragon Fist from Shisan are no ordinary Body Techniques. They’re powerful arts that can draw out and enhance human Power from the deepest levels, even altering one’s fundamental biological structure.’
Over the past two years, he had felt himself changing. From a biological standpoint, he was evolving at an incredible rate. Take his recent wound, for instance. Few even among the most powerful Martial Artists could have survived such a severe injury. Yet, not only had he survived, but he had also come to comprehend a formidable Power distinct from Body Techniques.
Compared to the Body Refining focus of Body Techniques, Elemental Power was the true power of the gods. If he could continue to develop it, relying solely on the Power of Water Element he had grasped, the legendary feat of overturning rivers and seas might not be impossible.
A thrill of excitement shot through him at the thought. He slowly closed his eyes and extended his consciousness, attempting to once again achieve a frequency Resonance with the Water Element in the air. Upon contact, the Water Element in the atmosphere seemed to rejoice, surging and gathering around his consciousness. Gradually, the air grew heavy with moisture.
Big Bear suddenly stopped his training and touched his face. He glanced over and saw Luo Kai at the edge of the field, his eyes closed as if he had fallen asleep. Puzzled, Big Bear looked up at the sky. The moonlight was still bright, with no clouds in sight. He muttered to himself, "It’s not raining... so why are there water drops?"
At that moment, Luo Kai’s consciousness was floating in the sky along with the water molecules in the air. Images of the grass, trees, and buildings below fed into his mind, making it feel as though he himself were flying.
More of the Water Element gathered, forming a cloud that clung tightly to his consciousness. The elements vied to emit their inherent frequencies, as if trying to convey their thoughts to Luo Kai. But they possessed no thoughts or consciousness, only an emotion akin to the deep, supportive bond between lovers. The sensation was too wonderful, too precious to let go of.
He didn’t know how much time had passed before waves of exhaustion washed over his Spirit. With a pang of regret, Luo Kai slowly withdrew his consciousness. The moment he did, a torrential downpour came crashing down.
"Damn it, why’s it raining all of a sudden? The moon was out just a second ago!" Big Bear grumbled, walking over to pull Luo Kai to his feet. "Let’s get back to the barracks!"
...
In a small, solitary building in the center of the camp, an old man with disheveled hair stood on the roof, frowning at the cloud mass in the sky.
It was raining, but strangely, the downpour was concentrated in a very small area, covering only about half of the camp.
The old man’s expression suddenly changed. He leaped directly from the second-story roof. Several Guards in military uniforms immediately appeared from around the building and followed him. Every soldier they passed on the way snapped to attention and saluted.
Upon reaching the area where it was raining, the old man cupped a handful of rainwater and sniffed it carefully. "Not poisonous?" he muttered. After a moment of contemplation, he ordered, "Xiaoyue, take some men and check the perimeter outside the camp. I fear an Elemental Master from the Nanzhao Kingdom has arrived. All of you go. Be careful. An Elemental Master is bound to have powerful protectors!"
The Guards’ expressions grew solemn. "Yes, sir!" they responded in unison.
The old man paced around the camp, his expression filled with suspicion. Suddenly, his demeanor shifted. He stomped a single foot on the ground and vanished, leaving only a faint afterimage. Had Luo Kai seen it, he would have been dumbfounded. The speed was likely too fast for the human eye to even register.
In a corner of the camp, a dark figure was lurking, waiting for a squad of patrolling soldiers to pass.
After a moment, the figure saw the patrol disappear and cautiously peeked out. Just as they were about to move, a hand clamped around their neck. It felt just like that night when their throat had been seized, and they exploded in fury. "You bastard! You’re not done with me yet, are you?!"
But the voice that came from behind was old and gruff. "Yue Han, you little brat! What are you doing, skulking around like this?!"
The dark figure jumped, startled, and spun around. Upon seeing the disheveled old man, their face fell. "Oh, Grandmaster Du, it’s you! I wasn’t cursing at you, I swear! I thought it was that bastard again!"
The old man released his grip and grumbled, "Which bastard? And you’re wearing the Stealth Garb again. Are you afraid people *won’t* know you’re from the Military Punishment Department?"
"Grandmaster Du, I was just testing it out! And you know what? It really works. Don’t worry, absolutely no one saw me."
The old man huffed and rapped her on the head. "The Military Punishment Department handles special covert operations! If anyone finds out you’re Mushan’s daughter, you couldn’t save yourself if you had nine lives, and you’d even endanger your father!"
Yue Han moved forward and wrapped her arms around the old man’s, whining playfully, "But Grandmaster Du, this is your turf, isn’t it?"
"Hmph. Go back, now. It’s highly likely that experts from the Nanzhao Kingdom are here tonight, including an Elemental Master. If trouble breaks out, I won’t have time to protect you."
Yue Han’s eyes lit up with excitement. "Really? How do you know there’s an Elemental Master? I’ve never even seen one before! What do they look like? Are they powerful?"
The old man pointed at the now-fading raindrops and sighed. "This rain was controlled by that Elemental Master. I don’t know their purpose yet, but for them to come here, they must be no ordinary person. In any case, go back to your quarters and stay put. Don’t come out. You’re a grown woman now, little girl. It’s time you learned to be sensible. Do you remember how your mother died?"
Yue Han’s eyes reddened, and she nodded obediently.
...
Luo Kai had no idea that his casual practice of Elemental Resonance had caused such a stir. The camp’s alert level had been raised to its highest. There was a guard post every few steps, every military dog was out on patrol, anti-aircraft cannons had been deployed, and there were even flying Winged People patrolling the skies.
This completely sank his escape plan. The lax discipline of the pirate camp was nothing compared to that of a regular army. He was still in a weakened state, but even at his peak, escape would have been impossible under these conditions.