Lin Feng walked in from the entrance of the training grounds, the Wildfire Spear strapped to his back, his steps steady.

In the square formations undergoing training, the soldiers' gazes began to drift toward Lin Feng, their movements slowing by half a beat.

Zhou Tie frowned, about to scold them, but his peripheral vision caught the dark purple figure. He swallowed his words, pressed his right fist to his chest, and said in a low voice, "Lord."

The square formation immediately stirred slightly.

Some stood on their tiptoes, others straightened their backs, and spear shafts were gripped even tighter.

A young soldier in the front row, his lips trembling, whispered to his teammate beside him, "The Lord has come to our battalion..."

The teammate lowered his voice: "Shut up and stand straight."

Zhou Tie turned his head, his gaze sweeping across the formation, and the commotion instantly subsided.

Feng Qingyan also saw Lin Feng.

She froze for a moment, then jumped down from the stone platform, running over in a few quick strides.

She ran up to Lin Feng, pressed her right fist to her chest, and said with a grin, "Lord Lin, why are you here? Inspecting our battalion?"

Lin Feng glanced at her, then at the four formations practicing shield walls on the training grounds, and nodded: "You're leading the troops well."

Feng Qingyan chuckled twice, raised her hand to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, and said somewhat sheepishly.

"Actually, Zhou Tie is the one leading them; I'm just standing there as a mascot. Sister Jiang insisted on shoving this Battalion Commander position onto me, saying that since I'm at least a second promotion Flame Specialist, standing at the front can boost morale."

She paused and lowered her voice, "I think she just dislikes that I spend all day not doing anything proper."

Lin Feng didn't take the bait and changed the subject: "Why are you here? Don't you love soaking in hot springs the most? You mentioned the hot spring in Kumamoto County several times before; why didn't you stay for a few more days instead of rushing back so early?"

Feng Qingyan sighed, her shoulders slumping, her tone full of helplessness: "I wanted to! That hot spring in Kumamoto County makes your whole body feel comfortable after soaking. I originally planned to stay for two more days, but then Sister Jiang gave an order.

'Feng Qingyan, you are hereby appointed as the Battalion Commander of the First Battalion, First Regiment of the New Moon Legion. Report to Hangu Pass immediately.'

How could I dare stay in the hot spring? I rushed back overnight on a Great-Horned Deer; the skin on my buttocks is practically rubbed raw!"

She rubbed her lower back with a look of grievance.

Lin Feng's mouth twitched slightly, but he didn't respond.

Feng Qingyan continued, "Actually, I'm not very good at managing people. Usually, the training and issuing of tasks are handled by the Deputy Battalion Commander. Sister Jiang looks out for me, knowing I'm not cut out for it, but as the commanding officer, I still have to come and inspect once in a while."

She jerked her chin toward the two rows of soldiers behind her, "Look at them, so spirited! They were all trained by the Deputy Battalion Commander; it has nothing to do with me."

After saying that, she felt it didn't sound right and quickly added, "Of course, it has a little to do with me. Since I'm standing here, they don't dare to slack off."

As soon as she finished, a soldier in the back row muttered quietly, "We don't slack off even when the Battalion Commander isn't here..."

Feng Qingyan whipped her head around, her ponytail swinging in an arc: "Who said that?"

The soldier immediately shut his mouth, staring straight ahead like a wooden carving.

Zhou Tie walked over expressionlessly and stomped near the soldier's foot, his voice low: "Fifty push-ups."

The soldier dropped down without a word and began doing them.

Lin Feng didn't say much else, only nodding: "Lead them well. You and your sister will likely be going on a mission with me later."

Feng Qingyan's eyes lit up, and she leaned in curiously: "What mission?"

The corner of Lin Feng's mouth curled slightly, his tone flat but certain: "To Annan Country. There are too many skeleton armies there; we need some mages with area-of-effect attacks. Your and your sister's Flame Burst and Wall of Flames will come in handy."

Feng Qingyan's mouth hung open slightly, then she suddenly clenched her fist. The Fire Crystal on her staff shot up a flame over a foot high, her voice rising several degrees in excitement.

"Really?! Going to Annan Country to fight skeletons? That's great! My hands have been itching for a fight! Lord Lin, don't worry, I'll burn those skeletons until not even ash remains!"

She grew more excited as she spoke, gesturing with her staff as if a skeleton army were already standing before her.

Lin Feng looked at her without interrupting, only nodding after she finished: "Train hard. I'll notify you before we set out."

Feng Qingyan nodded vigorously, pressed her right fist to her chest, and for once acted serious: "Orders received!"

Lin Feng turned and left the training grounds.

Behind him, Feng Qingyan was still boasting to Zhou Tie: "Old Zhou, did you hear? I'm going to Annan Country to fight skeletons!"

When Lin Feng walked out of the training grounds, the sunlight was just shining in from the east.

He stood at the entrance of the training grounds, took one last look at the soldiers in training, and then turned to walk toward the Council Hall.

There was still a report regarding Nha Trang County that he hadn't finished reading.

...

The next afternoon, the light in the Hangu Pass Council Hall was soft, with sunlight slanting in from the high windows.

Lin Feng sat in the main seat, several documents he had just finished reviewing spread out before him. His brush rested on the inkstone, the ink not yet fully dry.

Jiang Zhaoyue and Jiang Yelan sat on either side.

On the left were only Jiang Yelan, Meng Yi, and Su Yurou; Zhao Hu, Wang Wu, and others were still in Jingchuan County handling the aftermath.

On the right sat Jiang Zhaoyue, Su Yuehua, Feng Qingyan, and Feng Qingshuang.

Jiang Zhaoyue was reporting on the reorganization of the New Moon Legion.

Her voice was clear and her points well-organized, explaining everything clearly from personnel structure to training progress, and from equipment distribution to merit records.

Lin Feng nodded as he listened, occasionally asking about ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) a detail or two, all of which Jiang Zhaoyue could answer immediately.

After the report was finished, Lin Feng leaned back in his chair, his gaze moving from Jiang Zhaoyue to the others on the right, his tone carrying a hint of concern.

"Everyone from the New Moon Legion has been at Hangu Pass for many days now. How is it? Are there any difficulties adjusting? Food, housing, training intensity—are there any problems that need solving?"

Jiang Zhaoyue smiled and shook her head, her tone holding a bit of helplessness but even more gratification: "There are no discomforts. Hangu Pass is a grand pass to begin with, so everyone feels very secure here.

Moreover, Beacon Fire Territory is now the fourth-ranked territory in the world; this has become something everyone boasts about to people around the Blue Star.

Plus, after Lord Lin said on the city walls yesterday that promotion slots for special units would be gradually released and can be exchanged with merit points, the entire military camp exploded once the news got out."

She paused, the smile at the corners of her mouth deepening.

"Guess what? When I went on my rounds this morning, several soldiers crowded around to ask—'Lord Jiang, why haven't the Orcs attacked yet?' 'Are they scared?' 'How about we go and attack them proactively!'"