Chapter 30 It’s raining

When rushing back to the base camp from the front line, the weather was not very good, and Su An's mood at this time was just like the weather, very gloomy.

Stepping onto the flowery rock floor of the base square, along the way, the soldiers belonging to the top lane legion all greeted him.

"Su An, when will you come over to our camp to drink together?"

"Brother Su An, long time no see."

"Thank you for your care back then!"

The soldiers were either respectful or sincere. Although their identities were very different, and some of them were even much higher than Su An, the way they looked at Su An was full of respect.

If this was in Jingzhou City, Su An would always smile and chat with them to respond to the soldiers' enthusiasm, but today, he just nodded in response and didn't say a word from beginning to end.
Su An was just a captain-level soldier at the bottom of the Shu army, but he had a very high reputation in the army. Because apart from the heroes, he was not only a veteran who had fought with the army for many years, but also the most legendary soldier in the army.

As the saying goes, the army may change but the camp remains permanent. The soldiers in the legion all have a service period, which is at least two years and at most five years. However, the battlefield in the canyon is extremely cruel. Over the years, countless soldiers have died on the battlefield. In fact, many soldiers died in the canyon before they could even retire.

In the Legion, unfamiliar faces can be seen every day, those are the new rookies. A familiar face may also be seen no more one day, that is a veteran who died in the canyon.

Death is everywhere. A colleague who fought side by side and drank together yesterday may suddenly disappear today. This is the daily life of the soldiers.

But no one knows when it started, people began to find in surprise that the soldiers in the legion were replaced from generation to generation, but only this old soldier was always present in the road legion.

Many soldiers know that Su An is the most qualified veteran. He has experienced countless battles, but no matter how difficult the battle is, even when facing those terrible enemy heroes, he is always the soldier who can "come back alive".

Few people know when Su An joined the Shu Kingdom Legion. For Su An, many people's impression is basically "I saw him when I came to the legion. Many years after leaving the legion, I met him by chance outside the battlefield, only to find that he was still serving in the legion."

This is a mysterious and legendary soldier.

"He actually came back alive?"

“Why doesn’t he retire?”

"Such a beautiful battle, why didn't he get promoted?"

"How many more years will he serve in the Legion?"

Such doubts gradually began to spread among the Shu army, and correspondingly, a rumor began to arise.

There are occasional rumors in the legion that when Su An was young, he offended a group of mysterious people. It seems that it was the arrangement of this group of mysterious people that prevented Su An from retiring and would never get any promotion.

Of course, there was no substantial evidence for these rumors, and no soldier dared to ask the heroes, while Su An himself never mentioned a word about it.

It is precisely because of his rich resume and elusive mystery that Su An is regarded as a legend by the soldiers. At one point, some even called him a "semi-hero."

In this world where "heroes are supreme", it is a supreme honor for a soldier to be given such a title, and it is also the reputation of Su An.

Feeling the admiring gazes from the soldiers, Su An subconsciously clenched his fists. In his deep eyes, there was not a trace of pride, but an unexpected sense of inexplicable sadness.

He stopped and looked up at the base camp in the distance. Inside was the highest-level commander of Shu Kingdom, the person he least wanted to see but had to see.

Restraining his inner disgust, Su An approached the base camp and pulled open the curtain of the tent.

In the spacious tent, a young man in blue and white armor was standing with his back to him. The young man had silver-blue hair and was looking at the canyon map hanging on the wall.

Su An just stood there, staring at the silver-haired man's back with a pair of emotionless eyes, without saying a word.

After a long time, a soft sigh sounded in the silent tent.

"You're here?" The silver-haired man still didn't turn around, but he seemed to know that the person coming was Su An.

Su An didn't say anything. He walked forward, placed a scroll map in front of the desk, and then stepped back silently.

Hearing that Su An didn't say anything, the silver-haired man slowly turned his head. He had a handsome face, but his expression was covered with a layer of coldness that made people feel daunted.

His deep blue eyes reflected Su An's figure. After a while, he said slowly, "Please sit down." Then he came to the desk and opened the map that Su An handed over.

But Su An did not sit on the chair beside him as the silver-haired man said, but just stood there silently, and the silver-haired man did not seem to care about this.

After a while, the silver-haired man said without even raising his head: "You actually took the initiative to come and see me this time. I guess you have something important to tell me, right?"

The corners of Su An's eyes twitched slightly, and then he said in a cold tone that was not usual: "One of my subordinates thinks that Wei State intends to attack the second defense tower, and we need to ask a hero to take charge." "Haha, then your subordinate still has a lot to improve and learn." The silver-haired man still didn't even raise his head, but just looked at the map spread out on the desk seriously.

As if he had anticipated the silver-haired man's reaction, Su An added: "Another subordinate of mine believes that Wei is feinting, and its real purpose may be in the middle and lower routes."

Before he could finish his words, the silver-haired man raised his head and interrupted, "Wei has ambushes in the middle and lower lanes. All the heroes of Wei are gathered at the ambush points. Their top lane is empty. Can we take this opportunity to send heroes over to destroy Wei's first defense tower?"

With just one glance, without any field investigation, he easily saw through the mystery that ordinary people could not see through. It should be said that there was a reason why this silver-haired man could become the supreme commander-in-chief of the three legions of Shu Kingdom.

"He is worthy of being the greatest genius in the history of Jixia Academy." Su An said stiffly: "He really means that."

"Your subordinate is remarkable for being able to see through Wei's plan. It's obvious that you have taught your subordinates very well. He has not disgraced the reputation of our Jixia Academy, nor has he let down the knowledge that the master taught you." Having said that, the silver-haired man's tone and expression did not sound like he was complimenting anyone. Instead, it seemed like he was trying to gauge Su An's reaction.

Su An did not answer, but stared coldly into the silver-haired man's eyes.

It is estimated that in the entire Shu army, no soldier dares to confront the commander-in-chief of the three armies with such a contemptuous attitude. If this strange scene is seen by a passing soldier, Su An's popularity in Shu will probably rise to a higher level.

"Let's talk."

As if he couldn't find the information he wanted in Su An's eyes, the silver-haired man leaned back on the chair and said slowly: "Five days ago, the Wushuang Demon of Wei attacked your second defense tower on the top lane, and Shangguan Wei was killed in the battle. Now the vanguard troops on the top lane are leaderless and need a new leader. I would like to propose to you, my lord, that you lead the vanguard troops on the top lane instead."

Su An didn't say anything, but just stared at the silver-haired man, with a hint of mockery in his eyes. Until the silver-haired man's resolute brows slightly frowned in displeasure, he said in a deep voice: "Is this okay? You have hidden me for so many years, but now you want to push me in front of the world. Aren't you afraid that my whereabouts will be exposed and bring you a fatal disaster?"

The silver-haired man was silent.

Su An suddenly smiled, a crazy smile: "So many years have passed, and the [Black and White Chess] have been tracking me everywhere. It seems that in the near future, I am afraid I will have to fight them after all. I would like to ask, which side will you, the chief disciple of Jixia, stand on at that time?"

"Is it necessary to do this?" After a long silence, a complex look flashed in the silver-haired man's deep blue eyes.

"We are both students of Jixia Academy. As long as you are willing to admit your mistakes, the teacher will forgive you. After so many years, can't you accept that fact?"

"I have reservations about that fact." Su An sneered, "I just disdain to associate with you hypocritical hypocrites who are sanctimonious and deceitful!"

The silver-haired man was silent.

Su An added: "Don't get me wrong. I didn't come here to ask for mercy from those old guys. I just lived in Jingzhou for so many years and I don't want to see Shu Kingdom destroyed. But now it seems that I have done something unnecessary."

After saying this with a sneer, Su An was ready to turn around and leave.

"Xiang Ji."

Su An shuddered and stopped walking away.

How many years has it been? How many years ago was it when you last heard this name?
"If you still can't let it go, then recommend someone to me. I believe that you have been in the legion for so many years, and you must be more suitable than me to select a qualified commander from the legion." The voice of the silver-haired man was heard again from behind.

The commander?

Su An raised his head and looked at the sky outside the tent door with rolling thunderclouds. For some reason, a figure flashed through his mind, and he remembered the person who had influenced his life.

Su An gritted his teeth secretly, turned around suddenly, and rudely grabbed a brush and a map in front of the copper table. With a swish sound, he wrote a few words and threw it back.

"There is one thing I need to make clear. It was this new recruit who saw through Wei's plan. I have never taught him anything, and I will never teach anyone even a little bit of Jixia knowledge in my lifetime. Remember that."

"I respect your choice." The silver-haired man sighed slightly, but then he frowned slightly and said, "But can you explain why you want to recommend a new recruit?"

"I trust my instincts. Not only is he born to be a strong warrior, he will also be an unrivaled commander."

"Are you so absurd as to trust your instincts?"

"Back then, I also relied on my intuition to lead you into Jixia Academy. What happened?" Su An walked out of the camp with a lost laugh. "People laugh at me for being too crazy. I laugh at people for not seeing through me! Ha, ha, ha!"

With a complicated expression, the silver-haired man watched Su An open the curtain and leave with wild laughter. He remained silent. His fingers tapped lightly on the table. His deep blue eyes looked at the words Su An wrote on the back of the map.

"The 17th Squadron of the Headquarters Legion's Vanguard Unit - Wang Yao."

Da, da, da
At some point a dense, muffled sound began to come from the top of the military tent. It was the sound of raindrops hitting the tent cloth.

It started to rain.

(End of this chapter)