“I’m sure you’ve also noticed their legs are steady and muscular. Their wrists are even stronger. They have thick calluses on their palms. It’s obvious they’ve been wielding weapons for a long time.”

Deputy General Sun could tell that these youngsters were not simple.

He had been fighting in the military camp all these years. Yet, his callus on the valley between his thumb and index finger was not as thick as theirs. He might not be their match if a fight broke out between them.

However, he could probably hold them off for a while for the princess consort to leave with the herbs first. He was trained in the military camp, after all!

In any case, it would be impossible for them to seize their medicinal herbs!

…

Meanwhile, in the military camp…

Qian Jiyun was busy. Many soldiers in the military camp had contracted the disease, and the lack of medicinal herbs was a big problem.

When the military physicians heard of Qian Jiyun’s return, they hurried to him. Surrounding him, they hoped he could step in on their behalf to obtain more medicinal herbs.

He finally had time to visit the two cordoned areas after he sent the military physicians away.

When he saw the soldiers lying on the beds, his heart really…

“General, the people from the 18 Stockaded Villages are here.”

As soon as he came out of the cordoned areas for the infected, Qian Jiyun received news from his deputy general.

“The 18 Stockaded Villages?”

He had been guarding the border for several years and had thought of taking over the 18 Stockaded Villages.

However, they were much more powerful than he had imagined. There was probably no one who could recruit them into their forces—perhaps not even the emperor.

“Why are they here? Who’s here?”

“I don’t know.” The deputy general shook his head.

He had found it strange too. The military and the 18 Stockaded Villages had always minded their own business.

The southern border was enormous and close to Man Kingdom, a country famous for its battles. It could not only be defended by 200,000 troops.

Therefore, their general’s 200,000-strong force guarded west of the southern border, while the 18 Stockaded Villages guarded the east side.

They were not considered part of the national power. However, even Man Kingdom did not dare cause trouble where they guarded.

This was how strong the 18 Stockaded Villages were.

“General, they’re the chiefs of the first and 11th stockaded villages—Shen Yan and Qi Gu.”

“Two chiefs came at the same time? What an honor!” Qian Jiyun chuckled. It seemed like he already knew why they had made a sudden visit.

“Uh…” The deputy general almost choked.

That’s not the point, right? What if these people came with ill intentions?

The 18 Stockaded Villages were famous for their extraordinary existence on the entire continent, let alone the borders. Not that there were any mysteries behind it, but they were too powerful in combat!

“I’ve arranged for them to wait in the next tent. You…”

“Let’s go take a look.”

Qian Jiyun immediately stood up and walked past the deputy general.

The deputy general followed him out of the tent.

…

“Big Brother, this Prince Zhan Yun is indeed extraordinary.”

While walking through the military camp, Qi Gu saw iron-like soldiers, each exuding a powerful aura comparable to their people.

“No wonder Man Kingdom has become increasingly afraid of invading the border the past few years. There’s a reason for that,” he remarked.