Collapse Iron: The Five Heroes of the Clouds Won't Let Me Go

(I originally wanted to lay more groundwork, but since more and more people are reading this, I'll just bring Jingyuan out here to avoid keeping everyone in suspense.)

Meanwhile, on Jingliu's side, the Cloud Cavalry Army had long been short of troops due to frequent wars.

It is important to know that the Cloud Cavalry Army, as the legitimate army of the Immortal Ship, has a very wide range of responsibilities.

They not only have to defend their homeland, but also maintain order within the ship and handle various disputes; they are, in a sense, both soldiers and police officers.

This time, Teng Xiao decided to expand his troops and further enlarge the Luofu Cloud Cavalry.

Their greed will not be extinguished; they will only lie low and gather strength, preparing for the next plunder and revenge!

That will only be more intense and brutal, and Teng Xiao must be fully prepared.

Inside the camp of the [Chuihong Guard], a group of young men and women, dressed in light armor, stood solemnly and straight in military posture.

If anyone slacks off, the supervising veteran will punish them by making them do extra push-ups.

"rest!"

Upon receiving the order, the still-developing young men collapsed to the ground like deflated balloons.

Jingliu stood on high ground and looked down to observe. These newly generated blood were still too immature and weak, and needed to be trained.

If it weren't for the fact that we are currently in a period of peace, they would be nothing more than cannon fodder if they went to the battlefield.

The Cloud Cavalry Guards, who have titles, are more disciplined than the regular Cloud Cavalry Army, but they are also more powerful in combat.

This means facing more dangerous battles, but it also represents greater military achievements.

At the same time, my own skills are improving rapidly through training! Skill is the key!

Therefore, many people are racking their brains to get in through the screening process.

The recruits of the [Chuihong Guard] are actually of extremely high quality, but the enemies that Jingliu will face are even more terrifying, so being merely excellent is not enough.

Talent is important, but even more important is the diligence to realize it.

After a short rest, the veteran began directing the exercise.

New recruits need to frequently experience realistic battlefield environments, so they participate in combat drills to increase their combat experience.

Although Jingliu thought it was as childish as playing house, it was better than nothing.

On the battlefield of strife, blood and flesh flew everywhere, even the sky was stained with blood, and all around were mixed corpses.

The air was filled with the deathly stench of blood, and the enemy's foul-smelling, bloodthirsty claws showed no mercy!

Only those who can remain calm and rational in the face of such a situation can be considered qualified Cloud Cavalry soldiers!

The exercise begins, and it is not a fight with bare hands. Close combat is only a last resort. The Yunqi Army needs to prioritize mastering military equipment and weapons.

Jingliu observed from a distance that a white-haired girl among the new recruits was giving on-site instructions.

She was full of ingenuity and became a surprise force in the chaos of battle, disrupting the enemy formation. Under her arrangement, the wooden crossbows accurately struck the enemy troops!

Both sides were new recruits, yet the outcome was overwhelmingly one-sided. Apart from Jing Yuan being judged dead, all the other teammates survived! The veterans watching were also astonished.

The recruits re-formed their ranks, and the instructor sternly shouted, "Jing Yuan, step forward!"

A girl named Jingyuan walked out of the line with her head held high and her chest puffed out, exuding extraordinary confidence.

"Good job! Very smart! Extra treat for you tonight!"

The girl's lips curled slightly, drawing envious glances from the new recruits around her.

Of course, the winning side in the exercise will also receive a reward.

The instructor intended to disband the troops on the spot, but suddenly a chilling atmosphere filled the air.

Jingliu appeared unnoticed and slowly walked towards the recruits.

Her every step was exceptionally crisp, each step seemingly treading on the heartbeats of the new recruits.

The pressure from the strongest soldier made the boys breathe heavily, and a fine layer of sweat appeared on their foreheads. Everyone looked at them with a mixture of awe and admiration.

Jingliu walked to the front of the formation, and Jingyuan, who stood out alone, felt like a fish swimming in a pot, as if he were being steamed by pressure.

"Jingyuan, how old are you this year?"

"Report! Fourteen!"

"You joined the army at the age of fourteen; where are your family members now?"

"All my loved ones have passed away! Therefore, I joined the army to protect the immortal vessel!"

Jing Liu suddenly realized, and instead of asking more about Jing Yuan's family affairs, he became curious about Jing Yuan's arrangements.

"During the exercise just now, you used a surprising tactic. I saw that our friendly forces were able to achieve victory only because they acted according to your command. As the commander, you should have been stationed in the rear. Why did you personally take on this unexpected role?"

Jing Yuan said without hesitation:

"I want to achieve victory with minimal sacrifice! But sacrifice is cruel! If sacrifice is truly necessary, then let me bear it myself!"

Jingliu looked displeased, but the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned.

"Nonsense! That's just womanly sentimentality! Do you know that if your plan fails, the army will be leaderless? At that point, the enemy will break through the formation as easily as swatting a headless fly!"

Jingyuan's eyes darted around, a glint of light flashing within them, as if he had come up with an explanation.

"The Cloud Cavalry is full of talented people; even without me, someone else can step up and take charge!"

"That's ridiculous! What would you do if you were in a high position?"

Jing Yuan choked and could no longer speak.

The Cloud Riders listening nearby didn't dare to breathe, as Jing Liu's stern rebuke was as sharp and intimidating as a sword.

However, Jingliu was in a good mood. Although this girl was young, she had a great sense of selflessness and was willing to sacrifice herself. Even if the plan failed, she would not implicate others and would bear the consequences herself.

[He's quite promising! He should be a strategist.]

(Strategist: A soldier in the Cloud Cavalry responsible for devising strategies)

Although you could tell from Jingyuan's darting eyes that she was a woman with a complicated mind and many ideas, and that she was obviously not a trustworthy person.

But as a Cloud Rider, her temperament and will were strong enough, and her ideological awareness was high enough, and that was enough.

"Alright, that concludes today's training. Dismissed, go and rest!"

When Jing Liu spoke, the soldiers naturally relaxed and went off to do as they pleased.

The army's departure was somewhat hurried, after all, the sheer presence of Jingliu alone was incredibly oppressive.

Of course, on the battlefield, the place where Jingliu is located is where the morale of the troops is highest!

The Cloud Cavalry disbanded, but Jingyuan still did not leave.

Jingliu asked in confusion, "Why haven't you gone to eat yet? Aren't you tired from training?"

"Mirror Flow Valiant Guard! I have a question I need your clarification!"

Jingyuan stared straight at Jingliu. There was no fear in her eyes, only the anxiety of wanting to know and the wavering of her beliefs.

"Go ahead and ask."

"Mirror Stream Valiant Guard! Military operations require strategy, and close combat requires strength, but as you've seen, our Jurchen crossbows alone are incredibly powerful; mortal bodies are as fragile as paper under their attack!"

"If that's the case, why do we keep training? Wouldn't it be better to just develop even more powerful weapons? In war, all we need to do is unleash a barrage of weapons; how could the enemy possibly stop us?"

"Heh, your perspective is indeed too narrow, that's because..."

Jingliu suddenly stopped mid-sentence.

This question stirred up her memories. Years ago, she had asked her master, Yaofeng, a similar question.

Jingliu turned to look at Jingyuan, feeling a sudden inspiration that this was some kind of destiny.

"Jingyuan, would you be willing to become my apprentice?"