Li Yan secured the long sword at his waist and carefully dragged the man from the pile of corpses.

The man's lower abdomen, wrapped in wooden armor plates, was riddled with iron sand, and his hand was stained with speckled blood. His forehead was burning like hot coals; if not for his robust physique, he would have likely perished.

"A Fleeting Glance, activate."

"Name: Deng Tianxiong. Status: high fever, moderate injuries."

Li Yan did not hesitate. He peeled back the man's clothes and placed his palm over the wound, emitting a soft white light.

Yellow Turban Talisman: Healing Breath

The man let out a pained grunt. The vicious wound visibly pulsed, pushing out grains of bloodied iron sand.

With a gentle flick of his sword tip, Li Yan revealed the fresh, red flesh beneath the wound. Though still ghastly, the blood vessels began to close on their own, enveloped by the persistent soft white light.

Gasping for air, the man's complexion regained some color. He muttered in disbelief, "Celestial Master Taoism..."

"Brother, what's your name?"

Deng Tianxiong swallowed.

"Chengwu Camp's Sixth Division Captain, Deng Tianxiong. And you are?"

"Chengwu Camp's Second Division General Flag, Li Yan."

Deng Tianxiong blinked and struggled to rise but was held down by Li Yan.

"This humble one pays respect to Lord General Flag."

The military hierarchy of the Ming Dynasty was complex and varied by region. Taking the Qi Family Army as an example: twelve men formed a squad, three squads a banner, three banners a company, four companies a battalion, two battalions a regiment, and three regiments a camp. In modern terms, a General Flag would be roughly equivalent to a platoon leader.

"How are your injuries?"

Deng Tianxiong's expression was complex.

"My lord... the magical technique is miraculous."

"Brother Tianxiong, there's no need for me to elaborate on our current predicament. Let's search around. If there are any surviving brothers, we'll save them if we can; if not, we must make the hard choices."

"But right now..."

Deng Tianxiong's expression turned desolate. Over three thousand brothers had fallen, and in this icy, foreign land, anyone would feel a bleak sense of desolation.

"Our Great Ming has a million Heavenly Soldiers. A temporary setback is nothing; the Imperial Court will surely regroup and return. The Deng brothers have preserved their lives for a reason: to slay the enemy. How can we afford to lose heart?"

Li Yan spoke with a calm tone, yet there was an undeniable convincing authority in his manner.

Deng Tianxiong steadied his mind and suddenly swept his robe aside to kneel once more.

"What are the Deng Brothers doing?" Li Yan quickly reached out to help him up, but if Deng Tianxiong was determined to kneel, how could Li Yan possibly stop him?

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"The first bow was to the Imperial Court's Supreme Peak, this bow is to my life savior. I, Deng, am a simple man and not good with words. If Lord General Flag does not disdain it, this rough life of old Deng's is willingly pledged to serve under your command."

Li Yan's eyes narrowed imperceptibly, his expression inscrutable.

"We share the bond of brothers-in-arms, having faced death and survival together today. Why speak of such things? Let's focus on saving as many of our brothers as we can."

Deng Tianxiong heartily agreed.

Name: Deng Tianxiong

Condition: Moderate injuries, recovering.

Expertise: Military skills 72%, Horsemanship 66%.

Skill: Well-trained

Threat Level: Blue (Friendly)

The Qi Healing Technique could only be used twenty times during this Yanfu Incident, yet Li Yan was willing to expend several uses right here.

In the midst of the complex and unpredictable Renchen Japanese Chaos, an individual's power seemed utterly insignificant. The position of General Flag could either add dozens of lazy men who only follow orders without enthusiasm or dozens of soldiers vigorous as dragons and ferocious as tigers, ready to fight wherever pointed. It all depended on one's own ability.

If he did not recruit a few trustworthy soldiers to form a solid foundation at this moment, by the time they reached the Ming Army's Large Camp, a mere General Flag might not be much stronger than a Frontline Pawn.

The two of them managed to find a dozen or so Ming Army soldiers still clinging to life, though most were severely injured. One soldier had been cut in half at the waist, his entrails spilled on the ground, moaning in agony yet unable to die. Li Yan mercifully cut his throat cleanly, granting him release.

"Save me, save me~"

Following the voice, Li Yan walked over to find a middle-aged man in iron-studded armor lying on the ground. His beard and hair flowed past his neck, an arrow protruding from his back through to the front, and his right leg trapped under a broken cannon, his complexion deathly pale.

"I am a Hundred Households of Chengwu Camp, save me..."

Li Yan's gaze shifted, and he knelt on one knee.

"This subordinate pays respects to the Hundred Households, my lord."

"Save me!"

The man's voice grew louder.

"Fear not, my lord, I shall rescue you forthwith," Li Yan assured as he rose to his feet, shaking out the folds of his leg skirts and leaning forward.

"Hurry! Hurry!"

The man called out weakly.

Li Yan's hand rested on the cannon, his eyes downcast.

"My lord, your insight is needed. Our brothers have been scattered by the Japanese pirates, and as a Hundred Households, you are likely the highest-ranking survivor and thus the mainstay of our group... What are your plans for the brothers' next steps?"

"First, remove that thing, call more people, it's killing me."

Li Yan patted the cannon leisurely.

"No need."

With his palms embracing the cannon, he exerted force with his waist and legs, twisting to move the heavy, dark half of the cannon aside.

The right leg of the Hundred Households lord was crushed by the cannon, the bone grotesquely misshapen.

As Li Yan made to stabilize the man's broken leg, he inquired, "Why not rally the brothers and head towards the Yalu River to find the main force..."

"Have you lost your mind?"

The middle-aged man roared lowly, "Within Korean territory, there are at least ten thousand Japanese pirates. We'd be wiped out before we even set off."

Li Yan, unflinching, replied, "Then what do you suggest, my lord?"

"First, let's hide, change into the clothes of Korean civilians, and then make long-term plans, long-term plans."

Li Yan's tone was gentle, with a hint of difficulty.

"We are the Heavenly Army of the Great Ming. If we cannot kill the enemy in battle, we should regroup with the large camp at the earliest opportunity. My lord, this course of action seems akin to cowardice in the face of the enemy."

"What do you know? This is a strategic retreat."

"Are you sure you won't reconsider, my lord?"

"How dare you! I am the Supreme Peak. Do you dare to defy my command?"

The middle-aged man's expression was fierce but tinged with vulnerability.

The man tending to his leg did not, as one might expect, hastily apologize.

His hands ceased their work, his gaze shifted to the man, his lips curling upwards in a sinister smile.

"My lord, you truly lack tact."

"What are you... Ugh!"

Li Yan's palm pressed against the back of the Hundred Households lord's neck, his fingers clawing into the spine. The middle-aged man's body shuddered, his complexion turning from pale to purple. He opened his mouth but could not utter a word.

After about ten breaths, a dampness seeped from the man's crotch. His face swelled to a purplish black, a clear sign he was no longer alive.

Li Yan squatted for a while, his palm closing the man's eyelids, when suddenly a muffled male voice came from behind.

"Lord General Flag—"

**********

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