Chapter 110: A Rift Between Brothers

After pondering for a moment, Zhang Xutuo felt a sense of unease and advised Li Dong and Dou Jiande, "It is not that I wish to send you away, but this place is constantly filled with government officials coming and going. If Prefect Ye discovers you, the trouble will be immense. You should not linger here; head to General Lai's military camp immediately. Before the main army sets out, unless absolutely necessary, do not leave your posts without authorization."

Li Dong and Dou Jiande agreed completely. Running into Ye Jishan’s informants would not only put them in jeopardy but also bring endless trouble upon Zhang Xutuo. After expressing their profuse gratitude, the two took their leave of the Assistant Prefect's residence, dashed out of the city, and headed straight toward General Lai Hu'er's encampment.

Upon reaching the outskirts of the camp, Li Dong suddenly grabbed Dou Jiande’s arm and said in a low voice, "Brother, wait!"

Dou Jiande, not knowing what was wrong, halted his steps and looked at Li Dong, asking, "What is it? Did you forget something important, younger brother?"

"Extremely important!" Li Dong replied thoughtfully. "I played a trick on Fei Qingnu and had him flogged; he will surely harbor a grudge against me. Furthermore, I rejected General Lai's gracious invitation to serve under his command. Under what pretext and in what capacity am I to join him now?"

"This..." Dou Jiande scratched his ear subconsciously, finding himself in a bind as well. It was indeed inappropriate for Li Dong to appear in General Lai’s camp; Fei Qingnu would certainly seize the chance to retaliate. After a moment of thought, he suggested, "In my opinion, why don't you pretend to be a fellow villager of mine, eager to join the army on its northern campaign? How does that sound?"

Li Dong nodded in agreement but still expressed concern. "I thought of that as well. However, they are all too familiar with this face of mine; they would sooner grind my bones to dust than forgive me. Therefore, I cannot just walk in like this. I must make some appropriate changes."

"Oh?" Dou Jiande blinked, his curiosity piqued. "You possess the folk art of disguise? That is a long-lost secret skill."

Li Dong let out a laugh, appearing mysterious. "As luck would have it, I know a little something about it." He reached into his robe and pulled out the flesh-colored pill from before. "This is a disguise pill made from woodpecker components and medicinal herbs." He popped it into his mouth, tilted his head back, and swallowed.

"Hahaha!" Dou Jiande laughed, reaching out and saying, "Let me try one as well!"

Li Dong stopped him with a smile. "You haven't offended them; you can enter the camp with your true face. If the need arises in the future, I will certainly give you one." He paused and added, "Once my appearance has changed, apart from you and me, do not tell even Liu Heita or Zhang Jincheng, lest the news leaks out."

Dou Jiande nodded in agreement, then asked suspiciously, "What about Qin Qiong? Should we keep it from him as well?"

Li Dong did not answer. As the pill took effect, he quickly kneaded his facial muscles, altering their structure. In the blink of an eye, he transformed into a fierce-looking man.

Dou Jiande stared at the incredible transformation, his eyes wide, his mouth emitting sounds of astonishment. After watching him for a long while, he exclaimed, "If I hadn't known beforehand, even I wouldn't have recognized you!"

Li Dong chuckled. "Good, let's head to the camp. Once we are inside, introduce me to Qin Qiong, and you won't need to worry about the rest. Unless it is something truly urgent, do not come looking for me, so as not to reveal any flaws to others."

Dou Jiande agreed and led Li Dong to the front of Lai Hu'er's camp.

Lai Hu'er’s army, tens of thousands strong, occupied a camp several miles wide, enclosed by hedges with guard posts every few paces where scouts kept watch. At the front entrance, there were two small tables where clerks were registering the new recruits.

Dou Jiande brought Li Dong to the table. The soldier was drenched in sweat and, without looking up, asked, "Next! What is your name?"

"Dang Yuqian!" Li Dong stepped forward and answered loudly.

"Where are you from?"

"Zhangnan, Qi Commandery."

"Age!"

"Nineteen."

"Very well, go in. Next!" The soldier never looked up, and the registration was complete.

Li Dong and Dou Jiande exchanged a glance, feeling somewhat deflated. After so much preparation and effort, was it really this easy to get in?

Once inside the camp, they saw a large, square platform built in the center—twenty feet high, one hundred feet wide, covering half an acre. Below the platform, people bustled about, and rows of seats were being arranged, presumably for General Lai and his officers.

In the open areas of the camp, the newly arrived recruits were sparring in pairs, training hard in hopes of winning the tournament, gaining fame, and bringing honor to their families.

Dou Jiande felt a surge of spirit, pointing to the platform and saying, "One day, I will display my skills here and take the top prize!"

Li Dong smiled inwardly but bowed, praising him, "Brother Dou is truly formidable! I admire you!"

"How about it? You should compete too! I will yield the top prize to you, younger brother!" Dou Jiande boasted.

"What are you saying, Brother Dou! Why should we argue over who is first or second? Whoever takes the prize, it is all the same," Li Dong politely declined. Though he felt a slight dissatisfaction, he did not show it. "If I were to take the top prize, I would inevitably be summoned by the General. With my awkward situation, it would be troublesome if my identity were exposed."

"In that case, I shall not be modest!" Dou Jiande laughed.

As they walked and talked, they arrived at the rear of the camp, where the sound of hammers rang out. After asking around, they found Qin Qiong, who was overseeing a group of sweating blacksmiths forging weaponry.

Seeing Dou Jiande arrive with an unfamiliar man, Qin Qiong put down his work and stepped forward, delighted. "Brother Dou, when did you return? And this is..."

"Please, brother, let us speak outside." Dou Jiande pulled Qin Qiong aside.

Thanks to Zhang Xutuo's recommendation, Qin Qiong had been made a minor officer. The weapon repair area was rarely visited, making it a perfect, unnoticed hiding spot for Li Dong. Dou Jiande explained the entire situation from start to finish.

Qin Qiong was highly skeptical, looking Li Dong up and down before finally noticing the clues. He grasped Li Dong's hand, overjoyed. "Though the face has changed, the stature remains the same, especially that fierce aura of yours—it stands out wherever you go. It is best not to show your face too often."

Li Dong laughed. "Of course. I shall heed your advice, brother. I will spend the rest of my days here in the blacksmith shop! Ha ha!"

The three shared a laugh, happy to be reunited. After chatting for a while, Dou Jiande said, "I intend to win glory on the tournament platform. Brother Qin Qiong, will you not display your skills as well? With your abilities, I would be forced to admit defeat!"

Qin Qiong waved his hand repeatedly, deflecting the question. "I am but a humble blacksmith; how could I go out there and fight for my life? Such glory is better left to you, Brother Dou. If we brothers stand together, our strength will be unyielding. Whoever takes first place, I shall cheer for you both."

"Hahaha!" Dou Jiande was even more delighted after hearing this. With Li Dong unable to compete due to his status, and Qin Qiong choosing to remain low-key, the field of strong opponents was thinned, increasing his chances of victory.

"I am determined to make a name for myself, so I shall say no more. I will return to practice my neglected skills so as not to lose to others and bring shame to our brotherhood." With that, Dou Jiande bowed and took his leave of Qin Qiong and Li Dong.

After Dou Jiande left, Li Dong watched his back, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, which only faded after a long while.

Qin Qiong noticed this and asked skeptically, "Brother, is something troubling you?"

Li Dong did not answer, instead grabbing Qin Qiong's arm and asking, "Brother Qin, do you truly have no desire to test your skills on the platform?"

Qin Qiong replied firmly, "And what if I win first place? Would I not still be serving under General Lai? I am earning plenty of silver here; why bother fighting for such a meaningless title?"

Li Dong smiled faintly, disagreeing with Qin Qiong. He was determined to goad Qin Qiong into competing; otherwise, it would only benefit Dou Jiande.

Li Dong could see that Qin Qiong was not entirely following his lead and seemed to be harboring his own hidden agenda.

Li Dong would not allow such a thing to happen.