Chapter 351: Coming into His Own

"The Martial Champion has suffered some internal injuries. He might need about a month of rest to recover!"

Xia Tingfeng was somewhat worried but said after a moment of contemplation, "When will he wake up?"

The Imperial Physician chuckled. "The Martial Champion is merely exhausted, drifting between consciousness and sleep. He should awaken by early tomorrow morning!"

Xia Tingfeng breathed a sigh of relief, his expression softening considerably. "Then I must trouble the Imperial Physician."

The Imperial Physician chuckled. "It is no trouble. This is merely my duty."

After speaking, the Imperial Physician wrote out a prescription, gave a few more instructions, and then departed.

Xia Tingfeng immediately ordered someone to decoct the medicine.

About half a Shi Chen later, after Tiger had taken the medicine and had his wounds dressed, he was sent back.

Meanwhile, the Imperial Physician departed, carrying his medicine chest.

It seems the Emperor truly values the Martial Champion, even leaving his personal Commander Xia to look after him,

he mused.

TSK! TSK! It looks like the political landscape of the court is going to change. No longer will military campaigns be the exclusive domain of those few hereditary military families. That’s how it should be. Matters of war concern the safety of all people under Heaven; naturally, the capable should take charge. Even we at the Imperial Medical Bureau are judged solely by our medical expertise. Such important national affairs, all the more so, cannot be treated as child’s play. The Emperor is truly wise!

On this day, Tiger was sent back to the small courtyard they had purchased.

Xia Tingfeng stayed for a while. Seeing that Tiger was alright, he remembered he was still on duty and mounted his horse to leave.

Just as he stepped out the gate, he saw one of his subordinates approaching on horseback.

"Commander Xia, the Emperor has granted you a day off. You need only return to the palace early tomorrow morning!"

Xia Tingfeng was a little surprised. "How did you know I was here?"

The subordinate scratched his head, smiling. "We all know you stay here!"

Xia Tingfeng stiffened for a moment, then laughed. "You bunch of rascals, you’ve been tracking me!"

The subordinate hastily explained, "Whenever you have a day off, you don’t return to the Imperial Forest Army’s quarters, so we... well, we got curious!"

It’s not like we were worried he’d go chasing women without us! But after so many nights away, it’s hard not to be suspicious!

Xia Tingfeng had no time to dwell on this. He landed a punch on his subordinate’s chest. "I’ll deal with you rascals later!"

With that, he wheeled his horse around and galloped back to the courtyard.

The subordinate frowned, clutching his chest. "COUGH, COUGH...

If we’d known Commander Xia was staying with a bunch of rough brutes, we wouldn’t have come even if they beat us to death! We all thought it was a Beautiful Delicate Lady.

"

After muttering to himself and rubbing his sore chest, the subordinate departed.

That night, Xia Tingfeng settled into his room in the small courtyard.

Tiger was still drifting in and out of consciousness. Xia Tingfeng knew he was not in any danger, so after staying for a little while, he went to sleep.

Only Monster and Rat remained, anxiously keeping watch.

Monster sounded a bit choked up. "Rat, you don’t think... Tiger’s not going to kick the bucket, is he?"

The Martial Champion selection tournament must have been truly brutal. To think that such an invincible figure like Tiger could end up like this... it’s truly...

Rat glared at him. "Don’t talk nonsense! Didn’t you see Big Brother isn’t worried? What’s all this about ’kicking the bucket’? It’s bad luck!"

Monster, a bit nervous, started gossiping in a hushed, secretive tone, "I heard... it wasn’t just Tiger. Those last few contenders didn’t get off lightly either!"

Rat nodded. "Isn’t that obvious? They were all defeated by Tiger. If Tiger ended up like this, how could they be any better off?"

Monster thought for a moment and had to agree. "I’ll go ask around more tomorrow!"

Rat glanced at him impatiently, not bothering to respond, and simply gave a lethargic yawn.

Monster touched his own face and sighed dramatically. "SIGH... Let’s go to sleep too. Staying up this late at night is terrible for the skin!"

Rat insisted, "Big Brother went to sleep because he’s on duty! He has to protect the Emperor’s safety, so he can’t go without sleep! But we two have nothing to do! Tell me, isn’t Tiger our sworn brother?!"

Seeing Rat getting worked up, Monster quickly caved. "He is! Of course, he is, definitely... But... we can’t just not sleep either, right?"

Rat punched him. "What’s more important, your brother or sleep?"

Monster stared in disbelief.

Rat! Actually! Hit! Him?!

Just then, Tiger, lying on the bed, suddenly let out a massive snore.

Immediately after, snores rose and fell, one after another, incessant, sounding like a sow fast asleep!

Rat and Monster exchanged a look and said in unison, "Sleep is more important!"

Then the two of them promptly made themselves scarce.

The next day, Tiger woke up early.

His entire body ached, even his insides. He dared not speak or laugh; the pain was excruciating.

After forcing down some breakfast, Monster and Rat made Tiger drink a large bowl of medicinal brew.

Tiger’s face contorted from the bitterness. "Where did you get this medicine? It’s so bitter!"

Rat slapped him, complaining, "You dare say the medicine I, your father, decocted is bitter? Damn you! I got up earlier than the chickens to brew this for you! Do you even know that?!"

Monster stepped forward, also somewhat discontented. "Brother Tiger, you didn’t even go to the girl we booked for you yesterday! That was a good bit of silver wasted!"

Tiger was speechless.

How had yesterday’s attentive treatment completely vanished the moment I woke up? Now, every single one of them looked like a debt collector.

Before he could say much more, Xia Tingfeng arrived.

Seeing that Tiger was awake, Xia Tingfeng felt relieved. He approached with a faint smile and asked, "How are you? Feeling any better?"

Tiger was thrilled. "Big Brother!"

Xia Tingfeng smiled. "You’re the Martial Champion now. The Emperor had previously issued an edict, instructing the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War to consider an official appointment for you!"

In other words, Tiger was going to become an official too.

Tiger, his face still bandaged, was so excited his muscles twitched uncontrollably. He climbed down from the bed and stood on the floor. One moment he was pacing back and forth; the next, he was excitedly rubbing his hands, so overjoyed he was at a loss for what to do.

After a long while, Tiger finally asked, "Big Brother, am I really going to be an official?"

Xia Tingfeng nodded.

Tiger was so excited he almost jumped. If not for the wounds all over his body, he would have wanted to soar to the heavens right then and there to inform his eighteen generations of ancestors—those so "frequently invoked" by others.

I’m not a local tyrant! I’m not a good-for-nothing! I’m not a street ruffian! I’m the Martial Champion now! A Martial Champion who’s going to be an official!

Watching his exuberant display, Xia Tingfeng almost burst out laughing.

Rat and Monster, standing to the side, watched him with a look that clearly said,

We’ve sacrificed so much for you. Now that you’ve struck it rich, you know what to do.

Tiger, however, didn’t dwell on such things; he had always been a straightforward person. When happy, he laughed; when unhappy, he would put on a grim face and remain silent.

Right now, he was simply happy, believing that this band of his brothers would all see better and better days ahead.

Tiger walked up to Rat. He, who was usually not good with words, awkwardly but forcefully embraced Rat, vigorously patting his back several times.

Then, he went to Monster and gave him the same kind of embrace.

Monster pinched his nose. "Tiger, damn it, you reek! It’s making my eyes water!"