EFB Chapter 2 also featured a song.
Chapter 2 also featured a song.
That sudden shout was like a thunderclap!
The thousands of people present were stunned, and they all looked up blankly, searching for the source of the sound.
Qin Erniu's head exploded, and he hurriedly went to grab the gray-feathered parrot.
But the parrot was nimble, hopping left and right, and managed to dodge it.
"You lunatic, shut up! Do you want to kill Brother Lang?!" Qin Erniu's face turned ashen, his heart pounding with fear.
"Who dares to be so insolent?!"
A furious shout came from the command platform.
Qin Erniu's legs started spinning uncontrollably, but his brain was working at lightning speed, racking his brains to find a reasonable explanation.
But before he could come up with a solution, the grey-feathered parrot stiffened its neck and began to squawk again:
"Don't you dare yell at me!"
"Clocking in at work, getting paid to do the work—that's only fair!"
"Working people's lives matter too. Don't they deserve to have their own lives?!"
"I'm off work on time, I'm not going to put up with you bunch of idiots!"
A gust of wind blew by, stirring up a cloud of sand and stones.
Everyone present froze on the spot, dumbfounded.
"presumptuous!"
With a roar, the centurion broke off an arrow, took the twig, and swung it out!
The arrow flew toward the grey-feathered parrot like a shooting star.
At the critical moment, Shen Lang suddenly raised his hand and casually held the arrow between two fingers.
"Um?"
Zhang Xian and the other two looked up at the same time.
The centurion glared at Shen Lang and demanded, "Did you bring this hairy beast?"
"Why should you get angry with a bird, sir? Please calm down." Shen Lang tossed the arrow aside and clasped his hands in a salute.
"Disrupting the military camp and disregarding military discipline is punishable by eighty strokes of the cane according to the law. However, considering that you have not yet reported for duty, this will be noted for now."
"However, this matter will be recorded in your evaluation file, so please take care of yourself!"
As soon as Baihu finished speaking, a murmur of discussion arose.
"Why can this bird speak human language? Could it be one of those legendary monsters?"
"What does 'getting off work' mean? And what does 'working person' mean?"
"I thought he was doomed, but I didn't expect Lord Hyakugo to be so easy to talk to."
"Easy to talk to? Didn't you hear the adults say this would be recorded in the register? This greenhorn's selection process is already over!"
"Bringing a bird to the training ground? How foolish!"
Some people watched the spectacle, some felt sympathy, and some gloated, but Qin Erniu alone felt relieved and quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Brother Lang, tie this stupid bird's beak up!"
"I told you it was crazy, and look at it now, it's completely insane..."
Qin Erniu muttered to himself as he pulled a roll of thin hemp rope from his pocket. At that moment, a calm voice rang out from the command platform.
"quiet."
"Continue reading."
The volume wasn't loud, but miraculously everyone could hear it clearly.
"Yes, Your Excellency the Garrison Commander!"
Baihu turned around and unfolded the yellow scroll again.
"Item 126: Internally, forming cliques, engaging in favoritism, and collusion are strictly prohibited..."
However, he had only read half a sentence when he was interrupted by a discordant voice.
"Excuse me, sir, may I interrupt for a moment?"
"What do you want now?!"
Upon seeing that it was Shen Lang speaking again, the centurion's temple veins bulged, clearly on the verge of losing his temper.
Under the gaze of thousands of eyes, Shen Lang revealed a gentle smile:
"It's past dusk, time to go home."
The grey-feathered parrot seamlessly chimed in: "Off work, off work!!"
"Did they even pay me? They're just making me work overtime!"
"ah???"
"say!"
"Look me in the eye, you little brat!!"
The grey-feathered parrot spouted verses of traditional Chinese poetry, its beak as sweet as honey, getting more and more enthusiastic as it cursed, and eventually even started singing a little tune.
"Boom, boom, boom!"
"We are human beings, not cattle or horses. They are not human beings, they are scum. Humans should not be oppressed by scum..."
With its little paws tapping out the rhythm, the singer swayed its head and sang with great enthusiasm, its loud voice soaring into the sky!
"Good heavens, it's even starting to sing..."
Qin Erniu moved his lips, his face ashen.
The training ground fell into a deathly silence.
A moment later, a burst of silvery laughter broke the silence.
The woman in the red dress to Zhang Xian's left, resting her chin on her hand, looked at Shen Lang with interest, her lips slightly parted: "What's your name?"
"My surname is Shen, and my given name is Lang."
"Shen Lang...you're the top constable selected by Lin'an County?"
"Yes, sir, it is indeed your subordinate."
The woman's eyes sparkled, and she said with a smile, "Just as described in the file, she is a wonderful person."
The centurion originally intended to severely punish Shen Lang, this troublemaker who had repeatedly disrupted the order of the training ground, but seeing the attitude of the commander Chu Hongye, he was somewhat undecided.
Left with no other choice, he had to ask Zhang Xian for instructions.
Zhang Xian's gaze was deep and composed as he lowered his eyes and blew on the tea in his cup.
"Shen Lang, born in the year of Ji Chou, is twenty-one years old. He has no father or mother and works as a constable in Lin'an County."
"In three years of service, you've solved 120 cases and arrested 1,476 notorious bandits and outlaws. You've never failed in your work. Am I right?"
"That's right, sir."
"At such a young age, he is meticulous, intelligent, and possesses exceptional martial arts skills; he truly has something to be proud of."
"But these skills alone are not enough to qualify you to act wildly within my Imperial Guard!"
Zhang Xian spoke calmly, but for some reason, everyone present felt a chill run down their spines after hearing him.
Shen Lang said sincerely, "My lord, I was not being unreasonable; I was merely stating the facts."
"Do you know what the crime of disobeying a superior is in our army?"
Zhang Xian swirled his teacup, his gaze playful.
Shen Lang said very respectfully, "My lord, I have not yet reported for duty. What does the order from the Embroidered Uniform Guard have to do with me?"
Zhang Xian was taken aback, his hand froze, and the teacup almost fell to the ground.
Chu Hongye burst into laughter, her body trembling with mirth.
The six thousand people in the drill ground stared at each other, their minds completely blank.
"This is the Garrison Commander! How dare he?!"
"I'm truly impressed by the audacity of this person!"
"Does this hothead have a death wish?"
Qin Erniu scratched his head, and for some reason, he suddenly wasn't as scared as before.
This moment is just like that moment back then.
The scene before him was extremely familiar, which made him recall some past events.
Back in the Lin'an County government office, this is how Brother Lang confronted the county magistrate.
Using the most polite, gentle, and humble tone, they uttered the most outrageous words.
The county magistrate was initially just as arrogant as the garrison commander, but what happened to him later?
A strange sense of sympathy crept into Qin Erniu's gaze as he looked at Zhang Xian.
"How dare you be so disrespectful to the Commander-in-Chief!"
Zzzzz!
The blade is drawn, its cold light gleaming!
The Imperial Guards, positioned on either side of the training ground, surrounded Shen Lang with murderous intent.
Zhang Xian waved his hand, ordering them to leave, and asked Shen Lang, "Since you have no intention of joining the Embroidered Uniform Guard, why have you come here today?"
Shen Lang clasped his hands in a fist and said solemnly, "My lord, you misunderstand. I have long admired the Embroidered Uniform Guard and have been hoping to join your ranks day and night."
"In that case, are you aware that observing conduct and virtue are also key aspects of this investigation?"
"Based on your performance right now, do you think you've met the requirements?"
"My subordinate is of good character and possesses both virtue and talent. He is not only qualified, but should be rated as excellent."
"You're not humble at all."
"I am simply stating the facts."
The bald, thuggish man to Zhang Xian's right frowned and said with displeasure:
"After the military regulations have been read aloud, the first test will begin immediately. If you give up, you don't need to come back!"
Chu Hongye smiled and said, "There are seven tests in total, and the top eight hundred will be selected. If you really want to join the Embroidered Uniform Guard, you can't just do whatever you want."
Shen Lang bowed respectfully from afar and said, "My lord, I will take first place in the remaining six categories. There shouldn't be any problem then, right?"
The bald thug and Chu Hongye were both taken aback. Zhang Xian laughed and said, "Good lad, you're pretty arrogant!"
"Then let me see if your skills are as impressive as your mouth!"