CHAPTER 357: CHAPTER 357: STAND-IN

Shi Zhimen hasn’t been doing well recently. Ever since he suffered a significant defeat as Xiu Haofeng’s commander, which caused Xiu Haofeng to lose the opportunity to have his own corps, he hasn’t had any further opportunities.

Now Shi Zhimen is just an ordinary officer in the Blazing Fire Corps. Let alone being a commander, he doesn’t even hold an actual captain’s position.

Many people point fingers at him in private, and Shi Zhimen knows what they are saying about him.

Xiu Haofeng paid a huge price to hire him, yet he lost so badly. Everyone thinks he’s just a talker with no real skills.

Even Xiu Haofeng believes that Shi Zhimen’s previous victory over Leng Zhe wasn’t his own merit but because Chen Guan was too strong.

Shi Zhimen didn’t become disheartened or fall into despair because of this.

He knows he is not as good as Leng Zhe and has seen his own weaknesses, so he has been working hard to overcome them and is even more diligent in learning and accumulating knowledge.

Failure doesn’t scare Shi Zhimen. He’s experienced a lot of them since childhood.

After that battle, Shi Zhimen realized he doesn’t have the same imaginative command abilities as Leng Zhe, nor many clever strategies.

He also lacks Leng Zhe’s confidence. His upbringing and family circumstances mean he can only afford to win and not lose. So, even if he wins once, he doesn’t dare to be arrogant or let go, because he’s always preparing for the next victory.

He fears that his arrogance could drive victory away from him.

This is a form of perseverance, but also a kind of restraint.

The good side is he can remain calm and cautious, but the downside is he often lacks decisiveness, missing many fleeting opportunities on the battlefield and finding it difficult to command as brilliantly as Leng Zhe and create miraculous achievements.

"Since I can’t be as imaginative as Leng Zhe, I’ll take calm and caution to the extreme, considering every possibility in advance so that even if something unexpected happens, I will have an appropriate response."

Shi Zhimen was greedy for learning and training more, aiming to perfect what he could do.

Shi Zhimen was playing chess against himself, carefully considering each move. The white pieces represented him, and so did the black. He kept simulating various changes in the game in his mind to deepen his thinking.

Since he’s less adaptable on the spot than others, he thinks more in advance.

There was a knock at the door, but Shi Zhimen ignored it, continuing to contemplate the possibilities on the chessboard.

At this point, it was unlikely that anyone important would come looking for him, and nothing important was worth putting down his chess pieces for.

But the person at the door seemed rather persistent, knocking a few times every so often.

Shi Zhimen remained unmoved.

"Commander Shi, are you home?" A familiar voice came from outside, causing Shi Zhimen’s fingers, ready to make the next chess move, to pause.

Shi Zhimen’s expression became complex. He put down the chess piece, got up, tidied his clothes, and then opened the door.

"Commander Chen..." Shi Zhimen called Chen Guan as he looked at him, unsure of what to say next.

"I see... you still remember I’m your commander... so I didn’t come in vain today..." Chen Guan walked in with a smile without an invitation and saw the chessboard set up in the yard: "Commander Shi, what kind of show are you putting on here, playing chess by yourself?"

"Playing alone, it’s quiet." Shi Zhimen closed the door and went to make tea for Chen Guan.

"Plain water is fine; I don’t like tea." Chen Guan sat in front of the chessboard, studying the board.

Chen Guan knew the rules of Go, but he wasn’t good at it and hadn’t studied it.

Chen Xinghe liked playing Go, so Chen Guan learned the rules but wasn’t particularly fond of the game and didn’t pay much effort, being less skilled than a beginner.

However, he could see that the white and black pieces were neck and neck, seemingly hard to decide a winner, yet every move seemed to potentially determine superiority.

"Do you like playing chess, Commander Chen?" Shi Zhimen placed the water beside him and asked Chen Guan.

"Not really, I don’t like quietness very much. I prefer a lively atmosphere with lots of people, so I like playing cards more." Chen Guan replied.

"Playing cards and playing chess are similar in a way. Those who are good at cards can also play chess well." Shi Zhimen remarked.

Chen Guan laughed, "But cards and chess are different. Chess is for self-improvement; you can play against yourself. But cards are to beat others, so you need opponents."

"Commander Chen, if you’re looking for someone to play cards with, you’ve got the wrong person. I don’t have money to play." Shi Zhimen chuckled.

"I’m not asking you to play cards with me, but I want you to help me with a card game." Chen Guan looked at Shi Zhimen and said.

"You still trust me?" Shi Zhimen’s eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Chen Guan.

Shi Zhimen couldn’t believe Chen Guan still trusted him.

"If I didn’t trust you, why would I ask you to be my substitute?" Chen Guan said with a smile: "Commander Shi, our Qilin Corps is preparing to attack the Phoenix Forest. The situation doesn’t look too good, and it might be dangerous. I need your help—you can’t just leave me hanging, can you?"

"With your abilities, you don’t really need me." Shi Zhimen chuckled wryly.

"If I didn’t need you, why would I come looking for you? Anyway, you have to help me." Chen Guan stood up, acting somewhat roguishly: "The team will set out in three days; don’t be late."

"Chen Guan..." Shi Zhimen wanted to say something but was interrupted by Chen Guan waving his hand.

Chen Guan made a "wait for you" gesture at the door, then turned gracefully to leave.

"Wait... what I meant to say is... I still have affiliations with the Blazing Fire Corps... If I leave like this, I’ll be regarded as a deserter..." Shi Zhimen hurriedly said.

"Uh... that is indeed a bit tricky... Xiu Haofeng probably wouldn’t let you go that easily... But don’t worry... I’ll sort it out..." Reluctantly, Chen Guan returned.

After leaving, Chen Guan found Ji Nanhong and asked him to find a way to transfer Shi Zhimen over.

Ji Nanhong tried to do so but eventually told Chen Guan helplessly: "Xiu Haofeng won’t release him, and I can’t forcefully mobilize him."

Chen Guan knew Ji Nanhong had done his best. After thinking it over, he planned to see Xiu Haofeng himself.

"How about this: I borrow a commander from another corps for you?" Ji Nanhong suggested.

"I’ll figure something out. I understand Xiu Haofeng; if I’m willing to lower my head, it should be fine." Chen Guan said.

"Is it really worth it for Shi Zhimen?" Ji Nanhong didn’t think that highly of Shi Zhimen after his disastrous defeat against Leng Zhe.

"I think it is." Chen Guan stood up and left. There wasn’t much time left, and he had to bring Shi Zhimen over quickly. Otherwise, he would have to handle everything himself, leaving no time for cultivation.

He needed to fight battles, gather money, procure resources, and not fall behind in cultivation.