次日,天色未亮,白岩已做好了准备.
他换上干净朴素的衣服,将父亲留下的冰冷铁牌贴身佩戴,推开家门,径直前往北行政局.
晨雾弥漫,北行政局两座朱红色的大门敞开着,如同沉睡的巨兽张开血盆大口.门前的石狮目光凶狠,屋檐下"北行政局"的牌匾散发着一股令人不寒而栗的金属气息.
白岩在门口稍作停留,将腰间的徽章递给执勤的守卫.
守卫看了看徽章,抬眼打量了白岩一番,声音低沉沙哑:"白司令的儿子?真是遗憾.进去吧,直走,到登记处报到."
白岩默默地点了点头,取回徽章,跨过高高的门槛.
里面仿佛是另一个世界.一股阴森肃穆的气氛扑面而来,空气中弥漫着淡淡的铁锈味和陈年血腥味.通道又长又深,两侧是门窗紧闭的建筑.偶尔,身着礼服,腰间佩戴绣花长剑的身影匆匆走过.他们的目光如刀锋般锐利,扫过他全身,没有一丝温情.
他紧紧握住拳头,感受着掌心信物的冰冷,稳步向内走去.
Just past the blue stone screen wall in the front courtyard, a tall, burly figure came into view.
"Yan'er, you're here."
The man spoke first, a familiar smile on his face as he strode towards Bai Yan. Recognizing him, Bai Yan immediately bowed and clasped his fist in salute.
"Uncle Zhao!"
This was Zhao Guangli, who had served as a Company Commander alongside Bai Yan's father, Bai Lizheng, for over a decade. Their bond was deep.
Zhao Guangli walked up, his broad hand patting Bai Yan's shoulder heavily with a sigh.
"Your father's matter... accept my condolences. The dead cannot return. You must look forward, live well, so your father can rest in peace below."
Bai Yan lowered his gaze slightly. "I understand, nephew. Thank you for your concern, Uncle Zhao."
"Understanding is good." Zhao Guangli nodded, then motioned for Bai Yan to follow. "Come, I'll take you to see the Battalion Commander."
After a couple of steps, he turned back, lowering his voice to advise, "Remember, before the Commander, be absolutely respectful. If he doesn't ask, don't speak unnecessarily. Understood?"
"Nephew will remember."
Following Zhao Guangli, they passed through several courtyards to the Battalion Commander's office.
Even while still in the courtyard, Bai Yan could see the figure seated at a desk in the main hall, reviewing documents with a brush. His posture was serene, yet carried the imposing aura of a deep, unshakable mountain.
Bai Yan's mind raced, the information on this person surfacing clearly in his thoughts:
Zheng Haohan, Battalion Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the direct superior of his father Bai Lizheng and Zhao Guangli. This man's martial prowess was unfathomable, rumored to be the strongest among the sixteen Battalion Commanders of the Northern Administrative Bureau.
Looking closely, the man appeared to be in his forties, dressed in a grand crimson cloud-patterned four-clawed feiyu uniform. His beard and hair were thick and jet-black, and even sitting silently, an air of commanding authority that required no anger gathered between his brows.
In truth, Zheng Haohan was already fifty-three. His youthful appearance was due not only to effective health preservation but also to his internal energy cultivation having reached a profound, transformative state.
While secretly observing, Bai Yan's thoughts flew: Could he be the one behind the successive death squad attacks?
The thought had barely arisen before he dismissed it himself. A Battalion Commander's authority was immense, with power to appoint and dismiss even his subordinate Company Captains. A mere vacant Company Commander position likely wasn't worth his attention.
At that moment, Zhao Guangli stepped forward, bowing with clasped fists.
"Your humble subordinate, Zhao Guangli, pays his respects to the Commander."
Bai Yan followed suit with a salute.
Zheng Haohan behind the desk looked up, his gaze sweeping over them like a calm, deep pool.
Zhao Guangli hurriedly said, "Reporting to the Commander, Bai Yan, son of the late Company Commander Bai Lizheng, has come today to report and fill his father's vacant position."
Zheng Haohan's gaze settled on Bai Yan, lingering a moment as if in recollection.
"Son of Bai Lizheng..."
His voice was deep, its tone unreadable.
"Your father served under me for over a decade, diligent and conscientious, never making an error. I had intended to promote him to Company Captain. A pity... he fell at Heifeng Stronghold."
A hint of a sigh, barely perceptible, colored his words, but it was quickly reined in, replaced by a businesslike solemnity.
"Bai Lizheng died in the line of duty suppressing bandits and protecting the people, a meritorious service not to be forgotten. According to Guard regulations, you shall inherit his position as Company Commander."
"Zhao Guangli."
"Your subordinate is here."
"Take him to the Registry Office to register, and to receive his official uniform and weapon."
Bai Yan bowed deeply. "Thank you, Commander."
Zheng Haohan said no more, merely waving a hand before lowering his gaze back to the documents on his desk.
"Your subordinates take their leave."
The two saluted and withdrew from the main hall.
Following Zhao Guangli, Bai Yan walked along a bluestone-paved corridor to a heavily guarded building—the Registry Office.
Registration, fingerprinting, name recording. When the brand-new Company Commander token came into his hand, the cold metallic touch made his fingers pause. The front was engraved with "Northern Administrative Bureau," the back with his name and rank.
With this token, he collected a set of brand-new ceremonial uniform and a standard-issue embroidered spring sword.
In a side room, he changed into the black robe with golden patterns, fastened the belt, and hung the sword at his left side. The young man reflected in the bronze mirror stood tall and straight, his features stern. The uniform seemed to coat him with an indescribable aura of lethal intent, a stark contrast to the simple-clothed youth before the grave the day before.
Zhao Guangli watched from the side, a flicker of complex emotion in his eyes that finally turned into a soft sigh.
"In the blink of an eye, Yan'er, you're wearing these clothes too... you've grown up."
Bai Yan remained silent, merely straightening his sleeve, his fingertips tracing the fine golden threads of the feiyu pattern.
"Let's go," Zhao Guangli withdrew his gaze. "I'll show you around, familiarize you with the ways of this Bureau. So you're not completely lost when you start your duties later."
For the next few hours, Zhao Guangli led Bai Yan through the vast complex of the Northern Administrative Bureau. He explained in detail, pointing discreetly.
"That way is the Imperial Prison. Heavy with negative energy, stay away if you can. To the east are the Archives and Armory; access requires merit points. The offices of the Deputy Commanders and Assistant Commissioners are to the west. Tread lightly when passing..."
"The relationships within the Guard are tangled and complex. Some people smile to your face but can end your life behind your back. Which offices to keep a respectful distance from, which individuals to handle with care, which places you should frequent more... you'll have to figure all this out slowly."
Bai Yan listened quietly, committing every word to heart. He understood that in this institution that consumed people without spitting out the bones, these seemingly trivial "rules" were often more lethal than swords.
After the tour, the layout of the Northern Administrative Bureau grew clearer in his mind:
Sixteen Battalion Commander offices were scattered like stars; at the center lay the dreaded Imperial Prison and the Archives storing martial arts texts. Various storerooms, stables, training grounds, and workshops were arranged in an orderly fashion.
And the unit he himself belonged to, under Battalion Commander Zheng Haohan, had four Company Captains. Each Company Captain oversaw four Company Commanders. Under each Company Commander, there were four Squad Leaders and forty regular guards.
At a corridor junction, Bai Yan suddenly stopped and looked up at Zhao Guangli, asking the question that had been on his mind.
"Uncle Zhao, which Company Captain is our direct superior?"
赵广利停下脚步,叹了口气,摇了摇头.
"原本统领你父亲和我作战的张连长...也在黑风要塞阵亡了.目前,新的连长人选尚未确定."
他压低声音说道,
"要么我们这几个连长中有人晋升,要么从其他地方调人过来."
白岩微微眯起眼睛,思绪万千.
连长空缺...这事比他想象的还要复杂.
"来,我带你去东院见见你的部下."赵广利拍了拍他的肩膀,"普通卫兵可以稍后再见,但你最好先见见那四个班长.这样以后发号施令会更顺畅."
东院是连长麾下卫兵和班长们平时待命和训练的地方.院子铺着灰色的砖块,宽敞明亮,武器架整齐排列.白岩跟随赵广礼穿过大门时,里面四十余名绣衣卫兵,原本或坐或立或低声交谈,几乎同时停下了手中的动作.
数十双目光齐刷刷地转向他——审视的,冷漠的,有些甚至带着毫不掩饰的轻蔑.
"集合!"
赵广礼提高嗓门,招呼众人.
"这位是已故白统帅之子,新任连长——白岩!"
白岩上前一步,握拳环视众人.
"我叫白岩,新来的.以后请各位兄弟多多指点."
他的声音沉稳,既不卑微也不傲慢.赵广礼看着他,心中暗暗赞叹:十八岁,面对四十多名身经百战的卫兵,面不改色,呼吸平稳——这般镇定自若,实属难得.
"统帅——"
回应声零散而无力,显然只是敷衍了事.
前面四位班长表情更加各异.
只有一位恭敬地握拳鞠躬,姿态端正.其余三人中,两位面露轻蔑,目光游移不定;最后一位双臂交叉,目光如钩,毫不掩饰其中的敌意,甚至...带着一丝嘲讽.
赵广利微微挪动身子,压低声音,只有他们两人才能听见:
"那位恭敬的班长是王大强.他曾是你父亲手下的班长,也是上次剿匪事件中唯一幸存下来的人."
他的目光微微转向其他三人.
"这三位是几天前从别处调过来的.他们在卫队待了相当长一段时间了."
白岩微微点头.他的目光再次落在了那个面露敌意的班长身上,低声问道:"赵叔,那个人是谁?"
"叶志基."赵广利的声音更低了,"他叔叔是连长,平时很嚣张,别理他."
"连长..."
白岩轻声重复着这个称谓,眼中闪过一丝阴冷的光芒.
赵广利以为这年轻人被激怒了,便安慰道:"你还年轻,不被人接纳很正常,别放在心上."
白岩却摇了摇头,直视着赵广利,语气平静得听不出任何情绪,
"赵叔,哪个连长...是他叔叔?"
赵广离微微皱眉:"你为何如此询问?"
"只是提前打听一下,以便日后如何应对."白岩面无表情地说道.
赵广离看了他一眼,最后低声说道:"那人名叫叶百里,在护卫队待了十年,根基深厚,是个狠角色."他接着郑重地补充道:"岩儿,听你赵叔的话.在这里,你只能忍耐,和大家相处融洽.先熬过这几年,等你站稳脚跟,一切自然会好转."白岩
只是默默地点了点头,既不赞同也不反对.
他心中自有底线.
自从龙象般若功在他经脉中奔涌不息,那崩山碎石的洪流便一直在磨砺着他的心性.这世间的真相,适者生存,赤裸裸地残酷无情——唯有实力才是最终的法则.屈服不会赢得尊重,只会让豺狼们觉得你软弱可欺.
两次接连不断的暗杀让他彻底明白:有些危险并非躲藏就能避开的.那些潜伏在阴影中,在他上任之前就胆敢对他发动致命攻击的人,绝不会因为他的忍让而退缩.对他们来说,他的存在本身就是一道障碍.只要他还活着,只要他还占据着这个位置,威胁就永远不会消失.
因此,他再也无法退缩.
他要向上攀登,跨越一切障碍,登上无人能及的巅峰.他要杀出一条血路,杀戮至万物颤抖,直到没有一个妖魔鬼怪敢对他心存丝毫贪念.
凡是阻挡他的人——
都将被斩杀殆尽!
第二天.
洗漱完毕后,白岩换上制服,佩剑,再次前往局里.
刚踏进大门,就碰到了行色匆匆的赵光礼.
"赵叔,早上好."白岩脸上挂着平日里淡淡的笑容,递上一块从路边摊买来的热乎乎的馕饼."吃过早饭了吗?"赵光礼
一反常态地没有接,而是神色凝重地摆摆手,迅速环顾四周,然后急切地压低声音说道:"今天有大行动,事关重大!务必保持警惕,千万不要冒险!"
说完,他便不再多言,拍了拍白岩的肩膀,匆匆离去.白岩
脸上的笑容渐渐消失,几口就吃完了馕饼,眼神变得阴沉,心中沉睡已久的期待再次悄然涌动.
他心中隐约有了个主意.
黑风要塞.
上次大规模剿匪行动几乎将匪窝夷为平地,却让最关键的人物——头目"疯虎"刘虎——得以杀出一条血路逃脱.那场战斗不仅让数名卫兵和班长丧命,还夺去了一名连长的性命.
绣衣卫队何时承受过如此沉重的打击?
无论是为了铲除匪患的伟大事业,还是为了替战友报仇,维护卫队不可侵犯的尊严,"疯虎"刘虎都必须死.
这几天,卫队内部暗流涌动.赵光礼曾说过,他们派出了侦察兵四处搜寻,撒下大网,只为找到那条逃脱的鱼.
现在看来,
鱼已经落网了.
骑兵部队离开永塘城,蹄声沉闷,扬起一阵尘土.白岩勒紧
缰绳,稳稳地跟在连长叶百里身后半个马身.在他身后,四位班长率领四十余名卫兵,默默地列队,神情肃穆.白岩这才
认出这四位班长:王大强,叶志基,任宏,李凯尧.
其中,只有王大强对他友善,是他父亲留下的老部下.任宏和李凯尧虽然也对他有所不满,但似乎更多是出于对他年轻缺乏经验的轻视,并无更深层的恶意.
只有叶志基不同.
他的目光如同啃噬骨头的蛆虫,紧紧地贴在白岩的背上,仿佛要将他的制服灼穿.仇恨,怨恨,不情愿...各种情绪交织在一起,如此强烈,几乎凝成了实体.
等着瞧,白岩...
叶知基紧紧攥着缰绳,指节泛白,咬牙切齿地在心里咆哮:
这连长的位置本来应该是我的!你竟敢靠继承法来抢我的东西!
你这乳臭未干的小子,以为能凌驾于我之上?
我会让你...死得没有坟墓!
想到昨晚叶百里叔叔的计划,想到白岩很快就会"意外"死在这场镇压匪帮的行动中,叶知基心中涌起一股令人作呕的快感,嘴角几乎不受控制地向上翘起.
就在这时——
白岩毫无预兆地突然转过头来,
两人的目光瞬间相遇.
"!!!"
叶知基浑身一震,仿佛被一只无形的大手攫住心脏,心跳骤然停止!一股寒意从脚底直窜头顶,汗毛倒竖!
那是什么眼神?
冰冷.
冰冷得如同万年深渊般的冰,深不见底,没有一丝温情,没有一丝涟漪.
白岩看着他,仿佛在看一具死物,一具即将腐烂的尸体.那眼神里没有任何感情,只有纯粹的,能冻透骨髓的冷漠.
叶知机从未见过如此恐怖的眼神.
就连以残暴著称的叔父叶百里,杀人时眼中也充满了暴力和兴奋,而不是这种...绝对的冰冷,仿佛把所有生命都视作稻草狗.
时间仿佛静止了.
直到白岩平静地转过头,继续目视前方,仿佛刚才那令人心惊胆战的眼神从未出现过,叶知机才终于倒吸一口凉气.他胸口像着了火一样,后背早已被冷汗浸透.他僵硬地坐在马鞍上,四肢冰冷.那转瞬即逝的恐惧甚至超过了面对拔剑的威胁.
难道...那是幻觉?
队伍继续前行,蹄声单调而有节奏.但叶知机再也无法平静下来.那冰冷的目光在他脑海中反复闪现,挥之不去.
正午时分,骑兵部队抵达一处偏僻村庄.
刚踏入村口,一股浓烈的血腥味扑面而来,混杂着尘土和一丝腐烂的气息.
村庄一片死寂,没有炊烟,没有犬吠,也没有鸡鸣.土墙斑驳陆离,几户人家的门窗破碎不堪.地上散落着残骸,暗红色的血迹溅落在黄土路上,早已干涸发黑.
显然,这个村庄惨遭屠戮.
白岩默默地环视着眼前的景象,瞳孔深处闪烁着一丝不易察觉的金光.龙象般若功悄然运转,将他的六感提升至极致.风声,虫鸣,远处干草的沙沙声...无数细微的声音涌入耳中.
在残垣断壁之后,他感觉到许多被刻意压抑的微弱呼吸声.
大约有四十人.
他们的数量不到守卫的一半,但每一次呼吸都平稳而深沉,带着只有身经百战的强盗才有的血腥凶狠气息.这些人绝非普通的村民.
他握紧了腰间的剑柄.
"杀——!!!"
一声突如其来的怒吼如同雷鸣般炸裂开来!
左侧一间泥砖房的窗户猛然破碎,几道黑影如同豹子般扑了出来!闪亮的刀光一闪,直奔前方绣衣守卫的脖颈!
"咚!""啊——"
刀光刺穿血肉的声音和短促尖锐的惨叫几乎同时响起.几个毫无防备的守卫当场倒地,鲜血四溅!
伏击开始了.
他的道路注定要被鲜血洗净.
而第一场真正能磨砺他锋芒的风暴,如今已带着狂怒降临.