The Demon Swordsman 2
Ch. 206 - Nine Soldiers
In the blink of an eye the eight soldiers had stood swarming around Xin Chen with their eyes fixed, none of them turned away from Xin Chen. The leader raised one hand as a gesture to the subordinate.
"Who are you really?"
Xin Chen did not reply, then the man shouted loudly. "If you don't answer then we'll consider you our enemy!"
"You guys are freaking out too much, I'm just the guy around here who happens to be passing by. It's also your own fault to have a discussion out in the open like this."
"Whatever you hear." The warrior leader lowered his tone, making for a drastically gripping atmosphere. The blood that flowed past his eyes and dried there made almost half of the man's face invisible. He approached Xin Chen with a hunting gaze.
"Is that how you behave to ordinary people? I thought the soldiers had their own ethics in serving the society."
Said as soon as he fell silent with an offended face, the sound of his heavy breathing sounded very clear. Xin Chen raised the fringe of his caping hat so that the man's face was clearly visible in his eyes.
"You look like a stranger."
"From that, I've heard a little of your conversation. If you let me hear from you again directly."
One of the soldiers was about to come forward to fight Xin Chen but the leader immediately restrained his chest, observing Xin Chen in more detail than before. Naturally as a senior soldier he could understand that the foreign youth was no ordinary person. Alluding to the ethics of soldiers that are not widely known to the public, most likely the young man is one of the descendants of nobles.
Therefore the man slightly softened the conversation so as not to be so tight, "Previously introduce my name Mou Zhueyang. Assigned to an investigation mission to the south of Shangyu Bridge."
Mou Zhueyang turned his head back where only about eight soldiers were left with him, "Before our number was a hundred, but ... We lost a big fight six days ago."
Mou Zhueyang's pride was injured when he said so, the killing of the members of the soldiers because his carelessness made the situation even worse. Xin Chen read the bitterness on the man's face, appalling.
"In fact, the bodies of our friends were hung on trees and left to die to rot. Such a despicable funeral for a soldier who devoted his entire life to the empire. I can't take it ... But I'm also helpless."
"When do you plan to strike back?"
Mou Zhueyang raised his head, staring at Xin Chen long ago. "Let's follow us, we can discuss it at the city fortress of Fugi."
**
The night is brightened by the illumination of the stars and the full moon in Fugi City, a place too ordinary to be considered a city. The city road that was so deserted was suddenly passed by a line of soldiers. Their numbers are not so much, using blood-red armor. Mou Zhueyang had just stopped his steps upon entering the city fortress.
"Master can spend the night here if you want, I'll prepare a room for you."
"no need. Maybe I'm not sleeping tonight."
"No, exactly we're all the ones who won't sleep."
Mou Zhueyang's facial features turned anxious, "You mean?"
"We're planning an attack for tomorrow night starting early today. That's if you're willing to take my advice."
"That's crazy!" Mou Zhueyang glared and his chest rose and fell, but in that situation he still put on a standby. Soon Xin Chen entered to discuss the matter. A dark room illuminated by candles and lanterns became very gripping.
The eight people sat opposite each other while Xin Chen and Mou Zhueyang sat side by side.
"Before that, I believe master is one of the warriors from the noble families in this Empire. May I introduce your name before we start this meeting?"
Xin Chen thought through it before informing him of his identity, thinking these nine people had a loyal and honest attitude. They won't be able to divulge his identity if they promise.
"Xin Chen's. The second son of the Demon Sword."
Without having to give any proof Mou Zhueyang believed him, he memorized exactly how the Demon Sword looked like. Even though they did not meet him directly at least they had come to Renwu City and saw the face of the Pillar Statue deliberately made to commemorate them. Mou Zhueyang somewhat regretted that the statues had vanished into flames in the city of fire; renwu City and had now been replaced by another different pillar.
Despite guessing it, Mou Zhueyang remained in disbelief who was sitting next to him now was Xin Chen. The man gulped roughly, while speaking. "It turns out that the news was a lie, Second Young Master Xin couldn't possibly die that easily. You've come back, we're so excited to hear it."
Mou Zhueyang bowed his body in a respectful manner.
"Now our problem is the village on the southern border. I need a picture of the situation there, can someone explain?"
Mou Zhueyang cleared his throat, having the guard standing by the door call out to someone who was prepared. A male figure with his entire body almost covered entered the room and prostrated. He spoke after being invited by Mou Zhuyang.
"I am a scout sent directly by the seventh pillar to overcome this problem."
"Should this situation be serious and get special attention from the government? Why just ignore it? What then is the seventh pillar? He didn't intervene and just told her to sleep at home?"
The scout dared not speak more if it was about his superior, afraid that someone would complain and he would be punished or expelled from his job. "I dare not, my lord. We as spies just carry out our duties as instructed. Everything is governed by the more powerful, that's the rule."
Then he continued. "Master must have heard of the area of agreement forged for the sake of a peace treaty by two imperial leaders, the place was now turned into a battlefield. The Valley of the Gods, in that place the people of the Qing Empire had left for the sake of the promise of peace. But something more dangerous came attacking the place. Four Surveillance Units, as they call it. They declared themselves not to be from any Empire so it was difficult to reward them with the law ..." The man regretted saying it.
"They expanded the territory and destroyed the villages around the place. One of them is a nameless village inhabited by hundreds of family heads. They burned, enslaved, persecuted and raped women. The heinous act ... I can't stay silent and dozens of times I report it!"
The man's voice was low. "Then what can I do? They numbered two hundred and fifty guards. I'm not sure if the members of the four main units were there. Surely those people are dangerous. Even just three people could subvert hundreds of soldiers ...."