Chapter 24 Bidding Farewell
Chapter 24 Bidding Farewell
Griffin lowered his head and said, “Brother, you must not say that! You gave us our lives. If there is anything in the future, just say the word. We will support you without hesitation. Damn it, that son of a bitch Su Cha. Your two grandfathers aren’t dead yet! Wait until we report this to His Majesty, then we’ll see how he deals with him. Now that he has lost four Fallen Angels in one go, I’d like to see how he continues this fight.”
I said apologetically, “I’ve delayed you for quite some time now. If you’re in a hurry, you can leave. Zi Yan is taking care of me now.”
Gwynn said firmly, “How could we do that? Even if we leave, it will only be after your injuries are fully healed. If we just walked away now, how could we be at ease? Even if we’re delayed a bit, I believe His Majesty will forgive us. Stop talking and get some rest.”
This is troublesome.
Originally, I intended to find an opportunity to slip away. What if they invited me to the Demon Clan’s main camp? I hadn’t expected these two brothers to be so loyal. It seemed I would have to think of another excuse.
Griffin suddenly said, “Brother, I’ve thought of an idea. Our injuries are not fully healed yet, and yours are still serious. If the three of us cultivate together, recovery will be much faster. I’ve never tried it before, but it should have some effect.”
I nodded. “I’ll follow whatever you brothers decide.”
“Good. You just woke up, so rest today. We’ll set up a barrier nearby and begin first thing tomorrow morning.”
The next morning, the Gu brothers and I sat cross-legged in a triangle, our palms connected. Zi Yan guarded us from the side.
I circulated my dark magic according to the Heavenly Demon Art, completing one cycle within my body before sending it to Griffin. Griffin circulated it once through his body before passing it to Gu Yun Lucifer. Finally, Gu Yun Lucifer transferred it back to me. I then sent it to Griffin again, forming an endless cycle among the three of us.
At the beginning, there were a few clashes because our cultivation levels were different. But as time passed, the dark magic within us gradually fused together.
With the energy of three people circulating through each other’s bodies, the speed of circulation increased dramatically. Although this method could not improve our progress in the Heavenly Demon Art, it was extremely effective at healing injuries and repairing meridians.
One day passed. Then two days. Then three.
We continued cultivating without interruption. Thick black mist completely enveloped our bodies, forcing Zi Yan to keep her distance. She waited off to the side, boredly chewing on rations.
…
On the fifth day, three clear whistles sounded from where our crossed legs met. The black mist surrounding us rushed into our bodies. The whistles were sharp and powerful, causing even the towering trees around us to tremble.
Our injuries healed simultaneously.
I moved beside Zi Yan in a flash. During these five days, I had gained the most benefit. Because the Gu brothers’ cultivation was higher than mine, the three streams of power eventually merged into one before dividing equally among us.
As a result, I directly entered the late stage of the fourth tier. Breaking through to the fifth tier would only be a matter of time. Although the Gu brothers’ injuries were healed, their dark magic had fallen back to the level they possessed when they had first reached the fifth tier.
In truth, Griffin and his brother had already known this would happen. They used this opportunity to repay me for saving their lives. Since they offered it willingly, I did not mention it.
Zi Yan asked excitedly, “Are all your injuries healed?”
I nodded happily. “Thanks to the care of these two elder brothers, my injuries are completely healed. Look, I’m so full of energy I could start fighting again right now. Haha.”
Zi Yan pouted. “All you ever think about is fighting and killing. I’m going to be annoyed to death.”
I smiled. “Fighting and killing are for protecting you.”
“Pu-ha!”
Zi Yan laughed.
“There are three experts here. Who would dare plot against me? I was almost bored to death waiting here. Since you’re all recovered, let’s get going.”
The moment she mentioned leaving, my heart tightened.
I turned to the Gu brothers.
“Elder brothers, what are your plans now?”
Gwynn replied, “No matter what, we should return to the main camp. We haven’t completed the mission His Majesty assigned us. After that, we will probably return directly to the royal palace to report this incident. Since it concerns the security of our clan, you should come with us to the Demon Clan’s main camp.”
Here it comes.
I shook my head.
“No. I can’t go. What reason would I have to go there? To see my sister? She might not even recognize me. I should finish the mission His Majesty assigned me.”
Griffin patted my shoulder.
“Brother, don’t be sad. With your character and ability, you will succeed one day. Since you’re unwilling to go, we won’t force you. Once we reach the borderlands, we’ll part ways.”
Hearing this, I finally let out a sigh of relief.
I smiled.
“Don’t worry, brothers. We will meet again someday. Let’s go.”
We urged our horses forward.
Riding leisurely along the road, Gwynn said with a smile, “We’re finally on our way again. Surviving that disaster really makes you feel alive. It’s the first time I’ve ever come so close to death. When that dark energy orb was about to hit me, I thought it was over. As a soldier of the empire, dying at the hands of our own people instead of on the battlefield would have been the most disgraceful way to die.”
I smiled.
“Gu brothers, don’t say it like that. The enemy planned this carefully. There was no way to prevent it. If you survive a disaster, good fortune will follow. This might be your opportunity.”
Griffin nodded.
“I used to think our strength was something to be proud of. Only now do I realize how laughable that was. My brother and I have decided that once we finish these missions and the war ends, we’ll find a quiet place to train properly. Even if we can’t become Four-Winged Fallen Angels, we at least want to reach the sixth tier.”
Zi Yan smiled.
“You two brothers are very ambitious. Your future will surely be bright. As long as you work hard, even if you don’t reach His Majesty’s level, you will have no regrets. I believe the lord general will be pleased with your efforts.”
“Thank you for the encouragement,” Gwynn said.
When he called us brother and sister, Zi Yan’s face immediately turned red like a ripe apple. She buried her head in my arms and stopped speaking. Even the normally serious Griffin burst into laughter along with his brother.
Two days later, we reached the top of a small hill.
“Look over there,” Griffin said. “That is the Demon Clan’s main camp. The walls opposite belong to the fortress of the Dragon God Empire at the base of Stru Fortress. Your destination is over there. Be careful.”
It was afternoon. The Demon-Beast alliance camp was quiet. Across the distance, the dragon banner of Stru Fortress fluttered in the wind. It seemed the war had only recently begun.
I sighed.
“I really don’t understand what they’re thinking. They’ve fought for so many years without gaining any ground. Why keep fighting? With such a cost, does it bring any benefit to the kingdom?”
Gwynn looked at me strangely.
“Brother, that’s not right. Exterminating humans and conquering the continent is the dream of every citizen of the Demon Clan. Don’t think so negatively. One day we will break through Stru Fortress.”
My heart tightened.
I had said the wrong thing.
“Exterminating humans is every citizen’s dream?”
What nonsense. That’s only the will of the royal family.
I had finally returned. Although the Dragon God Empire was not truly my home, seeing the fortress filled me with warmth, as if a lifetime had passed.
Zi Yan gazed silently into the distance. I didn’t know what she was thinking.
Griffin suddenly stiffened.
“Someone is coming.”
Gwynn laughed. “Little brother, you’re too nervous. Who else could appear here except our own people?”
Griffin’s face reddened.
“Perhaps. But we should stay alert.”
I focused my hearing and soon detected a group of about twenty people approaching rapidly. Their synchronized footsteps revealed they were well-trained soldiers.
Soon a squad of spearmen appeared. The insignia of the Demon Clan on their uniforms proved Gwynn’s guess correct.
The soldiers quickly surrounded us, pointing their spears.
A man who appeared to be the captain stepped forward.
“Who are you? What are you doing here?”
Gwynn smiled.
“Who are we? Would outsiders be standing here?”
The captain’s face changed.
“Spies! Everyone attack! Don’t let them escape!”
I nearly laughed. The captain had clearly misunderstood Gwynn.
Griffin sneered coldly.
These were ordinary soldiers. Even Zi Yan could defeat them.
Griffin stepped forward.
With a loud smack, he slapped the captain aside. The man crashed into several of his soldiers.
The remaining soldiers immediately rushed forward.
Griffin spun in place.
“Ping! Ping! Ping! Ping!”
In an instant, all twenty soldiers were knocked to the ground, unable to move.
Gwynn quickly grabbed Griffin.
“Forget it. They’re only doing their duty.”
He tossed out a royal token.
Covering his face, the captain picked it up and examined it.
His expression changed instantly. He dropped to the ground in terror.
“I didn’t know it was Your Lordship! This lowly servant has offended you. Please spare my life!”
Griffin snorted.
“Use your eyes next time. Wait here. We’ll return to camp together later.”
The captain hurriedly gathered his battered men and stood aside with lowered heads.
Gwynn took my hand.
“Brother, this is where we part. I don’t know when we’ll meet again. Be careful during your mission. If things go badly, come back immediately. No matter what happens, we will always support you.”
I nodded.
“I understand. Thank you for everything.”
Griffin stepped forward, and we clasped hands.
“Take care.”
“Take care.”
With the unfortunate squad of soldiers behind them, the two brothers headed toward the Demon Clan’s main camp.
Watching their departing figures, I felt a trace of sadness. Though we were not from the same race, they had treated me with genuine kindness.
Zi Yan smiled.
“They were good people. I believe their loyalty to you wouldn’t change even if they knew your true identity.”
I shook my head.
“Not necessarily. We each serve different masters. The Beastmen and Demon Clans may be allies, but when interests collide, who knows what might happen. Anyway, we should leave. If we avoid the Demon Clan’s main camp, we should reach the fortress safely.”
Zi Yan’s eyes reddened as she nodded silently.
As we approached the moment of separation, neither of us spoke. We simply enjoyed each other’s presence in silence.
Although the Demon Clan’s camp was huge, it still had boundaries. We carefully skirted its outer edge and eventually reached a place close to the fortress without encountering trouble.
I pulled on Black Dragon’s reins and stopped.
I held Zi Yan tightly in my arms. Soon I felt my collar becoming wet.
Dark clouds covered the sun, and a heavy feeling settled in my chest.
Suddenly Zi Yan burst into tears and clung to me.
I stroked her pale blue hair gently.
“Don’t cry. As long as I’m alive and you still love me, we’ll meet again one day. You’ll be safe from here. The fortress is just ahead. I can only accompany you this far.”
Zi Yan lifted her tear-streaked face.
“You must not die. You have to come back and find me. Promise me.”
“I promise. You must take care of yourself too.”
She clung to me again.
“We haven’t even separated yet, and I already miss you. What should I do?”
I leaned close and whispered beside her ear.
“When you miss me, look at the purple crystal. My heart is inside it.”
Zi Yan took out two purple crystals and pressed them against my face.
“I want them to keep your scent forever. I love you, Lay-lay.”
Hearing her words, my heart surged.
I held her head with both hands and tried to kiss her passionately.
But the result was the same as before.
The mysterious power inside her body rejected me again.
Although I wasn’t injured this
Zi Yan jumped down from Black Dragon and pulled me up, saying hatefully, “Before you return, I’ll definitely be able to control this hateful thing.”
I smiled bitterly. “I hope so. Although one may quench thirst by thinking of plums, I hope to eat your plum one day, regardless of whether it tastes sour or sweet.”
Zi Yan smiled sadly. “Whether it’s sour or sweet, this plum will always be yours.”
I hugged her and said softly, “Zi Yan, I love you too.”
Zi Yan clung tightly to me.
“These words are enough for me. This plum will never be destroyed. Even if it rots, the seed will remain forever, waiting for you to return.”
After a long while, I gently pushed her away.
“It’s time. You should go.”
Zi Yan pulled a lock of her long hair forward, used Black Sable to cut it, and tied the strands together with a strip of cloth. Then she placed it in my hands and said solemnly, “This is my promise to you. Look at it whenever you miss me.”
Her pale blue hair swayed softly in the wind. I carefully tucked the lock of hair inside my vest.
“Until we meet again, I won’t part with it for even a second,” I said seriously.
Zi Yan looked at me with misty eyes and slowly stepped backward. When she reached about ten meters away, she suddenly turned and ran toward the fortress.
Crystal drops scattered through the air as she ran. Under the sunlight they formed a shimmering rainbow trailing behind her.
It was beautiful.
And heartbreaking.
I remained standing there until the girl I had unexpectedly fallen for disappeared from sight. Black Dragon walked over beside me and nudged me with his head as if trying to comfort me.
I stroked the mane on his neck and murmured, “Black Dragon, now that Zi Yan has left, we should be on our way too.”
Suppressing the sorrow of parting, I mounted him.
“Go, Black Dragon. Let’s go home.”
Riding Black Dragon, I galloped toward the Beastmen military camp.
But was that place truly my home?
I followed the border of Stru Fortress and soon crossed smoothly into the Beastmen Territory.
The land was bleak and desolate, nothing but wasteland with barely a decent forest in sight. Although much of this destruction was caused by war, I still felt the land was poorly managed.
No.
It wasn’t that the regulations were too loose.
It was that there were no rules at all.
This place was too far from the Beastmen royal city. Who would bother governing it? Every time war broke out with the Dragon God Empire, we Beastmen simply followed whatever the Demon Clan decided.
In terms of intelligence and planning, the Beastmen were indeed inferior to the Demon Clan. But the real issue was that almost all supplies and logistics were controlled by them. By controlling the economy, they had gained the authority to command us.
While thinking about this, I rode Black Dragon toward the rear of the Beastmen main camp.
The Beastmen camp was connected to the Demon Clan’s camp, but compared with the sturdy cowhide tents of the Demon Clan, our tents were crude and thin.
If this continued, our nation would fall sooner or later.
Although I did not hold much affection for the Beastmen, I was still a descendant of the Behemoth family. I was one of them. No matter what, I could not allow the Beastmen to decline like this.
This time, I had completed the mission entrusted to me by the Beastmen King. Judging from that mission, His Majesty had gone to great lengths for the future prosperity of the kingdom.
Now I would see what they intended to do after my return.
If they trusted me, I would do everything I could to strengthen the Beastmen, or at least prevent them from being completely oppressed by the Demon Clan.
The promise I made to the Zi Yan sisters was for three years. But it would also be the last time I stayed in the Beastmen kingdom.
Life here did not suit me.
“Who are you?! Don’t move!”
Several holes suddenly opened in the ground. About ten werewolves jumped out, each holding a curved blade. These hidden guards were likely stationed here to prevent sneak attacks from the Dragon God Empire.
Judging from their expressions, they were devoted soldiers.
I took out my identification token and tossed it to them.
The leader of the werewolves quickly caught the token. When he saw the symbol of the vice general of the Behemoth army, his entire body trembled in shock. He looked up at me with uncertainty.
I snorted coldly.
“What? Do you doubt my identity? I am the vice general of the Behemoth army, the third son of Behemoth King Leo, Lei Xiang. Go report to your superior immediately.”
The werewolf leader did not dare act carelessly.
“Please wait here for a moment. I will report this to my superior.”
This was a necessary procedure since I looked human.
I nodded.
After giving a few instructions to another werewolf soldier, the leader turned and ran toward the main camp. The other werewolves no longer dared to surround me and instead stood stiffly at attention nearby.
I asked them, “How is the situation at the front right now?”
They looked at one another but none dared to answer.
They were still suspicious.
I did not press them further and simply waited.
A werewolf’s running speed was impressive. Before long, several huge figures appeared in the distance. Even before seeing them clearly, I knew they belonged to the Behemoth tribe.
Their towering bodies—over four meters tall—stood out even from afar.
“Third Brother! Why have you come?”
The one leading them was unexpectedly my eldest brother, Lei Long.
I nodded calmly.
“I have completed the mission Father entrusted to me and returned to report. Brother, why did you come personally?”
Lei Long laughed.
“It’s been a year since we last met. You’ve become tougher. But the frontline situation is not good. Father was worried something might happen to you, so he sent me.”
Even riding Black Dragon, I was still far shorter than my brother.
After so much time at war, he had clearly grown more powerful and confident.
“Brother, you said the situation at the front is bad. What happened?”
Lei Long snorted angrily.
“It’s those Demon Clan bastards! Our allied forces had the advantage, but a few days ago they suddenly withdrew from battle, leaving our army behind. The Dragon God Empire forces surrounded us, and we suffered heavy losses.
The Behemoth Legion alone lost more than two hundred soldiers. Altogether the Beastmen army lost more than ten thousand troops. It’s a huge loss.”
I frowned.
“Did Father discuss this with the Demon Clan?”
“Of course he did,” Lei Long replied angrily. “But those demons said we failed to retreat in time, so it was our fault. Third Brother, you know Beastmen never retreat once we charge. They’re just making excuses. If they had charged with us, we might already have taken Stru Fortress. Your second brother almost started a fight with them because of it.”
“A fight?”
The Demon Clan’s strength mostly came from their Fallen Angels. Could my brothers really compete with them?
Lei Long nodded.
“You don’t know yet. Second Brother’s Heavenly Thunder Armor Technique has already reached the third level, just like Father’s. In a one-on-one fight, he wouldn’t lose to a Dragon Knight.”
During this war, my second brother had earned many military merits and was promoted to major general.
Looking at Lei Long’s shoulders, I noticed he was still a brigadier general. The Beastmen had adopted the Demon Clan’s military ranking system. At present, my father—Behemoth King Leo—held the highest rank as general.
My second brother had always been clever in battle, far more than my eldest brother. Still, Lei Long worked just as hard. It was just that my second brother often took credit for the achievements.
As for his sudden improvement in strength, I could not understand it. Unless Father had given him special treatment, such rapid progress would be impossible.
Lei Long looked at me.
“You look stronger too. Even I can’t clearly sense your current strength. It’s good that you’re back. With the three of us working together, we can definitely take Stru Fortress.”
Hearing this, I sighed inwardly.
My eldest brother was brave and straightforward. He never feared death on the battlefield.
But he was not very perceptive.
The Demon Clan was clearly pushing the Beastmen to the front lines to act as shields. No matter whether the war was won or lost, the Beastmen would suffer the greatest casualties.
Yet my brother could not see this.
Even though I understood it clearly, I had no way to persuade him. Beastmen respected only strength. If I told him to fight less recklessly, he would think I was insulting him.
“Brother,” I said carefully, “you should be more cautious in future battles. Attacking Stru Fortress will only cause losses for both sides. No one will benefit. After all these years, we’ve never succeeded. It would be better to preserve our strength and wait for another opportunity.”
Even though I spoke carefully, Lei Long’s expression immediately changed.
“Third Brother! What are you saying? As members of the Behemoth army, our duty is to kill as many enemies as possible on the battlefield. What do you mean by ‘preserve our strength’? Are we supposed to live just to survive? I don’t want to hear this again.”
I sighed.
“How is Mother?”
Lei Long immediately forgot his anger.
“It’s hard to say. Before I left for the war, I brought her food, but she was the same as when you left.”
“Thank you for taking care of her. Brother… did she ever ask about me?”
Lei Long shook his head.
“She doesn’t speak to me. Whenever I visit, she only glances at me. But she keeps the gifts I bring. She is human after all. Her way of thinking is different from ours. Don’t think too much about it.”
He pointed ahead.
“We’re here. That large tent over there is Father’s. Come on.”
The Beastmen camp was arranged according to military rank. The higher the rank, the closer the tent stood to the center. The central area belonged to the Behemoth Legion and the Wild Lion Legion.
They were the only Beastmen units with cowhide tents like those of the Demon Clan.
Lei Long and several guards rushed into the seven-meter-high tent.
“Father! I’m back. It really is Lei Xiang!”
I immediately followed inside.
The interior was simple and empty except for a massive desk.
My father sat behind it on a chair covered with dragon skin.
His appearance had hardly changed, though he looked somewhat tired. He wore thick leather armor and a golden shoulder guard on his left shoulder.
When he saw me, he asked in a deep voice,
“Why are you back? Don’t tell me you couldn’t stay in the Dragon God Empire any longer. Do you realize how important the mission His Majesty gave you is?”
I felt no affection toward him and did not salute.
The Mad God Chi spread through my body, giving me an imposing presence.
“I have completed the mission,” I said calmly.
At first, he seemed pleased by the increase in my strength.
But when he heard my words, he suddenly stood up.
“You finished the mission? Already?”
Raising my right hand, I spoke coldly.
“I, Lei Xiang, swear by the honor of the Lei family and before the Beast God that I have completed the mission His Majesty gave me. If I lie, may I die and be devoured by ten thousand snakes.”
Hearing my oath, Father slowly calmed down.
“Lei Long, bring your brother a chair. Then leave with the others. I have questions for him.”
“Yes, Father.”
Sitting in the massive chair made for Behemoths, I felt strangely small.
After my brother left, Father leaned forward, his eyes shining with excitement.
“Quickly tell me. How did you complete the mission so quickly? And tell me everything about your time in the Dragon God Empire.”
I straightened my posture.
“To make a long story short, I entered the Dragon God Empire using the identity you prepared for me. After passing the entrance examination for Tianshou Academy, one of the four great academies of the empire, I clashed with several nobles.
As punishment, the vice principal locked me in the academy library.
I remained there for three months. During that time, I memorized everything useful to the Beastmen—training methods, military strategies, governing systems, and other knowledge.
During my year in the Dragon God Empire, I also learned a great deal about their administration.
Later, when the academy planned to send students to the battlefield, I feigned death during the chaos of battle to avoid conflict with our own tribe. Then I returned to report my mission.”
Father stared at me thoughtfully.
I continued,
“Do you doubt the usefulness of the knowledge I obtained? Rest assured, the works I memorized were the most valuable ones in the library. After reporting to you, I intend to go to the Imperial City and record everything for His Majesty.”
Father nodded slowly.
“I hope you truly completed your mission. I will assign you several soldiers to escort you to the Imperial City. Whether your mission is complete will be decided by His Majesty himself.
Right now I must command the army. I don’t have time to speak further.
You may leave.
Send your eldest brother in.”