Editor: Yoog

Translator: Ink Hub

Thud!

The Qiang soldier’s head was tossed casually by Luo Yu, landing right at Zhang Gui’s feet. The corner of his mouth quirked up slightly.

“Leader Zhang, according to our agreement, is Little Wu innocent now?”

The way the surrounding garrison soldiers looked at Luo Yu changed completely. Before, they had heard rumors that he killed several Qiang soldiers, but they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes, so many thought it was just deceptive boasting.

But today, right in front of all the soldiers, Luo Yu had faced cavalry on foot and cleanly chopped off a Qiang soldier’s head with a single strike.

Such skill was unmatched by anyone here.

At this moment, the morale of the entire fortress was significantly boosted.

Zhang Gui’s face was iron-green with rage. He flicked his sleeves and stormed off, grinding his teeth as he left behind a single sentence:

“Boy, let’s see who has the last laugh!”

“Haha, truly excellent skills!”

Wang Shuang’s loud laughter rang out at just the right moment.

“It’s good to let certain people know what it means to keep one’s light under a bushel. Hahaha!”

Zhang Gui, who had just walked away, nearly had smoke coming out of his seven orifices in anger.

Only then did Wang Shuang stow his smile and walk up to Luo Yu.

“Good job. You didn’t embarrass me. Come to my room tonight; I have something to discuss with you.”

“Your subordinate obeys!”

Looking at Wang Shuang’s retreating figure, a flash of doubt passed through Luo Yu’s eyes. What could the standard commander want with him?

“Brother Yu, Little Wu embarrassed you!”

Little Wu flopped onto his knees with a thud, his eyes red as he kowtowed several times in succession.

“This life of Little Wu was saved by you. I will never forget this great kindness until my teeth fall out! From now on, I will follow Brother Yu with all my heart. Whatever Brother Yu tells me to do, I will do!”

“Right, we’ll all follow Brother Yu and listen to you!”

Meng Hu and the other three new recruits also knelt on the ground, looking at Luo Yu with touched and fervent eyes.

They were used to veterans bullying recruits and squad leaders or corporals beating and scolding subordinates at will. In their view, Luo Yu had absolutely no need to protect Little Wu; he could have let Zhang Gui kill or punish him as he pleased.

But Luo Yu didn’t hesitate to clash with the vice commander to save Little Wu, even risking his life to go out and fight the Qiang soldier. What kind of deep loyalty and righteousness was this?

If Luo Yu could stand up for Little Wu today, he would naturally stand up for them in the future. What was there to be dissatisfied about with such a squad leader?

Conversely, if Luo Yu hadn’t saved him, they wouldn’t have said anything out loud, but their hearts would have certainly turned cold.

“Hey, what are you doing? Get up, all of you get up!”

Luo Yu disliked people kneeling everywhere. It took him quite a bit of effort to pull them all up.

His reason for standing up for Little Wu was simple.

Many people feared battle, so why did Zhang Gui target Little Wu specifically? Because Zhang Gui’s real spearhead was pointed at him. Little Wu just happened to be in the line of fire and suffered an undeserved calamity.

Another point was that the defenders urgently needed a morale boost. Otherwise, the fortress could be breached in an instant. If the fortress fell, Luo Yu himself would die too.

“Have you all thought this through clearly?”

Luo Yu slowly scanned the five young faces: Meng Hu, Little Wu, and the three other recruits.

“Now that I’ve offended Zhang Gui, he’s bound to make things difficult for me in the future. Today I saved Little Wu, but next time we might not be so lucky.

“Following me has no benefits.”

“We’re not afraid!” Meng Hu said fiercely. “Following Brother Yu makes our hearts feel steady!”

“Right! We’re not afraid!”

“Very good.”

Luo Yu smiled warmly.

“I can’t guarantee you glory, wealth, or high office, but I guarantee I can get you out of Jiming Fortress alive!”

A single sentence made everyone’s eyes light up. In this situation, what was more important than survival?

* * *

“Commander, you were looking for me?”

Two candles burned in the dim wooden hut, their flames dancing in the cold wind seeping through the window.

Luo Yu stood respectfully in the room. Even now, he hadn’t figured out what Wang Shuang wanted with him.

“You’re here. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Wang Shuang looked Luo Yu up and down, making Luo Yu feel a bit creeped out. Did this guy have some special fetish?

“Actually, at the beginning, when they said you killed three Qiang soldiers, I didn’t quite believe it. After all, I know the ferocity of the Qiang soldiers very well. But your performance over the past few days has eliminated the doubts in my heart.

“Today, you fought cavalry on foot and killed the enemy with one blade, greatly boosting our army’s morale.

“Good job!”

“Thank you for the praise, Commander. It was all within my duty!”

Wang Shuang suddenly crossed his legs and asked in a tone full of meaning:

“The first mission was led by Wu Mazi. If I’m not guessing wrong, he probably tried to steal your military merit and was killed by you in return, right?”

Wang Shuang’s gaze suddenly deepened, as if trying to see right through Luo Yu.

Luo Yu’s heart trembled. Damn it, it was one thing for Zhang Gui to guess, but how did Wang Shuang know too? Killing a comrade was a grave crime!

“Hehe, don’t be nervous.”

Wang Shuang waved his hand casually and spoke nonchalantly:

“I know Wu Mazi’s character very well. Relying on Zhang Gui’s backing, he did plenty of dirty things like that. If he were alive, the military merit for those three heads would never have been yours to claim.

“Stealing military merit is a grave crime in itself. If you killed him, you killed him. It’s nothing big.”

Luo Yu breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness Wang Shuang and Zhang Gui were at odds; otherwise, he would be in big trouble.

Wang Shuang’s expression gradually turned cold.

“Zhang Gui thinks that by gathering a few confidants, he can do whatever he wants. If he troubles you again, don’t be afraid. This Commander will back you up.

“Right now is a time when we need people. Don’t worry, I will put you to good use.

“You haven’t been a squad leader for long, but in a while, I will promote you to corporal. Work hard for this Commander, and I definitely won’t treat you unfairly.”

His tone was full of temptation.

“Thank you, Commander, for your trust!”

Luo Yu raised his eyebrows slightly. After hesitating again and again, he asked softly:

“Does Commander have a task for me to do?”

Luo Yu had self-awareness. Although his skills were good, he wasn’t worth this much attention from Wang Shuang yet. There had to be something else!

“Haha, I really didn’t judge you wrong! Not only are your skills good, but your brain is smart too. I just love talents like you!”

Wang Shuang first showed deep appreciation, then rested his chin on his hand, looking heavy-hearted.

“This Commander has a troublesome matter here. It concerns the lives and deaths of all the brothers in the fortress. Right now, you are the only one who can help me with this favor.”

“Me? What is it?”

Luo Yu became even more curious. How could he help with the lives of the entire fortress?

Wang Shuang mysteriously closed the door tight, pulled a letter from his chest, and placed it on the table.

“Yesterday, Zhang Gui’s confidant secretly went out trying to deliver a letter to the Qiang people. I caught him. Take a look.”

Luo Yu was shocked. He picked up the letter and scanned it hurriedly, his face changing instantly.

“Zhang Gui wants to collaborate with the enemy!”

The letter clearly stated that Zhang Gui would open the fortress gates tomorrow night to help the Qiang soldiers take Jiming Fortress!

“Correct!”

Wang Shuang gritted his teeth and cursed aloud.

“The Qiang soldiers have besieged the fortress for days, grain is exhausted, the east and west flank fortresses are breached, the defenders are dead or injured, and there is no hope of reinforcements. This guy is thinking of collaborating with the enemy to save his own life.

“Damn it, that cowardly traitor! How did my Que Prefecture Border Army produce such a spineless worm!”

A cold glint flashed in Luo Yu’s eyes.

“Sir, then what can I do?”

Wang Shuang clenched his fist.

“Zhang Gui has quite a few confidants in the fortress. If I take the letter out directly to convict him, he will inevitably lead people to riot and throw the fortress into chaos. Wouldn’t that play right into the Qiang soldiers’ hands?

“The best way is to kill him or subdue him. Without the leader, those confidants won’t be able to stir up any waves, and Jiming Fortress can be saved!”

Luo Yu nodded as he listened, but he still raised his doubt:

“Sir, why choose me to do this?”

“Zhang Gui has brute strength; ordinary people can’t get close to him. Your skills are good, so dealing with him won’t pose a problem. Besides, I don’t trust anyone else. This concerns the lives of dozens of brothers; I can’t afford to take even a tiny risk.

“But you have a grudge against Zhang Gui, so you are trustworthy.”

Wang Shuang looked at Luo Yu, his face incredibly grave.

“Although you are young, I see that you are loyal and reliable. As long as you can accomplish this, you will be the fortress vice commander in the future!”

Vice commander! Wang Shuang had promised a heavy reward.

Luo Yu thought for a long time, then slowly looked up.

“When do we act?”

“If Zhang Gui waits and his confidant doesn’t return, he will definitely become suspicious. If he gets desperate and jumps over the wall, it will be bad. So, this matter should be done sooner rather than later.”

Wang Shuang’s gaze was icy.

“We act tonight!”

NOTES

Keep one’s light under a bushel: Idiom meaning to hide one’s great ability/talent and not show it off.

Smoke coming out of seven orifices: Idiom describing extreme anger (eyes, ears, nose, mouth fuming).

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