Translator: Ink Hub

Editor: Yoog

The night was black as ink, the moon dim, and the stars sparse.

Branches swayed in the withered forest like ghosts prowling the night. Sparse black shadows crawled on the ground, clinging to the yellow sand as they inched forward bit by bit.

Luo Yu’s face suddenly appeared, draped in a military uniform, a sharp blade gripped in his hand.

It was his first mission. At seventeen, his face should have still held the innocence of youth, but his eyes carried a sharpness completely at odds with his age.

Five veterans, five new recruits. Squad Leader Wu Mazi led the team. Such a lineup barely counted as “old guiding the new.” Meng Hu was right beside Luo Yu. Initially, he hadn’t wanted to come, but seeing Luo Yu join, he volunteered to stand up as well.

The group crawled forward for a while longer before stopping, their breathing becoming ragged. Ahead, a bonfire had been lit, and the faint sound of voices drifted over.

Qiang soldiers!

The so-called scout squad consisted of only three men. Three tall horses were tied to tree trunks, scimitars resting nearby.

Though there were only three of them, the garrison soldiers still looked grim. The Western Qiang barbarians were bloodthirsty by nature, cruel and fierce. Every time they crossed the border to raid, many people died.

From commoners to soldiers, everyone at the Great Qian border regarded the Qiang soldiers as a scourge, fearing them like tigers.

Wu Mazi, the leader, looked at the new recruits expressionlessly.

“You guys go kill the Qiang soldiers. This leader will provide cover for you.”

The new recruits panicked instantly. Veterans staying back while recruits went up?

“Go! Disobeying orders on the battlefield is a capital crime!”

Under Wu Mazi’s icy gaze, Luo Yu was the first to grip his saber and sneak toward the Qiang soldiers. The others steeled their hearts and followed tremblingly.

A veteran who stayed behind whispered a reminder:

“Leader, three Qiang soldiers are tough targets. Are we not going in? Those rookie eggs probably won’t be of any use.”

“No rush.”

Wu Mazi’s lips curled into a cold sneer. “Let them wear down the Qiang soldiers’ stamina first. Let’s hope these pieces of trash can be of some use.”

The gloom in the dense forest grew heavier.

Five new recruits slowly crept toward the bonfire. The others’ legs were shaking, their panic visible to the naked eye.

But Luo Yu’s expression remained normal, his steps light and agile. In the memories of the mercenary, wasn’t scouting and infiltrating camps just a daily meal?

“Ouch!”

Before they could even get close to the bonfire, the recruit on the far left tripped over a tree trunk and fell flat on his face, eating a mouthful of dirt.

The startled Qiang soldiers instantly grabbed their scimitars and stood up, looking toward the forest. But when they realized it was just a few frightened recruits, they burst into laughter on the spot.

“Oho, you shrinking turtles actually dare to come out of the fortress gate?”

“Just perfect. We brothers were getting bored. Chopping off a few heads will be good entertainment.”

“Attack!”

Despite being outnumbered, the Qiang soldiers launched the attack first. Apart from Luo Yu and Meng Hu, the other three recruits screamed, turned tail, and ran. The Qiang soldiers weren’t stupid; they naturally went for the soft persimmons first. With one chop per person, they cut down the three deserters in the blink of an eye.

Five against three instantly turned into three against two. Hiding in the shadows, Wu Mazi cursed silently. Truly a bunch of trash!

Luo Yu and Meng Hu stood back-to-back. The Qiang soldiers toyed with their scimitars, mocking them wantonly, “You two grandsons, if you kneel and beg for mercy now, you might keep your lives and come to the grassland as slaves. Otherwise, your death faces will look very ugly later.”

Although Meng Hu was burly, the Qiang soldiers didn’t take him seriously. As for the slender Luo Yu, they couldn’t be bothered to give him a second glance.

“Tiger, can you handle one?”

“No problem.”

Meng Hu nodded first, then looked stunned. “Brother Yu, you want to take two on one?”

“Hah!”

Before Luo Yu could reply, the three Qiang soldiers pounced simultaneously.

The blades cut through the air, making a whoosh sound. Luo Yu’s body tilted slightly; the blade sliced past his shoulder, bringing a gust of cold wind. He didn’t hesitate. His right leg exploded with power, a whip kick slamming viciously into the Qiang soldier’s abdomen.

Thud!

A kick that seemed to pose no threat sent the Qiang soldier flying several steps back, and he crashed face-first into the dirt, life or death unknown.

Whether it was the Qiang soldiers or Wu Mazi huddled in the bushes, everyone was dumbfounded. How could one kick have such power?

“Little bastard, you’re seeking death!”

Another Qiang soldier flew into a rage, leaping up and bringing his scimitar down on Luo Yu’s head.

Luo Yu’s gaze was cold. With a flip of his wrist, his blade slid straight up from the side. The two scimitars collided in mid-air, sparks flying.

The powerful force numbed the Qiang soldier’s arm. As the two blades scraped past each other, Luo Yu pulled back with a reverse grip, the edge sliding along the soldier’s wrist.

Splurt!

The sound of the blade piercing flesh rang out. The Qiang soldier’s right hand was severed at the wrist, blood gushing uncontrollably. His scimitar fell to the ground with a clang.

A clean, decisive cut. A shrill scream instantly echoed through the night. Luo Yu gave him no chance to breathe, kicking him squarely in the chest. Bones shattered, and life was extinguished.

“Brother Yu, look out!”

Having killed two in a row, Luo Yu hadn’t even caught his breath when he heard Meng Hu’s roar. He could feel a cold wind attacking his back.

It turned out that the last remaining Qiang soldier, seeing Luo Yu kill two of his comrades, was consumed by rage. He abandoned Meng Hu, turned around, and came at Luo Yu with desperate fury.

Luo Yu didn’t even turn his head. He tilted slightly to the side, and a scimitar stabbed past, grazing his scalp, incredibly dangerous. Then he grabbed the Qiang soldier’s wrist and executed a shoulder throw, slamming the nearly two-hundred-pound body onto the ground.

Thud!

The Qiang soldier spat blood and collapsed, looking at Luo Yu with shock and despair. How could such terrifying power exist under that seemingly frail body?

Luo Yu licked his cracked lips. One hand steadied the man’s head, the other rested the blade against his throat. Mimicking the Qiang soldier’s mocking tone, he said:

“One on one means one on one. Are you rushing to reincarnate?”

Slit!

When the blade mercilessly slit the Qiang soldier’s throat, Luo Yu felt no nausea or fear. Instead, he felt exhilaration.

Meng Hu’s mouth hung open, the word “shock” written all over his face.

Killing three people in a row, was this a new recruit?

Clap, clap, clap~

Wu Mazi walked into the battle circle, clapping his hands, clicking his tongue in wonder.

“Luo Yu, was it? Good skills. Little brother has practiced martial arts?”

The veterans’ eyes looked strange. Killing three Qiang soldiers in a row… They hadn’t seen such skill in their years of service.

“There were retired veterans in the village; I learned a move or two from them. I made a fool of myself in front of Leader.”

Luo Yu laughed it off, but his eyes were cold. These veterans had just watched them die without lifting a finger; did he not know what they were planning?

New recruits? Just cannon fodder.

“No wonder you dared to volunteer. You had confidence to back it up.”

The smile on Wu Mazi’s face grew thicker. “This Leader wants to discuss something with you.”

“Leader Wu, please speak.”

“Us rough men, tying our heads to our belts to risk our lives on the front line… isn’t it just to earn some military merit, get promoted, and get rich?”

Wu Mazi glanced at the three corpses with interest.

“The heads of these three Qiang soldiers belong to me. Consider making a friend. From now on, I’ll cover you in the fortress. No one will dare give you trouble.

“How about it?”

Luo Yu’s gaze instantly turned frosty. The military merit for three heads was no small amount. Leaving aside the bounty, it would be enough to promote him to squad leader.

“On what grounds!”

Before Luo Yu could speak, Meng Hu shouted indignantly.

“Brother Yu killed all three barbarians! You guys huddled in the back like turtles, and now you come out to steal the credit?

“There is no such logic under the heavens!”

This guy was usually simple-minded, but facing a squad leader, he showed no fear.

Wu Mazi’s eyes slowly turned cold.

“Let me give you a piece of advice: the military camp is not a place for logic.”

Shing! Shing! Shing!

The five veterans drew their swords simultaneously, forming a loose fan shape to surround the two of them.

Luo Yu’s heart constricted, and his face turned an incredible shade of dark. These people dared to kill their own comrades just to steal credit?

Meng Hu was about to go crazy with rage. He drew his scimitar and cursed loudly, “Brother, let’s fight them!”

The atmosphere was instantly drawn taut, swords drawn and crossbows nocked.

The flames danced, reflecting on their cheeks. Murderous intent filled the forest.

“Tiger, don’t be impulsive.”

Luo Yu pressed down on the agitated Meng Hu, a smile appearing on his face. “It is my honor to be friends with Leader Wu. How about we split the merit for the three heads equally?”

Seeing Luo Yu soften, Wu Mazi became even more arrogant. He tapped Luo Yu’s chest lightly with the tip of his blade.

“This brat, daring to negotiate terms with me?”

Splurt!

The mockery on Wu Mazi’s face hadn’t even faded when a cold light flashed. A short dagger was ruthlessly buried into his throat, blood spraying into the air.

Luo Yu gripped the dagger tightly, staring coldly at the despairing Wu Mazi.

“What did you say just now? I didn’t hear you clearly.”

NOTES

Soft persimmon: A common idiom meaning weak, easy targets that can be bullied or handled easily.

Tying heads to belts: An idiom describing a dangerous lifestyle where death is imminent or a constant risk (i.e., your head could be cut off at any moment).

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