Translator: Ink Hub

Editor: Yoog

The corpses lay on the ground, the stench of blood spreading through the dense forest.

The other five veterans were utterly dumbfounded. Gripping their scimitars, they were at a loss for what to do. How could they have imagined Luo Yu to be so ruthless, killing Wu Mazi outright over a single disagreement?

Luo Yu wiped the blood from his blade, staring coldly at the group.

“Anyone else want to steal military merit? Step forward! Let’s gamble and see if you can win five against one.”

Facing the five men alone, Luo Yu was wrapped in murderous intent. They couldn’t understand how a rookie recruit could possess such a killing aura.

“And me!”

Meng Hu, who had also been startled, snapped out of it and stood firmly beside Luo Yu.

Warmth surged in Luo Yu’s heart. Meng Hu usually looked honest and straightforward, but when trouble came, he really stepped up.

The five men panicked. Not knowing who started it, one knelt on the ground, and the others followed, repeatedly begging for mercy.

“Brother Luo, spare us! We didn’t want to steal your merit; it was all Wu Mazi’s black heart! If we didn’t listen to him, we’d get whipped when we returned to the fortress. We were forced!”

“Right, right, right, it was all him! He relied on Vice Standard Commander Zhang’s backing to bully us constantly in the fortress. He’s even stolen our merit before. He was utterly detestable!”

“Spare us, Brother Luo! We really don’t want to be your enemies. As long as you let us go, we guarantee not a word of tonight’s events will leak out!”

The men were terrified out of their wits. Although only two people were facing them, one was decisively ruthless and lethal, and the other was built like an ox. They honestly couldn’t win.

Luo Yu’s gaze narrowed slightly. He actually believed their words. He had seen with his own eyes how Wu Mazi bullied them in the army; ordinary soldiers wouldn’t have the guts to strike a lethal blow against a comrade.

“I believe those words.”

Luo Yu’s tone softened a fraction.

“If you want to live, it’s not impossible. But you have to do something.”

The men’s eyes widened, curious. What did he need them to do?

“Wanting to live is simple.”

Luo Yu pointed obliquely at Wu Mazi’s corpse. “Each of you stabs him once. Then this matter is settled.”

The men’s pupils contracted. Stabbing that knife meant they were tied entirely to Luo Yu’s boat; it would be impossible to betray him later.

But they were even more afraid that Luo Yu and Meng Hu would stab them right now. Gritting their teeth, the guys actually picked up their blades and walked over. Each of them stabbed the corpse once.

Five knives, ten holes.

“Very good. When we go back, you will say I killed all the Qiang soldiers. As for Wu Mazi, he died in the fierce battle against the enemy.”

Luo Yu smiled with satisfaction.

“According to military law, three Qiang heads should be worth six taels of silver. I’ll take the military merit, but we’ll split the silver reward equally among the six of us.

“After all, we came out to kill the enemy together. Everyone who participated deserves a share.”

“Thank… thank you, Brother Luo!”

The veterans, who had been scared out of their wits just moments ago, suddenly had their eyes shining with excitement. They thanked him repeatedly. One tael of silver was no small sum for a common soldier.

Luo Yu smiled faintly. This was precisely the reaction he wanted. A stick followed by a carrot made it easier to buy people’s hearts. He only wanted the military merit anyway; silver didn’t matter to him.

The atmosphere relaxed considerably. One of the men even approached obsequiously and whispered a reminder:

“Brother Luo, let us give you a heads-up. Wu Mazi was Vice Standard Commander Zhang’s confidant. In past missions, he always hid in the back and let others go up to die.

“If we say he died fighting fiercely against Qiang soldiers, Zhang Gui won’t believe it. He will definitely point the spearhead at you, Brother Luo.

“But the situation might not be too bad. Our standard commander has always been at odds with Zhang Gui. He might speak up for you.”

Veterans were veterans, after all. Their combat skills might be lackluster, but their information network was very sharp.

“Thanks for the reminder.”

Luo Yu’s gaze narrowed as he looked toward the fortress.

“Zhang Gui, is it? You’d better not provoke me!”

* * *

“What! Wu Mazi is dead?”

Inside Jiming Fortress, the six garrison soldiers who had gone on the mission stood in a row. Three Qiang heads lay on the ground.

Actually, losing four men to take out three Qiang soldiers would have been considered a decent result. But instead of praise, they were met with Zhang Gui’s cold interrogation.

“Replying to Vice Standard Commander, Leader Wu led us to ambush the Qiang soldiers from all sides. We seized the opportunity to swarm them, but the Qiang soldiers were too fierce. They killed three of our comrades first, then besieged Leader Wu. In the fierce battle, Leader Wu was unfortunately struck down…”

Luo Yu described the battle vividly, even squeezing out a look of sorrow on his face.

It sounded flawless, but Zhang Gui’s frown only deepened.

“You’re Luo Yu, right? You killed all three Qiang soldiers?”

“Yes!”

“You’re young and a new recruit. How can you have such good skills?”

Zhang Gui looked suspiciously at the others.

“Is what he said the truth?”

“Replying to Vice Commander, every word is true!”

A veteran who had been on the mission nodded hastily.

“Brother Luo has practiced martial arts. His skills are excellent. He cut down all three Qiang soldiers; we all saw it clearly.”

“Is that so?”

“Absolutely true!”

Zhang Gui’s icy gaze swept across their faces, finally landing on Luo Yu. His deep eyes seemed to be trying to see right through him.

“Boy, do you know this is a battlefield? Falsifying military intelligence is a capital crime! I advise you to confess the truth!”

“Hey, Old Zhang, what are you doing?”

Standard Commander Wang Shuang, who had been sitting aside for a long time, suddenly stood up with a cheerful laugh.

“Brother Luo has exceptional skills. Killing three Qiang thieves in a row makes him a great hero. Without him, this mission would have failed.

“Don’t scare him with that tone.”

“Commander, I suspect there is something fishy about this!”

“Ay, what could be fishy? So many people saw it clearly. Are they all blind?”

Wang Shuang ignored Zhang Gui’s words and patted Luo Yu on the shoulder happily.

“Well done. I’ve seen the recruit register; you seem to be literate, too? Capable in both civil and martial arts, hahaha! This Commander likes talents like you!”

With Wu Mazi dead, Wang Shuang wasn’t the least bit angry. Instead, he was pleased. He waved his big hand.

“Jiming Fortress needs people. According to the regulations, you can be promoted one rank. The reward silver will be given to you later.

“In addition, from now on, you are a squad leader. The remaining new recruits are all under your command.

“Work hard for this Commander!”

“Thank you for Commander’s appreciation!”

Luo Yu bowed and cupped his fists, glancing at the two commanders as he did so. The veteran was right; these two were not as harmonious as they appeared on the surface.

Hearing Luo Yu receive his reward, Zhang Gui’s face was icy. But without evidence, he could only swallow his anger.

Wooo!

Wooo-wooo!

Suddenly, the shrill sound of a horn echoed in everyone’s ears. Wang Shuang and Zhang Gui’s expressions changed drastically.

This was the signal for a Qiang attack!

* * *

Jiming Fortress went on full alert. All garrison soldiers rushed to the walls with weapons in hand, tension thick in the air.

Nearly two hundred Qiang cavalrymen had surrounded the lonely fortress. Countless blades waved in the air, and angry roars resounded through the clouds.

Clearly, the Qiang soldiers had discovered the death of their scout squad and had come for revenge.

Luo Yu’s nerves tightened for the first time. Two hundred men didn’t sound like many, but seeing two hundred cavalrymen charging on tall horses with your own eyes would terrify anyone.

Without the defense of the fortress walls, the few dozen garrison soldiers would surely be trampled into meat paste by the Qiang cavalry. Survival would be impossible.

“Don’t panic! Reinforcements will come! We just need to hold the fortress!”

Wang Shuang shouted, trying to stabilize the army’s morale. Wolf smoke had already been lit on the beacon tower. According to convention, Yunyang Pass and nearby fortresses would send troops to support as soon as they saw the smoke.

Amid everyone’s nervous and guarded expressions, a burly Qiang rider rode out from the formation, galloping to the foot of the fortress wall and roaring:

“Listen, Qian army inside the fortress! My heavenly army has arrived; Jiming Fortress is now an isolated point!

“I advise you to open the gates and surrender early. Otherwise, on the day the fortress is breached…

“Not even the chickens and dogs will be left alive!”

NOTES

Five Knives, Six Holes (concept): A triad/gang punishment term often used in wuxia or crime novels (usually “three knives, six holes”). Here, “Five Knives, Ten Holes” (entry + exit wounds) refers to the five veterans each stabbing the corpse once to prove loyalty/complicity.

Wolf smoke: Ancient Chinese signal fire made by burning wolf dung (supposedly because the smoke rises straight up and is visible from afar). It signifies “enemy invasion.”

Not even chickens and dogs left: An idiom meaning total extermination/slaughter of everyone and everything in a place.

💝 Support the Team

possible odoabuchi

✍️ Translator

☕ Buy Me a Coffee