Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 314: Chapter 314. Going Back to White Cloud City

”The Lin Clan is punished with annihilation...?”

Amon was at Huang San’s residence when he received the news.

”Yes. Apparently, a senior minister found evidence claiming that Lin Clan was involved with the rebels. Guess who this senior minister is,” Huang San asked.

”... Pu Zhang,” Amon answered.

Huang San nodded. ”Pu Zhang presented this case to the royal court. My fourth brother issued the punishment three days ago.”

”When will the punishment be carried out?” Amon asked.

”It has already happened,” Huang San answered. ”One day after the punishment was issued, a detachment of the kingdom army gathered at White Cloud City. Lin Clan was wiped out. I have only just found out.”

”This means the punishment had already been decided before the case was presented to the royal court,” Amon said. ”It takes time to mobilize troops, and White Cloud City is not a region where the kingdom force is active. The execution army was already on the way to that city before the punishment was decreed.”

”I agree. That’s why I discovered the news late. They intend to annihilate Lin Clan before any opposition voice can react. I’m sorry, Lin Mo. There is nothing I can do about this matter.”

Amon didn’t respond. He didn’t care about what happened to Lin Clan. He was using that clan for his benefit when he was growing up. The clan had outlived its use. Whether they live or die was none of his concern. He knew Pu Zhang was doing this to get to him, but he felt no guilt about Lin Clan’s demise. However, there was an uncomfortable feeling that seemed to tug at his heart. This feeling came accompanied by Madam Lin’s face. He brushed away this strange feeling and ignored it.

Huang San treated Amon’s silence as a shock for learning the news. He waited a while before saying, ”I might not be able to do anything to help your clan, but you need not worry about yourself. The evidence Pu Zhang and his cronies cooked up indicates the contact between the Lin Clan and the rebels happened recently, which was after you left for the Royal Academy. So, you are free of all charge.”

Amon nodded. He asked, ”Do you know if there is any survivor? Did the kingdom army take prisoners?”

Huang San shook his head. ”I don’t know, but I will try to find out.”

Amon nodded again. ”If there is nothing else, please excuse me.”

”Take it easy. I know this is a lot to take in,” Huang San advised.

*

Amon returned to his routine. As days passed, the uneasy feeling inside him continued to grow. Instead of trying to fight the feeling, Amon decided to utilize it. This negative feeling gave him more fuel than his captive, Wu Qiu, could provide.

His infernal cultivation grew rapidly. He felt he was on the precipice of breaking through to the next cultivation level when he received the news from Huang San. It was Xa Jien who brought the news.

”His Highness had gained an intel regarding Lin Clan’s survivors. There were a few Lin Clan members who happened to be outside on missions. They were spared from the annihilation. However, I’m sure they are currently hiding after learning about their clan’s demise. They are surely also concealing their clan’s name, considering the kingdom had announced that the Lin Clan was in league with the rebels. Except for you, of course. His Highness had vouched for you, so you are off the hook.”

”Is that all?” Amon asked.

”... No, there are other survivors. However, their situation is worse,” Xa Jien answered. ”When the kingdom army attacked Lin Clan, not all were killed. A few were taken as prisoners. However, they were not taken prisoners by the kingdom.”

”Then who did?”

”The Wei Clan,” Xa Jien answered. ”Of course, most prominent members of the Lin Clan were already killed. Pu Zhang couldn’t risk those members escaping and becoming true rebels. The ones given to Wei Clan were all cultivators of the Human Realm.”

”... Do you know the ones who are taken prisoners?”

”Stop beating around the bush. I know who you are looking for,” Xa Jien uttered. ”Yes. Your stepmother, Lin Xi, best known as Madam Lin, was among those taken as prisoners by the Wei Clan. We cannot ascertain whether she is still alive or not, though. She was held deep inside the Wei Clan Estate.”

Amon was silent upon learning this information.

”His Highness told me to refrain from telling you about your stepmother,” Xa Jien continued. ”He believes you might act rashly and go to the Wei Clan Estate to rescue her.”

”Then why did you tell me?” Amon asked.

”... I don’t know. Probably because I understand what it’s like to be uncertain about the fate of a loved one, or maybe I want you to go attempt a rescue and get killed in the process.”

Amon nodded without giving a response.

”I have delivered what information I have. What you are going to do with it is up to you,” Xa Jien said. He left afterward.

Amon remained standing where he was for a long while.

*

A few more days passed. On one night, he was with Tuang Yin. They had just finished making love.

”What’s wrong? I know something is on your mind,” Tuang Yin asked. ”I have never seen you appear so uncertain like this.”

Amon thought about her words. She was right. This uneasy feeling within him was getting worse. If this continued, it would hamper his ability to make decisions. He needed to deal with this before it festered his mind into something that dulled his thoughts. He knew where he had to go to deal with it.

”I am going back to White Cloud City,” Amon said.

”To rescue your mother?” Tuang Yin asked.

Amon gave her a questioning look.

”Zhuan San told me, after I pestered him, of course,” Tuang Yin said. She still didn’t know Zhuan San’s true identity. To her, Zhuan San was a common friend who happened to know about a lot of things. ”I asked him because I have noticed you are acting strange lately. The two of you also seem close these last few years, so I thought he might know something. It turns out I was right.”

”This has nothing to do with you,” Amon asked.

”You bet your ass this has something to do with me. I’m going with you to White Cloud City,” Tuang Yin uttered.

Amon didn’t bother to persuade her otherwise. He told her, ”If you follow me there, you must prepare to commit a lot of killing.”

”Zhuang San had also told me about how the Wei and Yan Clans colluded with a corrupt official to frame your clan with false accusations. They caused the annihilation of a clan for their personal vendetta. All who were involved deserved to die. The Wei Clan is the worst. They not only helped massacre a clan, but they also kept those who were still alive as captives. God knows what they do to those people. I will be happy to kill those motherfuckers.”

”Be careful what you wish for...,” Amon muttered.

”Huh? Are you saying something?” Tuang Yin asked.

”Never mind,” Amon answered. He put on his clothes.

”You are going somewhere?”

Amon was walking toward the door. He said without looking back, ”If you want to join, come to the woods outside the Western Gate before sunset tomorrow. I will not wait for you if you are late.”

*

Amon spent the night and the next day organizing the force he planned to bring to White Cloud City. Most of the force he brought was the Demon Gang, especially those who used to be bandits. Qiang Dan and Lu Fei came with him. He left Gao Lan to keep things running. As for members of Vicious, he brought Xin Wuming, Yang Li, and a handful of students he could trust to be discreet and not afraid to get their hands dirty.

They gathered inside a Demon Gang Hideout. Amon instructed them about what to do before sending them away. They exited the city one by one throughout the day to not draw attention. However, if one checked the city gate register of that day, it would be easy to spot their mobilization. Thankfully, the city was under Huang San’s control, so they didn’t need to worry about the enemy seeing through their intention.

Once they were out of the city, they traveled toward White Cloud City in small teams. This was again to not draw attention. Amon was the last to leave. He used disguise when he passed through the gate so no one knew he had left the city. He waited for Tuang Yin in the nearby woods. Xin Wuming and Yang Li were with him.

When Tuang Yin showed up, she was not alone. Wu Di came with her.

”What are you doing here?” Amon asked Wu Di.

”I invited him,” Tuang Yin said.

”Friend Lin Mo, I heard about your clan,” Wu Di said. ”What happened was intolerable. We must carry out justice! I will help you take revenge on the people responsible and save your imprisoned clan members.”

”... Whatever. Suit yourself,” Amon said and walked away. The four followed him.