Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 454: Chapter 454. Meeting the Seven Clans

”So, she has truly been captured by the Gu Clan,” Xin Wuming said.

It was morning, and Amon was back in the slum district. He discussed his findings with Xin Wuming, Yang Li, and Wu Di.

”Is this confirmed? How do you learn this information?” Wu Di asked.

”I captured and questioned some Gu Clan members,” Amon answered.

”What did you do to those people?” Wu Di asked.

Amon didn’t reply. Those people were no more. After getting the information from them, he fed them to Yuka. Bo Wu snatched and devoured one of the four when Amon threw them into Yuka’s prison zone. Yuka was mad at Bo Wu for stealing one of her prey. Bo Wu responded by scolding her back, saying she was fed more quarry than it. Amon left the place before their quarrel intensified.

”Why does it matter what happens to those people?” Xin Wuming asked Wu Di. ”They are enemies. They chose to side with the rebels and even captured one of us. They should all be killed.”

”What’s important is we have confirmation about where Yi Chaisan is. Do you want to save her?” Amon asked Wu Di.

”Of course, I want to!” Wu Di exclaimed.

”Okay. Tonight, you, Xin Wuming, and Yang Li will sneak into Gu Clan’s estate to save her,” Amon said.

”What about you?” Wu Di asked.

”The clans willing to side with us will gather tonight. We can’t reschedule this gathering. I will attend this gathering. I will leave the rescue mission to the three of you.”

”I will not disappoint you, brother,” Xin Wuming announced.

Wu Di slammed his fist into his palm. ”I swear I will save her!”

”Do you have the layout of the building she was in?” Yang Li asked.

Amon produced a piece of paper with sketches of a map. ”This is what I managed to learn. It is not a complete layout. Yi Chaisan should be inside the basement, so you can start searching there. According to my intel, Gu Clan didn’t emphasize studying engraving or formation-making. The basement is a private place. They wouldn’t hire outside experts to install enchantments, so there shouldn’t be traps. Even so, you should be careful.”

”Don’t worry. We are Mystic Stage cultivators now,” Xin Wuming said. ”If there are hidden words of power, we will sense them.”

Amon nodded. ”Make your preparation. We will move out before sunset.”

*

Later that evening, Amon was at the agreed gathering site, the abandoned shrine. Around the shrine was a park filled with wild, untended vegetation.

Every contact who agreed to help the kingdom was given this location. They were also told to wear masks and black coats covering their whole body. This way, each participant had no idea who the other people were. The only one who knew was Amon. Each participant was told to come at a different time. Except for a few people who came earlier or later than the agreed time, Amon identified the masked people based on their arrival time.

Amon hid atop a tree and watched everyone who entered the shrine. His Concealed Ghost Body allowed him to cloak himself. Unless the ones who came had the cultivation of the Spirit Stage, no one should be aware of his presence.

He doubted that would be the case. None of the people he contacted had the cultivation of the Spirit Stage. Even if they persuaded a clan member of the Spirit Stage to join the cause, this member was unlikely to come to such a shady and risky gathering. They most likely sent disposable members instead.

Amon waited until the latest agreed time, an hour past midnight. During this time, he saw four cloaked people entering the shrine. This should be the last group.

He only targeted two people from each of the ten clans. Even out of the two, it was rarely the case where both targets agreed to join. However, the people who came here numbered two to five people per group. This meant the targets brought friends. Amon didn’t mind. He never told them to come alone.

After ensuring all the groups arrived, he left his hiding spot and went to the shrine’s entrance.

The shrine had a huge hall after the entrance. The people who entered before Amon stood in seven groups within this hall. This showed the people here came from seven different clans. They numbered twenty-two people.

Amon didn’t wear any mask since he was already in disguise. At least one or two people from each group recognized Amon’s disguise. They pointed at him and whispered to their partners when he entered.

”Are you Colonel Amon?” One of the cloaked people asked.

Amon held up his hand, making a stop signal. He said, ”Before we begin, follow me.”

Amon walked into a door behind the ruined altar. The cloaked people followed him. Those at Mystic Stage sensed words of power around the door. The energy was faint, though.

The room they entered was one-third the size of the hall outside. It had only one exit, which was the door they entered. After everyone was inside, Amon went to the door. He pulled something above the door. A black curtain fell and covered the door. The words of power around the door were then activated. The people close to the door sensed an energy layer behind the black curtain.

”What was that for?” One of the cloaked people asked. His voice sounded nervous.

”Don’t worry about it. This is an enchantment to keep what is spoken inside this room from being heard outside,” Amon explained. ”Now, let’s get down to business. I’ve spoken to some of you. For those who meet me for the first time, I’m Colonel Amon of the Echos Kingdom. I take it you have been briefed about my purpose here?”

Almost everyone nodded.

”Nevertheless, let me state it out,” Amon said. ”I am here on behalf of the kingdom army to deal with the rebels who have taken over this city. For that, I need your help. You have made the right choice by coming here. If my mission here is successful, your clans will be spared from slaughter, and so will many other innocent civilians in this city. You will be recorded as the heroes who help topple this pointless uprising.”

”... If your mission is unsuccessful?” Another asked.

”Then the kingdom army will break down the wall and kill most of the people in this city. Most of all, the ten clans who aid the rebellious mayor. Your clans can forget about living inside Echos from then on.”

Despite everyone wearing masks, these cloaked people still looked at each other after hearing Amon’s warning.

”We will do our best to aid you. In return, we want your guarantee that the kingdom will truly forgive our clans.”

”As I have told the ones I met before, total forgiveness is not possible. Your clans have sinned, after all. You will have to hand over those directly involved with the uprising, like your clan masters,” Amon said. ”The good thing is, I can guarantee the kingdom will only punish those people. You and everyone who aided the kingdom will be spared, rewarded, and even hailed as heroes.”

”Can you truly guarantee that?”

Amon took out his Colonel Badge and showed it to everyone. ”My words carry the honor of this badge. That is all the guarantee I can give you.”

Several of the cloaked people came forward to inspect the badge in Amon’s hands. These were those who had dealings with kingdom officials before, so they could tell if the badge was authentic. After confirming it was, they moved back and nodded to their groups.

One of the cloaked people asked, ”What is your mission? Tell us.”

Amon showed them folded papers. He said, ”You are from seven clans, aren’t you? Each clan please send out one representative.”

Seven people walked out. Amon gave each a piece of folded paper. They then returned to their groups.

”Can we open it?” One of the seven asked.

”Go ahead. However, please keep its content to your group,” Amon answered.

Those within the group circled the one holding the paper as that person unfolded it. They read the contents but remain silent as instructed.

”So, this is our task?” One of them asked. ”I take it since we aren’t allowed to tell the others, the other groups have different tasks?”

”That is correct,” Amon answered.

”Keeping the task and identity of each clan secret, you don’t trust us, do you?” Another asked.

”Do you trust the other clans? I do this to protect you,” Amon replied.

They again looked at one another before nodding. They agreed that they indeed felt safer with this secrecy.

”When should we carry out the task written inside this paper?” One asked.

”The time is...”

Amon stopped speaking because he received a mental message from Lin Li. ”Brother, you are right. A large group of people are creeping toward the shrine.”