Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 458: Chapter 458. Once the Sun Rises

Like a battering ram, Amon smashed through the burning palm image. At the same time, he threw his ceremonial dagger forward.

Like the first Yon Clan member Amon killed, the Peak Mystic Stage cultivator didn’t expect Amon to be able to trade blows with him like this. It was too late for him to dodge when the ceremonial dagger came. Hence, he parried using his arm.

He wore engraved steel gauntlets that protected his arms. Additionally, he used arcane art that coated his arms with an intense layer of flames. Normally, he could fight bare-handed against sharp weapons when this art was active.

This time, however, his fire-element defensive arcane art was not enough. The ceremonial dagger cut through the flame and sliced into his metal gauntlet. Due to his two layers of protection, he didn’t lose his arm, but the dagger still cut deep enough to draw blood. The pain from the wound made him retreat.

Amon didn’t let him go. With the Xian Cloth controlling the ceremonial dagger, it danced around the Yon Clan member. The Yon Clan member frantically waved his arms around to protect himself. He suffered more cut wounds with each clash. To make matters worse, four large flying knives started circling him. These flying knives looked for an opportunity to land a hit.

With his attention taken by these weapons, he failed to detect Amon, who had flown higher and was now above him. By the time he sensed Amon’s presence, it was too late. Amon landed a powerful punch from above. The Yon Clan member dropped straight down and ended up getting impaled by his partner’s rock spears waiting down there.

The Yon Clan member with the earth element was shocked by the turn of events. He had prepared another rock javelin to support his friend but didn’t expect Amon to win the exchange up there in such a short time.

His shock made his reaction slow. By the time he realized Amon was behind him, it was too late. His head detached from his body as he turned back to face Amon.

His head rolled on the floor and stopped near the feet of another clan member. The people from the other clans were motionless throughout the battle between Amon and the Yon Clan. They never expected the fight to last so short, and they certainly didn’t expect the winner to be the outnumbered man with lower cultivation than his opponents.

Like the Yon Clan, they also thought Amon was a Transformation Stage cultivator. They were actually a bit skeptical about Amon’s claim of being a colonel of the Echos kingdom. If not for the authenticity of his badge, they would have considered him a con.

After seeing Amon’s prowess and how he defeated the four people from the Yon Clan, they no longer doubted his claim.

Amon looked at everyone, who was still in shock. He told them, ”Okay, you have all earned my trust. I can now tell you my real plan.”

”Trust...? Real plan...?” They were puzzled by the statement.

”Forget what was written on the paper I gave you earlier,” Amon told them. ”Those were just to draw out the people who are not committed to aid the kingdom.”

They looked at the four corpses on the ground when hearing those words.

”You can take off your masks now,” Amon instructed.

They hesitated, so Amon gave them a push. ”Do it. The time for secrecy among us has ended. To better cooperate, you must know the people you are working with.”

Some finally decided to do as Amon requested. They took off their masks. These unmasked people turned to the others who had also revealed their identities.

”Brother Som Rak?” One called.

”Brother Bun Tal,” the person who was called replied. ”I see the Som Clan has the same thought that this uprising is a mistake.”

More and more removed their masks until everyone did. Considering their clans were among the top ten in this city, they all knew each other.

”Brother Lo Bakh, I didn’t expect the Lo Clan to be here. If I don’t remember wrongly, your clan master was pretty adamant about supporting this uprising.”

”It was all an act, Sister Min Chun,” Lo Bakh responded. ”If our clan master challenged the mayor openly, our clan would be alienated and dealt with. Ever since the uprising started, Clan Master Lo Bie spent every day discussing with our elders how to assist the kingdom and clear our clan’s reputation. When I told him about the offer from Colonel Amon, he immediately asked me to join.”

”My clan master, Yun Binling, has the same thought,” Another clan member, whose name was Yun Xiao, said. ”She knew about my meeting with Colonel Amon and supported this attempt to cooperate with the kingdom.”

”If your clan masters are on board, why aren’t they here?” Som Rak asked.

”They don’t want to reveal their true intentions before we are sure about Colonel Amon’s claim. They sent us here to make sure.”

”Even if what you said is true, your clan masters still need to receive punishment,” Amon told Yun Xiao and Lo Bakh. ”They did assist the uprising, after all, but do not worry, I will put in a word with Prince Huang San. Their punishment will be much lenient compared to the others, providing they pulled their weight in ensuring we can put an end to this uprising with the best possible outcome.”

The clan members nodded. Min Chun asked, ”So, what is the true task you require us to do?”

”You will all only have one task,” Amon said. ”Protect us when we open the main gate.”

”The main gate?” Min Chun asked puzzlingly.

”We need to open the main gate to allow the kingdom army to enter without triggering the firestorm,” Amon explained.

”Firestorm...? Wait, you are not talking about the firestorm that will engulf the city if you break the city barrier forcefully, do you? That is just a bluff,” Bun Tal uttered.

”A bluff? How do you know it is only a bluff?” Amon asked.

”Because Mayor Wang Xisheng told us himself.”

”Did he...?” Amon pondered this information.

”He said it was a delay tactic to wait for the rebel army that is on its way,” Yun Xiao added. ”They are going to ambush the kingdom army from behind when they charge into the city.”

”Can’t you just send a message and ask the kingdom army to break the barrier before the rebel army arrives?” Lo Bakh asked Amon.

”Who can say if they have not arrived already?” Min Chun said.

”Even if they have, they lose their surprise advantage since we have already informed the kingdom army of this ploy,” Lo Bakh said. ”Plus, we will help them fight those rebels.”

”What do you say, Colonel Amon?” Yun Xiao asked Amon.

Amon looked at them one by one before saying, ”We will stick to our plan. We will assault the main gate and open it for the kingdom army. Your clans will defend us when we attempt that.”

”It’s a waste of time since I have already told you the firestorm is a bluff,” Bun Tal uttered. He sounded disappointed.

”I don’t think it is,” Amon returned.

”What makes you say so?” Yun Xiao asked.

”In my opinion, his story of an incoming rebel army sounds more like the bluff,” Amon replied.

When he saw from these clan members’ expressions that they were unconvinced, he said, ”Think about it. If they possess an army capable of clashing directly against a kingdom army, would they risk it for one Fuxiang City? They will save it for a better objective.”

They didn’t like hearing Amon say their city as if it were nothing, but they couldn’t deny the logic behind his words. The rebels were, after all, always afraid to clash directly with the kingdom.

”So... Are you saying the firestorm threat is real?” Bun Tal asked.

”When we make our move, you better organize to have your clan’s people prepare to move out of the city once the kingdom army enters after we open the city gate.”

”Are... Are you saying there is still a possibility the firestorm is triggered even when the kingdom army enters through the city gate?” Win Chun asked.

”They are your clans. It’s up to you if you are willing to risk it,” Amon returned without answering the question directly.

Everyone took a deep breath before nodding their understanding. Yun Xiao asked, ”When will we move for the gate?”

”Next morning,” Amon answered.

Their expressions showed surprise at how soon this operation would commence. Amon gave them an answer before they asked the question.

”With how things are going, I’m sure the mayor will learn something is going on inside his city very soon, if not already. Especially after the Yon Clan lose contact with these four,” Amon pointed at the four people he slew. ”I’m sure someone from the Yon Clan will report to the mayor about this incident. We cannot give him time to prepare. We will strike when they are still unsure what is going on.”

”Such a rush timing will also make it difficult for us to mobilize our people...,” Win Chun said. ”We haven’t truly vetted everyone in our clan to ensure who is willing to support this cause.”

”Gather anyone you can. Time is of the essence. We will strike once the sun rises,” Amon announced.