Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 477: Chapter 477. Raiding the Village

Bloodspill Prairie didn’t have many trees, but its terrain comprised many hills. The hills provided covers for Huang Zhan’s legion to sneak as close to the village as possible. Under the guidance of the scout who had spotted the village earlier, Huang Zhan led a small team to peek.

Amon was included in this team. They were now lying on the top of a hill, looking at the village.

The village was quite large. All the houses were large tents, which corresponded to the nomadic nature of the tribe. From the number of tents, Amon estimated the inhabitants numbered around two to three thousand.

”Something might be wrong. It’s too quiet,” Amon whispered. ”There is almost no sentry.”

Instead of showing worry after hearing Amon’s words, Huang Zhan grinned instead. ”I might have left out a thing or two about this raid. You see, I’ve known about this village and several other nearby villages for some time. One day before you arrived, I also sent a small regiment to a nearby area. I know that regiment will be too tempting for the tribes who live in this prairie to resist. Most of the capable cultivators in this village had joined forces to assault that regiment.”

”You used the regiment as a lure?” Amon asked. ”Shouldn’t you go support that regiment and crush the main power of Kazhan deserters?”

”If I finish them up, where will I get my fun, then?” Huang Zhan asked back. ”I am not allowed to invade Kazhan directly. I must wait until I become the king before I can do that. Until then, I need to exterminate them moderately. Otherwise, I will run out of prey.”

”... So, you are willing to sacrifice a regiment of your followers?”

Huang Zhan chuckled before answering, ”Not the entire regiment are my soldiers. I have them bring a large group of slaves to bolster their number. So, only half the regiment were soldiers. Anyway, no need to concern yourself about that regiment. I picked soldiers who are incompetent and have shown disobedience to me. They didn’t know I was using them as a lure. They thought I was sending them to trade the slaves with a local Kazhan tribe, hehe.”

”Your Highness, everyone is in position,” Da Niu informed Huang Zhan.

While they watched the village, the rest of the legion broke into smaller battalions. These battalions spread out and encircled the village. Da Niu had just received the news from the message talismans carried by the lieutenants who led the battalions.

”Good. Give them the signal to proceed,” Huang Zhan uttered.

Amon saw Huang Zhan’s eyes lit up when he gave the order.

Da Niu stood and used a talisman. This talisman produced a fireball that shot far into the sky. This fireball erupted into a flare that brightened up the night sky. Following that was a cacophony of roar and yell that came from every direction.

The village came alive then. Villagers came out of their houses carrying torches. Their faces appeared confused by all the noises. When they saw the soldiers rushing from all around the village toward them, their expressions turned to that of horror.

The few sentries guarding the village immediately sounded the alarm, but it was too late. The soldiers soon crashed into the outermost tents. Villagers who were cultivators tried their best to fight, but they were outnumbered.

Most villagers tried fleeing after learning about the situation. As nomadic tribes, they didn’t have many belongings. Each person only carried one backpack. They also seemed to be experienced in running away. They fled in different directions, making it difficult for the enemy to pursue them.

Unfortunately for them, their enemies were also experienced in dealing with them. Huang Zhan only sent one-third of his legion to assault the village. The remaining soldiers stood encircling the village, forming a fence that sealed everyone in. To break through, the villagers must fight the soldiers.

They couldn’t break through the fence. Most of their powerful cultivators were out on mission. The few they had remaining were quickly routed. Within a short period, the fight turned into a slaughter.

All the cultivators above the Mortal Stage were slain. Men who surrendered were bound. They would bring these men back to Fort Lion’s Den as slaves. Women were dragged to the streets and raped. All the tents were burnt.

Huang Zhan walked through the burning village, enjoying the carnage. ”Ah... I will never get tired of this sound,” he said. His face expressed bliss. He savored the moment for a while before turning to Amon.

”Colonel Amon, I’m going to be blunt with you,” he said. ”The reason I invited you is because you are a talented person, but you won’t achieve anything by following my little brother. I know you are a man of big ambition. I can see it in your eyes. Come to my camp. With me, you can do anything you like except betray me. Once I become the king, I will use the entire power of Echos to crush other countries. I will take on this world and conquer it! For now, this is a tiny show of my conquest.”

”This is no conquest. This is bullying the weak,” Amon uttered.

”Watch your mouth, Colonel! Don’t act like you are better than us,” Da Niu said.

”I am not better than you,” Amon said. ”But I am also not a coward like you.”

”Say that again!” Da Niu lifted his hand in a threatening pose.

”No need to get upset, Da Niu,” Huang Zhan said. He didn’t appear offended by Amon’s words. ”The colonel is simply unfamiliar with wars, which is a pity. I thought you were a man used to bloodshed. Perhaps I have judged you wrongly.”

Amon didn’t respond. His attention was taken by the nearby voice of a crying child. One of Huang Zhan’s soldiers was about to stab his spear into a little kid who was lying on the ground and crying.

Amon heard Madam Lin’s voice inside his head. His body moved by itself. He slammed into the soldier with the spear, sending him flying.

”How dare you!” Da Niu walked toward Amon with heavy stomps.

Huang Zhan again stopped the general. He zoomed before Amon, placing his body as a shield. Da Niu reluctantly stopped.

Huang Zhan turned to Amon. He glanced at the little kid on the ground before returning his attention to Amon. ”Well, I guess I was truly wrong about you. That rarely happens, but I guess I can’t be correct all the time.”

He gently held Amon’s hand and led him away. While walking, he spoke, ”Let me give you some advice as a war veteran, Colonel Amon. In war, mercy is a luxury. You might think a little kid is harmless, but a little kid with enough hatred might grow up to become someone who unmakes you. War is never a place for mercy.”

Amon turned back because the voice of the crying kid suddenly stopped. Da Niu’s giant foot was where the boy used to be. Under his foot was a pool of blood.

”No need to be sad about that kid. If anything, he will no longer suffer. We have freed him from the agony of this cruel world,” Huang Zhan said.

Amon didn’t feel sad. He didn’t feel anything for the villagers currently experiencing hell on earth. The only reason he acted to save the kid was because he was haunted by Madam Lin. Still, he disliked Huang Zhan who acted like he was more experienced in warfare. It left a distaste in his mouth, but he didn’t show it. He was at a disadvantage. It was better to let his opponent underestimate him.

Huang Zhan no longer persuaded Amon to join him but remained cordial. He continued to treat Amon like a guest and led him around the village while his soldiers performed every kind of atrocities imaginable. They walked around the place like they were sightseeing tourists.

After the soldiers had their share of slaughter and debauchery, they carried the still-surviving villagers to serve as slaves. Those who had died or nearly died were skewered using long poles. These poles were then erected at the periphery of the burning village. The cultivators who returned to this village would be greeted by a fence of human cadavers before seeing their burnt-down village.

Huang Zhan led his legion back with their captives in tow. He laughed and talked merrily along the way, like someone who had achieved a great victory. Amon remained indifferent. He only responded when he was asked a question.

Their return journey was without interruption. This showed that Huang Zhan’s strategy worked. Kazhan defectors were busy with the lure he sent. Even if one of the villagers used a message talisman, the location was far enough that the defectors didn’t have enough time to return and chase them.

Before entering Fort Lion’s Den, Amon said, ”Thank you for your hospitality, Your Highness. It is time for me to depart. I still have matters to take care of.”

Huang Zhan turned to him and replied with a grin, ”Stay one more night, Colonel Amon. I will help prepare for your departure tomorrow morning. Please, I insist!”