Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 560: Chapter 560. Unwanted Reinforcement

The stick Zhong Yuan referred to was the one protruding from the backpack and aimed up into the sky.

Hearing that, Amon rose, took the map of Echos, and laid it on the table. He looked at the settlements closest to the border with Khode. The border was a long line. Bright Rock City was not the only one close to that border. It was not even the closest. Three other settlements were closer to the border.

He was already suspicious when he first heard that Khode occupied Bright Rock City. There were closer settlements, which made it easier for Khode to send reinforcements or supplies from back home. He chalked it up to Bright Rock City being the biggest among those settlements.

Now, he knew the true reason.

Amon was grinning as he looked at the map on the table. He roughly had an idea about the opponent’s trick. If his theory was right, he had a way to retake Bright Rock City without heavy losses.

”Do you think of something?” Zhong Yuan asked.

”Address him as General, Boss, or Sir!” Xin Wuming rebuked him.

Amon didn’t bother with the formality. He pointed at Zhong Yuan, ”You will follow me to Bright Rock City. Wuming, told Hu Hua, Shi Hei, Diao Xin, and Yi Chaisan to prepare. They will follow us as well.”

Amon dismissed the two after giving the instructions.

*

Later that night, all eleven of them, who were to depart earlier, finished their preparation and climbed onto Ha Gild’s Great Eagle. The eagle took flight and headed toward Bright Rock City.

Gao Xingzi was among the eleven. The Yao Bird couldn’t keep up with the Great Eagle for a long duration, so she boarded the Great Eagle as well. The Yao Bird would follow behind and arrive later. She didn’t worry about her pet. The Yao Bird excelled at stealthy flying, especially at night. It was also a lower mythical beast. Very few spirit beasts would dare to bother it.

Gao Xingzi mostly kept to herself. Amon didn’t mind. He had read her file. She was a Beginning Spirit Stage cultivator. Hua Rong at first objected to giving Amon command of Gao Xingzi. Spirit Stage cultivators were highly valued, after all, but all royal assassins who tamed a Yao Bird were at the Spirit Stage. Since Amon was adamant about the Yao Bird request, Huang San let him have her.

While Amon was glad he gained another Spirit Stage combatant, he was gladder after reading her file to find that she was a professional. Her records showed that she could follow orders without questioning said orders. He needed that if he was to utilize her Yao Bird.

Wu Di tried to converse with Gao Xingzi, only to be met with a cold response. He gave up after a few tries and came to Amon.

”You do know how to pick subordinates,” Wu Di remarked. ”She was as cold as you, which makes me miss Yang Li. I rarely see her at the fort anymore. I heard she spent most of her time with King Huang San at the palace.”

”Are you jealous?” Amon asked back.

”Don’t get me wrong. I have no intention to court Sister Li,” Wu Di replied. ”If she ends up with King Huang San, I am glad for them. I always thought they made a nice couple, ever since they trained together for the ascension trial. I just hope that their relationship is genuine, not someone’s machination...”

”Are you trying to say something?” Amon asked.

”Look. I do admire your capabilities in getting the job done. I truly am,” Wu Di said as he sat beside Amon. ”But we both know I don’t always agree with your method. So, I have been wondering, why do you keep me around?”

”Are you not happy with your position?” Amon asked.

”Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy with the promotion you granted me and all the other boons I got along the way. Heck, I would still be in the Mystic Stage if not for you. However, I know you are not a sentimental person. You didn’t pick me because we had known each other for a long time, or because we were fellow students. If I dare say, I will say you don’t have the capacity for that kind of feeling. So, why me? Why always bring me on most of your important missions? You have other followers who will obey your commands without question.”

”Hm... Let’s just say I also reserve some admiration toward you,” Amon said. ”You have a potential that probably even you don’t realize.”

”Why, thank you!” Wu Di said. ”Still, there might be a time when we don’t see eye to eye, and I will have no choice but to oppose your command.”

Amon snickered. ”I’m counting on that.”

”Huh?” Wu Di wasn’t sure what to make of Amon’s response.

”You don’t need to concern yourself regarding my treatment of you,” Amon said. ”If you ever feel you want to leave, I won’t stop you. You don’t even need to feel indebted for the things you have gained from me. Whatever benefits you gained from following me, you got them because of my selfish reasons. Of course, if you end up causing me trouble for your virtues, you will have to prepare for the consequences.”

”I’m not afraid of you,” Wu Di stated.

”I know,” Amon returned. ”That is another reason I chose you.”

Wu Di scratched his head. He decided to confront Amon about this since it had bugged him for some time. Yet, Amon’s answers added to his confusion rather than clearing it up. He decided not to worry about it too much.

He rose and said, ”Well, I will follow your orders since you have a higher rank than I, but let me warn you again, I won’t obey orders that betray my morality.”

Amon didn’t respond. He closed his eyes and returned to cultivating.

”Tch,” Wu Di uttered. He was used to Amon’s cold treatment, but it didn’t mean he had to like it. He walked away and found Yi Chaisan to chat with.

*

Using the Great Eagle took them much less time than when Jiang Tong’s army marched to the city. They arrived in only three days, which was on the fourth day of the truce.

They saw the massive camp of Jiang Tong’s army near the foot of Bright Rock Hill. Amon guided the great eagle to approach that camp. Several Martial Realm soldiers flew up and prohibited the great eagle from flying too close. After Amon announced his identity, the soldiers instructed him to land the great eagle outside the army camp.

Amon complied. After the great eagle landed and everyone disembarked, it flew back to Golden Stone City. The soldiers who hailed them asked them to wait while they notified their superiors.

They waited for almost an hour. Wu Di went and complained a few times to the soldiers who guarded them, but they simply replied by telling him to be patient.

Amon wasn’t bothered by the treatment. He knew they were unwanted reinforcement. He spent his time resuming his cultivation.

Someone with a high enough rank finally came to meet them. This person was Liu Xun. ”Welcome, General Amon,” he greeted.

”About time,” Wu Di complained. ”Didn’t the capital already inform you regarding our arrival?”

Liu Xun glanced at Wu Di but ignored his complaint. He addressed Amon, ”General Amon, please follow me to meet General Jiang Tong.”

”Lead the way,” Amon said.

They followed Liu Xun to the central part of the camp, which was organized as the field command center. Liu Xun led them to the biggest tent next to this command center. He said, ”General Jiang Tong will only see General Amon. The rest of you, please wait outside.”

Amon nodded to his people before entering the tent with Liu Xun. He saw Jiang Tong behind a desk near the opposite wall. He was talking to a military officer. He continued talking as if Amon didn’t exist.

”... Take men with good concealment arts. Try gauging the other side of the hill. See if there is a place where we can infiltrate from.”

”What if we are caught again?” The officer asked Jiang Tong. ”They have already warned us three times. They said they will act the next time our men are caught trekking the hill.”

”Fuck them! This is our land. If they act hostilely, they will be the ones who break the truce,” Jiang Tong replied.

”Very well. I will carry out your instructions.” The officer bowed in acknowledgement before leaving the tent.

Only after the officer left did Jiang Tong turn his gaze to Amon.

”General Amon,” he started. ”I don’t know why you come here. Didn’t you mention you have the insane intention of invading Khode?”

”That was my original plan, but the King ordered me to come here and lend you a hand,” Amon replied.

”Hm...” Jiang Tong didn’t show any emotion, but Liu Xun knew he was offended by Amon’s remark.

”That was a kind gesture from His Majesty, but we don’t need help,” Jiang Tong said. ”You can go back and tell His Majesty that we will take Bright Rock City back once the truce is over.”

”You misunderstand,” Amon said. ”His Majesty was not being kind by asking me to help you. He was displeased with your progress, so he sent me here to clean up the mess.”