Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 657: Chapter 657. Second Echos’ Army

”Pretty slick, huh?” Xan Chi said as he walked with Amon. They were making rounds around Bulo City to review the inhabitants. They had imposed a one-day full curfew on the first day after occupying the capital. The next day, they allowed normal activities in certain areas during daylight, especially the business and entertainment districts. This was so the capital’s economy wouldn’t become stagnant and to appease the citizens by a margin.

”What do you mean?” Amon asked.

”Don’t play dumb,” Xan Chi said. ”You suggested trial by combat against the enemies to motivate everyone to fight. This way, you ensure that no one is slacking once the battle starts.”

”Obviously,” Amon said as if that was never a hidden intention. ”You people have the biggest stake in this conflict, as well as reaping the most rewards. The entire country is your playground if we win. I’m just a mercenary working for payment. I can do the heavy lifting, but you people must chip in as well. I won’t have you sit by the side and just watch.”

”Hey, I’m not complaining,” Xan Chi said.

”Really? Your tone sounds like you are,” Amon returned.

”That’s because I am about to complain about a different matter,” Xan Chi said. ”You promised me that I would get the throne. Now, I must compete with others for the title of Grand Chief.”

”If you had accepted my offer without involving the Tribe Mother, that would have been the deal. You are the one who brought her into our agreement, and she brought these other tribes into our campaign. Whose fault was that?”

Xan Chi couldn’t refute the argument.

After leaving him fuming for a few seconds, Amon told him, ”Don’t worry, you are still my first choice. After all, you were the one who agreed to my payment. I will help you become the Grand Chief.”

”How are you going to do that?” Xan Chi asked.

Amon chuckled. ”The battle puppets that record the scores are mine. That means I control the score. Who is going to protest if I say your score is the highest?”

Xan Chi’s face brightened after hearing that. He clapped Amon’s shoulder and laughed, ”That’s right! Haha! I’m sorry I ever doubted you, Brother Amon!”

”Nevertheless, I can’t have you slacking off. If everyone saw that your tribe members don’t give their best yet acquire the best score, everyone will suspect there is foul play.”

”Don’t worry, neither my tribe nor I ever pulls our punches in a fight. We will fight to our fullest! As long as I’m sure I will be the Grand Chief, everything’s fine.”

”Not if you keep saying that out loud. What if the other tribe members hear this?” Amon asked.

”Oh! Sorry!” Xan Chi quickly put his hands over his mouth.

”By the way, did you find the ones who harmed your father?” Amon asked.

Xan Chi’s face darkened again. He shook his head. ”I have scoured the castle upside down. I can’t find the pricks. I’ve also sent my people to look for them around the capital, but most likely, they are with Shou Zou’s royal army.”

”Well. In that case, I hope you find them during the coming battle,” Amon said.

”Let’s hope they don’t get killed before I have my hands on them.”

As they continued their round, they spotted Fen Nu among a gathering crowd. This crowd appeared to be listening to an orator who was making a speech on a raised platform.

Amon and Xan Chi approached her and asked, ”What are these people gathering for?”

Fen Nu pointed at the orator and said, ”Listen for yourself.”

”... this is a violation of our rights! We are not slaves! We are human beings like everyone else. I deserve to be treated better. I can’t stand these daily oppressions from those rich-ass nobles. The way they look at us. The way they talk to us. They are committing violence! It is inhuman! I demand to be treated with respect. I demand we’re all treated with respect! We are not slaves...!!”

”The fuck is this?” Xan Chi asked. ”I thought slavery had been completely abolished in the capital. Only settlements near the border still have tribes practicing it.”

Fen Nu chuckled. ”It is. You want to know what the funny thing is? That man talking up there is never a slave. It was his grandfather who was a slave. His grandfather was freed at an old age. His father and he have been enjoying freedom their entire lives.”

”So, he is talking nonsense?” Xan Chi asked.

”Nonsense that the public likes to hear,” Fen Nu replied. ”I asked around. This is not an isolated case. Almost every day, people talk like this, and it’s not just at one spot. I have been walking around since the morning, and I have encountered three different men making this kind of speech.”

Amon sneered. ”These people are just reciting what they think is popular with the current trend. They never cared whether it was true or appropriate. I don’t disapprove of such selfish acts, although its purpose of attention-seeking is totally pathetic in my opinion. Still, you must know, since you are going to reestablish the old ways. The more you loosen their noose, the more they become brazen.”

”I know,” Xan Chi said. ”Since he claims to be oppressed so much, let’s give him a first-hand experience. That way, he doesn’t need to lie anymore.”

Xan Chi levitated and approached the orator. The orator was so passionate in his speech that he was only aware of Xan Chi when Xan Chi was before him.

”Hey! Who are you? Why do you interrupt my speech?” The orator demanded. ”Folks! This is what I’m talking about. Now, I’m not even allowed the freedom to speak. This oppression must stop! We can’t stay idle while our right–ahack...!!”

The orator stopped speaking when Xan Chi’s hand grabbed his throat. This incident immediately riled the crowd, but the soldiers who came with Xan Chi had already surrounded the crowd. They aimed their weapons at the crowd and prevented them from rioting.

”You keep on claiming that you are oppressed like a slave,” Xan Chi told the orator, who couldn’t free himself from Xan Chi’s grip. The orator was only a Transformation Stage cultivator. ”I will let you taste the life of one. You are mine from now on!”

Xan Chi flew away in the castle’s direction with the orator still in his grip. His laughter echoed through the streets and made the hair of those who heard it stand on end. Amon pitied the orator. Xan Chi had been upset about not finding the people who harmed his father. He would surely take out his frustration on this newly gained plaything.

The crowd was agitated but didn’t dare to riot because of the soldiers surrounding them. Only after making sure the crowd wouldn’t do anything rash did the soldiers lower their weapons and move away. The crowd protested, but that was all they dared to do.

Amon left the site with Fen Nu. The woman replaced Xan Chi as his guide as he resumed his round. An hour later, they were interrupted by Xin Wuming.

”Brother! Our scouts bring concerning news!”

”What is it? Does Kazhan’s royal army arrive earlier than expected?” Amon asked.

”No. The Kazhan Army’s march is swift, but our estimation is not wrong. It should take them at least another three days before they arrive. The tidings came from the scouts we sent to the South.”

Under Amon’s instructions, the First Demon Army developed a habit of always sending scouts in all directions while camping. For this campaign, most of their scouts were directed to the East, where Kazhan’s royal army would be coming from, but they still had a few scouts watching the other directions.

”South...? Echos?” Amon asked.

Xin Wuming nodded. ”A force of around twenty thousand is heading this way. The scout who spotted this force identified the banner and the soldier uniforms as Echos’. He also identified the person leading the force.”

”Who?” Amon asked.

”Princess Huang Er,” Xin Wuming asked.

”This is good, isn’t it? We got reinforcement,” Fen Nu said.

”They are not here to aid us,” Amon responded to Fen Nu. He then muttered to himself, ”Heh, so this is his decision. No wonder he didn’t let Yang Li know.”

”What do you mean? Are they here to join Shou Zou and fight us?” Fen Nu asked.

Amon shook his head. ”I don’t think they will go that far... How far away are they?”

”They should arrive by the end of today,” Xin Wuming answered.

Amon didn’t find this surprising. The scouts roaming the Southern side were only a few. It was already good that the scouts managed to spot Huang Er’s force before they arrived.

”Tell Xu Bao and Yong Baili to be on standby at the Northern side of the capital. Don’t let them know about the princess’ visit yet,” Amon told Xin Wuming. ”When her army arrives, treat them politely, but have your legion bar the entrance to the capital. Only let Princess Huang Er pass. Bring her directly to me. I will be waiting inside the castle.”

”Yes, brother,” Xin Wuming bowed.

Amon turned to Fen Nu and told her, ”Tell the other tribes, don’t provoke this second Echos’ army. Best if they stay away and avoid contact.”

”Very well. I will relay your message,” Fen Nu said.