Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 701: Chapter 701. Guerrilla Warfare

When Hou Huang, Huang Ti, and Dim Loog were still breathing a relieved sigh after the difficult battle against the Holy Mother, one of Gyleth Marx’s soldiers approached them. This soldier wore a mask.

”Sura?” Hou Huang called. ”You have returned?”

”Yes, I helped the troops down there fighting our enemy when Your Majesty was fighting up here,” Sura Yao answered.

She glanced at the unconscious Jiang Tong. The two of them were always compared as equals, even when they never fought each other. Yet, Jiang Tong dared to come up here and interfere with the battle between the Lord cultivators. She, on the other hand, chose to stay down there because she knew she would lose her life if she did the same. This made her feel upset.

”How is the mission?” Hou Huang asked Sura Yao.

”The mission is a success,” Sura Yao reported. ”I split with the others after returning to Oredolia. General Amon carried the Soul Flayer. I just received his message around an hour ago. He had delivered the Soul Flayer to Hierophant Zhang Daofeng. The talisman will be ready in around two to three more hours. General Amon requested that we head to Saint’s Rest. He said we must face the Holy Mother together once the talisman is ready.”

”So soon?” Huang Ti asked. He wasn’t that keen to face the Holy Mother again.

”In the middle of the enemy’s capital? Is that wise?” Hou Huang also had her reservations.

”General Amon said that by unmasking the Holy Mother in front of her followers, the effect on her psyche will be greater. We can utilize the opportunity to score an early advantage.”

The three sovereigns looked at one another. They would need all kinds of advantages if they were to go up against that monster again. Finally, they nodded their agreement.

Hou Huang gave the order to Sura Yao, ”Command the army. We will depart for Saint’s Rest immediately.”

Dim Loog and Huang Ti also left to give the same command.

”Father!” Huang Ti saw Huang San approaching with his retinue. He followed Huang Ti’s advice and stayed at the rear while the battle occurred. His face was full of concern. ”Your arm...!”

”I will live,” Huang Ti said. ”I have General Jiang Tong to thank for saving my life. Please, treat him.”

Huang San gestured for the soldiers behind him. They took Jiang Tong and carried him down to Farghous’ camp below to administer emergency treatments.

”Have the army ready to march to Saint’s Rest,” Huang Ti told his son.

”I know. I’ve already given the order. Amon had sent me a message,” Huang San said. ”You shouldn’t follow us. You are in no condition to fight.”

”Nonsense. I’m among the few Lord Stage cultivators who can go up against the Holy Mother. If I don’t go, our chance of winning will drop. She is not someone who can be defeated by throwing thousands of weak soldiers at her. Our soldiers will likely only be spectators. They will only act if there are still her followers who insist on helping her. We, Lord Stage cultivators, will be the main players. Hence, I cannot afford to stay back.”

”But...”

Huang Ti put a hand on his son’s shoulder. ”I do this for our country’s future, your future. For us to have any future, the Holy Mother must be defeated. As a king, you should learn not to let your personal feelings prevent you from doing what must be done.”

Huang San’s face turned steely. He nodded. ”I understand. Nevertheless, please let the Pill Masters look at your wounds and do what they can before we depart.”

”Very well,” Huang Ti said.

---------------

Amon looked at a message talisman in his hand.

He had joined the siege outside Saint’s Rest. Corpses of Saint’s Rest citizens piled up outside the city, thanks to the work of the Yuanxu Cannons and the riflemen. The bombardments reduced the enemy enough so that by the time the enemy reached their defensive line, their number had been greatly reduced. Even if Saint’s Rest citizens insisted on continuing the battle, he believed they could maintain this rhythm for a long period.

The message he just received, however, changed that. He called one of the soldiers who held a horn and ordered the soldier to blow it. He issued the order for emergency retreat as the horn sounded.

”Brother, our force is doing well. Why are we pulling back?” Xin Wuming came and asked.

”The Holy Mother is returning,” Amon answered. He had placed several scouts who had the Eagle Eye art along the route between here and Farghous’ camp.

”Even with the speed of Martial Realm cultivators, Farghous’ camp is two hours away,” Xin Wuming said. He saw no reason for an emergency retreat. They should adopt a tactical retreat to reduce casualties on their side.

”The Holy Mother left her troops behind and rushed over here,” Amon explained. ”She could be here in less than half an hour. Our troops will suffer tremendous casualties if we are still here when she arrives.”

”What about the plan to reveal her identity while being witnessed by the people of this city?” Xin Wuming asked. ”If we leave, there is no guarantee she will stay here. She might leave to chase our retreating army.”

”That’s possible. That’s why I will stay behind with a few soldiers. I’ve already prepared for this.” Amon made a signal with his arm. A few hundred Martial Realm soldiers separated themselves from the army and approached him.

”Brother, if you stay, let me accompany you as well!” Xin Wuming exclaimed.

”No, you will command our army in my absence,” Amon replied. ”Trust me. I will be fine. Obey my plan.”

”I obey...” Xin Wuming uttered.

Amon turned to the hundred soldiers floating around him. He told them, ”You know what to do!”

”Yes, general!” They all replied simultaneously.

Amon and these soldiers spread out. After putting enough distance between each other, they all flew in the same direction, Saint’s Rest. Amon looked at where Kazhan’s army was. Like his side, many Martial Realm soldiers flew out from that army and headed to Saint’s Rest. He was glad that Xan Chi followed his instructions.

With Saint’s Rest’s barrier already destroyed earlier, nothing stopped these fliers from entering the city. With many of the city’s high-level cultivators already perished during the siege, and the rest chasing the retreating army, not many citizens could stop them. These soldiers spread out and landed at different spots in the city. They then started creating havoc.

They didn’t stay for long, though. There were still plenty of cultivators inside the city. After causing a fire, they ran away. They didn’t fly out. They stayed inside the city, avoiding capture by moving along the streets and causing more fires along the way. The open battle from earlier had changed into guerrilla warfare.

Not long after, Mu Qin arrived. She frowned deeply when she saw the massive pile of corpses outside the city. The enemy army was not visible anymore, but he could see the dust clouds in the distance. That should be where the retreating enemy army was.

Yet, she didn’t give chase. That was because she saw chaos all over Saint’s Rest. Fire and fighting occurred all around the place.

She shot down and landed where one of the fights took place. The fight was between a Mystic Stage Echos Soldier and a group of Transformation Stage citizens. Her hair shot forward and grabbed the Echos Soldier before he registered her presence. In a heartbeat, the Echos Soldier was ripped apart by her hair.

The citizens, who finally noticed her, dropped to their knees and pleaded, ”O, Holy Mother. Save our city from these heretics. They are causing chaos everywhere.”

Mu Qin didn’t say anything in reply. The aura around the place was too chaotic; she couldn’t differentiate using her Lord Sense which one was the enemy and which was her followers. She flew up into the sky again to locate her next target.

She kept zooming up and down. Each enemy she caught didn’t last long. Despite killing the enemies so swiftly, she was displeased. She couldn’t remember the last time she was forced into such a chore. It was not that easy to locate the enemies. Those she easily caught were the ones who happened to be fighting the citizens, but many operate in stealth. They sneaked around and caused fire without being noticed. Locating these sneaking enemies was harder.

Of course, it was also not easy for Echos and Kazhan Soldiers to sneak around. The whole city was hunting them, after all. They had to move and start a fire to keep the chaos going, but that increased their chance of being spotted.

Amon had informed them from the start that their chance of survival in this operation was close to zero. They would most likely die, but they must prolong their existence inside the city for as long as possible. They were proud soldiers who were not afraid of dying. The most important thing was that they didn’t die in vain.