Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 720: Chapter 720. Returning to Echos

Kazhan and Gyleth Marx’s armies joined Farghous’ army when they stormed into Saint’s Rest. After the devastation several days ago, the citizens were powerless to stop the armies. Many influential nobles from Saint’s Rest were also bitter toward the temple due to Zhang Daofeng’s terror. Hence, they didn’t lift a finger to stop the armies.

The surviving members of the temple tried to argue that they were also victims of Zhang Daofeng’s treachery, but they were ignored. In the end, all they could do was flee the city to avoid being massacred. The temple itself was ransacked and looted.

The Echos Army didn’t join the bloodbath. Though Huang San was also grieving for losing his father, his conscience still knew that the temple members were mostly innocent. They were simply defending their faith, which had now fallen into ruins due to Zhang Daofeng’s action and Mu Qin’s revelation as a demon.

Huang San only sent a few agents into the temple to search for clues about the calamity before the three armies demolished it. Sadly, they couldn’t find any.

In the end, they failed to achieve their goal, which was to learn about the calamity and prevent it.

Dim Loog argued that although the truth of the calamity still eluded them, they should have averted it after defeating the temple. Many agreed with his sentiment, including Xan Chi and Hou Bang. Huang San hoped that it was indeed so, but he wasn’t too convinced.

Xan Chi led his army and returned to Kazhan after he was satisfied with the raid. Even without accessing the vault, he looted plenty of the temple’s riches. He also captured many temple members, unlike Farghous, who executed all the temple members his army caught. Xan Chi kept his captives as slaves.

The only remaining Lord Stage cultivator, Xei Nuli, left before the armies raided the temple. She was not interested in the temple’s riches. Her purpose for coming here was to obtain the Longevity Pill. With Amon gone, she felt like she had lost a gamble. She returned with a darkened mood.

Huang San led his army to return to Echos, while Gyleth Marx and Farghous remained in Saint’s Rest. They seemed to have the intention of deciding what to do with Oredolia’s territory now that the Temple of Divinity was no more. Huang San wasn’t interested in this power struggle.

Before beginning their march, Huang San approached the First Demon Army and conducted reacquisition. Yong Baili led most of the Echos Soldiers in the First Demon Army and rejoined the formal Echos Army. As for the Khode and Kazhan soldiers in the army, they looked to Xin Wuming for instructions since Amon was no more.

Huang San thought at first Xin Wuming would lead the rest of the First Demon Army away. Unexpectedly, Xin Wuming submitted himself to Huang San’s command. Seeing that, Kazhan and Khode’s soldiers decided to leave. Huang San didn’t stop them. Their allegiance was not to him, after all.

As Huang San promised, he told Xin Wuming that he would be court-martialled upon returning to Echos. This was the punishment for defying his order at Saint’s Rest’s wall. He demoted Xin Wuming to the rank of Captain and transferred the leadership of the First Demon Army’s remnant to Yong Baili. Xin Wuming didn’t resist.

Huang San was glad that the matter with the First Demon Army could be settled without a fuss. He was puzzled, though. The First Demon Army from the report was supposed to be much larger. For starters, he didn’t see the battle puppet and human puppet armies, nor were there any of the famous Khode’s Yuanxu Cannons.

When Huang San asked Yong Baili about it, he explained that the puppet armies left during the night on the day Mu Qin was defeated. The puppets also took all the Yuanxu Cannons and the rifles. He didn’t understand why that happened. He asked Xin Wuming because the guy didn’t seem surprised or concerned about the puppets’ action. Yet, Xin Wuming only told him not to worry about it.

Huang San glanced at Xin Wuming, who was marching with the common soldiers far back in the formation. He uttered, ”It was a pity to lose such an army, but never mind, we will ask him about it during his court-martial.”

”Please don’t be too harsh with him,” Yong Baili said. ”He is not a bad person. He is just a bit too single-minded when it comes to something to do with General Amon.”

”I would love to have someone with such blind loyalty,” Huang San said, as if ridiculing himself.

”Your Majesty, I’m sure there are plenty of people like that in Your Majesty’s retinue,” Yong Baili said. ”I will also work hard to prove my loyalty to you and to Echos.”

”I appreciate that,” Huang San said sincerely.

”What about General Jiang Tong?” Yong Baili asked. ”I heard he was hurt pretty bad during the battle with Mu Qin.”

Huang Zen, who rode beside Huang San, answered the question, ”He was. He is still healing inside that wagon.” Huang Zen pointed at one of the large wagons that marched with the army. Most of those wagons contained supplies. Some were used to house injured soldiers who could not walk on their own, while the rest housed the fallen bodies of high-ranking army members. Huang Ti’s reassembled remains were inside one of the wagons.

”It’s that bad?” Yong Baili asked.

”His wounds are no longer life-threatening,” Huang Zen answered. ”Still, his bronze skin prevented our healers from conducting proper surgery. He could only rely on recovery pills and slowly let his body heal.”

”I see. Ironically, it was his strength that prevented us from assisting him,” Yong Baili remarked.

”That’s true... Well, with the war over, he can at least rest peacefully until he fully recovers,” Huang Zen said.

Huang San let out a long sigh. He said, ”I’m afraid it’s not that simple.”

”Why? Do you see another war coming?” Huang Zen asked.

Huang San shook his head. He said, ”I hope it is just a needless concern. Currently, five out of the six great countries have lost their Lord Stage protectors. The only known Lord Stage cultivators were Farghous and Xei Nuli from the Xandar Region. I hope the two didn’t plan on using this development for their personal agenda. If they are, this war that appears to have ended will reignite again.”

”I hope that is not the case,” Yong Baili said. ”But if any force tries to assert dominion over Echos, I will not back down! Even if the enemy is a Lord Stage cultivator!”

Huang San smiled at the declaration. ”I represent Echos to thank you for your service and loyalty.”

”That is my duty, Your Majesty,” Yong Baili replied.

Huang San said, ”After we return, I will focus on cultivating. Unless Echos has another Lord Stage cultivator again, the threat of invasion will always loom over us. I will not disappoint father and sister Huang Er.”

Hearing Huang San mention the two, Huang Zen lowered his head. ”I can’t believe we lost both grandfather and Aunt Huang Er in this campaign. This is truly a big blow for us.”

”I’m sad that we don’t even have Sister Huang Er’s body to give her a proper burial,” Huang San uttered sadly. He told Huang Zen, ”We must pick up the slack. The Huang Clan has only the two of us left now.”

”There is still Huang Bei,” Huang Zen reminded.

Huang San chuckled. ”Huang Bei is still a baby. We must step up if we don’t want Echos to fall behind.”

”I understand, uncle. I will do my best. I will not disappoint you,” Huang Zen declared.

Huang San nodded approvingly.

*

Huang San led the Echos Army through a road in Oredolia territory that went in a slightly roundabout way if they were heading for Echos. The reason was that if they were to take the straight path, they must go through the Xandar Region. If it were before, he would have done that. But with Echos no longer possessing a Lord Stage protector while the Xandar Region had, he didn’t think it was wise to test the water.

After three days of marching, the road passed beside a low mountain with lush jungle. As for the other side, it was a wide river with a strong current. Once they moved around this mountain, they would enter Echos’ territory.

As they continued following the road, they found a large group of people blocking the road ahead. Huang San gave the signal for the troops to stop.

”Who the hell are those people?” Huang Zen asked.

”Can they be bandits?” Yong Baili asked.

”If they are, they must be a bandit group that was composed of idiots,” Huang Zen said. The group in front of them seemed large, but it should be only around a thousand people. ”Do they not see we are an army? Do they have a death wish or something?”

”We must know their intention before we continue,” Huang San said. He turned to the side and commanded, ”Xu Bao, take a squad. Approach that group and find out what they want.”

There was no need, however, because the leader of the group blocking them took to the sky and bellowed loudly.

”Corrupt King Huang San! My name is Lin Xiaolong! I am here for my revenge on the Huang Clan, who had ordered the eradication of my Lin Clan...!!”