Chapter 395: Entering Autumn

「The next night.」

It was a moonless night, and a fierce wind howled.

‘Has it begun?!’

Fang Rui stood on a rooftop, gazing toward the city gates. He could see black dots swooping in at high speed.

…

“Brother Song, can we do it with just our Heifeng Stronghold?”

“How will we know if we don’t try?”

Song Gong narrowed his eyes. “The key to this operation is those so-called ‘Tribulation Demons.’ Strategist Wu, you understand Magic. What’s your take?”

Strategist Wu was a short man. He stroked his little mustache and said, “The people’s will is like iron, and the law of the state is like a furnace. The Qi Fortune within the county town is immense. The beasts bewitched by that ‘Demon Ancestor’s’ Magic might not…”

Before he could finish his sentence, he saw the Tribulation Demon Black Eagles carrying their men into the city with ease, completely unhindered.

“Ahem, might not be able to… return!”

Strategist Wu added, “Brother Song, perhaps we should wait a bit longer? There’s no need to be rash.”

“Those are the words of a prudent man, Strategist.”

But soon, a flock of Black Eagles took to the sky again, flying straight toward them.

A figure leaped from an eagle’s back. “Brother, this method works! Heifeng Stronghold will take the city today! …Huh? Brother, why do you look so distracted?”

“It’s nothing.”

Song Gong waved his hand, suppressing the deep dread he felt toward the ‘Demon Ancestor.’ He collected himself and clasped his fists. “Uncle Demons, we’ll be counting on you. After we take the city, I will be sure to treat you all to the finest wine and meat…”

SCREECH!

These Tribulation Demon Black Eagles were sapient and could naturally understand human speech. They nodded in response.

「A short while later.」

The fifty Tribulation Demon Black Eagles assigned to Heifeng Stronghold ferried three hundred elite warriors into the city in waves.

“Brother Lin, take one hundred and fifty men to the barracks! The rest of you, with me! We’ll surround the County Magistrate’s Office and capture the County Magistrate alive!”

“Kill!”

…

Though the Qilian Six Strongholds presented a united front, they were riddled with each other’s spies. When Heifeng Stronghold made its move, the other five quickly got the news.

“Didn’t we agree to advance and retreat together, to guard against that Demon Ancestor? Why has Heifeng Stronghold acted first?”

“First one into the county town gets to capture the County Magistrate and rule the Six Strongholds… That bastard Song Gong, that must be his plan!”

“Song Gong, who’s always going on about being so righteous, is actually this cunning!”

“Quick! Gather the men! We’re going to Guanghua County Town too!”

“Heh heh, it’s just as well we have Song scouting the path for us. If he fails, we can reconsider our plans. But if he actually takes the city, then I’ll be able to get a piece of the action myself…”

…

Tonight, Song Gong and his Heifeng Stronghold men found their operation going smoother than they could have ever imagined.

The County Magistrate was dragged out of his concubine’s bed and captured. Even his two Fifth Grade Guards were easily dispatched by Song Gong, who used a Military Secret Technique to gather Military Qi.

The reason for their success was simple: even in a place as steeped in Qi Fortune as the County Magistrate’s Office, the Tribulation Demon Black Eagles, created by Fang Rui’s Tribulation Enlightenment, were completely unaffected.

The other team, sent to the barracks, captured the entire Guanghua County Army in their sleep.

Just then—

The leaders of the other five strongholds, having heard the news, also rushed to the scene.

“Brother Song, you have no honor! Didn’t we have an agreement…?”

“That’s right! Why didn’t you let us know?”

“Sigh, this makes it look like we’re just rushing over to steal your prize.”

…

“My brothers, please don’t be offended! Tonight, I was merely planning to scout things out. Who would have thought we’d end up taking the entire county town?”

Song Gong said with a clasp of his fists.

Just as the other five stronghold leaders were rendered speechless—

WHOOSH!

At that moment, Fang Rui, who had been watching from the shadows all along, descended from the sky with a crash. He was cloaked in jet-black and wreathed in a dark light.

“Sir!”

All six men, including Song Gong, had been traumatized by Fang Rui to varying degrees. Now, their expressions turned solemn, and a dead silence fell.

“As we agreed, I will not take a single coin from the spoils of Guanghua County Town. You may all divide it amongst yourselves.”

At these words, the leaders of the other five strongholds—everyone except the men from Heifeng Stronghold—beamed with joy.

Song Gong stopped a burly man behind him who was about to speak. He smiled and said, “Controlling Guanghua County Town and defending it afterward will require the help of all our brothers. It’s only natural that everyone gets a share…”

“You are a man of your word, Sir! I am impressed!”

“Indeed!”

“And Brother Song is truly honorable.”

…

“Alright.”

Fang Rui held up his hands, silencing the five stronghold leaders. “According to yesterday’s agreement: whoever first breaches the city and captures the Venerable of Guanghua County shall be king and command the Six Strongholds. You five, hand over your men to Heifeng Stronghold!”

At this, it was the men of Heifeng Stronghold’s turn to look pleased, while the faces of the other five stronghold chiefs turned ugly. After a moment of silence, they began to speak up.

“Sir, that’s not right, is it?”

“That’s right. How about we acknowledge Brother Song as our leader, but we continue to manage our own men?”

“In my White Stone Stronghold, the men have short fuses. What if they cause trouble…”

…

“Sir,”

Song Gong tried to smooth things over. “How about we just…”

‘He was confident that as long as he had the official title, he could bring these men to heel sooner or later.’

Fang Rui raised a hand, cutting Song Gong off. He scanned the other five stronghold chiefs and asked coolly, “Is that what all of you think?”

‘Song Gong could afford to wait, but I can’t be bothered to dither!’

The five stronghold chiefs exchanged glances, all of them silent.

“I’m not one to break a promise. But without my men, I’d be a general without an army! I’d be better off staying on my mountain and ruling my own territory!”

Jiao Meng, the Chief of White Stone Stronghold, gritted his teeth and spoke, growing bolder with each word. “I’m done serving you! I’d rather go back to my mountain and live freely. To hell with the benefits in this city! I don’t want any part of it!”

“Good.”

Beneath his mask, the corner of Fang Rui’s mouth curled into a smirk. “Then allow me to see you on your way.”

Just as the other four stronghold leaders were about to follow his example—

BOOM!

Jiao Meng had just turned around when his body suddenly exploded like a watermelon. He was torn to pieces, and blood sprayed everywhere, drenching the heads and faces of the four chiefs standing beside him.

“Th-th-this…”