Chapter 111 : The Cost

Yan stood among the corpses and looked at the terrified Shin soldier.

“Go.”

The soldier scrambled backward, struggling to his feet. After one last terrified glance at Yan, he turned and ran.

Moments later, Chen Yu, Gwalior, and the other soldiers arrived behind the torchbearer.

They looked at the scene before them, at the lone figure standing among the corpses.

Some swallowed hard. Others felt chills run down their spines.

They stared in silence and disbelief. Beyond the reach of the torchlight, more shapes lay scattered across the battlefield, their outlines barely visible in the darkness.

“Yan, did you kill everyone?” Chen Yu asked.

“No. The army was very big. Many escaped.”

“I was only able to kill a handful,” Yan said.

A handful?

The soldiers exchanged stunned glances. They could see only a fraction of the battlefield.

Just how many had actually fallen? They might not get the answer until tomorrow.

But one thing they realized was that they had a monster among them: a figure who was not yet a Core Formation cultivator but was vastly stronger than anyone.

Then Yan walked toward them.

“Let’s go back,” he said.

Then the army began to withdraw.

When they arrived back at the Golden Eagle City, Leo and the other commanders stood on the walls of the city next to the eagles emitting light.

Leo flew out from the wall and blocked them at the gate.

“Did we not call for the retreat? Why have you disobeyed?”

“It was me.” Just then, a voice came from among the soldiers.

The soldiers moved to the sides, giving way to the person who spoke.

Yan walked calmly and then stood in front of Leo.

“Yan?” Leo asked.

“It was I who asked them not to retreat,” Yan said.

Leo stared at him and then at the others.

“You sure got big. You’re not even a commander, yet everyone listened to you.” Leo stared at Yan, then glanced at the soldiers behind him. He stepped closer, stopping just inches from Yan’s face.

The people did not dare look away and stared at them both.

“Haha... nothing less expected from the person who surprised me.” Then Leo laughed.

“But you still went against orders,” Leo said in a stern voice.

“Tell me, what did you accomplish by doing it?” Leo asked.

“Nothing much. I just killed a few soldiers, not enough to win the war,” Yan said.

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“So much for defying orders?” Leo shouted.

“Do you understand how dangerous your actions were?” Leo said.

Then he looked at the others at the back. “And you? Are you fools as well?”

The soldiers did not say anything.

“You will be punished, Han Defu Unit.”

“You are temporarily barred from participating in the war for four days,” Leo said while looking at Chen Yu.

“And the others who followed the Han Defu Unit, you will be doing night patrol for three days.”

Then he looked at Chen Yu. “Chen Yu, you come with me, and the rest of you are dismissed.”

The others began to enter the city. Chen Yu then glanced at Yan, who was yawning; Gwalior, who stared at Yan; and the other members of the Unit, who looked at him.

“I will be back,” Chen Yu said and followed Leo.

Leo and Chen Yu were walking through the streets of the Golden Eagle City.

“You know, right? General Mofu is dead.”

Chen Yu kept his head down.

“It was not your mistake; Han Hian just used you.”

“If it had not been you, it could have been someone else as well,” Leo said.

But Chen Yu did not lift his head yet. Leo noticed and sighed.

“Do you know where we are going right now?” Leo asked.

“No,” Chen Yu replied as they continued walking.

Then they halted in front of a small shop. Beside the shop door, Kaizi was already standing along with a man reeking of wine.

When Kaizi noticed Leo, he glared at Chen Yu.

“Why did you bring him here?” Kaizi looked at Leo.

“He is a commander. He is eligible to attend the funeral as well,” Leo said.

“I don’t like him.” Kaizi glared at Chen Yu.

“And I don’t want him at the funeral,” Kaizi said.

“Kaizi, you know it as well, don’t you? He is not at fault.” Leo looked at Kaizi.

Kaizi turned his face away.

“Whether you like it or not, he will be attending the funeral,” Leo said.

Then they entered the shop through the front door.

Inside, the shop was already packed. Chen Yu saw many familiar faces; all of them were commanders.

After walking another ten steps, Chen Yu saw an old man and an old woman sitting beside General Mofu, whose body lay on a white cloth.

An Incense stick burned near his head.

The scent of burning incense filled the shop. The falling ash reminded Chen Yu of the battle—of how Han Hian’s blade had charred Mofu’s chest black.

Then Chen Yu took a closer at the charred black chest of Mofu, extending from his chest to his shoulders and halfway down his arms.

"Because of me.." Chen Yu murmured.

Mofu was not breathing; he lay there.

Not far away, two people stood. One was fat, he smelled of plums, and the other was wearing clothes covered in grease.

Chen Yu walked toward General Mofu.

“He was soft, too soft. His softness led to his death,” Old Man Qin said.

Chen Yu listened but did not say anything.

“He was similar to his father after all.”

“Poor boy. He died young,” Aunty Nagin said.

Chen Yu's heart felt tightened. Then he paid his respects and walked out with Leo.

After a few minutes, Chen Yu noticed that Leo gathered all the commanders.

“We will continue to hide the General’s death until we get a new General,” Leo said, then he stumbled.

Chen Yu came forward and supported Leo.

“Are your injuries okay?” another commander asked.

“I am fine. I took the healing potion; I will be healed in no time,” Leo said.

“I have already sent a pigeon carrying today’s battle outcome to the capital and requested backup and a new General,” Leo said.

“We have to hold on until then. We have to hide the General’s death and let the city and soldiers think he is injured and recovering,” Leo stated.

"But Commander Leo, what's the reason behind hiding my friend's death?" Kaizi said.

"He was not just your friend, Kaizi. He was a general—the strongest among us."

"The troops will panic more when they know their general is dead while the opponent's general is merely injured and can return at any time to the battlefield."

"They will absolutely panic when they realise that we don't have anyone to defend against black flames." Leo explained.

Kaizi did not say anything further.

“Commander Leo, what if someone asks to meet the General?" one of the commanders asked.

“Let them meet him.”

“But they should not be allowed to get inside the room where the General is staying; they should only meet him from outside,” Leo said.

“But Commander, it’s not sustainable...” the commander said.

“Yes, it’s not. Remember, we only have to hold out for four days. The pigeon will reach the capital by tomorrow. We should receive a reply the day after, and the new General might arrive two days later."

“But Commander, who will impersonate the General? All of us will be on the front lines,” another commander said.

Then Chen Yu saw that Leo coming towards him. His heart beat increased as Leo stepped behind him, “Well, I have a candidate in mind.”

The next morning before the sun was just about to rise, Leo flew through the sky, and arrived at the battlefield.

Specifically at the spot where Chen Yu described where they found Yan after the funeral.

The first yellow rays of sunlight fell upon the battlefield, bathing the scene in a calm, golden glow.

The cool wind touched his face but his eyes were on the scene below.

His eyes widened.

Ten thousand... perhaps. No, a little more than ten thousand Shin soldiers lay dead.

Every one of them bore a wound from a single slash.

No less or no more than a single slash.