Chapter 221: March

    ~~~

    The march to Rainstorm City is long.

    The city is in the southern area of Murong Bangs territory, much closer to the border with the Crimson Cloud Empire than it is to Cloudburst City. It is not the sort of distance Liu Jins soldiers can cross in one day or even one week. Their cultivation is simply too weak for a feat like that. Most of them arent even in the Nascent Realm.

    Transporting them all in the Flame-Wheeled Wagons is not an option. They brought only four to Murong Bangs territory, and they left two behind with those who stayed in Cloudburst City. Even if they had brought all four, there wouldnt be enough space. Liu Jin briefly considers putting the soldiers in his spatial pouch, but that would be too dangerous. There is no telling what the men would stumble upon inside.

    In the end, running is the only way.

    Liu Jin, Lu Mei, and the others ride in the Flame-Wheeled Wagons while the soldiers are told to run. They might not like it, but it is good training for them, something they desperately need if theyre going to be useful. Remembering Colonel Pengs advice on dealing with soldiers of weaker cultivation, Liu Jin makes sure theyre always given a full nights sleep. He pushes them but never unreasonably so.

    On the third day, he changes things up a little.

    Commander! Help! one of the soldiers cries out in panic.

    An ant the size of a horse has emerged from the ground. Its jaws click ominously as it attacks the unit. While some have begun to fight back, trying to stab the Spirit Beast with their spears, some are paralyzed with fear, and others are running away.

    Liu Jin is not sure which of the last two is worse.

    What are you afraid of? Liu Jin asks, using Qi to enhance his voice. The enemy is one. You are a hundred. Do you fear it because of its size? Look beyond that and feel its Qi. This creature is in the early stages of the Nascent Realm and nothing more.

    The confidence, the certainty in Liu Jins voice, spreads through the troops. Those who are running stop. Those who are frozen snap to their senses. Those who are fighting find renewed purpose. The shock and uncertainty are peeled away from their minds, allowing them to see the giant ant for what it is. A mindless Spirit Beast, and nothing more.

    Group up in teams of five. Surround it. Attack it. Win. Those are your orders, Liu Jin says.

    Yes, sir!

    Liu Jin watches carefully as the soldiers engage the enemy. Murong Bang told him that he could not fight. He did not say anything about him being unable to pull his soldiers out of a battle before they got killed, not that Liu Jin thinks itll get to that point.

    It is just as he said. This giant ant should be a simple enough foe for them.

    I am curious, Lu Mei says, sitting next to him on top of the Flame-Wheeled Wagon. How did you arrange this?

    It wasnt that hard, Liu Jin replies, his eyes still fixed on the battle. Lei Kong and Brother Ten have been scouting ahead. They found a whole colony of ants a few miles away. It could have been dangerous for nearby towns, so I had them eliminate the colony. Most of it, at least.

    And then you told them to bury one of the ants in our path? But then how would you arrange for it to She frowns, her red lips lightly pursed. Did you poison the ant so itd wake up at the exact moment wed pass by?

    You are half-right.

    Lu Mei raises an eyebrow and leans closer. Oh?

    I did poison the ant so itd wake up when we were near.

    Working out the amount of poison needed to arrange that had taken more guesswork than Liu Jin is comfortable with. Still, he cannot argue with the results.

    But I didnt poison just one ant.

    A second giant ant, a Pale-Faced Harvest Ant if Liu Jin remembers his lessons correctly, rises from the ground and starts attacking the soldiers.

    Impressive, Lu Mei says.

    Commander! one of the soldiers shouts.

    You all have your orders, Liu Jin says, with Qi enhancing his voice. It is just one more enemy.

    Is it just one more enemy? Lu Mei asks him in a conspiratorial whisper.

    For the next ten minutes or so, at least, Liu Jin answers just as quietly.

    Lu Mei laughs.

    ~~~

    It takes some time, but the soldiers defeat two giant ants and the other three that emerged during the fight. They end up bruised and tired but victorious. Perhaps a more eloquent speaker than Liu Jin would have a speech ready about the feeling of victory. Alas, such things are beyond him.

    Whatever his Dao is, it is not the Dao of public speaking.

    Instead, Liu Jin makes them line up according to their injuries and heals them. A sizable dinner is served afterward. They will need it because the next day

    Nail asks the question expecting to be told no. Its written all over his face. Both their faces. Just by watching the soldiers fight, they have already resigned themselves.

    And yet, if Liu Jin were to reassure them that such a goal is easily reached, they wouldnt believe him, but they wouldnt dare question him either.

    How frustrating.

    Tomorrow, you will join the daily run, but only for three hours. You are not ready for more than that, Liu Jin tells them. Rest up. You will need it.

    Yes, my lord! the two cry out as he walks away.

    That was kind of you, my lord, Lei Kong tells him, appearing at his side.

    Worrying is what it is, Liu Jin says, rubbing his forehead. I can try as much as I want, but they are right to fear me. They are so weak they might as well be made of glass. I have to keep reminding myself that, or else I fear I might shatter them by accident.

    My lord worries where other men wouldnt. It is a sign of my lords caliber, but I fear he worries needlessly sometimes.

    Perhaps, Liu Jin says, not entirely convinced. Still, there are more important matters at hand. How have your other duties been?

    I have not detected any unusual activities among the soldiers. No one has tried to sneak outside of the camp. Whether there are spies or not, it does not seem like they are in contact with anyone right now. That might change when we are in more populated areas. Lei Kong frowns. As you know, Rainstorm City is in Lei Clan territory.

    Liu Jin nods. Lei Kong told him that before they left. It makes bringing Lei Kong with them a bit reckless, but the alternative was leaving him within walking distance of Murong Bang.

    No one in their group is that cruel.

    I have been able to confirm that the governor of Rainstorm City is one of my cousins, Lei Jihai.

    Liu Jin hums. Interesting. Were you close?

    The look on Lei Kongs face makes his following answer superfluous.

    I have many cousins, my lord. I was not particularly close to any of them, he says. After my accident, those who called themselves my friends turned their backs on me.

    The fist on Lei Kongs new arm trembles with rage. Liu Jin notices but does not bring attention to it. Instead, he gives Lei Kong a moment to compose himself.

    I apologize, Lei Kong says, taking a deep breath. I almost lost control of my anger. I assure you that will not happen in Rainstorm City, my lord.

    I trust that it wont, Liu Jin says despite having already accepted that whatever reunion Lei Kong has with his clan will inevitably turn violent sooner rather than later. You have more than enough time to mentally prepare yourself before we get there. Liu Jin smiles. I guess something good can come out of this trip taking so long. The soldiers have certainly benefited from it.

    Lei Kong frowns.

    My lord, I do not mean to overstep my boundaries, but you have been healing the men after every battle. Considering the circumstances, would it not be better if you restrained yourself?

    The circumstances being that Liu Jin is covered in entirely too many bandages to claim to be healthy.

    Despite the state of my body, my Qi has already recovered, and none of the injuries the soldiers have sustained have been serious, Liu Jin tries to reassure Lei Kong. Besides, I would not be able to push the men so much if I wasnt healing them after every battle.

    The soldiers are not dramatically stronger than when Liu Jin first got his hands on them. However, they have gained confidence and experience fighting as a unit. There is a sense of order in them that wasnt there before. Already some are distinguishing themselves as leaders, which will make Liu Jins job easier in the future.

    I might be a hypocrite for asking this, but is it wise to make men like these strong, my lord? Lei Kong asks. I know we have to depend on them right now, but...

    But they are Murong Bangs men.

    There is no need for Lei Kong to finish his sentence. Liu Jin understands well. When this mission ends, his soldiers will return to Murong Bangs army and do whatever he orders. Most likely, kill, pillage, and plunder. It is not as if they will have many qualms about doing those things. Liu Jin has been paying attention to them all this time. He knows they are not paragons of virtue. Not even close to it.

    In some ways, all Liu Jin is doing right now is training Murong Bangs soldiers for him.

    It is probably not wise, Liu Jin admits. However, they cannot be weak. Even if it means giving them the power to be cruel later on.

    However, is that really the only possible outcome?

    If Murong Bang seeks to taint me, who is to say these men cannot be tainted by me? Liu Jin whispers.

    Lei Kong blinks. My lord?

    Liu Jin smiles and shakes his head. It is nothing. Dont mind me. I was just thinking aloud.

    Just being overly hopeful.

    ~~~