I arrived to find her gone. A letter on the bed saying she set out a week after I went in, with the convoy. I packed up my things and rushed down to find that a week has passed since she left. Which means, I was stuck in the palace for two weeks real time.

I rushed out of the city, traversing hundreds of meters with one step. Ha, I am a fucking legendary Wu-Kong, Monkey God ain’t got nothing on me.

A three week journey took me two days. However, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. I expected to just meet up with Yin Xia since they couldn’t have been in the death trap for more than three days.

It seemed I underestimated them or the lack of weight made them slightly faster. I can’t exactly say what made them ahead of time but when I arrived I found their carriages tipped over, some burnt with smoke still rising from it. People stretch out as if they fought a fierce but losing battle.

Just from a simple glance you can tell that they were attacked during the night. The enemy started with an arrow barrage. This is easy to pick out, corpses were still in the tents or crawling out the tents.

Then they came in on foot. I guess this is where the stronger guards died the most. They had a tight ring around a particular group and their bodies were pulled out of the carriages. I didn’t see but two dead females, who cut their own throats. I walked a little deeper into the forest according to the direction of the arrows feathers pointed.

It took me a while, even with my soul sense reaching out and scouring the forest floor to find tracks of a large group. The reason being is because they split up into smaller groups and someone did an excellent job of wiping away traces.

However, they were carrying women and loot. They were bound to fuck up. Broken branches or sticks and logs with wet dirt were facing upward or slanted when they should have been face down.

I continued tracking the group for more than six days when I heard the sound of a woman crying.

Haha, raping someone out here is testimony to how stupid they are. Thank the heavens for that blessing.

I rushed through the trees like I was Tarzan, except I merely stepped on the tree instead of swinging from vines and crawling like an ape.

I concealed my aura long before I landed in a tree with thick palm size leaves. I pulled a few back and stared at the open land covered by tents right before white wash river. I counted no more than thirty-eight tents and four groups of women resting on the ground, sobbing and mopping.

What worried me the most, is the way these guys walked and talked. It wasn’t like my perceived notion of how bandits act. Even if I think of myself in place of them, going against the law with average ability. Then I wouldn’t be as serious as these guys.

I glanced down and then behind me. Scanning around for a while, I slowly pulled out my badge and began leaving a message. Keeping my head on a slow swivel to study all around me.

Quinn to Command: I have spotted potential Zhang Military acting as bandits. Wearing leather armor that is too well kept and cleaned. Their bows are brand new and mass produced. Current bandit group has thirty-eight targets and six, no, eight female hostages. Potential trap. Highly possible that this is a setting for an ambush. Requesting instructions…

I slowly began moving between trees to the west of the camp, further into the thick treeline. Hoping to come across hidden assailants. I couldn’t rush myself, to provide the best awareness to escape at any second.

I almost cursed myself. I slipped into the mindset that enemies had to be stupid due to movies and games. That they will monologue and divulge their schemes and this led me to potentially walking into a trap.

A mindset of a child, this is what I had. Hopefully, my correction would allow me to keep my life.

Pausing in the thickets of leaves as I caught movement out of my peripherals. I turned slightly and focused on it.

Ha, camouflage in leaves and twigs, moving at a snail pace. The reason I probably missed them the first time is that he inched forward then didn’t move for many breaths. Now, I understood my foe, I tracked his path and noticed they were following me almost.

I thought about it for a second. There is no way they saw through my concealment art. I was beaten into perfection. Running and hiding is something I can say with utmost confidence, I mastered.

Thus they had to find me some other way. If not tracking through aura and qi nor sound, then what could it be?

I sniffed myself and glanced up at the sun still overhead. I didn’t smell, I wasn’t sweating, I couldn’t…

Fuck, I used an oily scented substance when bathing. I never paid attention to it during those six years because everybody utilized the same thing. By everybody, I mean the instructors who beat the shit out of me.

Clicking my tongue, I pulled out my badge as I quickly retreated. Giving up concealment for speed. I zig-zag, using trees to break off my silhouette so no sniper would have a perfect picture.

I almost wanted to laugh when I heard the sounds of arrows thudding into trees or whooshing through leaves. Did they think firing arrows would not alert me to the fact they weren’t trying to catch me but guide me?

I felt the breath leave me as I spun around and blasted towards the archers. I bet on them, it’s like I am teleporting. I know I must have looked incredible because this guy's eyes widened as my blade slid along his neck as my shoulders knocked him out of the way.

I might not have been best at taking corners but I watched Tokyo Drift. One thing I knew how to do is drift with style.

My body slid in an arc between trees and I couldn’t help letting out a light laugh at their surprised expressions as I bounced off a tree and rocketed forward in a linear line. I spun in the air and fired twirls around me like a barber shop sign.

I brushed past two people who were so close that their arms were practical holding each other. To be honest, they impressed me with the way they dropped their bows, pulled out their weapons, and swung them.

Had this been the me before, I might have been injured or even died to this coordinated strike. Sadly, this is the coward me and I threw off the flames, turning them into twin fire dragons that struck the two center mass while I hover over the ground for a second.

I didn’t waste any time trying to wipe out the scouts sent like I am competing in some event called kill the most fierce beast. No, I took off running because my life is precious and numbers can really take my little life.

Quinn to Command: I was spotted and currently running. Can confirm that this is an ambush. Do not have an accurate number of the reinforcement but the location is west of the former position that I reported in.

I slide the badge back into my bag.

Command to Quinn: We are two minutes from current location. Lead them in a circle.

Lead them in a circle? Lead them in a circle, he says.

I took a glance back and had to pull my head to the left, an arrow scraped my cheek. The power felt like a Nascent Soul Expert.

Good Grief. I am just a spy, go kill the main army or something.

I threw myself into a sorry roll before shooting up, stepping into the void at the same time.

The ground where I just stood had erupted. Dirt, roots, and leaves all flew into the air. I could barely catch a glimmer of a large war axe slamming down like an executioner’s axe.

Two Nascent Soul experts?

I bet there is a third one since he was just a distraction. I twisted and turned like a snake, flames shooting out of my palm as I forcefully parried a spear that had bent like the body of a whip.

It slammed into my palms and I rode the force into the air. Flipping over a tree branch thicker than my bicep, before I scurried away like a good dog with it’s tail between its legs.

“Did you think you could escape? We have..”

I punched out at the dumbass standing there with his spear resting on his shoulder like he was cool or something.

Dragons rushed out of my fist and the asshole’s smile faded as he did some fancy trick that barely deflected my attack.

I jumped and twisted, giving a side profile as two arrows whizzed past me.

I felt sweat pooling in my boxers. This is even more scary than having people with guns shooting at you. At least bullets didn’t curve. These guys were in a triangular formation and that arrow literally curved from behind a tree and almost reaped my life.

I slapped a tree and soared backwards like a phantom. I ran and they chased. The destruction can be said to be more devastating than when ten lumberjacks work in a forest for six years.

The archer had to fucking switch arrowheads. Fuck sakes, the two-point standard arrowhead was already hard to dodge but this broadhead was so fucking wide. It’s like comparing a ping pong paddle to a tennis racket.

Add on the sharp force and it was no longer just piercing holes through trees but slicing them in half like the spear and axe guys.

I threw pleading looks to the heavens as I flew through the forest.

Please holy heavens. I won’t complain about flat chest women and ass that you can compare with a ruler. I’ll love all types of small breasts from now on. Droopy, cone shape, tear drop, I can’t get any lift because I used weights to work out my chest.

I had this weird gut feeling that I should move faster. I caught the shadow passing overhead and moments later there was the sound of thunder.

It took my cowardly brain point zero zero one seconds to figure out it is the sounds of a cannon.

Bursting the last of my qi, I shot forward like a human wrecking ball. Taking the most direct path out of ground zero strike zone. Can you say that my heart is stuck in my throat? Haha, my heart left and started fleeing long before it could beat once in my chest.

I didn’t have to glance back to hear another thunderous sound and then the shockwave tossed me out of the forest and clear across the river into the waiting arms of a boulder.

***

I woke up feeling like I had been pressed between two big fellows at an all you could eat buffet. I winced and set up, reaching for my head but I froze upon seeing a pretty little thing with her head resting on the bed as her butt sat in a chair.

If she just came out the shower with a barely wrapped towel, it would have been a perfect dream. My head pain might have fled at first sight. I tapped her head and tossed the cover off me.

Someone bandaged me up pretty decently, but I felt this uncomfortable tightness. I stretched and moved about. Trying to loosen up my muscles but failing badly.

Clicking my tongue, I tapped the ember ring on my left hand and pulled out a cauldron and a tripod holder. I tossed in some herbs and began refining their essences into pills that will take care of my problems and prevent hidden injuries from affecting me later.

The girl's head popped up and she immediately rose and saluted me.

“Captain!”

She kept her fist in her palm, head slightly bowed until I grunted. Then she smiles bitterly upon noticing that I am refining pills.

“Apologies, Captain. I am your third Squad Leader, Cui Rong. I was ordered to watch over you and inform you that due to your merits earned in the Bandit hunt. You are promoted directly to Captain and assigned to the Third Legion, Eagle Legion.” she got it all out at once.

I raised an eyebrow and thought it over. So they managed to find the military or they happened to wipe out the ambush with the Zhang Military. Which is great if the merit for that got me promoted, but why did they fire a fucking cannon at my location.

“How long was I out and why are we on a ship?”

Cui Rong glanced out the porthole.

“Week and two days.”

I followed her gaze out the porthole and caught sight of a few other flying ships in the vicinity. My eyes shot back to her and I noticed she’s blushing while her eyes drifted downward and then shot right up.

“Where are we headed?”

I waved my hand and a pill case similar to the cast that blacksmiths used to mass produce weapons appeared before me. I carefully spread the pill liquid into the twelve pil slots.

“Eagle Legion is ordered to head to the realm along with other legions from the nine dynasties. We are to fight against demon invasion.”

Cui Rong had a conflicting look on her face but I ignored it as I dipped the case into water then started pulling off the bandages.

“Go get the other Squad Leaders.”

Cui Rong's round face was like a peach as her eyes kept shifting and as she turned around and walked hurried towards the door. I couldn’t help but see how roundly shaped she was. Tsk, tsk, what a beautiful woman. This will definitely not be such a bad stint.

I burnt the rags and dipped a towel into a bucket of water before scrubbing the dried up blood and medicine paste off my body. I just slipped into the Zhou Dynasty’s blue uniform and was attaching the officer saber to my belt when four people trod in.

I popped a pill that was still slightly warmed, into my mouth. It melted and cold force traveded through my body, fixing the injuries sustain by fucking friendly fire.

I pin my badge to the front of my waist pocket and quickly shifted through the promotion command and sought out the mission objective.

Command to Captain Quinn: Eagle Legion is assigned to Tian Dynasty and will follow orders of the Commanding General of the Tian Dynasty.

Straightforward. I pulled out some paper and began transcribing a tactical formation that would double the power of troops and leaders.

“What I am writing right now is called a Tactical Formation. I am sure you heard of them. Even if you don’t each formation has a specific set of steps needed but their overall goal is to turn individuals into a unity which will strengthen your abilities.” I continued writing while they moved about the room.

“I have seen tactical formations before and their largest ones turn a legion into a giant figure. Is this what this will do as well?” a big bearded fellow stated.

I looked at him, “You are?”

He saluted and shouted, “Hou Yu, First Squad.”

I nodded and went back to writing.

“Yes, this will turn twelve men into dragons according to the lead position, which will be you. So whatever element you favor, that will be the dragon. When combined with all four squads and me at the lead, the tactical formation will show up as Titan with four fiery dragons circling him. This formation is called the Fiery Dragons drifting in the Cloud. The separate is called Elemental Snake slithering in the grass.”

I finished and passed them the sheets.

“Go and study this with your men. When we land, we will practice separately so I can correct your mistakes. Then we will move on to a larger scale.”

I grabbed another pill and tossed it into my mouth while dismissing them. They huddled around the parchment while walking away. I could hear discussion about what it meant for them but it was just a small matter. If they knew what kind of training I went through just to learn about formations, they would drop that parchment and run like their lives were on the line.

Over the next few weeks, they came in to ask questions about the formation and their own personal cultivation. Which kind of irk me, yeah. I could help but like a spear? What would I know about that? Other than you stab someone and they go, ‘arghh.’

Sigh, some of the females even hit on me. Haha, I am not a saint at all. Why would I deny myself such pleasures? The best thing that happened is I managed to refine a bunch of pills from the excess herbs I stole from the Palace place.

When we land and disembark from the ship. The only sight that laid before us was an awe-inspiring beautiful land. I remember them saying this was a demonic realm but fuck? What is considered angelic realm then?

For example, the grass looked like they were sparkling vampires. The dirt underneath looks too holy to walk upon. The smell just from us stepping upon it reminded me of walking into a shelter garden and getting hit by flora aroma that lifted your spirits.

Secondly, the river that swept through the flat land was that brilliant shade of blue that you see in movies or pictures. The kind that looks as if one sip tastes like holy water.

The clouds were so high that flying up to reach it would be like trying to grasp the moon just because it looked close.

And then, the scenario was ruined by hard labour. I always wondered how those amazing castles and forts get built in movies. Now, I wished I didn’t know. The back breaking labour while faced with over hundred legions, it still wasn’t fast enough.

It might not have been the prettiest sight but the fort went up. A huge oval shape behemoth with black walls that jutted high into the sky. The inside was filled with black and grey stone housings, two large buildings for the dining hall, two dome shaped buildings for the command center, and a large training area left untouched but the churn earth was still freshly smelled.

Each continent had a region inside the large fort. Three continents led by outstanding powerhouses at the Martial Monarch Realm.

Our Tian Dynasty dragon flags flew into the air letting everybody know who rested in the stone castle. My eagle company had a small region in the middle. It;s not that bad considering I had my own house as Captain. Even though it's a small house, it is still better than some of the Captains who slept in three to four man barracks.

Plus I had a warm body to keep me cool at night. Haha, she was evenly blessed. Not so big on top while being flat on bottom, or big on bottom while being flat on top. Haha, perfect.

That being said, you could hear it the moment the great transmission array went up. It could have been considered quiet during the first couple of weeks here then it became noisy like a festival started.

Civilians from great Commerce came and began showing their wares. Supply trains came in with materials needed for defensive war.

Sadly, my first mission came up. A mission that I am told was fought hard for, by the Tian Crown Prince.

The demons were spotted enroute and our Tian army would be the first to fight. I could understand his thinking. First to fight would set the standard for the rest of the tour. Those would have to supersede the founding fathers who figured out the enemy weakness through great sacrifice which had great merit.

Plus if we had a victory great enough, the Crown Prince could then brag about it deeply among his peers.

I had no problem with this as well. The more my company had a chance to show off, the better it is for us. More resources equal our strength increase, which means I get to keep my life and won’t have to fear being sent to be sacrificed.

**

I dressed in my blue armor, holding the saber in my fist, hoping to calm my nerves. I walked slowly to the front gate where we were told to await further orders. My company filled in on me. Looking neat and collected in their blue armors with silver accents. Swords tied to their waist, shields resting on their backs.

The squad leaders stood out among their twelve men with two plumes dancing in the evening air.

I looked to my left at the other captains with their four plumes on their helmets. Some of them carried their helmets in their arms, looking cute and fashionable. The General stood above us with a solemn look upon his aged face. His white pony tail whipping in the wind.

It's sad to say that I wasn’t feeling all that reassured upon seeing how long it took the other companies to form up. Definitely the left wing which was formed by the weakest of Tian regions. Considering there were twelve legions with four to three companies each. The strongest had four with a squad made up of nascent soul experts alone. While the weakest had captains at Golden core realm.

Too easy to tell who the weak link was and the side that is expected to fold first. I shocked my head as the Crown Prince rode up on a beautiful black stallion.

“I need this war credit. I want you to achieve it for me. The best legion will be rewarded. The worst legion that ruins my reputation will be disdain. Go and attend to war.”

I blinked several times. I had to look at other confused expressions to understand I am not the only one curious by how… I can’t even think of a word for how insane that pep speech was.

Fuck it! Let’s go die.

The Crown Prince turned his horse and started the march out the gate. His Great Tian Dynasty led with his army while the second strongest followed. We were fourth to march out which is surprising.