I Can See Your Combat Power

Chapter 1017: Chapter Three Hundred and Eleven: Never Abandon, Never Give Up

Chapter 1017 -Three Hundred and Eleven: Never Abandon, Never Give Up

He tapped his chest and said solemnly, “Zaduomugei, zhamumuzhe.”

This phrase is the native language of Zaba, meaning that the people of Zaba never lie. They are as honest as rocks and not even a great fire can crack them!

…

Hui Ling Mountain

Wuyi Sect

Half a month ago, the infantry commanders who had fled from Ghost King Ridge after suffering defeat were all fraught with anxiety.

It was the first failure of the Wuyi Sect since the arrival of the Blood Lion Sect in Beimang.

Especially the dozen or so soul soldiers that entered the formation had shaken the very core of the Wuyi Sect’s warriors. It was the first time their spiritual formation had been broken, also shattering the invincible beliefs of their followers.

Just like any rabble, a force built upon faith can only fight with the wind at their backs. Once they encounter setbacks, they quickly lose courage and the will to fight.

It was as if, at the gates of the mountain at Ghost King Ridge, the real reason for the Wuyi Sect’s rapid collapse was nothing more than the loss of courage by those few infantry commanders. Upon realizing they could not hold against the soul soldiers, they were overtaken by fear. They gathered their trusted aides, ready to withdraw at any moment. The common warriors were simply too slow to keep up with the soul soldiers, let alone respond, thus they died swiftly and decisively.

Without their leaders to stabilize their hearts, and with the soldiers in the back watching those in front being slaughtered like cutting down straw, they collapsed into disarray.

The Cloud Tiger generals who had fled back instantly regretted it, for they knew the ruthlessness of the Blood Lion Sect leader, a butcher who would wipe out entire families at the drop of a hat.

In the last half a year, to replenish manpower and resources, they had exterminated over a dozen mountain strongholds in the Min Mountain region. Their methods were so brutal that even these killers, who were once called butchers themselves, felt horrified.

After all, they were natives of Beimang, and although most of them had dark and tragic pasts, they still held a sense of belonging to this land.

But after joining the Wuyi Sect, in just over half a year they had killed more people than in the previous twenty years combined. What was even more fatal was that, in such a frenzied atmosphere, they had no say in the matter.

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Originally, they thought that after fleeing back to the mountain gate, as before, if they couldn’t mix in one place, they would just set up another base elsewhere. But thinking of their actions over the last half-year, they knew there was no longer a place for them in Beimang.

Even among bandits and thieves, there is a need for moral codes and rules. At first glance, such an idea may seem preposterous; after all, to many, the idea of robbers and bandits following moral codes is a joke.

Yet, in reality, the more savage and chaotic the place is, the more importance is placed upon rules and hierarchy. To blend in with the banditry, loyalty and face are of the utmost importance.

Because these so-called highwaymen are fundamentally a group of weaklings. If they were not driven to desperation or had committed unforgivable crimes, who would want to live in obscurity and turn to banditry?

Among them, of course, there are good people who are uncomprehending of cruelty, but many more are criminals who have inflicted violence on others due to their own misfortunes.

Even such a group of people have their own set of knowledge and rules.

Take the simplest example: bandits have a strong sense of territory.

Whether it’s a petty thief or a great bandit, everyone has their own area of operation, which they call their turf.

All acts of poaching, crossing into another’s territory, are seen as a provocation, and there is only one way for the challenged strongman to retaliate: fight to the death!

“Touch my pastry and I will kill you; it’s as simple as that.”

Even the robbers who blocked the roads had their bottom lines, such as those who would not kill the elderly or children, bandits who would rob wealth but not violate decency, and some powerful bandit strongholds that even protected the peace of a region, deeply loved by the common people.

As the saying goes, ‘even a thief has his principles,’ which means that after ensuring one’s own survival, even bandits try to do things that can appease their conscience.

But sects were not like that, the teachings of the Wuyi Sect were as simple and brutal as they could be, submission or death.

Either you abandon your own beliefs to embrace those of the Wuyi Sect, or you die with your beliefs—there is no third option for you.

The earthen fortresses of Beimang mostly represented an ancient civilization, each with its own beliefs, such as the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, and even incarnations of some deities or mythical beast totems.

These beliefs had fermented for hundreds or thousands of years and had become a culture etched into the marrow of the natives; any attempt to suppress them with violence would only provoke a tremendous backlash.

The Wuyi Sect, having killed so many, had become an object of vehement hatred; if the generals like Cloud Tiger were to leave the sect, they would likely be pursued to the death by the powerful factions.

Given the current situation, they only resigned themselves to stay on Hui Ling Mountain, waiting for the punishment from the Blood Lion Grandmaster.

The restless foot soldiers’ commanders and those believers who had been terrified by the soul soldiers at last welcomed the light of the Zhou Heavenly constellation, and the Blood Lion Grandmaster descended from the stars with the same gentle manner and tone as when he had departed.

“This defeat is due to my underestimation of the strong in Beimang, which led to this great loss for our sect. The commanders made decisive decisions and timely rescued our brothers back to the mountain gate—not only are they not at fault, but they have also merited praise.”

No sooner had the Blood Lion Grandmaster entered the mountain gate than he took responsibility, leaving the foot soldiers’ commanders almost disbelieving their own ears.

“However, this defeat has greatly weakened our Primary Qi, and what pains me even more is that thousands of our brothers have been captured by Ghost King Mountain, and I dread to think of the torture they must endure!”

Wang Wei, wearing his regal crown, looked emotionally at the believers of Hui Ling Mountain and said, “They are our brothers through and through; how could I stand idly by and watch them fall into enemy hands? Alas, facing such great forces, I am outnumbered and have had to retreat!”

With that, Wang Wei took off his outer garment, and the believers from Hui Ling Mountain saw the large, unhealed gash on the Grandmaster’s chest—how mighty the attack must have been to leave such a gaping wound in one so strong!

The generals like Cloud Tiger exchanged glances, never expecting the Blood Lion Grandmaster to go so far for them, while the believers were so moved that they wept openly in fear and regret.

The “gravely injured” Blood Lion Grandmaster, however, was composed as he said to the crowd, “I ask but one question—is there anyone brave enough to join me in venturing into Ghost King Mountain to retrieve our brothers?”

Wang Wei rekindled faith and courage, and the believers of Hui Ling Mountain, eyes red, responded in unison, “We wish to join the Grandmaster in retrieving our brothers!”

“We wish to join the Grandmaster in retrieving our brothers!!”

“We wish to join the Grandmaster in retrieving our brothers!!!”

United in spirit, the people’s hearts were utilized, and the believers, once again filled with courage, seemed to have forgotten the horror of the soul soldiers.

“Good!” Wang Wei exclaimed loudly, praising them, “Even though we were outmaneuvered in this battle, the ultimate victory will surely be ours!”

“Kang Ning, as commander, I want you to gather half a year’s worth of food and supplies for Hui Ling Mountain within half a month; Cheng Hua, by whatever means necessary, I want to see two thousand python soldiers in half a month!”

After giving orders to several foot soldiers’ commanders, Wang Wei turned to the fervent believers and said, “In one month, follow me as we launch another campaign on Ghost King Mountain to retrieve our brothers!!”